by Paty Jager
She’d started across the floor before Rachel had even spoken. Now she stepped into the room that held Hank’s bed and desk.
Hank’s eyes were dull and a crooked, sloppy smile wiggled on his lips.
“I have him sedated to keep him still and take away the pain. “ Rachel took her hand. “I don’t really need your help but thought you’d like to hear he’ll be fine after a couple weeks of rest.”
Relief swelled in Kelda’s chest and erupted out her mouth in a hysterical laugh.
Rachel folded Kelda into her arms and held her as she sobbed and laughed with relief. When the episode ebbed, she backed away, wiping at her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I just…”
“It’s okay, I understand. When you love someone and you find out they’ll be all right the emotions you’ve held bottled up come out. You’re entitled to a good fit.” Rachel smiled.
“W-what’s-s-s goin’ on over-r-r ther-r-r. I’d-d-d lik-k-ke to hug Kel-l-lda-a-a.” Hank’s slurred words made Kelda giggle.
“I gave him laudanum to help with the pain. As far as I can tell, he didn’t break any bones. That’s probably due to the mud. But he is badly bruised. His legs are purple and are swelling due to the damaged muscles. You’ll need to keep them wrapped tightly to keep the swelling down.” Rachel walked over to the desk. “This is the laudanum. Only give it to him if he seems to be in unbearable pain. We don’t want him to become dependent on it.”
She scanned Kelda. “Why don’t I sit with him a little longer and now that you know he’s going to be fine, you go change and get dinner for both of you?”
Kelda walked over to the side of the bed and bent. She pushed the dark brown lock off Hank’s forehead and kissed him. “I’m going to clean up and get us dinner. Rachel will sit with you a little longer until I come back. Then I won’t leave you. I promise.” Kelda kissed him again and dodged his hand that came up and grasped for her arm. She knew if he pulled her down, she wouldn’t get up. The need to be wrapped in his arms and feel his life and love filled her.
“Thank you,” she said to Rachel and hurried out of the room before she changed her mind.
The office was empty. She crossed to the outside door and stood in a daze watching her brothers and Ethan pack buckets of water into her cabin. Immobility wouldn’t get her cleaned up and back with Hank. Kelda shook her head and walked through the camp, stepping through the cabin door.
The bathing tub sat in the middle of the room. Steam curled in wisps up from the surface of the water.
Darcy stepped away from the potbelly stove. “We heard all about you climbing that tree to save Hank and figured you could use a hot bath to relax and get washed up. You’re going to have some long days nursing him. You should start it off clean.” She set two towels over a chair and walked to the door. “Don’t worry. No one will disturb you.” Darcy stepped out, and Kelda dropped the wood bar across.
Within minutes, she stripped and sat in the tub. It wasn’t as luxurious as the tub at the hotel, but she relished every warm drop. She stepped out and donned one of her Sunday dresses. When Hank came out from under the haze of laudanum, she planned to tell him he’d no longer see her in dungarees. She would be his wife and not take any more chances out in the woods. But he would also have to keep his business to the camp. She didn’t want to relive today ever again.
Kelda stepped out of the cabin and headed to the cookhouse. Inside, she found Ethan, Clay, Aileen, Maeve, Darcy and all their children as well as Mor, Far, and her brothers and Lars serving them all coffee and small cakes.
Everyone looked up with anticipation.
Ethan cleared his throat. “How is he?”
She peered around at all the expectant faces. “Didn’t one of you go in and ask?”
“That’s not our place,” Clay said and everyone nodded.
“Not your place? He’s your brother.”
“He’s the man you’re going to marry, so that makes it your place,” Darcy said, handing her a cup of coffee. “You decide who is informed.”
Kelda shook her head. “It’s everyone who loves him who should know the outcome. Rachel said he’ll be fine. He is badly bruised, but she doesn’t believe any broken bones. She said he needs to stay down and resting for two weeks to keep the swelling down and allow the muscles to heal.” She smiled, remembering his goofy smile. “She gave him laudanum so he’s kind of goofy.”
