Unfortunately, the talk he had been hoping to have would have to wait until this inspection was over. But she had accepted his impromptu proposal, allowed his help in everything from shining silver to making beds, written him of her admiration. That had to count for something.
Captain Harris would start his inspection at the guard station, so Will and his remaining men were in camp, in their dress uniforms, when their commanding officer and his aide arrived three days later. Franklin had finished the roof on the cabin, and they’d been using the space to store their gear. Harris walked around the outside, stepped inside, glanced around, and stepped out with a shake of his head.
“We calculated the amount of wood needed, but this is spartan, even by Army standards,” he told Will, who was waiting with Franklin and Smith. “And inadequate for six men through the winter months. I begin to see why you approached Mrs. Tremaine.”
He was even less impressed with the Fire Hole Hotel and its cottages. “Limited capacity and rude construction,” he informed Will as they rode away from the place. “I will encourage the Yellowstone Park Association to improve the buildings before next season.”
The next stop on the tour was the Geyser Gateway, and Will’s saddle felt unaccountably stiff, Bess’s gait stiffer, as they approached the geyser field from the north. By the way Franklin was shifting on his horse, as if the leather had grown hot, he felt the same way. Even the normally unflappable Smith kept darting glances at their captain as they reined in at the front of the hotel.
Kate, Danny, and Alberta were standing on the porch as if they’d known Captain Harris and the others would arrive at exactly that moment. Kate’s black hair gleamed in the sunlight as she stepped out of the shade, navy skirts settling around her trim figure.
“Captain Harris, Lieutenant Tutherly, gentlemen, welcome to the Geyser Gateway.”
Captain Harris swung down, and Tutherly took his horse and the captain’s to the corral. “Mrs. Tremaine, a pleasure to see you again. And this must be Daniel the lionhearted.”
Danny, who had come to her side, hair slicked back and shirt tucked into his short trousers, stared up at him. “Why did you call me that?”
He bent to put his head on a level with the boy’s. “Because it would take a man with the heart as brave as a lion’s to stand up to Roy Jessup. Well done, Soldier.”
Danny stuck out his chest. “Lieutenant Prescott says I’m a general.”
Will’s cheeks felt warm as the captain straightened and glanced his way. “I should have realized I was outranked.” He turned to Danny. “What are your orders, sir?”
Danny glanced from Kate to Will and then to Captain Harris. “Tell my ma how nice her hotel looks. She worked real hard so you’ll like it.”
Now Kate was blushing. “That’s enough, Danny.”
Captain Harris chuckled. “Listen to your commanding officer, son. And show me around this fine hotel of yours.”
“This way,” Kate said, stepping aside, and Alberta hurried to open the door for them.
It took nearly two hours for Harris to inspect the hotel, the grounds and outbuildings, and Elijah’s stagecoach.
“I understand you had some trouble,” he told the wiry driver as they all stood in the cool shadows of the barn.
Elijah smiled at him. “Nothing I can’t handle, Captain.”
Harris nodded. “Then we will hope to see you again next spring. Wakefield and Hoffman could use the competition. From what I can see by the way you’ve recovered from this incident, you’ll keep them on their toes.”
Elijah saluted. “I’ll do my best, sir.” As the commanding officer headed for the wide doors, he grinned at Kate. “Looks like you’ll be seeing me again soon, Mrs. Tremaine.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Kate assured him.
With a nod of respect to Elijah, Will directed her out the door for the geyser field beyond.
Throughout the tour, Will had kept pace, answered questions posed to him, listened as Kate answered others. Harris’s face remained calm, thoughtful, while Kate’s began to grow paler. Will couldn’t have said which way the wind blew. He wanted to step between his commanding officer and her, shelter her from whatever might come. The best he could do was squeeze her hand from time to time behind the captain’s back.
“Is there anything else?” Kate asked as they headed back toward the hotel.
“Perhaps a slice of that marvelous huckleberry pie I’ve heard so much about,” Harris said.
“Of course. We were hoping you might stay to dinner. I promised to reciprocate your hospitality at Mammoth Hot Springs.”
He smiled. “You have already reciprocated it a dozen times over by hosting visitors in such an excellent establishment.” He turned to his adjutant. “Lieutenant Tutherly, a piece of pie for you as well?”
He nodded to Kate. “I’d be delighted, ma’am.”
“I’ll have it ready in a moment,” Kate promised. She smiled at Will. “And of course our valiant cavalry detachment must join us.”
“Ma’am,” Franklin said eagerly while Smith swept her a bow.
She lifted her skirts to climb the steps for the door.
Captain Harris remained on the ground. “Lieutenant Prescott, a moment.”
Tutherly glanced at Will before moving around the hotel. Will supposed he was checking on their horses in the corral. Smith and Franklin remained respectfully behind them.
“Sir?” Will asked.
Harris eyed him. “How much assistance have you given Mrs. Tremaine since arriving?”
He had to go carefully. He knew how Harris felt about the proper division between Army and civilian duties.
“I needed a guide. Mrs. Tremaine agreed to serve in exchange for some minor help—repairing stairs, clearing chimneys, that sort of thing. Any other assistance rendered came solely under our duties to protect the park and ensure the well-being of its visitors.”
Harris’s brow quirked. “I see. You might tell Smith the word geyser does not have an A in it.”
“It does in Louisiana,” Smith drawled.
Will
