She moved to one of the wider cracks between logs and peered out. Rosie was dismounting at the gate. She must’ve left the ranch at first light to be here so early. Maybe once she saw everything was going smoothly, she wouldn’t feel the need to linger during every moment of daylight hours.
Lorelei moved the kettle to a better position among the logs, then turned to go out and greet her sister.
The murmur of voices already drifted from the courtyard, and when Lorelei opened the door, Rosie was speaking to both Tanner and White Horse. Her brow furrowed with worry. Or maybe just intensity, but either way, the sight tightened something in Lorelei’s middle.
What had happened now?
thirteen
Lorelei joined the group as Rosie was saying something about the Sioux village.
When Tanner answered, his voice no longer held that sleep-roughened edge. Only tension. “How far behind do you think they are?”
“They were already packed up and starting out when I left the ranch, but I traveled faster than they’ll be able to.”
Tanner glanced toward the rising sun. “They could start to arrive by midmorning, then.”
“Maybe early. Move faster than you think.” White Horse’s tone held its normal calm strength. No sign of worry there.
Lorelei turned to her sister. “Is it the entire village? Are they moving, or are they coming to cause trouble?”
Rosie’s mouth took a grim line. “Looks like all the lodges are down. I think everyone’s coming here.”
Well, that was good. “Do they look angry? Do you think they intend trouble?”
Rosie shrugged and threw out her hands. “I don’t know.But all three hundred or so of them will likely set up camp right in front of the fort.” She motioned toward the small, hilly valley in front of the trading post.
Lorelei eased out a long breath, then placed a hand on her sister’s arm. “We expected that. That’s why we moved Curly, to encourage our new neighbors to travel away from the ranch. We don’t need that potential danger around Juniper and the baby. And now their horses won’t eat the grass we’ve been saving for our herd. This is good.”
Rosie didn’t speak immediately, but the way her jaw flexed and her nose flared, she must have been trying to rein in her emotions.
She gave a short nod. “I’m just not sure I like you being here with so much happening in the area.” And without Rosie staying on site every minute, no doubt. Their oldest sister worked so hard to keep them all safe. Releasing control like this must be tying knots of her insides.
Lorelei glanced around the three of them. “Is there anything we should do to prepare for their coming?” If not, she would take Rosie inside and feed her. The aroma of salted pork would soothe her sister’s worries if anything could.
White Horse shook his head. “I watch and signal when they come.”
Tanner propped his hands at his waist. “I’m ready for visitors any time. I’ll get the animals fed and the cow milked now.”
Lorelei nodded. “Good.” She reached for her sister’s hand. “Give Mr. Mason your horse and come with me. Do I have a treat for you.”
Lorelei waited in the shade of the trade room’s back doorway as she listened through the slats for the voices inside. Such a steady flow of men had come from the Sioux camp to trade these last two days, she’d barely seen Tanner.
White Horse, on the other hand, seemed to be everywhere. Helping Tanner in the trade room, standing guard in what had become his favorite position in one of the front corners of the fort walls. From there, he could see the entire village and any who approached the trading post from the left or right as well as a full view inside the courtyard.
So far, the Natives had been very little trouble. Nearly every time she stepped outside, she could see eyes peering between logs in the fort walls, and sometimes fingers poking through as they called to Curly. He mostly dozed right outside the door of her little house, and she usually kept it open, for light and fresh air—and also to keep an eye on the calf and the happenings outside. She tried to speak with their curious visitors, but none of them seemed to understand English. Her knowledge of their signs had proven woefully lacking.
Aside from the inability to communicate, she had never expected this arrangement would be so peaceful. She’d churned more butter and done a fair amount of cooking, sending heaping plates for Tanner and White Horse. She’d kept Curly’s hoof doctored and clean, and wiped down the walls of the cabin.
There wasn’t really anything out of order there that needed tending. Tanner’s belongings all seemed fairly new, even the barrel of clothing pushed against the corner that he used as a seat and table combined. He must have purchased most of this before he left Boston. Or maybe in St. Louis,for that was usually the place people outfitted themselves before going west.
The unfamiliar voices on the other side of the door faded away, and she listened another moment to be sure the customers had left. Since she had more time than usual on her hands, she’d attempted something special this afternoon. Something she never would’ve imagined she could make over an open fire. But with the supplies on hand and her special day coming so soon ... Well, she would know from Tanner’s and White Horse’s reactions if the attempt was worth eating or not.
She pulled the latchstring just enough to release the door, then eased it open a crack. Tanner’s silhouetted form stood behind the counter, looking down at something. He’d not heard her yet, and the last thing she wanted to do was startle him. The front door stood open, but no one else seemed to be in the room. White Horse must have escorted the customers out.
“Tanner?” She kept her voice quiet in case someone was present she couldn’t see.
He jerked his head up. “Lorelei.” He glanced around the room to make sure no customers remained, then strode toward her.