“He’s always goofy,” Collin said and the group burst out laughing.
Kelda looked at Lars. “Rachel told me to get dinner for Hank and myself then she can go home. Do you have anything I can take over to the office?”
“Ja.” Lars turned to the stove and began rattling and clanging dishes.
Maeve walked over to Kelda and put an arm around her. “Your father says you’re a hero for climbing a tree and setting the rigging that pulled the tree off Hank.”
Kelda’s cheeks heated. “I’m not a hero. It was something I knew how to do and it needed to be done.” Her mind went to the sight of Hank on the ground and the tree on his legs. “It was climb the tree or lose Hank.”
Her body shook reliving the moment she stared down.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Maeve led her to the bench and sat her down next to Far.
He put his arm around her shoulders and drew her against him. “Skatten min, you did a man’s work today. I’m proud of you.” He kissed her temple.
“Far, I could have lost Hank today.” She peered into her father’s eyes. Understanding sparkled back at her. “How do you and Mor not go crazy every day with all of your children working in the woods?”
“Because I trained you and trust you to know what to do. Just like today.”
She shook her head. “No more. I learned today why Hank hasn’t wanted me in the woods.”
Kelda took the basket Lars brought over to her, and she walked back to the office.
Rachel sat in Hank’s desk chair working on a piece of handiwork.
“You can go now. Thank you for coming so quickly and taking care of Hank.” Kelda hugged Rachel.
“He’s family and so are you because Hank loves you.” Rachel returned the hug and picked up her doctor’s bag. “I’ll come by day after tomorrow. He’ll be wanting to get up by then and I’ll give him a talking to.”
“Thank you. See you then.” Kelda followed Rachel to the outside door and hurried back to Hank’s side. She wasn’t hungry, so she left the basket of food sitting on the desk and lay down beside Hank. Snuggling up to his side, resting her head on his chest, she listened to his steady heart beat, and placed an arm across his undershirt clad chest. This was where she’d remain for the rest of her life. By his side.
~*~
Hank woke from the throbbing in his leg, but it was heat and scent of vanilla that stirred him to awareness. The shape of Kelda’s body registered in his senses as he peered down and spied her golden hair flaring across her body and his. He reached out and sifted his fingers through the soft strands.
His heart ached with love for the woman, remembering the way she climbed the tree and fastened the rigging. She had to be exhausted. Hell, he’d be exhausted if he’d had to make that climb. And she’d scaled the tree as agile as a cat. He understood why she didn’t see his fear for her. Her confidence today proved she knew how to handle herself in the woods. He was the one who was hurt. The greenhorn who should have known better when Peder said he had to look at the cut to see why the tree wasn’t falling.
Hank mentally slapped himself. If he hadn’t been worrying over what was eating at Kelda, he would have thought twice before believing the man.
Kelda moaned and her arms tightened around his chest.
“Shh… dream sweet, I won’t let anything harm you,” he whispered, wishing he could reach her head and kiss her.
The door to his room opened, and Tobias’s head peeked in. Hank didn’t move or say anything. Tobias just nodded and closed the door softly.
The lantern on the desk was slowly dying. He didn’t
have a window, but he’d guess since Tobias just looked in, the man had been heading to bed.
Hank wrapped both arms around Kelda and used happy thoughts of her to chase away the pain in his leg.
~*~
Hank woke again. This time the pain had him gasping. Kelda sat, pushing her hair out of her face and peering at him in the dimness.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, placing a hand on his forehead.
“The pain. I need something.” His legs throbbed and ached. He’d never experienced such piercing pain.
“I’ll give you the medicine then check the wraps.” Kelda hurried to the desk and returned with a spoon and a small bottle.
He took the foul tasting liquid and squeezed his eyes closed to keep the tears forming from rolling down his cheeks.
“My!” Kelda gasped as a cold breeze blew across his legs.
“What?”
“Rachel didn’t tell me you were naked from the waist down.” The lift to one of her eyebrows and quite possibly the medicine working brought a smile to his face.
