Even though I am not sure I want to know the answer, the question still comes out. “Was she happy?”
“I’m not sure it will make you feel better, but yes, she was always smiling even through the hardships of building a life out here from nothing. Toby sure was smitten with her and their love was obvious to anyone who took a moment to look. Things only got hard when he got hurt in the mine. Don’t know the whole story, but apparently something fell, broke his arm and it never did heal properly. But Eliza was convinced this was just a rough patch and even started working at the diner during the summer months to make ends meet. But the snow started early that year and before long, she couldn’t get through the pass.”
“I can’t imagine Eliza waiting tables. She came from a home with servants and had the best of everything, but her heart was always leading her down another path. I knew she thought herself in love with the footman’s son. She was too open with her affections and if she cared for you, it was obvious. Never once did I dream I’d wake up alone in that huge house to a note and all her belongings gone. I looked everywhere, but it was like she just disappeared.”
“Apparently, you grew up in the same world. But look at you now … nothing but a big, smelly giant in the middle of nowhere. Just what were you both running from?”
“I still can’t answer that, because I haven’t found an answer that feels truthful. You said she was happy, so do you know why she was in such bad shape when I found her?”
“Because of where their settlement was located, once the pass was blocked, it left Eliza and Toby out there alone. Apparently, sepsis set into a cut on Toby’s leg and it festered quickly. Eliza told me later that spring on the last time I saw her, that he turned bad fast and didn’t last three days once the fever set in. She had to bury him on her own. With as small as she was, that couldn’t have been an easy task, especially in the middle of ablizzard. When the pass cleared, Eliza came to town to get the preacher so that he would pray over Toby’s grave. I’m not sure who looked worse, her or the poor horse she was riding. After that, I think a strong wind would have shattered her if it blew too aggressively. Only because this town is so small did I know she had sent a letter out addressed to Mr. Grant Hayes. The next thing I heard was that you were here, and she had left this world. I’m assuming you’re that ‘Grant’?”
“Yes, that’s me. I was already on my way here but I didn’t get her letter until it was returned to this town almost three months later.”
“Why did you stay?”
“Didn’t feel right leaving her here alone with no family or anyone to remember her. Thought about taking her back home, but that didn’t feel right either. So instead, I paid off the bank loan, took over the homestead, and acquired the mining rights. Been living there with her ghost ever since.”
Before Beatrice can say anything else, Harvey comes strolling in. “Here you go, youngin. These should fit, but he said to bring them back if not.”
Walking over to the counter, I pick up the few wrapped packages, only for Harvey to grab the others. “Let me help you get them strapped onto Rebel. Looks like a storm is brewing and you need to get back before the heavens open up.”
Just as I’m getting ready to walk out the door, I turn back. “Ma’am, I don’t have the funds with me, but if you would put that piece of fabric back, I will pay you full price for it when I return at the end of the month. I appreciate all that you havedone for me this day and for my Eliza when she needed you the most.”
“She was never a burden, dear. The world has been a darker place without her bright smile. Don’t be a stranger. You are only as alone as you allow yourself to be.”
CHAPTER 4
GRANT
By the time I get back to the cabin, I am exhausted. Thankfully, the smoke coming from the chimney is still going strong. That lets me know that she at least got up long enough to throw a few logs on the fire to keep the cabin warm on these cold, late-spring nights.
Unsaddling Rebel, I rub him down quickly, grab him an extra scoop of feed, then throw my stuffed saddlebags over my shoulder before making my way up to the back door just before a light rain hits. Opening it up, the smell of coffee in the air hits me.
The entire cabin is dark other than the shadows of the fire in the hearth. When I see the bedroom door is shut, I head into the kitchen, my entire body drained from this incredibly long, life-changing day.
Throwing my coat over the back of the chair, I find a single clean cup sitting on the mantle. Grabbing the still-warm coffee pot, I don’t hesitate to pour myself a cup. Plopping down in the chair, I allow myself a moment to relax, taking a quick sip. I stop andglance down. It looks the same, but this sure isn’t the bitter crap I’m used to drinking.
Finishing it in two gulps, I pull my boots off and make my way to bed, practically falling asleep on my way down. What feels like ten minutes later, Blue crowing his head off wakes me up. Hearing the bedroom door open, I keep my eyes closed, pretending to still be asleep, to see what she does next. When she leaves but doesn’t come right back into the cabin, I start to get up, only to flop back down when the back door opens, like a kid trying not to get caught by his mother.
I strain to hear what she’s doing, only to rise to my feet when I smell bacon mixed with coffee. Tiptoeing around the screen that separates my bedroom from the living area, I am infuriated when I see her standing there, washing dishes out of an oversized pail.
“What are you doing?!” The words come out harsher than I mean them to and I see her jump, rapidly putting her head down, grasping her hands tightly together in front of her, and instantly, I feel like an ass. “I am sorry, Lauren. I didn’t mean it to come out that way, but you are supposed to be resting. How the hell did you get that bucket of water in here?”
“The creek is not that far from the house, and I figured you would want breakfast.” There she stands in my shirt, one sock up, the other around her ankle, shaking like a leaf. Both of us turn when we smell the bacon burning. Before I can reach her, she grabs the hot skillet only to instantly drop it onto the ground, grasping her now burned hand against her chest.
“I am sss orrrr y. Give me a minute and I will clean this up and get you something to eat.”
“The hell you will … sit your bottom down.” I point toward the other chair in the room and she sits down, but not before I see tears streaking down her cheeks.
Grabbing an old rag, I dip it into the cold water and gently pull her hand away from her chest. My fingers seek out the blisters that are already swelling on her palm. “Here, hold this on your hand and the cold will help ease the burn. There is an old aloe plant in here somewhere. Do not move. I’ll be right back.”
It takes me a minute to even remember where I last saw it. Once I dig it out from a pile of clothes, I break off a piece and run back in. My heart is beating out of my chest. Even though my mind tells me this is just a simple burn, the fact that she got hurt at all is just unacceptable to me.
In the two seconds I have been gone, she’s managed to move the pan further out of the fire, but at least she is back in the chair. “Here, let me put this on so it can help.”
“Please don’t be mad.” Her voice is low, but there’s no missing the fear in it.
I lift her chin with my finger, then wipe the tears off her cheeks. “I am not mad, Little Mouse. Upset that you were up trying to do all of this when I told you to rest,Yes. You can barely stand up straight because of your ribs and the last thing you need to be doing is carrying anything heavy. Why did you grab that pan? You know the handle’s hot.”
