“I didn’t say it was a lot smaller, I just said it was smaller.” Hazel grinned, taking the sting out of her words.
Bella looked at the older woman. “Hazel, are you sure you want to give this to us?”
Hazel nodded. “Yes, I love the other house my husband made for me. Besides, this house is too big for just one person and those stairs are hard on an old woman’s knees.”
Philip watched as the two women hugged.
“Thank you. This is a wonderful gift,” Bella said as they separated.
Hazel nodded. “It needs a lot of cleaning.” She made a mark with the toe of her boot on the dirt floor.
Bella put her arm around Hazel’s shoulders. “I love it and don’t mind cleaning. It will be fun and will feel like home when I’m all done.”
Philip marveled at the difference in Bella when she talked to people one-on-one and when she was in a group. Her face shone with thanksgiving and her eyes with excitement at the prospect of what she could do with her new home.
Bella sighed. “This will be a great room for the boys and they can play down here, as well.”
Philip shivered. “I’m not sure this will be the best place for them to play.” He turned around and looked about. “It’s pretty cold down here.”
Hazel nodded. “It is. But the fire pit still works. I’ll show you where the smoke comes up. Let’s head back upstairs.”
Together the three climbed the stairs. Philip couldn’t help but wonder about the area downstairs. It wasn’t any bigger than the top of the stairs, but he’d never seen anything like it. He shook his head as he shut the door. Had his first instincts been correct? Was the house over another home from years gone by?
The old woman walked to the fireplace. She waited for Philip to join her. “See that hole in the back?”
He nodded.
“That’s where the smoke rises from below and then goes on up through the chimney.” She straightened and rubbed her back.
“Are you two ready to head back to my house? I have hot coffee and sweetbread.”
Philip grinned. “You know I can’t resist your sweetbread.” He headed to the front door. Bella followed slowly. She seemed deep in thought as they walked outside and to their horses.
Hazel grunted as she climbed into the saddle. “Maybe I should just move to town,” she groaned.
“How long have you lived out here?” Bella asked. She rode her horse up beside Hazel’s.
“Longer than most.” Hazel kneed her horse and sent her into a gallop.
Startled, Bella looked to him as Hazel shot ahead of them. The older woman’s braid swayed against her back as she entered the orchard. “That was strange.”
Philip nodded. “Yep, even for Hazel.”
“What do you know about her?” Bella patted the horse’s neck.
“Not much. When Thomas and I took over the relay station, Hazel came for a visit. We knew she was lonely because she came over every day, usually with food. Since it’s pretty isolated out here, we sort of just started taking care of each other. She cooked us food and we helped her with chores. But we never asked her personal questions, so other than she was married and her husband died, we don’t know any more.” He wasn’t sure he liked the look of determination in Bella’s eyes. “Bella, leave it be. She’s old and has a right to her privacy.”
Bella glanced his way. “And we have two small boys to take care of. We need to know more about our nearest neighbor.” She set her jaw.
Philip thought he was a pretty good judge of character and didn’t think Hazel would ever hurt the boys. “Hazel is also our friend.” Well, she was his and Thomas’s friend. Over the last year, she’d begun to feel like family.
They entered the orchard. Philip couldn’t help but think about the house. How old was it? Was the lower half a Pawnee home? Why was Hazel really living in the other farmhouse?
* * *
Bella entered Hazel’s house. She loved it immediately. A plush settee and large chair sat in the center of the main room. The hardwood floor was covered by a gorgeous rug. Her gaze moved up the walls, which were covered with colorful paintings. “Oh, Hazel. Your home is beautiful.”
The older woman walked into the room carrying a tray with a coffeepot, cups and a plate on it. “Thank you, Bella.” She stopped and looked about the room. “It is cozy, isn’t it?”
Bella looked toward Philip while Hazel busied herself putting out the midmorning snack.
Philip held Bella’s gaze and said, “I’ll unsaddle your horse, Hazel.” He moved to Bella and whispered, “Behave yourself.”
What did he expect her to do? Bella frowned at him and motioned for him to leave.
He winked at her, then left.
Hazel chuckled behind her. “Now, what naughty thing is he expecting you to do?”
Bella turned to face the other woman and shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“Sure you do. Think about it.” She poured coffee into one of the smaller cups and then handed it to Bella.
She took the cup. “Well, Philip mentioned that he doesn’t know you very well and then said I’m not to ask you any questions about your past.”
“That sounds about right.”
“What? You don’t want me asking questions? Or the fact that Philip doesn’t want me asking questions?”
Hazel shook her head. “Girl, if you want answers, ask.” She sat down with her own cup of coffee.
Bella studied the older woman closely. “All right. I’m curious about the room under our house.”
The other woman picked up a slice of the sweetbread and looked at it. “What would you like to know?”
“It’s not your typical house. Is it?” Bella waited. When Hazel didn’t immediately answer, she pressed on. “I mean, I’ve never seen a house with a circular room under it like that one. Do you know its history?”
Hazel nodded.
At that moment, Philip came in. “You two didn’t eat all the bread, did you?” He hung his coat by the door.
