by Lynn Donovan
The people staggered forward, opening stall doors as they moved to release the horses and mules. Animals and people poured out of the barn, chickens squawked and flapped their wings, smoke billowed out overhead.
“Get buckets, put out the fire.” Aidan hollered, dipping a bucket into the water trough. Turtle Dove wrapped her dressing gown around her waist as she ran to the water pump, straining to lift the handle up, then jumping on top of it to push it down with her weight. Dorothy ran to the pump and helped Turtle Dove. Between the two of them they were able to get the water flowing into the trough.
Miner’s ran from their cabins to help. Anna Beth gathered the miner’s children who had been woken by the screaming and took them into the schoolhouse. She gently quieted their crying. Dorothy noticed and was impressed with her maternal skills.
Dotty continued to work with Turtle Dove to pump the water. Her muscles burned from the exertion. Dorothy looked up to where Aidan was tossing water on an enflamed wall. The fire had crawled all the way to the roof. The boards were black in the orange and yellow light of the fire. As the water splashed at the base of the fire, the boards sizzled and bowed. As if in slow motion, the roof collapsed, on top of her husband.
“Aidan!” Dorothy screamed. She glanced at Turtle Dove who jerked a nod, and Dorothy let go of the pump handle to run to him. His boots protruded from the rubble, flames danced across the debris that covered Aidan’s body. Dorothy grabbed his boots and pulled with all her might, falling back on her bottom, but bringing Aidan out from under the fire. She scrambled to her knees, and pulled him further away from the flames. He hacked and coughed as he struggled to roll over. She crawled to take him into her arms and help him sit up. His face was covered in black soot.
“Are you all right?” Dorothy cried.
Violent coughing kept him from answering, but he nodded his head. She held him as the coughing subsided. He opened ash framed eyes to look at her, creases beside his eyes stood out in contrast to the black soot. “You… saved me.”
He cupped the back of her head and pulled her into him. His lips caressed hers and he kissed her hard and passionately. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back, so thankful he was not killed. What would she have done if she’d lost him tonight?
Her heart pounded in her chest and her lungs burned for air. She broke the kiss first, heaving for breath. His eyes searched hers as a smile curled on the ends of his mouth. “Thank you.” He cleared his throat and coughed a little more.
“I… didn’t think, I saw that roof come down on you, and I just ran to get you out. Poor Turtle Dove had to keep pumping the water by herself.” Dorothy glanced over at the well to see if Turtle Dove was alright. Another woman had joined her to work the handle. Dorothy was relieved. She turned back to Aidan. His crystal blue eyes sparkling through the black ash were focused on her and held her in his gaze. She couldn’t turn away. Suddenly she leaned into him and he accepted another kiss from her. Her heart was definitely enthralled in this man and tonight proved it. Tomorrow she knew they would need to talk about what she was feeling.
At last the charred wood that had been the barn walls smoldered. The women stopped pumping the water. Aidan and the men walked around the structure to confirm the fire was completely out. Gavin and Cole guided the horses and mule into the corral. Aidan walked up to Dorothy and pulled her into an embrace. She snuggled against him, listening to his voice reverberating in his chest like a deep rumble. “How did you know?”
She didn’t look up but remained with her ear against him. “I couldn’t sleep. I was looking out the window and I saw a man. He lit a Lucifer stick and with it being so dark, I could see the skunk spray him, he jumped back from her and dropped the match. He must have already poured something on the barn wall because that single stick just went whoosh! Right up the side and by the time we got out here the barn was on fire!” She turned to look at the people who stood nearby to hear what she said. “I heard a horse, over there.” She pointed. “Whoever it was took off in that direction. He must have been from Billings?”
“Well.” Aidan ran his hand through his smoke infused hair. “Thanks to Ebony he won’t be hard to find. Skunk smell don’t wash off. We’ll go in to town in the morning and tell the sheriff.”
Dorothy thought a moment. “Tomorrow… is Sunday.”
“You’re right.” Aidan pulled her closer to his chest. “We will go to church after we speak to the sheriff. Lord knows we need to count our blessings and attend service.”
