Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (list of ebook readers .txt) 📗

into their own because he’d had no one. Peter had been a brother to him.

Annabelle should have been comforting him, and they should have worked through all of this together.

“I’m sorry it took so long for us to talk,” she said, knowing that being sorry didn’t make it any better. “I hope someday you’ll be able to forgive me.”

The look he gave her was enough to slay her. “Already have.”

If his words were intended to make her feel better, he had failed completely. Because now, she felt so much worse for having had the conversation.

Before she could think of anything to say to give him some comfort and heal the rift between them, he changed the subject.

“Your father says those men were after Bad Billy’s silver. Was the little girl able to tell you anything about it?”

Annabelle shook her head. As Slade pushed on a particularly painful spot on her foot, tears sprang to her eyes.

Slade stopped his ministrations to her ankle. “I don’t think it’s broken, but you’ve definitely injured yourself. I’ll see if Gertie has anything we can wrap it with.”

He stood, then looked down at her. “When I get back, we’ll talk more about the men who were after you. Now that you don’t hate me, maybe we can fix this together.”

Though she should have been gratified to know that there were rifts in her life she could fix, the nagging pain in her heart hadn’t diminished. She wondered if it ever would.

Chapter Fourteen

Exhaustion had set in before the mining camp was in view. Joseph glanced at Frank, who looked even more weary. The older man hadn’t been able to stop worrying about Annabelle.

Even Joseph wasn’t sure about the best course of action for her. Especially the more he mulled over Frank’s words to him about his behavior toward the beautiful girl. Closer to the camp, he realized that it wasn’t so much that he was looking forward to being reunited with his sister and finding the silver, but that he’d get to see the smile that continued to haunt his mind.

Before they were within eyesight of Gertie’s cabin, a ball of energy hurled herself at him.

“Joseph! You’re back!”

Despite the fatigue, he dismounted, then picked Nugget up and whirled her in a big hug. “I think you’ve grown since this morning.”

Nugget giggled. “Papa used to say that, too.”

Her words didn’t sting the way the comparisons to his pa used to. Time, and Nugget’s love, had begun to heal that wound. Not that he was willing to fully forgive him, but at least he could accept his sister’s love for the man.

He set Nugget down, then held her hand as he led his horse to the cabin. “Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, but Annabelle got hurt so now Caitlin and I have to stay close.” Her lip jutted out in a tiny pout.

Frank stepped forward. “What’s this about Annabelle getting hurt?”

“She hurt her foot, and Mr. Slade put a bandage on it.” Nugget skipped along without realizing the import of her words.

But both Joseph and Frank picked up their speed. With the way Annabelle had shot daggers at Slade earlier, chances were any interaction between them had resulted in bloodshed.

But Annabelle sat by the fire, Slade next to her, chatting almost amiably.

“Annabelle?” Frank handed the reins to Joseph and dashed toward his daughter. “What happened? Are you all right?”

A wan smile he didn’t recognize crossed her face. “I hurt my ankle. Slade says I’ll be fine.” She glanced at Slade and gave him a look Joseph didn’t understand.

Joseph could hardly believe the way their interaction had completely changed in less than twelve hours.

Polly huffed past them. “I’m sure she’s fine. She was when she left me at the creek with all the work to finish.”

Annabelle stiffened at the words, and any hint of the ease he’d seen in her earlier had disappeared. Slade scooted closer to her. Even though that should have made him feel better, it brought a new sense of unease to him. What was the relationship between Annabelle and Slade?

None of his business.

He had no right to wonder what may or may not be going on between them. Annabelle wasn’t his to claim even if he wanted to.

Her father, though, wasn’t going to let it go so easily. “It’s nice to see you two together again.”

Together again...well, that probably said it all. His chest tightened, and even though he’d like to blame it on the altitude...

How had he developed such feelings for Annabelle so quickly? Especially when he had no right to do so.

“I have a lot of amends to make,” Annabelle said quietly. “It was time I listened to Slade instead of judging him.”

Even though everyone wanted to see Annabelle in a harsh light, the reality was that she was struggling through a difficult time and doing the best she could to keep it all together. Her admission was a measure of the remarkable strength she had.

If only his circumstances were different.

Slade stood. “Frank, I’d like you and Joseph to take a walk with me. We need to talk about Annabelle’s injury.”

He looked at Nugget pointedly, and Joseph’s stomach sank. They’d left the women and children unprotected. And sure, he knew Annabelle was far better at taking care of herself than he was, but there was something about not being there that made Annabelle’s injury feel like a grievous sin.

Once they were out of earshot of the tent, Slade stopped.

“Annabelle was accosted by two thugs. She said she recognized them as men who frequented Frank’s mission. One of the men in camp referred to him as Bart.”

Frank shook his head. “Not Bart Wallace?”

“Annabelle’s description seemed to match. And from what she said about the other guy, I think it’s Pokey Simpkins with him.” Slade looked around, then continued.

“I went to talk to them, but they’re gone. I imagine they’ve met up with whoever they’re working with. They’re not bright enough to be working alone. Plus, Annabelle says they don’t look like the