Bella shook her head. “No, but Hazel is going to tell us the history of our house. So come sit down.”
Hazel waited until Philip was sitting on the overstuffed chair and then handed him a cup of coffee. He took the cup but looked expectantly at the bread. She laughed, then gave him a small plate with a slice of the bread.
Philip reminded Bella of Mark when he sat in a chair that was too big for him—out of place but content to eat his bread. She grinned and then turned her attention back to Hazel.
“Well, about twenty years ago my family was traveling through the Nebraska territory. Our wagon broke down a few miles from here. Back then there weren’t many white people in the area. My whole family got sick. Pa died first, then my older brother. My other brother and sister got very sick, too. Ma and I tried to keep them alive, but soon they, too, died.” She paused and looked off into the distance as if the story was taking her miles away.
Bella looked to Philip, who also looked as if he hadn’t expected Hazel to go so far into the past. She took a sip of her coffee and felt her heart ache for the young woman who’d lost her family.
Hazel shook her head as if to clear it and then continued. “Ma died last, but before she did, she said, ‘Hazie, do whatever it takes to stay alive.’” She took a sip of her coffee. “So, when the Pawnee warrior arrived, I stood up and waited to see what fate had in store for me.” She swallowed as if reliving that moment. “One young man jumped from his horse and looked about at all the dead bodies. His friends all backed their horses away and told him to get back on his so they could leave.”
Bella said, “I’m so sorry, Hazel.”
“For what? You didn’t make my family sick.”
“You don’t have to tell us this story, Hazel. What I think Bella is trying to say i
s, if it’s too painful to remember, stop.”
Hazel smiled. “Oh, Phil, I have long since stopped grieving for my family. They went when the good Lord called them home. I don’t really know why He felt I should live, but He did.”
Philip’s jaw hardened. Bella wished she hadn’t started this conversation. It looked as if she might have hurt two people with her curiosity. In the time she’d known Philip, he hadn’t looked sad. What was he thinking? Was he regretting having married a nosy woman?
Chapter Fourteen
Philip couldn’t help thinking about his parents. How he wished he could stop grieving and move on. But the circumstances were different. Hazel’s family had gotten sick and died. His mother had died in childbirth and his father had killed himself to avoid the bitter pain of loss.
He was pretty sure God hadn’t just called them home. Everyone at the orphanage had whispered his father had died too young and of a broken heart. He didn’t think the Lord wanted anyone to kill themselves.
Hazel’s voice pulled him from his reverie.
“To make a long story short, that young man married me and built the house in the hill. It took time, but soon I understood his language. Never was very good at speaking it, but I learned enough to know that he loved me. After five years, I finally found out that his tribe had left him here to die with me. They were afraid the fever would kill them all. Since he wouldn’t leave me, they left him.”
“That is so sweet,” Bella said when Hazel paused.
“He was a good man,” Hazel agreed.
Philip asked, “How did the top part of the house come about?”
“Well, in the winter I read the books I’d brought with me out here. One evening I showed him pictures of a white man’s house. Come spring he started cutting down trees and dragging the logs home. Together we built the house on top of the hill. We were happy for another five years until one day a grizzly bear got him. He made it home to me but didn’t recover from the wounds.” A tear trickled down Hazel’s wrinkled cheek.
Once more Bella said, “I’m sorry.” She held her hand up to stop Hazel from saying it wasn’t her fault. “I know I didn’t tell the bear to attack him, but I can still feel bad for your loss.”
Hazel wiped the moisture from her face. “I know, child. Anyway, for the next year I mourned my husband. It was a few months later that I met my second husband and he built this house for me. He was a good man and I loved him, too. Just differently.”
Bella nodded. Doubt filled her eyes, but she didn’t contradict what Hazel had said. She smiled. “So in the end, you did find happiness again.”
Hazel nodded. “I did. Now, would anyone like a fresh cup of coffee?”
Philip held his cup out and grinned at her. He deliberately put a teasing tone into his voice when he said, “And I’d love more of that bread. I do believe you are the best baker around.”
His words caught Bella’s attention. She leaned forward, holding out her cup for Hazel to pour the coffee into. “I’d love to share recipes with you Hazel. Baking is something I really enjoy.”
Joy filled Hazel’s watery eyes. “I would like that, too.” She waved a hand at Philip. “This one is a flatterer, but from one baker to another, what do you think of my sweetbread?” She handed Philip another slice of bread.
“It’s good. I love the flavor.” She smiled at Hazel. “This is one of the recipes I want.”
“I’ll be happy to share it.” Hazel stood, but Philip waved her back down.
“We need to be getting back to the relay station. I’m supposed to ride out tomorrow.” Philip stood.
Bella stood also. “I can get it later, Hazel. Now that we are neighbors we’ll be able to spend lots of time together.”
Philip held Bella’s coat out to her. She slipped her arms into the sleeves and said, “Thanks for giving us the house, Hazel. I love it.”
“You’re welcome, child. I hope you are as happy in it as I was.” She picked up their dishes and added them to the tray. “You can start moving in whenever you are ready.”
