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  He reached out and touched her upper arm. “And what if he’s fine? Can I at least talk to him?”

  Over his shoulder, the two wagons creaked to a stop. They were piled high with lumber that she hadn’t noticed before.

  Two men sat astride fine horses, pointing to the flat swath of land behind the soddy, away from the creek bank. If she blinked, she could easily imagine a wood-sided barn there.

  “Fine,” she whispered. “You can talk to him. He’s inside.”

  Matty squeezed her arm gently. He moved past her and disappeared into the soddy.

  She stood where she was, half afraid to believe this was even happening. Matty had come back. Even knowing about her parentage.

  She didn’t know whether to pray that Pop would send him home or that he would allow it. Thinking of having a new barn—a freestanding structure!—was wonderful.

  She had to force herself to slow down. Take a breath. Matty might’ve come back, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be with her. Even if he did, how could they be together with his job in town and her working the homestead?

  Perhaps he simply felt sorry for her. Wanted to pay her back for helping him when he’d been injured.

  She couldn’t hope for more than that.

  A young man rode forward at a gallop, finally reining in just behind Matty’s horse. His animal tossed its head and the rider laughed—a trilling, melodic laugh.

  Catherine gasped as the young woman dismounted, removing her hat to reveal a long blond braid down her back. She was slender, blue-eyed and dressed like a man. Just like Catherine.

  “You must be Catherine. I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m Breanna.” She came forward with a wide smile and hand outstretched.

  Catherine couldn’t seem to find her voice. “Hullo,” she said finally.

  Breanna pumped her hand in an exuberant handshake. “Matty has told us hardly anything about you, other than you live alone out here.”

  More riders arrived, men dismounting behind Breanna’s horse. From a distance, another wagon moved slowly toward them. This one appeared to be full of…women.

  “Did my brother drive you crazy when he was here?” Breanna barely took a breath between words.

  Catherine couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from the approaching women. She’d begun to tremble.

  “Breanna, quit bothering Matty’s girl,” one of the men called out.

  She opened her mouth to retort that she wasn’t Matty’s girl, but Breanna linked arms with her.

  “I’m only trying to warn her about you,” Breanna called back to the men. To Catherine, she murmured, “Our family might be big, and noisy, but we’re all behind you.”

  Why?

  “Let me introduce you to everyone.”

  Breanna kept her close with that arm threaded through the crook of her elbow, though Catherine could have pulled away at any time. She met brothers and then wives and Jonas and Penny, Matty’s parents.

  They all greeted her warmly. There were no sidelong glances, no whispers after she and Breanna turned away. Only a simple curiosity.

  Matty must’ve told them about her isolation on the homestead, about her lack of education, but they seemed to…like her.

  She couldn’t understand it. Matty obviously hadn’t told them about her parentage—she couldn’t see them accepting her so easily if he had.

  But regardless…they didn’t turn their noses up at her because of the way she was dressed or her simple home.

  “Breanna!” A young boy ran up and threw himself at Breanna, forcing her to let go of Catherine in order to catch him.

  “Watch out, you hooligan!” Breanna laughed. To Catherine, she said, “My brother Andrew.” And to the boy, “We’re trying not to scare off Catherine, remember?”

  They were?

  “Who’s that?” Breanna asked.

  Catherine looked up. A wagon approached from the north—the opposite direction all the Whites had come from.

  “It looks like…” Catherine’s voice trailed off as realization hit. Mr. Elliott, and his family.

  *

  Inside the soddy, Matty sat on Catherine’s cot with Pop across from him, his leg still propped on the bed.

  The old man looked more frail than Matty remembered, but he was just as stubborn and moody. Matty hadn’t had enough time with Catherine outside, time to check for bruises or the haunted look in her eyes that she’d had in the days after Pop had attacked her.

  “I’ve brought some help for Catherine,” Matty said. “Just for today.”

