“Two,” was all Miranda whispered before sliding into Cal’s massive arms and snuggling against him.
Everyone around this trio could do little more than stare. Leah wondered if young Miranda was always so forward, and she also wondered why the boys had said people, especially women, were afraid of them. This young lady certainly didn’t seem afraid of them.
“Miranda!” Mac said sharply as she gazed up into Cal’s big brown eyes.
With seeming reluctance Miranda turned to her father.
“Are you all right? You’re not hurt anywhere?” Mac asked, stiff-jawed.
“No,” she said slowly, making no attempt whatsoever to leave Cal’s arms. “I’m quite all right.” When Bud stood beside them she reached out her hand to his.
They were a striking trio, Miranda so small, Bud and Cal so large, the three of them wrapped together, unaware of anyone outside their tight circle.
“Miranda,” Wesley said, laughter in his voice, “may I introduce Bud and Cal Haran.”
“You’re Cal and you’re Bud,” she said softly and was rewarded with a nod from both of them. “Thank you for saving my life.”
Before a word could be said Miranda astonished them all by climbing onto the wagon underpinnings, slipping her arms about Cal’s neck, and kissing him thoroughly. Again Linnet put her hand on her husband’s arm while Miranda moved to Bud and kissed him too.
Moving back, Miranda put her hand on each big shoulder. “Come with me and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Together they walked away, leaving an astonished group behind them.
“Well, that should kill the romance.” Wesley broke the silence. “As soon as she finds out how much those two eat she’ll run from them.”
“I don’t like it, Linnet!” Mac said explosively. “I don’t like it at all. She’s never acted like that before. How come you raised a daughter that’d act like that about two strangers?”
Quite calmly, Leah thought, Linnet ignored her husband’s temper. “I’m afraid it must run in my family. I believe your daughter has just fallen in love.”
“In love!” Mac snapped at her. “She doesn’t even know them. Sometimes, Linnet, you say the—.”
“Devon,” Linnet said sweetly, “may I remind you that I fell in love with you when I first saw you? Why should your daughter do any differently?”
Mac stiffened. “There’s a lot of difference between me and those two! I was rescuing you and—.” The anger suddenly went out of him. “Which one do you think she’s in love with?” he asked heavily.
With a sigh Linnet looked toward their store. “I hope I’m wrong but it looks as if she wants both of them.”
Before Mac could speak, Wesley slapped him hard on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Mac. Two sons-in-law at once. And believe me, you’ll need all the supplies in your stores to feed them.”
Mac cast Wes a black look. “No daughter of mine—,” he began but stopped with a look of disgust. “Women!” he said between clenched teeth. “Come on, Lynna, let’s see what she’s up to now.”
Glumly Mac escorted his wife toward their store.
Turning, Leah smiled up at Wesley. “I don’t know if that solves something or starts new problems. Bud and Cal certainly did seem to take to Miranda, didn’t they?”
“Are you jealous?” he asked, half-serious, half in jest. “From now on you may not be the only woman in their lives.”
The sunlight on his face, his eyes shadowed by his broad-brimmed hat, made him look especially enticing. Her eyes went to his lips.
“Leah,” Wesley said huskily. “You’re singeing my eyebrows.”
Embarrassed, she looked away.
A crowd of people had gathered when Miranda’s wagon had torn down the street and many people had stayed, chuckling, to watch Miranda reward her saviors, but now they were moving away.
“That’s her!” gasped a heavyset woman, looking straight at Leah.
Leah froze where she was. Never would she forget that woman’s face. When Revis had shot her husband, the woman