by Paty Jager
“That’s usually where people stay when they go to town.” He glanced at her.
“I’ve never spent more time in a town than us passing through and picking up a few supplies.” This would be a new adventure.
“Have you ever been to Baker City? It’s fairly large compared to most towns.”
“No. This will be my first for a lot of things.”
Hank’s arm loosened his hold and he cleared his throat. Why did her comment have him shifting to put distance between them?
“I’ll take you to the Warhauser restaurant. It is the finest between Portland and Salt Lake City.”
Trepidation fluttered in her stomach. “I only have this dress. I can’t wear it to a fancy restaurant.”
His gaze traveled over her face, resting on her eyes. The sincerity and heat in his gaze lodged a knot of joy in her throat. His caring chinked away at her notion no man could ever love her for her.
“I’ll buy you a new dress and women’s boots.”
“You’ll be spending way too much just for this extra trip.” Giddiness bubbled in her chest thinking she could have a pair of women’s shoes. At the same time her conscience slapped her with reality. She could not accept clothing from him. He was her boss. “Nei! I couldn’t accept such items from you.”
“It will be my early birthday present to you. Didn’t you say your birthday was in May? That’s not that far away. And we may not have another chance to get back to Baker City again before then.” He squeezed her back against him. “You can’t refuse a birthday present. That would be rude, and you, Kelda Nielsen, are not rude.”
“I may not be rude but I am smart enough to know taking such luxuries from you would look like I allowed you liberties.” She stared into his dark brown eyes. The mischief dancing there dissolved.
“I don’t expect anything from you other than to accept my gifts. You’ve worked hard and kept the workers well fed and happy. Giving you an early birthday gift is the least I could do.” He placed a brief kiss on her head. “I am not a man who expects favors for gifts. I give them freely.”
Kelda believed this even if she knew her brothers and even her father may not. Hank had always been true to his word with her. He did, however, keep things locked up inside. Not good for a person, she’d learned that the hard way. She should have said something to Far about the workload getting too much and her concerns about not being able to work in the woods.
The morning passed with Hank pointing out landmarks and telling stories about his brothers. They ate a snack of cookies and an apple as they drove. By late afternoon traffic on the rutted muddy road increased. Buggies, wagons, horses, and people on foot slogged through the mud. Patches of snow in sunless areas brightened the otherwise dull colors of brown, beige, and faded green.
The closer they traveled to Baker City the less snow she saw between the trees and on the hillsides. On the backsides of some buildings mounds of dirty snow piled in the shadows.
Hank had his full attention on keeping the horses moving forward in the congestion for other vehicles and mud.
Kelda stared at the tall stone buildings dwarfing the smaller wooden structures. People hurried across streets, high stepping through the mud and knocking their shoes on the wooden walkways before entering buildings. She’d never witnessed so many people in one place. Their clothing ran from the everyday dresses under shawls and wool capes to fancy silk and lace dresses topped with fur trimmed capes and fancy full length coats. The men were equally diverse in their working clothes and expensive wool suits with wide-brimmed hats and fancy, tall, narrow-brimmed hats. The variety of people blended into a spinning collage of colors.
The wagon stopped. She turned her gaze to Hank.
“I’ll turn the wagon and horses over to the livery boy, and we’ll walk to the hotel.” He jumped down and hurried to her side as she started to climb down.
“We’re not out at the camp. You don’t have to prove you can do everything a man can.” Hank placed his hands on her waist, lifting her off the wheel spoke she stood on.
She didn’t mind his helping. It made her belly tingle, but she grew up fending for herself and it would take some getting used to having a man treat her like she was spun sugar.
His hands lingered on her waist when he placed her feet on the ground. “I plan to show you how a lady is to be treated so don’t go barreling off. Wait for me to return and escort you.”
The warmth shimmering in his eyes curved her lips into a smile. “I’ll wait right here.”