  Pop’s brows scrunched together like two white, fuzzy caterpillars. “Who?” he barked.

  “My family. My pa and ma, my brothers and sisters and their wives—the ones who are married. Sent an invite to your neighbor Elliott. And a couple of friends from town.”

  “We don’t need no charity.” Pop’s jaw was set, his eyes squinty and unreadable.

  And Matty started to get riled up. “If you’d like, think of it as repayment for all the food you fed me while I was here. And the lodging.” Such as it was.

  Pop snarled.

  “You know how hard she works to provide for you,” he infused the words with all the fervor he felt, especially that Pop would make things difficult for Catherine when it didn’t have to be that way. “You don’t have to come outside if it’s going to stir up bad memories.”

  Pop considered for a long time, staring at the wall. Finally, he nodded.

  “I brought someone to see you, as well. If you feel up to it, my brother Maxwell—the doctor—could examine you. See if he can’t figure out why you’re getting short of breath.”

  Pop’s eyes narrowed. “That’s awful presumptuous of you. I don’t wanna see no doctor.”

  “It’s not presumption. I care about Catherine, and Catherine loves you.”

  He shrugged. “I ain’t interested in someone poking and prodding me, just to tell me what I already know. When it’s my time, the good Lord will take me home.”

  “But—”

  “I ain’t talking about it no more!”

  Frustrated, Matty rose and thrust his hand through his hair before mashing his hat back on his head. With the old man in this state of mind, there was no way he was changing his decision. Matty could come back in later and try again. He hadn’t gotten Maxwell all the way out here just to walk away when Pop might benefit from an examination.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Catherine had been stuck in place, afraid to disrupt the tentative friendship Breanna offered. It would’ve been rude to just walk away. Thus, she hadn’t been able to escape as the Elliotts’ wagon had rumbled up to the homestead.

  Did you see her hair?

  She was incredibly aware of the dirty state of her clothing—she’d missed a wash day in her scramble to salvage what she could from the flattened barn and keep the homestead afloat. And her clothing had been worn to start with.

  And the soddy behind her was so simple compared to the Elliotts’ fine home.

  But she would look like a scared rabbit if she ran away, abandoning Breanna.

  Michaela descended from the wagon, helped by her father, just as one final wagon approached in the far distance. Just how many people had Matty invited out here?

  As if summoned by her thoughts, the man exited the soddy. His expression was serious, maybe upset. Had Pop refused the assistance, after Matty had gathered all the help out here? But he nodded at Catherine, his eyes crinkling slightly.

  Pop had approved.

  Matty joined the two men she’d seen earlier who seemed to be discussing the placement of the barn and maybe its dimensions. They didn’t ask for her okay, but she didn’t mind all that much. Having a sturdy freestanding structure would be a huge blessing, and Matty would make a good decision for the placement. He’d proven himself knowledgeable enough while he’d been here before.

  Which left her to greet folks.

  Not a position that was comfortable for her.

  “Thank you for comin
g,” she said awkwardly as Michaela approached, her arms bundled with a large wicker basket.

  The conversation immediately lagged as Michaela’s eyes flickered over Catherine’s attire and then to the young woman at her side.

  “I’m Breanna White,” Matty’s sister offered.

  Michaela’s eyes snapped with recognition, and she smiled.

  Could anyone else see how sickly sweet—and false—it seemed?

  “This is one of our neighbors, Michaela Elliott.” Catherine didn’t know if it was a proper introduction or not, but at least she’d made the effort.

  “Mama wanted to come but was feeling a little under the weather.”

  “It was kind of your father to bring his cowhands. I know Matty will appreciate the extra hands.” Catherine’s teeth ached as she clamped down on her real feelings even as she forced the words out. Why had the Elliotts come? Although they’d offered conversation, they hadn’t been particularly neighborly when she and Matty had visited before.

  The last wagon rolled to a stop, and Breanna inhaled sharply.

