by Paty Jager
What she and Hank had for one another was love. The thought of being his wife warmed her chest and tipped her lips into a smile. She crossed the camp and stepped into the warm wonderful scent of breakfast. Lars already had the table set and was frying ham. The smoky aroma filled the room.
“You are a wonderful cook,” she said, walking up beside him. While they had become friends, and he was married and knew something about love and men and women’s relationships, she decided with today being a down day and some of the men going to Sumpter, she’d ride along and visit with the Halsey wives. Maybe they could help her decipher Hank’s thoughts.
“Mange takk. I like cooking.” Lars studied her face. “You did not sleep well.”
She waved off his comment as Far stepped out of the back room.
“God morgen. Kelda, your mother would like to see you this morning,” he said, picking up a cup and filling it with coffee.
“Mange takk.” She kissed Far on the cheek and hurried into the backroom. Mor sat propped against pillows in bed, brushing her hair.
“God morgen, Mor.” Kelda said, sitting on the side of the bed and kissing Mor’s cheek.
“God morgen, my daughter. Far tells me you have brought a very good cook to help us.”
Kelda was relieved to see Mor was having a good day. “Yes. Lars makes tasty meals and the men are happy. He also handles the whole kitchen well by himself.” She slipped the brush from her mother’s hand and brushed her graying locks. “Mor how are you feeling today?”
“I’m tired but otherwise my mind isn’t muddled if that’s what you’re wondering. I don’t like it. I lose hours and days of time, I can’t remember.” Mor’s voice rose with anxiety.
Kelda pat her hand. “That’s okay. We’ll take good care of you always. Don’t worry.”
“How are you and your man doing?”
“What?” Kelda peered at Mor. For having been fuzzy and not remembering things she asked an odd question.
“You and Hank. Are you getting along better?”
“I thought you didn’t like him?”
“I like him and he’s good for you.”
“But you were lecturing me on not getting compromised and being a good girl.” Kelda studied her mother. Her soft cheeks turned a deeper hue of pink.
“That was my selfishness to make sure you stayed in the kitchen to help me. I knew that I couldn’t handle it alone anymore. Now that there is someone taking care of things, you can get that man to fall in love with you if he isn’t already.” The sparkle in Mor’s eyes made Kelda giggle.
“Mor, you sly matchmaker.” Kelda hugged her mother. “I do have some questions, but I’m not sure I want to ask you. Hank’s sisters-in-law have offered to visit with me. I’m going to go to Sumpter today and see what I can learn about Hank.”
“That’s a good idea. The more we gang up on him, the faster he’ll come around.” Mor winked and leaned back on her pillows. “I’d like to rest before you bring my breakfast.”
Kelda kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back when the men have eaten.”
The men were seated at the tables when she returned to the other room. Hank wasn’t in his place, but her brothers grinned like they’d put a mouse in her boot.
“What’s up?” she asked Lars when he passed her a platter of biscuits.
He shrugged and turned back to fill another platter. She set the first platter up by her brothers and Far. They kept grinning, and she hadn’t clue what had happened but it made her nervous.
By the end of the meal her nerves were jangling like she dangled from a sixty foot tree with no rope.
“What are you all grinning like fools about?” she asked when everyone had left but her family.
“We had a little chat with Hank last night after he finally left your cabin.” Dag nodded his head and her stomach clenched.
“What did you talk about?” She already had a feeling she wasn’t going to like where this was headed.
“You, him, working in the woods,” Karl said, stirring a spoon in his coffee cup.
“What about working in the woods?” She plopped down on the bench beside Tobias and stared at Karl. Her heart raced.
“He said there was no way you’d be working in the woods from now on.”
Kelda spun to stare at Far. “You agreed as long as he didn’t know I could work.”
He held up his hands. “It will be between the two of you. If you love him you will put his wants first.”
