Mabel would change her mind about Caleb if she saw this. Next time the Carburys visited.... As if her thoughts conjured him up, Caleb charged into the yard astride Stonewall, Jeb following loose, and Early bringing up the rear. “Norah!” He saw her running toward him, met her halfway, and scooped her up onto the horse as if she weighed nothing. She barely had time to absorb how much it hurt to be belly down across his thighs on a galloping horse before they reached the house. He pushed her off onto her feet, jumped down beside her, and hustled her inside. “What’s wrong?” “Early says we’ve got company coming.” Caleb stood in the doorway with the Winchester, the dog stiff and growling beside him. “Take the Sharps off the wall and lay it on the table. There’s field glasses in a pouch on the side of the case. Let me have those.” She had never touched the big gun before, and it was heavier than she expected, the elkskin case softer. Untying the flap covering the pouch, she pulled the glasses out and handed them to him.
