“Mr. Scott was always reminding us not to go out unprepared. I’d say you learned that lesson.”
“We’ll have to find time when the children are napping to see about new dresses.” Deb looked down at her faded blue gingham dress. She’d worn it most days, with only one other dress to change into when this one was getting the rare washing.
“Adam went overboard with the fabric.” Gwen looked at the stack of bolts and giggled.
“I must have scared him with my talk of diapers.” Deb grinned at her sister. “He certainly didn’t want to be caught short. What are we going to do with all this?”
“The men left here quickly last night and I’ve looked around. I’ve found a second shirt for each of them, and they are mighty threadbare. We can make shirts for the men, maybe trousers, too. Unless they’re stored somewhere I can’t see, none of them have much to spare.”
“You’ve had to drag Ronnie out from under every bed. There’s no corner of this cabin you haven’t seen.”
“Let’s get to work. We need to try and outdo ourselves for supper.”
Shaking her head, Gwen said, “I’m not sure we do. I get the feeling it will take only very simple good food to keep the men happy. Plenty of it, of course, as hard as they’re working.”
Midafternoon on the fifth day since the wagon train massacre, Trace came in alone, smiling. “It’s done. There’s finishing work to do, but the roof’s on, the chimney is solid and ready for a fire. Utah built a couple of cots in the bedrooms. So you can sleep in the new cabin tonight. The men are chopping down a few more trees, younger ones so Utah can build a few chairs and make a table tomorrow, and there’s work to do on cupboards and such. He says he can figure out how to make a crib for Ronnie, Maddie Sue too, if you think she needs one.”
“You’ve worked fast.” Deb was near him, just pulling a cover up over Ronnie. Both children slept soundly at nap time. Deb and Gwen didn’t worry about talking while they slept, and neither child had noticed the door open or the gust of cold wind that came in or Trace talking.
Going the few steps to Trace, Deb rested a hand on his arm. She was so delighted she had to make sure he knew it. “Thank you for all the hard work. For all you’ve done and keep doing for us, Trace. As for the cribs, we didn’t have any on the wagon train, so we can get by without them.”
She looked at Gwen, who smiled at Trace from where she kneaded bread at the table. “I don’t think you need to build a crib, either. Maybe instead you should build a couple more cots, if the house is going to be for you and your men once we’re gone.”
“We aim to put up a bunkhouse after you get moved in. We’ll live in here until it’s done, then tear down this house,” Trace said. “We’re going to keep chopping down trees as long as the weather holds. If we can’t build now, and I hope we can, we’ll do it in the spring. But we’ll have a jump on it by having the trees ready. Utah’s determined to get on with it.”
“I’m so impressed with how hard you’re all working. You’re wonderful, decent men.”
Trace looked down to where her hand rested on his arm. She had since taken a nice firm grip. Deb realized she had a tight hold and let go. She stepped back so fast she almost stumbled.
Trace opened his mouth, then cleared his throat awkwardly. “Uh, the house, it’s mighty raw, there’s no floor . . . but then there isn’t one here, either. Utah says that’s a winter job. And we need to seal up some holes, yet it’s a mighty fine house, especially compared to this one.” He gave the sleeping little ones a nervous look. “Can you come out and see it? Will Maddie Sue and Ronnie be all right in here alone for a few minutes? I’d like to show you. I appreciate how you’ve kept to the house. I worried that the children could come to grief with all the axes swinging and such—and there’s gonna be more of it.”
“Can we wait until they wake up?” Deb asked.
“No, you go ahead, Deb.” Gwen cut the dough in three pieces. “My hands are already in the dough. I need to shape this into loaves, and I don’t want to leave the children sleeping. They would probably sleep through our absence, but if they did wake up, I’m afraid they might wander too close to the fire.”
Deb smiled at Trace. “I’d really love to see. Maybe we could go take a look, and then I can get back so Gwen could go?”
Trace nodded. “Sounds fine to me. Grab your coat.”
Deb was already shrugging it on.
She dressed as warmly as possible all the time. The house was chilly. She and Gwen had made heavy shawls and wore them around the house, and they’d used wool Adam had brought to sew stockings for themselves and the children.
Deb wished she’d asked for yarn to knit mittens and scarves, but she didn’t mention it because she was sorely afraid Adam would just jump on his fast horse and run the hours to town. They were all trying to take such good care of the women and children in their midst that Deb found herself more than willing, in fact eager, to take care of meals, mend and wash their clothing, do anything she could to ease the burden on the men.
She remembered her promise to herself to quit working for men and mentally stiffened her backbone. She’d keep helping here and enjoy doing it, but
