“All right, let’s head out,” Edward said, pulling on his coat. “I hope you don’t mind walking.”
“Not at all. I walked here. My horse is being stabled.”
“Well, there’s an area near the cabin you can use for him. You’d have to rebuild a pen or stake him out, however. I put together a rough pen for the girls, but the flood took that out.”
“I’m sure I can work with whatever is available.”
Edward nodded. “Oregon City has grown a lot since I first came here. In fact, the first time I laid eyes on this area, there wasn’t much more than a couple of cabins, like the Portland settlement is now. But it didn’t matter to me back then. I was a trapper and mostly hung out at Fort Vancouver when I wasn’t up in the tall and uncut.”
Lance chuckled. “I was born and raised in New Orleans, so this still seems like a tiny town to me. But there’s something about it that I like very much. It’s given me a sense of home, even though mine is far away.”
“I can well imagine. I spent my growing-up years in and around St. Louis. There’s something about a river town that gets into your blood. I suppose that’s why I love it here. We haven’t got the river traffic of the Mississippi, but give it time. It’s coming.”
A sprinkle of rain fell, but both men were so used to it that it was nothing more than a minor annoyance. Lance felt like his life was finally falling into order. He tried not to think about Hope any more than necessary, but he had to admit she came to mind quite often. He’d offered her friendship and nothing more, and she’d offered the same, but he wasn’t so sure he could leave it at that.
“So that’s it just up the way,” Edward said.
The cabin wasn’t much to look at, but once the area around it was cleaned up, it would suit just fine. Of course, he hadn’t yet seen the inside. “Does the river flood often?”
“Oh, it depends on the snowmelt from the mountains and the rain, of course. It floods pretty consistently, but not like last year. Generally speaking, it might overflow the banks and come up the property ten or twenty feet, but the cabin’s usually far enough back that it isn’t bothered. Last year was different. We lost most everything along the river, and what wasn’t lost was severely damaged.”
Edward opened the door of the cabin. The smell was musty. There was mold on the logs, and mud still layered the warped wood floors.
“I’ll bring over some wood to fix up the floors. Some of the furniture is still good. The wooden chairs and table didn’t suffer too much. We put the bed and mattress upstairs, along with the rocking chair and settee. They’re old but serviceable, if the varmints haven’t gotten into them. The cupboards on the kitchen walls are fine, but the cupboards below are probably not worth the trouble of cleaning up. It’d probably be best to just pull them out and replace them with new ones.”
“I’m sure I can make do.” Lance surveyed the mess. “I’ll purchase some supplies tomorrow and get right to it.”
“Go to the Brick Store and tell them to put it on my account. Get a broom, mop, buckets, whatever you need. I’ll bring a shovel over later tonight and some cleaning rags. I’ll bring my boys too—at least the older two. We’ll help you clear out some of the rotten wood and debris.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Edward let out a belly laugh. “Now that’s a fine how-do-you-do. Here I thought maybe we’d be friends.”
Lance chuckled. “Too long a soldier, I guess.”
“Well, call me Edward and leave it at that.” He pulled out his pocket watch. “Say, why don’t you come over to my place right now? It’s nearly supper time, and we’d love to have you. We can discuss anything else you might want to know over dinner, and then we can head back here afterward. We’ll have plenty of light left to us.”
“I’d hate to impose. Your wife will surely be vexed if you bring home a guest unannounced.”
“She won’t mind at all. My nieces are already joining us. One more isn’t going to make a difference.”
“A home-cooked meal does sound mighty appealing.”
Lance followed Edward out of the cabin and pulled the door closed behind him. It didn’t want to close all the way due to some warping. One more thing to put on the list to fix.
When they entered Edward’s two-story house, they were greeted with boisterous laughter and racing children. Lance smiled at the way the three young boys chased after one another, their giggles echoing through the halls.
“My boys,” Edward offered. “Well, most of ’em. We have another one not yet a year old, but give him time, and he’ll be running circles around the other three. And if I have my way, we’ll have another two or three in the years to come.”
“Two or three what?” a beautiful brown-haired woman asked. She smiled at Edward. “I see you’ve brought us a guest.”
Edward put his arm around her. “I did indeed. This is Lance Kenner. He’s helping me out while Alex is off talkin’ to the Indians. Maybe longer, if he decides to give up studying to practice law.”
Lance frowned. Was Edward’s missing partner Alex Armistead? He’d heard that Armistead had left town to speak to various tribes about the trial but didn’t realize he was a partner in the sawmill.
“Mr. Kenner, I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Edward’s wife, Mina.”
Lance bowed his head then offered her a smile. “Pleased to meet you.”
The boys came rushing through once again, but this time big, burly Edward swooped down and caught all three in his muscular arms. “Whoa, now. I have someone for you to meet.”
The boys’ legs were still moving even as their father raised them off the ground.
“Lance, this one here is Phillip. He’s the oldest.” Edward moved his right arm forward just a bit. “He’s ten. In my other arm are Thomas and Oliver.”
“I’m five,” Thomas declared, holding out his hand with fingers splayed. He seemed perfectly content to dangle from his father’s arm.
