by Paty Jager
Kelda wasn’t sure what to do. It was Hank’s house but being the woman did they expect her to feed them?
Hank stood, grabbed a bucket and handed it to Zeke. “Why don’t you get some water while Karl takes care of your horses.”
Zeke stared at Hank a moment then stood. “Good Idea. Come on, Karl.” Zeke put his coat back on.
“Why can’t you do both?” Karl asked, eyeing Hank.
“Because it will go faster if we both do it.” Zeke grabbed Karl’s sleeve and pulled him out of the cabin.
The scene was comical the way the two big men acted like small boys. Kelda suppressed a giggle behind her hand until the door closed. She couldn’t hold back the laugh or the silliness of the situation.
She turned to Hank who watched her intently. “I can’t believe they came all the way out here to try and catch us…” She blushed.
“In the same bed?” Hank walked over to her. “Kelda, my offer of marriage still stands. If you don’t want me to mention it to anyone else I won’t, but, I plan to have you as my wife. Sleeping across the room from you last night was a torture I don’t want to go through again.” He grasped her arm. “Don’t fight with me. Just think about my offer, please,” he whispered before kissing her.
Kelda fought with herself, reveling in the kiss but refusing to participate completely for fear of losing sight of what he wanted to strip from her.
A horse nickered, and Hank retreated to the stove, banging the coffee pot and opening another can of beans.
Kelda busied herself making the beds and putting her boots on. When their brothers returned, coffee and four plates of beans and hardtack sat on the table. Hank took the seat next to hers. Karl and Zeke sat across from them. No one said a thing as they ate. She felt eyes on her and glanced up to find Karl studying her. What was he trying to see? Did he know she no longer was innocent? The thought warmed her. There should be guilt over what she and Hank did, but the act had proven to her she loved him. She’d never have given her body so readily and wished to give him joy if she had not loved him.
And that was the crux of her dilemma. She wanted to make him happy always. But to make him happy she would be unhappy.
Kelda finished her food and left the table, heating water in a kettle on the stove to wash the dishes.
“I’ll head back to town and leave you three to travel to the camp,” Zeke said, standing. She turned to say good-bye when she noticed a non-verbal communication between Hank and Zeke. Something she’d witnessed between her brothers.
“I’ll walk out with you and saddle the horses for Kelda and me.” Hank hurried to the door where his coat hung and left with Zeke.
Karl brought the rest of the plates to her. “Are you all right? You and Hank keep staring at one another but I’m feeling some tension.”
“We’re fine. There’s just a lot of things to work out between us.” She sighed and wished things weren’t so complicated.
~*~
Hank knew Zeke would follow him into the barn.
“So what is this all about?” Zeke caught Coal and started saddling the horse.
“I wish I knew.” Hank saddled his gelding and leaned against him.
“You bedded her didn’t you?” Zeke said without reprimand.
Hank smiled, remembering the passion and how whole he felt when they were together. He glanced toward the door to make sure Karl hadn’t snuck up on them. “Yeah. I also asked her to marry me.”
Zeke smacked him on the back. “Congratulations!”
“Don’t go telling anyone. We’ve hit a snag.”
“She loves you. She told Rachel. What’s the snag?” Zeke slipped the headstall on Coal.
“I told her she can’t work in the woods.” Zeke sent him a recriminating glare. “I know. You and I discussed the better to have loved and lost than never to have loved, but I feel I can’t do my job if I’m always worrying about her. And she is passionate about her need to be in the woods.”
Zeke handed him the reins to Coal. “One word, brother. Compromise.” He walked out of the barn, mounted his horse, and rode toward town.
Hank stared down the road. It was basically the same thing Myrle had said. How did he find a compromise to their problem?
Kelda and Karl exited the cabin. Hank led the horses to them. “Did you put the fire out?”
“Ja, and all the dishes are put away.” Kelda mounted her horse.
He handed her the reins, making sure their fingers touched. She met his gaze and curved her tasty lips into a slight smile.
His heart thudded faster. It was a start. He’d take small smiles over anger and rejection.
~*~
Jitters started in Kelda’s stomach. What was she going to tell her parents? They’d stopped at the top of the ravine they traveled down and she’d spotted the smoke from the camp. Up until then she’d not worried about walking into the camp, but now her mind jumped from one scenario to the next. Would the loggers believe she and Hank spent the night together? What about Far and Mor? Would they make her marry Hank even though she wasn’t ready?
Karl rode ahead. When the trail widened, Hank held his horse back waiting for her to come alongside.
He reached over, touching her cheek. “I’ll take full blame for not getting you home last night. And if you don’t want me to mention you’re contemplating my marriage proposal, I won’t say a word.” His gaze remained locked on hers. “But I plan to walk you to your cabin after dinner every night and tell you how I feel about you.”
A little bit of the anger she clutched around her heart to keep from saying yes and giving into her desire to be in his arms all the time, melted from his touch and sincerity.
“I don’t want to change who I am to be your wife.” She leaned into his touch. “You make me feel special, but that’s not enough.”
