Read Online Change of Heart by Fran Shaff - Free Book Online Page B

for what he’d done, but that wouldn’t make Marietta
feel any better.
    “Zack, sit down,” he said. “We’re going to
eat then we’re going to bed. We’ll be on the road to Fort Kearney
when day breaks.”
    Zack’s eyes said he wanted to protest, but he
kept his lips quiet. The only things that passed through his mouth
the rest of the evening were two drumsticks, a chicken thigh, half
a plate of potatoes, and a big piece of apple pie.
    Mabel and Jase cleaned up the kitchen after
supper then Jase went to Zack’s room to tuck the boy in.
    “Did you wash up good, Zack?” Jase sat on the
edge of the bed and brushed his hand over the boy’s head. How he’d
missed being close to him--so much he could hardly stand the
thought of taking him back to the fort in the morning.
    “I got both ears, inside and out.” Zack
twisted his head so Jase could see. “I washed all the way up to my
elbows, and I got my feet clear up to my knees.” He took Jase’s
face in his hands. “I can be a good boy, Jase. If you’ll let me
stay here until I go on the stage with Aunt Marietta, I’ll be the
best boy you ever saw in your life. I’ll do anything you ask.” He
threw his arms around Jase’s neck. “Please, please let me stay,
Jase. I love you so much. I just want to be with you a little while
longer before I have to go.”
    Jase wrapped his arms around him. He wanted
Zack with him as much as the boy wanted to stay, but what could he
do? Zack belonged with Marietta. The boy needed to form an
attachment to her, and he couldn’t do that if he stayed with
Jase.
    “Zack,” Jase whispered into the child’s ear,
“I have to take you back to Fort Kearney in the morning. There’s
nothing else I can do.”
    Zack let go and pushed himself out of Jase’s
arms. He snuggled on his side under his quilt with his knees curled
up. “I’m sorry, Jase. I want to go to sleep now.”
    Jase stood and stared down at the child he
loved more than his own life. Why did doing the right thing have to
be so blasted hard? He went down the hall to his own bedroom and
thought about Zack’s proposal. The boy’s request really wasn’t
unreasonable. The Carson house was crowded with two extra people.
Maybe Zack could stay with him until the stage came.
    But, if Zack stayed with him for another few
weeks, would he be any more ready to leave when the stage came? As
much as Jase wished he could give Zack what he wanted--what Jase
wanted himself--he knew the boy needed to be with Marietta. He
needed to gain the sense of family with her that would give him
some security.
    The next morning, as soon as Mabel had fed
them a hearty breakfast, Jase and Zack left for the fort in predawn
obscurity. Jase held Zack close in front of him as they cantered
over the prairie, savoring what would probably be the last moments
of closeness they’d ever have.
    Zack was so innocent, a victim of injustice.
Evil men with hearts dedicated to greed, selfishness, and violence,
with hands that did the Devil’s work, had murdered the boy’s
parents and caused him unbearable pain. Now, a woman as beautiful
as a summer sky, with a heart warmed by love, would hurt Zack again
by taking him away from the only land he’d ever called home--and
Jase was helping her do it. Whatever the intentions of those
concerned, Zack was suffering injustice from everyone around
him.
    A few miles from the fort, they were met by
several soldiers who were looking for the missing boy. Once they
discovered that Zack was well, the group of military men rode back
to the fort in haste to report to Marietta that her nephew was in
good hands and would be in her arms shortly.
    Jase decided as long as Marietta knew Zack
was safe, there was no need to jostle the boy with a hard gallop
like the soldiers had been willing to make to give her the happy
report. He thought of Marietta the rest of the way to the fort. The
idea of seeing her again quickened his pulse. He wished he had an
opportunity to pursue a