“We’ll wait until I get back,” Philip said as he opened the door. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
Bella waved. “’Bye.”
Philip shut the door. The wind had picked up and blew coldly into their faces. He held Bella’s elbow as they stepped off the porch.
When they were on their horses and headed out of the yard, Bella said, “Hazel is an interesting woman.”
He nodded. “Yeah, I learned a lot today. I’d no idea she was married to a Pawnee or that she’d been married twice.”
They rode in silence. Then Bella asked, “Do you think the Pawnee keep an eye on her?”
“You mean, like family?”
“I suppose.” She looked around as if thinking that one of the tribe would step out of the woods at any moment.
He shrugged. Now was as good a time as any to warn her of the dangers in these parts. “I’ve seen them around, but they’ve been friendly enough. Never connected them to Hazel before.” Philip glanced her way. “Promise you won’t ride alone out here. It’s dangerous and not just from the Pawnee. Like Hazel said, there are bears out here.”
Bella nodded. “I promise. I’ve heard that there are also bandits that prey on single travelers. I’ll be careful.” She stroked the horse’s mane.
“Good.” He rocked with the movements of the horse. A light snow began to fall and he shivered. If it continued to snow, his ride tomorrow would be miserable. He hated riding the trail in the cold and snow.
His thoughts moved to the house. They would need a kitchen table, furniture for the sitting room, and the boys would need a bed. He dreaded sleeping on the cold floor. Maybe he should give Josephine and Thomas his bed and build two smaller ones. When would he have time for that? Was it time to give up riding the Pony Express trail? Apprehension crawled up his spine. If he did, would he be able to make a living selling his furniture?
* * *
Bella enjoyed the silent companionship that Philip offered. From the look on his face, she knew he was deep in thoughts and that they troubled him. Could it be he regretted marrying her and taking on a family? She asked, “Would you like to talk about it?”
Startled, he answered her question with a question. “Talk about what?”
“Whatever has your gut tied in a knot.” She offered him a smile.
He sighed. “Am I that easy to read?”
Bella shrugged.
“I was thinking about quitting the Pony Express and opening a furniture business.” He pulled up his collar to deflect the snow that was drifting down.
Bella pulled her own coat tighter about her waist. “Why do you want to quit?”
“Well, we need lots of furniture and there isn’t really any place in town to buy it. I’ll have to build beds, tables, chairs and chests for clothes.” Philip looked at her. “Riding once a week doesn’t leave a lot of time to build.”
“We don’t have to have it all at once. If you want to quit the Pony Express, that’s one thing. If you feel like you have to quit to make us a comfortable home, that’s another.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.
“You don’t mind sleeping on the floor or eating standing up?”
“Not my first choices, no. But we’ll figure out something. People have done without fancy furniture since the beginning of time. Besides, I’ll help you and we’ll get it done, one piece at a time.”
He grinned. “You really are something, you know that?”
Bella laughed. “I’m something, all right.” She gently kicked her mare. “I’ll race you to the house.”
Wind and snow whipped their faces as they raced to the barn. Bella heard his horse catching up with her and laughed. She lay low over the saddle and yelled to the horse. “Run! Run! Run!”
/> As if it understood, the Pony Express horse tore off. She caught her breath as adrenaline raced through her veins. Never before had Bella ridden so fast. Exhilaration caused her to laugh with joy.
Philip raced beside her. His own face was filled with enjoyment. They raced into the yard. He pulled back on the reins and bellowed, “Whoa!” His horse stopped.
But no matter how many times Bella screamed “Whoa!” her horse kept on going. Her excitement turned to fear as the horse continued past the house and up the trail.
She heard horse’s hooves thundering behind her and, without turning around, knew Philip was giving chase. He raced up beside her horse, leaned over and grasped the reins from her hands. His strong voice called, “Whoa!” and both horses came to a slow stop.
Bella felt as if her heart was going to pound out of her chest. Uncontrollable tears began to slip down her cheeks. Shame filled her when she saw the expression on his face.
Philip moved his horse beside hers and climbed from his saddle behind her. His strong arms wrapped around her and she lowered her head. With gentle hands he pulled her deeper into his embrace and whispered words of comfort.
Bella leaned back into his hug and allowed herself to cry. Tears hadn’t fallen even at her sister’s funeral. She’d had to be strong for the boys’ sake. Now fear had brought all those emotions up to the surface.
Philip released her and slipped off the horse’s back. He reached up and pulled her down with him. Once her feet were on the ground, Philip pulled her into his embrace.
Snow fell around them. Bella knew they should get out of the cold, but she couldn’t stop the flow of tears. She pressed her face into the front of his jacket and wept for all she’d lost over the last few months. His hands rubbed her back and soothed her broken heart. Bella wished they could stay here always but knew that soon life would call them both away.
Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Bella got up ready to face the day. Philip had slipped out of the bedroom sometime in the early morning hours. He’d carried his boots out to keep from waking her and the boys. She’d known the moment he’d sat up.
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