Karl disappeared around a bend in the trail. Hank stopped the horses and cupped her head in his hand, drawing her lips to his. The tender kiss formed tears in her closed eyes.
“We’ll figure out what will be enough for you and keep me from going crazy,” he whispered on her lips and released her.
Kelda opened her eyes and found Hank’s horse walking ahead. Her horse jolted into action and walked fast to keep pace. Maybe with his perseverance and love they would find a way to make this work. But he had to come up with a solution before she agreed to marriage.
Ten minutes later they walked into camp. Tobias jogged out of the office straight to her horse.
“Mor and Far have been worrying about you,” he said, holding the headstall of the horse as she dismounted. “Dag’s been keeping them company in the cookhouse.”
Kelda nodded and started toward the building.
“Wait.”
She spun as Hank handed his reins to Tobias and jogged over to her.
“I’m not letting you go in there alone. This is my fault.” He started to reach for her hand, but she shook her head.
“Let’s not start rumors we don’t want spreading,” she whispered.
“You really think after all they’ve seen of us here at camp that not holding my hand will stop rumors?”
“It makes me feel better.”
Hank shook his head like he didn’t understand and motioned for her to start walking. His large warm hand pressed against her lower back and her cheeks flamed. His possessive touch was more incriminating than walking hand in hand to the building.
She pulled in a large gulp of air, and Hank opened the door.
Mor sat in a rocking chair near the cookstove. Far was seated at the table along with Dag and Lars. All stared at the two of them as they took off their coats and walked the length of the building.
Mor pushed out of the chair and walked toward them, her face slack with relief. Kelda hurried to her mother and hugged her tight.
“I’m sorry you were worried.” She folded around Mor’s small body, hoping her remorse was sensed.
“I’m sorry about not getting Kelda back last night.”
“We went to my family’s cabin to have some privacy to talk.”
Karl and Tobias entered and took seats. Hank made a point to peer at each of her brothers.
“Around here we never seem to get a moment to ourselves.” Hank reached out to her.
She shook her head two quick shakes. Showing solidarity was one thing but to put her hand in his, she was sure her emotions would show and there would be no way they could tell her family they hadn’t made love.
Hank walked to where she stood with Mor tucked under her arm. He drew her against his side and again stared at the men in her family.
“We were discussing our future…”
Kelda moaned and glared at Hank. This was exactly what she didn’t want him to say.
“Does that future mean you plan to marry my daughter since you spent the night alone with her?” Far asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Kelda peered at her father. He was far from upset. He appeared gleeful. She studied Hank. Had he schemed this little overnight excursion to force her to marry him?
“I asked your daughter to marry me and she is considering it.” Hank squeezed her shoulders.
Kelda ducked out from under Hank’s arm and settled Mor back in the rocking chair. The task gave her a moment to get her anger and frustration under control. Had the two men she loved contrived this awkward moment just to get her wed?
She curved her lips in a smile and worked at putting a glimmer of happiness in her eyes. “Far, Hank treated me like a queen while we were alone and he did propose.” She made sure she didn’t touch Hank so her mind would stay fixed on what she wanted to say. “However, until he agrees to marry the woman I was the day he met me, there will be no wedding.”
All the men collectively gasped as she strode across the room, grabbed her coat, and headed out the door. Anger and frustration boiled in her chest as she stomped across the camp to her cabin. She flung the door open, stepped in, and slammed the door shut.
The nerve of the men in her life thinking they knew what was best for her. How would they like it if she started telling them how to live? She flung her coat on the bed and paced. Paddy had started her stove, her pacing and the warmth caused her to perspire. Now she wanted a bath, but she’d have to go to the cookhouse and use the small tub in Mor’s room since Lars now lived in the supply room.
Even though she now had her own cabin, this was a time when she wished she lived somewhere other than a log camp so she could take a bath and relax in scented water. Memories of the hotel in Baker City flooded into her mind. If she married Hank there would be more trips like that, and they would share the same bed.
She shook the treacherous thoughts away. That kind of thinking would have her giving in to his proposal.
Chapter 25
Hank woke the following morning grouchier than he could remember ever being. Kelda hadn’t come out of her cabin for meals yesterday and refused to answer the door when he’d knocked on it after dinner. He’d wanted to see if she was sick or just avoiding him. It appeared by her silence, she was avoiding him.
He didn’t know how much food she’d stockpiled in the cabin, but he hoped she came to the cookhouse for breakfast so he could get a chance to talk to her after the meal. It was obvious something the day before had soured her feelings. He’d had it out with the Nielsen’s. Asking them to not say anything to Kelda and allow him to patch things up. The problem was he wasn’t sure what had riled her. And why she thought hiding in her cabin would accomplish anything other than drive him crazy.
“You coming?” Tobias called from the outer office.
“Yeah.” Hank shoved the papers he’d been reading the last hour into a pile and headed to the office door to retrieve his coat. Tobias opened the door, and Hank caught a glimpse of Kelda hurrying to the cookhouse. He ran out the door.
Hank caught Kelda’s coat sleeve moments before she entered the cookhouse.