Dorothy nodded. The sheriff and church, but she had one more stop before they returned to the mining camp.

The schoolhouse became a bunkhouse, the Big House parlor became a bunk room, the clansmen settled between the two. The mining families and their children finally settled down and everything became quiet once more. Aidan and Dorothy put his children to bed, then Aidan walked Dorothy to her bedroom door and kissed her forehead. “I can’t thank you enough. Do you have any idea how many lives you saved tonight?”
She pursed a smile and shrugged.
“You could never learn what you did tonight from a textbook. You do realize that?”
“I suppose.” Her cheeks filled with a crimson blush.
He smiled. “I’m a blessed man, Dorothy. And to think I found you from a newspaper commentary.”
“Strange coincidence, huh?”
“I told you, I don’t believe in luck or coincidences. I believe the Good Lord sent you to Montana for me and the children.”
Dorothy snuggled into his embrace. “You could be right. When I thought your life was threatened, I acted on instincts, because… because I realized…” She lifted her eyes to meet his. “I’m falling in love with you Aidan… and the children. I love Montana, the stars at night and the open plains, these mountains, the trees, everything about this place you have made home. I love you and being here.”
Aidan dipped his head to level his eyes with hers. She had beautiful brown eyes. Did she realize what a lovely face she had and how happy he was to have found her. He hoped she was saying what he thought. Better to ask than to guess. “Does this mean… you’re ready to sign those papers? Make this a permanent arrangement?”
She smiled. “I think I am.”
He pulled her into his warm embrace and held her snug against his frame. “That makes me a very happy man, Dotty.”
She jerked her head back and glared at him. “How’d you know I am called Dotty?”
He chuckled. “Miss Houndsman called you Dotty. Didn’t take a detective to figure out it was your nickname. Do you mind if I call you Dotty?”
“No. My mother and father called me worse nicknames… Polka Dot.” She giggled. “But you may call me Dotty.” She tucked her chin and smiled.
“Good night, Dotty.”
“Good night, Aidan.” She moved away from him and entered her bedroom. He waited until she closed the door before he turned and entered his room. Soon, it would be their room and they would truly be a married couple. His heart raced at the thought. How amazing it felt to have these amorous feelings. After Sheila died, he truly never thought he’d feel this way again. Dotty was very different from Sheila even though they had teaching in common. Whereas Sheila never met a stranger and could fit in easily at any gathering, Dorothy was shy and relied on books to tell her how to conduct herself in society. It was an endearing quality that Aidan was growing to love about his new wife.
And tonight he learned that she is a brave heroine who would risk her own safety to save others, including him, including Turtle Dove’s people, not to mention the barn animals. He undressed, washed at the bowl, and crawled into bed. Soon she would share this bed with him. He touched the pillow beside his. How he had missed having a woman in his bed. He smiled and closed his eyes. Exhaustion washed over his body as he drifted to sleep.
The rooster woke Aidan. He could hear footsteps padding through the hall. The children were up, was Dotty? He rose, washed his face with a cake of
soap. There was still black soot in his hairline and around his ears. He rubbed the spots with a rag until his skin was red but clean. He dressed for church and walked to the kitchen. Dark, strong coffee was his first priority. Second, would be to check on the Two-Rivers clan.
“Let’s get an early start for church.” He told Gavin as the boy padded into the kitchen for breakfast. Turtle Dove had left scrambled eggs and fried bacon in two skillets on the stove. Sliced bread was wrapped in a towel next to a crock of butter and a jar of jam. “Are your brothers up?”
“Yes sir.” Gavin dished himself a healthy portion of each and glazed a slice of bread with butter and jam.
Aidan nodded. “Is Anna Beth awake?”
“I’m here, Poppa.” Anna Beth entered the kitchen with her younger brothers in tow.
“Good, now to find my wife.” He stopped in his tracks. He’d never referred to Dorothy as his wife, not out loud anyway. He scanned his children to see what their reaction was, but they seemed focused on breakfast and not on what he had blurted. He tiptoed through the parlor, careful not to wake anyone, and headed to her bedroom door. It swung open just as he was about to knock.
“Oh.” Dorothy jumped back, lowering a hat that she had been trying to pin to her head. “I’m sorry. I’m coming.”