“You like doctoring naked men?”
“Only when they’re you.” She stared down at his legs. “I’m not sure how tight to wrap these around your legs. I’ll check the one on the far side first. If I’m hurting you too much, let me know.”
Her straw colored hair hung down tickling his maleness as she worked with the bandage. He wasn’t sure what was more painful, the bandage or the hair.
She pulled back and checked the other leg. “There, that should hold a while longer.” Kelda peered over her shoulder then back at him. “Are you hungry? I brought food.”
“More thirsty than hungry.” The medicine was working. His eyelids were as heavy as a log.
A hand raised his head, and the taste of tin tingled his lips before wetness lingered. He opened his mouth and drank until not another drop hit his tongue.
“Hungry?” Kelda’s voice floated above his head.
He wanted to say no, but you eat, only his tongue couldn’t form the words so he moved his head side to side slowly.
Her body slipped back beside him on the bed, and he disappeared into the blackness he was learning to enjoy. The void that took away the pain.
~*~
Kelda stood back as Rachel unwrapped the bandages. She’d cut the legs off a pair of drawers and placed them on Hank when he was able to use the chamber pot. Kelda didn’t want anyone to move the blanket and see she’d been tending a man naked from the waist down.
His legs had turned green and purple, but they weren’t as swollen as earlier.
Rachel probed his legs and he grimaced. “There are some knots that will need to be worked out.” She nodded for Kelda to come to the side of the bed. “Put your hand here.” She pulled Kelda’s hand down to Hank’s leg.
The initial contact sent shivers up Kelda’s arm and heat ringing her heart. She’d been sleeping on the bed beside him every night and checking the wraps but to touch his skin like this was different.
Until, she felt the lump. It was as hard as a knot on a tree. “Does that hurt?” she asked, probing the lump with her fingers.
“Yesss,” Hank hissed.
“But you’ll have to massage all the lumps in his legs several times a day. If you don’t they could cause permanent damage to the muscle and nerves. The blood has to stay flowing in those areas.” Rachel shifted her gaze to Hank. “I know Kelda working out the knots will hurt, but if you can get through it without the laudanum you’ll be better.”
Hank nodded. “I can suffer pain from her hands.”
Kelda’s heart double-timed as his gaze remained on her face. He’d woke this morning with less dulling pain in their brown pools. And he’d spent the better part of the morning trying to pull her back into bed. She’d known Rachel was coming and didn’t want to be caught in a compromising position.
“Keep him in bed for the rest of the week. The longer he stays off the legs and doesn’t use the muscles, the quicker they’ll heal.” Rachel snapped her doctor’s bag closed. “I’ll be by on Sunday to check on him.”
“Rachel, have you heard anything from Gil and Zeke.” Hank had asked Kelda every day if they’d caught Peder yet.
“They sent a telegraph last night saying they found him and were bringing him back.” Rachel grimaced. “Not sure I’d want to be Peder.”
Kelda studied Hank’s face. Satisfaction was the word that came to mind watching his features soften and set.
“He’ll be sorry he messed with a Halsey,” Hank said, a wisp of a smile tipping his lips.
Rachel nodded. “See you two on Sunday.”
Kelda followed her to the outside door and returned to the office. Hank had pulled his body up to a sitting position. He patted the mattress next to him.
“Do I need to lock the door?” Kelda asked, hoping he’d say yes, but knowing too much activity wouldn’t be good for him.
“No. We’re going to talk.” The tone of his voice hooked her attention.
“What do we need to talk about?” She sat on the bed and laced her fingers with his.
“Our future.” His eyes held love and devotion.
“I like the sound of that.” She kissed his cheek. “I have something I wanted to tell you, but was waiting until you were no longer sleepy from the medicine.”
His free hand rested on her belly. “Did we already start a family?” The hope shining in his eyes made her wish that was the news.
