“Do you plan to hire someone to help you through the summer?” She glanced back at him as she loosened the horse’s girth.
He shrugged. “I don’t know anyone who’d be willing to help. Honestly, I’ve only met Reuben and O’Hennessey, and both of them seem to have their hands full with their own ranches.”
The thought entered her mind that her father was available, but he’d probably prefer to stay close to Reuben, helping where he could there. Of course, she wasn’t nearly as occupied. She may not be as quick at felling trees as her brothers, but she could swing a scythe or a hammer as well as Robert or Will.
Of course, she and Mr. Peak couldn’t both leave Itu all day. Aside from her awful injuries, the child couldn’t be more than five or six.
Maybe, while he was out working with the stock and the hay, she could accomplish tasks around the house and barn. It wasn’t too late to plant a garden either if she started right away. That would provide much-needed foodstuffs to last him through the winter.
But something kept her from opening her mouth. Probably the likelihood that he’d protest any offer she made. She’d just do the work and see if he noticed.
She held her tongue as she released Sterling into a stall, then walked beside Mr. Peak toward the house. He was taller than she remembered, and the strength of his presence beside her made her stomach flip.
What was she doing alone with this man? Maybe Mama had been right to wear such a concerned expression when she rode away that morning. But he’d shown himself to be honorable so far, and she fully expected him to ride out to work as soon as he saw her to the house.
Besides, she had her rifle, and knew well how to use it—as a gun or club or anything else required.
Yet his posture remained respectful as he allowed her to precede him into the house. And when she knelt by Itu’s side, he remained a courteous distance away.
The girl’s eyes fluttered open at Hannah’s approach, although they seemed to hang heavy. Her mouth curved in a faint smile, but it appeared like the look could turn to tears at any moment.
“Oh, honey.” She clasped one tiny hand and bent low to press a kiss to the child’s temple as she brushed the hair away.
Hot. The fever was consuming her tiny body.
Hannah reached for the cup sitting beside the bed pallet and raised it to her nose to see if she could decipher the contents.
“That’s willow tea. I’ve been giving it to her more often than the other herbs to help with her pain. I don’t know if it’s working or not.” Mr. Peak had his hands clasped in front of him as though he was nervous—or worried.
The drink would help her, but tepid willow bark tea could unsettle the stomach. And the last thing Itu needed with all her other troubles was to cast up her accounts. Hannah shifted toward the hearth and opened the kettle to check its contents. “I’m going to pour it back in to re-heat. If taken cold, this tea can roil the stomach. Do you have any clean water for drinking?”
“In this pail.” He stepped forward and lifted a bucket from beside the fire.
She scooped a cupful and returned to the girl’s side. “Can you drink?” She kept her voice soft, but spoke clearly. She’d been teaching Itu a few words the day before, with drink being one of them.
The child lifted her head a tiny bit, and Hannah slipped a hand behind to help her. The girl only managed a couple of sips before she lay back, too weary to drink any more. She seemed to be getting worse, not better.
Hannah moved down to the broken leg. Doc Bryan had wrapped the splint all the way up to the knee, and she didn’t expect to see anything unusual above that point. But she should check, just in case this new pain and exhaustion signaled the limb had worsened.
She peered under the bandage around the knee. The skin underneath had turned a bluish-red, and was still quite swollen. Was the bandage helping or hurting the leg? What little she could see looked horribly painful.
She scanned the rest of the bandage. If only she could see underneath. If only she knew what to do to fix the injuries. If only she could make this all better for the precious child.
Pulling the blanket back up, she wrapped Itu in a hug, careful not to hurt her tiny limbs. Heal her, Lord. Touch her body and make her well. Tears sprang to her eyes, unbidden and unwelcome.
“Is there anything I can do?” Mr. Peak’s voice came to her in a low murmur, filled with enough concern that she knew he cared for the child too.
She sat up, sniffing back the moisture trying to slip through her defenses. “No. I’ll stay with her today. You can do what you need to with your cattle and hay.” She looked over at him, trying to summon an encouraging smile.
His earnest gaze nearly undid her. He sat on his haunches, his hands clasped in front of him, leaning forward as though he were ready to do whatever she asked. “Can I get you anything before I leave? More water? Do you want the fire hotter?”
She glanced toward the hearth. He already had a pile of wood in the corner, so she shook her head. The encouraging smile was a little easier to find this time. “Go do your work, Mr. Peak. We’ll be fine.”
“Call me, Nathaniel. Please.” His face shifted into a grimace. “My last name reminds me too much of my days in the cavalry, and I’d just as soon forget that time.”
What exactly did he mean by that? Had he done things he regretted? She studied his eyes, looking for some sign of his true feelings. All she could find was a well of earnestness that she could drown in if she let herself.
At last, she nodded. “All right. Call me Hannah. With only family around, I’m not used to being Miss Grant either.”
His mouth teased in the hint of a smile, and he extended a hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Hannah.”
He seemed to realize immediately what he’d done, and red crept into his face. He pulled his hand back, rubbing it across his belly. “I guess ladies don’t shake, do they? I’ve been out of the general population too long.”
