LITMIR.BIZ

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She paused and shrugged. “I know they mourned her terribly, and I suspect they felt guilty. They tried to make amends by taking Stephen into our home. They were good to him, and between us, we took care of him until the day Lester made off with him.”

      “I sure as hell hope they went to court to make Lester pay for what he did, not only stealing from your father, but his part in your sister’s death,” Brace muttered darkly. “And now Lester is after you. The man must be demented.”

      Her sidelong glance held a touch of macabre humor, he thought, as did the words she spoke. “To want me? Thanks a whole lot.” How she could still scrape up that small amount of humor in her situation gave him a glimpse into her mind. She was a woman of courage, and given a fair chance could have held her own against a man of Lester’s ilk.

      She was also considerably older than he’d guessed at first. Twenty-four, if he’d figured right, if it had been eight years since Lester’s proposal. She was old enough to know her mind. And that made her more eligible as a woman in his eyes, a thought he set aside for future consideration.

      The situation she faced at this point reeked of danger and duplicity. Her safe haven right now was here, with him, Brace decided. And he’d see to it she and the boy came to no harm. Although where that would leave him, once this thing was resolved, was a question he’d rather not consider right now.

      Suddenly the thought of Sarah Murphy walking away and leaving him alone again held no appeal whatsoever.

       Chapter Four

       T he beef stew was excellent, and Brace’s expectations were lifted by the flavor of fresh, homemade food. He’d do well to keep Sarah on here, and would no doubt be assured of regular meals.

      “You can cook,” he said quietly, the words a firm statement. He watched as Stephen left the table and trotted out the back door toward the shed. It seemed the lure of kittens was strong. The child disappeared inside the small building, and Brace’s brief fear was relieved when Stephen reappeared moments later with two kittens in hand. He sat in the yard and frolicked with the tiny animals, his laughter bringing Sarah to attention.

      “He hasn’t sounded so happy in a long time,” she said quietly. “Thank you, Sheriff. I really appreciate what you’ve done for us. I just hope you don’t get in hot water over this.”

      “I’m not worried,” Brace replied. “I’d rather put my job on the line than see a child abused. There’s always another job around the corner if I need to start looking.”

      Sarah smiled. The man would never have to go out scouring for work. He was prime material, a masculine sort who seemed cut out for the career he’d chosen. Lawman. He fit the title to a T. Tall and strong, with principles and moral standards. Compared to him, Lester appeared less than worthless.

      “I doubt they’ll be out combing the woods for a new man to take your place anytime soon,” she told him. “They’d be foolish people if they let you loose.”

      “I’m not worried for today, anyway,” he repeated. “And if you keep on cooking this way, I’ll have a hard time turning you loose myself, Miss Murphy.”

      She met his dark eyes and smiled. “Sarah,” she said, correcting him mildly.

      “Sarah.” He repeated her name slowly, as if he savored it on his tongue, and she felt a blush stain her cheeks. His eyes were piercing as he took her measure. “You’ll do, Sarah Murphy.” And then the sound of Stephen at the back door caught their attention.

      “Aunt Sarah?” He called her name fretfully, and his small face pressed against the screen mesh of the door. “Are you still here? You’re not going away, are you?”

      “I’m here, Stephen,” she answered quickly. “Now, why don’t you come on inside and get your bedroom settled before dark?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” he said readily. “I saw the one right at the top of the stairs, and I like it just fine.”

      “The first room is a storage area,” Brace said quickly. “It has just a narrow slit of a window and no furniture to speak of. I’ve used it for odds and ends.”

      “I like it just fine, sir,” Stephen said. “There’s a bunch of soldiers there in a box and some little, bitty wooden animals. I’d like to sleep there if it’s all right.”

      Brace smiled, thinking of the menagerie of carved animals he’d stashed on a shelf in the room, and then again as he considered the collection of tin soldiers he’d played with as a child. “If that’s what you want, it’s all right with me, son,” he said. “I’ll bring down a bed from the attic for you. I think there’s a decent mattress up there.”

      “Thank you,” Sarah said quietly. “Not having a big window won’t bother him at all, I’d venture to say. He’d be fearful of someone…”

      “I understand.” And he did. The child was vulnerable, afraid of the man who had fathered him but treated him as a possession in order to gain what he really wanted.

      Sarah. The thought of Lester’s hands on Sarah’s flesh made Brace’s hackles rise.

      He turned to her now and watched as she wiped the last of the bowls and set it on the shelf. “How about picking out a room for yourself?” he asked, and smiled as she nodded her agreement. “Let’s go on up before the sun sets, so you can see what you’re getting into.”

      “I already checked things out,” she said softly. “I went up to see the space Stephen chose for his own. He dragged me up for a look-see, and I glanced into the other rooms while I was there.”

      “All right. Let’s take your things up, then, and you can set your belongings to rights,” Brace suggested. Without awaiting her agreement, he rose and walked to the hallway, searching out the worn canvas pack she’d brought with her. The woman traveled light—he’d give her that much. “Is this it?” he asked. “Did you leave anything at the hotel?”

      “No. I snatched up just what I thought I’d need for a couple of days when I left home. I guess I didn’t realize how long this trip would be.”

      “We can get you more at the general store if need be,” Brace said, trudging up the stairs, thinking he’d like to dress her in silk and soft lace. The errant thought scampered through his mind, and he relegated it to the compartment labeled “Forbidden.” It would not do to frighten the woman with his interest. And yet, as he turned from the doorway of his spare room to face her, he was lost in the vision of feminine grace she exuded. Soft and womanly, yet young and untried. For he’d warrant she had not known a man, had not succumbed to passion.

      “I’m fine,” she said. “I don’t require much in the line of clothing. Not so long as you have a scrub board and a clothesline handy.”

      “Come on in, Sarah,” he said, walking ahead of her into the small bedroom. A narrow bed drew her eyes and she glanced at him. “It’s a bed designed for one person,” he told her. “I won’t be changing the rules on you. Just thought I’d better let you know. I’m not a man to take advantage of a woman.” And wasn’t that a shame, he thought. He’d rarely been so taken with a female—only once before, in fact. And the difference between them was in his favor—this one was available.

      He watched as Sarah unpacked her clothing, noting the scant number of items she carried to the dresser: several pieces of underclothing and a full-bodied white nightgown. Two dresses were stuffed into the bag, plus another pair of britches and what looked like a boy’s flannel shirt. As alluring as the britches she wore had proved to be, he wondered what she would look like in one of the dresses and then shook his head.

      “What?” she asked sharply.

      “Just thinking,” he told her, walking to where she stood by the bed. The case was empty now and he took it from her. “I’ll put this in the attic, Sarah. You won’t be needing it for some time.”

      “You mean to keep

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