He lowered his eyes to take in her lovely blue dress. “You look beautiful. Go get you something to eat. I’ll be back as soon as I check on our guests and hitch up the wagon.”
“The children?” She looked at their doors.
“Already in the kitchen.”
She nodded and rushed to get breakfast.
He longed to sit with her for the morning meal, but he had more important things to tend to.
Soon, he pulled the mule and wagon to the front door and whistled for his family to come load up. The other miners’ families were milling around the camp, most of them were dressed for church. He knew they’d be leaving soon. He, of course, had other business in town and was getting an earlier start.
Dorothy guided his children out the door. She looked comfortable with the children. Aidan’s heart pounded against his ribs like a drum at the sight. He allowed a smile to curl on his mouth and jumped down from the wagon to help her and Anna Beth onto the wagon seat. The boys climbed into the back. He joined his wife and daughter and slapped the reins on Muley’s back. They pulled away from the mining camp and headed down the mountain toward Billings. Traces of the skunk spray remained in the air, along with charred wood and hay. It was a putrid aroma in contrast to him and his family in their Sunday best. And a disheartening reminder of why they would be visiting with the sheriff first thing.
Chapter Ten

Aidan halted the mule in front of the Sheriff’s office, but the door was locked. With the cells empty, the sheriff had no reason to man the office day and night. Aidan sighed. “I suppose we’ll have to speak to him at church.”
Dorothy nodded. “How about we stop by the diner for sweet rolls and coffee.”
The children perked up. “Can we Poppa?”
Aidan smiled. “I don’t see why not.”
He reined the mule to move down the street to Nancy’s Diner. The boys leapt from the wagon, while Aidan helped his girls down. Dorothy put her hand on Anna Beth’s shoulder as they all walked into the eatery. It warmed Aidan’s heart to see such a natural interaction between his wife and daughter. The boys ran up to counter. “I want the blueberry!” “I want the Cherry!” “Give me the cheese!”
“All right, boys. Let’s sit down and let Nancy wait on us.” Aidan corralled his sons to a table, smiling at the owner, Nancy Warren. Anna Beth and Dorothy walked to a table large enough for their family.
The Orchids sat as Nancy approached with a sweet smile. “What can I get you folks?”
The boys all talked at once, “I’ll take a blueberry muffin!” “Give me the cherry!” “I want a cheese danish!”
“Boys!” Aidan reprimanded. “One at a time, and let the women go first.”
Gavin hung his head. “Sorry, Poppa.”
Cole and Jackson squirmed impatiently in the chair, eyeing the counter where the sweet treats were displayed behind glass.
Nancy turned to Dorothy.
“I’ll have… a blueberry muffin and a cup of coffee, black. Please.”
Nancy nodded and turned to Anna Beth.
“Um, I’d like the cinnamon roll and milk.”
Nancy smiled and turned to Aidan.
He smiled back at Nancy. “Cinnamon roll for me too and coffee, black.”
Nancy gave a nod. “And you boys want blueberry, cherry, and a cheese danish, what can I get you to drink?”
The boys looked surprised that she remembered what they wanted, but blurted their drink preference at once. “Milk.”
Nancy glanced at Aidan with an amused expression. “I’ll be right back with that.”
Aidan looked at his pocket watch and relaxed. They had plenty of time before church.
A half hour later, the Orchids thanked Nancy as she wiped their table and removed her apron, preparing to close her diner and go to church. Aidan helped Dorothy and Anna Beth onto the seat, while the boys leapt into the wagon. Muley plodded toward the church along with several other vehicles and townsfolk who walked. Aidan spotted the sheriff. “Sheriff Guffy!”
Aidan touched Dorothy’s arm and ran away from his family. The sheriff turned at the sound of his name, said something to his wife, and walked toward Aidan.
They shook hands. “What can I do for you, Mr. Orchid?”
“Sheriff, we had another fire last night. Our barn this time. I told you this was gonna get really personal once that murdering arsonist came after the clansmen staying in our barn.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Aidan. Did anybody get hurt?”
