by Paty Jager
Karl dug his heels in and jerked his arm out of Hank’s grasp. “What are your intentions toward my sister?”
Hank let out a whoosh of air. He knew this question would be coming soon after kissing Kelda, but he wasn’t ready to say anything until he thought his actions through. “I don’t have any intentions. She’s a woman and should be treated like one.”
Karl stared at him his mouth open enough he could have caught flies had it been any other time of year. “I know she’s a girl. But if she wants to work alongside the rest of us she has to be able to take teasing.”
Frustrated Hank stood nose to nose with Karl. “She is not a girl. She’s a woman. Kelda deserves the same respect you give your mother. And teasing is one thing, but the things I’ve heard you say to her…they shouldn’t be said to anyone you care about. Are you so blind you don’t see how your words hurt her?”
“There you go, sticking up for her. What do you care? You’re the boss, you aren’t her family.” Karl pushed his face closer and blew disgusting breath into Hank’s face.
He wanted to back up and draw in fresh air, but he wasn’t about to back down. Not when this jackass wasn’t giving him any good reasons for his behavior. “I am the boss, and I want every man or woman who is working here to be comfortable and do their job. Harassment will not be tolerated.”
“Harassment? Uff da! We’re just having fun with our sister and you come in here and act like we’re tanning her hide.” Karl backed up when Hank stretched to his full height and leaned in.
“Dag was trying to tan her hide earlier.” Hank opened the door. “Out! We’ll discuss this in the morning with your father present.”
The expression of disbelief that washed over Karl’s face would have been comical if Hank wasn’t wound tighter than his pocket watch.
“Good night.” Hank pulled on Karl’s sleeve, dragging him to the door and pushing him out into the snow. He was a big boy and could walk the twenty yards to his cabin in the dark.
Hank placed the bar across the door and drew in the rope pull. If someone wanted him or Tobias they’d have to pound on the door, and if he was lucky Tobias would see to it. His head ached. How had this evening turned from a celebration of life to his feeling like he’d put a chain around his neck?
He placed a log in the stove, picked up the lantern, and wandered into his office. He left the door open to allow the heat in. One look at his bed and he knew he wouldn’t sleep. Something wasn’t settling in his mind and from past experience that meant until he figured it out he wouldn’t sleep. Hank took a seat at his desk and pulled out a paper and pencil.
What disturbed him the most about tonight? He sat back and reran the night’s events over in his head. Everything was going well until Karl and Dag came to the office drunk and Dag pulled Kelda over his knee.
The way her eyes widened and a glint of fear dulled their sparkle there wasn’t a chance in hell he’d have let her brothers harm her. His chest had squeezed with the need to do something. He rubbed the heel of his hand over his breastbone re-experiencing the panic that had gripped him. There was no call for women or children to be hurt by a man’s hands.
Then the wonder in her voice when he called her a lady and the tears…he’d never been able to handle a woman’s tears, so he’d pulled her into an embrace. Her body fit his so well, he forgot himself and when her face peered up at him, he couldn’t resist a brief kiss. His body heated remembering how supple and soft her lips had felt.
Then Mrs. Nielsen arrived with a frying pan. That had brought him back to his senses. How was he to face the two women tomorrow? And he’d told Karl they’d discuss the way they treated Kelda with their father.
Hank moaned and dropped his head into his hands. How had he managed to undermine his authority in one night?
Chapter 8
Kelda tossed and turned most of the night. She’d barely slept when Mor started banging around at the stove. The ache in her head had nothing to do with the akevitt and everything to do with how her brothers would react around her today and for the duration of their work for Hank. He’d thrown a threat at them they’d never had before, and one that she knew would be darn near impossible for them to adhere to. There wasn’t a day went by that they didn’t punch her shoulder or smack her backside out of playfulness. She didn’t care for it but realized it was their way of showing affection. Even a couple of the long time workers punched her shoulder when they worked together.
