Trapper studied them as the nurse gave instructions to Mrs. Adams and marched back to the boat. The tallest daughter, with her blond hair, would probably be from the first wife. Two and Three from a redheaded wife. And Four and Five from the third wife. He’d guess that wife had brown hair and big brown eyes.

Trapper turned to his charges. “Look, little ladies, I doubt I’ll straighten those names out in three weeks, so how about I call you in order by number?” He pointed to the tall blonde, first in line. “One.” Then the two auburn-haired girls. “Two and Three.” He smiled at the next and couldn’t help but laugh as she giggled, waiting for her number. “Four,” he said, touching her nose. The tiny one waited for her new name. “You’re Five. It’s a game we’ll play.” He glanced at the widow. “A secret game. Like code names.”

When he noticed the widow asked no questions, he added, “Only we have to call her Mrs. Adams. She deserves our respect. She lost her man in the war.”

All the girls nodded except Five. She was spinning around again like an unbalanced top.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After a stop at the outhouse behind the church, Trapper headed out smiling. He could almost feel the five hundred dollars in his hand. For once he was planning a future and not running away from a past.

This might work, thanks to the widow. She’d watch over the girls and help with the cooking. She didn’t even want to be paid. Just a ride to Dallas. How lucky could he get? She was pretty too, but sad and pale. With no husband she probably thought she had the weight of the world on those little shoulders.

An hour out of town Number One crawled up on the bench with him. She looked as proper as if she was sitting in church. “Mr. Trapper.”

“Just Trapper,” he corrected.

“Mr. Trapper,” she insisted. “I was wondering if I could man the reins.”

“You know how to handle a wagon?” He swore her pointed little nose went up two inches. “A four-horse rig.”

“I’m Colonel Chapman’s daughter, sir. I assure you, I was driving a wagon by the time I was six, riding at four.”

Trapper was impressed. He handed her the reins. The road was pointed straight west and dry. How much trouble could she get into?

Ten minutes later he decided she was better than he was at handling the team. “Any time you want to drive just let me know, One.”

She smiled. “I’m thirteen years old, sir. I’m almost grown. We will get along fine if you remember that fact.”