by Paty Jager
“Before we start, I’d like to introduce you to the family, or part of the family we’re doing business with. Karl and Dag are up top cutting the trees we’ll see come down this chute.” Hank led his family around to the Nielsen’s. This would be his family’s first introduction. His family had trusted his judgment in hiring this logging crew, but he also wanted them to approve of the family. With that thought his gaze landed on Kelda as it did whenever they were close.
He introduced everyone and was once again struck with the loss of excitement on Kelda’s face.
“Hi, Miss Kelda. You remember me?” Colin asked, stepping closer to her and doffing his hat.
Kelda smiled briefly and nodded her head.
Hank wanted to lead her away from everyone and find out what was ailing her. He glanced at Rachel. Maybe what she needed was a doctor.
“Sound the horn, Arvid and let’s see the first log,” he said, sidling his way to Rachel. When the logger blasted the horn, Hank leaned close to Rachel. “Take a minute before you leave and talk with Kelda. She’s not acting right.”
Rachel stared into his eyes, then smiled and nodded.
Hank hoped she didn’t get the wrong idea by his actions. He watched Ingrid to see if she worried about her daughter. The woman seemed confused by all the commotion. Kelda wrapped an arm around her mother drawing her away from the chute and excitement.
A muffled rolling noise grew in volume. A log came into view sliding down the chute. A man stood fifty yards up the wooden trough. The log slowed alongside him, and he used a gaff hook to shove the log on down the chute. It shushed down, slid up the curved end of the chute, and stopped at a low spot where two men gaffed the log and rolled it off the channel. Another man wrapped a chain around the end of the log and used a draft horse to drag the tree over to the flattened area where the logs would be stacked.
His family cheered and clapped.
Ethan slapped Hank on the back. “It looks like your dream is becoming a reality.”
“I couldn’t have done any of this without Arvid and his family.” Hank’s gaze settled on Kelda. She led her mother back to the cookhouse.
“Everyone is welcome to cookies to celebrate!” Arvid said, shaking hands with his brothers and chatting.
Rachel hung back with Hank. “Why do you want me to visit with Kelda?”
“She’s losing weight and has lost the sparkle in her eyes that I first noticed.” Hank stopped Rachel. “I think there’s something up with the mother, too. She’s been more dependent on Kelda.”
“That could be Kelda’s problem. Taking on responsibilities.”
“You two coming?” Zeke shouted, holding the door open on the cookhouse.
Hank hustled Rachel along. Inside the building, he took Arvid aside. “Rachel is a doctor, would you mind if I had her visit with Mrs. Nielsen and Kelda?”
Arvid’s bushy gray eyebrows rose. “Why?”
“They’ve both been acting out of sorts.” He could tell the man wasn’t happy that someone else noticed his women folk were behaving different.
Arvid ran a hand over his face. “My Ingrid has been having trouble remembering things and living in another time. It’s hard for Kelda to work beside her and see the changes and take up the extra work.”
Hank stared into the man’s face and understood he wasn’t ready to come to terms with his wife’s failing mind.
“Can you at least allow Rachel to talk with Kelda?” His gaze strayed to where she was pouring coffee and trying to smile, for there wasn’t a gleam in her eyes. “She’s losing weight.”
He glanced back at Arvid and found himself being studied.
“You show a lot of concern for my daughter.”
“I show concern for anyone I can see isn’t behaving their normal self.”
Arvid nodded. “Have your doctor talk to her.”
Before Hank could give Rachel the nod all the women moved in unison toward Kelda.
Kelda turned from placing the coffee pot on the cookstove and found herself surrounded by the Halsey brothers’ wives. They were all uniquely different yet held the same air of assuredness she felt in Hank’s presence. They were all pretty and feminine. She looked down at her logger boots and large hands. With these women around why would anyone even look twice at her?
“You look worn out. Here, let us help.” Darcy, the tiniest, and yet the one that exuded the most authority, slid Kelda onto a chair. Aileen, the one closest to her size with red hair and freckles, slipped a cup of coffee into her hands.
