At that moment, Pete walked into kitchen, carrying his boots to the closest chair. He opened his mouth then glanced at the cloth before her and focused on his boots. The tips of his ears burned red.
Leaning forward, she prepared to scoop them into her lap before snapping up her head. “You have sisters. You must know what these are for.” A peevish note tainted her words, but she couldn’t be chipper and happy when she ached.
“I didn’t say a word.” Raising a hand, he stood and turned toward the kitchen. “Tell me what to cook for breakfast.”
“What I really need first is for you to find a stone about the size of a loaf of bread to heat in the oven.”
“Done.” He strode out the door.
If she didn’t hurt, she might laugh at the uncertainty she saw in this confident man’s expression. Her eyelids drooped, and she laid her cheek against her forearms. If only to feel like any action would help, she rubbed circles over her belly. One, two, three in one direction, and then three in the other. The bird chirps from outside faded, and she drifted to a happier place.
“Whatcha doing? Sewing? I like to sew.”
The shush of scissors opening and closing startled her upright. “Oh, Erin. Morning, sweetie.” She reached out a hand to lift away the scissors and used her other to smooth the girl’s reddish-brown hair. “Wonder where the hairbrush is.”
“What’re these for?” Erin held up one of the pads and turned it end for end.
“I brought bacon from—oh.” Pete stepped into the room then hurried over to the stove and set the stone in side. “Erin, will you help bring in some wood from the box on the porch?”
“Sure, Mister Pete.” She skipped across the room.
Fantine gathered the pads and sewing supplies and carried them into the small washroom, tucking them inside the tub. High enough to keep little hands from touching. Get breakfast started. As long as she held onto the table, walking wasn’t too bad. The hard part was getting across the open floor.
Pete grabbed her shoulders. “Hey, are you all right?” He moved her so she leaned against the wall.
“Always get a little lightheaded this time of the month. But I need to start breakfast.”
“Let me.”
After telling him where to find the tin of oat groats, she explained the ratio of three times the amount of water to grain and watched as he cut the rind from a slab of bacon and then sliced even strips. Sometime during the instructions, the other children appeared and hovered, clamoring for her attention. “Today, I need you to use little mouse voices.”
“Listen up, everyone.” Pete pointed and gave directions, and soon they all moved away, intent on completing an assigned task. “Fantine, you’re about to fall over.” He slipped an arm around her waist and turned her toward the front of the house. “I’ll get you upstairs before you’re surrounded again. As soon as they are eating, I’ll bring up the stone.”
“And a towel.” She leaned her head against his chest and dragged her feet up the stairs.
“Of course.”
Sometime later, a strong hand jostled her shoulder. She rolled to shake it off. “Uh-uh.”
Fingers stroked her cheek. “Fantine. I hate to wake you, but I can’t find Kittie.”
“What?” Fantine struggled to sit up, cradling the towel-wrapped stone against her belly. Blinking hard, she glanced into the corners of the brightly-lit room, too late realizing he’d probably already looked. “She’s missing? This is terrible.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I need to get up. I promised Sister Catherine I’d keep them safe.”
“I promised, too. Remember? When we married.” From his kneeling position, he wiped a thumb on each cheek. “I haven’t sounded the alarm yet. I got Ander and Kerr started on washing the dishes. Then I did a look around, you know, to count heads.” He mashed his lips together and shrugged.
Remorse weighed on her spirit. What had she been thinking when she started this trip? “The sooner the kids are delivered to the Virginia City orphanage, the safer they’ll be.” Chest tight, she rocked back and forth, letting the tears fall onto her hands. “I can’t do this. I failed her. I’ve failed them all.”
“Oh, yagodka. You have not failed.” He crooked a finger under her chin and lifted until she met his gaze. “She has little legs so she can’t be far. Any clues on where she likes to be?”
The compassion in his dark blue eyes set off another flood of tears. “You’re too nice, Pete. You never asked for all this, but I needed your help so much.” A lump grew in her throat. “I knew the valerian poultice would make you groggy, and I took ad-advantage.” She covered her face with her hands.
“Hey.” Pete shook her shoulders. “Stop. This isn’t helping.”
“You’re right.” She drew in a shuddering breath and straightened. “Where would she be? She’s not brave like Erin or as inquisitive as Julian.” Fingers rubbing her temples helped her focus. A memory popped. “Remember that first day you used the flute to mark the camp’s location?”
“That’s right.” His brows drew down. “But I need to know where she is.”
“Blow a flute. She found an unfinished one you were working on and has been carrying it around.” She scooted to the edge of the mattress and pushed to a stand then staggered. “Maybe she’ll answer.”
Wrapping a hand around her back, Pete stepped close. “Let’s get you downstairs.”
“To the porch.” When she settled in the rocker, she looked around and spotted where the children were in the area. All except little Kittie. Her breathing hitched.
He pressed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” On the way across the yard, Pete tooted the flute then called her name.
Fantine watched as the children swarmed toward Pete who dropped to a squat in front of Nara, glanced over his shoulder at her, and then stood, heading for the barn. What was that?
In the next moment, the children moved in all directions like scattering ants and called.
