Nothing Lucy cooked or boiled tasted as it should, and Maggie hadn’t set foot outside the cabin, despite Jed’s continued pleas. “I’m going to town today,” he said over Lucy’s latest disaster of breakfast. “Maggie’s agreed to let Miss Blake come and stay with her.” “Miss Blake? From the auction?” What was this odd fear that suddenly ripped through Lucy’s veins? “Why her?” “She promised she’d help if I needed it.” Jed’s frown deepened. “And God knows we need it.” “I think she meant with me.” “I know,” he agreed quietly. “But she’s our only hope. If she won’t come, Maggie’s going to starve herself and that baby.” He downed the rest of his coffee, set the mug by the water buckets, and offered Lucy a weary smile. “I should be back by early afternoon.” Something in Lucy’s heart twinged, but she dismissed it. This was her chance to prove her worth to him, to make him respect her, maybe even like her. While he was in town, she’d work like a madwoman.
