about his lady friends. The woman might have been a whore, or maybe a respectable woman who didn’t want it known that Freddie was screwing her.”
Chad grew pensive. Was he missing some pertinent piece of information? he wondered. Was there something about Freddie Jackson and the mysterious woman that he should know about? It was something to chew over, he decided. Chad and Cal Bork parted company a short time later. Returning to the boardinghouse, Chad spent a fitful night, tossing and turning in the lumpy bed, wondering how Sarah and Abner were faring without him.
Carrie Barlow entered Sarah’s house early the next morning. Sarah was already awake, having spent a sleepless night worrying about her shaky future.
“I don’t have much time,” Carrie said as she wielded her bulky form into the bedroom. “The kids will be up soon and looking for their breakfast I’ll fire up the stove and heat some water for a sponge bath. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful, Carrie, but I feel guilty for imposing on you like this. Mr. Delaney shouldn’t have approached you. You have enough to do without taking on another responsibility.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey. Mr. Delaney is a godsend. I didn’t know where our next meal was coming from before he turned up on my doorstep. Charlie still can’t work. Doc Clayter says it will be another couple of weeks before he’s up and around. Our money was all gone and when Mr. Delaney offered to pay me for helping you, I was happy to accept”
Sarah brooded in silence as Carrie busied herself in the kitchen. She’d never met a man like Chad Delaney. She sensed the secret darkness festering inside him. Whatever bothered him hadn’t completely corrupted him, for his innate goodness shone through his tough exterior. He exuded an earthy quality, like a sturdy oak upon which one could lean. He tried to hide his decency but he didn’t fool Sarah.
Sarah knew Chad hated playing nursemaid, that he couldn’t wait to be rid of her and Abner, and she couldn’t blame him. She was nothing to him. For all he knew she was the whore the townspeople and her parents called her. Just when she was convinced he was the worst kind of renegade though, he did something completely out of character. He bought food for her and Abner and paid someone to come in twice a day to help. He didn’t have to do it, which said a lot about his character.
Despite his compassionate nature, Chad Delaney had an arrogant streak a mile wide. He was a man, and Sarah had learned the hard way not to trust men. Everything men did was suspect. Their brains hung between their legs and they did and said whatever it took to satisfy their lust. She knew firsthand how a man’s raging lust could ruin an innocent woman.
Carrie returned a short time later with a basin of warm water and a threadbare towel. With quick efficiency she helped bathe and dress Sarah and brushed her hair into a semblance of order.
“You look much better,” Carrie said approvingly. “I’ll just empty this chamberpot for you and see about breakfast.”
Sarah followed Carrie into the kitchen, wishing she could do something to help. A few minutes later Abner wandered in from outside.
“Is breakfast ready yet?”
“Just like my kids,” Carrie said, smiling. “They’re always hungry.” She stretched and rubbed her back. “I’ll whip up something before I leave.”
“Are you all right?” Sarah asked, noting Carrie’s obvious discomfort.
“I’m fine. I woke up with a nagging pain in my back. Too much lifting, I reckon.”
Carrie found oatmeal in the cupboard and set a pot of water on the stove to boil. Ten minutes later it was done and she spooned the thick gruel into two bowls and set them before Sarah and Abner. Abner dug in immediately but Sarah sat looking at hers with longing. Her bandages didn’t allow her hands to bend around a spoon. She watched Abner eat, intending to ask him to help her when he finished.
Suddenly the door
Chad grew pensive. Was he missing some pertinent piece of information? he wondered. Was there something about Freddie Jackson and the mysterious woman that he should know about? It was something to chew over, he decided. Chad and Cal Bork parted company a short time later. Returning to the boardinghouse, Chad spent a fitful night, tossing and turning in the lumpy bed, wondering how Sarah and Abner were faring without him.
Carrie Barlow entered Sarah’s house early the next morning. Sarah was already awake, having spent a sleepless night worrying about her shaky future.
“I don’t have much time,” Carrie said as she wielded her bulky form into the bedroom. “The kids will be up soon and looking for their breakfast I’ll fire up the stove and heat some water for a sponge bath. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful, Carrie, but I feel guilty for imposing on you like this. Mr. Delaney shouldn’t have approached you. You have enough to do without taking on another responsibility.”
“Don’t worry about it, honey. Mr. Delaney is a godsend. I didn’t know where our next meal was coming from before he turned up on my doorstep. Charlie still can’t work. Doc Clayter says it will be another couple of weeks before he’s up and around. Our money was all gone and when Mr. Delaney offered to pay me for helping you, I was happy to accept”
Sarah brooded in silence as Carrie busied herself in the kitchen. She’d never met a man like Chad Delaney. She sensed the secret darkness festering inside him. Whatever bothered him hadn’t completely corrupted him, for his innate goodness shone through his tough exterior. He exuded an earthy quality, like a sturdy oak upon which one could lean. He tried to hide his decency but he didn’t fool Sarah.
Sarah knew Chad hated playing nursemaid, that he couldn’t wait to be rid of her and Abner, and she couldn’t blame him. She was nothing to him. For all he knew she was the whore the townspeople and her parents called her. Just when she was convinced he was the worst kind of renegade though, he did something completely out of character. He bought food for her and Abner and paid someone to come in twice a day to help. He didn’t have to do it, which said a lot about his character.
Despite his compassionate nature, Chad Delaney had an arrogant streak a mile wide. He was a man, and Sarah had learned the hard way not to trust men. Everything men did was suspect. Their brains hung between their legs and they did and said whatever it took to satisfy their lust. She knew firsthand how a man’s raging lust could ruin an innocent woman.
Carrie returned a short time later with a basin of warm water and a threadbare towel. With quick efficiency she helped bathe and dress Sarah and brushed her hair into a semblance of order.
“You look much better,” Carrie said approvingly. “I’ll just empty this chamberpot for you and see about breakfast.”
Sarah followed Carrie into the kitchen, wishing she could do something to help. A few minutes later Abner wandered in from outside.
“Is breakfast ready yet?”
“Just like my kids,” Carrie said, smiling. “They’re always hungry.” She stretched and rubbed her back. “I’ll whip up something before I leave.”
“Are you all right?” Sarah asked, noting Carrie’s obvious discomfort.
“I’m fine. I woke up with a nagging pain in my back. Too much lifting, I reckon.”
Carrie found oatmeal in the cupboard and set a pot of water on the stove to boil. Ten minutes later it was done and she spooned the thick gruel into two bowls and set them before Sarah and Abner. Abner dug in immediately but Sarah sat looking at hers with longing. Her bandages didn’t allow her hands to bend around a spoon. She watched Abner eat, intending to ask him to help her when he finished.
Suddenly the door
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