She raised her chin. “Offer your proposal to Captain Harris, then. I’m willing if he is.”
That smile. It lit his face. It lit the room. It lit a candle inside her.
“Thank you, Kate,” he said. “I’ll ride for Mammoth Hot Springs today. I’ll report back as soon as I’ve returned.”
Beyond the kitchen door, voices rose in song. He nodded in that direction. “You should go.”
She should. When the dishes were done. She caught his hand. “Come with me.”
The smile softened, brushed her like spring rain. “Maybe next week.”
Kate nodded and forced herself to release him. Putting on his hat, he turned and left.
The room felt darker, colder. Melancholy slipped over her as easily as his hat had slipped onto his head. Enough of that! She had no intention of becoming one of those maudlin females who sat, day in and day out, face to the window, pining for a fellow. Will Prescott wasn’t even her fellow!
He could be.
She snorted and went to finish the dishes.
But the voices on the other side of the door called to her, and she heard an echo inside. Maybe she should attend services for once, see what Mr. Yates was telling her guests. She was responsible for allowing him to preach. Her guests would associate him with the Geyser Gateway.
She set another dish on the towel and dried her hands on the apron around her waist. Maybe just a peek. She ventured to the door, but the voices had quieted until she heard only one: Mr. Yates, starting his sermon. Surely she shouldn’t interrupt now.
Her hands disagreed with her, for they were already working at untying the apron and pulling it off her navy skirts. She stiffened her spine to keep from walking through the door.
You must be even busier than I am, Lord. You don’t need my worship.
But she needed to worship. She could feel it.
She bowed her head. Lord, I thought I was worshiping you every day, through my work, by keeping your creation safe. But I feel as if you’re calling me to more. What more can I give?
Something clinked behind her. She turned to find one dish precariously close to the edge of the table. Maybe that was her answer. Work was her balm, her calm. Something she could control.
She went back to the dishes. Maybe she could work a little faster next week and be ready in time for services. The decision did not bring the peace she expected.
Still, she had everything washed by the time the others came through the door after Mr. Yates had finished preaching.
“We missed you,” Alberta said, starting to help her put away the last of the dishes.
“Maybe next week,” Kate said, remembering Will’s promise. “So much to do.”
Alberta glanced around the kitchen, and her broad shoulders slumped. “There is that. I best start on Sunday dinner.”
Sarah tossed her head. “Not me. I’m packing. I’ll be leaving Wednesday. Elijah said he’d have room for me on that run.”
Ida sighed. “Me too.”
Once again, sadness tugged at Kate, but this reason made more sense to her. The season was drawing to a close. Her guests would dwindle even further in the coming days. Caleb would leave at the end of the month, and she and Danny would have to add taking care of the animals to their tasks.
Unless Captain Harris agreed to Will’s proposal.
She made herself smile. “We’ve been pleased to have you both,” she told Sarah and Ida. “I’ll write when we’re ready to start up in the spring.” She turned to Alberta. “How much roast beef is left from yesterday’s dinner?”
“A goodly amount,” Alberta allowed. “I thought I’d start a stew.” She moved slowly toward her apron hanging on a hook by the back door.
When had Alberta’s hair lost its gleam, her step its vitality? Had Kate pushed even her cook beyond her abilities? She shook her head and went to intercept her, taking the apron from her grip.
Alberta looked at her askance.
“Roast beef sandwiches tonight,” Kate told her. “The bread’s already sliced, and it won’t take much to slice the beef. We’ll open some of the apple preserves. And there’s still pie for dessert. That should allow you a few hours off.”
“Oh, Mrs. Tremaine!” Alberta clasped her hands before her chest, eyes tearing. “What I wouldn’t give for a walk in God’s beauty. I hope this means you and Danny get time off too.”
Kate glanced back to find Danny watching her. He fairly vibrated with hope.
“We will,” Kate promised. “How about we visit our special spot, Danny?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Danny said, and he saluted her.
That only reminded her of Will again. Maybe someday, before winter set in, she’d be comfortable sharing the secret with him. For now, she was merely glad for time with her son.
In the one place she had always found her heavenly Father there before her.
The sight of the Geyser Gateway never failed to raise Will’s spirits, especially that Monday afternoon. Part of his reaction stemmed from his meeting with Captain Harris the previous day.
After a quick sweep of their area, he had taken Franklin and Smith north with him to Camp Sheridan at Mammoth Hot Springs. Captain Harris and the men he’d kept with him were making more progress than Will and his men. Already they’d constructed a T-shaped barracks and stable, both board and batten covered in a wash of lime and lamp blacking. Work had commenced on a storehouse, a guardhouse, a quartermaster’s stable, and a hospital. But then again, they had a sawmill and twice the men he did.
Or at least twice the men on a typical day. As it was, only Captain
