Valerie asked about John. She needed assurance that he wasn't being mistreated. Karlee promised to let her know the minute she got a letter from Allie and Wes. “John's all right,” she hugged the girl. “He's with his sister. She'll see that no harm comes to him.”
With the twins loaded in the wagon, Karlee finally started for home. She'd stalled long enough, there was much to be done. She'd understood what Daniel had been trying to tell her. She had to get the weapons, hidden behind the sliding door, out of the house.
She pulled to the back porch, noticing a stack of trunks beside the door. Fine, leather, hand-tooled luggage. Wolf leaned against the house looking like a hunting dog who'd been ordered outside.
“What is it?” Karlee asked, helping the twins down from the wagon.
Wolf shook his head. “About the time you think trouble is full and plenty, another scoop gets added to the batter.”
“Wolf?”
Just as he opened his mouth to explain, a tall woman in white swept from the house as though she'd been taking another curtain call.
The woman glared at Karlee for a full minute, her plastered-on smile as wide as a medicine man's banner. “Why, Karlee Whitworth, don't you remember your cousin, Gerilyn? It has been years and years and years.”
Karlee realized her time trying to forget her cousin hadn't worked. She'd recognize those cold blue-gray eyes anywhere.
“You ask me,” Wolf mumbled for Karlee's ears only. “I should pack her up and take her back until she can add a few more years onto that greeting.”
Gerilyn must have thought Karlee's sudden smile was because of her visit. She swayed gracefully down the steps and gave Karlee an almost hug and an almost kiss.
TWENTY-TWO
GERILYN HADN'T CHANGED IN THE FIFTEEN YEARS since Karlee had seen her. Her hair was still the brown of deep chocolate, her face china white, and her eyes the soulless blue-gray of a winter river.
“Hello, Gerilyn.” Karlee watched her hug each of the girls and give them an air kiss an inch away from their cheeks.
“Aunt Rosy wrote me that you came down to help poor Daniel. He must have had an impossible time finding someone adequate.” She straightened the already perfect pleats in her traveling dress as she continued, “Then I was beside myself when I heard of the fire in town. With only you as help, I knew he must be near panic. I just had to come down and make sure my nieces were all right. Precious angels.”
“They're fine, as you can see.” Karlee followed Gerilyn into the kitchen. “We're all fine.” The last thing she wanted to do was tell Gerilyn anything was wrong.
“And where is my poor dead sister's husband?” Gerilyn dusted a kitchen chair with her gloves before sitting down. “Didn't he get my telegram?”
“We've been busy here.” Karlee didn't even know if there was a telegraph office anymore.
Starlett tried to show her aunt one of the dolls Karlee had made for her. Gerilyn wasn't interested. “Wait until you see what I brought you girls.” She patted Starlett on the cheek.
“Now,” Starlett chimed. “Show us now.”
“No, not now, dear.” Gerilyn smiled at the child's impatience. “Later, when I open my trunk. We'll have plenty of time.”
“You're staying then?” Wolf asked from the doorway as if the end of the world had just been announced.
Gerilyn looked as though she smelled something disgusting. “Who is this man, Karlee?” She totally ignored Wolf's question.
“That's Uncle Wolf,” Starlett answered. “Can we open your trunks now? Good things come in trunks. Karlee did. We want to see what you brought us.”
Gerilyn wasn't listening, only thinking about what needed to be said. “No, child, I told you later.” She realized her words were sharp for she ended her statement with another pat. “And, of course I'm staying. You don't think I traveled all this way to go back tonight. I'm sure Daniel will make room for me. After all, I'm his wife's sister, not some distant cousin.”
“What'd you want me to do, Karlee?” Wolf looked as if Karlee only had to say the word and he'd toss the thin woman over his shoulder and haul her back to the dock.
Karlee lifted her head. “If Gerilyn doesn't mind watching the twins for a few minutes, I'll help you move her luggage up to my room and clean my things out.”
Wolf grunted, but lifted the first of three huge trunks. “It ain't fair,” he mumbled as he followed Karlee upstairs. “You shouldn't have to move anywhere. This is your house. Only, by the amount of traffic that passes through here, you'd think it was a Butterfield Stage Station. Company's a curse on the newly married. I wish they'd scatter and leave us be.”
Karlee fought down a laugh. He obviously considered himself part of the family. He was right though. It was her room. But between Wes and Allie, and now Gerilyn, she didn't seem to be sleeping in it much.
As Wolf stacked the luggage, Karlee moved her few belongings into the twins' room. In truth, there was plenty of space.
“I'm getting out of here as soon as I bring up the last load. If you need me, check with Ida. I'll tell her to look in on you twice a day. All you got to do is tell her to get word to me. One of her boys will be able to find me. She'll be proud I trust her to watch after you all. She's lost three husbands, you know, so she's fond of trying to keep up with people. Probably working on her skills while she looks for number four.”
Karlee giggled. “Thanks, Wolf. I'll be fine. I've been around Gerilyn before.”
“But you didn't even tell that woman you were Daniel's wife.” He hugged her good-bye as if leaving her at the battlefront.
“She didn't ask. She strikes me as a person who only enjoys the sound of her own voice. And my guess is she's not going to be very happy when she finds out about the marriage. I'm the ‘poor relation’ in my family.”
Wolf headed down the stairs mumbling, “Appears to me any relations leave a fellow poorer after they stay a while.”
Gerilyn spent the afternoon resting and unpacking. About four, she came down to complain about the noise the girls were making. “Can't they go somewhere else besides the porch right beneath my window?”
Karlee was ironing. “Where would you have them go, Gerilyn?”
“I don't really care,” Gerilyn whined. “The moon seems far enough. I must spend some time telling you how to discipline those two or their voices will have calluses before they're half grown. And you really must do something about their hair. I can show you how to braid it properly in a style that becomes any little girl.”
“I didn't know you knew such things, not having children of your own,” Karlee ventured.
“One doesn't have to be a fish to know how to swim. Observation and a sharp mind are far more valuable than carrying a calf like some cow for nine months.”
Karlee didn't comment. Talking to Gerilyn was a waste of time.
“Dear,” Gerilyn said sweetly as if she'd forgotten Karlee's name. “Would you mind pressing a few of my dresses? Traveling does wrinkle them so. And use a cloth over the silk. I'll not have it looking too shiny.”
“If I have time. I need to start supper soon. Would you like to help?”
Gerilyn gave a practiced laugh. “Oh, heavens no. I would like to talk to that brother-in-law of mine, however. I guess since he's got you here slaving away with the house and children, he's out running free. Lord knows he's had these twin burdens tied around his neck long enough.”
“No, he's not running free.” Karlee smiled. “He's at the stockade helping with a dying prisoner.” She figured that was close enough to the truth for Gerilyn.
A few minutes later, Ida tapped on the back door. Gerilyn took one look at the little German dressed in a menagerie of rags and excused herself without an introduction.
Ida tiptoed into the kitchen as shy as ever. “I brought you some soup for your supper and bread made fresh