“Better yet, wait on the walkway out of the mud.” He escorted her to the board walkway across the street and returned to the livery.
Kelda slowly spun taking in the activity, sights, and scents. The horse manure of the livery along with the sweet dry hay mixed with the faint overtones of cooking.
Hank returned with a young man who climbed onto the wagon seat and waited for Hank to retrieve her valise and his satchel from the back. He walked over to her and nodded to his arm. Kelda slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow and they followed the board walkway into the milling people.
Avoiding the elbows, packages, and skirts of the passing throng took as much dexterity as avoiding the axes, saws, and trees in the woods. They traveled the length of the walkway to another street. Here, Hank turned right and she spotted the Commercial Hotel. The building was two-stories tall with a balcony across the front. She was thankful it wasn’t a fancy hotel. She already felt out of place in the city.
They entered and Hank marched to a counter. “I’m Hank Halsey. You’re holding a suite for me.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Halsey.” The dapper dressed man behind the counter smiled and spun a large book toward Hank.
Hank signed the register and slid more money than Kelda had ever seen at one time across the counter. “We’ll be taking all but one meal from your restaurant. There will also be people arriving tomorrow morning for interviews. We’ll conduct the interviews in the suite. Please contact us when the first person arrives.”
“Yes, sir.” The man placed part of the money in a box and pocketed the rest.
Kelda tugged on Hank’s arm. He glanced her way, and she rose onto her toes to whisper in his ear. “That man is stealing part of the money.”
Hank smiled. “I’ll explain later.”
“You’re in the corner suite. Number twenty.” The man held out a key.
“Thank you.” Hank accepted the key and walked toward the stairs.
Kelda hurried to the base of the stairs. He nodded for her to go first. Holding the front of her skirt up, Kelda ascended the stairs noting the plush carpet that ran the length of the treads and muffled their steps.
Lights unlike anything she’d seen before hung on the walls. She continued down the carpeted hallway having spotted numbers on the doors and stopped in front of the one numbered twenty.
“Go ahead and open the door.” Hank stopped beside her.
Kelda turned the brass knob and pushed. The room was large and held a table, two chairs, a commode with metal knobs and a funny pipe, a door on the wall to the right, and one large bed with a quilt and fluffy pillows.
One bed.
Chapter 12
Hank turned from placing the bags at the foot of the bed. Kelda’s silence had to be from her taking in the nice room. His gaze landed on her angry face and his heart nearly stopped.
“What’s the matter?” He took a step toward her, but she raised her hand, holding him back.
“Why is there only one bed?” Her gaze didn’t meet his. It remained riveted on the bed.
“This is my bed. You—”
“I am not climbing in that bed with you. Mor would…she…”
“Kelda.” He pushed aside her hands and grasped her shoulders, turning her toward the door on the west wall. “Your room is through there. I purchased a suite. It’s two rooms that are attached.” Hank slid his hands down her arms, capturing her hands. He led her to the door, twisted the knob, and pushed the door inward
, presenting another room much like his. He ushered Kelda inside, and then stepped back in his room and picked up her valise.
The thought of bedding with him had shown him a side to Kelda he’d not witnessed before. He’d best mind his manners and keep his randy thoughts in his head and not allow his body out of control.
The sound of her moving around in the other room lightened his mood. If she was inspecting the room then she must be over her initial shock.
Hank stepped through the adjoining door with her valise. Kelda looked up from her inspection of the quilt and smiled shyly.
“I’m sorry for the way—”
“No apology necessary. I didn’t realize you weren’t aware a suite is connecting rooms.” Hank placed the bag on her bed and moved to stand in front of Kelda. He picked up one of her hands. It seemed he had to touch her every chance he had since they broke through the awkwardness.
“I would never force you to sleep with me.”
“I know, it’s just…Mor has been telling me to not let you compromise me, and I jumped—”
He tugged her into his arms and held her. “Kelda, I will do my best not to compromise you, but you have a way of making my mind go to mush.”
