The Halsey Brothers Series

by Paty Jager

  She grasped the door, pulling it open and slogged out into the muddy camp. The weather had warmed, melting snow and leaving the ground a slippery mess. Falling logs was more dangerous during this transition in the weather. More hazards to watch for with slick footing.

  Aileen and Darcy followed her to the cookhouse where the beasts of the woods filed into the building. Kelda waited her turn and entered. The aromas made her mouth water. Lars knew how to cook by the looks of rapture on the faces of the men already forking hotcakes into their mouths.

  She hung her coat on a peg and headed to help Lars serve. He handed her a platter loaded with fried eggs. Casting a glance at the table to see where the platter needed to go, she caught Hank watching her. She smiled and he nodded. Her heart pattered in her chest. He wasn’t hiding their relationship.

  The first platter went to the middle of the table. The second platter of eggs Lars handed her went on the end near Hank. She made a point of leaning into Hank as she set the platter down. A trill of excitement skittered up her back as his hand grazed her side. Her cheeks heated and her body wanted to remain near his touch, but she straightened and returned to Lars who had another platter of hotcakes ready.

  She made it a point while placing the platters and bowls at Hank’s end of the table to lean into him. If anyone noticed, no one said a thing. When the crew had left to start their day, Kelda sat down and discovered why no one noticed her leaning into Hank. Lars’s hotcakes melted in her mouth and had just the right amount of sweetness they could be eaten plain. The whole crew had been in hotcake heaven.

  Kelda carried her plates to the drain board and started washing the dishes while Lars worked on cakes for dinner. Aileen and Darcy had returned to the cabin to pack their things while they awaited the arrival of their husbands.

  “You asked me not to say anything about you and the boss, but your actions will give you away,” Lars said in Norwegian.

  Kelda flinched. “How do you know what our actions were? You had your back to us.”

  He grinned sheepishly. “I wanted to see if you were as bold here as in the wagon.” He shook his head. “What is wrong with everyone knowing?”

  Kelda sighed and leaned against the drain board. “It’s hard to explain. I don’t want to lose the respect of the loggers.” His eyebrow rose, and he started to open his mouth. “Nei, I don’t mean by looking like a loose woman though that wouldn’t be good either. I work out in the woods with the men when Far allows. Tree topping is my favorite thing.” She crossed her arms and smiled. “And I’m good at it.”

  Hank’s words came rushing into her thoughts. “Hank has forbid me to work in the woods as long as we are working for him. But Far has agreed to let me sneak out once in a while and work for the boys so they can go look for a wife and I can keep my skills honed.” She didn’t like the disapproving scowl on Lars’s face. “That’s why I hired you. I wanted someone I could feel good about leaving to work on meals alone. And with you speaking Norwegian you can also comfort Mor if I’m not around.”

  “If the boss doesn’t want you in the woods, it’s not a good idea to go against his wishes. He may not overlook your trickery even if he is in love with you.”

  Kelda stared at Lars. “What do you mean he’s in love with me?” Her heart raced with the notion. She knew her feelings for Hank had blossomed past that of friendship. His touch and presence warmed her body and filled her soul.

  Lars shook his head. “Only a fool would not see the way you two look at one another.” His eyes grew misty. “Your bodies gravitate toward one another, just as I cannot keep away from Asa, my wife, when we are in the same room.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen your wife?” If Lars felt for his wife what she felt for Hank how did they survive apart?

  “Two years. I should have enough money to bring her and our son here by the end of this year.” He smiled. “If I continue to work for your family, she will not miss her sisters with other Norwegians around.”

  “Sisters? What are their ages? Would they be interested in writing letters to my brothers? Perhaps…” If her brothers hit it off with the women they could come over and her brothers would have wives.

  Lars nodded his head and smiled. “I see where your thoughts are going. That would make my Asa very happy. I will write to her and see. If her sisters are not interested, her cousins or mine may be.”