“But if he loves me shouldn’t he put my wants first?” She stabbed the table with her finger. Why did the woman always have to compromise? She’d tried to get him to bed her last night hoping once they were bound by their hearts and flesh he had to understand how deeply she loved the woods. His adamant demand she not work in the woods was selfish on his part. He was in more danger working in the woods than she was, yet it didn’t stop him. This one-sided fear on his part complicated their relationship.
“The woman does what the man wants.” Karl crossed his arms and leaned back.
“Not this woman.” She stood and placed her hands on the table. “I will continue to work in the woods. If Hank doesn’t like it, he can—”
“As long as he is paying us, we do what he asks,” Far cut in.
“That isn’t fair! He hired us. Us—me, Karl, Dag, Tobias and you to run this logging operation. He can’t hire us then tie our hands with how we do things.”
Far waved his hand. “Go to town with Karl and the men. When you come back you will have cooled off. I’ll visit with Hank today.”
Karl stood. “Come on, Kelda. You two need time apart. You both looked feverish last night.”
She sent a scathing look at Karl, and he burst out laughing.
“Why are you in such a good mood today?” she asked, following him out the door, slipping her arms into her coat.
“I’m sending off letters Dag and I wrote last night to Lars wife. He added an introduction letter.” Karl walked over to the wagonload of loggers going to town.
Kelda climbed onto the seat alongside of him, and they headed down the road. She scanned the camp looking for Hank but didn’t see anything that told her where he might be. She refused to ask Karl who sat beside her whistling.
Where could he be this morning and why had he told her brothers about his stupid idea she shouldn’t work in the woods? As much as she loved him, she despised him for his shortsightedness when it came to her doing the work she loved.
Chapter 21
Hank left the camp early. After his discussion with the Nielsen brothers last night, he’d decided he needed time to think and talk with an unbiased person. That’s how he came to be sitting in Myrle’s restaurant one minute after she unlocked her door.
“My, what dragged you to town so early in the day? I heard from Ethan the camp has a new cook. And a right good one, so it can’t be the need for good cooking.” Myrle patted her gray hair as she poured coffee into his cup. Her fading blue eyes scanned his face.
“I need someone not related to me or Kelda to talk with.” Hank took a sip of coffee.
“Let me fix you a plate and then tell the ladies to take over for a spell.” Myrle’s eyes sparkled when she spun toward the kitchen.
Hank fidgeted with his coffee cup. Now that he was here, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to talk about. His feelings for Kelda grew with each meeting, both physically and emotionally. Looking at his life in five and ten years he saw them happy. But when he thought about her brothers’ words and the way she’d lit up when voicing how she loved working in the woods, he didn’t think his heart could take watching her work in the woods or watching her lose that light when he didn’t allow her in the woods. He’d tossed all night trying to determine what would be worse and each time neither scenario came out happy.
Myrle pushed through the kitchen door carrying a large plate piled high with eggs, bacon, and hotcakes and a cup of coffee in the other hand. She placed the plate in front of Hank and took the seat across the tab
le.
“This Kelda you mentioned, she the one Colin gets stars in his eyes when he talks about her?” Myrle watched him over the rim of her cup.
Hank smiled. “Yes, she has that effect on males, though she doesn’t see it.”
Myrle nodded and smiled. “I can see. Your eyes soften and your tone deepens when you think about her.” She patted his hand. “That’s a sure sign you’re in love.”
Hank put down his fork. “Myrle, I am in love but I’m not sure it’s good for either of us.”
“Does she love you?”
“She hasn’t said so, but from her actions, I believe she does.”
Myrle stared into his eyes. “Why isn’t it good for the two of you to be in love?”
“Her other love is working in the woods as a logger. You should see the way her eyes light up just talking about hanging high in the trees lopping off the tops.” He shivered remembering the man they’d watched the one time. “I can’t have her doing that. I’d be spending all my time worrying and watching her instead of taking care of my own matters.”
Myrle set her cup down firmly. “If you love one another you’ll find a way to make it work. You can’t take her passion for life away from her, she’ll not be the same person you fell in love with.”
She pushed the chair back to stand. “I say marry her, love her, and you’ll work things out.”
