Prairie Fire by Catherine Palmer Page B

horse and shoots at people now and again. But only for a good reason. He does have his reasons, Rosie. You must believe that.”
    “I’ll never believe anything that man says as long as I live. He’s just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, hiding in places where he doesn’t belong and tricking innocent women with sly words.”
    “And what do you know of the words that passed between Jack and me?”
    “Jack? You call him Jack?”
    “He’s a human being, Rosie, not a serpent. His name is Jack, and he has a heart far more tender than you could ever imagine.
    The wrong he did to Seth was done on behalf of his dear parents, so it was. Chipper is all they have of a family, except for—”
    Caitrin caught herself. If she told Rosie about Lucy Cornwall, her friend’s anger would surely soften. But that would betray the secret pain Jack had shared with her. If he wanted others to know of his sister and her burdens, he would tell them himself.
    “Jack is loyal to his family,” Caitrin continued. “He has said he would fight to protect those he loves, and that is exactly what he did in riding after Chipper. Does that make him evil?”
    “Jack Cornwall also said he’d fight any man who tried to come between the two of you. Are you among those he loves, Caitie?”
    Caitrin sucked in a breath. “Of course not. He hardly knows me. We spoke together but a few times, and never in the light of day.
    Jack has been away at war, and I’m likely the first woman he’s met in a long time. I put a bandage on him and fed him some sausage. Sure, he won’t have found love in that.”
    “Do you love him?”
    “Rosie!” Caitrin jerked the quilt up higher on her shoulders. “How can you ask such a silly question? As I’ve said a hundred times, I love Sean O’Casey as much today as I did the day I left Ireland, and even though he wed the mine owner’s daughter, I shall never love another man as long as I live. But I won’t brand Jack Cornwall a villain. I caught a glimpse of the true man that he is, and my eyes were opened.”
    “I think your heart was, too.”
    Caitrin looked away. “Think what you will, Rosie. He’s gone away now. He’ll be riding for his home in Missouri and the family who needs him. Work calls him, and responsibility, too. He won’t trouble us again, you can be sure of that.”
    “After what I saw in the barn tonight, I’m not sure of anything,”
    Rosie said. “For your sake, I pray he never comes back.”
    Caitrin’s eyes filled with sudden, unexpected tears. “If you wish to pray about Jack, Rosie, pray for his soul,” she choked out. “Pray that the Spirit of God will fill his heart. Pray for the troubled family who depends upon him. Pray for his safety from those who pursue him. Pray that he may find a good woman who has the courage to love him as he deserves. For my own part, I shall pray that if Jack Cornwall’s name is ever spoken again in the town of Hope, you will remember that he is a man and not a snake. Perhaps then the Holy Spirit will direct your tongue to defend him with words of kindness, truth … and forgiveness.”
    Wiping a hand across her damp cheek, Caitrin pushed open the door and stepped into the soddy. Jimmy was snoring beside the fire. All the children were asleep. Sheena glanced up from her mending.
    “Ah, Caitrin, there you are,” she said. “Poor Rosie was in kinks of worry over you. You’ve been away such a long time. Are the stores all in place?”
    “Aye, Sheena.” Caitrin picked up her darning and sat down on the low stool. Behind her, she heard Rosie slip into the room. “All is as it should be.”
    “I’m glad to hear it,” Sheena said. “With devils like Jack Cornwall roving about the place—”
    “I’m sure Jack Cornwall is no more a devil than you or I, Sheena.” Rosie spoke firmly as she took her place beside the fire and spread her wedding dress over her knees. “Caitrin, what do you think of this row of ruffles? Maybe I should take it