Mountain Moonlight by Jane Toombs

spell," Pauline told her.
    "I believe you can help Davis," Vala said, putting as much conviction into her voice as possible.
    "Looks like maybe you brung me some good ones," Pauline said to Bram. She picked up the shotgun and led the way into the cabin.
    Because the several windows were small, the one-room interior was dark but, Vala saw, clean and neat. The furniture consisted of wooden chairs and a table, plus a cot. A curtained alcove held, she supposed, a bed and, perhaps a dresser. One entire wall was taken up by shelved open cupboards, with a sink fitted into one of the cupboards. Plastic water bottles were lined up on the lower shelves.
    The stove appeared to be either butane or oil.
    In one corner was a stone fireplace with a very small fire burning. The place smelled of herbs.
    "You got a cool house," Davis said as Pauline led him to the cot.
    "It suits," she said. "Now you got to take all your clothes off."
    "Right in front of everyone?"
    "If that bothers you, I'll herd us all onto the porch till you're under that sheet on the cot, flat on your belly."
    "Maybe if you just turned your backs, you and Bram and Mom."
    When Davis was ready, Vala watched as Pauline swung out a large kettle that hung over the fire and poured steaming water into a basin before she swung the kettle back into position.
    "I ain't gonna scald the boy," Pauline said, evidently catching Vala's worried expression.
    "Might be best if you and Bram go set up your tent nearby while I take care of Davis."
    "Good idea." Bram took Vala's hand, urging her out through the door.
    "I don't know--" she began as he closed the door behind them.
    "I do. Pauline won't do anything to harm Davis. Her potions will ease him and help healing. They're natural herbs. I don't have anything in my first aid kit that'll work as well as what she'll do."
    Vala glanced at the closed door, then sighed and followed Bram down the steps. What she really wanted to do was hover over her son, just as Bram had accused her of doing. Was it so wrong? Still, if Davis had wanted her to stay, he'd have asked her to.
    She recalled that the last time he'd been to the doctor, he hadn't wanted her to come into the examining room with him. Somehow she'd have to adjust to the fact her little boy was growing up.
    Once they'd set up the tent and made sure the horses were tethered and fed, Vala faced Bram.
    "I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have blamed you for Davis getting lost. I was too upset to think straight."
    He nodded. "I took that under consideration. The boy's smarter than maybe you realize. Courageous, too."
    She nodded. "Even with those dreadful cactus spines sticking in him, Davis was so proud of remembering what you told him to do if he ever got lost."
    "You got a good kid there, Vala."
    "I know. If only--" She sighed and didn't go on. If only was no more than a dream because Neal would never change, never recognize his son's worth.
    Evidently following her train of thought, Bram said, "There's more to life than organized sports. Davis has excellent balance, I bet he'd be good on skis . Has he ever tried skiing?"
    "No."
    "Might be the place to start building his confidence in himself."
    "You've been doing a fine job of that," she said. "I really do appreciate it. Acceptance from a man means so much to him."
    "I didn't get much of that when I was a kid."
    If she'd remembered rightly about Bram living with his mother only, then he must have had an absent father. No wonder he understood Davis so well.
    Time to change the subject Bram told himself. She didn't want to hear about his past problems. "I'll lay odds Davis is not only comfortable by now, but asleep."
    "I hope so."
    He nodded toward the cabin. "If I'm right, then Pauline won't throw us out again. Come on."
    He'd hit it on the button. Davis, lying on his stomach, was sound asleep on the cot. Bram listened as Vala explained to Pauline that Davis didn't wake easily so there was no need to be particularly quiet.
    "I been waiting to