by Paty Jager
Hank shook out his raised fists and tense shoulders and leaned against a wagon wheel. “I don’t know what’s going on.” He grabbed his hat and slapped it against his leg. “I knew there would be women at the camp. I thought an older woman and girl the way Arvid talked about them.” Hank couldn’t stop the memory of his first sight of Kelda. “His daughter is a grown woman. And as stubborn as she is pretty.” He glared at the men present. “She would rather work out in the woods among the men than help her mother cook.”
“She works in the woods? Is that what’s eating you?” Ethan uncrossed his arms and took a seat on an upturned bucket the other’s followed by finding a comfortable spot to roost.
“Yes. No. I told her father if she worked alongside the men, I’d find another outfit to log our mountains.” He stared at his brothers. “It’s not safe for her out there. She likes to top the trees. That’s…It’s not safe.”
“And her father agreed to your terms?” Gil shook his head.
“Yes. I think he was looking for a way to keep her out of the woods. This makes me her enemy and not her father.”
“If you threatened her brothers for touching her then you’re the enemy to them all.” Clay stated the obvious with a noncommittal tone.
Hank cleared his throat and stared around the barn. “You could look at it that way, I guess.”
“You guess? Hell, Hank, I can’t believe you’re ready to rush back over there from what you just told us.” Ethan scowled. “This is a mess. We believed you could handle being a boss on your own, but what you’re telling us now, I’m wondering if maybe one of us needs to come over and check on things.”
Anger shot Hank to his feet. “I can handle this. It’s not as bad as it sounds. I’d planned to have a talk with the Nielsen family his morning before Colin showed up.” He ran a hand over his unshaven face. “They’re more reasonable than you’d think. All but the women.”
Clay chuckled. “When have women ever been reasonable?”
Gil and Ethan both agreed.
Darcy’s voiced called from the house.
“I’ll eat, but then I have to get back to the camp and get things straightened out.” Hank stood and strode to the house. He wasn’t any happier about the conversation he must have with the Nielsens, but he had to do it or lose the trust of his family.
Chapter 9
Kelda cleared the table as a few of the loggers left the cookhouse and Far walked gingerly into the room he shared with Mor to get the Bible. It was Sunday, and he always read from the Bible for those that wished to hear. Then they would head out and work just like any other day.
Her brothers were quiet all through the meal. She wasn’t sure if it was due to their drinking or Hank’s order. She could tell from the way the rest of the outfit acted normal they didn’t know about Hank’s edict. Except for possibly Paddy whose eyes twinkled and a mischievous smile curled his lips when he glanced her direction.
She had to speak to Hank as soon as he returned. There was no reason for him to announce the firing or pay dock. Once the others heard this, it would not only upset the camaraderie she had with the men, it would put her at a disadvantage when she went back into the woods. She refused to allow the man to not only take her out of the woods but to undermine her authority with the loggers. As Arvid’s daughter, she had the respect of the beasts, but her putting up with their good-natured ribbing and banter also gained her respect. She’d lose that if Hank continued with his threats.
Once the dishes were cleaned and put away, Kelda snatched her coat and scarf from the peg by the door and slipped outside. She’d wait for Hank’s return and confront him before he had a chance to make things worse. Unsure of the best place to wait, she pushed through the fluffy new snow toward the office. There would be a warm stove, quiet, and a window to watch for Hank’s arrival.
In the office, she hung up her coat, shoved another log into the stove, and pulled the stool to the window. She’d been busy ever since the young man Colin arrived and took Hank away. Now, she had time to wonder why Hank was needed for a birthing. The boy said something about Zeke, one of Hank’s brothers. Was the family so close that everyone was required for a birthing?
Her heart squeezed. Would there ever be a day when she would hold her child in her arms? The thought had always saddened her. That was until last night when Hank kissed her. He found her pleasing. A tickle started in her stomach and spread. It was hard to remember to be mad at him for calling out her brothers when he showed her the attention she’d never thought she’d ever experience.
