Chapter 10
Ten
Addie frowned at the closed door. Moments ago, she had Nash at her side.
The future looked brighter than the sunlight bursting through the window.
She wrapped her arms around herself. Perhaps it was a good thing Hawk had called him away.
Before she’d wandered too far down a path that both excited and frightened her.
Excited because of the way her heart leaped when he touched her. The way she’d longed to lean against him as he tried to teach her to skip rocks. And the allure of a future that included him.
Frightened because of how easily her heart had gone after him. She’d never had a beau. No young men ventured close. Not that she minded.
Because…
She clamped her lips together to hold back a gasp as the reason flashed through her thoughts.
After the pain of losing her parents, she’d promised herself she would never love anyone like she’d loved them. She’d never allow anyone or anything to fill the void their deaths had left.
A memory surfaced. Pa and Ma embracing. Their show of affection embarrassed Addie, but it also made her feel safe. Pa had held out one arm and invited her to join them. She’d been enfolded between them, surrounded by their love for each other and for her.
Pa’s words came to her. Words she’d forgotten until now.
“Sweet Addie, your ma and I pray that someday you find a love as wonderful as ours.”
Oh, Pa, I forgot that. He’d be disappointed in how she’d rejected every advance by every man. Except now. Could Nash be the answer to her parents’ prayer?
Warmth bubbled up inside her. She tamped down the urge to laugh.
But he hadn’t said anything when she indicated she longed for a place like where they sat. One of peace and permanency.
Not that she regretted the life she lived with the Stones. She’d found satisfaction in helping others. Like the Stones had helped her in her darkest hour.
But if this was God’s answer to her parents’ hopes and prayers, then she would be open to where it led.
Enough of dreaming and hoping. God held her future in His hands, and she’d trust He would bring the best. Yet, she released the building laugh. Perhaps He already had.
Mother rested more quietly than she had previously. She wakened enough to drink a cupful of water. Then, with a gentle word of thanks, she lay back on the fur. “I’m feeling better, but I’m so tired.”
She might have fallen back asleep or simply closed her eyes to indicate she wanted to be left alone. Either way, Addie sat back. Rest was good. Patience was also good.
Needing something to occupy her hands and thoughts, Addie went to the kitchen with Shorty following.
“What are you going to make?” he asked.
“What would you suggest?” She’d looked in the cupboards and the storeroom. He had the basics in the way of cooking supplies.
“Well, now, I often yearn for pie. Can you make a pie? Might you allow me to watch and learn how?” His words, as always, were precise as if being cut from a dictionary.
“I can certainly make a pie. But what will I use for filling?” She hadn’t seen anything useful for pies.
“I always favored raisin pie, and there’s raisins on the top shelf.
” He reached into the dark recesses of the shelf and pulled out a sack of them.
“I bought them with plans to make a pie.” He shrugged and gave a self-mocking laugh.
“When I got them home, I realized I did not know how. Do you think—?”
The raisins were dry, but she’d boil them until they plumped up. “I’ll make you pie. At the same time, I’ll teach you how to do it for yourself.”
“You are the best. The very best.”
“I’m not, but thanks for saying it.” She poured enough raisins into a saucepan for a pie.
On second thought, she made it enough for two pies.
As she worked, she explained each step. He proved to be an eager student.
Under her guidance, he soon had dough rolled out.
She demonstrated how to ease it into a pie pan.
They returned to the stove. The raisins were plump. She had him measure flour into sugar and add it to the boiling pot. When the mixture had thickened, he poured it into the two pies. Together, they added the top crust and slashed vents for the steam to escape, then put the pies in the oven.
“You are now officially a pie baker,” she said.
“Thanks to you.” He shifted his gaze from the oven to her. “I could use someone like you around here.”
Was that an invitation? To do what? Become his housekeeper? Or his—the word wife stalled in the back of her brain.
She studied him more closely. Until now, he’d been the man they’d rescued from under a fallen tree. But he wasn’t old. In fact, if he cut his hair and shaved his whiskers—she shook her head. His offer—if it had been one—did not interest her.
“How is your leg?”
Interest died in his gaze. “It hurts some, but nothing a man cannot live with.” His attention returned to staring at the oven door. “How long for the pies to bake?”
“I’d guess forty-five minutes, but we’ll need to check on them from time to time.”
“I thank you for showing me how to make a pie.” He inhaled deeply. “They smell quite fine.”
