The Cowboy's Baby Bond by Linda Ford

depended on her own resources.
    Not that it hurt to accept Johnny’s help in locating her sisters. The sooner they were found, the better. After that, she would be on her own, with her sisters and Adam to care for.
    She studied Johnny out of the corner of her eye. He was a kind man with high ideals. Which meant he had high expectations of others.
    Adam played with Johnny’s fingers as the man smiled down on her little son.
    Too bad he was trapped in the memory of his fiancée’s deceit. He obviously liked children and deserved love, a wife and children of his own. Though perhaps he spent time with his brother’s children and that was enough. But it seemed a shame not to have those things for himself.
    Adam squirmed about, trying to get off the seat, and she lifted him down to stand at her feet. He clasped the front board and bounced up and down, glad to have his legs under him. Her heart swelled. No one could ever love a child as deeply as one of their own. It was a warning she needed to keep firmly fixed in her mind.
    â€œWe’ll be arriving at a stopping place soon,” Johnny said. “It’s mostly used by the stagecoach, but others stay there, as well. It’s where we’ll spend the night.”
    She lifted her head and looked down the trail. She could see no buildings as yet. “I need to find my sisters.” She shivered as a whirl of worries raced through her. “I can’t imagine what’s become of them. Maybe someone made inappropriate advances to them. They might be in danger.” Her concern mounted with every word and her voice grew pleading. “It’s early yet. Can’t we push on?”
    â€œWe can’t reach our destination before dark, and this mare needs a break. All in all, it makes sense to stay where you can sleep in a bed.”
    â€œI don’t need a bed,” she protested hotly. “I don’t deserve one when my sisters are missing.”
    â€œIt would not do your reputation any good to spend the night alone with me at a campsite.” He spoke firmly, as if to remind her of proper conduct.
    Her cheeks burned. “I wasn’t thinking we’d do that. Isn’t there another town or stopping station farther along?”
    â€œThis is our best choice.”
    She wanted to argue, urge him to continue, but she knew it was useless. He wouldn’t bend when it came to principles. Not that she wanted him to. She just wanted to find her sisters. “I shouldn’t have sent them tickets. I should have gone and got them myself. Why didn’t I?”
    â€œI’m sure you did what you thought best.”
    â€œCelia is fourteen and a big girl. She’s always been resourceful. I thought they’d be safe traveling together. It gave me time to sort out my own affairs and put them in order before I met them. But it was a mistake.” Willow’s words ended in a wail. “Am I doomed to always make choices that I regret?”
    He patted her arm. “Perhaps you didn’t make a mistake.”
    Her runaway thoughts stilled as she waited for him to explain. If only he could offer reassurance that she hadn’t acted foolishly.
    â€œMaisie is always saying that God uses the unexpected to do something good and wonderful in our lives. Maybe this is one of those times.”
    â€œI can’t see how that’s possible. My sisters are missing and could be in all sorts of trouble. What good could come of that?”
    â€œâ€™Fraid I can’t say, but God sees and knows.”
    Again he spoke as if he trusted God to take care of them. “How can you be so sure? Was He doing something good and wonderful when Trudy did what she did?”
    Willow regretted the words the moment she said them. He’d told her his greatest sorrow and here she was, throwing it back in his face. “I’m sorry. I have no right to talk like that.”
    â€œYou have every right.” He spoke calmly, as