"I told Mr. Hughes three and a half more weeks. On average, a broken bone takes about six weeks to heal. Once it comes off, he still should use the crutches until he feels strong enough to walk on it comfortably."
Roscoe put the splint back in place. Hank paid the doctor and returned to the coach. "I'm a bit sore. Let's get something to eat before we leave town. I'll ride inside on the way home."
Hank glanced up and down the street and saw a restaurant not far from them.
While Big Dog moved the coach onto a side street, Hank managed his way along the boardwalk until he reached the Loggers' Jam Restaurant. He passed the time looking over the menu posted on the door.
Big Dog met up with him and the two went inside. An hour later, as dusk settled over Wausau, the two men walked outside full and satisfied.
Hank waited while Big Dog brought the coach around to the front of the restaurant. Hank settled inside on the leather seat and watched out the window as the team pulled the coach out of town toward home.
Not too far out of town, the coach stopped. Hank glanced out the window and saw a woman on the road. Big Dog climbed down to the road and approached her. He spoke with her for a few moments.
Hank wished he could hear what was going on. She pulled a piece of paper from her bag and handed it to him. Big Dog glanced at Hank and shrugged. He questioned her again before returning to the coach.
"You're not goin' to like this, boss."
"Who is she?"
"Her name is Amanda."
Hank stared at him. "What's the matter with her?"
Big Dog handed the piece of paper to him. He looked at the mail order bride ad and groaned. "Is she legitimate?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. She seems a sweet gal. Says she ran out of money a few days back. She's hungry, cold, and exhausted."
Hank leaned his head back against the leather cushion and thought about what they should do. He glanced at Big Dog and sighed. "Have her join me."
"Are you sure, boss? We don't know nothing about her."
"We can't leave her out here all alone on the road."
Hank slid over to make more room for the woman. Big Dog opened the door and helped her step up and inside the coach. He nodded at Hank and returned to his driver's seat.
My God, she can't be much older than Caroline.
Once they were on the move, Hank handed the young lady a blanket.
"Thank you." She noted the splint.
"Are you badly hurt, sir?"
"Thank you for asking, young lady. No, I broke the leg a while back and it heals well."
She sat back and wrapped the blanket tight around herself.
"I'd like to know who I'm traveling with."
"My name's Amanda Kate Mason. I'm answering an ad for a mail order bride that I saw in a magazine."
"My driver showed me the ad you carried." He stared into her large, deep brown eyes and felt the sadness flowing from them. "Are you running from someone?"
Miss Mason shook her head, but he didn't believe her. "As a father of six daughters, I trust my instincts. Tell me the truth. I won't hurt you and I won't send you back to some place that scares you enough to run to a man you don't know."
She fidgeted with the blanket's binding. "I'm grasping at anything that comes along right now. I hope this man is generous and, if he decides against marrying me, he'll let me work for him."
"What about your family?"
"There's just my pa and me. He took off and left me on my own a while back."
Hank stared at the young woman. He wasn't sure what to think. After Penelope's stay at the lodge, he was leery about bringing home another woman.
"Do you and your wife have a place near here?"
He shook his head. "I'm a widower. I run a trading post."
Her eyes opened wide. "Are you him? Henry Hughes—the man who put the ad in the magazine for a wife?"
"I am Henry Hughes, but I did not post the advertisement. My overzealous daughter signed my name, and mailed it in without my permission."
"Oh no. I'm so sorry. I presumed it was a proper request. Please have your driver stop the coach and I'll be out of your life."
Hank shook his head. "Absolutely not, it's almost dark outside. You're welcome to ride the rest of the way to my home and stay until we can figure out something more suitable for you."
"You're very kind, Mr. Hughes. Thank you."
"How about you call me Hank and I'll call you Amanda. We're rather informal at the lodge."
The coach hit a rut in the road. The unexpected motion slammed his leg against the bench across the way. He gasped and pressed his hand against the throbbing that the jostling caused. The coach stopped. Big Dog climbed down from the seat and opened the door.
