LITMIR.BIZ

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She shifted her attention to Mikey and brushed his hair off his forehead. “It will be nice to have a little man around again. It’s been some time since Jesse here was small.” The glance she gave Jesse revealed a wealth of love and affection.

      Emily turned from watching them to study Mikey. She felt a fondness for him that soothed her, but shouldn’t she know if he was her son? She couldn’t imagine forgetting a child she’d carried for nine months.

      She didn’t realize how long she’d been looking at the boy, nor how worried she’d become, until Jesse touched her shoulder. She jolted as if he’d awakened her from a dream. If only he had.

      “Don’t fret. Remember what the doctor said.”

      “I know. Don’t push it.”

      “Grandma, Emily, I hate to rush out but I must get back to the stagecoach and look for clues before it rains.”

      “You go do what you need to,” Mrs. Whitley said. “We’ll be just fine. Won’t we?” She directed her question to Emily as Jesse waited at the kitchen doorway, preparing to leave the house.

      Emily murmured, “Of course,” though she felt like nothing in her world was fine at the moment. Except, she amended, that she was sitting at a table with a kindly grandmother. She’d been rescued by a kind, handsome man whom she felt she could trust. After all, he was the sheriff and his grandmother adored him.

      Was that enough basis for trust? A dark cloud hovered at the back of her mind making her feel guilty. What had she done? Had she been involved in the planning of the robbery in some way? Surely not. And yet that dark cloud of suspicion lingered just out of reach. Why would she feel this sting of guilt unless she had done something wrong?

      “Would you like to see your bedroom?” Mrs. Whitley’s question sent a shudder across Emily’s shoulders.

      How long had she been staring into space, searching her mind? She jerked her attention to the woman, pushing back the wave of dizziness the movement gave her. “It’s most generous of you to take in a pair of strangers, especially when you know nothing about us.”

      The woman chuckled softly. “I suppose I know as much about you at the moment as you know about yourself, but we aren’t going to worry about that. Your memory will return when it’s time and we’ll be patient because, my dear, these things are in the hands of a loving, caring God.”

      Tears sprang to Emily’s eyes. She blinked them back. “I know it’s so. Thank you for reminding me.” She held out a hand to Mikey and they followed Mrs. Whitley out of the room. Her head hurt with the movement but taking her mind to other things was preferable to sitting and fretting.

      “You’ve seen the living room. I hope you will make yourself at home. There are books to read if you care to. This is my pet canary, Dickie.” She tapped one of the wires of the cage. “Dickie, say hello to our guests.”

      The bird made a clicking sound followed by a chirp.

      “Good boy.”

      Mrs. Whitley led them up the stairs. “The first room is Jesse’s. He often has to be up at odd hours taking care of things.”

      Emily caught a glimpse as they passed the door and saw a room much like her first impression of Jesse—masculine—with a quilt made in dark browns and greens covering the bed, a heavy wardrobe with the door closed and a table beside the bed on which rested a Bible and a lamp. Seeing evidence of the man’s faith increased her courage.

      “The room across the hall is mine.” Mrs. Whitley paused before the open door.

      It was decorated with a frilly lace bed skirt, lacy curtains, a white crocheted spread, pictures of flowers and a shelf full of dainty china. Emily chuckled. “His room is so masculine. Yours quite the opposite.”

      Mrs. Whitley gave her a cheery smile. “You’d wonder how such different people could live together in complete harmony, and yet we do.” She led the way to the end of the hall where two more doors stood across from each other. She opened the one on the left. It was a tidy little room with a double bed covered in a crazy patchwork quilt, a dresser and a table, and on the table was a Bible. The window, Emily knew, would look out on that leafy tree. It would be a pleasant place to spend the night. And then? Hopefully her memory would have returned and she could get on with her plans. Whatever they were.

      “You can put your things in here.” Mrs. Whitley pressed her fingers to her mouth. Her eyes widened. “Oh, my dear. I am so sorry. You have no belongings. Now I wonder what use a woman’s and a child’s luggage would be to three robbers.” Jesse had told his grandmother the details of the robbery. Mrs. Whitley patted Emily’s arm. “Never mind. Jesse might find some of your things. If not, we’ll soon have you fixed up. I’d offer you something of mine but I’m afraid it would be too small. The people of Bella Creek are kind and generous, though, especially the Marshalls.” As she talked she opened the fourth door into a room similar to the one she’d shown Emily. “Mikey can sleep in here. Would you like that, young man?”

      Mikey stood in the doorway, studied the room a moment then turned to face the women. “Mem, mem, mem, mem.”

      “What is he saying?” Mrs. Whitley asked.

      “I don’t know. Perhaps he’s asking for his mama.” Emily knelt to face Mikey. “Honey, I don’t know what you mean.”

      He nodded and stuck his thumb in his mouth. His wide blue eyes studied her.

      She got the feeling she had disappointed him. But she had no idea why. She rose. “We’ll be very comfortable. Thank you.”

      Mrs. Whitley nodded. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

      Emily knew the woman couldn’t give her what she needed the most—answers about who she was.

      “Now, come along and I’ll show you my favorite room of the house.” They followed her back down the stairs and across the living room to the door from which she had burst not long ago.

      Emily followed her into a room full of fabric and a large table on which Mrs. Whitley had been cutting out a garment. An open cupboard held various colored threads and several pincushions. In the corner stood a dress form. Emily circled the room, touching several things. “This feels familiar.”

      “Good. Feel free to explore. It might help you remember.”

      Emily lifted a big pair of cutting shears, balancing them in one hand and then the other. She had handled a pair like this. She could see herself sewing a seam, feel the pride she took in her tiny, even stitches. But nothing more would come and she set the scissors aside with a sigh.

      “Anything?” Mrs. Whitley asked.

      “I’m afraid not.”

      “Well, not to worry.” She turned to Mikey. “I think I might have a few toys around. Would you like to help me find them?”

      Mikey smiled. “’Kay.”

      Emily followed them from the room, pausing at the doorway to look back. The sense of familiarity lingered, but nothing more came.

      Mrs. Whitley opened a cupboard that revealed a space under the stairs. “Look at that. A whole box of toys.” She pulled the box toward them. “Mikey, have a look and see if there is anything you’d like to play with.”

      The boy knelt and took out a ball, a collection of farm animals, several books and a little wagon. He soon played happily.

      Emily looked about, at a loss as to what she should do. “Were you making something?” She nodded toward the sewing room.

      “I am making several dresses for a Mrs. Abernathy. She’s in the family way and none of her clothes fit. Would you like to see what I’m doing?”

      “Yes, please.” Emily moved Mikey and the toys closer to the door where she could watch him. As she straightened, the room tipped sideways. She sank to the floor, clutching her head in her hands.

      Mrs.

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