Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range Danica Favorite (warren buffett book recommendations .txt) 📖

whipped over her features, lashing at her skin as if punishing her.

Mary didn’t want her mother to be punished. Not then and not now. She stepped forward and gathered Rose in a hug, inhaling her earthy scent.

“The ranch is secluded. No one shall find us there.” She smoothed hair from her mother’s brow. “The little girl, we must take her to her mother soon, but I need help in the meantime. Will you come?”

A sound cut through her words. Lou sidled up next to them, arms crossed, something near a scowl playing about the corners of his lips. “What’s going on?”

“Mother needs a place to stay.” She tilted her chin at Lou, daring him to defy her.

“She has a place.”

“Not now. Something’s happened.” She glanced at her mother, who still looked as though a wisp of wind might tilt her over.

He moved closer. He stepped in front of her mother, and his closeness urged Mary to move back. The aroma of his cologne penetrated her senses, dredging up good memories. Her first Christmas at the ranch, exotic gifts he’d brought her from his travels.

“Rose, why aren’t you at home?”

His deep voice brought Mary out of her musings. She focused on her mother, who stared blankly ahead. Refusing to answer. Stubborn. As she’d always been.

“Mother, answer him. We will help you, but we must know what we face.”

Lou made a sound in his throat. “Just leave her. She’s probably packing up and leaving without a word. She’s got a habit of doing that.” He cast a concerned look at Rose before turning his piercing gaze on Mary. “Come on. We’ve got things to do.”

“I can’t leave her.”

“You can and you should.” His hand waved dismissively. “She doesn’t want our help. Let her deal with her own problems. We’ve got enough of our own, plus what she added.”

“But—”

“Let’s go.” His curt tone brooked no argument.

Still, she hesitated. “Mother, look at me. Please.”

Slowly Rose’s gaze slid to meet Mary’s. Dark and unblinking. She’d seen too much pain. Mary’s heart hurt with the thought. She held out her hand, hoping her mother would take it. “You are welcome in my home.”

“Not if she doesn’t say what’s going on.”

Rose’s gaze shifted to Lou. “I will say, but you won’t like it.”

Mary dropped her hand, letting it curl into a slight ball at her side. A gust swept dirt up from the road, but her mother didn’t even blink. She held Lou’s look long and tight.

“There is a very bad man,” she pronounced. “And he wants the girl.”

Chapter Ten

“Tell us something we don’t know, lady.” Lou lowered the brim of his hat and glared.

“It doesn’t matter if he wants her,” Mary said, ignoring her bothersome employer. “She’s going home to her mother.” It was hard, but she forced those words out.

“This is true?” Her mother’s brow arched.

“Yes.” She nodded to the sack in her mother’s hands. “Is that everything you own?”

“Everything that’s important.”

“What about your baskets? Should we go back and get them?”

“They are all sold. I will go with you, on one condition.”

Lou let out a loud, annoying snort. Mary formed a glare and flung it his way. He reached for her arm and none too gently propelled her a few feet from her mother. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She pulled from his grasp. “I’m inviting my mother to stay with me. That is none of your concern.”

“She’s not riding in my tin lizzie.”

Though she felt weak inside for fear, something compelled her to retort, “Is that so?”

Lou looked a bit taken aback at her spunk. But not angry. Relief unfurled inside.

“She’s got a condition, Mary. That isn’t right. This whole situation is wrong and I’m not going to stand by and watch her hurt you again.”

“She never hurt me.” At his look, she grimaced. “Not much,” she amended.

“Regardless, I don’t trust any friend of Julia’s. She says she’s running from this guy who’s looking for Josie, but what if she’s working for him?”

It was true her mother and Julia had been friends, which was why her mother had left her to live with Julia and her son, Trevor, at the brothel. But Mary had no reason to believe that her mother had anything to do with her being sold to Mendez at eighteen and she certainly wouldn’t hold another’s actions against her.

“You’re too suspicious.”

“Nope. I’m not. It happens all the time. Like I said, she doesn’t need to be close to you. I’m putting my foot down about her.”

He had a very satisfied look on his face that would’ve made her smile if she wasn’t so angry. Her hands fisted, palms slick. She swallowed hard.

“I do appreciate your concern, but you know nothing of why my mother left me with Julia. You have judged with no knowledge.” He made to interrupt and she held up a hand. “If you will not give us a ride, then we shall walk.”

“You’re taking her side?” He had the temerity to look aghast.

“This is not about sides. It is about right and wrong. To leave my mother alone is wrong.”

“I see.”

“I hope that you do.” The words rolled off her tongue, succinct, surprising her.

Lou barked a quick laugh without mirth. “Fine, then. Try to fit her in.”

“Are we going to the picnic?” Josie watched as Mary drew a pan of snickerdoodles from her Glenwood gas-and-coal stove. She inspected them, feeling very thankful for the modern range she cooked with. The cookies were perfect.

“Do we have to go to church first?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll like it.” She patted Josie’s hair, which hung in the two neat braids her mother had formed while Mary baked. “Miss Alma and I sing wonderful songs, and you’re going to meet some of my friends.”

Mary didn’t attend a traditional church but rather met with other Christians at a neighbor’s property. Mr. Horn preached the sermons and sometimes people brought instruments. Mostly those with homes on the outskirts of the desert attended, though Miss Alma often came from town.

“Thank you for my dress,