“I can’t marry her until I get the first load of logs to Stoddard next fall.”
Myrle shoved her small fists onto her hips and glared at him over the rim of her spectacles. “That’s the most asinine backwards thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth.”
Hank thought of Myrle as an aunt but her tone and words lit his anger. “I take exception to that.”
“You and your brothers can afford to have a project fail now and then and still provide for your families. Saying the Stoddard contract has to be fulfilled before you can marry is your way of running from commitment.” She crossed her arms. “You may need to see if what you feel for Kelda is really love or just the need to have what your brothers have.”
Hank sank back against the chair and stared at the woman. Was his infatuation with Kelda only because he was envious of his brothers’ lives?
The door opened, and Myrle scurried across the room to seat the newcomers.
Staring at the food growing cold on his plate, Hank reflected on the times spent with Kelda and his feelings. He picked at the food, running the trip to Baker City over in his mind. It was a fact when he was near Kelda his body became inflamed with desire, but the trip to and from Baker City with her tucked against him and talking, warmed his heart and brought a lump to his throat. He delighted in the passion she had for life and for him. The only fault he could find with the infectious woman was her need to be in danger.
Scowling, he stood and walked out of Myrle’s. Maybe he needed to see how Zeke dealt with Maeve being in harm’s way as a Pinkerton operative.
~*~
Karl stopped the wagon at the mercantile. Kelda hopped down.
“Where are you going?” he asked as the men scattered up and down the street.
“To see Rachel and Maeve Halsey.” Specifically, Rachel as she felt less intimidated by her even if she was a doctor.
“We’ll be leaving for the camp around two.”
Kelda waved and continued up the street to Clay and Rachel’s two-story house that sat back off the main street in a cluster of trees.
Her strides weren’t long-legged and full of purpose. She honestly didn’t know what she planned to say or why she had the need to discuss her feelings for Hank with someone, but she was confused and figured a woman was the best person to unburden to.
Climbing the steps, she drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. Her heart raced with panic. This was silly. Shouldn’t she discuss her feelings about Hank with him and not someone else?
Her boots thumped on the porch and she spun to retreat.
“Kelda! What a wonderful surprise. Come on in.”
Swallowing, Kelda slowly pivoted. Rachel stood at the open door in a bonnet and shawl, little Frankie in her arms.
“We were just going to walk over and visit with Maeve and Brandon, but that can wait.” Rachel backed up, opening the door wider.
“I can return later if you have plans.” Kelda remained rooted to the far side of the porch.
“Nonsense. I can see them any time. You only come to town once in a while.” Rachel stepped out and linked arms with Kelda, drawing her into the aromas of coffee, cinnamon, and yeast.
“Hang your coat on the hall tree and come back to the kitchen. I made sweet rolls this morning.”
Rachel strolled down the hallway to the kitchen in the back of the house. Her dress swayed with her steps. Kelda wondered if she’d looked that womanly walking down the street in the dress Hank bought her.
She peered down at the man’s shirt billowing over the waistband of the dungarees on her lower half. Nothing she wore revealed she had any feminine qualities. It was no wonder she was going on twenty-seven and hadn’t been kissed by a man until the last month. Which brought her back to why she was here—Hank.
The homey aromas she’d always attributed to the cookhouse wafted from the kitchen, luring her down the hall and into the cheery room warmed by the cookstove.
Rachel stood at the stove pouring two cups of coffee. A fresh baked pan of sweet rolls sat in the middle of the table. Frankie was seated in a child’s highchair banging a spoon on the wooden tray holding her in place.
“Sit down. I didn’t expect to see you so soon after your return from Baker City.” Rachel sat opposite of Kelda.
“Far told the men to take two days off because the ground is too muddy and slippery. Half the crew came to town today and the other half will come tomorrow.” She wrapped her hands around the cup of coffee and stared into the dark brown liquid. Now that she was here she wasn’t sure what she wanted to say or ask. Her mind whirled with indecision.
“Did Hank come, too?”
