LITMIR.BIZ

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I’m going to do.”

      Wade released pent-up air. Thankfully, there’d be no more matchmaking.

      Every pair of eyes returned to him.

      “I’m sure there are other prospects,” Linette began. “I heard a family moved in this fall with an almost grown daughter. I haven’t met her yet but by all accounts she is pleasant and hardworking.”

      This must be the family Lane had gone to visit. Wade rolled his head back and forth. Even if he had any interest in marriage, the last thing he needed was a young woman barely old enough to leave her parents. Besides, Lane had his sights set on the young lady and Wade had no intention of being competition. “Marriage isn’t for everyone. And to provide for a family, a man needs a home. I have none. I’m a cowboy.”

      “Look around the table,” Eddie said. “These fellows were homeless cowboys, too, until they found a reason to settle down.”

      The conversation was thankfully dropped as people turned their attention to the bountiful food. Wade savored every mouthful even though the meal carried sorrowful memories of similar occasions spent with Susan and her family. But as Missy had said to Annie, his sister would want him to enjoy the day.

      Beneath the rumble of a discussion about the new church, Missy murmured, “One would think two orphaned children would be enough reason to settle down.”

      So much for thinking the topic had been abandoned.

      Wade’s enjoyment of the meal turned sour.

      Linette lowered her fork to the table. “Tell me, Wade, what are your plans for the children?”

      He, too, lowered his fork, knowing his answer would bring more criticism from Missy. Not that it was any of her business. “Ma’am, I’ve been in contact with a Mr. and Mrs. Bauer from Fort Macleod regarding adoption.”

      A collective gasp came from others at the table.

      “I had hoped to hear from them by now because I have to leave almost immediately. I’ve agreed to look after a friend’s ranch while he takes a trip.”

      A beat of silence passed before anyone responded.

      It was Missy who spoke. “I guess you’ll have to take the children with you.” Obviously she knew that wasn’t his plan, but she meant to force him to reconsider.

      “That’s not possible. I can’t take care of them and the ranch, too.” Before Missy could voice any more disapproval, before any of them could, he spoke again. “I need someplace safe to leave them until the couple comes. I hope...hoped they could stay here.”

      Linette and Eddie looked at each other for a moment. Eddie answered Wade’s request. “We’ll discuss it later.”

      With those words, he had to be content, though he could not relax with Missy’s heavy disapproval coming off her like a wave.

      The main part of the meal ended, the dishes were cleared away and mincemeat pie served. Wade hoped the children were enjoying the dessert more than he was. Every mouthful was full of regret from his own heart and silent accusations from Missy.

      Finally the meal was over.

      “Everyone return to the sitting room. There are gifts for all the children,” Linette said.

      Wade had begun to rise, but at that he sank back in his chair. He must find a way to draw Joey and Annie away so they wouldn’t be disappointed when they received no gifts.

      Linette waved a hand to indicate he should join them. “There’s something for Annie and Joey, too.”

      Missy waited at her chair as if to make certain he didn’t skip out.

      He had no such intention and rose to follow her back to the other room. In a flash he saw that everyone had resumed their previous positions, which left him sitting at Missy’s side. He would have avoided the seat, but the room was crowded and he had no other option.

      The children raced in and sat in a circle before the decorated evergreen tree next to the window.

      One by one, Eddie handed gifts to the young ones. When it was his turn, Joey opened his package. “A ball for playing catch. Papa taught me to throw and catch.” He gazed at it, his lips quivering.

      Wade would have gone to him, but wondered if the boy would find it embarrassing to be needing comfort.

      Annie opened her gift, a sock doll with black button eyes, brown yarn hair and a pink cotton dress.

      She stared at it and burst into tears.

      Wade sat motionless, his heart shredding with shared sorrow. Before he could move, Missy sprang forward, sat beside the child and pulled her to her lap. “Shh, shh.” She rocked Annie in a tight embrace.

      Finally the tears stopped. Missy returned to her chair, with Annie clinging to her like a sweater.

      “I’ll take her.” Wade reached for his niece, but Missy shook her head.

      “She’s fine here on my lap.” Missy’s eyes, too, were awash with tears.

      Wade closed his eyes against a rush of wild emotions—a burning desire to comfort them both, a burst of fresh pain at his own sorrow and beneath it all, his unending sense of failure in not being able to give these children what they needed. And in not having seen how sad and desperate his late wife had been. The accusations hurled at him by Tomasina’s parents that it was his duty to see to her needs were no stronger than those from his own heart.

      He never again wanted to experience such failure.

      * * *

      Missy held Annie as tightly as Annie held her. How well she remembered the first Christmas after her parents had died. The aching feeling that nothing would ever be the same, that no one would ever understand and love her the way Mama and Papa had. She and Gordie had gotten presents for each other—she’d bought him a new pocketknife she’d seen him admire in the store and he’d bought her a set of ivory hair combs. She hadn’t noticed them in any of the stores and wondered where he’d gotten them. It was much later that she realized he’d probably stolen them, and she’d never again used them.

      She shook off the memories and flicked her gaze to the man beside her. She noted that his hands were curled so tightly the knuckles were white. From under her lashes Missy studied him. His expression revealed a mixture of emotions—uncertainty and sorrow.

      He’d lost his sister. Of course he felt sorrow.

      In her judgment of him she’d forgotten to take that into account. At the first opportunity she would correct the matter.

      Annie cuddled close as the other children played with their new toys. After a bit, Joey left the others and scooted over to sit with his back against Wade’s legs. Wade rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders.

      Missy smiled as uncle and nephew released tiny sighs and sank toward each other, giving comfort and consolation.

      One by one the guests rose, gathered up their children and bade Linette and Eddie and the others goodbye. Louise and Nate excused themselves and took baby Chloe to their room. Only Missy remained beside Wade, with Annie on her lap and Joey at Wade’s knees.

      Eddie and Linette approached Wade. “We need to talk.”

      Knowing they meant to address Wade’s request to leave the children at the ranch, Missy struggled to her feet. “I’ll take the children into the kitchen. Come along, Joey.”

      The child was too tired to argue and shuffled after her, but by the time they sat down at the table, his curiosity kicked in.

      “They’re talking about us, aren’t they? Is Uncle Wade leaving us here?” The boy’s voice cracked, not only from fatigue. The poor child dreaded being abandoned.

      Annie sobbed and tightened her arms about Missy’s neck.

      She forced herself to take two slow

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