His boyish embarrassment almost pulled a grin from her. She extended her own hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, Nathaniel.”
When he closed his hand around hers and gave a single shake, his grip was solid, yet not too tight. Warm, and the touch of his skin against hers sent a tingle up the length of her arm.
Not a sensation she’d meant to feel.
She pulled back and turned away as soon as she could do so without being rude. She needed to do a better job of keeping her distance from this man.
HANNAH ROSE FROM HER chair at the dinner table that night to retrieve the apple pie her mother had baked. Hannah was usually the one who did the baking in the family, but since she’d been with Itu all day, Mama had accomplished the task.
“I’ve been thinking it’s time we ride down to Butte for supplies.” Her father’s voice filled the table as she cut slices of the dessert. “Hannah’s eager to see the sights, too.”
Her chest tightened. She had been eager. Still wanted to. But now was hardly the time to leave Itu and Nathaniel alone. The girl had been in so much pain that day. Several times when Hannah thought she was sleeping, she’d heard tiny sobs drifting from the blankets. The sounds were enough to break her heart.
Maybe if they went to Butte soon, she could ask the doctor to come back early. It was still four days before the end of the week when he’d promised to check on Itu, but she wasn’t sure the girl could wait that long. She’d definitely taken a turn for the worse.
“When are you planning to go?” She tried to keep her tone nonchalant.
“Do you have any work for me these next few days?” Her father looked over at Reuben.
The man shook his head. “You’ve outworked me already. I’m sure Cathleen’ll have a few things she needs from the mercantile if you don’t mind picking them up.”
Papa nodded. “Of course.” Then his gaze went to her mother, and a silent conversation passed between them. A moment later, he looked to Hannah. “How about we leave in the morning?”
She eased out a breath. The soone
r, the better for little Itu. She wouldn’t have time to tell Nathaniel where she’d gone, but surely they’d only be in town a night or two at the most.
And if Itu didn’t get help soon, she might lose that leg. Or maybe her life.
Chapter Twelve
It’s funny the things God uses to guide us.
~ Hannah
Butte was nothing like what Hannah expected.
As they rode through what must have been the main street, she could only stare at the long rows of buildings. Not made of rough logs like the structures in Fort Hamilton, these were mostly built of milled wood with some covered in whitewash. Faded whitewash, with thick coats of dust and mud that made the paint look like more of a dirt-wash.
Her father drove the wagon—Reuben’s rig that he insisted they bring to make hauling supplies easier—down the building-lined road, slowing for a woman and two children who were crossing just ahead.
A long white building on the left caught her focus. Or rather the sign above the door that read Doctor’s Clinic. This must be where Doc Bryan and Cathleen’s other brother worked.
She pointed to the structure. “Can we stop there so I can ask them to go up and check Itu?” She’d already filled her parents in on the girl’s worsening condition.
Papa didn’t show any sign of slowing the rig. “Let’s find the hotel first and get the animals settled. Then we can go visiting.”
Her body itched to jump down and stride toward the building, but she clutched the wood bench to keep herself in place. Surely it would only take a half hour or so to accomplish those tasks. Cathleen had sent a bundle of things for her sisters-in-law and niece and nephew, so Mama would surely want to come along to the clinic.
The hotel where they took rooms was grander than she’d expected. In fact, she’d never been inside a building that contained a second floor like this one. The staircase railing had a beautiful carving that would have done well with a coat of polish. Their own little cabin in the mountains might be rustic compared to this, but she and her mother kept it neat and as clean as possible, a habit the proprietors of this establishment would do well to adopt.
Not that the place was overly dirty. Especially not compared to the way Nathaniel’s cabin had been before she set to work on it the day before. But it was hard not to judge the character of the owners by the dirt in the corners and dust covering the furniture.
Of course, she could handle a little dirt given the fact she had her very own room again. She’d missed this luxury since they’d come to Reuben and Cathleen’s.
A soft knock sounded on her door, and she pulled it open to find both her parents standing in the hall. Mama looked refreshed with her hair re-coifed and a gentle smile on her face. Papa just looked like Papa—the same no matter what time of day or season of the year.
“Shall we go eat before we visit Cathleen’s family?” Her mother’s smile turned hopeful. “We saw a little café on the way to the clinic.”
Another delay? Maybe she should walk to Doc Bryan’s place while her parents ate. But the thought of dining in a real café was sorely tempting. Especially when they reached the building and the tantalizing aroma of stewed beef and something sweet drifted through the doorway.
Two men were exiting the place, one who appeared to be near her father’s age, and one who might have been young, although his scruffy beard and worn flannel shirt made him look almost as old as the other. She hadn’t seen many people since they entered the town, probably because it was still mid-afternoon and most men would be working. But she’d not been very impressed with those she had seen.
Still, she offered these men a smile as they nodded a greeting in passing.
Inside the café, the savory aroma grew stronger. The place appeared neat and cheery, with long tables lined on either side of a center aisle. A few men sat around the room, either leaning over plates or lounging in conversation with each other.