Worry ate at her conscience, and Fantine couldn’t sit still. While everyone was away from the house, she took care of her personal needs and set a bucket holding several inches of vinegar for soaking the pads into the washtub. The sound of three short flute blasts sent her hurrying to the porch.
Pete emerged from the open double doors of the barn with Kittie perched on his shoulders. Both her little hands clasped across his forehead. His hat was missing, but both wore matching wide smiles.
As soon as the others spotted the pair, they shouted and ran close.
Fantine dropped into the rocker, relief stealing the strength from her legs. Now to make sure the children didn’t see her concern. She pasted on a smile and waited. But the closer Pete got to the house, the dimmer his smile became. A reaction she didn’t understand.
“Here, you go, little girl.” He lifted Kittie high to clear his head and then set her on her feet on the porch. Leaning close, he whispered into her ear.
“Miss Fantine, I found kittens.”
The sweet sound of her voice brought tears to Fantine’s eyes. So, the little girl had gained one more step in her recovery. “You did? Where?”
“Kittie, tell the others.” Pete stepped past the girl who’d become the center of the group’s chattering attention. He pinned Fantine with a serious look. “We need to talk.” He opened the door and pointed toward the house.
Frowning at his abrupt change in attitude, she stepped into the kitchen only to watch him stride past her into the front room. After a quick glance over her shoulder, she followed.
He whirled, braced his feet and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me a man was following our wagon?”
“What?” Her stomach knotted. She wrapped her arms around her middle. His rigid stance and stormy blue eyes displayed an anger she’d never witnessed.
“Erin told me she saw a rider following us near Honey Grove. Her first question when I told them Kittie was missing was if the bad man took her.” His frown deepened to a sco
wl. “You should have told me.”
Her memory of that day sharpened, and the girl’s question surfaced. “That incident happened only moments before we spotted the quarantine flags. And in that following hour, so much had changed─the wedding, the brothers─that I forgot.”
“Well, I spotted tracks along the creek bank that might be proof someone on horseback watched this house.” He jammed a hand through his hair. “We need to get to Morgan’s Crossing. To safety among other people.”
Safety? “But why wo—?”
“Listen.” He approached and grabbed her shoulders, his gaze direct. “I haven’t told you everything about my past. At first, I didn’t think you needed to know, because I was only supposed to guide you to the next town. And then we’d part ways.”
“You’re scaring me.” At her words, his grasp relaxed. She searched his expression and saw his hesitation about whatever he was about to reveal.
Holding her gaze, he cupped a hand on her cheek. “I was a bounty hunter. Someone related to one of my arrests might be on our trail.” His shoulders heaved on a long exhale. “I’ve put you all in danger.”
Her thoughts tumbled one over the other. In his eyes, she saw regret and sadness. But his words proved how much he cared, and his statement needed recognition. Stepping close, she slipped her arms around his waist and nestled against his chest. “What will we do?” Together, they’d find a solution, just as they had with finding Kittie. Like Pete said, they were a team.
He stiffened then wrapped his arms around her back. “We leave, as soon as we can. If the moon wasn’t in its new phase, I’d say we travel at night. But that wouldn’t be safe, so at first light…” He leaned back and narrowed his gaze. “I’m serious about departing at dawn.”
Chapter Nine
Mid-afternoon on the second day, the rooftops of a small town came into view. Pete straightened in the saddle for a better look. They’d been following a well-trodden path through the prairie for the past two hours. In the distance on both sides of the road stood ranch buildings. What lay ahead had to be Morgan’s Crossing. He glanced over his shoulder toward the group he protected. Fantine’s wagon was first and carried the five children from the orphanage. Behind her, Garth drove his family’s oxen team with Kerr at his side, their horses tied to the back. Their wagon was loaded with food and belongings.
Pete gritted his teeth at the memory of how he’d had to push the group to make the needed preparations. Even if not at her cheeriest, Fantine rose to the occasion and managed her brood of five, keeping them busy with tasks. Pete had guided the Hakon brothers to take only what was needed. Although easier would have been to let them believe the rest could be claimed at a later time, he made no false statements. The best he could do to show good faith was to leave the cow and a dressed-out pig with the neighbor, Sverting, in exchange for his agreement to keep squatters from taking up residence.
Nudging Blaze’s sides, Pete trotted ahead to get the lay of the mining town. A wooden bridge spanned a river that served as the southern boundary. One main street bisected buildings of various sizes—some of newer lumber or fresher paint than others. Near the intersection of the entry road with the main street stood a wide building with a small stable at the rear. A two-story house set off by itself on a rise was probably the mine owner’s home. The rectangular, two-story buildings with wide porches were probably boarding houses or hotels. Other big buildings might be a mercantile and a saloon—essentials of any small town. A grouping of identical cabins on plots with gardens and a privy must be housing for miners. Canvas tents stood in an irregular pattern near pigpens.
The rattle of the approaching wagon made him turn. “Looks like this is our destination.”
Fantine nodded and flashed a weary smile. “If not, it’s where we’re camping tonight. The children are getting fractious and need to stretch their legs.”
