Chapter 2 #2
Addie touched her mother’s face. “She needs to lie down.” Her gaze went to Shorty on the cot.
Then brown eyes lifted to Nash, eyes full of concern replaced with determination.
She stretched herself tall. Well, as tall as her height would allow.
The movement brought her eyes level with his chin. “I’ll fix up something for her.”
Mr. Bertrand harrumphed from where he sat planted to the narrow bench, his bulk pouring over the edges. “If you find extra beds, I demand one.”
Addie’s gaze met Nash’s. She didn’t roll her eyes, but the way they widened and how she tilted her head expressed the same disbelief at the man’s demands. “I’ll have a look around.” She eyed the narrow, low door beside the cupboard. “What do you suppose is behind that?”
“There’s one way to find out.”
“Indeed.” Her wet shoes squished as she strode over.
“Be careful.” The warning came without forethought. He didn’t expect any danger to dwelt behind the rough wood. But his arms were full of an older woman who moaned, leaving him helpless to assist.
Mrs. Stone opened her eyes. “I’m fine. I can stand.” Words as weak as the sunshine outside.
He ignored her as he concentrated on Addie. She bent over, jiggled the latch, and pulled. The door didn’t move. She yanked harder. With a squeal of protest, the hinges released. A cold draft swept across the floor.
Ducking down, she peered inside. “It’s dark, but it appears to be some sort of storeroom. There are crates and—yes! Shelves.”
Nash moved closer as she went into the room. If he had to, he would lower Mrs. Stone to the floor and go after her.
“Blankets! Even a fur.” Addie grunted. “It’s heavy.” Something thudded to the floor.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m coming.” She grunted several times, then emerged half carrying, half dragging a buffalo fur. “This is exactly what Mother needs.” She lowered it to the floor beyond the table and spread it out. “Mother, here you go.”
Nash eased the woman to the fur.
She sighed. “Feels good. Thank you, dear.”
Nash and Addie knelt beside the fur bed observing the woman.
Then Addie sprang to her feet. “I’ll get blankets.” She hurried back to the room and reemerged with an armload of blankets, slowing to kick the door closed behind her. Halfway across the room, she paused. “I’ll warm them first.” She opened the oven and spread two blankets on the door.
Minutes later, she brought the blankets and tucked them around her mother.
Mrs. Stone sighed. “Nice and warm.”
Mr. Bertrand heaved to his feet and grabbed the two other blankets. “I don’t mind being warm.”
Addie rose and went to the man. “You’re more than welcome to have one.” She plucked the top gray blanket from his arms. “So is Mr. Zacharius.” With steady fingers, she wrapped the woolen blanket around the man’s shoulders.
Mr. Zacharius mumbled thanks, coughed several times, and then, with a sigh returned to sleep.
Now, everyone had a blanket except for Addie and himself—a fact Nash pointed out to her.
“I’m fine. The room is warm. Everyone is safe.” Her gaze went to the outer door.
She must wonder what delayed Hawk.
A rumble filled the air, loud enough to drown out every other sound. The ground shook.
Mr. Zacharius jerked awake, his face pinched. “Thunder!”
Mr. Bertrand huffed. “There’s been no lightning.”
“Sounded more like a landslide.” Nash made his way to the window, though he saw nothing but the weeping glass and the gray rain.
Addie’s arm brushed his elbow as she joined him. “Do you think Hawk is safe?” she whispered.
“I’ll go check.”
“I suppose.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I can manage on my own here.”
She might have meant to sound strong and confident, but worry edged her words as if she didn’t look forward to being alone with the needs of the others.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He smiled down on her to reassure her. Perhaps even convince her she could trust him to do so.
“Of course.” She lowered her head, hiding her eyes, then raised her chin to meet his gaze. “Go with God.”
“’Preciate that.” Her words reminded him of Ma how she’d trusted God for her needs yet prayed for His continued guidance and protection. The door flew back almost hitting Nash’s hand.