The men filed out of the cookhouse and soon Far and her brothers followed. She chewed on her lip. Once the men were all in the woods there wasn’t a reason for her to remain in the office.
How long would the birth take? He may not even return today. The thought started a small spear of panic bubbling in her throat. What if he came in late in the night? He’d be able to talk with everyone while she was helping Mor with the morning meal tomorrow.
She pulled her coat back on. Her hand reached for the door as she heard the cadence of a horse entering the camp. Would Hank think she was snooping if she walked out of the office? But what could she be snooping in? There was little of importance and nothing she didn’t already know about in here. Kelda stepped to the window and peeked out. Hank dismounted and scanned the camp. Weariness added lines to his face. His long legs carried him toward the cookhouse.
She had to talk to him before he spoke with anyone else. Kelda flung the door open.
“Hank!”
He spun at his name. His gaze collided with hers. Her heart raced at the aggressive stride and unflinching stare.
Hank stopped at the threshold. “What are you doing in the office?” He stepped forward moving her into the room.
Now that he was in front of her, she couldn’t find the words she needed. Her heart raced as memories of the kiss the night before heated her skin.
He closed the door, took off his coat, and hung it on a peg. Without looking at her, he checked the stove and used a poker to stir the coals. Hank straightened and walked toward her.
“About last night…” his voice trailed off.
“Yes, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Her gaze drifted to his mouth and the soft lips that had placed the chaste yet burning kiss on her lips.
He cleared his throat and turned. “Last night. The kiss…”
“Yes?” Why was his back to her? She couldn’t see his eyes. Couldn’t read his thoughts.
“It shouldn’t have happened.”
The denial in his voice dropped her heart into her stomach.
“I-I…” Her mind raced with the rejection. She’d never let him know how much that kiss had meant to her. She swallowed the pain, using it to fire up her anger. “I wanted to talk to you.” Fisting her hands she rammed them on her hips. “You can’t threaten my brothers or the men by docking their wages. Or firing a man who touches me.”
He spun around and his eyes narrowed. “You like them handling you that way?”
“Nei. But I don’t want to be given special treatment either.” She crossed her arms and glared back at him.
“Special treatment? It’s not special. It’s how a woman should be treated. You are a woman.” He took a menacing step toward her.
Kelda didn’t back away. She’d have it out with him. She didn’t care if he never touched her again as long as he left her life alone.
“I am a woman, but also a logger, and won’t have you undermining the respect I’ve earned.”
“You’re not a logger. Not while my money’s making the payroll.” He moved so close his nose nearly touched hers. Their boots did bump.
“When we move on to another job, I will and I won’t have the men thinking I’ve lost my talents while you’ve had me sitting around pretending to be something I’m not.” She sucked in air as his arms snaked around her, drawing her flush to his body.
He stared into her eyes. His brow furrowed as his frowning gaze
probed. The heat of their melding bodies spread through her.
“What am I pretending you are?” he said so soft, so seductive, her legs weakened.
“A w-weak woman who needs a man to tell her what to do.” Staring into his eyes, feeling his hard body against hers, and not giving into the urge to nuzzle against the day’s growth of whiskers on his cheek was harder than clinging to a tree forty feet in the air.
“I’m not telling you what to do. I’m looking out for your safety.” He tipped his head and staring into her eyes, lowered his lips to hers.
For someone who just said kissing her was a mistake, he was doing a mighty fine job of kissing her, again. The warmth of his breath rushed across her cheek as he angled and opened his mouth.
She’d never kissed anyone until Hank. While she was stunned at this new openmouthed kiss, her body jolted when his tongue touched her lips. She gasped and he slipped in. Kelda moaned as her body sagged against his. Her hands clutched his shirt front, clinging to stay on her feet. The assault on her senses would have puddled her on the ground if not for his arms banded tightly around her.