She had to talk to Hank and explain the way things worked in a logging camp. If she didn’t have the men’s respect as a logger she might as well resign herself to the cookhouse or head out to the teaching college Far suggested six years ago.
Mor entered the supply room and gathered the ingredients for hotcakes.
“I’m coming, Mor.” Kelda swung her legs over the edge of her bed and stood.
“Your father had too much celebrating last night. I don’t know if he’ll eat breakfast,” Mor said, turning and exiting the room.
Kelda dressed quickly and stepped out of the supply room. A young man burst into the cookhouse.
“Where’s Hank?” he asked breathless and stomping his feet.
“He’s at the office. I’ll take you.” Kelda grabbed her coat, tossing it around her shoulders and led the stranger across the compound to the office. She tried the door but the bar was down and the rope pulled in.
She pounded on the door. “Hank! Hank!” She turned to the young man. “Is there something wrong?”
“Maeve’s having her baby, and Pa sent me to get uncle Hank.”
Kelda beat her fist on the door once more. Why wasn’t he answering? Was he ashamed of kissing her last night? “Hank, wake up!” She turned to the young man. “I’m Kelda.”
“Pleased to meet you, I’m Colin.”
Surely Tobias would answer. She pound again. “Tobias! Wake up!”
Turning her attention to Colin, she said, “I’m afraid they all had too much to drink last night celebrating my father’s birthday.”
The bar on the other side scraped the wood and the door swung open. Hank stood inside dressed in rumpled clothes. His surly gaze barely landed on her when Colin stepped between them.
“Uncle Hank, Pa wants you to come. Maeve’s having her baby, and she’s having a time of it. Uncle Zeke’s a handful.” Colin began his foot shifting motions again.
Hank grabbed his hat and jacket and pulled the door closed. “Let’s go.” He turned his gaze on Kelda. “Let your father know where I’ve gone. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
She nodded. “Send our blessings to your family.”
His gaze went cloudy, but he nodded and hurried toward the corrals holding the horses.
Hank’s departure would prevent the discussion with her father until he was of good humor. Relief rolled down her neck and loosened the muscles of her shoulders. Perhaps by the time Hank returned everyone will have forgotten his threats, and they could go back to normal. She touched her lips. Everyone but her. After experiencing her first kiss she was pretty sure there would be few kisses that would equal the event.
~*~
Hank pulled his horse onto its haunches in front of the house Zeke and Maeve bought in Sumpter. By the line of horses tied out front the whole Halsey family was supporting Zeke. He wasn’t sure why he was pulled into this, but he was damn happy it had happened. He’d spent most of the night trying to find a way to best dig himself out of the hole he’d made. Unfortunately, he kept coming back to the fact he wasn’t going to let his principles slide. Kelda was a woman, and therefore everyone in the camp should respect her as one.
No touching her.
And that included him.
Gil opened the door and slapped him on the back. “Good to see you. Maybe you can talk some sense into Zeke.”
Hank handed his hat and coat to Darcy and received a hug from her, Shayla, and Sadie.
“What’s the problem?” While he’d been greeted jovially, tension hung in the usually happy
atmosphere that surrounded the Halsey families. If something had happened to Maeve the greeting would have been more somber. What the hell was going on? He’d have to work harder at staying in touch with his brothers and their families.
Gil led him into the kitchen where Zeke, Clay, and Ethan sat at the table.
Darcy handed him a cup, and he sat in the spot at the table that wasn’t occupied as Gil took the seat next to Ethan.
“The baby isn’t turned the right direction. Rachel wants to cut Maeve open and take it out.” Clay put a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “Our brother is holding things up.”
Hank peered into Zeke’s pale, weary face. The two had always been close and seeing his brother’s pain Hank wondered if maybe it wasn’t best to remain unmarried. He didn’t think he could go through the agony of someone he loved hurting.
