Page 47 of A Kiss of Frost
“Stan?” she asked as she recognized the man walking towards them.
Stan was a wiry older man, her father’s second in command. She had never cared for him, but he was neither as cruel nor as hot-tempered as her father.
He gave a quick, wary glance at Jack as he joined them.
“Got news for you.”
“What is it?” she asked cautiously
“Don’t suppose there’s any reason to sugarcoat it. Your Pa’s dead.”
“Dead?” The ground seemed to move beneath her feet. As much as she despised him, he had always been so full of life. It was almost impossible to imagine that life snuffed out. “What happened?”
“After you and the girl ran off,” Stan said, his voice carefully neutral. “Your pa and Guyten got into a big fight. Guyten accused him of hiding you and your pa accused Guyten of stealing you both.”
He gave her a quick look, but she was still too shocked to respond.
“It seemed like they patched up their differences, and they both went off to look for you. But then the storm came and only Guyten came back. He said your pa froze to death, but I reckon it was Guyten’s knife. He was going to claim our caravan too, but he’d been out in the cold too long. He didn’t make it.”
“Dead? They’re both dead?” she whispered, still stunned.
“Aye. You fixing to make a claim on the caravan?” he asked, studying her face.
“Me? No. I’m not interested..”
A look of what might have been relief crossed his face, even though he couldn’t seriously have thought she’d challenge him for the role of caravan master.
“Your things are still in the small wagon. Haven’t touched them. Reckon the least I can do is leave it with you.”
“I’d appreciate that,” she said with genuine gratitude. “And you’re welcome to stay and trade.”
“Nah. Not this time. Too soon. We’ll water the animals and move on. But we might be back in the fall if it’s okay with you.”
“We’ll be here.”
He nodded and moved away, yelling at a couple of his men to unhitch her wagon.
“I can’t believe my father’s gone,” she murmured to Jack.
“Are you upset?”
“I suppose I should be, but no. All I feel is relief.”
“Good. He does not deserve your tears. I will ask the men to help with the transfer of the wagon so we can tell Merry. Do you think she will be upset?”
“No I don’t think so.” She recovered enough to give him a teasing grin. “And if she is, I’m sure Johnny will comfort her.”
They returned to their home and Merry was just as relieved as she had predicted. Work was abandoned for the rest of the afternoon, and Jack took them off into the fields behind the outpost for a picnic, although she suspected it was also to give the caravan time to leave.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked as they climbed into bed that night.
“I really am. I always knew he was a terrible father, but it’s even more obvious now after seeing how wonderful you are with all of the children.” She bit her lip, trying to decide on the best way to approach her question. “In fact, I was thinking…”
“It is always dangerous when you begin a sentence with those words,” he said, but his eyes sparkled with laughter.
“All right then, I was wondering if perhaps you might consider expanding your fatherly duties.” She took a deep breath. “I was wondering if we should have a baby - that is, if it’s possible.”
His eyes blazed blue fire, happiness in every line of his face.