The warmth surrounding her was too cozy to leave.
Opal opened her eyes to darkness and snuggled deeper under the covers. Yet, a glimmer of bright light showed around the edges of her vision. Had she pulled the blanket over her head?
She reached up to feel the dark form over her—the bear skin Matthias had let her use. As she eased it down, a blast of cold air assaulted her face. She squinted against the brightness of the morning light as it glared off a world of white snow. A drop of icy wet plopped onto her forehead, sending a shiver down her body.
She tucked the top of the blanket under her chin, trying to hold in the cocoon of warmth as she took in the surroundings. She must have slept through a good four or five inches of snowfall.
A glance at where Matthias had slept showed a rectangular patch of bare ground. Not only had he risen, but he’d already packed his bedroll. Or maybe hung it out to dry. Of course, it would only turn to icicles in this frigid air.
But if Matthias was already up and moving, she should be, too. Summoning her self-discipline, she pushed the pelt to the side—along with the layer of snow covering it—and rose to her feet. She pulled her coat tighter around her. She’d slept in full attire because of the cold, including fur hood and boots, and so at least she still had some protection.
A trail of boot prints led toward where they’d tied the horses, so she headed the opposite direction for a bit of privacy. Matthias would likely be hungry when he came back from tending the animals, so she should prepare some bread and cheese from the food bundle Mrs. S. had packed.
Within a few minutes, she had a meager breakfast laid out. ’Twas not the grand table of plenty Mrs. S. liked to prepare, but it would be enough to carry them through the morning’s ride.
Matthias still hadn’t returned, and she scanned the wintry scene through the trees in all directions. Maybe she should see if he needed help.
But the sound of boots crunching in the snow grabbed her attention, and Matthias became visible through the snow-laden branches. He looked so strong and rugged in his fur coat and cap—the epitome of a mountain frontiersman.
Something dangled from his right hand, and it wasn’t until he drew closer that the details of the fur and limp body became clearer. He must have been hunting.
He stopped just outside of their campsite and crouched beside a tree. “If you’ll start a fire, we can roast this meat.”
“I laid out a cold breakfast for us. I didn’t know you’d gone hunting.”
He grunted. “Wasn’t much of a hunt. Saw tracks in the snow and thought it’d be good to start with something warm. Won’t take long to roast the meat on sticks.”
Using the wood he’d covered before the snow fell, she kindled a fire in the bare spot where his blankets had been. Matthias had the meat prepared and separated into two portions—both speared through with sticks—before she had the fire built up enough to cook. He’d obviously done this more than once.
And he was right about it being worth the effort to cook something warm to fill their bellies on this cold morning.
In short order, they’d finished eating, packed up the camp, and mounted their horses.
Matthias glanced at her with raised eyebrows. “You ready?”
She nodded. “Ready.” More than ready to see Tori and her baby. Hopefully by late afternoon she’d be cradling the tiny child in her arms.
A light snowfall drifted over the dusky landscape as they finally rode into the yard of the Rocky Ridge Stage Station that evening. A haze of familiarity filtered through Opal, like seeing an old friend. The place looked so peaceful, with only a few prints marring the snowy ground. Several horses munched hay in the corral behind the barn.
No people in sight, though. Had they moved to Mara and Josiah’s farm to get help from family? She’d not been there when Tori needed her, so maybe her cousin had sought assistance with the baby elsewhere. She should be thankful that Ezra’s family lived so near, that Tori had someone to lean on in a time of need.
But how badly was her need? Had the baby been born with an illness or defect from coming too soon? The muscles in her shoulders pulled as tight as the knot in her gut.
Matthias reined in at the front door of the cabin. “Let me have your horse, and I’ll get them settled while you go in.”
She jumped to the ground, but something held her back from charging to the door. Looking up at him, her teeth found her lower lip. “Do you think they’re here?”
He nodded toward the cabin’s roof. “There’s smoke coming from the chimney.”
She followed his gaze, then let out a long breath. “Good.” Tori was in there, waiting for her.