She wound her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his. He wished they had their coats off so he could feel her curves. He mentally shook. Wrong. He needed the barrier between them. His body wanted her and his mind had to be the restraint.
He kissed her tenderly and removed her entwined arms from his neck. Hank stepped back watching her lashes gradually rise and her dreamy eyes focus on him.
“Get out of your coat, put your things away, and freshen up. We’ll go down to the restaurant and have dinner. I promised Aileen you’d be well fed and rested when you return.” He walked toward the door.
“Hank, if you keep kissing me like that I might allow you to compromise me.”
Her breathy statement tumbled his heart and stalled his feet. He glanced over his shoulder and damn if he didn’t want to scoop her up in his arms and lay her down on the bed behind her.
He swallowed and cleared his throat. “Keep talking like that and you’re going to make it damn hard to get through these next few days.”
Her cheeks grew deeper in color, but her eyes shone with a brilliance he’d yet to see. “You have fifteen minutes to get ready for dinner.” He stepped through the threshold and shut the door before he did something they’d both regret.
~*~
Kelda stared at the people seated about the restaurant. It was her first time eating in such an establishment, but she wasn’t about to let anyone besides Hank know that. Most of the women wore what she presumed were evening attire for such a dress was not one to work in. If a person bent over their bosoms would fall out and the thin, shimmery material would be cold. Not to mention all the lace and fancy buttons that would catch on a bucket or laundry tub.
When she and Hank walked in, those present stared. Her nerves had her clutching Hank’s arm tightly, but he never said a word. Now, as they ate and she studied the people and room, her nerves had calmed. The waiter brought over a slice of apple pie for each of them.
“Is there anything else I can get for you?” the man asked, his gaze straying to Kelda. She returned his smile, and his ears reddened.
“No. We’re fine.”
Kelda studied Hank. His words had come out gruff and clipped.
“Is something wrong?” She picked up her fork and slid it into the pie.
“No. Why?” Hank shoved a hefty bite into his mouth.
“You sounded mad when you replied to the waiter.” She watched him chew, enjoying the motion of his jaw and the way his eyes searched her face.
He put down the fork and reached a hand across the table. Unsure what he wanted, she placed her hand in his. The racing of her heart when they touched no longer shocked her. She’d come to expect it. He held her hand while his gaze continued to hold hers.
“It’s good to see the sparkle in your eyes again. I’ve missed it.”
She ducked her head. He only knew half of what had caused her to be so sad. She couldn’t tell him about feeling trapped in the kitchen when Mor started forgetting things. That she’d feared never setting foot in the woods again. He didn’t want to hear of her desire to be topping trees. Once they hired a cook, she could sneak out with the help of Far and spend a day here and there in the woods. Her stomach knotted. If Hank knew these were her thoughts he’d be angry.
“Hey, you’re turning cloudy on me. Is there more that’s bothering you?” He released her hand and tipped her chin up.
“I-I don’t want to just hire an assistant. I want to hire a cook. I only want to help.”
His full smile nearly took her breath away. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. You could go to town once in a while and enjoy life outside the logging camp.”
She held her smile. That wasn’t what she wanted, but she’d let him think so. “With Mor getting more and more forgetful, I’ll need time to care for her. I can’t do that and be the one running the kitchen.”
His expression became serious. “I’m sorry your mother isn’t doing well. I’m sure Rachel will do all she can to help you.”
Kelda nodded. The waiter hovered near the table.
Hank sent him a scathing glare and captured her hand. “I’m ready to go back to the rooms. Are you?”
“Ja.”
Hank rose and held out her chair before placing a hand on her lower back and maneuvering her out of the restaurant and toward the staircase. The heat of his hand sent tendrils of warmth spreading through her body. How could such a simple touch stir so much within her?