He continued to probe the inside of her mouth. The sensation of his tongue against hers vibrated through her, whirling her senses.
Hank drew back from the kiss. Why the hell did he do that? He wanted to push her away so he could concentrate on the business and not her. He’d thought one more kiss and he’d get her out of his thoughts. It didn’t work. The farther he took the kiss, the more he wanted and the more she responded.
He placed his forehead on hers and waited for his desire to recede so he could think clearly. He’d just gone over the line. When he spotted her in the office doorway, he’d wanted to chase away any fancies she might have about the kiss the night before. Now… he couldn’t deny last night’s kiss or this one.
Holding her arms, he set her away from him. He’d gone and done it this time. Her kiss swollen lips curved into the infectious smile he loved. Her eyes sparkled like ice crystals in the sun.
They hadn’t even begun to fall trees and he’d started a hurricane of troubles. He had to slow things down. Keep his distance from this woman.
“I’m sorry. That should never—”
Kelda placed her fingers on his lips. “Don’t say it. I’m sure you’ve kissed many other women and enjoyed it more.”
He started to protest but realized she was giving him an out. Something he needed. “I think Karl’s right. We should have a chaperone around.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “Nei. I don’t like my brothers knowing what I’m doing.”
“I don’t want to be flogged by your family for inappropriate behavior.” He dropped his hands from her person and took another step back. He’d need to keep distance between them from here on out. If he kept kissing her every time they were alone, he’d find himself escorted to a wedding. His.
Her eyes widened as he distanced himself. Her face scrunched up, and her eyes narrowed with a glint of satisfaction. “If you don’t want me telling Far about your kisses, you better not follow through with your threats to my brothers or the others.” She crossed her arms. “And allow me to work in the woods.”
Anger raced up his spine. Had she planned to seduce him all along to get her way? “I’ll forget my threat about them touching you, but I won’t change my mind on you working in the woods. It’s too dangerous.” To calm down he walked to the back side of the counter and leaned over it, keeping space between them. “My family agrees that you or any woman isn’t going to work in the woods as long as we’re paying the wages.”
“You’ve talked this over with your family?” Her eyes widened and jaw went slack.
Her surprise made him chuckle. “You think I don’t talk things over with my family when we’re all in this venture together?”
“You’ve said very little about your family so I figured you weren’t close.” Her gaze held his. “Who is Maeve, the woman who had the baby?”
Hank had forgotten where he’d spent the better part of the morning. “She’s Zeke’s wife. She and the baby are fine. Thanks to Rachel, Clay’s wife.”
“Why wouldn’t she be fine? My mother had my brothers and me without any problems.” Her curiosity pulled him into the conversation when he would have rather slipped on to another subject.
“The baby was turned the wrong way and not coming. Zeke feared for both of them and was refusing to let Rachel cut Maeve open to get the baby.”
“Oh my! How could your brother let someone cut open his wife?”
Hank chuckled. “Rachel is a doctor. She knows what she’s doing.”
“A doctor?”
He could see her thinking all he’d said through.
“You have a sister-in-law who is a doctor and one who is a Pinkerton and you still refuse to let me work in the woods?” Her eyes narrowed on him.
“Yes. Their jobs aren’t dangerous.” He’d fibbed a little. Maeve’s job was dangerous but she’d be out of danger now that she had a child to tend to.
She shoved her hands on her hips.
The door opened and Tobias shuffled in. His green face and arms anchored around his stomach caught Hank’s sympathy. Kelda moved to her brother, helping him into his cot and sitting beside him.
Hank took this as his chance to slip out and apologize to Karl and Dag. If his words didn’t get any farther than those two he had a chance to keep out of marriage. If he slipped up and Kelda told her family about the kisses, he had no doubt if the Nielsen’s didn’t drag him to the altar his family would.
