Page 57 of Montana Groom of Convenience
She nodded. “Since your mama was alive. Right?”
“Couldn’t have pets when we were always moving.”
“Maybe I should have picked one for you, too.”
He chuckled at the teasing note in her voice. “Maybe Jill will let me share her cat.”
She unsaddled Sunny, brushed him, let him drink, and made sure he had feed. “Shall we take the kitten to Jill?”
He held the little cat toward her, but she had already stepped through the door and let him follow her.
“Yer back,” Father Morrison said as they stepped inside.
“We’re back, and we brought something for Jill.”
Jill turned around a cautiously eager expression on her face. She searched Carly’s hands and seeing nothing, showed her disappointment.
“Don’t give up so soon,” Carly said with a laugh and stepped aside so Jill could see the kitten in Sawyer’s hands.
Jill came out of the chair, her sore foot completely forgotten, and rushed to Sawyer’s side. “Is it for me?”
Carly plucked the kitten from Sawyer’s hands and handed it to Jill. “She’s all yours.”
Jill grinned so wide that Sawyer thought it must hurt. She pressed the kitten to her cheek. “Thank you. I love her. What’s her name?”
“That’s up to you.”
Jill returned to the chair, the kitten cupped in her hands. “It will have to be a special name.” She giggled as the kitten squirmed. “She wants to explore.” The kitten roamed the perimeter of the chair cushion, edging behind Jill, and then it teetered at the front, falling to the floor. It skittered from corner to corner, jumping at imaginary dangers. Jill laughed at its antics.
“Her name is Skippy because she skips from place to place.”
“Skippy?” Carly pretended to give the name serious consideration. Finally, she nodded. “I like that. What do you think, Sawyer?”
He’d been so caught up in the moment, enjoying his little sister’s happiness, silently thanking Carly for this kind gesture, that he was startled at her question. He quickly recovered. “Skippy is a fine name.”
Skippy sat and gave a plaintive meow.
“She wants me.” Jill hurried to the kitten andretired to the chair. The little ball of fur was soon asleep on her lap. Jill looked at Sawyer. “Thank you.”
Sawyer’s heart swelled against his ribs. It was the first time he’d seen his little sister acting like the child he remembered before her parents died, and his throat clogged with emotion.
“Thank Carly. She rode all the way back to the Marshalls’ to get it for you.”
Jill slowly turned her eyes to Carly. He saw in them a look he knew personally...resistance and caution.
Would she thank Carly? More important, would she accept Carly and the home she offered?
Chapter 12
Carly waited, her heart still and hopeful, to see if Jill would acknowledge the gift she’d brought her.
Jill’s eyes were dark with a look she’d borrowed from Sawyer. Both so guarded. So afraid to believe life could be as good as their past.
“Thank you,” Jill murmured, ducking her head to hide her face.
“You’re welcome.” Carly barely stopped herself from reaching for Sawyer’s hand and giving it a hard squeeze. It was getting harder and harder to remember their agreement. Or why she’d laid out the limitations.
That night, as she lay in the darkness of her bedroom, Jill spoke softly. “Are you awake?”
