Tracie Peterson - [Heirs of Montana 04] by The Hope Within Page B

can’t be your savior or Winona’s.”
    “I’m glad you realize that. I feel bad that I cannot answer Winona’s questions or comfort her. However, do not think to give her false hope or to put ideas in her head that might be better avoided.”
    “Ideas?” he asked. “What ideas are you talking about?”
    She cast the towel to the counter. “Ideas about replacing Levi. She’s looking for another father—for someone to fill the void in her heart. I’m not. I don’t want another husband, and I certainly wouldn’t consider a child such as you even if I were.”
    Joshua’s mouth dropped open, clearly stunned by her words. Ardith took that opportunity to push past him and run for the sanctuary of her bedroom. In her heart she harbored bitterness toward Joshua for his interference … and Levi for his desertion. But most of all, she reserved her rage for God—the one who could have kept it all from going so terribly wrong.
    The trip to Kansas hadn’t been an easy one. The boys constantly wanted to roam the train and talk to everyone on board. John, especially, seemed prone to getting into trouble, while Luke and Micah worked just as hard to keep him under control. Lia found train travel made her sick to her stomach, which in turn made her tired and grumpy. Between chasing after her sons and cleaning up after Lia, Dianne was ready to forget the entire trip and return home.
    Of course, I was ready to do that before we ever set out, she reminded herself as she rocked Lia in her arms. The train lurched and bounced as it made its way ever closer to Topeka. They were supposed to be in the city limits very soon. After that, the conductor assured them it would only be another few minutes before they could exit the train. Dianne sighed. It couldn’t come soon enough.
    Cole had barely talked to her during the trip. His mind was clearly preoccupied with what he would find in Kansas. She knew he worried that his father would already be dead—that he’d have no chance to show him the children or to say goodbye. She knew, too, that Cole worried about his mother. He’d already mentioned not knowing what she would do after his father passed on. Dianne had suggested she move to the Diamond V, but Cole had quickly put that idea aside, reminding her that if their old house were still standing that might very well work, but his mother couldn’t live in a rustic cabin.
    She had then suggested his mother could live in the Virginia City house when they moved back to the ranch. Cole hadn’t responded immediately to this, and she thought for several miles that the idea merited some positive reaction. Then he up and declared that his mother would never want to leave his sisters and be separated from her grandchildren.
    Dianne didn’t remind him that their children were her grandchildren as well. She simply didn’t care enough to press the issue. She was tired and dirty and more than ready to leave the train.
    “Look, Mama, the city!” Luke declared, his nose pressed to the glass. They’d had the window open earlier only to find the ashes from the smokestacks more unbearable than the humid heat.
    “I see it,” Dianne said, trying hard to match the excitement of her ten-year-old son. Everything was an adventure to him, while to her it was just one more reminder that she was very far from home.
    “Do you see it, Pa?” Micah questioned.
    Cole nodded. “I do.”
    Lia stirred in Dianne’s arms. “Are we there yet?”
    “Yes,” she assured, smoothing back her daughter’s damp hair. “We’ll be getting off any minute.”
    “And then we’ll see Grandma and Grandpa Selby, right?” Luke asked.
    “Grandma and Grandpa Selby,” John parroted.
    Dianne thought Cole might respond, but he just turned within himself and frowned. “Yes, but remember, Grandpa is very sick,” she told them.
    The boys nodded solemnly. Dianne encouraged Lia to sit up. “We’re nearly there. Let me fix your hair.”
    “I wired Ma that we’d rent a