Matthias waited on his big, gray gelding as she knocked at the door. It took only a moment before the shuffle of the latch sounded and the door pulled open to reveal a man.
Ezra. He blinked once, as though he couldn’t quite believe the image on his doorstep, then jerked the door open wide. “Opal. You came.”
He practically pulled her inside, then slipped an arm around her shoulder in a brotherly half-hug. “Tori will be so glad to see you.” Then he seemed to catch sight of Matthias and stilled. “Howdy, I’m Ezra Reid.”
She turned to make introductions, but Matthias was already nodding a greeting. “Matthias Björk. Mind if I settle the horses in your barn?”
“Of course. I’ll come help.” Ezra glanced at her. “Tori’s in the bedroom. Go on in.” The way his eyes crinkled at the corners in a fond smile started a longing in her chest. If she’d had a brother, she would want him to be just like Ezra. Although, in truth, now that he’d married Tori, he was just like a brother.
When the door closed behind Ezra, a silence settled over the large front room of the house.
She crept toward the back wall where two doors led to bed chambers. The one on the left should be her cousin’s. “Tori?”
“Opal?” The voice came faintly through the closed door, but Opal couldn’t deny the surge of excitement in her chest at the sound of Tori’s call.
She opened the door slowly. “May I come in?”
“Of course. Come here.” Tori’s tone held that edge of impatience that marked her personality. She tended to charge ahead when she wanted something.
Opal opened the door fully and took in the sight of Tori, sitting up in the bed with a bundle of quilt in her arms. Her face nearly glowed as the smile enveloped her.
“Come here.” Tori motioned for her, and Opal slipped forward to her cousin’s side.
Her thought had been to hug Tori, but as she caught sight of a tiny hand in the cloth bundle, she stilled. “Oh…”
The tiniest face looked up at her, swaddled in a blanket cocoon. Those lips formed a perfect cupid’s bow, yet they weren’t any bigger than Opal’s thumbnail. And that nose. Those eyes, as cornflower blue as her own. The sting of emotion rose up her throat, as she took in every perfect feature.
A hand moved in the bundle of cloth, tiny fingers splayed as the baby seemed to be waving at her.
“Hello, there, little angel.” She stroked her finger over the baby’s palm, and the little cherub moved her lips, almost like a baby bird receiving food from its mother. “You’re precious.”
“She is, isn’t she?”
Opal looked up at her cousin, who was smiling at her babe as though the child were her heart and soul.
“She’s beautiful, Tori. And are you both well?” Tori’s face seemed to glow from joy, yet beneath, shadows smudged the skin under her eyes and faint lines marked their corners.
Tori met her gaze. “I’m tired, but…we’re well.” Her gaze dropped to her sweet one and all signs of weariness seemed to slip away.
Opal sank down to sit on the side of the bed and peered at the babe again. “What have you named her?”
“Ruby Anne.”
Opal looked up at her as warmth flowed through her chest. “You gave her the same second name as me.”
Tori gave her a soft smile and a nod. “And Ruby is a gemstone, too, like Opal. We want her to be as special as her aunt, yet her own person, too.”
Now, not only could she not speak, but emotions climbing up her throat filled her eyes and threatened to spill over.
“Would you like to hold her?”
Little Ruby’s eyes had drifted shut, her perfect lips still making that sucking motion.
“But she’s sleeping.” And she was so tiny. How fragile she must be. “Is she healthy?”
“Yes, thanks to our Lord. Even though she was almost a month early, she’s eating well and already getting pudgy. See her little hands.” Tori cradled one of the tiny arms to display dimples at Ruby’s fingers and elbow.
The baby’s eyes opened to half-mast, and she made a mewing sound as she shifted her head.
Tori extended the bundle of blanket and babe. “Here. She wants to meet her Aunt Opal.”
She could barely breathe as she took the infant. So light, even swaddled in thick layers. Those blue eyes stared up at her, innocent and trusting. “Hello, my little Ruby. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”
Ruby worked her lips like a baby bird again. So sweet, the ache in Opal’s chest twisted tight enough to constrict her breathing. She would probably never have a babe of her own. She’d never longed for the love of a man, not with all the wickedness she’d seen from that gender. But this innocent new life. How could she not want a child like this to nurture and love?
