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tried brushing off his coat sleeve with her hand. “Dacee June came up and provided a full report of the arrest. I understand Daddy Brazos shot one of the men.”
    â€œThat he did.” Todd followed his wife into the house.
    â€œTodd, that’s part of what I tried to explain at lunch. This is a dangerous place to live. You could have been hurt! What if you had been caught in the crossfire?”
    â€œThat was a real possibility,” he recounted.
    She walked into the kitchen. “How did you get so dirty? I’ll try to brush your suit out and mend it, but it will never be the same. Just place it there in the pantry.”
    Todd hung the coat on a peg above a burlap sack of potatoes, pulled off his tie, then unfastened the top button on his soiled white shirt. I don’t think she’d understand that I had to dive off an embankment to avoid getting shot by my father. “Well, we had them penned down, and as I went down to the road, I stumbled off an embankment.”
    â€œYou had no business going out there. They could have taken care of it on their own, I’m sure.”
    Todd sighed. “I keep having people tell me that. They seem to insinuate that I’m not of much value other than running a store. The truth is, those old men would still be chasing the outlaws if I hadn’t cut off their retreat.”
    Rebekah stared into his eyes, then finally spoke, her voice much softer. “I didn’t mean to sound so crabby. I worry, that’s all. An attempted stagecoach robbery is not worth getting yourself killed over.” She hugged his shoulders, then reached up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He held her face in his rough hands and pressed his lips to hers.
    â€œWell,” she laughed after the kiss, “I’m glad to see you are making a speedy recovery. I hope you’re hungry for onion soup.”
    â€œSounds fine, as long as I don’t have to hike up a hill to get it.”
    â€œDo you need some rubbing alcohol on that bum leg?” she asked.
    â€œThat would be nice.”
    â€œPerhaps we should eat first. While I finish up, tell me how it came about that Daddy Brazos had to shoot one of the men.”
    â€œThey were shooting at us, and one of them snuck around behind. Daddy was the first to spot him.”
    â€œSo a man gets killed for sneaking?”
    â€œNo, he was shot because he held a gun to one of our heads and was about to pull the trigger.”
    â€œI don’t want to know anymore. I feel faint even thinking about it. Let’s change the subject.” She poured him a cup of coffee from a fluted, nickel-plated, long-necked coffeepot.
    Todd flexed his shoulders to keep his back from cramping. “I heard you and Dacee June had quite a discussion.” His large porcelain cup was decorated by a single navy blue border around the rim.
    Rebekah carved the pan of cornbread into three-inch wedges. The steam from the cornbread warmed her fingers. “I believe that girl needs a mother to teach her a few things.”
    â€œYou had one of those girl-to-girl talks?”
    â€œIt was more like a woman-to-woman talk.”
    â€œShe used to talk a lot with Louise Driver, but since she and Mr. Edwards married, I think their conversations have ended.”
    â€œI don’t suppose Mrs. Speaker is of much help?”
    â€œThelma keeps handing her books, but she is much too embarrassed to discuss things with Dacee June. I’m glad she has you to talk to,” Todd added.
    The kitchen was filled with the aroma of sweet onions and spices. She could hear the soup percolate. “Yes, but I’m not her mother. All I can do is tell her what I think I’d tell my own daughter. But that’s not the same.”
    â€œBy the way, how old is your daughter now?” he challenged.
    â€œTodd Fortune, that is not funny,” she snapped.
    â€œNo ma’am, I reckon it wasn’t.”
    â€œWe will have children