  Catherine’s eyes flicked to follow Breanna’s gaze to the wagon, but she didn’t understand what had caused the other young woman to tense. There were several people inside, a couple of young women and two men who appeared to be around Matty’s age.

  “Hey, Ma? Where are we setting up the food spread?” Breanna belted out the words, causing both Michaela and Catherine to jump, though Catherine caught herself and—hopefully—hid her reaction quickly.

  Penny took charge of Michaela and her basket of foodstuffs, just as the newcomers unloaded from their wagon.

  And Catherine got a good look at the nearest young woman. Instant recognition flared.

  Luella McKeever.

  All the noise, voices and horses stamping and even the creek burbling nearby faded away as Catherine registered the other woman’s presence.

  Had Matty invited her? Why, when he knew their history?

  “I—” Catherine turned to Breanna, her earlier plans not to abandon this new friend obliterated. She couldn’t breathe to find words to explain, to escape.

  Too late.

  “Morning, Breanna.” Luella’s voice rang out sweet and fresh.

  Catherine closed her eyes briefly, then allowed them to fly back open. Better to face whatever she would find in the other woman—friend or foe.

  She turned back to greet Luella. There would be no hiding for her. She wasn’t the same girl she’d been at eight.

  Catherine caught the surprised widening of Luella’s eyes. The matching recognition as Luella realized who she was.

  “Hullo. Is it…?”

  “Catherine.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but couldn’t stop the tremble. Homemade happy Cathy. The words from the past reverberated through her mind—including ones that Luella hadn’t said. Illegitimate. Shameful.

  Luella didn’t seem to know what to say, and Catherine wasn’t ashamed of the prick of gratefulness that her flapping mouth engendered. Finally, the other woman nodded to Breanna. “Eileen and I overheard Seb inviting Jim and the boys and we begged to come along.”

  Her eyes flicked to where the men were gathered, now laying out boards in a rough square on the grass.

  And suddenly Catherine remembered Matty’s statement on one of their very first days together. She’d asked him if he was sweet on someone and he’d answered with, It’s complicated.

  Because he’d been seeing Luella?

  “It’ll take a lot to feed this group of men. I’m sure Ma will be happy for the extra help,” Breanna was saying, even as Catherine’s thoughts whirled in circles.

  She nodded when Luella moved off to speak to Penny, who seemed to be coordinating the women’s efforts. It took everything in her to keep her lip from trembling as it wanted to.

  She knew Matty had a life back in Bear Creek. Hadn’t she just told herself this morning when he’d arrived that he had likely come out here today as repayment for taking him in?

  And then he’d leave again. He’d go back to his life, his friends. Maybe even Luella.

  She squinted against the sun shining directly into her eyes, making them water. When she couldn’t help it, she brushed a hand against the moisture and excused herself, slipping into the woods when no one was looking.

  *

  Catherine stood in the shade of a large poplar, half hidden behind the wagons and ground-tied horses. A bucket hung from one hand, but she’d finished watering the animals minutes ago, about the same time Penny had called the men away from their work for lunch.

  The lot of them had gone down to the creek to wash up.

  And she remained hidden, here, out of the way.

  The morning was gone, but the men had already constructed the frame of the building, beams that stretched to the sky. The women had spread picnic blankets across the grass in the sunshine and laid a bounty of food across them. The noise and movement of so many was unfamiliar and she was uncomfortable with the attention, though she’d forced herself to spend time with each of Matty’s sisters-in-law and his mother and to express her thanks for their part in today’s event.

  She’d studiously avoided both Michaela and Luella.

  Catherine felt bad that she had nothing to contribute. But she’d had no notice of this event and knowledge that it was coming.

  And the ladies didn’t seem to mind in the least.

  Earlier, Matty had been up on the crossbeams with several of his brothers preparing the roofline. He looked as if he’d never been injured, carrying boards, swinging a hammer, doing everything as if his collarbone had healed completely.

