A Widow With Triplets, Left To Die In The Blizzard, Until a Cowboy Made Her His Wife

Chapter 7

Mrs. Whitmore proved an invaluable ally.

Her experienced hands made quick work of tasks that would have taken Elena three times as long alone. By midday, Elena had been coaxed into eating a proper meal, the triplets had been fed and settled, and the rescued belongings from the wagon had been delivered and stored in a corner of the guest room.

“Mr. Blackwell is a good man,” Mrs. Whitmore commented as they worked side by side, folding the salvaged baby clothes. “Better than most would be, taking in a stranger with three babies in the dead of winter.”

Elena glanced at the older woman, detecting something unspoken in her tone. “He seems very capable.”

“Built this ranch from nothing but wilderness and determination. Works harder than any three men put together.” Mrs. Whitmore hesitated, then added more quietly, “Been lonely since Miss Rebecca passed. Throws himself into his work like it’s all that matters.”

The revelation that Mason’s grief might be as fresh as her own surprised Elena. Four years seemed a long time to mourn. Yet she couldn’t imagine the day when Daniel’s absence wouldn’t ache like an open wound.

“Were they married long?” she found herself asking.

“Three years. Just long enough to build this house and start dreaming of filling it with children.” Mrs. Whitmore paused, the infant’s blanket in her hands growing still. “Miss Rebecca was expecting when the fever took her. Lost them both in the same night.”

The tragedy was almost too painful to contemplate. Elena instinctively held Benjamin closer, unable to imagine the devastation of such a double loss.

“He doesn’t speak of it,” Mrs. Whitmore continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “Not once in four years. But I see how he watches your little ones, Mrs. Reed. Like a man dying of thirst, looking at water he can’t drink.”

The frank assessment startled Elena. Before she could respond, boots sounded in the hallway, and the conversation shifted to more practical matters.