Aidan shook his head. “There were some injuries, my barn is ruined, but the people and the animals got out thanks to my wife noticing the fire before it got completely out of hand.”
At that moment, Dorothy and the children caught up with Aidan and the sheriff. Guffy greeted Dorothy with a touch to the brim of his hat, and the children with the same, “Mrs. Orchid, Children.”
“Sheriff.” Dorothy responded. The children remained quiet.
Aidan continued. “But this time, you’re gonna be able to find the culprit.”
“Oh, how’s that?” The sheriff’s brow furrowed.
Dorothy smiled. “Because our menacing little skunk sprayed him. He ran off toward Billings. I didn’t see his face but I’m sure the odor will give him away.”
Sheriff Guffy’s eyebrows darted up on his forehead. “Well, that certainly will make it easier to locate him, if he’s fool enough to come out into public.”
Aidan nodded. “Right. Let’s hope he is… foolhardy enough to mingle with the townsfolk.
“Okay, Orchid.” Sheriff Guffy shook Aidan’s hand. “I’ll file your report this afternoon and keep an eye- uh, nose on the lookout.” They chuckled and parted way, walking toward the church entrance.
Ginger Houndsman spotted Dotty and ran to her with a squeal. Aidan couldn’t help but smile. It was good to see his wife interact with her friend. His family sat with the Houndsman’s after the children were introduced instead of at the back where his family normally sat. Reverend Woolridge’s wife played softly as townsfolk settled into their usual places in the pews. A few disgruntled couples glared at the Orchids then moved to another area in the pews.
Ginger turned to look at the entrance several times during the songs and message. Was she watching for her betrothed, Theodore Binks? Was he the man the sheriff would be looking for? If he showed up to church at all.
Gosh, would a man covered in skunk spray come to church knowing the smell would be a dead giveaway that he was the guilty party? Criminals have done dumber things. But was Binks that stupid? Or arrogant? Perhaps time would tell. Aidan tried to focus on the reverend’s message and let the Good Lord take care of the criminal at large. He
took Dorothy’s hand. She turned and smiled at him. That smile gave him the peace he needed. He lowered his head. Thank you for these blessings, Lord.
“Oh! My goodness!” A woman whispered loudly at the back of the church. A wave to gasps and loud sniffs rippled toward the front as a man walked toward the row where the Houndsmans sat.
“Excuse me.” The man leaned into Aidan. A dull musky odor of skunk radiated from the stranger. Aidan lifted his gaze, but lurched back from the man.
Ginger reached out to beckon him to sit with her. She whispered, “Theodore.”
Did she not smell the skunk on him?
He smiled and scooted in front of Aidan’s family to make his way down the pew to Ginger. “Hi, Ginger Blossom.”
The children gasped and grabbed their noses. Dorothy gasped and turned a sharp glare to Aidan. He nodded acknowledgement of what Dorothy did not say, then turned to make eye contact with Sheriff Guffy.
The sheriff nodded. He understood.
Reverend Woolridge concluded his message and Mrs. Woolridge played the benediction song. Everyone stood to sing. Aidan’s children shoved toward him, nearly pushing him out of the pew, to get away from the offensive odor clinging to the man beside Ginger who had to be Theodore Binks.
Aidan couldn’t blame them. It was not pleasant. Had Binks grown accustomed to the smell and did not realize it was still with him? The hymn ended and the reverend blessed everyone. The Orchids spilled out of the pew and rushed to the door. The children burst out into the church yard laughing and gagging. Dorothy called them back, but Aidan touched her arm. “Let them go, Dotty. I’d rather they don’t witness the sheriff arresting Binks. But since you told them to stop, you need to be the one to tell them they can go.”
“Good point.” She lifted her eyes to the children and tipped her head toward the yard. “Never mind, children. Go ahead and play.”
They turned and continued to run to join the other children. Aidan and Dorothy stepped outside and waited, knowing what was about to happen. Sadness filled his heart for Ginger as she clung to Binks’s arm despite his foul odor and stopped to introduce him to Reverend Woolridge. It was interesting to watch the Reverend and others control themselves despite the smell. Ginger and Binks, at last, walked up to Aidan and Dotty.