Lance smiled. “I’m pleased to meet you boys.”
“Boys, this is Mr. Kenner. He’s going to work with me at the mill.”
The children seemed unimpressed, and the minute their father put them down, they were off and running. Edward and Mina shook their heads.
“Sometimes I think there are twice as many boys in this house,” Mina said. She gave Lance a smile. “We’ve kept you standing in the foyer long enough. Please come in and let me introduce you to our company.”
Lance followed her into a lovely, well-appointed sitting room to find he already knew the three visiting women.
“That there is Alex’s wife, Grace,” Edward said, nodding to where Grace sat with a fat baby bouncing on her knee. “And that’s Baby John.”
So it was Alex Armistead he was filling in for. Lance tried not to show any emotion. He had been going over the details of the past in his mind and still wasn’t sure what he would do when face-to-face with Alex.
“Lance!” Mercy declared, getting to her feet. “Look who’s come, Hope.”
Hope turned from the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves where she’d been perusing a book. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Well, I must say, I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”
Edward laughed. “So you know each other already?”
Mina looked at Grace. “Do you know Mr. Kenner, as well?”
“I do. He’s come to our rescue a couple of times.” Grace cocked her head. “But as I recall, you were Lieutenant Kenner then.”
“I was, but now I’m just plain old Mister, and happily so.”
“Well, you’re most welcome company, no matter your title.” Grace shifted the child on her lap.
“I didn’t know you had a child,” Lance said, smiling at the baby.
“I don’t,” Grace replied. “He’s Uncle Edward’s youngest.”
Mina took the child. “And it is Baby John’s bedtime. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll see to him. Grace, would you mind making sure our dinner doesn’t burn? We’ll eat when I return, so feel free to start put
ting the food on the table, if you like.”
“I’d be glad to.” Grace got up from her chair. “Mercy, why don’t you come help.”
They left the room, heading off in the opposite direction from which Lance had come.
“I’m going to round up those boys and get their hands washed for supper,” Edward said just as the shouts and laughter started to sour. One of the boys was yelling that his brother had hit him in the ear. “Sounds like I’d best hurry.”
His departure left Lance and Hope facing each other. She closed the book and waved to a chair. “You might as well make yourself comfortable.”
“It’s nice to see you looking so well, my . . . friend,” Lance said. He chose a nearby wooden chair and eased back with his legs outstretched. “Last time I saw you, I thought you might be ill.”
She frowned. “When was that?”
“At the hanging.”
Her eyes widened. “I . . . well . . . I wasn’t sick, but I was overwhelmed. I’m sure you understand. I did see you marching behind the prisoners.”
He nodded. “One of my last official duties.”
“I wasn’t going to attend, but at the last minute I thought perhaps I should. I didn’t see much, since the scaffolding wasn’t very high and we were toward the back of the crowd. But after hearing the gossip regarding the . . . well, the way they died, I think I’m glad for that.”
“It wasn’t an easy death.”
She nodded. “Are you glad to be out of the army?” she asked, seeming to relax a bit.
“I am. No more polishing brass or inspecting the work of others. I’m going to work with your uncle since your brother-in-law is away.”
She sighed. “I wish Alex hadn’t gone. Grace misses him so.”
He couldn’t help but ask about the man he’d long considered his family’s enemy. “What’s your brother-in-law like? I saw him at the trial and again at the hanging. He was with one of the Indians.”
“Yes, that was his good friend Sam Two Moons. Sam is Nez Perce, and he and Alex used to trap together. They’ve been friends a long time.” She paused and took a seat in the rocking chair. “As for what he’s like, well, he’s trustworthy and honorable. He’s a good man—a great comfort and help to my family.”
It was strange to hear such praise for Armistead. “Where does he come from?”
Hope shrugged. “I don’t recall. I know he lived with his grandfather for a time in Montreal or somewhere near there. I really don’t remember. You’d have to ask Grace. I think he was originally from somewhere in the South. Apparently there was some sort of trouble that sent him north. For a time we thought it might even keep him and Grace apart, but just when all seemed lost, he returned to us, having settled his problems.”
Lance knew very well about the troubles that had sent him to Canada. Even so, the man Hope portrayed was nothing like the hateful, vindictive one Lance had created in his mind. He’d always thought of Armistead as a coldhearted man who counted life cheap. But in Oregon City, Lance heard nothing but praise for him.
“He’s a hard worker.” Hope smiled. “When we moved out to the farm last year, he worked himself crazy putting up fencing for our sheep. He plans to put up more, but he and Uncle Edward are building a bigger house first.”
“It’s good of him to take you and Mercy in.”
She nodded. “Like I said, he’s a good man. But enough about Alex. You’ll have a chance to get to know him when he returns. If you’re still here.”
“I plan to be. I have my home in New Orleans but figure to be here for a while. The army never paid much, and what I’d put aside is spending fast. The job at your uncle’s mill will allow me to refill my coffers.” He paused and offered her a big grin. “Besides, I kind of like it here, and I’ve already made one good friend.”
Hope shook her head. “I don’t know how good of a friend I am, but call it as you will.”