He glanced at the tired faces looking his way. “I understand. Go slow over the bridge, and I’ll catch up before the intersection. See it?”
“I do, Pete.” She shook her head and faced forward.
After the wagon passed, he turned Blaze toward the oxen team and guided him alongside. “I’m riding ahead to locate my brother’s shop, so watch for my signal on where to stop.”
“Yes, sir.” Garth dipped his chin.
Now that they were here, Pete got a little nervous at what Nicolai’s reaction would be. The wire he’d sent said to expect one man, not a group of nine. Clicking his tongue, he urged Blaze into a trot and covered the distance to the intersection, lifting a hand as he passed Fantine. He guided the horse to the right and spotted Andrews’ Saddlery painted on the front window of the first building. The adjacent shop window read Cinnia’s Dressmaking. “Whoa.” After climbing down, he walked Blaze and Dandy to the side of the building and watched the progress of the wagons making the turn at the intersection.
Footsteps sounded from inside the building. “Petya, is that you under that beard?”
The familiar rasp of his brother’s voice caught him square in the chest. Until hearing him, he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed his kid brother. “Nicolai, Младший брат.” He turned and grinned before being enveloped in a strong embrace and hearing his brother’s choked welcome. Exchanging greetings in his native tongue made him feel like he’d come home. He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.
Leather creaking and metallic rattles of the wagons prompted him to end the greeting and deal with logistics. He stepped back and looked into his brother’s familiar face. “About that telegram. Uh, that was sent before some events happened.” Moving to stand on the porch, he lifted a hand then pointed Fantine toward the front of the adjacent shop. Then he circled a hand over his head and pointed toward the space behind where his horses were tied.
Nicolai’s eyes widened at the sight but he remained quiet.
“This group’s with me.” Pride squared his shoulders, but he didn’t have the time to analyze that feeling.
“All of them?”
“Yep, and the animals.” Pete cupped a hand around his eyes and looked through the window. All those tools and supplies—not a good setting for the young ones. “You live here, too?”
“Not anymore. My wife and I have a house just over the rise.”
“Hey, congratulations on the marriage. I’m married, too, sort of.” He stepped to the porch edge. “Fantine, keep everyone in place for a few minutes longer.”
“Sort of, what does that mean? Petya, what is going on?” Nicolai moved so his back was to the street and stood with arms crossed. “What have you gotten yourself into?”
Maybe the accusation had been fair when he was a kid, but not now. Since he was the one asking the favor, he kept his reaction in check. “The explanation is long, but I assure you the reason is a good one. We need a place to camp and get the animals settled for the night. Maybe near your house?”
Nicolai drew a hand down his face. “Our place is small, and Cinnia prepared the guest room.” Frowning, he glanced behind him and to the side.
He placed a hand on Nicolai’s shoulder. “Trust me, they’ll be grateful for any amenities you provide. I warn you, hearing their story will break your heart.”
“Let me lock up the shop and saddle Ziven. The wagons need to turn around because we’re headed up the hill.” He pointed out the direction.
Hours later, everyone had been fed. Fantine and Cinnia bonded instantly over preparing the large meal, which they served both inside and outside the house, wherever a person found a spot to sit. The girls were tucked into the bed in the guest room, but the four boys opted to camp out on the mattresses under the wagons. Excited at having a dog to play with, the children had exhausted poor Sacha, who lay asleep near the fireplace. With the nights getting cooler, Pete hoped that situation would last until they reached their destination.
Both couples sat around a small wooden table with coffee cups in front of them. Each with his or her own thoughts of the story Fantine h
ad relayed.
“I’m sorry for your tragic experience, Fantine. I don’t know if I could have managed like you did.”
Nicolai shook his head. “Don’t believe her. The first time I saw this very capable woman she was climbing out of a lavender traveler’s wagon that had rolled across the prairie for hundreds of miles. With ease, she set up an enclosure for the acrobatic dogs and, then a couple hours later, gave a poetic performance that enthralled the townsfolk.” He winked and grinned. “Well, maybe I should claim that emotion for myself.”
Cinnia blushed and reached over to squeeze her husband’s hand. “I’d say we both were.”
His serious brother with a performer? “You are an actress?”
“I performed with a vaudeville troupe, along with my sister, Nola, and a dear friend, Dorrie.” She met his gaze and smiled. “In fact, she married Valerik last month. How unfortunate you weren’t here a few days earlier for the last dance Dorrie hosted for the year.”
“Valerik’s down from Kamloops? In Morgan’s Crossing?” Pete couldn’t keep his mouth from gaping as he stared at Nicolai. “How is he?”
“I’ll let him tell you his story, Petya. He bought some land a few miles outside of town and plans to raise cattle to supply the company with hides.” Nicolai leaned on his elbow and sipped from his cup. “You know, his ranch has more room, and your group might be more comfortable there. In fact, Valerik might have a spot for the two oldest boys working the cattle.”
“We’re sorry for the imposition.” Fantine slid her hand into Pete’s under the table. “I know we’re a noisy bunch, but I made a promise—to a nun. These children have become my, um, our mission.”
Montana Sky: Baling Wire Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Entertainers of The West Book 4) Page 10