Page 87 of A Steadfast Heart
Jo scrubbed a hand across her cheek. Kaitlyn reached across and gently wiped one tear the little girl had missed. Jo turned into the caress. “I wasn’t crying.”
“Of course not.”
Jo smiled at her. Not the malicious smile Kaitlyn had seen so often when she’d burned biscuits or fallen in the calves’ stall. No, this smile held only joy and hope.
Kaitlyn felt Drew’s gaze on her and glanced over her shoulder to meet his eyes. His loving eyes. He looked at her, then Jo, then back at her. His smile grew broader. Kaitlyn took Jo’s hand and guided her to join the rest of the family.
Drew turned back to Merritt. “It was Kaitlyn’s brilliant idea. Since we didn’t prove up the homestead, it was available for purchase. Jack rousted Ernie Duff from his bed before the sun was up. Kaitlyn brought the banker and bought the land free and clear.”
“Ed’s land is yours now?” Jo’s brow furrowed.
Kaitlyn tugged her closer. “Ed’s homestead is ours. It’s McGraw land, and the McGraw herd will run there, just like it did before. There is no mine and yours, only ours.”
“That’s just as it should be.” Merritt winked.
Drew moved closer to Kaitlyn and took her hand. Would she ever get tired of holding his hand?
Ed bumped Drew’s shoulder. “Did Quade show up?”
Drew nodded, his satisfied grin stretching almost as wide as Tillie’s had.
Kaitlyn smiled too. It had been so satisfying to see Quade show up, ready to buy the land, only to see them leaving the land office after purchasing it. When they’d asked Mr. Duff the price, he’d frowned and stalled but ultimately had no choice but to sell it to them.
Quade had been furious, but they had bought the land fair and square. They still had time to prove up Nick’s and Isaac’s homesteads, and her inheritance could buy the supplies they’d need to do it. The house in St. Louis would probably be sold to cover Michael’s debts, but his death and the finalized deed to Ed’s land removed the threat to the children.
“It’s all because of Kaitlyn.” Drew brought her hand to his lips. Her cheeks warmed, and he smiled at her, then lowered their hands. “We were all focused on getting the land through homesteading. It took a brilliant outsider to see an opportunity in the disaster of missing the deadline.”
Murmurs of “great job” and “genius” and “wish I’d seen it” made her heart light. Not that she was really brilliant. Learning to observe carefully had been her protection from Michael.
Protection from Michael.
Lord, You did that. You gave me the skill and taught me to hone it. And now it has saved the first place I’ve ever really called home.
She felt Him smiling down at her as she realized His gift. What Michael had done was not good, but God had brought good from it, just as He promised.
He’d restored to her what she’d never had. A family and a place of her own.
* * *
Later that night, Drew leaned back into the sofa. Nick and Ed had settled into the chairs across from it. Drew stretched out his legs and let his head fall back. Home. He was in his own home, Nick and Ed nearby. All the men had left their boots at the door to protect Kaitlyn’s spotless floors.
Isaac had stopped in earlier to congratulate him but said he’d ride out to keep an eye on the herd. Someone had tried to take a few head while he’d been here alone, but he’d stopped them.
Drew wasn’t fooled. His next younger brother was still feeling stifled inside four walls. Whatever wounds he carried hadn’t healed.
But for now, Drew’s herd had land to graze, his house was no longer at risk, his family was safe, and his wife had ingredients to put food on the table.
His wife. Katie.
Her voice floated down the stairs to the men in the parlor as she tucked covers around his little girls.
Ed nudged Nick and grinned, his eyes sparking mischief. “Reckon we’ll be moving Kaitlyn’s stuff back downstairs. Think that closet is big enough for her things as well as Drew’s?”
Nick frowned at Ed. “Kaitlyn isn’t Amanda. She’s not gonna need a lot of extra space for doodads.”
Drew smiled. Kaitlyn wasn’t Amanda, that was for sure, but she might just need a little more space than he and his brothers did. That was okay. He’d gladly frame in another closet if she wanted. This was her home too, after all.
Ed nudged Drew’s outstretched foot with his own. “You should hide that silly grin. Someone might think you’re in love with your wife.”