"You hurt, boss?"
Hank nodded. "Please help me find a more comfortable position? It's a might sore since you and the doctor worked on it earlier."
"Please, let me help you." Amanda rolled up one of the blankets she found on the floor. She positioned it under his foot where it rested on the seat across from them. "If you keep the leg elevated, it should help slow down the throbbing."
Big Dog tipped his hat. "Good, good. Thank you, Miss Amanda. If you're settled, boss, we'll be on our way."
"Will you take it easy, please?"
"I hear ya."
The coach rocked as he climbed back up onto the seat and reined the horses back along the road.
"I'm so embarrassed arriving at your home under these circumstances. Whatever will your daughters think of me?"
Hank shook his head. "Considering you thought you had good reason to come to the trading post, I wouldn't worry too much. My daughters will greet you with wonder. Our lives have been in turmoil for so long now, that your arrival will only be one more adventure.
Amanda nodded. "I hope so. I don't want to be a bother."
THE NEXT MORNING CAROLINE came downstairs and entered the main room. A dark-haired young woman, who appeared about her own age, sat in one of the chairs.
"Hello, I'm Caroline Hughes. Is there something I can do for you?"
"You're one of Hank's daughters?"
She sat next to her. "Yes, I'm Caroline, his oldest. Who might you be?"
"I'm Amanda Mason. Your father picked me up and brought me to the trading post with him late last night. I'm here in regards to the mail order bride article."
Caroline leaned back in the chair. "Oh, dear God, I'm so sorry."
"It's all right. You actually did me a favor. The ad gave me the courage to leave an abusive home. Your father explained the situation to me on the way here. I'm grateful to at least be in a new area where I might find a job."
"Thank you. You're very generous. I hope Daddy gave you a place to sleep."
"Yes. A very tall man, who helped him inside the lodge last night, took me upstairs to an empty bedroom."
"Have you seen Daddy yet this morning?"
Amanda shook her head. "You're the first person to get up."
Caroline heard Lottie in the kitchen. "Our housekeeper is preparing breakfast. Let's go find something to keep us from starving until the meal is served."
The two young women entered Lottie's domain. "Good morning."
Lottie jumped and turned around with her hand over her heart. "Geez, you near scared me to death, girl. What are you doing up so early?" She glanced at Amanda. "Who is your friend?"
"Lottie, meet Amanda Mason. Daddy brought her home with him last night. She's looking for a job."
"You look like you'd do better if you got something to eat first. Sit."
"Thank you," Amanda said as she dropped into one of the chairs at the preparation table.
Lottie gazed at Caroline. "Coffee is ready. Pour a cup for each of you and I'll make up a quick breakfast so Amanda can be on her way."
While Lottie rattled her pans and stirred the food cooking on the stove, Caroline sat and got acquainted with Amanda. "What type of job are you qualified for?"
"I've been work
ing in a hotel as a maid. My jobs included preparation of food for meals, laundry, and cleaning."
Lottie put a plate in front of both girls and pulled out a chair next to Amanda. "Preparation of food—is that a new way of saying you cooked meals at the hotel?"
Amanda put her fork down and wiped her mouth. "Yes, ma'am, and I also cleared the tables and cleaned the kitchen afterwards."
"Finish your food and I'll be back in a little bit." She glanced at Caroline. "Where's your father?"
"I haven't seen him yet this morning."
"Both of you stay here until I return. Caroline, you can keep an eye on the breakfast preparation until I get back." She hurried out of the room.
"Don't mind Lottie. She's been here since my father was a boy."
"Do you think she might hire me to help her in the kitchen?"
Caroline pulled a sharp knife from a drawer and started slicing bread. "I hope so. Lottie needs to retire, but she won't hear of it. If you were here to do some of the jobs, it would help both of you."
"How many does she cook for?"
