Page 37 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
He’d once dreamed of a woman who loved him and of having children of his own to love and nourish. His arm tightened around Mikey and he rested his chin against the blond head of the boy. He would enjoy both of them for a day or two, but remembered it was only until he could unite them with the Newmans or other family.
CHAPTER EIGHT
It was Sunday, and Emily studied her reflection in the mirror. She wanted to go to church with Jesse and his grandmother. Truly she did. But to face all those people, not knowing who she was...well, she wondered how she’d do it.
She squared her shoulders and fixed her hair. She would do it in God’s strength, and she’d never let anyone guess how uncomfortable it made her. Well, no one but Jesse. She’d leaned on him emotionally and physically since he’d rescued her.
The mirror over the chest of drawers showed her likeness. Too bad it didn’t reveal more about her than the shape of her face and the color of her eyes. What she really wanted to see, needed to see, was who she was.
She looked away from the mirror at the sound of Mikey’s voice from downstairs. They’d had breakfast, and she’d dressed him in clean clothes and left him with Jesse while she changed into the gray dress that Annie had brought her. Mikey squealed, and Jesse laughed—a deep melodious sound. She pictured Jesse chasing the boy, catching him, and tossing him up into the air.
With her shoulder against the door frame, she stood there, listening not only to the two downstairs but to the thoughtsin her head. Why did she hear the sound of many children laughing? Not hers. She was almost certain of that. Then whose?
And why had Mikey been sent with her?
With a deep sigh, she went down the stairs, prepared to ignore her fears and face a church full of people. It didn’t matter that they were strangers to her. What mattered was that she was a stranger to herself.
She stepped into the living room, her presence announced by a bark from Muffin.
Jesse was bent over Mikey, tickling him, but straightened at Muffin’s greeting. His glance swept over her, and he met her gaze.
“You look very nice.”
“Thank you. So do you.” His black hair gleamed. His face, cleanly shaven, still revealed the dark shadow of his whiskers. He wore black trousers, a crisp white shirt, and a black vest.
“Where’s your star?” She’d gotten used to seeing it and feeling safe.
He turned back the lapel of his vest to reveal it pinned to his shirt.
“Good.”
He quirked an eyebrow, asking for an explanation.
Heat rose in her cheeks at how much she’d revealed about her dependence on him. “What if you need to be sheriff before we get back?” She turned her attention to the bird. “How are you, Dickie?”
The bird flapped his wings and scolded her.
“Dickie, behave yourself.” Gram hurried from the kitchen wearing a hat and carrying gloves.
Emily had neither. She could use the lack as an excuse to miss church. Except she needed to be with other believers and find strength in the worship service.
Gram hurried up the stairs and returned with gloves and a pretty gray bonnet. “I’d like you to use these.”
Both grateful and regretful that she would have no reason to stay away from the service, she thanked the woman and went to the kitchen and the little mirror to put on the bonnet.
“It’s a very fine bonnet. Looks good on you.” Jesse stood in the doorway watching, Mikey perched in his arms, looking as if he belonged there.
A warning bell sounded in her head. The little guy was becoming very fond of Jesse. He was going to be hurt when he had to leave to go wherever he would go now. Presumably back to where they came from and whoever had sent them, and there they would wait for the Newmans to make arrangements.
The sooner she remembered who she was, the better for everyone involved. She stared at the wall where the mirror hung, but she wasn’t looking at her reflection.Remember who you are. Why were you on the stagecoach? Who are your parents? Where are you from? Remember. You must remember.Her head began to ache. Tension pressed against her heart.
“Are you ready?”
She welcomed Jesse’s interruption. “Maybe going to church will bring back my memory.”
He nodded and escorted her out the door.
“Where’s Gram?”
