“We refused to let anything slow the game,” Mrs. Pettijohn agreed. “Now, hurry.”
Bemused, Kate went to store the chips and search for Danny.
She found him in the kitchen, finishing his bowl of oatmeal. Mr. Jones was with him.
“He was a bit too excited to eat alone,” her guest explained as if he’d seen the look of surprise on Kate’s face.
Danny nodded, oatmeal dribbling down his chin. “Mr. Jones used to play baseball when he was a boy.”
Kate had been under the impression the game was newer than when Mr. Jones had been young, but perhaps she was mistaken. “Then you are welcome to join in,” she told the older man, going to the sink to wash her hands. “I’m sure either Lieutenant Kingman or Lieutenant Prescott would appreciate another experienced player on the team.”
He patted his left knee through his buckskins. “Alas, an old war injury keeps me away from the game these days. You must tell me all about it when you return, Mr. Tremaine.”
Danny giggled. “He calls me mister,” he said to Kate.
“So I heard,” Kate said with a smile. “Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn will be glad for your company, Mr. Jones, as they cheer.”
He grimaced. “Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn seem mighty interested in single gentlemen. I’ll head up to the Little Firehole and fish.”
Danny scraped the last of the oatmeal from his bowl. “You’ll miss all the fun.”
“But I’ll know my good friend Mr. Tremaine is having fun,” he replied. “You and Mrs. Guthrie can tell me all about it when you get back.”
Alberta looked up eagerly from the stove. “Can we all come, Mrs. Tremaine?”
Had the sun gone behind a cloud? Kate felt as if the light in the room had dimmed at the thought of leaving the hotel unattended. She hated making Alberta, Pansy, or Caleb stay behind, and she didn’t want to miss Danny in his element.
Alberta must have seen something in Kate’s face, for she took a step toward her. “We can lock all the doors. Surely everything would be fine for a couple hours.”
Mr. Jones rose. “I’ll just be on my way, then.” He headed for the kitchen door.
Kate drew in a breath. “Very well. We’ll all go. I’ll tell Pansy.”
Her maid was eager for the entertainment, so Kate sent her out to fetch Caleb as well. When Kate returned to the veranda, she found Danny already standing with the cavalrymen, wiggling as he listened to them discuss their plans. Will and his men all tipped their hats to her as she approached. Will’s smile made her shoulders feel less tight.
“Ready?” he asked.
She nodded. “I think so. It just doesn’t feel right not to be working.”
He took her hand. “You deserve to enjoy yourself, Kate.”
Mrs. Pettijohn must have overhead the conversation, for she wagged her finger at Kate. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Miss Pringle frowned. “I don’t think any of them are named Jack, dear.”
“And neither am I,” Kate assured her. They were right. There was nothing wrong with enjoying herself. Head high, she released Will, took Danny’s hand, and led the cavalcade for the meadow.
“Lieutenant Kingman is a good friend,” Danny said as he walked beside her. “We should take him up to our special spot before he leaves.”
“No,” Kate said, glancing back to where Will and the others walked behind them. “And you must be very quiet about our spot at the game today, Danny. The particulars are for family only.”
“Oh.” Danny hopped over a rock. “Well, maybe we should tell Lieutenant Prescott. He’s almost family.”
Almost, but not quite.
Will couldn’t interpret the look Kate sent him over her shoulder, but the conversation was easy enough to understand. The special spot Danny talked about on occasion was obviously connected to the area Kate had put off-limits, the meadow they were approaching now. It was something shared only within their family.
And he wasn’t family.
Not yet, something inside him whispered.
“Perfect,” Kingman declared.
The way had opened into a meadow perhaps a hundred yards square. Will nodded, and Waxworth and O’Reilly went to lay out the scraps of lumber they’d brought to serve as bases. Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn wandered over to sit under the shade of the pines on the western flank, where Alberta and Pansy were laying out blankets, while Caleb clung to the shadows of the trees. Will had asked the shy fellow whether he wanted to play, but all he’d received in answer was the rapid shake of Caleb’s head.
“What positions did you want us to play?” Kate asked, hand on Danny’s as he vibrated like a string on a guitar, gaze darting everywhere.
He and his men had worked out the strategy earlier. “I’ll be pitching,” he told her. “Waxworth and O’Reilly are playing first and third base. Smith is at home. Are you and Danny willing to take on second base and the outfield?” He pointed toward the base O’Reilly had just laid down.
Danny nodded eagerly, though Will suspected the boy would have accepted any position offered him. Kate led him out to the farthest point on the diamond.
Will’s team had won the coin toss, so Kingman’s team would bat first. Will accepted the ball and went to stand in the center of the diamond. Glancing around, he met each player’s gaze. Waxworth nodded, Kate smiled, Danny waved, O’Reilly spit, and Smith squatted down behind Kingman, who was standing at bat.
Will studied the other lieutenant’s stance, then wound up and threw the ball. It whizzed past the bat.
“Strike one,” Smith called.
Kingman glared at him.
“Sorry,” he drawled. “Strike one, sir.”
“Yay!” Danny cheered.
Kate hushed him.
Will managed to get one more ball past the lieutenant, but Kingman connected on the third, a hard drive to Will’s right. By the time O’Reilly grabbed it from the ground and threw it to Waxworth, Kingman was safely on first.
“It’s okay, Lieutenant Prescott,” Danny called from behind second base. “You’ll do better with this one for sure.”
Will caught the ball from Waxworth, squared his shoulders, and struck