Awkward silence lingered.
Mr. Zacharius sat up with a noisy intake of air. “When will Hawk and Nash return?”
“What’s to stop them from walking to Golden Valley and leaving us here to fend for ourselves?” Mr. Bertrand’s harsh words grated.
“They wouldn’t do that.” Addie’s voice grew firm as she crossed to the window. “They’ll be back.” The horses stood at the corral fence looking toward the trail. Did they hear something?
Needing to use the outhouse, she stepped outside and moved down the path, pausing to study her surroundings and listen for unusual sounds.
Apart from birdsong and the rustle of leaves, she heard nothing of interest. They would return despite Mr. Bertrand’s cynical pronouncement.
And when they did, a meal would be waiting for them.
With Shorty’s company and help, she had mashed potatoes, bottled meat in rich brown gravy, and turnips ready for supper. The pies cooled on the cupboard. Still Hawk and Nash hadn’t returned. Addie would have waited until they did, but Mr. Bertrand wouldn’t allow it.
“I paid good money for this trip. Is it too much to expect I should be served a decent meal at a decent hour?”
She served the food, keeping back enough for the two men. Mother refused to take anything except water.
“You need to eat to get your strength back.”
“I will. Just not now.”
Addie couldn’t persuade her to change her mind.
The others had eaten. She’d washed their dishes. Dark shadows hovered in the corners. Shorty lit the lamp. Still, the other two hadn’t returned. Addie stayed at the window, watching for them.
Mr. Bertrand cleared his throat. “You might as well give up. It’s like I said. They aren’t coming back for us.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Mr. Bertrand harrumphed. None of the others spoke a word in favor of Nash and Hawk.
Did they know something she didn’t?
“It’s too dark to safely continue,” Nash called to Hawk.
Hawk straightened from his efforts. “Right.” He shoved his hat back and studied the situation.
Rocks, brought down by the rain, lay scattered across the trail half a mile or more from where the coach sat firmly ensconced in mud.
A trench had washed out part of the trail.
It would need to be filled in before they could continue.
And then they’d have to dig out the coach.
“Help will be coming soon.” Hawk had said it several times. And yet, no one had appeared. If Nash ventured a guess, he’d say no one planned to come. Likely, they had things to take care of in Golden Valley.
“Let’s get back to the cabin.” Nash stuck his shovel in the ground.
He’d be back tomorrow to continue this backbreaking task.
Right now, he wanted a hot cup of coffee, a warm meal, and Addie’s welcoming smile.
Had she missed him? Did she wonder why they were so late? Pleasure pulled his mouth into a smile.
Hawk joined him, and they climbed a slippery incline as they began their return.
Nash stopped. “Do you smell that?”
“Food? Both sweet and something savory. My mother always said both were needed in a meal.” It was the most words Hawk had strung together at once.
Nash moved forward before Hawk finished, the man hot on his heels.
The aromas intensified with each step closer. By the time they reached the door, Nash swallowed repeatedly.
They paused to kick mud off their boots and then stepped inside.
“Glad you’re back. I saved supper for you.” Addie’s words and smile were as welcoming as he’d hoped.
“Mr. Bertrand suggested the pair of you had walked to Golden Valley and left him to find his own way.” Shorty snorted.
The words barely registered with Nash as Addie set two cups of steaming coffee on the table and two plates of food.
Neither he nor Hawk wasted any time taking their place.
They both drank several swallows of coffee.
Then Hawk waited while Nash murmured a quick prayer of thanks.
They ate in appreciative silence. Not until his plate had been scraped clean and Addie set portions of pie before them did he look up.
“Are you going to tell us what you were doing out there?” Mr. Bertrand demanded.
Nash glanced toward Hawk, informing him he should answer.
“The trail is blocked.” Hawk then explained the problems they faced. “Help will be coming from Golden Valley. In the meantime, Nash has been kind enough to help.”
Mr. Zacharius cleared his throat. “Are you able to tell us how long this will take?”
“It depends on when help arrives and how many men come.”
“That’s not very definitive.” Mr. Zacharius’s hand shook as he rubbed at his weary eyes.
The poor man must be exhausted. He’d slept at the table both nights and often broke into violent coughing.
“I’m sorry. It’s the best I can do.”
Nash’s attention shifted from the others to the enjoyment of dessert. “I certainly wasn’t anticipating a pie.”