Hawk shook off the rain. “Landslide. I hope it missed the stagecoach. Otherwise…” He didn’t finish.
No need to. Without a stagecoach and indeed a road, they wouldn’t be able to get to Golden Valley.
Nash could maybe hike over the mountains, depending on the weather, but apart from Hawk, the others would never make it.
A little mental counting and he assured himself he had plenty of time to get back to take delivery of his horses.
“Warmth feels good.” Hawk shrugged out of his slicker and hung it by the door. “How’s Shorty?”
The three of them turned toward the man in question. Occupied with Mrs. Stone and the noise from outside, Nash and Addie hadn’t checked on the man. Together, they crossed to the cot.
“Shorty, you awake?” Hawk touched the man’s shoulder.
“Huh.” Shorty’s eyes opened, searching the room. “Where am I?”
“Your cabin,” Hawk spoke with a continued drawl that left the words shortened and slightly musical. “You’re hurt. You’ll be right as fresh bread in a bit.”
Shorty shifted. “I certainly have a sore leg.” He rubbed his chest. “It feels like a big, old tree might have fallen on me.”
Nash chuckled.
Hawk grinned. “A tree came down, pinning you to the ground. Good thing we came along.”
Shorty glanced around the room. “Were you able to get the horses hitched by yourself?”
“Won’t be needing horses for a spell.”
“What? Why not?”
“Coach is stuck in the mud. Won’t be able to dig it out for some time.”
Shorty’s expression went beyond surprise. “You are all here to stay?” He narrowed his eyes. “For how long, may I ask?”
Addie leaned over the man, pressing against Nash’s leg. “Mr. Shorty, we won’t be any bother for you.”
Nash moved aside, giving her room.
“So you say, but what are you going to eat?” He lifted his head to study the others. “And where will you all sleep? I am not set up for that.”
“We’ll figure it out.” She patted his shoulder. “You just rest and get to feeling better.” She rose. “Do you mind if I have a look at your leg?”
“Could I stop you?”
Nash laughed. Even injured and hurting, Shorty had read the determination in Addie’s quiet demeanor.
She rolled back the blanket enough to expose the wounded leg. Touched the dressing. “I believe it’s stopped bleeding.” She brushed her fingers against the skin above and below the gray fabric she’d bound over the wound.
They moved away from the cot.
“It will be a blessing if he doesn’t get an infection.”
“He’s right about something.” Nash frowned at the cupboards. “People will need to eat.” The wood in the stack by the stove wouldn’t last the night.
Addie opened the wooden cupboard doors and studied the contents. “He’s got supplies we can use.” She pulled out containers. “I’ll put together something.”
Mr. Bertrand slapped the table, jerking Mr. Zacharius awake with a startled cry.
“I paid for meals along the journey. I’m expecting something better than what we were given last night.” He shuddered. “Is beans all this country has to offer?”
Addie held up a sack and shook it. “Beans.” She took two cans from the shelf and showed them to the grumbling man.
“More beans.” Her gaze grazed Nash’s as she turned back to the cupboard, and there shone from it amusement and something else.
Determination? Yes, but perhaps also a warning that she didn’t intend to cater to Mr. Bertrand’s selfish demands.
Nash leaned closer. “I’m guessing you might be tempted to give him nothing but beans to teach him a lesson.”
The flash in her eyes said he might be right. Then her attention slipped past him to where Mrs. Stone lay on the fur rug. “I’ve been taught to show Christian charity even to the undeserving.” A weary sigh rumbled her lips. “Besides, how many of us deserve the good God has bestowed on us?”
From her flat delivery, she just repeated something she’d heard often. From her parents, no doubt.
“I don’t disagree. I guess there are times I feel like justice is also deserved.”
“I can’t argue on that matter.” Her voice hardened.
Not only had her voice hardened, but so had her expression. “Do you speak from personal experience?”
Her head lowered, her shoulders inching toward her ears, she didn’t answer his question. But her stance said something awful had happened to her in the past.