They reached the Geyser Gateway by late afternoon and turned the horses into the corral so Caleb could give them a good rubdown and a rest. Will couldn’t help admiring the swing in Kate’s step as she crossed the yard to the veranda. He rather thought he was sauntering a bit himself, although he still couldn’t quite believe she’d encouraged him to court her, especially after he’d shared his past. Perhaps he’d finally turned the corner.
Mr. Boyne had arrived before them, and Will was pleased to see his men helping unload the supplies under Alberta’s watchful eye. Captain Harris might have protested the Army getting involved in civilian matters, but Kate wasn’t the only one who’d benefit from the food. The least the cavalry could do was see it safely stored.
After hearing Lercher’s report, Will went into the inn. He found Kate and Danny in the salon, where Elijah was resting on the couch with Miss Pringle and Mrs. Pettijohn watching over him from chairs at either end.
“Private Lercher tells me the Barksdales moved on,” Will said after greeting the older ladies, the driver, and Danny.
Mrs. Pettijohn sniffed. “They lacked what is required to survive the wilderness.”
“Now, dear,” Miss Pringle reminded her sister, “anyone might have been rattled by that terrible carriage accident. Look at our valiant driver here.” She beamed at Elijah.
“But all is not lost,” Kate said. “Private Franklin was able to reattach the wheel and bring the stage back to the barn, I understand.”
Elijah nodded. “Right side door’s caved in and the paint’s scraped bad, but she can be fixed.”
“Praise the Lord,” Miss Pringle declared, clutching the Bible that had been resting in her lap.
“And the US Cavalry,” Mrs. Pettijohn added. “I see your mission was a success as well, Lieutenant.”
For a moment, he thought she meant courting, and he glanced at Kate, whose cheeks were turning pink. Then he realized she must mean the supplies.
“Yes,” he said. “Quite successful.”
“Maybe we could play baseball later,” Danny put in. “Ma, Alberta, Pansy, Miss Pringle, and Mrs. Pettijohn could play too.”
“Ladies against gentlemen,” Kate suggested, twinkle in her eyes.
“Not enough time before the rain,” Mrs. Pettijohn declared. “I can see that dark cloud on the horizon from here.”
Will frowned, moving toward the window. “It was a clear day when we rode in.”
Danny scrambled to join him. He must have reached the same conclusion as Will did, for his eyes widened even as Will’s stomach plummeted.
“That’s not a cloud,” Danny cried, whirling to face his mother and the others. “That’s smoke. Ma, the forest’s on fire!”
24
Horror pushed Kate to her feet and propelled her to Will and Danny’s sides. Beyond Fountain Geyser and its little sisters, over the top of the pine-covered hill, ugly brown smoke billowed, flashes of red showing through. She could almost feel the unrelenting heat.
She whirled to face Will. “If the prevailing winds hold true, the fire will head northeast.”
Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Mrs. Pettijohn heave herself up. “That’s directly at the hotel!”
“And it could cut off the road south,” Kate agreed. “Will, ask Mr. Boyne to take Danny, Elijah, and our guests up to the Fire Hole. They should be safe there. If not, they can continue to the guard station at Riverside.”
“This is like the Confederates all over again,” Mrs. Pettijohn declared, double chin quivering in indignation. “My husband and I refused to run when they rode into town. I refuse to run from trouble now.”
“Might we at least walk?” Miss Pringle suggested, rising as well.
Elijah climbed unsteadily to his feet. “I’m not leaving, Mrs. Tremaine.”
“Yes, you are,” she told them, striding away from the window. “You all are. I can convince you to do what’s needed, but you can’t convince a fire.”
Will followed her, Danny right behind. Her cavalryman stopped, head up and eyes stern.
“As commander of the detachment protecting the Lower Geyser Basin, I order you to do as Mrs. Tremaine says.”
Mrs. Pettijohn squared her shoulders, eyes narrowing, as if preparing herself for a fight.
“Oh, good,” her sister said with a relieved sigh. “Come, dear. Let’s gather what we can.”
“They may listen to you,” Elijah told Will as Mrs. Pettijohn gave in and followed her sister down the corridor. “But I don’t have to. Everything important to my business is right here. I’m not leaving.”
Will’s jaw hardened, but Kate understood. She put a hand on Will’s arm. “See to your men. Elijah and I will be right behind you.”
Will shook his head. “I want you and Danny on that wagon with the ladies.”
“Can we, Ma?” Danny’s voice was small.
Kate bent to pick him up and hug him close. Oh, so heavy now! “It’s all right, Danny,” she said against his hair. “You go with Mr. Boyne. We’ll send Alberta and Pansy too. I’ll bring you home when it’s safe.”
“All right.” He sniffed bravely.
Will held out his arms, and Kate transferred Danny to him, though something inside her begged her to hold on. Will started for the kitchen.
“I’ll gather buckets and shovels from the barn,” Elijah said beside her.
Kate touched his arm. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
His dark eyes glittered. “This is my home nearly as much as yours. I won’t give it up so easily.”
With a nod and a squeeze of his arm, Kate released him, and he made for the front door.
Even as the door banged shut, Miss Pringle hurried from the hallway, clutching a small case. Right behind her came Mrs. Pettijohn, head crowned with a black-feathered hat.
“I took the liberty of calling on Mr. Jones,” she told Kate. “He was not in his room.”
Mr. Jones! Once more, Kate rushed to the window, but the only thing moving on the geyser field was the steam flowing in the breeze.
“Did he tell you where he was going today?” she asked her lady guests over her shoulder.
“He
