At home, Mary went to the door and called the children in for bed. She saw Clark by the stables working on a piece of harness. Crow had brought him from Dunbar House to watch over things while he was gone. Mary knew he was more than a handyman. Not many handymen carried a Colt under their jacket. Clark had a knack of appearing whenever Mary needed help. The children liked him. He made them whistles from tree limbs and pushed them on their swing. More than once, when Mary was unable to sleep, she"d seen the glow of his pipe in the night as Clark walked about the grounds.
Mary went to her chair and eased herself down. Although the baby was still high, her time was near. The cat came into the room and jumped onto the arm of the chair. He had given up trying to find room in her lap. He settle