Chapter 10
Kelda served the meals so she was always on the side opposite of the table from Hank. She feared getting too close to him and having her body give away her feelings. Since the day he kissed her and said they should have chaperones, he’d made it clear that he didn’t want any advances from her or to be alone with her. But she knew he watched her as she went about her chores. Her cheeks heated thinking he wanted to kiss her again as much as she wished to be kissed.
Then as the days went by without a word or encouraging smile from him, she began to wonder if his suggestion of their distance was because he couldn’t control his actions around any woman. His forced distance left an emptiness as if a dear friend had died. She wanted to confront him but couldn’t work up the courage for fear of what his reasons may be. Even though she’d only recently been called a lady and treated like one, something she hadn’t experienced until he came into her life, she missed it.
Warmer March winds blew down the slopes melting the snow and making the camp a muddy mess. The chute was nearly completed. Everyone was in a jovial mood knowing the real work would soon begin. Kelda longed to be one of the workers along the chute to push the first harvest of logs down.
Everyone filed out of the cookhouse to begin another day. Kelda tugged on Far’s sleeve holding him back. “I want to be at the top of the chute and push the first logs down.”
He smiled and tweaked her nose. “The boss will be at the bottom watching the first logs be stacked. He’d notice if you weren’t there.”
“Far, you haven’t forgotten my offer to work for the boys once a week?” Dread squeezed her chest. She wasn’t going to remain in the cookhouse the whole time they were here logging.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I will find the time when you can work in the woods. I don’t want my best topper to lose her skill.” He winked, gathered her against him for a hug, and disappeared out the door.
“What are you and Far whispering about?” Mor asked. She’d become more agitated and easy to upset over the last few weeks.
Kelda could tell by the empty stare in Mor’s eyes this was going to be a day when her memory failed. She put an arm around her dainty parent and smiled. “I believe a certain mother has a birthday coming up.”
Mor stared up at her. “Whose mother?”
“Mine. Your birthday is only a week away. What would you like for your special day?” Kelda squashed the worry building in her. The last week Mor ha
d spoke in Norwegian more and struggled with recipes she kept in her head.
She set her mother to drying dishes as she washed. She didn’t want to take over the cooking but that would happen as Mor continued to slowly forget things. Hopelessness swelled in Kelda’s chest and made it hard to breathe. She would end up here, cooking, washing dishes, and hating every minute of it when Mor could no longer work.
Her mother began telling a story in Norwegian. Kelda didn’t listen. She washed the dishes and felt her life slowly dissolving into nothingness.
~*~
Hank paced back and forth in front of the finished chute waiting for his family to arrive and the first log to be ushered down the contraption. There was only one thing that dampened this day—Kelda. The last two weeks she’d been more than reserved. She’d lost her glow and spark. When he asked Arvid if she was feeling ill, he said Mrs. Nielsen wasn’t feeling herself and Kelda had more to do.
His gaze slipped over to Paddy and the loggers, who would pile the logs, and took in the Nielsen’s; Arvid, Ingrid, Tobias, and Kelda who all stood on the opposite side of the chute. Kelda held his attention. Her eyes were downcast and her body appeared thinner. Had his decision to keep his distance from her caused this decline? He wanted to walk around the chute and pull her into his arms and tell her why he had to keep his distance. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hold and kiss her; it was he didn’t need or want the distraction of her to interfere with his running of the camp. He’d learned from his first rash threat to her brothers that he couldn’t keep a level head when it came to her welfare.
The jingle of harnesses drew his thoughts from the woman. Ethan drove a wagon loaded with people into the camp. Maeve and the new baby sat beside him. The oldest children bailed out of the back as soon as Ethan put the brake on. Sadie, Shayla, and Colin raced over to him.
“Uncle Hank! Uncle Hank!” He picked up the girls, hugging them and squeezed Colin’s shoulder. Darcy, Rachel, and Maeve walked up holding their youngest children. Each one put an arm around him and pecked his cheek. Aileen laughed as his brothers slapped him on the back.