At their door, he pulled out the key and clicked the lock. He stood back for her to enter. Once inside his room she wasn’t sure what was appropriate. While she was tired, she didn’t believe she could fall asleep right away.
The door closed, and she heard the lock click tight. Light footsteps grew near and arms circled her waist. Hank pressed against her back and kissed her neck.
“Tomorrow, before the interviews, I’m taking you to the bootmaker and a dressmaker.”
“Nei. You don’t need to spend money on things I don’t need.”
He kissed her behind the ear and her knees buckled slightly. Hank held her tight against him, keeping her from sagging to the floor.
“I told you. They will be my early birthday gifts. Besides, I’m taking you to dinner tomorrow night at the Warshaur. I don’t want you feeling underdressed.”
She spun in his arms. “You don’t have to lavish me this way. I’m content just to be with you and feel special.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “You are special. I can’t believe all these years there hasn’t been a logger ask you to marry them. You’re beautiful, smart, and have a favorable disposition.”
She sighed. Only Far and Mor gave her such compliments. “I have had a couple try to kiss me when they’d had too much to drink. But no one has ever taken notice of me besides you.”
“Not true.” His brow wrinkled in a frown.
“What do you mean?”
“Paddy thinks the world of you, Peder turns red every time you get near, and my nephew is smitten with you. You don’t see it, but nearly every man you smile at becomes enthralled.”
She could have sworn his voice dropped to a growl.
“Paddy is like an uncle. We have had many a grand time together playing tricks on the boys. And Peder…He’s a boy.” She stared at Hank. From the first time she laid eyes on him her body responded to the sight of him. His first words had warmed her skin, and his touches tormented her hours later when she was all alone. It might be bold and perhaps a bit bawdy but she wanted Hank. And the sooner she let him know the more likely he would come around to her way of thinking. “I want a man.”
The fire that lit his eyes right before his lips captured hers scared and exhilarated. The meeting of their lips burned to the tips of her toes and swirled back up to settle low in her body, bur
ning, churning, and leaving a yearning ache.
His hands roamed up and down her back, settling on the curve of her backside then drawing her hips closer. The weight of his exploring hands raised the level of desire pulsing through her. He pulled out of the kiss, leaving her breathless and wanting. She clung to his shoulders for fear she would slither to the floor at his feet.
Space eased between them as he gradually left her standing on her own.
“Go to your room.”
The order shook her from the dreamy state caused by his kiss. “What?”
He turned her and gave a gentle shove. “Go to your room, or I won’t be held accountable for my next actions.”
Kelda snapped her gaze to his face. He appeared to be in pain. “Are you not feeling well?” She took a step toward Hank.
“No! Don’t come near me. Go to your room and lock the door. I should never have kissed you. Go. I’ll see you in the morning.” He spun, placing his back to her.
How could kissing her be so wrong or painful? Tonight wasn’t the time to discuss this. He’d not continue any conversation. She walked through the adjoining door, closed and locked it. That’s when she heard a deep throaty growl on the other side. What had she done to aggravate him so?
~*~
Hank put his hands on the back of the chair and stood gripping the wood until his desire for Kelda slackened and he could sit and take his boots off. He’d never had desire so strong for a woman. Or jealousy. Watching the waiter nearly fall all over himself when Kelda smiled at him had taken a great deal of restraint to not say something. He hadn’t wanted to embarrass Kelda. It was evident she didn’t notice the admiring glances from the patrons in the restaurant.
Tomorrow night in a new dress, women’s shoes, and perhaps her hair down, she would turn even more heads. He’d have to prepare for it and remember she only had interest in him. Her statement she wanted a man and her heated gaze had been his undoing. He couldn’t stop his need to show her he was the man for her.
He slipped out of his clothes and stood looking at the big bed. What he wouldn’t give to have her in it with him. But he’d promised not to compromise her. He kept his promises and even if he had to visit the bathing room down the hall and take a cold dunk in the tub—several times a day—he’d not go back on his promise.