Kate glanced at him in surprise. “Why, Will, were you jealous?”
His gaze went out over the geysers to the west of them, where Clepsydra was spouting off with puffs of steam. “More than I should have been, I suppose. Seems I still want my share of the attention.”
She squeezed his arm, and he returned his gaze to hers. “You don’t have to worry,” she promised him. “To me, you’re as magnificent as Fountain Geyser. I realized when we were at Mammoth Hot Springs that the other cavalrymen are just mud pots.”
“That’s mighty high praise, ma’am,” he said, but his moss-colored eyes danced with laughter. “At least you didn’t call me Old Faithful. I’d hate to think I was that predictable.”
“There’s a great deal to be said for predictability,” she assured him, leading him toward the Celestine Pool and out of a plume of sulfur. “I admit that’s one thing I like about you, Will. I can count on you.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back. “Always and forever.”
Always and forever. She could get used to that.
They said goodbye to Pansy, Caleb, Miss Pringle, and Mrs. Pettijohn the next morning. Because Elijah’s stagecoach wouldn’t be repaired for some time, Kate’s guests had arranged for a Wakefield and Hoffman stage to carry them and Kate’s staff north. Pansy hugged Danny and Kate, tears shining in her eyes.
“You will be careful, now?” she begged.
“We will,” Kate promised.
Caleb ducked his head respectfully, but his gaze, when he looked at Kate, held more confidence than she’d ever seen. “I’m going home to my ma and pa’s ranch, Mrs. Tremaine, but I hope to come back next spring.”
“We’ll be glad to have you,” Kate told him.
With a shy smile, he boarded the coach.
“At least we didn’t have to travel in Mr. Boyne’s wagon again,” Miss Pringle said as Will and Private Smith helped load her things onto the coach. “I felt like a sack of bone meal.”
“More like a cask of fine wine,” her sister corrected her, adjusting her feathered hat.
“Thank you for staying with us at the Geyser Gateway,” Kate told them, the familiar farewell even more heartfelt this time. “I hope you’ll come again.”
“At our age, it isn’t wise to make promises, dear,” Miss Pringle said with a sigh.
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Pettijohn declared. “We will see you next season, Mrs. Tremaine.” She leveled her gaze on Will. “And I expect you to have made considerable progress before then, Lieutenant. Faint heart never won fair lady.”
Will saluted her. “Ma’am. I will do my utmost.”
Miss Pringle nodded. “I would expect no less from the US Cavalry.”
Private Smith retreated to the porch, but Danny ran beside the coach until it passed the geyser field, and Kate waved until the vehicle disappeared beyond the curve of the road.
“Some guests become more than visitors,” she explained when Will glanced her way.
“That’s my hope,” he said.
Kate smiled as Danny ran back to them. “You don’t need to hope, Will. You graduated from visitor to family days ago.”
Danny gave a little skip as he came up to them. “And you’re going to stay with us always.”
Will took Kate’s hand. “How long is always?”
Danny spread his arms as wide as they could go. “This long.”
“That’s a long time,” Will acknowledged. “You sure you want me here always?”
“Sure!” Danny dropped his arms. “We like you.”
“You promised Elijah you would help him this morning with his coach,” Kate reminded him. “You better get going.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He ran for the barn.
Kate turned to Will. “Join us for dinner?”
He touched his hat. “I’d be honored.”
“No honor involved. You heard Danny. We like you.”
He raised a brow. “We?”
“Danny, Alberta, Elijah.”
“But not Kate?”
She laughed. “Oh, most especially Kate. I thought I’d made that clear.”
“Fairly clear,” he said, taking a step closer. “But I wouldn’t mind another demonstration.”
His eyes looked soft, his lips even softer. Though she knew Private Smith was watching, Kate stood up on her toes and pressed a kiss to Will’s cheek. He was grinning as she stepped back.
“Smith,” he called, and his private came down the steps to remount with a sigh.
She smiled as they headed south toward the Grand Prismatic Spring. She was still smiling an hour later when two riders reined in at the front of the hotel.
Brush in her hands, she paused in painting the southwest wall. Only one saddlebag—they weren’t touring. And those tooled leather boots were a little too fancy for men looking for work.
“Welcome to the Geyser Gateway,” she called as they hitched their horses. “How can I help you?”
The taller of the two adjusted his wide-brimmed tan hat. “We’re looking for Mrs. Tremaine.”
“You’ve found her.” Kate put the brush in the paint can and headed down the veranda.
They came up the steps, long coats back over the holsters on their hips. Six guns, in the park? Though they were both taller than she was, she refused to back away.
The one who had spoken held out a piece of paper, while his stockier companion glanced around.
“This is from the Virginia City Outfitters,” the taller man said.
Kate accepted the paper with a frown. “We have mail. No need for special delivery.”
“It was important that you receive it,” he said. “We’re here to take back your answer.”
Kate opened the note, scanned the words, then shook her head. “This offer is less than the last one they made. I refused it. I refuse this.”
He cocked his head, sending lank brown hair along one cheek. His face had been weathered into hard lines, or maybe it was the steely gray of his eyes that made him seem as immovable as granite.
“You sure about that?” he asked. “It can’t be safe for a widow out here all alone.”
She should have brought her paintbrush with her. Let him look so smug with a stripe of yellow down his chest.
“I do all right,” she told him. “Tell your employer the answer is no.”
He straightened. “That’s a real shame. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your little boy.”
Cold doused her.