  Kelda’s heart hummed. If she could distract her brothers with writing letters to prospective wives, she could have more encounters with Hank.

  ~*~

  Hank had planned to learn how to work the chute, but with Ethan and Gil coming to get their wives he decided to stay in camp to see if they had anything they wanted to report to him about the days during his absence. He’d also planned to linger after breakfast to see if he could steal a moment with Kelda. The way she’d leaned into him when placing platters on the tables, she’d heated his need and he wanted to taste her lips.

  Tobias had other ideas, asking Hank to come to the office to discuss the books. Now Hank sat in his office, staring at the door, and wishing he could find a good excuse to walk over to the cookhouse. But they had their own coffeepot brewing on the potbelly stove and until the noon meal there wasn’t a reason to go over there.

  The jangle of harnesses caught his attention. That would be his brothers. Hank stood and crossed into the office. The outside door opened. Ethan and Gil entered, followed by Colin. The grins on the men’s faces told Hank they were glad to learn their wives would be snuggled in their arms tonight.

  “You’re back. Did you find a cook?” Ethan stepped up to the stove and plucked the coffeepot from the surface. Gil held out two cups and he filled them.

  “Judging by the breakfast he cooked, the men should be happy,” Hank said, holding out his own metal cup.

  “He cooked? I thought you were getting an assistant to Kelda.” Gil took a sip of his coffee.

  “She decided she wanted a cook while she remains the assistant so she can have time to take care of her mother.” He couldn’t shake the feeling Kelda had an ulterior motive behind her actions but he couldn’t figure it out.

  Ethan nodded. “That’s a good idea.” He nudged Hank with his elbow. “And it will make it easier when you marry her to have a cook already in place.”

  “Wait a minute. I haven’t said anything about marrying. Kelda or anyone.” He glared at Ethan. “Don’t go putting any notions in your wives’ heads or your heads. I can’t think about marriage until this project shows a profit.”

  Gil lifted his cup in a salute. “If you can keep her out of your bed until then you’re stronger than I thought.”

  Hank didn’t like the talk or the fact Colin was listening so intently. “Drop it. Did anything happen I need to know about? Karl filled me in over dinner last night, but from your point of view is there anything that could be done differently?”

  Ethan shook his head. “From what we saw the last few days these men know what they’re doing and changing anything would slow their process.”

  “Good. That’s been my observation too. But I wanted to hear your thoughts.” He stared out the window. “I’m heading up to work the chute this afternoon. I plan to learn every job to get a log ready to sell.”

  “It’s dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.” The caution in Gil’s voice didn’t bother Hank.

  “I know. But these men are the best at what they do.” Hank stared pointedly at Ethan and then Gil. “That’s why I hired them. To learn from the best.”

  The door opened. Aileen and Darcy blew in, smiling at their husbands, their eyes sparkling.

  “We can go home. Kelda brought back a very capable cook.” Darcy pressed against Gil and his arm circled her waist possessively.

  “Aye, and Kelda looks rested from bein’ away from this camp for a few days.” Aileen stood beside Ethan who pulled her closer with an arm draped over her shoulders. He placed a kiss on her head. Hank wished he were out in the woods instead of
witnessing what he couldn’t have for a few more years.

  “So what did you and Kelda do while in Baker City that relaxed her?”Gil wiggled an eyebrow.

  The insinuation ground Hank’s teeth together. The hand clutching the coffee cup ached as his fingers squeezed the metal. “We had dinner and walked the streets peering in store windows when we weren’t interviewing potential cooks.”

  “And bought her a beautiful dress, cape, and boots,” added Darcy, snuggling deeper into her husband’s arm.

  “They were early birthday gifts. I didn’t want her feeling out of place when I took her to the Warshauer for dinner.”

  “See anyone there we know?” Ethan asked sarcastically.

  “Yes, I did. David Eccles and his family.” Hank had planned to put the man’s interest in Kelda out of his mind.

  “Did you speak with him?” Ethan’s nonchalant stance straightened.

