Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Hannah was wrist deep in dirt when she spotted Rafe turning off from the main road. She brushed her hands together and stood up to greet him.
“What brings you home so early?” It wasn’t even the noon hour yet, although clouds dimmed the sun.
“Work,” he said. He nodded toward the old pail she’d filled with dirt. “What’s that about?”
“Flowers,” Hannah said proudly. “I found this old thing behind the house. It’s no good for carrying water anymore, but it’ll make the perfect container to hold some flowers.
Natalie has a penchant for them, and she’s already found some wildflower seeds she’s going to share with me.
I thought it would look cheerful to have flowers by the front door. ” She looked to him for his approval.
Rafe nodded. “It’ll look pretty. Almost as pretty as you.” The compliment slipped out easily, and if Hannah hadn’t known better, she would have thought he was practiced in giving them.
She couldn’t help but smile at him. “I’d give you a hug for that, but I’m covered in dirt.” She held up her hands.
Rafe paid no attention to the dirt as he took her hands in his. “I’m afraid I didn’t come home for a meal. I have to go up to the pass with Hawk and a few other men.”
“Today?” Hannah said.
“Today,” he confirmed. “We may be up there for a night or two. Will you be all right here on your own?”
“Of course,” Hannah said. “Although I’ll miss you.”
Her words warmed his heart. But mostly, he was glad Donahue’s letters hadn’t left her questioning her safety here. “Keep the door locked, and if you need anything, Will Morrell will be around.” Will might be young, but he had a deadly aim and desire to do good.
“Do you need food? Let me make you something to take along.” Hannah detached her hands from his grip and was through the door before he could respond.
Rafe smiled as he grabbed hold of the door. For all his hesitations about marriage, he had to admit he’d come around. It was awfully nice to have someone concerned about whether he’d be fed. And even nicer to have someone to think about him while he was gone.
Hands washed, Hannah had already set to work in the kitchen. He told her he would return after finding men to go along with them. She gave him a nod, fully absorbed in apparently pulling together as much food as possible for him.
The promise of pay made it easy enough to find men to accompany them. Rafe found a former miner who now worked as a sort of jack-of-all-trades in town, while Jackson and Hawk rounded up a couple of men who had ridden out with them previously.
Rafe checked his pocketwatch after saddling his horse at the livery. He had fifteen minutes before they were riding out. Plenty of time to return home.
Hannah was waiting for him with several small, wrapped parcels.
“This one has chicken, this one has cheese, plenty of bread here, a couple of slices of cake, two apples, some sliced ham, and carrots. I had beans too, but I couldn’t figure out a way for you to carry those.” She frowned, as if she was disappointed she couldn’t include the beans.
“That’s more than enough,” Rafe said as he took the parcels from her. “I wouldn’t be able to fit more in the saddlebags.” He stacked them neatly on the table before taking her hands. “Thank you for ensuring I don’t starve.”
“I couldn’t have that happen,” Hannah replied. “Who would shoo away the horses that try to come inside?”
Rafe laughed. “Maybe your apple pies shouldn’t smell so good.”
“I don’t think I can help that.” She smiled up at him as he wrapped his arms around her. Her smile faltered a little. “I know it’s selfish, because I know you enjoy chasing down outlaws, but I don’t want you to go.”
“It won’t be long.” He lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll be back before you have a chance to miss me.”
“I doubt that.” Her eyes searched his face as his hand stilled on her cheek.
Then, before he understood what was happening, Hannah lifted herself onto her toes and caught his mouth in a kiss.
It took a moment for his mind to figure it out, and then it was as if every thought he’d ever experienced had left his mind. All that was left was Hannah. Hannah kissing him.
He leaned down a little farther, making it easier for her to reach him, before moving his hand behind her neck.
She made a little noise in response, and it made Rafe feel a hundred different ways.
But most of all, he wanted to fight off the world for her.
Keep her here, safe and happy, with him forever.
When he pulled her a little closer, she responded by resting her hands against his chest. How was it possible, that in such a short span of time, this woman had come to mean everything to him?
Him! A man who’d had no desire at all to be married.
One who had resisted the arrival of Hannah and her friends.
And now he couldn’t imagine being without her.
Even the thought of leaving her for a single day was almost too much, when he normally relished journeys like the one that was ahead of him now.
She’d changed him, and Rafe never wanted to go back.
In fact, he’d be perfectly happy to remain right here, in his house, Hannah’s warm lips pressed to his and leaning against him as if he was her entire world.
As the seconds passed, he imagined an entire life ahead of them—laughter, children, growing old together.
Only when Hannah sighed against him did he spin back to reality.
He had to leave.
With one last kiss designed to make her think of nothing but him for the length of his absence, he finally pulled away.
“Do you have to go already?” Hannah looked up at him, hands still on his chest, lips swollen, and cheeks flushed.
“Believe me, I don’t want to.” He caressed her cheek. “But if I don’t go now, Hawk will come knocking on the door.”
She gave a deep sigh and stepped backward. “Tell him I’m unhappy with him.”
