Page 23 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas
“I know. Is everything all right now?”
“Should be. Lucien took care of everything.”
Julia considered what he’d said, wondering if he was right, and if Lucien had been able to make the year-long nightmare go away.
Deputy Tucker Nolan slapped the reins, keeping the wagon moving through the icy mud on the road to the orphanage. The back was filled with the supplies Martha Santori had ordered from Stan Petermann, including two large sacks of flour and another of sugar.
He’d placed his rifle beside him and tucked his coat behind the holster holding his six-shooter. His gaze scanned the road around him, looking for any sign of the Crow raiding party, though he doubted they’d come after a lone wagon. Still, he breathed a sigh of relief when the orphanage came into view.
Slowing the horses to a stop near the steps, he jumped down, grabbing one of the flour sacks from under the protective tarp. He settled it over one shoulder. Before starting up the steps, he turned in a circle, spotting no one lurking in the nearby bushes.
The door opened as he lifted his hand to knock, a little girl holding it open for him. “I saw you come, Mr. Deputy.”
He chuckled. “Well, thank you. This bag is heavy.” It wasn’t, but he smiled when she giggled, then ran down the hall toward the kitchen.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Johnson.” Tucker set the sack down near the pantry. “I’ve brought the supplies from town for you.”
“Bless you, Deputy Nolan.” She wiped flour-dusted hands on her apron. “I’m grateful for the help.”
“Stan Petermann heard from Gabe about me coming this way and asked if I could bring everything. I told him I was happy to do it. How is the job going?”
“No complaints.” She made it sound as if it wasn’t important to her, though Tucker knew how much she’d wanted the work.
They turned when Martha Santori swept into the room, her skirts swishing. “Hello, Tucker. Thank you for delivering ourorder.” Her smile was warm, but Tucker detected a guardedness in her eyes.
“Not a problem.”
“Thank you again for suggesting Alice apply for the cook position. We are thrilled to have her with us.” Martha shot a look at her. “With more children arriving, we need all the help we can get.”
Tucker nodded, anxious for the conversation to end. His gaze kept darting outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Rose, who was watching the children who played outside.
Martha noticed his distraction. “I can have the older boys unload the rest of the supplies if you’d like to speak with Rose.”
Tucker flushed. “No, I’ll get them. I’m just watching out for trouble.”
“Do you believe the raiding party could come here?” Martha asked.
“You can never be too careful, though I doubt they’d come here. I’d better get the rest of the supplies inside before more snow falls.”
When finished unloading the sacks and boxes, Tucker stepped out the back door. Leaning against a post, he watched a few children run around while others threw snowballs.
Rose’s laughter floated on the breeze as she spoke to a group of younger children. Their faces were flushed from play. As she led the group toward the back porch, she spotted Tucker waiting at the top of the steps.
“All right, children, inside with you,” she said, herding them up the steps, a grin lit up her face.
A few kids said hello to Tucker while others paid him no mind as they scampered past him into the house. Rose lingered behind, tucking back a strand of hair.
“Afternoon, Rose,” he said, touching the brim of his hat.
“Tucker,” Rose greeted him. An awkward silence followed, both of them suddenly tongue-tied.
He cleared his throat. “I, uh, meant to ask if you heard about the wagon train?”
Rose’s eyes widened. “Yes, Martha told me. I heard one man was killed.”
“Doc McCord said he was elderly, and his heart gave out,” Tucker told her. “The wagon master identified the attackers as Crow raiders. They took supplies.”
Rose shivered. “How awful. We’ll have to be extra vigilant with the children.”
