Laura Abbot - A Family Found

“I’m Sophie Montgomery. I just moved here from Kansas.”

“Where’s Kansas?” the talkative one asked.

“The next state east, dummy,” his brother said.

“Perhaps you’ll study Kansas in your geography lesson,” Sophie suggested.

“Lessons? We don’t have lessons, except when Papa helps us,” the older one said with a frown. “And that’s not often enough for me.”

“Who is your papa?”

The little one gestured toward the handsome house on the hill. “Tate Lockwood,” he said. “I’m Toby.”

Sophie extended her hand. “Glad to meet you, sir.” She faced the other boy. “And you?”

“Marcus,” he said, turning away to study the distant mountains.

“I know your father. He escorted me here from Denver.”

Toby looked at her with interest. “Where do you live?”

“A mile or so beyond here in an old cabin.”

“Can I come visit?” Toby asked. His brother rolled his eyes.

“Certainly. In fact, I’d enjoy it if you both came. I have a new dog I’d like for you to meet.”

“I’ll ask Papa.” Toby wriggled with delight.

“He won’t let us,” Marcus said.

“Why ever not?” Did Tate keep these boys under lock and key?

“He’s too busy to bring us.”

Sophie pondered her next move. Her invitation had been rashly extended. On second thought, she had no business insinuating herself into the lives of Tate Lockwood’s sons. Yet each in his own way seemed starved for attention. Tate might be more amenable if she visited the boys’ home. “Tell you what. If it’s nice weather on Wednesday, why don’t I bring Beauty and come see you. Be sure to tell your father. If it’s inconvenient, maybe he could get word to me.”

“He won’t care,” Marcus said in a tone that broke Sophie’s heart. “He’ll probably be glad to get us out of the way so he can work.”

So that’s the way it is. Sophie laid a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Busy fathers don’t have much time to play. But I do. I’ll plan to come just after lunch.”

“Whenever.”

“Yippee!”

After suggesting the boys continue their game on dry land and satisfying herself that they would do so, Sophie headed toward her cabin. Maybe it was missing her nieces and nephews, or the sadness in Tate Lockwood’s eyes he tried so desperately to conceal when he spoke of his motherless sons, or her own need for company, but she found herself looking forward to Wednesday. At the very least, these boys were hungry for approval and affection, something it was perhaps in her power to provide.

Her thoughts turned to their father. What would it do to a man to be spurned by his wife? To have full responsibility for two children? It was little wonder he had been reluctant to make any promises concerning their new friendship. One woman had wrecked his family and crushed his heart. Why should he welcome another in any capacity? She groaned. She’d promised those needy children a visit without considering Tate’s possible reaction. Would he regard her visit as kindness or interference? Only time would tell.

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