California Romance by Colleen L. Reece

forward and flopped his hands over his raised knees. He smiled patiently. “Often enough.”
    “Do you think she’s pretty?”
    “Oh yeah. Sure, kid,” came Matt’s distracted reply. This was dangerous territory. He didn’t want to hurt Seth’s feelings, but he really wasn’t interested in thinking about whether the girl in Seth’s wrinkled photo was pretty or not. He glanced at his friend, who had sat up and was rummaging through his vest pockets.
    “I know I’ve got another picture of her around here somewhere,” Seth muttered. “It’s more recent. I sent my folks a letter back in July.”
    “Hmm,” Matt answered, not really paying attention. Watching Chase graze, he thought how dry and unappetizing the late October grass must taste—even to a horse.
    “I sent a picture of the two of us,” Seth prattled on, “you know, when that fancy Eastern photographer, who set up shop next to Judge Barry’s office, was offering a special during the Fourth of July celebration. It turned out real fine, and I sent it to my mother and Sarah—so they’d see I’m doing okay.”
    Matt didn’t answer, but Seth persisted. “I got a letter yesterday from Sarah—and she sent another photograph. You want to see it?”
    Matt yawned. “The picture or the letter?”
    Seth gave Matt a disgusted look and passed him the photograph.
    Matt sat up and glanced at the picture. Against his will his eyes widened. His pulse quickened. This young woman couldn’t be the same girl he’d seen in the photograph he’d dug out of Seth’s saddlebags the year before! She was more than pretty—she was striking. Her clear gaze—no doubt the same color blue as Seth’s—riveted Matt. She seemed to be smiling just for him.
    Stop it!
he berated himself.
It’s not like you to get moonstruck over a picture!
He swallowed and quickly handed it back to Seth. “Real nice, kid,” he managed. “I sure hope you can get her out here, like your ma wants. From what you’ve told me, your sister’s life sounds pretty rotten.” If Matt ever saw that low-down sidewinder of a stepfather, he’d have a thing or two to say to him about the way a man should treat his wife and children!
    Seth sighed. “I don’t know if Sarah will ever come out now.” He held up a well-handled piece of paper. “This letter says that my mother is in the family way. Guess I’ll be getting a new little brother or sister sometime next spring.” He shrugged. “No matter. I’ll probably never see the baby—or Sarah, for that matter.” He stuffed the picture and letter into his vest pocket and stared out across the valley, quiet all of a sudden.
    Matt straightened up, suddenly ashamed for treating the photograph of Seth’s sister lightly. He’d “adopted” Seth so completely that he occasionally forgot the young man had a mother and a sister whom he must love dearly—just as Matt loved Dori. “Hey Seth,” he apologized gruffly, “I’m sorry. Real sorry about the hard times with your family. As soon as your mother is settled with the new little one, no doubt Sarah will be able to come out to the Golden State.” He smiled and punched his young friend lightly on the shoulder.
    Seth didn’t smile. “Sarah wrote that Mama will need her more than ever once the baby comes. She’s fixed her mind on staying.” He looked at Matt. Misery showed on his tanned face. “My stepfather will work her to death, most likely, or marry her off to one of his disreputable acquaintances.” Seth clenched his fists and drove them into the ground. “And I’m helpless. Helpless to do anything but watch it happen. I almost dread another letter.”

    Seth received no more letters. The following spring a telegram came to Seth, in care of the Diamond S Ranch, Madera, California. His sister had been born. But his mother and the baby had died.
    Matt’s heart ached with pity and the pain of remembering his own losses. Now the boy who had carved out a special place in Matt’s heart