  “I planned to walk on by him, but he stopped me to make sure I knew he knew I’d contracted with Stoddard.” Hank paused thinking about the encounter without allowing his emotions for Kelda to slip in. “He almost made a threat that if I didn’t make good on that contract he’d take it over and I’d be ruined.”

  Gil stepped forward. “He can’t threaten us.”

  Ethan’s gaze bore into Hank. “There’s more you aren’t saying.”

  Hank shook his head. “Nothing that concerns the rest of you.”

  “If he said something against you, it does concern the rest of us.” Ethan would always be the big brother looking out for the rest of them.

  “It wasn’t so much what he said, but the way he watched Kelda. Like he was looking for a third wife.” The jealousy that ate at him at the Warshauer resurfaced, jabbing its talons painfully around his heart.

  Darcy laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  Hank stared at her. “What do you mean?”

  “There is no way Kelda would stand for being married to a man as his third wife.”

  He had to agree with her. The passion he’d drawn out of her so far wouldn’t take second or third seat to anyone else. Hank grinned. “That’s true.”

  “Let’s get going. There are some children at Rachel’s that are waiting to see their mothers,” Ethan said, handing his cup to Hank.

  “I’ve missed my babies.” Darcy tipped her face up to her husband. “Our bags are still in the cabin.”

  Gil kissed his wife’s upturned face and disappeared out the door. Ethan loaded the women onto the wagon seat.

  “Let me know when I can come work for you, Uncle Hank,” Colin said as he climbed in the back of the wagon. Gil returned with the bags and mounted the horse tied to the wagon.

  “I’ll keep you in mind if a job comes up.” There was no way he’d allow Colin to work out in the woods. He might let him come tally the logs, though, when they had more stockpiled.

  “One of us will come by once a week to see if you need anything. Or you can send word if you need us for some reason.” Ethan turned the horses, heading the wagon down the road.

  “Will do. Give everyone my love.” Hank waved until they were out of sight. When he turned to go back in the office he caught sight of Kelda watching him from the supply tent.

  He scanned the camp and didn’t see anyone. With decisive strides, he crossed to the supply tent that Kelda ducked into. He entered and found her waiting for him.

  Kelda slipped into Hank’s arms and tipped her face up for a kiss. He didn’t disappoint. The openmouthed kiss jolted her body and heated her skin. She wanted this every day for the rest of her life.

  He pulled out of the kiss, resting his chin on her head. “You make me forget my duties.”

  She giggled. “You set my body on fire with your kisses and your touch.”

  His hands unfastened the buttons of her coat and slid across her belly making the throbbing low in her body stronger. Hank’s mouth captured hers once more. His tongue tasted, his teeth nipped and teased.

  Kelda unfastened his coat and pressed her body to his as her hands skimmed up his back. She wanted her clothes off and their bodies to touch. She needed to feel his skin to hers. Her hands grasped his shirt, tugging the tails from his pants only to encounter the softness of flannel. He still wore his winter drawers.

  A frustrated sigh slipped from her lips as Hank captured her hands.

  “This…we can’t do this. It will only make us crazy.”

  “I like crazy.” She stepped toward him, touching his lips with hers.

  A tight grip on her shoulders held her back. “We can’t do this. We’ll regret it later.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll never regret the feelings you’ve brought out in me.”

  Hank clutched her to his chest then set her away and buttoned her coat. “Go back to work. I’ll wait for you tonight and walk you to your cabin.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Will you stay and have a cup of tea with me?”

  He shoved his shirt back into his pants and buttoned his coat. “That will depend on how proper you are.”

  “I can be very proper.”

  Hank exited the tent, and Kelda collected the items Lars sent her to retrieve. Her mind conjured up her and Hank sitting on her bed, wrapped in a quilt talking and touching…She could be proper. But she had a feeling tonight she would be improper.