Caroline had to think for a moment. "Um, fourteen people more or less. It varies according to who's here at mealtime."
Lottie bustled into the room with a wide smile on her face. She sat next to Amanda. "If you think you can work with a cranky old lady like me, you've got a job here."
"Oh, yes, thank you, ma'am."
"The name's Lottie and I expect you to be punctual and to work hard. Matthias is getting a tub ready for you and as soon as the water heats, you can have a bath." She glanced at Caroline. "Check to see if you can find some clothes Amanda can wear until she can get some new ones."
"Danielle and I have some she can try on." Caroline hugged Lottie. "Thank you for asking for some help. I'm sure Daddy is pleased."
Lottie tsked. "Off with you. I'm sure you have some work to do." She looked at Amanda. "You can stay until your bath is ready. I can give you an idea of what kind of help I need. As you get acquainted with my kitchen, we shall see what else you can do."
Caroline wandered into the main room and out the front door. She walked slowly along the porch. and sat by Daddy's empty lounge chair.
"Honey, staring at the inside of the gate isn't going to bring Tam back any sooner."
She smiled at her father as he came toward her. "I know, Daddy, but even you have to admit you didn't expect them to be gone this long."
"Yes, I expected them back before now, but they're with Luc. He's got a problem by the tail and he'll not return home empty handed."
"You're right. I just wish we knew they're not lying dead somewhere. I want Tam back and..."
Hank held her away and tipped her chin. "How about having some faith? All three of those boys know how to take care of themselves. I doubt any of them are prepared to miss sitting down with the family for Thanksgiving supper."
"You don't understand. When they left, Tam said he wouldn't be gone that long, and Luc promised he'd have Tam home in time for our holiday supper. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, Daddy."
Hank wrapped his arms around her. "I know you're worried. I'm worried, too."
"If you're asking me, they're cutting it very close." She took another look at the gate. Still nothing.
Caroline sighed. "After breakfast, I'll wake Danielle. We can look through our clothes and find something for Amanda to wear It shouldn't take long, and then we can both help prepare tomorrow's feast. Keeping busy will keep my mind off Tam's absence."
"Good girl." He lowered himself onto the lounge. "I had a doctor in Wausau check over my leg."
She sat next to him. "What did he say?"
"Luc and Matthias did a good job setting the bone and putting the splints on. Unfortunately, he said I have to keep the splint on for a full six weeks."
"Oh no, I'm sorry."
"He showed Big Dog how to remove the splints and work my knee and massage the muscles every day or so. Doing this will keep the leg from becoming stiff."
"I'm glad you saw the doctor, then. It wouldn't have been good for you to get around stiff-legged the rest of your life."
"I take it that you've met Amanda?"
She nodded. "Daddy, I'm so sorry."
"I think she's going to work out great for Lottie. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe she's the real purpose you needed to experience the mail order bride mess."
She perked up. "Seriously?" She kissed her father on the cheek. "You're very generous. I'm glad she's here to help Lottie. I hope she doesn't run Amanda off."
"The woman is well into her eighties. It's about time she slows down and has proper help."
"Oh, I agree. I'll see you later. I'm going to say good morning to Big Dog." She walked across the quadrant and entered the blacksmith's shop. "Hello. Is anyone here?"
Big Dog came around the corner wiping his hands on a rag. He stuffed it into his back pocket and smiled at her. "Miss Caroline, what brings you to Big Dog's shop?"
She shrugged and walked around looking at his tools. "Do you think he's all right?"
He stared at her for a moment. "Are you speaking about Tam?"
"I'm scared something's happened to him. Daddy told me I was being silly, but—"
"You really care about Tam, don't you?"
She nodded. She would not cry again.
"Come here."
She walked into his open arms and absorbed strength from his embrace. "I'm afraid he's not coming back. I never told him I loved him, too."
"I'm sorry you're so worried, little one. Let's see what we can do to keep you occupied until your man returns home." He led her over to one of the wooden stools in his shop. "You sit right here and I'll be right back."