“I’m sure Rachel knows what she’s doing or she wouldn’t have suggested it. If you don’t give her permission you could lose both the baby and Maeve.” Hank didn’t allow his gaze to drift to others at the table. He stayed focused on the need to help his brother make the right decision. “You didn’t keep me up nights telling me all about Maeve’s attributes and how you couldn’t see yourself growing old with anyone but her for nothing. Zeke, you want her by your side. You need her by your side.” Zeke latched onto his gaze. The pain dulling his eyes put a knot in Hank’s belly. “If it was anyone but Rachel, I’d be scared, too.”
Hank’s heart rat-a-tatted inside his chest as he waited for Zeke to say something.
Zeke finally nodded. “Tell Rachel to do what she needs to do.”
Darcy darted from the room before he finished his sentence, and the men at the table all let out a collective sigh.
Darcy raced into the room. “Ethan and Gil start hauling hot water and the items stacked on the table by the stairs up to Rachel and Aileen.” As usual his pint-sized sister-in-law was all bossiness.
“Hank and Clay keep Zeke company.” She deposited a pot of coffee in the center of the table and followed the other men out of the room.
Zeke ran a hand through his hair. His agitation and fear hung in the room like a dense fog.
“How’s the log camp going?” Clay asked. He’d clearly made the decision that the talk should be of something other than Maeve.
“It’s nearly completed. Arvid says the next project is the chute to transfer the logs down the mountainside, and then we’ll be falling and stockpiling the logs.” Hank wasn’t keen on discussing the logging operation but realized it would help Zeke.
“When are you going to allow us a tour?” Clay peered at him with unseeing eyes. Hank still marveled at how well his brother had adjusted to a sightless life. Of course having the love and companionship of a woman who wouldn’t let him use his blindness as a crutch helped.
“As soon as we’re an actual working camp.”
Ethan returned to the kitchen. He placed a hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “Rachel said it won’t be long now and you did the right thing.” He sat at the table, and Colin pulled a chair up next to him.
Silence overtook the room as each man stared into their coffee cup. Hank peered at each of his brothers. They all had wives they cherished more than their own lives. If he married, he could one day be sitting here worrying about a wife. The thought conjured up Kelda. He shook his head. Was that something he wanted?
“Uncle Hank who was the pretty lady who helped me find you?” Colin asked, a bit of mischief twinkling in his eyes.
How had the scamp known he didn’t want Kelda brought into any conversations with his family?
“Kelda? She helps her mother in the cookhouse.” Hank couldn’t stop the heat rising up his neck as all three of his brothers turned their gazes on him.
“Colin, did you say she’s pretty?” Clay asked. “How pretty?”
“She has big green eyes that sparkled and made me want to smile back at her.” Colin peered at Hank. “She’s a bit bigger than Ma, ain’t she?”
A knot formed in Hank’s gut. He didn’t want to talk about Kelda. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the woman and damn sure didn’t need his brothers speculating.
“Yes, she’s taller than your ma.” He stood to get more coffee then remembered the pot was on the table and sat back down. All his attention was on the brown liquid pouring into his cup.
“How pretty?” Clay asked, his tone more teasing than inquiring.
“She’s not ugly.” Hank steeled his face to remain noncommittal as Kelda’s face popped into his head.
“She was real friendly and helpful,” Colin added, hopping out of his chair and grabbing cookies off a plate on the counter.
“Set that plate here. We could all use some of your ma’s cookies,” Ethan said, his gaze never leaving Hank’s face. “Hank, you aren’t very talkative about this pretty, friendly woman.”
“Nothing to say. She helps her mother cook.” Hank picked up a cookie and took a bite to fill his mouth so he couldn’t say anything else.
Clay’s hand brushed back and forth on the table cloth before bumping into the cookie plate and snatching a molasses cookie. “You’re not saying much is saying a whole lot.” He tipped his head. “Don’t you think so, Zeke?”
For the first time since Hank arrived, Zeke appeared to be slowly coming around to his normal demeanor. That didn’t bode well for Hank. If these three brothers ganged up on him over his not talking about Kelda, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep all his frustrations bottled up. They’d always talked things out.
