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Hank grabbed his guitar and sat on his stool in front of their guests. He took comfort in having his daughters sitting on both sides of him.
"Tonight, we're going to change our tempo of music. This morning Madam Vellechamp, a guest who arrived at the lodge last night, died in her sleep. In respect to her and her daughter Genevieve, I would like to play an Irish ballad. It has a way of taking me back to my younger days when dreaming of what was to be a large part of my being."
He strummed his guitar and started to sing.
"The lonely wind blowing over green hills calls me heart home.
Its strength scatters me dreams like wildflowers..."
Once he finished the song, Genevieve moved next to him. "Thank you. Your music has lightened my spirit."
"We're happy to see you with us this evening."
"I know my mother was a difficult person to be around, but in her own world in San Francisco's society she was respected. She couldn't accept the change in our circumstances since my father died and left us in debt."
"I can sympathize with her. When life turns our world upside down, it isn't always easy to regain our balance. I understand if you decide to return to San Francisco, but I hope you'll stay with us. I've been hearing a lot of complimentary comments from my daughters about their new teacher."
She smiled. "Thank you again. You have beautiful children and I am already glad to be here. Will you help me with my mother's burial?"
"Of course, in the morning we can pick a place in the cemetery for her. There isn't enough snow to deter my ranch hands from digging her a proper grave. We do have a preacher on the outskirts of the post. Caroline can take you to meet him and you can decide what kind of service you would like for her. It's entirely up to you."
"We'll have it before class starts."
"That sounds good, Genevieve. It's time for me to get back to work. You'll have to excuse me."
"Good night, Hank. I'm going to retire to my bedroom."
He watched Genevieve leave the room. He walked back to the front of the audience and picked up his guitar. "I'd like to tell you about my childhood friend, Chase, and his foster father, Cappy.
"When Cappy brought Chase to the post the first time to trade their furs, Chase and I were in our teenage years. At that time my father was alive and owner of this place. We became great friends and every time they came, Chase and I would grab fishing poles and take off to the river or, if it was warm, swim in Lake Nokomis.
This routine became habit and continued for several years. When Cappy and Chase started escorting wagon trains across the country, we drifted apart for a while. Then, one day in early spring Chase came with his friend Chipakwa. They'd become blood brothers about the same time as Chase and I became friends. Chase had nicknamed Chipakwa Laughing Bear after they'd spent a couple of days together stranded in a cave. Later I learned that together they worked to stop a band of renegade white men who were killing emigrants traveling to California.
We never know what our future holds or why we meet certain people along the way. Today Laughing Bear's two sons are part of our family, and because of Chase's friendship, Genevieve Vellechamp has become governess to my children, her long-time driver Big Dog, is thinking of joining our family as a second blacksmith, and Tam and Jory MacGregor brought us horses to add to our stables."
Hank grinned at the applause. He loved telling stories from his past and tonight's was a special one. He said good-bye to his guests.
Tam approached him. "I enjoyed hearing some of the history from your youth. My brothers and I have known Chase and Cappy since we arrived from Scotland several years ago. They have quite a large spread of land on the outskirts of Paradise Pines and have earned a good reputation for their horses."
Hank rested his hand on Tam's shoulder. "Let me buy you a glass of ale." He led the young man to the bar. "My friend and I need your best." He winked at Matthias.
Matthias filled two glasses from Hank's personal stash and slid them across the bar. "You did well this evening. I hadn't heard the whole story of Luc and Josef's father before."
"Now I know why Chase hired Jory and me to herd the horses to you and why Chase gifted a horse to both Luc and Josef."
"You were a surprise, Tam. Chase didn't say a word in his telegram to me. I think he had his mind on Genevieve working as my governess and sent the horses as an afterthought." He knocked his glass against Tam's. "Here's to you and your brother liking what you find here in the Northwoods."
"I'll drink to that." Tam raised his glass and emptied it. "Wow, that's some good scotch." He set the glass on the bar. "Excuse me."
Hank followed the young man's line of vision and pursed his lips. Jory and Luc were in a discussion with Caroline.
Tam made his way toward them. He knocked Jory's shoulder. "What are you doin'?"
Jory pushed Tam toward the door. Tam pushed back. Before they could do damage to his room and each other, Hank stepped between the two brothers. "Take it outside boys."
They pulled back. Caroline glared at Tam. "What was that push all about, Tam? Me?"
His gaze locked a moment with hers, but he didn't deny his motivation.
"Don't you ever insult me like that again."
"Fine. I won't be bothering you." Tam grabbed a lantern off a nearby table and headed out the door.
"He's going to freeze outside without his coat," Caroline said.
"No, he's hot enough at me he won't even feel the cold."
"Does this happen often? I mean you quarreling?"
"Mama said we fought before we were born because we had to share the space inside her."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "I'll never understand why you have to fight, but guess it's part of who you are."