  Chapter 19

  Hank was beat. And he’d only worked a little over half a day. He knew working in the woods was laborious but every muscle in his body screamed for relief. Gaffing the logs and shoving them down the chute had taken arm, leg, and back strength. He couldn’t fathom how Kelda had done the job. He’d gained a newfound respect for her abilities but it didn’t change the fact he still believed she shouldn’t be working in the woods. According to Dag she started gaffing at the age of sixteen. That would account for the scar he’d found on her ankle. He’d wanted to ask Dag about the accident but that would reveal he’d seen Kelda’s bare ankle.

  He glanced her direction as she picked up the dishes from the evening meal. The glint in her eyes curved his lips in response. She had plans for tonight. He could see it in her bouncy gait and saucy quips to the other men. Just lifting the cup of coffee to his mouth required more strength than his arms had at the moment. He set the cup down and focused on the discussion between Arvid and Karl.

  “Far, it’s so slick the horses are having problems getting traction to pull the logs to the chute.” Karl ran a hand through his dark hair and peered at his father.

  “Ja. I saw two men go down today just swinging their axes. We’ll take two days out of the woods and see if that dries things up enough to work.”

  Hank jumped in. “Is that wise? To stop cutting for two days will hurt our production.”

  Arvid held up a hand. “Would you rather have less men working because they are injured working in the slick mud? That would hurt production as well.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry.” There was no way Eccles would take over his contract. But it made sense to not get workers hurt. “What will they do while waiting for the ground to dry?”

  Karl’s eyes lit as he watched his father.

  “Half will go to town with Karl tomorrow and the other half will go to town with Dag the following day. The ones here will sharpen their tools and relax.” Arvid stood. “It would be good if you boys came in and visited with Mor. She’s had a better day today.”

  Karl, Dag, and Tobias all stood and followed their father into the backroom. Hank hadn’t seen Mrs. Nielsen since his return from Baker City. He wondered if they should have Rachel come out and see her.

  Kelda swept by him to gather the platters and bowls on the table. Standing was a chore, but Hank helped her gather the dishes.

  “How’s your mother doing? I haven’t seen her since our return. Do you think we should have Rachel come visit her?”

  “Nei. Mor is getting stronger not having to work all day, but her mind is still foggy at times and she believes she’s in Norway.” Wrin
kles on Kelda’s forehead and the dulling of her eyes proved the worry she held for her mother.

  “Maybe with her body getting stronger so will her mind.” He placed the dishes on the drain board next to Lars, who was already washing the plates.

  Lars spoke to Kelda and she smiled. “Mange takk.” She took off her apron and linked her arm in Hank’s. “Lars said I may go, he can take care of the dishes.”

  Hank wasn’t sure if he was pleased. He’d hoped for a little more recuperating time before tangling with Kelda.

  “You don’t look pleased.” Her triumphant smile uncurved and her bottom lip extended just a bit.

  He’d never witnessed her pout and it sparked his body like a stick of dynamite going off, warming all his aching muscles and giving him new vitality. Hank grabbed her hand and hauled her into the supply room. The minute the blanket settled across the door, he pulled Kelda into his arms and seduced her pouty lip. The suppleness, sweetness, and her soft moan added to the need flaring in his body and pounding in his head. It took all his control to pull out of the kiss.

  Resting his forehead against hers, he drew in fortifying breaths and eased his arms from around her, taking hold of her hands. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Take me back to my cabin and do more of that.”

  The simple, quiet response aroused and surprised him. Hank laughed and released one hand to lead her back out into the eating area. Kelda never ceased to surprise him.

  Lars turned their way and her brothers walked out of the backroom. Kelda pulled a little as if trying to release her hand from his, but he’d made a decision. While he couldn’t marry her yet, he wasn’t about to let anyone else worm their way into her affections. He was going to make it known she was his. Be damned if her brothers didn’t like it.

  He peered into her eyes and gave a slight shake of his head. She nodded and smiled.

  “What’s with the hand holding?” Karl asked, stepping forward.