Aileen then picked up the plates of cookies and carried them to the table where the men sat talking. Kelda’s gaze slid to Hank. She’d caught him watching her several times. The concern wrinkling his brow added a glimmer of lightness to her otherwise dismal thoughts.
“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?” Rachel, the doctor, asked.
Kelda shook her head. “I’m not sure what you’d care to ask me but go ahead.”
Rachel picked up her hand and felt her wrist. “Are you eating?”
“When I’ve got time. Why?” Kelda slowly pulled her hand back.
“Do you have any pains?” Rachel’s eyes held empathy.
“No pains.” She slid a glance toward Hank and found him watching intently. “Did Hank ask you to talk to me?”
“Yes. He’s concerned about you and your mother.” Rachel placed a hand on Kelda’s forehead.
“I’d say the two are overworked,” Maeve said, returning from depositing her baby in Zeke’s arms.
“Ah agree,” added Aileen, stepping up behind Rachel. “Ye need to have Hank take ye to Baker City and look for another to help cook. If it’s been a two person job and yer doin’ both jobs yer goin’ to wear yerself out.”
Kelda stared from one woman to another. They didn’t understand. It was a family operation. Only she and her mother cooked. Where would they put another woman? Another cot wouldn’t fit in the supply room. She shook her head. “We’re fine. We can do this.”
Rachel took Kelda’s trembling hands. “Honey, you can’t. It’s obvious from how worn out you are. You don’t look a thing like the woman Colin has been talking about ever since he rode over here to get Hank.”
She stared at the doctor. “Colin has been talking about me? Why?”
Aileen smiled. “Ye made an impression on my laddie.” She nodded toward Hank. “And from what the men say on Hank, too.”
Kelda shot a glance toward the man they talked about. He sent her a slight smile. If he’d made some move to try and console her the last month rather than keep his distance, she might have not gone so far under in self pity. But as it was, she wallowed in it every single minute of the day.
Darcy trotted up to the group. “Why all the serious faces?”
“Hank needs to find help for Kelda and her mother,” Maeve said and turned on her heels taking decisive steps toward the table.
Kelda sprang out of the chair. “Nei. Don’t.”
Hank rose to his feet. “Don’t what? What’s wrong with her?” In two strides he was by her side. Raising the eyebrows of every family member both his and hers and eliciting a chuckle from Paddy.
“She’s worn out,” Rachel stated.
Maeve and Aileen put their hands on their hips.
Darcy stepped forward, putting an arm around Kelda’s waist. “You and Kelda need to go to Baker City and hire someone to help with the cooking and dishes.
“I don’t think…” Kelda started to protest, not so much the help but the trip alone with Hank.
Far stood up. “Kelda and Ingrid have always been the cooks. There’s no need for anyone else.”
Rachel stepped forward. “Mr. Nielsen. Look at your wife and daughter. Really look at them.” She put her hands on Mor’s small shoulders. “They are both tired and losing weight. Their clothes aren’t hanging on them proper.”
Far sank back down. “I don’t know what to do with her.” His loving eyes brimming with tears stared at Mor.
Kelda rus
hed to his side, slipping her arms around him. “I’m trying to care of her, Far.”
He patted her arm and kissed her head. “Ja. It is too much for you to handle alone. You go with Hank and find help.”
She shook her head.
“Ja. You find a good helper.”
“There’s no room for another person in the supply room.” She thought she whispered to Far but the collective gasp burned a path of mortification up her neck.
“We’ll build a cabin for you and the help will stay in the supply room.” Hank’s voice held a promise she knew he’d not break.
“There’s no need to build another cabin. If you bring back another woman, she and Kelda can use my cabin. I’ll stay in the supply room,” Paddy offered. “If the cooks are goin’ to be bunkin’ far from the cookhouse makes sense I’ll be here to start the stove.”
Kelda stared at each adult face. They smiled and nodded. Her gaze landed on Hank. His expression was unreadable, but he also nodded.
