She marched into the warehouse, thoroughly annoyed with herself. Kenzie knew if she didn’t get a hold on her feelings, Camri and Judith would never leave her be.
“Oh, Kenzie! Come and hear the good news!” Judith exclaimed. She hurried across the room to take Kenzie’s arm. “Caleb and Patrick have come from speaking with the mayor. You won’t believe what’s happened.”
Joining the happy foursome was the last thing Kenzie wanted to do. However, she knew if she refused or tried to avoid the situation, it would only stir up more attention. She let Judith pull her toward the others.
“Tell Kenzie what you just said,” Judith encouraged.
Patrick’s smile stretched from ear to ear, but it was Camri who spoke. “The mayor has agreed to reinstate Patrick’s business license. He’s going to be allowed to help with the rebuilding.”
“Not only that,” Caleb interjected, “but he agreed to issue Patrick a voucher in order to repurchase the things taken from him. We might even be able to get back his family home. Mayor Schmitz said he would check into it.”
Kenzie knew without being told what was coming next.
“With everything in order, we told the girls to set the wedding date,” Caleb finished, putting his arm around Judith.
Camri leaned into Patrick’s hold. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
“It is.” Kenzie forced a smile. “It truly is. I’ll be glad to help you with the plans.”
Camri gave Kenzie’s hand a squeeze. “And one day we’ll do the same for you.”
Kenzie didn’t want to tell her friend that she didn’t believe that day would ever come. Instead she gave a little nod. Before Camri could say anything else and cause more unintended pain, Kenzie spoke up. “I posted the notes about Cousin George and Dr. Fisher.”
“What’s that?” Caleb asked.
Camri nodded and let go of Kenzie’s hand. “We heard about the board being put up at the relief camp so people could post notes about their missing loved ones. We thought we’d put up notices that we’re trying to find George Lake and Micah.”
“That was a good idea, but I wish you hadn’t gone by yourself,” Caleb said, fixing Kenzie with a stern look. “It’s not safe out there.”
Kenzie knew the dangers well enough. “We felt we had to do what we could. And now I’m back.” She shrugged. “And no worse for the trip.”
“Well, next time you want to do something like that, let me or Patrick know, and we’ll go with you or arrange for someone else to do so.”
Kenzie nodded, knowing it was senseless to argue. To her relief, a young soldier entered the warehouse.
“Who’s in charge here?” he called out.
Caleb immediately went to him. “I am. Have you brought us supplies?”
“Yes, sir. Where do you want them?”
“Just bring them in here. We don’t want them getting wet. It hasn’t started to rain yet, has it?”
“No, sir, but it looks to pour any minute. If you can lend a hand, we can get everything inside faster.”
“Of course.” Caleb gave Patrick a nod. “How about it?”
“I’d be insulted if ye didn’t ask me,” Patrick said with a grin.
“We’ll all help,” Camri said. “I’ll get some of the residents to help as well. Good thing we finished clearing out the corner. We’ll just stack it all over there.” She pointed to the far side of the warehouse room.
Kenzie followed the others and picked up a twenty-five-pound bag of beans. She thought back to the days she’d helped her father in the mercantile. Her great-uncle had owned the store, but her father managed it. He did such a good job that eventually his uncle left him not only the store, but also a tidy sum of money. It had taken her father from a position of workingman to owner, and eventually into a relaxed retirement. Of course, even that hadn’t been good enough to put her on equal ground with the likes of Arthur Morgan’s family. She knew they had never approved of her. They’d made their feelings well known.
She tried not to let the pain of those memories fuel her anger at failing to find George. It wouldn’t help matters for her to get lost in times gone by. Nothing positive could be gained by remembering her mistakes.
Kenzie made trip after trip with the others, going back and forth and carrying whatever she could until her arms ached. The hard work helped clear her mind. The army had been generous with the amount of food they’d sent. The folks at Solid Rock wouldn’t eat high on the hog, as folks might have said back in Missouri, but at least they would eat.
Once the wagon was unloaded, the work to inventory and put everything away began. Camri organized the residents, and Kenzie decided to catch up on some cleaning. With the kitchen area void of people for the time being, she could get the floor scrubbed. She discarded her hat and coat and pulled on an apron to protect her dress. A pail awaited her at the back door. She picked it up, grimacing. She’d worn a blister on her hand from all the toting and fetching she’d been doing.