“Not with us. I’m not sure where he is.” She scowled. His disappearance at breakfast still puzzled her.
“Are you feeling better after your trip to Baker City?”
Kelda glanced at Rachel and searched her face. Had she spoken to Darcy and Aileen? What had the other women told her? “J-ja. Why do you ask?”
“You don’t look any more rested than when I last saw you.” Rachel reached across the table. “Is your mother worse?”
“She was actually better today than she has been. With the new cook, she can stay in bed and rest. The rest is helping with her memory loss.” That was one less concern for her right now.
“Good. But if you think it would be a good idea, I can come out and take a look at her.”
“If she takes a turn for the worse, I’ll send word.” Kelda took a sip of coffee. This was more awkward than she’d thought it would be.
“So if your mother isn’t keeping you from sleeping it must be Hank.”
Frankie tossed the spoon to the floor. The noise jolted Kelda as much as Rachel’s direct comment.
“Did you two get along on your trip?” Rachel bent over and retrieved the spoon.
Memories of walking arm in arm with Hank and sharing special moments at the restaurant warmed Kelda’s chest. Their intimate moments in the room, heated her cheeks. “We… got along well.”
Rachel smiled and her eyes twinkled. “I can tell by the blush on your cheeks.”
Kelda slapped her hands over her cheeks.
“Has he proposed to you yet?” Rachel held the spoon out to her cooing daughter.
“Nei. He said we can’t marry until the logging operation proves successful.” She scowled. Why did they have to wait? He had the money to pay their crew before he began making a profit. Surely the venture wouldn’t put his family in that much financial trouble.
Rachel studied her. “Would you say yes if he asked you right now?”
Her question snapped Kelda out of he
r reverie. “I-I don’t know.”
“Do you love him?”
His arms and kisses made her feel special and filled an empty void in her soul she’d not known was empty. “Ja.”
“Then why don’t you know if you’d marry him?” Rachel took a sip of coffee; her dark brown eyes watched Kelda over the rim.
“There’s one thing that we don’t agree on.” The memory of his accursed belief she could get hurt working in the woods fueled her temper.
Rachel set the cup down. “What is that?”
“He refuses to let me work in the woods. I’ve been working alongside my family since I was sixteen. I have some scars,” which was one of the reasons he was so adamant, “he saw one when we were in Baker City, and now he refuses to even listen to my side.” She reached across the table and clasped Rachel’s hands. “The only place I feel adequate and good about who I am is when I’m in the woods. Topping trees or swinging the axe. The work gives me fulfillment. But all he sees is danger.”
“Do you worry about him when he’s in the woods?”
“Ja, but only because he’s a greenhorn and hasn’t learned all the skills necessary to be a beast of the woods. Once he learns everything, I’ll know he’s prepared. Like I’m prepared.”
Rachel wiggled her hands out of Kelda’s grip and picked up her coffee cup. “Has he seen you in the woods? Know how good you are?”
“Only once. I took him out to where Far was working. Far handed me the axe and let me work while he talked to Hank.” She frowned remembering how he shoved her out of the way when the tree creaked. But her body warmed when she fleetingly remembered the look of adulation on his face when she swung the axe.
“Perhaps he needs to see you working to realize you are careful and wouldn’t take risks.” Rachel put the cup down and peered across the table. “One thing I’ve learned about the Halsey brothers, they are fair and impartial to women who have jobs usually held by men.”
Kelda nodded. “Hank always speaks well of all his brothers’ wives, and he told me of their unusual occupations though I do believe Darcy and Aileen are no longer—”
Rachel cut her off. “They aren’t in those jobs because they chose to change not because their husband’s made them.” She nodded her head toward the door. “Maeve is worrying herself to death trying to decide if she wants to remain a Pinkerton now that they have a child or settle down here.” Rachel leaned closer. “Between you and me, if Zeke asked her to quit she wouldn’t because she’d feel like she had given up on her dreams, but if she makes the decision herself, then she’ll be happy with it.”