“Nei, but I’m sure it will happen soon.” She inhaled deeply and played with his fingers. “I’m sorry I pushed to make you let me work in the woods. If I hadn’t been so insistent, I wouldn’t have been paired with Peder and he wouldn’t have taken my rejection so harshly to cause you harm.” Having said her peace the guilt shifted to a lesser ache in her mind.
“This had nothing to do with your pushing to do something you love. I’ve seen the way you light up when sawing and your expertise at climbing trees. You have every reason to want to work in the woods.” Hank lifted her hand and kissed it. “Your love of the woods is what makes you so special.”
Kelda shook her head. Tears burned behind her eyes as she peered into his adoring eyes. “After experiencing fear that nearly froze me from helping you, I realized why you were so against my working in the woods. I learned the fear and panic associated with seeing someone you love in danger.” Hank opened his mouth, but she placed a finger on his lips. “Having discovered this, I don’t want to ever see you like that again or feel the helplessness and pain. I’ve decided I won’t work in the woods again, to save you from the torment. I also wish you to only work here in the camp, not out in the woods.” She held his cheek and peered into his eyes. “I love you and don’t want to worry every day that you’ll be hurt or not come home to warm my bed.” She kissed his lips chastely. “Or to know you worry about me.”
Hank’s arm circled her waist and pulled her snug against him. He chuckled. “Watching you shimmy up that tree gave me a new appreciation for your skill. You know how to handle yourself, and I would be honored if you kept working in the woods.”
Kelda peered at him with disbelief. “How can you say that? Won’t you fear for my safety?” How could watching her climb a tree change his mind?
“It’s like your father has said all along. You are talented, and you know how to handle yourself. I got hurt because I was a greenhorn and didn’t think before I followed. That comes with time. You’ve grown up falling trees. It’s second nature to you. You know the dangers before they happen.” He kissed her forehead, and her heart melted anew for him. “But if you want to stop working in the woods I won’t mind either. It will give us more time to be together.”
She spun in his arms, pressing her breasts against his chest and moving her lips close to his. “How about we get married and see what happens from there?”
“I like that idea.” He pressed his mouth to hers.
Her heart soared as he kissed her until they both needed air.
Chapter 30
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Kelda stood in the cabin, which, after the ceremony today would be where she and Hank lived until the logging on the Halsey property was finished. After that they’d decide if they would go in partners with her brothers or stay in Sumpter.
Darcy and Aileen fussed with her hair while Rachel and Maeve made a fairy ring out of the delicate buttercups Shayla and Sadie found. Hank had suggested they get married on Kelda’s birthday. She agreed he was the perfect gift.
Her heart buzzed with excitement. Once the wedding was set, he’d made another rule. They wouldn’t make love until their wedding night. They’d spent many an hour exciting one another in many ways, but the coming together would happen tonight, in this cabin. And the following day they would go to Baker City for a weeklong celebration.
“There, ’tis ready for the flowers.” Aileen stepped back, and Rachel placed the ring of buttercups on her head.
“You’re beautiful!” Maeve said, tears glistening in her eyes.
Kelda sniffed back tears. “It’s wonderful having so many sisters after all these years of men in my life.”
The women pressed around and hugged her.
“We’ll be sisters as long as we’re alive,” Maeve said and the rest agreed.
“Come on, Hank isn’t going to wait much longer.” Darcy took Kelda by the hand and led her to the door.
Kelda smoothed a hand down the satin dress Hank bought her in Baker City and she wore to dinner at the Warhauser. She clicked together the heels of her women’s boots he also bought her. Wearing these items was the perfect reflection of their love and commitment.
Aileen opened the door, and the four women scurried out, taking positions alongside their husbands and families at the front of the crowd of loggers and Halsey friends from Sumpter.
Kelda scanned the crowd and down the opening in the center of the people. Hank stood at the end of the opening, tall and handsome beside a preacher. Her gaze locked on his.
Far stepped from the side of the door and held out his arm. He cleared his throat, and she slipped her hand around his elbow, smiling at him.
“Skatten min, I’m proud of the woman you’ve become and the man you chose to share your life with.”
