Part 29 (1/2)

”Then I don't understand.” She came toward him but he went back to his work.

She watched him for a moment, trying to think of something persuasive to say.

”The bunkhouse isn't far enough away to make a difference,” she suggested.

Winn laughed.

”Maybe not. But can't you see?” He stopped and took her shoulders. He hadknown exactly where she was by the sound of her voice.”I don't have any right to even court a woman like you, let alone...”He let his voice trail away.”What?” she coaxed, leaning toward him.He laughed again and let her go.”You know exactly what. Cynthie, you need to let me try to earn the right.”Cynthie wanted to ask if she was willing to grant him the right, what there was to earn, but she heard Greg running down the stairs. Winn heard him,

too, and stopped packing to wait for him.Greg paused a second in the doorway, taking in the bags on the bed. He ranin yelling, ”Winn!” and collided with the man's leg. He locked his handstogether around Winn's thigh, determined to keep him where he was.

Winn chuckled.

”Good morning to you, too.”

Greg knew he was being teased and didn't like it. ”You said you wouldn't

leave unless you said goodbye,” he accused.

Winn pried the boy's arms loose and went down on his level to talk.

”I'm only moving as far as the bunkhouse.”

Greg took a moment to think about that.

”I want to move to the bunkhouse, too.”

”No, baby,” Cynthie said before deciding to stay out of it. She didn't need

to help Winn explain what he was doing. Maybe Greg could be on her side.”You remember when I came here, I was sick? Well, I'm not sick anymore so Ineed to go back to work.”

”I need to go to work, too,” said Greg, puffing out his chest to show how strong he was.

”You'll have to stay here to look after your mama.”

Greg scowled at Winn and then at his mother.

”I'll still get to play with you every day, won't I? Will you have time to play?”

”I'll make time for you, Greg. Now help me get my things together. I think there's a comb on the standby the bed.”

Greg went to get it and in his hurry to bring it back to Winn he dropped it.

”Oops,” he said, getting down on his hands and knees to retrieve it.

”What's this?” He started to crawl under the bed and came out with the wooden figure.

”It's a bunny!” he yelled in delight, bringing it to his mother to see.

”Where did this come from?” She took the rabbit in her hands and looked atthe detailed carving. She was as delighted as her son.Winn realized what Greg had found.”It must have fallen out of my saddlebag sometime,” he said, mustering a casual shrug. He remembered dumping the contents of his bags on the bed and

suppressed a cold shudder at what he had been considering.Cynthie brought him gratefully back to the present. ”Did you make this,Winn?” He thought her voice expressed more wonder than the little figuredeserved. He nodded and went back to his packing.

Cynthie caught his arm and stopped him.”Winn, have you tried to do this since...””No!” In a moment he added more calmly.”I haven't thought about it. I've tried not to think about it.”

”But Winn, how much of this is done by feel anyway?” She placed the little

figure in his hand. ”Maybe you could still do this.”Winn held the rabbit, hardly daring to think about what she said. In amoment he smiled. After last night, he might dare a lot of things.

”Can I see the bunny?” Greg was standing back, wondering why the adults were

acting so funny over a toy.

Winn turned toward the child's voice and went down on one knee. He held out the figure and Greg took it, climbing up on his lap the way he had done so often.

”You can have the bunny,” Winn said.