Lost and Found

Chapter Eight

Several minutes passed before Kitty saw Sawyer at the foot of the stairs. He stopped briefly then resumed his way up to her. "What's wrong, honey bear?" He whispered, scooping her up in his arms and kissed her cheek.

"I had a bad dream," Kitty whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. She rested her cheek on his shoulder and whimpered tearfully, "And you didn't come when I needed you."

He kissed her cheek again, "I'm sorry, sugar," he murmured, hugging her close, "want to tell me about it?"

She shook her head against his shoulder.

"All right." He patted her back and held her close as he softly asked, "Have I told you what my daddy swore cured bad dreams?"

Kitty pulled back in his arms, her hands caressing his cheeks as she shook her head, "No."

"I haven't? Well, goodness, gracious," Sawyer exclaimed quietly, "it's a secret that you can only share with someone after a bad dream; otherwise, it doesn't work." He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "You promise to keep it a secret until you find another person in need of it?"

Kitty nodded, her fingers poking and then tracing the dimples that emerged with his mischievous grin.

Sawyer gazed at Kitty in adoration. He loved his little girl and the way she'd unknowingly changed his life and brightened his days. He would do anything he could to drive away her bad dreams and unpleasant memories. "Let's go get us some apple pie, honey bear. Chase those bad dreams away."

Her eyes grew wide. "Apple Pie?" She whispered in delight.

"Mmhmm," Sawyer smiled and carried Kitty down the stairs, "best cure for bad dreams this side of the Mississippi, according to my daddy."

The wind howled across the meadow as Lillian looked out her bedroom window while straightening the covers on her bed as best she could with her right hand. Nightmares hadn't plagued her the rest of the night, but she'd slept fitfully, mortified she'd almost allowed herself to kiss Sawyer.

Her heart thudded painfully against her ribs at realizing just how narrowly she'd escaped. She needed to remember it would be foolish to give in to the desire, disastrous even.

If Kitty hadn't called out when she had—Lillian closed her eyes and grimaced, chastising herself again for her weakness where Sawyer was concerned. She had to leave. No matter how badly she didn't want to.

"Mornin', Lily," Kitty chirped happily from the doorway.

Smiling, Lillian turned to the little girl, "My, you look pretty this morning, Kitty." Lillian went to her and caressed the light blonde curls that framed her sweet face. She had been quick to discover Kitty was intelligent for her age.

Her small size made her appear younger than she was, which then caused a bit of a startle when she opened her mouth and carried on complete conversations.

Although most of the things Kitty said were a charming mixture of her vivid imagination and reality, they always brought a smile to Lillian's face. Seeing her brought back wonderful childhood memories of playing with Maggie before her family moved out west and lost touch.

Kitty was the spitting image of her mother, except for her crystal blue eyes. Maggie's had been a stunning hazel just like Paul's that looked almost golden when the light hit them.

"What are you up to this morning?" Lillian asked as she squatted in front of her.

Kitty stared at Lillian and asked with a voice full of cautious hope, "Paulie and me was wonderin' if you'd go explorin' with us?"