  She watched the easy camaraderie he shared with his family and found that she was the slightest bit jealous of the other men. They called out to each other in teasing tones, and he answered right back. There was a part of her that desperately wanted to be out there with them. But she didn’t know if she fit in. And that indecision had held her immobile.

  Now as the men traipsed eagerly toward the foodstuffs that had been prepared, Catherine saw the women, those who were wives, go out and greet their men. Sarah, who had a baby clinging to her hip, accepted a buss on the cheek from Oscar. Davy greeted his wife with an arm around her shoulders. And then Catherine saw something that made her gut tighten up. Both Luella and Michaela had joined the group and now stood talking to Matty and Seb. Both women wore stylish dresses that fluttered like flags in the stiff breeze. Both had their long hair pulled into what must be fashionable styles behind their heads, pinned artfully into place.

  Seeing Luella smile up into Matty’s welcoming face twisted Catherine’s insides. Her hands fisted at her sides. She felt sick.

  But her feet remained rooted in place. What would she do, go out there in front of everyone and attempt to bill and coo up at him, just like the other girls?

  And when he laughed outright at her?

  The memories of the past wouldn’t let go of her, and she’d almost decided to slip back into the woods—and perhaps not return until everyone was gone—when Breanna accosted her, giving her a shove toward the picnic blankets.

  “C’mon, I’m starving.”

  No doubt she was. Breanna had been among the men, hammering boards into place, although Catherine had seen her brothers shoo her away at times.

  Now that Breanna had pushed her out into the open—out of her hiding place—several pairs of eyes turned on her, including the two doctors, Maxwell and Hattie. It would make more of a scene if Catherine ran away, so she left the bucket behind and swallowed hard and moved toward Matty’s mother on one of the picnic blankets.

  “Is there anything left that I can help with?”

  Penny looked up and smiled. “I’m sure Matty would appreciate it if you made him a plate.”

  “Oh, but—” Wouldn’t that look as if she was courting his attention? She couldn’t.

  If he snubbed her for Luella, Catherine would look foolish.

  But Penny didn’t seem to sense her turmoil as she pressed
a tin plate into Catherine’s shaky hands.

  Blindly, Catherine filled the plate with a mix of foods.

  Why hadn’t she been paying better attention? She should’ve snuck off before Breanna had found her hiding place. But she’d been frozen, all because she’d seen Luella talking to Matty and…she’d been jealous. There. She admitted to the ugly emotion.

  The solution came to her as she scooped some kind of salad onto the now-overflowing plate.

  She could take the plate for herself and escape somewhere quiet. Pretend that she’d meant to do that the whole time.

  And then it was too late as a shadow fell over her.

  “That for me?”

  Catherine opened her mouth to tell him that it was her plate, but his mama beat her to it.

  “That’s right.”

  He took the plate before she could protest, switching hands and clasping her now-empty hand in his. He gave her a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

  “I’ll wait while you make a plate for yourself.”

  He would?

  She should make sure the other men were all taken care of—they’d been working all day to help her, after all.

  A quick glance around showed that everyone seemed to be either chatting or eating.

  “Go ahead, dear,” Penny encouraged.

  Her cheeks burned as she added a piece of fried chicken and a biscuit to her plate. Her stomach churned so she wasn’t sure she could eat at all.

  When she straightened, Matty was quick to put his hand beneath her elbow.

  “Let’s try to find somewhere quiet,” he murmured.

  And she didn’t shake his hand away. Didn’t run off into the woods.

  An empty picnic blanket at the edge of the gathering seemed like a safe place, but as soon as she and Matty settled on the blanket, Breanna and one of her nieces—Cecilia?—plopped down with them.

  “Go away, sis,” Matty growled playfully. But Catherine thought she heard a note of seriousness beneath his teasing tone.

  “You had Catherine all to yourself for two weeks,” Breanna returned. “We want to get to know her.”

  He muttered something under his breath.