“Yeah, his not saying is speaking real loud.” Zeke grabbed a cookie and offered him a smile before taking a bite.
“Colin, tell us more about this woman. What’s her name again, Hank?” Clay had always been the instigator to dig up what no one wanted to talk about.
“Kelda, her name’s Kelda. She told me while we were standing waiting for Uncle Hank to open the door.” Colin’s face turned thoughtful. “Why’d it take you so long to answer the door, Uncle Hank? She pounded more than once and hollered.”
Ethan leaned forward placing his forearms on the table. “Didn’t you want to talk to her?”
“I figured Tobias, who also lives in the office, would answer the door.” Hank snarled and snatched another cookie. Why couldn’t they just drop the whole discussion? He should have told Colin he didn’t have time to come here, but he wouldn’t have been able to live with himself it things hadn’t turned out well. The Halsey family was always there for one another. This was a good way to avoid the Nielsen men for a little longer. Damn! When he’d dreamed of starting a logging operation he’d never thought it would disrupt his life so much.
“That doesn’t answer why you ignored a woman calling your name.” Ethan continued to stare. “You and her have a falling out?”
Hank snorted. “Can’t have a falling out when there’s nothing to fall out of.”
Clay slapped the table. “That’s the problem. She doesn’t like you and you like her.”
Hank shook his head. “Brother you are so wrong it’s a wonder you can walk across a room.”
Ethan snapped his fingers. “She’s after you and you’re not interested.”
“You’re all wrong and all your fishing isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
Darcy entered the room. “Zeke, your son and wife would like to see you.”
Zeke leaped out of his chair knocking it over. He grasped Darcy’s hands in his. “They’re both fine?” The pleading in his voice jammed a knot of emotion in Hank’s throat.
“Yes. Maeve will have to take it easy for some time, but they are both doing well.”
Gil walked up behind Darcy and wrapped his arms around her. “You’ve got two fighters on your hands, Zeke. Go see them.”
Zeke dashed out of the room and thundered up the stairs.
Hank wanted to hang around and see how Maeve and the baby were doing, but he wanted to see Kelda and make things right with her family. This incident reminded him how important family is, and he wanted to ma
ke sure he hadn’t caused her any trouble.
He stood.
“Where are you going?” Darcy asked, moving to the cookstove.
“Back to camp.”
“Did you eat breakfast before coming here?”
He shuffled his feet.
“I thought not. No one here has had any breakfast either. You men go tend to the animals, and I’ll have your meal on the table in twenty minutes.” Ethan, Gil, Clay, Colin, and Hank all stared at her. “Go, shoo. There’s chores to do, and I don’t want you under my feet while I work.”
They bundled into their coats and headed out the door.
“What chores need done?” Clay asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m heading to the log camp. Gil, tell your wife thanks but I need to get back.” Hank untied his horse from the picket fence.
“There’s no sense in riding off without a meal.” Ethan caught hold of his horse’s bridle.
“You don’t need me here, and I really do need to get back. There’s some unfinished business needs tending.” He swung up on his saddle.
“This have anything to do with Kelda?” Clay asked.
“Who’s Kelda?” Gil asked.
“A pretty lady at the logging camp,” Colin piped in.
Aggravation finally boiled over. Hank couldn’t stop the words from bursting forth. “Yes, it has to do with Kelda, and the fact I threatened her brothers last night.”
Ethan grabbed him by the back of his coat and hauled him off the horse. He and Gil took him by an arm and marched him to the barn with Clay and Colin in their wake.
“Hey! I have to go!” He tried to shake them loose but one was slightly larger than him and the other only a couple inches and pounds smaller.
In the barn they let go. He spun ready to fight. That’s what he needed, a good brawl to work off the frustration that seemed to smother him lately.
Ethan put up his hands. “We’re not going to fight you. There’s more than this woman that has you ready to swing at us.”
Hank stared as his brothers all stood with their arms crossed waiting. Colin scanned the group and imitated the grown men.