She spun around and glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to talk with you since you shut me out yesterday.” He stalled his itching fingers from brushing down her cheek. The desire to touch her and kiss away the dark circles under her eyes strangled his throat, making it hard to breathe.
“I didn’t feel like company.” Her gaze slid to her feet.
“How about now? Would you please talk to me and tell me what I did that has you ignoring me?” He grasped her hand and led her back to the office. She didn’t follow him step for step, but he didn’t have to tug to get her there.
Once inside, he took her coat and motioned for her to sit in the chair by the stove. She sat, her chin tucked against her chest.
Hank pulled up another chair, placing it in front of her. He sat and tipped her chin up. “What is going on in that pretty head of yours?”
Her gaze searched his face. “Did you and Far set it up so I’d be left alone with you at the cabin? So I’d be forced to marry you?”
Appalled she thought he would scheme, Hank slammed his back against the chair. The high-pitched crack of the back snapping jolted his momentary disbelieve.
“No.” He stared into her wide solemn eyes. “Why would you even think such a thing?”
“Far looked too pleased yesterday. Like things had worked out as he’d planned.”
Hank grasped her hands between his. “Kelda, sweetie, I promise you, I did not have plans to keep you overnight at my cabin. If you’d have jumped in my arms and kissed me when I proposed, we’d have been back down here celebrating with your family. Instead, we ended up having a discussion that went nowhere and getting stuck on the mountain after dark.”
Her eyes snapped with irritation. “So now you’re blaming the whole night alone as my fault.”
“No.” Hell. She was turning everything he said around. His gut tightened at the thought she used the arguing as a means to keep him at a distance. He ran a hand over his unshaven face and listened to the rasp of his whiskers against his calloused palm.
“I’m to blame for the night at the cabin. I should have hauled you down as soon as you refused my proposal. But I wanted to make you change your mind.” He leaned forward. She inhaled and pressed her back against the chair. He grabbed the chair seat on either side of her thighs and pulled the chair between his legs.
“I still do.” He pressed his lips to hers and waited. She’d either give in or shove him away. His heart raced when she pressed back and opened her lips to allow him to taste her thoroughly.
Deepening the kiss, he drew her onto his lap and embraced her to his thumping heart. He wanted to start every morning with her kiss and presence in his life. From her response to his kiss, she had the same yearnings.
He ran his hands up and down her back to keep them from straying to parts of her body he’d learned intimately while at his cabin. Now wasn’t the time to heat things up. He wanted to prove he was good for her and she could trust him.
With regret, he pulled out of the kiss but kept her seated on his lap. “Not talking won’t solve our problem.”
“I know.”
The eyes he’d memorized and saw whenever he closed his eyelids stared back at him with such sorrow his stomach ached.
“But when you touch me I forget to be mad and I want to stay angry so I can remain firm.” She scooted to face him. “I’ve had few accidents in the eleven years I’ve been a beast of the woods. I’m good at what I do because I’m cautious and don’t have to prove anything like a man does.” She grasped his head in her hands and peered into his eyes. The desperation and determination in her green pools sent his heart thudding harder. “Let me prove to you there is no need for you to worry about me every day I’m in the woods. Work with me. Let me teach you how to be a beast of the woods. You’ll be beside me and see I don’t do anything to put myself in danger.”
Hank didn’t like the idea, but this may be the compromise they needed. If he coul
d prove she shouldn’t work in the woods by working with her then she’d be more likely to stop.
“When your father gives the word to go back to the woods you’ll teach me the way of the woods.”
She flung her body against his.
Hank placed his hands under her armpits and held her away from him. “But, if you’re in danger in any way during my lessons, you have to concede I may be right about you working in the woods.”
Her eyes narrowed a moment before she nodded and held out her hand.
He grasped her hand and tugged her against him. “This deal is sealed with a kiss. Our hearts are on the line.” Hank met her lips and didn’t come up for air until his lungs ached.
Kelda sucked in air and battled to make her fuzzy mind work. Her whole body tingled from the kiss and the fact she’d be back in the woods soon. She peered into Hank’s heated gaze. With him beside her. She’d have to take extra precautions with a greenhorn at her side, especially this one who held her heart in his hands. If something happened to him while working with her, she’d never be able to set foot in the woods again.
Her stomach growled.
“That’s our cue to get some breakfast.” Hank released her.
“We aren’t going to talk about marriage until we see how this partnership in the woods works out,” she said, slipping into her coat.
His eyes dulled a moment before he nodded. “I’ll not say a word.” He pulled on his coat.
She ran a finger down his whiskered cheek. “But I’ll expect you to continue courting me. Could take more than your brawn in the woods to woo me into being your wife.”
A flash of heat in his eyes and a wicked smile on his tantalizing lips drew air out of her lungs like a blacksmith’s bellows.
“It will be my pleasure to court you.” Hank stepped out of the office and offered his arm.
“I’ll take your arm here in camp but once we get out in the woods you have to treat me like any other beast of the woods. If you don’t, we could both get hurt.”
He stopped and stared at her. “Is my working with you going to put you in danger?”