But he cared.
And so Betsy had done what he’d asked. She stayed in town, didn’t poke around the jail, and didn’t get too nosy. She’d had a scare with the Hopkins girls reading that stray article and didn’t want to push her luck.
She waited while Joel carried on with Uncle Fred and Doctor Hopkins, discussing the job and the news. Normally hearing this would have been enough, but now she wanted to hear something only for her. Something about her. Something about him. Something that wasn’t casual talk over the supper table.
“What are they here for, again?” Uncle Fred asked. “They don’t trust the job you’re doing?”
Again the talk had turned to their visitors, now residing with Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. The two men hadn’t gone out of their way to make any friends—just shadowed Joel around like the grim reaper waiting on Methuselah.
“They don’t know me,” Joel said, “so they’ve got no reason to trust me. I’ve got to prove myself.”
But why bother now? And if they didn’t think he could do the job, why’d they hire him?
“Any word on Bullard?” The question was asked every time someone stepped foot inside the cabin, this time by Uncle Fred over a piece of fried parsnip.
“Nothing on Bullard yet. If that was him hunkered down in the cave, he’s on the run again.”
“What does Fowler say?” Uncle Fred asked.
“Fowler didn’t burn my house.” Doctor Hopkins stopped with his fork mid-air. “He has naught against me. He’s supposed to be by tomorrow to help with the rebuilding.”
“But Sheriff Taney says Fowler shot him.” Laurel looked around the room. “Then again, the sheriff came near to dying. Maybe he’s confused.”
“I’ll talk to Fowler tomorrow,” Joel said. “Maybe he’ll know something further.”
Aunt Sissy stood, ready to leave the room any time controversy was introduced. “Girls, would you like to play cat’s cradle? I’ve got some yarn in the bedroom.”
She handed Betsy the baby and took Amelia by the hand. Phoebe and Anna, who hadn’t given up on trying to get Joel’s attention over dinner, didn’t budge until a stern look from their father forced them to leave the room to the adults.
Betsy looked up to find Joel watching her again. She felt her face growing warm. Slowly Joel dragged himself away to face her uncle, who had noticed the exchange and widened his eyes at her in speculation.
Uncle Fred and Doctor Hopkins’s discussion continued as Betsy cleaned the table with her free hand. Drumming his fingernails gently against his tin cup, Joel answered what he could but left much unsaid, particularly when it came to his two new assistants. Once the babe’s eyes had closed, Betsy laid her in the crib and tucked a warm wool fleece over her little body to stave off the cold that seeped through the log walls.
Betsy returned to see Laurel hang up the dishtowel and untie her apron. “Sounds like Sissy and the girls are having fun in there. I’m grateful to you, Fred, for putting us up. Tell Scott we’re beholden to him for giving us his room.”
Joel rose to his feet. “I know it’s getting late, but do you mind if I visit with Betsy for a spell?” he asked Uncle Fred.
Finally. She’d been waiting all day, every hour dragging by until she could talk to him again.
Uncle Fred leaned back in his chair and threaded his fingers over his gaunt belly. “Is this concerning official law-enforcing business?”
“No.” Joel’s throat bounced, but he faced Uncle Fred full-on. “This visit concerns my growing admiration for your niece.”
Betsy’s jaw dropped. Had the fire suddenly blazed? Because the room felt toasty.
Her uncle had the nerve to laugh. “Be sure and leave at a decent hour, then.”
Joel pushed open the door to the office and stood aside to usher Betsy through. What had prompted him to say that in front of her family?
“I don’t see a rope, or did you have other methods in mind to make me stay?” she asked.
“You’re not still mad at me for that,” he said. “Come on.” With a hand at her arm, Joel deftly steered her on through to the office before closing the door behind them.
He admired her and told her uncle so? Unforgivable! Inconsiderate! Irresistible!
If Joel was careful around the ladies before, he would be even more so now with Detective Cleveland and Officer Harrison watching his every move. That was why it was better to go on and tell Betsy’s uncle, her brother, her pa, and any other man exactly where he stood in regards to Betsy. And maybe even tell her, if she’d allow him.
“Why do you think I want to talk to you?” Betsy said. “You haven’t made much account of yourself recently. Just another hungry mouth to feed at suppertime, and then you won’t tell me anything interesting.”