“It would come in handy. Maybe I could go around clearing them all out of the cabin.”

“You bother to kill one fly, several dozen more gonna come to its funeral.”

Astrid paused and stared at Judd as though trying to make sense of what he was saying. Greta couldn’t contain a smile.

“Came to get some grub started.” He nodded at the stove.

“You needn’t worry about doing the cooking anymore. I was just about to make the coffee.” Greta moved toward the stove but swayed and had to grab the table to steady herself.

Judd took a quick step but stopped and twisted his hat. “Wyatt said you’re aimin’ to do the cooking. But I figured you’d be unpacking.”

She pressed a hand to her forehead again.

Judd’s fluffy white brows furrowed. “Seeing as how you’re so busy, I reckoned I could lend a hand.”

She wasn’t busy. And she suspected they both knew it. But with the way she was feeling, she didn’t know how she could turn down his gracious offer.

“I reckon I could lend a hand too.” Astrid’s sweet voice imitated Judd’s southern drawl, and when she moved beside him, Judd’s mustache curled up again.

Greta forced herself not to smile at the child’s antics. Instead, she pressed a hand on her hip and nodded to the bedroom. “I reckon you can go get dressed just like I asked you to and leave Judd alone.”

“I don’t mind none.” Judd limped farther into the cabin, making his way to the stove. “Can always use a pardner.”

“W-e-l-l then.” Astrid’s smile widened. “I guess I’ll be your pardner.”

“That’d be real nice.” Judd’s gaze met Greta’s and was filled with a kindness that brought a lump to her throat.

Astrid had been shunned too often since getting sick. Though Greta had tried her best to shield the little girl from the comments and the glares slanted her way, no doubt Astrid had felt the rejection, which made her long for attention and love all the more.

But since coming to Colorado, where the sunshine seemed to perpetually shine, perhaps it was shining down on Astrid in more ways than one. Greta could only pray her sister would finally get her share of happiness.

But a place deep inside her warned that sunshine never lasted forever.

Chapter 9

A deep, hacking cough shook Astrid’s thin frame.

Greta watched helplessly until Astrid caught her breath, and then she finished rubbing salve onto the child’s chest, the strong scent of elderberry and beeswax filling the bedroom.

Astrid sucked in several deep breaths.

“Time for some tea.” Greta placed a hand gently underneath the girl and tried to lift her.

“I don’t like it.” Astrid resisted, her pale face blending into the bedcovers.

“You have to drink something.”

“I’ll have some of Judd’s black water.”