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down his eyelids. He yawned. “Make sure someone gets her back to town in time for the next train—and let’s pay for her ticket. She probably has family wondering where she is.”
    Anna pressed her lips together and studied the floor. After several moments, she looked up. “I’d like to ask her to stay awhile.”
    “What? Are you crazy? She’s a stranger. We know nothing about her.”
    Anna shrugged one shoulder. “No, but I do get lonely, especially now that Ma is in Bismarck.”
    “She’s not your playmate, sis.”
    Anna pulled a face. “Do you need anything right now?”
    He didn’t miss how she deftly changed the subject, but he didn’t feel like arguing.
    “Another dose of laudanum,” he considered saying. But he despised how the pain medicine had made him woozy. Adam shook his head then reconsidered. “Maybe some water?”
    “Sure.”
    In what seemed like a few seconds, Anna returned. She helped him sit up enough to drink a glass of cool water then assisted him down again. She stuffed a pillow under his wounded arm, which allowed him to relax it without as much pain. “Thanks.”
    “You rest for a while. I’m going to see to our guest.”
    Adam was grateful Anna was tending to Fancy Feathers. With the lateness of the hour, hospitality dictated they should invite her to stay the night. Though he was embarrassed for her to see him in this lacking physical state, he didn’t know how he would have managed to get home without her help.
    Another yawn tugged at his lips. What would Miss Lansing look like without her big hat and her soft, brown hair hanging down around her face?
    Perhaps in the morning he’d feel good enough to find out who she’d come to visit, so he could send her on her way. Greenhorns had no business leaving their big cities. Just look at all the trouble this one had caused.

    Mariah rubbed at her blistered hands and wondered how long they’d smell of leather. She alternated between studying the parlor and worrying about Adam McFarland. For some reason, he’d seemed irritated to have the big man assist him. She wondered if the man called Quinn was Adam’s brother. They didn’t resemble each other much in coloring but were similar in build, except that Quinn was a few inches taller. Both were long in the legs and broad in the shoulders.
    Her gaze landed on a family portrait. A handsome, dark-haired man stood behind a pretty woman with pale hair, who sat in a chair. The man’s hand rested on her shoulder. Beside them stood three children. One a gangly adolescent, and the shorter—a boy and girl, who were equal in height.
    “That portrait was taken in Texas over ten years ago, when my father was still alive.”
    Mariah swung around to face Mr. McFarland’s sister. “It’s wonderful that you have something so nice to remember him by. So, is your mother still living?”
    “Yes, she’s in Bismarck tending my grandmother, who broke her leg.” The woman stopped beside Mariah. “I can still remember how I hated standing so long while the painter was working. The boys kept tickling me and getting me in trouble for squirming. But I’m glad we have the painting now. I often gaze at it so I don’t forget what my father looked like.”
    “You favor your mother.”
    The woman’s eyes lit up. “Thank you. That’s kind of you to say. If you couldn’t tell by the painting, Adam is my twin brother. We look a bit alike. Our mouths and noses are similar, but Adam has dark hair like our father’s. I’m Anna McFarland, by the way.”
    “Mariah Lansing. Pleased to meet you.” Mariah nodded at the colorful canvas. “And the man who helped your brother inside is the taller boy in the painting?”
    “Yes, that’s Quinn. He’s five years older than us. He’s been in charge of the ranch ever since Pa died.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss. I lost my parents when I was young.” Mariah hugged her satchel to her chest. The day’s journey and excitement had finally caught up with her,