Rafe laughed. “I’ll be sure to do that.” With one last press of his lips to her cheek so as not to risk losing himself in her again, he opened the door. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
The prospect of eating supper alone was dreary.
A light rain had begun to fall when Hannah made up her mind. She wrapped up a few slices of bread, the rest of the ham she’d also given to Rafe, and the remainder of the cake. Then she slipped on a coat and hat and carried her supper to Ada’s home.
Ada and her husband lived in a tiny one-room home next to his carpentry shop, thankfully not far from Hannah’s house.
As Hannah knocked on the door, a rumble of thunder sounded in the distance.
There was movement at the window, and Ada’s face appeared from behind the curtain.
She smiled when she saw Hannah and moved to quickly unlock the door.
Hannah enveloped her friend in a hug. “I couldn’t stand being alone for another moment. I brought enough for both of us, unless you’ve already cooked.”
Ada took the stack of plates from Hannah and carried them to the table. “I’m so happy you came by. I put some soup on. This will go perfectly with it,” she said as she took the towels off the plates Hannah had brought.
A shout came from the saloon across the road, and Ada wrapped her arms around herself. “The thought of listening to that all night makes me not want to fall asleep at all. I’ve gotten so used to having Bart here. No one would give me trouble with him around.”
Hannah understood. “My house is off the main road. Do you want to come stay with me tonight?”
Ada’s shoulders relaxed. “Yes, that would be wonderful! We can keep one another company. It feels so much safer with more than one of us, doesn’t it?”
Hannah nodded. She didn’t know how intimidating two women such as herself and Ada could possibly be, but it certainly made her feel better having another person with her.
Ada dished the soup as Hannah hung her coat on a peg by the door.
“You’ve certainly added some cheer to this room,” she said as she walked back to the table.
The last time she’d come inside, the windows were bare, the bed had only a plain woolen blanket, and every single item in the room existed only to serve a purpose.
Ada had added curtains, a quilt, a handful of knick-knacks, and vases of flowers.
“Thank you.” Ada beamed. “There’s more to do, but at least it feels more like home now.”
“Will you hang some watercolors?” Hannah asked as she took her seat.
Ada was talented at replicating color onto canvas.
Hannah had lost track of how many times her friend had missed meals or forgotten to do chores because she was lost in creating her own version of the world.
The walls of the room she’d shared at the orphanage had been covered in her work.
“Soon.” Ada layered a slice of ham onto the bread. “Bart ordered more colors for me since I couldn’t fit most of what I had in New York in my bag.”
“He seems like a good man,” Hannah replied.
“He is. He’s very quiet about his past though. I don’t think he likes to reflect on it.”
Hannah swallowed a spoonful of chicken soup and wondered what Mr. Jackson had seen in his life.
The rain and thunder continued outside, drowning out any noise from across the street.
Hannah didn’t want to think about the state of the road they’d need to walk on to make it back to her house.
At least her shoes were sturdy and practical.
After they polished off the slices of cake Hannah had brought, Ada packed what she would need for the night while Hannah washed the dishes. It was nearing nine o’clock when they were finally ready to leave.
Ada peeked out the door. It was still raining, though at least the thunder had passed.
“I suppose it wouldn’t do us any good to wait for this to let up.
The longer we wait, the rowdier it will get out there.
” She chewed on her thumbnail as she watched a few men outside the saloon who were apparently oblivious to the downpour.
“A little rain won’t hurt us,” Hannah said as she did up the last button on her coat.
Ada nodded in agreement. She paused before opening the door again. “Wait, I have an idea.” She ran to the bed and took off the quilt and blanket. “So we don’t ruin our hats.” She handed the quilt to Hannah.
Hannah draped it over her hat. It hung down over her shoulders, and she was sure she looked entirely silly. She and Ada took one look at each other and burst into laughter.
“We won’t be pretty, but we’ll be dry!” Ada slung the handles of her carpetbag over her shoulder, hiding it under the blanket, while Hannah grabbed the plates she’d brought over. “Ready?”
The rain was cold against Hannah’s face.
She was grateful for the extra layer of the quilt as she waited for Ada to lock the door.
The second the lock clicked, they darted as quickly as possible through the dark down the main road.
If the men across the street noticed them or said a word, Hannah was oblivious.
Slipping and sliding against the mud, it took longer to get to the little road where Hannah lived than it would have on a dry day.
Checking to make sure Ada was behind her, Hannah turned, grateful to see the shadowy outline of her home. Keeping as much as possible to the flattened vegetation that lined the side of the road, she moved as fast as she could. She was out of breath by the time they reached the door.
Hannah fumbled for the key in her pocket as Ada breathed heavily behind her. “Almost—”
An arm wrapped itself around her midsection as a hand clamped itself over her mouth.
“Hannah!” Ada shouted.
The plates fell to the ground. Hannah fought against the man’s hold, her screams muffled and her feet slipping as he began to drag her backward. She clawed against his arm.
It did nothing but make him grab onto her even tighter.
Through the rain, she could see Ada drop her carpetbag and come running after her. But the man was stronger and faster.
It wasn’t long before Hannah couldn’t see Ada—or Perseverance—at all.