He returned in a few moments and handed her a block of wood and a sheet of sandpaper. "I need all the edges smooth as glass. Can you help ole' Big dog out?"
She loved that he put an effort into helping her forget her woes. "I can. What are you making with this?"
"No, no, no you can't ask questions this close to Christmas. Now get to work. I have plenty more pieces that need sanding. If you do a really good job, I'll let you do another."
"Tell me about San Francisco, please. Genevieve shares some of the sights with us when we have a break in lessons. It sounds like such an interesting place."
"Did she tell you about the wharf at the harbor?"
Caroline shook her head. "Not yet. Please tell me."
He used the bellows to pump up the heat. "San Francisco is a magical place. What I loved was the sound of the boat whistles, smells of the different kinds of fish down on the wharf, and the big hotels." He stopped working and watched her sand the block of wood for a moment. "I don't miss any of it now that I'm here with y'all."
"You don't?"
"I took the job to drive Miss Genevieve here because she needed to find a place where people would recognize how special she is and where she didn't have to put on airs like Madam Vellechamp demanded of her."
"If I ask you a personal question, will you answer?"
"What do you want to know about Big Dog?"
"Are you sweet on your Miss Genevieve?"
His checks turned pink. He turned his big blue eyes at her and smiled.
Chapter Twenty-One
A blanket of snow arrived Thanksgiving morning along with the fragrance of turkeys and pies baking. Hank wandered into the kitchen and asked if he could help with anything.
After hearing his offer of help, Lottie turned around and stared at him. "You want to help cook?"
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"No, but in all the years I've run this kitchen you have never asked if there was something you could do to make a meal. What's going on? You worried about something?"
"No."
She shoved her hands on her hips. He braced himself for the lecture that always accompanied her hands in that position.
"Don't you lie to me, boy." She raised her hand and wagged her finger in front of his face.
After all these ye
ars, she'd never changed. Hank wondered if she would ever think of him as a grown man. When she wasn't with them anymore, he'd miss her stern voice leveled on him and then onto his daughters. She'd never used that tone with Isabella.
"Lottie, why didn't you ever boss my wife like you do the rest of us?"
She stood still and stared into his eyes. "Humph, I know class when I see it. You married an angel. With a little more work, her daughters will follow in her footsteps."
They smiled at each other. "You mean as soon as you polish the Hughes genes I gave each of my daughters?"
"You're learning, boy."
The whole time they were speaking, Amanda kept snapping string beans without saying a word. He could see she might be a good influence on his girls. They never stopped talking.
Lottie returned to making biscuits. "Are you going to answer me, boy?"
"All right, you caught me. Yes, I'm worrying about Tam, Jory, and Luc. They're way overdue. Caroline is frantic, too."
She kept working the dough, but made no comment. "You're worried, too, aren't you, Lottie?"
"Yes, I am. Those boys better be sitting at my dinner table today or I'm going to take a wooden spoon to their backsides when they show up."
He heard her sniff, but didn't say a word. He was glad she had feelings for them. If Caroline decided she wanted to marry Tam, it would be a lot easier on all of them. He headed for the door. "You call me if I can help."
"Humph."
Hank made his way back to the sofa and swung his leg up onto the pillows. Matthias came in and asked if he wanted a cup of coffee.
He nodded. "Careful—Lottie is wearing barbs today."
Matthias chuckled. "Since when isn't she?"
Hank picked up his book. The words didn't make sense so he closed it. Where the hell are those boys?
Matthias came back with their coffee and handed him a cup. "It's like a morgue around here."
"We all know it doesn't take this long to ride to the border and back. It doesn't even take this long to ride to your parents' farm and back."
"If Luc wasn't with them, I'd say they got lost, but Luc is with them. He knows the state better than anyone I know." Matthias rubbed his brow. "This is the second time in the past week we've waited for our kids to come home."
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