She knew the trip to Baker City would take at least two days, maybe more if they didn’t find a suitable cook right away. “I can’t be gone from the camp that long. Mor can’t handle cooking by herself.”
Aileen and Darcy stepped forward. “We can cook until you get back.”
“That’s—”
“Necessary,” Darcy said. “Aileen and I know how to cook for large numbers we’ll figure out sleeping arrangements since we won’t be able to travel and it will give our husbands a chance to poke their noses into what all Hank’s been doing around here.”
Kelda sent a pleading look Far’s direction.
He shook his head but uttered, “Ja, we need to feed the beasts and you need help.” He sent a look to Mor who was studying everyone as if she just noticed them. “We need help.”
Ethan stood. “After a full tour of the camp, we’ll figure out where the women will stay and decide when you two will head to Baker City.”
“Why can’t Aileen or Darcy go to Baker City with Hank and hire a cook? I’m sure they have experience with such matters.” Kelda wasn’t sure why her heart raced at the idea of being with Hank and her mind chanted it was a bad idea.
“You need to find a person you can work with.” Darcy refilled coffee cups. “That’s why you have to do the hiring.”
Kelda knew when she was outnumbered. She peeked at Hank and wasn’t reassured by his pensive glower.
Chapter 11
Hank pulled the wagon up to the cookhouse. Aileen and Darcy had arrived at the camp the day before and settled into Paddy’s cabin. The bull cook had hauled his belongings over to Smithy and Oscar’s cabin.
Aileen stepped out the back door and flung dirty water from the dishpan. Her flushed face turned his direction. “She’s ’bout ready.”
Hank climbed down as Aileen walked up to the wagon. “She’s a bonnie lass but plum wore out. Make sure she eats and rests while she’s gone.”
His heart swelled for his sister-in-law’s concern for Kelda. “I’ll do my best to make her relax.” Had he ever witnessed the woman doing anything other than work? He had no idea what she liked to do to relax.
The door opened, and Kelda stepped out carrying a valise. She wore the black men’s wool coat over a dark heavy dress, one he’d never seen before. He stepped forward and took the valise from her hand. His fingers brushed hers. The widening of her eyes and race of his heart told him this would be an interesting trip.
Kelda scampered up into the wagon while he placed the bag in the back.
Darcy popped her head out the door. “Enjoy yourself, but bring back a strong back and good worker. I don’t know how you and your mother handled this.”
“Thank you for all you’re doing.” The sag in Kelda’s shoulders eased a bit. “Remember Mor can wander off if you don’t keep an eye on her. I told her I’d be gone a couple days but she may forget.”
“Dinnae worry ’bout yer mother. We’ll treat her like our own.” Aileen patted Kelda’s knee.
Hank climbed onto the wagon and clicked at the horses. They set out at a steady walk. The muddy track between the snow-lined sides would make the trip a slow one. Kelda’s head twisted as she stared back at the camp.
“I’m not kidnapping you,” Hank said, trying to break the tension he sensed in Kelda.
“It feels like it. Did you talk to your family before they arrived for the first log and say, let’s all take sides against Kelda and her family.”
The glint of anger in her eyes relieved him. Finally, some sort of emotion and spark in eyes that had been dull and unemotional for a month.
“No. When Rachel arrived I asked her to look at you and your mother. You’ve both been losing weight, and I didn’t like that the laughter had left your eyes.” He reached a gloved hand over, laying it upon her hands resting in her lap. “Kelda, I care very much that you’re happy.” Too much.
Her features didn’t lose any of the anger. “Then why have you treated me like I have a disease? After you kissed me”—she drew in a deep breath as if fortifying herself—“you said we’d need a chaperone. A room full of loggers is a pretty good chaperone. All you had to do was say a word or two to me at a meal or smile.” She pulled her hands out from under his and jammed them in her coat pockets. “I wouldn’t have thrown myself into your arms if you smiled.” She glared at him. “I do have pride.”