“You don’t seem to like having friends. I mean, I’ve never seen you with anyone but your family.”
“Are you keeping an eye on me?” She watched him as if assessing him for the truth.
“I look out for my friends.” He grinned. “Besides you’re one of the only women in town I know.”
“Well, maybe you should start attending church. You’d make a lot of new friends there.”
Lance sobered and shrugged. “Never been much of a church man. In my boyhood I was, but only because my father insisted on it.”
“I understand that well enough. My mother and father did as well. Since then, though . . .” She left the rest unsaid.
Lance heard something akin to regret in her tone. “But you attend services?”
She sighed and looked off toward the front window. Light was still shining through the panes despite the cloudy day. “I do. I guess since we’re friends, I can be honest with you.” She looked back at him and gave a slight smile. “The massacre changed everything for me. I blamed God for not stopping it and wanted little to do with Him. I’m still not entirely sure what He expects of me or what I want of Him, but I’m working on knowing Him better so I can learn.”
“I could have said the same for myself. Of course, it wasn’t a massacre that caused me to question.”
“What did?” she asked.
He couldn’t explain it to her, and he didn’t want to lie. “We’ll keep that story for another day.”
Mercy rushed into the room. “Grace isn’t feeling good and she wants to go home.”
Grace joined them, looking pale. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience and sorry that we can’t share dinner with you, Mr. Kenner. Perhaps we might have you dine with us at the farm soon.” She gripped the back of a chair and closed her eyes.
Edward came into the room and immediately noticed something was wrong. Grace smiled and waved him off when he insisted she could take a bed upstairs.
“I’ll be fine. I think I’ve just been sleeping poorly since Alex left. I don’t want to be a bother or create a fuss. Just give my regrets to Mina and tell her the food is on the table.” She let go of the chair and crossed the room.
“I could ride with you. It wouldn’t take me long to fetch my horse,” Lance said.
“No.” Grace shook her head. Her color was a little better, but she still looked weary. “Hope and Mercy will be with me, and it’s still light. We’ll be fine.”
“Mina won’t like that I let you run off,” Edward said just as one of the boys let out a banshee-like scream. He looked torn between going to investigate and staying to help Grace.
She stretched up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
The scream sounded again, and after a roll of his eyes, Edward took off.
Lance wanted to do something more, but there was nothing he could do without making a scene and imposing himself upon the trio of women.
Hope passed him and turned. “It was nice to see you again . . . friend.”
“It was nice to see you, as well.” He looked at the other two women. “It was nice to see all of you.”
And then they were gone, and Lance was left standing there feeling awkward and, strangely enough, lonely.
Grace asked Hope and Mercy to join her by the fire once they reached home and had cared for the horses. Hope wasn’t sure what was going on, but she had her suspicions.
“I don’t want either of you to worry,” Grace said. “I’m truly fine. It’s only that . . . well, I’m going to have a baby.”
“A baby!” Mercy clapped her hands. “When?”
“December.”
Hope had suspected as much and mentally calculated that her sister was a little over three months along. About the same amount of time had passed when Hope learned she was with child.
“This is so wonderful,” Mercy said. “I was afraid you were sick, and I didn’t know what we would do because you’re the healer.”
“Well, I’m just fine. I felt faint at Uncle Edward’s and a little green. The smell of the pork fat was overwhelming. The ni
ght air made me feel much better, however, and I’m actually hungry now.”
“I’m going to fix us something to eat,” Mercy said, jumping to her feet. “You have to eat for two now and take good care of yourself. I’m going to help you and do all your chores.”
Grace laughed. “That isn’t necessary, Mercy, but something to eat would be nice.”
The fourteen-year-old nodded enthusiastically and headed for the kitchen. Hope was more guarded with her feelings, and Grace seemed to sense this.
“I hope this isn’t too hard on you.”
Hope shook her head. “It comes as no surprise. And while it does bring back memories, I won’t be grieved by them. This is a happy occasion, and I will do what I can to be nothing but joyous.”
Grace settled back in her chair. “I know you both will be wonderful help.”
“Does Alex know?” Hope asked. If he knew about the baby and had left Grace to fend for herself, Hope was going to be angry.
“No. I couldn’t tell him. He would never have gone, and I think he needed to go on this journey as much as the governor needed him to. Alex loves Sam’s family, and he needs to know they’ll be safe.”
“But you need to be safe as well.”
“And I am. We’re all quite safe here.” Grace smiled. “Besides, he’ll be home in a few weeks. We have plenty of time before the baby comes, and we’ll have more than enough work to keep us busy. I’ll need lots of soft yarn to make blankets and booties.”
Hope nodded. “Good thing the sheep are getting sheared next week. Mercy and I will get right to washing and carding the wool.”
It would be simple enough to spin yarn for her sister. What wasn’t so easy was feeling confident that they would be fine without Alex in the meantime. Hope thought of Lance and how he’d been reintroduced into their family circle. Perhaps he could be useful in the days to come, should they need a man’s help. Uncle Edward would continue to ride out and check on them as well.
Beloved Hope (Heart of the Frontier Book #2) Page 12