Lost and Found

Chapter Twenty-One

The first week found both children sleeping almost nightly with Lillian in her bed, now that the security Sawyer's absence left them all feeling vulnerable.

Lillian welcomed the comfort having them near brought because their warm bodies helped keep nightmares of Walker at bay.

When two weeks passed without problems, Lillian and the children began feeling a little more comfortable in their new routines, but still missed Sawyer dreadfully.

However, there were plenty of chores to keep them busy, and Lillian spent as much time with the children as possible, to keep her mind occupied.

Freddie and Charlie came over throughout the week, eating meals with them and keeping them busy.

Charlie claimed she was an old hat when it came to keeping busy while the men were away on the annual cattle drive and even offered to have them stay with her and Freddie if it helped the children sleep better at night.

Lillian almost took her up on her offer but worried she'd only place them in danger if Walker came looking for her. So, she told them she'd consider it and left the matter alone. To help them get through the first nights, Lillian took to reading a book to Paul and Kitty until all three of them were so tired they eagerly sought their beds.

One night Lillian found out that Paul hadn't been in school after turning eight. It gave her something else to keep her mind busy, so she started reading lessons after dinner.

Even Kitty joined in and proved to be an avid learner, which didn't surprise Lillian considering their daily conversations. It became a nightly ritual of reading before bed as the weeks passed.

When almost a month had passed since Sawyer left, Lillian began to believe Walker had decided to leave her alone. Perhaps, he had only wanted to give her one last scare before slinking away to a dark cave to live out the remainder of his terrible existence.

Late one morning, the three new-hire ranchhands, brothers Leroy and Horace Conway, and their cousin Jay Moody left to repair a length of fence in the east pasture and round up loose cattle. According to Horrace-the unofficial and self-appointed leader of the trio in Sawyer's absence-there was so much damage, it would take them four days to complete, necessitating they camp out to avoid wasted time in returning to the bunkhouse each night.

Lillian received the news with some unease, knowing she and the children would be alone on the ranch, but endeavored to push the disquiet aside.

A few hours after they departed, Lillian was out hanging the freshly washed laundry, smiling at Kitty and Paul's happy squeals as they ran around in a game Kitty had invented.

Lillian stretched a sheet out over the clothesline and began pinning it in place as she nudged the basket on the ground with her foot. Freddie would no doubt be over any minute now to check on them and request advice on what to do about Charlie, as had become his habit lately.

He'd been over two days ago, anxious about her not keeping any food down and asked Lillian what she thought about it. He was so out of his mind with worry that Lillian shooed him away, gaining a grateful smile and a promise that he'd be back early today to make up for it.

Lillian reached down to the laundry basket to grab the next item to hang, and her stomach dropped in alarm. Worn brown leather boots appeared on the opposite side of the sheet. Boots she recognized due to the unique pattern stitched into the toes.

Slowly standing to her full height, Lillian took an unsteady breath and moved aside the sheet. A woman who Lillian had believed to be dead stared back at her and said calmly, "Hello Lily."