“I will. Just not now.”
Addie couldn’t persuade her to change her mind.
The others had eaten. She’d washed their dishes. Dark shadows hovered in the corners. Shorty lit the lamp. Still, the other two hadn’t returned. Addie stayed at the window, watching for them.
Mr. Bertrand cleared his throat. “You might as well give up. It’s like I said. They aren’t coming back for us.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Mr. Bertrand harrumphed. None of the others spoke a word in favor of Nash and Hawk.
Did they know something she didn’t?
“It’s toodark to safely continue,” Nash called to Hawk.
Hawk straightened from his efforts. “Right.” He shoved his hat back and studied the situation. Rocks, brought down by the rain, lay scattered across the trail half a mile or more from where the coach sat firmly ensconced in mud. A trench had washed out part of thetrail. It would need to be filled in before they could continue. And then they’d have to dig out the coach.
“Help will be coming soon.” Hawk had said it several times. And yet, no one had appeared. If Nash ventured a guess, he’d say no one planned to come. Likely, they had things to take care of in Golden Valley.
“Let’s get back to the cabin.” Nash stuck his shovel in the ground. He’d be back tomorrow to continue this backbreaking task. Right now, he wanted a hot cup of coffee, a warm meal, and Addie’s welcoming smile. Had she missed him? Did she wonder why they were so late? Pleasure pulled his mouth into a smile.
Hawk joined him, and they climbed a slippery incline as they began their return.
Nash stopped. “Do you smell that?”
“Food? Both sweet and something savory. My mother always said both were needed in a meal.” It was the most words Hawk had strung together at once.
Nash moved forward before Hawk finished, the man hot on his heels.
The aromas intensified with each step closer. By the time they reached the door, Nash swallowed repeatedly.
They paused to kick mud off their boots and then stepped inside.
“Glad you’re back. I saved supper for you.” Addie’s words and smile were as welcoming as he’d hoped.
“Mr. Bertrand suggested the pair of you had walked to Golden Valley and left him to find his own way.” Shorty snorted.
The words barely registered with Nash as Addie set two cups of steaming coffee on the table and two plates of food. Neither he nor Hawk wasted any time taking their place. They both drank several swallows of coffee. Then Hawk waited while Nash murmured a quick prayer ofthanks. They ate in appreciative silence. Not until his plate had been scraped clean and Addie set portions of pie before them did he look up.
“Are you going to tell us what you were doing out there?” Mr. Bertrand demanded.
Nash glanced toward Hawk, informing him he should answer.
“The trail is blocked.” Hawk then explained the problems they faced. “Help will be coming from Golden Valley. In the meantime, Nash has been kind enough to help.”
Mr. Zacharius cleared his throat. “Are you able to tell us how long this will take?”
“It depends on when help arrives and how many men come.”
“That’s not very definitive.” Mr. Zacharius’s hand shook as he rubbed at his weary eyes.
The poor man must be exhausted. He’d slept at the table both nights and often broke into violent coughing.
“I’m sorry. It’s the best I can do.”
Nash’s attention shifted from the others to the enjoyment of dessert. “I certainly wasn’t anticipating a pie.”
“Shorty and I made it.” Addie grinned at the man she meant.