An apron-clad woman strode from one table to another, refilling cups with the pitcher she carried. When she turned to send them a welcoming smile, her beauty nearly caught Hannah’s breath. Those dark eyes were captivating, along with the soot-black hair and elegant features. She didn’t look like she belonged in this town of less-than-promising men.
“Hello. Take a seat anywhere you like.” She motioned toward a couple of empty tables. “We’re serving stewed beef and potatoes this evening. Can I get you plates?”
“Yes, please.” Mama’s voice held all her normal grace.
Papa motioned toward an empty table, and they sat on the bench seats lining either side.
There was only one person nearby, and he turned as they settled themselves. “I haven’t seen you folks in Aunt Pearl’s before.” He extended a hand.
Papa took the offering. “Just arrived in town today.”
A flash of pleasure lit the man’s blue eyes, and his gaze slid to Hannah before jerking back to her father. “Newcomers. Good to meet you. I’m Harvest Jenkins.”
Papa nodded. “A pleasure. I’m Simeon Grant, and these are my wife and daughter.”
The man’s gaze wandered back to Hannah, and she met it head-on. He looked to be only a few years older than she was, maybe thirty-five at the most. Clean-cut, and handsome in a smooth, tailored way. Except for that mustache, which cluttered up his face. In truth, she’d rarely seen men who dressed like him, with a cutaway coat and necktie. Was he a businessman in town?
“Here you are.”
The arrival of the dark-haired woman with their food shifted Hannah’s attention back to her table. As her parents conversed with the woman, then continued their casual discussion through the meal, she couldn’t help stealing a few more glances at Mr. Jenkins.
He was handsome like Nathaniel, but in a different way. This man seemed so...smooth. Like he knew well who he was and what he wanted. Nathaniel also had a confidence about him, but it came through in the earnest expression of his eyes, the way he truly listened to a person, the way he put his all into everything he did. He wasn’t afraid to show his passion, but he also knew when to hold his tongue.
When she’d first met Mr. Nathaniel Peak, she’d been waiting to see his true colors. She was finally coming to realize that he didn’t hide himself behind a façade. He truly was a hardworking man who cared about others and wasn’t afraid to put himself fully into whatever he set his mind to.
The kind of man who’d take in an injured Indian child and exhaust himself to care for her, setting aside his own needs to ease her pain as well as he could.
A longing swelled inside her to be with them, to talk with Nathaniel while she cradled Itu in her arms. The ache of her need swelled inside her chest so strong it brought tears to her eyes. She dropped her gaze to the plate, forking another bite of potato to distract herself.
Tomorrow. Her father had promised they would return to Reuben’s tomorrow if they could get all the supplies they needed in the morning.
Lord willing, she’d see Nathaniel and Itu the next day. Help them, Lord. Be with them even when I can’t.
Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
NATHANIEL KNELT BESIDE Itu’s bed pallet, brushing the backs of his fingers across her forehead. She was so hot and had slept much of the day. He’d thought that last part would help her, especially since she couldn’t seem to rest much at night. But her fever seemed to be rising.
“Can you drink a little more of this?” He slipped his hand behind her head to raise it.
Her eyes barely squinted open, but at least she was awake and able to sip a little. He’d reheated the willow tea like Hannah said to do and given the girl everything else exactly as often as Simeon Grant had instructed.
Yet nothing seemed to be helping. He’d prayed Hannah would come again today—actually bowed his head and petitioned the Almighty. Her presence seemed to give Itu strength. It certainly brought them both comfort. She didn’t even have to clean or cook like she had the day before, although stepping into that clean cabin after she’d left had stirr
ed his soul in a way he could still feel.
But truly, all she had to bring was herself and that beautiful spirit that lit a room when she stepped into it.
Yet she hadn’t come. Maybe tomorrow. Lord, let her come tomorrow. We need help.
HANNAH BREATHED IN the cool mountain air as she stepped outside later that evening. With her mind churning so much, she needed a walk. Maybe her angst was leftover emotion from talking to Doc Bryan, or urgency to get back up the mountain now that he would accompany them to Reuben and Cathleen’s tomorrow, then on to see Itu. Maybe this turmoil was her worry for the girl.
Or maybe this unrest was simply exhaustion from meeting so many new people. Bryan had introduced her to his wife and daughter, then his brother, Alex, and his wife and son. She already loved them all—Cathleen’s family, which became their own by extension. Yet being around so many new faces had taken the rest of her energy.
A few moments to herself was what she needed, outside where she could see the mountains rising up in the distance around the town.
She turned opposite the direction they’d walked earlier that day. She wasn’t sure exactly what lay this way, but she could see a few lights in the buildings as evening began to settle over the place. It seemed like many storekeepers lived in the back part of their shops, which made sense.
Every so often, she passed a person walking along the boardwalk. Several looked like weary miners returning home or maybe doing business after their work ended. Doc Bryan and his brother had told them a little about the mines around town and how the working conditions were especially hard. A look at the soot-covered men she passed made her heart squeeze. Surely there was something to be done that would make their work easier.
“Miss Grant?”
She spun to face the voice. Who would know her name here? A man stepped into the light from a nearby window, and she caught the glimmer of buttons on his coat, as well as the dark contrast of his mustache against his lighter skin.
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