“What did my father do to make Amelia Bishop, who is by all accounts a well-to-do, adventurous young woman with a powerful father, marry a poor choice like Percy Ralston and live in hiding for months?” Winona curled up in Kevin’s arms.

He couldn’t believe how nice it was to have such a fine woman as his wife. “I don’t like your pa, what little I know of him. Add in the things you’ve told me of him and how fiercely you refused to live with him, and I can believe he did something so terrible Amelia thought she had to run and stay hidden.”

Kevin felt bad that he and his beautiful new wife believed her father was capable of doing something awful. Kevin’s father, Clovis Hunt, had done something awful, so he knew just how she felt.

“Cheyenne said Ralston lied to Amelia,” Win said. “Convinced her she was still in danger. And seeing as he was a rustler, and he was stealing from my father, his motives were very personal.”

“She picked a poor choice, for a fact. Why didn’t she just have Ralston take her to town? She could have told the sheriff she was afraid of your pa and stayed near him until the train left for the east.”

They sat together in the ramrod’s house. Kevin could hardly bear to let her out of his sight. She seemed just as devoted to him. After they’d been married awhile and the danger had passed, they would probably loosen up, but for now, he was hanging on tight to her, enjoying every moment.

“I should find time to talk with Molly,” Kevin said. “I tried to talk to her, but Wyatt’s fever spiked, and I didn’t really clear things up. The two of us were always partners running the farm, raising Andy. I feel like I’ve abandoned her.”

“I started talking to her a couple of times, but it’s hard when we’re taking care of Wyatt. We need to get over there and let her rest.”

“He’s past the worst of the danger. We’ll start taking turns caring for Wyatt, and once Molly is rested, we can both spend more time with her. I want her to know this new family I’ve started with you . . .” He paused to kiss Win long and deep. God was truly taking care of him. God would take care of them both. “Well, she’s part of that family. Marrying you doesn’t mean she’s not still my sister, partner, and friend.”

Things had changed though. And they would stay changed. But he wanted Molly to be a part of that change.

And he’d tell her that, just as soon as he could find a minute when she wasn’t busy, and he was able to pull himself away from his precious little wife.

Four

OCTOBER 1870