A noise sounded in the other room, helping her push back the tears that had already started to seep through her lashes. Then the low vibrato of male voices. She sniffed, and the baby squirmed in her arms. “You hear your papa?”
Ezra’s face appeared in the doorway. “There’s stew in the pot, Opal. We were just going to sit down to dinner.”
Opal glanced back at Tori. “Oh, yes. Let me take over in the kitchen.” She’d come here to help, after all. “Shall I bring you a tray?”
“No.” Tori yawned and stretched an arm over her head. “Ezra’s been babying me so, but I need to get back to my duties.”
“Your most important job is a to be a mother.” Ezra stepped near and planted a kiss on the top of Tori’s head, then he leaned toward Opal and peered at his babe, who seemed to be staring up at him. “And you, sweet one, have been keeping your mama busy at all hours of the night, eh?”
The tenderness on his face tightened her chest even more. Tori had found a good man and such happiness here.
Ezra straightened. “Bring our girl out when you’re ready, Opal. From the looks of things, she’s found a set of arms she likes.” He turned and left the room.
Opal eased to her feet, doing her best not to jostle the baby, whose eyes were drifting shut now that the excitement of seeing her papa had passed. “Do you need help getting ready?”
“No, I’m fine. Go out and show the baby to Mr. Shumeister. I’ll be there in a moment.”
Mr. Shumeister? She stared at her cousin for a moment before Tori’s meaning came clear. “Oh, no. Mr. S. didn’t come with me.” But if she said who’d accompanied her, she knew exactly what expression would come over her cousin’s face.
Tori eyed her with wary confusion. “You didn’t travel all this way by yourself? Opal Anne Boyd. Don’t you remember what happened to me when I attempted that? Why, ’tis a wonder—”
“I didn’t. Stop your fretting.”
Tori paused, staring at her with that look that meant her mind was spinning. “So who came with you?”
The heat crawled up her neck before she could stop it. But why was she embarrassed? Not because there was any special affection between her and Matthias. No, the burn that surely marked her face was because of what Tori would assume. That was all.
Still, she ducked her head low as she cooed and murmured to the baby.
“The mountain man accompanied you all the way from Mountain Bluff?” The incredulous tone in Tori’s voice only made it worse. “You were alone with him two days and a night? Oh, Opal. You have to tell me everything.”
Tori jumped to her feet, not giving a second for Opal to speak if she’d wanted to. “No, you’ll tell me everything later. For now, I want to meet this man.”
“I should go help Ezra.” Opal moved around her cousin, heading for the door and the escape of that wooden barrier.
The men paused to look at her as she entered the main room. Her eyes instantly found Matthias, who stood at the table with a coffee pot, filling cups.
His gaze met hers, and the corner of his mouth tipped up. Then he looked at the bundle in her arms, and his expression softened. He looked like he might walk to her, but then he caught himself. Did he want to see the babe? She wouldn’t have expected such a rugged man like him to care about a little infant. Yet, who couldn’t love this sweet new life?
She approached him. “See our Ruby?” As she rounded the table, he leaned toward her, peering at the little cherub face tucked in the blankets. Opal fixed the covers so he could see Ruby’s features better. “Isn’t she perfect?”
He sucked in an audible breath. “She is. And so…tiny.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the way the child seemed to affect him.
He raised a hand as though he wanted to touch, but it stalled halfway up.
“Do you want to hold her?” She glanced at Ezra to make sure he didn’t object. He nodded, although his gaze shifted to Matthias as though taking the man’s measure.
“I…no…I…” Matthias stuttered and straightened to pull back a few inches. “I don’t think so.”
The way this little bundle of love made him so nervous and tongue-tied brought a giggle in Opal’s throat. She pushed it down, but the merry sound escaped when she said, “Perhaps after we eat you can sit in a chair and rock her.”
His wide eyes tracked up to her face, then back to the bundle. He didn’t speak, but the way his throat bobbed resurrected her chuckle.