Tracie Peterson - [Land of the Lone Star 03] by Taming the Wind Page B

time to time I like to put my hand in. I’ll probably be bringing some dishes to the Barnett ranch just to help with feeding all of you while the men are gone.”
    “What do you mean?” Carissa asked.
    Mrs. Terry frowned. “Didn’t you hear them explain that you and your sister will come here to stay while the men are gone?”
    Carissa shook her head. “But who will tend the farm?”
    “Will and Ted have already seen to all of that. Your animals will board here, and riders will go to check up on the place from time to time. It’s too dangerous otherwise. You won’t have anyone to help you should there be an Indian attack.”
    “Is that likely?” She tried not to sound fearful.
    “We don’t expect trouble, but we do plan for it,” Mrs. Terry replied. “Texas is still a wild country. Unlike the civilized states back east, we struggle to maintain order. The Kiowa and Comanche are still on the warpath, and we have to be prepared.”
    “So we’re to stay here at the ranch? How is that to work?”
    “Well, Hannah and William have added a good deal of space to this house. Hannah has extra rooms to share. You and Laura can each have a room as I understand it. You and Gloria will be together, and Laura can be with her boy.”
    Carissa felt a little uneasy at having her life dictated to her. “I suppose if that’s the only way . . .” She let the words trail off.
    “Well, it’s the safest way,” Tyler said as he took the seat to her right.
    His company surprised her, as earlier he’d sat between William and Mr. Terry. “I realize that I have little say in the matter, but it would have been nice to be consulted,” she murmured.
    He grinned. “Your sister said the same thing. Fact is, this is a much better choice for you. Hannah once did some favors for the Comanche, and they’ve been pretty good to leave this ranch alone. Doesn’t mean they always will, but at least you’ll have an extra element of protection.”
    “Hannah did favors for the Comanche?” Carissa asked, glancing down the table to where the petite blonde sat.
    “She sure did. Just about gave us all a heart attack. She went off to help the Comanche in their camp when they came down sick with smallpox. I thought William was going to lose his mind in tryin’ to find her. Kind of like when Brandon was searchin’ for Laura in Corpus.”
    Carissa frowned. “I’d rather not be reminded of that time.” She focused her attention on her plate and daintily picked up a rib. The meat was messy, but the flavor was well worth the trouble.
    “I didn’t mean to bring up bad times. We were just as desperate to find you, as I recall.”
    “Why did the Indians come to Hannah for help?”
    Tyler seemed prepared for this question. “She had helped to save the life of the chief’s son Night Bear, prior to their outbreak of the pox. After that, the word spread that she was a friend to the Numunuu. That’s the name the Comanche call themselves. It means, the people. They gave her that shield you saw in the other room.”
    “I wondered why civilized folks would have something like that in their house.”
    “Night Bear sometimes has come to see Hannah in the years since. He has a fondness for her cinnamon sweet rolls.” Tyler grinned. “But then, who doesn’t?”
    As the food dwindled and folks started pushing back from the table, Carissa went to take Gloria in hand. She could see that the child was nearly asleep on her feet. When she cradled Gloria against her shoulder, the little girl put her thumb in her mouth and closed her eyes.
    Then a moment later Gloria pulled her thumb out. “I’m not tired,” she insisted.
    “Yes, I can see that you’re wide awake.”
    Carissa nuzzled her face against Gloria’s curls as her daughter fought to keep her eyes open. Nothing felt as good as holding her baby.
    “You make a right good mama,” Tyler said, watching her from a nearby tree.
    “Thank you,” Carissa murmured. “Though sometimes I fear