How did he tell her it was himself he didn’t trust? Especially with the two of them alone for three and possibly more days. They’d arrive at Baker City before dark and use tomorrow and possibly the next day to find a cook’s assistant, then the next day to return. That was a hell of a long time for him to restrain the desire he had for this woman. At least on the return trip they’d have a third party in the wagon with them.
“I wasn’t trying to punish you. I’m the one to take all the blame for the kiss.” He grasped the reins in both hands and stared forward. He should have insisted Ethan haul her to Baker City. She’d have been in better company.
“Why?”
Her quiet question jerked his gaze to her downturned face.
“Why what?”
“Why did you kiss me then act like I didn’t exist? Was my kiss so bad? Or are you a man who can’t leave a woman, any woman alone?”
Hank snorted. “I can count the women I’ve kissed on one hand. I am not a womanizer.”
“Then why are you ignoring me?”
“I’m not. We’re talking right now.”
She slugged him in the arm.
“Ow!” He rubbed his arm. “That’s not fair. A man doesn’t hit a woman.”
She slugged him again. “Think of me as a man and maybe you can talk to me.”
“That does it!” Hank yanked on the reins, hauling the wagon to a stop and grabbed Kelda, flopping her over his lap. Just as he raised his hand and her round bottom came into view, he realized why her brothers found the need to paddle her backside. It wasn’t out of humiliation or anger but retaliation for the feisty woman’s antics. They didn’t spank her out of cruelty but love.
“Hell!” He spun Kelda to a sitting position on his lap and took his frustration out in a deep, soul searching kiss. Her cold fingers threaded through his hair, knocking his hat off. When he was dizzy from lack of air, he drew back, but held her on his lap.
“Woman, you make me forget I’m a gentleman.” His hands rested on her hip. He enjoyed the feel of her snuggling against his chest.
“You do it to yourself.” Her green eyes held the sparkle he loved.
“How is that?”
“You make us both crazy by not talking or even acknowledging the other and then when we are alone we have to make up for lost time.” She tentatively kissed the underside of his jaw. Her soft sweet kiss jolted him more than the heated kiss moments before.
He gently moved her to the wagon seat. “We need to get going or we won’t get to Baker City before dark.” He retrieved his hat and centered his thoughts.
Kelda squirmed on the seat, until her hip settle
d against Hank’s. He’d bestowed another heart stopping, body throbbing kiss on her, and she wasn’t going to let him shove her away again. If his kisses weren’t given freely to any woman as she’d presumed, then his kissing her was as special to him as it was to her. Why had he put up a wall after their previous kisses? What did he fear? Her? Where kisses led to? One thing was certain, she’d find out what put the wall up and stone by stone knock it down.
“If you’ve kissed so few women how did you learn to do it so well?” She touched her still tingling lips.
A smug smile curved his lips. “I kiss well?”
“Since you’re the first man I’ve ever kissed and it is very pleasing, I’d say you kiss well.” Her toes curled in her boots remembering the sensations this last kiss had hummed through her body.
Hank laughed and slid his arm around her back, dropping his hand to her hip and pulling her even tighter against him. “That’s one thing I admire about you, you always say what’s on your mind. Most women chat about things and you don’t know what they’re getting at.”
She smiled. Far liked her directness too. Mor always told her to hold her tongue. Was this just another male trait she’d picked up?
“How are we going to let people know we’re hiring a cook?” She’d wondered about this ever since she decided she wasn’t hiring an assistant but a full cook. That way she could sneak out and work in the woods when Far allowed. Her heart hummed with the prospect of being in the woods, swinging an axe. She tamped down the happiness, not wanting Hank to ask questions she would find hard to evade.
Her giddiness took a swift dive realizing sneaking into the woods would hurt their friendship. She had to weigh what made her happy. At the moment she relished the time spent kissing and talking with Hank, but at the same time she yearned to be in the woods doing what she did best—topping trees.
“Ethan sent a telegraph to the Morning Democrat for an advertisement. We should have people showing up at the Commercial Hotel tomorrow.”
“Hotel?” Her heart raced. “Are we staying in a hotel?”