Jory chuckled. "If you asked me why, I couldn't even answer the question. My brother is a good man. Sort of like me, but his temperament is usually less provocative."
"How can you say that? He's the one who started the fight."
"No, I goaded him, Caroline. I knew his jealousy would stir his temper."
"Jealous of what?"
Jory winked. "I'll leave you to figure that out."
Hank didn't like where the conversation with his daughter was heading. He slapped Jory on the back. "Enough of this kind of talk. Let's you and me grab a drink."
"I'd never turn down the offer of ale." Matthias poured two glasses of the good stuff and pushed them toward Jory and Hank.
"Try to keep the fist fights to a minimum while you're here, young man."
"Yes, sir." Jory downed the drink. His eyes watered as he set the glass back on the bar. "It's been a while since I've had good scotch. Thank you."
The door swung open. Tam took a moment to catch his breath. "Wolves are in the pasture and stalking our horses."
He ran back out of the room, leaving the door wide open. Jory tugged on his coat and grabbed Tam's. He followed close behind him.
Hank took his rifle from Matthias and checked to make sure the firearm was loaded. "Caroline, don't let anyone outside and lock the door behind us." He and Matthias buttoned up in their warm coats and left carrying rifles and lanterns.
*****
CAROLINE GATHERED HER sisters in front of the fire and took one of the books Mama read to them off the shelf. The girls curled up in their favorite chairs and waited for the menfolk to return. Danielle pulled several warm quilts from the large traveling trunk and tucked them around her younger sisters.
An hour or so later, the three youngest yawned and could hardly keep their eyes open. Danielle put them to bed while Caroline cleaned up the mess left over from their guests. She was also about to retire, but stopped when she heard loud banging on the door.
"It's us, Caroline, open the door. Your father's hurt."
Caroline unbolted the door and swung it open. She stepped back as Matthias carried her father into the room and laid him on the floor.
"Dear God, what's happened?"
"He stepped in a hole and broke his leg. He'll be fine once I can set the bone."
Tam came through the door a few moments later carrying long, slender slats perfect for immobilizing the leg.
"Why don't you put a pot of coffee on the stove while we take care of your father?" Tam said.
She sighed and mouthed 'thank you'. When he tossed his coat on a wooden chair near the fireplace, blood dripped onto the floor. She noticed the long tear and blood along one sleeve. What the hell did they encounter out there?
The sight cramped her stomach, but she knew she had to stay strong while he and Matthias concentrated on helping her father.
Caroline hurried to the kitchen. She shoved wood inside the stove. Once the wood caught on, she filled a bucket with water.
"Let me get that for you," Tam said, lifting the bucket onto the stove. "Has the well always opened in the kitchen floor?"
"Yes, apparently my grandfather was a forward-looking man. It sure beats carrying water in here from the well outside in the quadrant."
She took the coffee pot off the cupboard shelf and handed it to Tam. He filled it with water and set it on the stove where Caroline could put the coffee inside and then slide it over the heat.
"Are you all right? Your face is pale." She pulled Tam's torn sleeve back and saw a long gash in his flesh. She swayed toward him.
He wrapped his good arm around her and helped her onto one of the chairs at the preparation table. "Take some deep breaths while I get you something to drink." He filled a glass from the water container on the sink and handed it to her.
She drank half of the water and set the rest on the table. "Thank you. I'm so embarrassed."
He sat next to her. "I cannot fathom why you're embarrassed."
"I'm not usually the type to swoon."
Tam tipped her chin up. "You've had a shock seeing your father hurt and then blood on my shirt. I'd say you should swoon if you want to. I'm here to catch you and would willingly hold you until you are able to function normally again."
She stared at the devilish twinkle in his deep blue eyes and couldn't hold back the smile. "You're a rogue, sir."
He chuckled from deep inside his gut.
"What a delightful sound."
"Aw, thank you."
"Please, tell me what happened."
He looked at his bloody arm. "This is nothing but a scratch. Scots are a tough breed."
Her father screamed. She jumped to her feet, but Tam was a bit quicker on his. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Please, stay seated. Your father wouldn't want you in there while they reset his bone."
"They?"
"Yes, Jory is also with your father."
She returned to her chair. "I insist you tell me what happened. How did they get hurt?"
"It was a battle between man and beast. The wolves were vicious. Maybe they were hungry, and possibly rabid. I didn't care which. My attention was on the mare they had cornered."
"How many were in the pack?"
"My guess is probably six or seven. Jory and I were on horseback. Luc, Matthias, and your father had better control on foot. Hank and Matthias stalked the wolves from behind. Luc had a bow and arrows. He did manage to kill one of the wolves right off. The smell of blood might have set the pack off. Their actions turned frenzied. Luc tried to draw their attention from the opposite side of us. Hank stepped in a deep hole and lost his balance. That's when one wolf set his sight on your father."
"Oh, no." Caroline pressed her hand against her mouth. "Daddy could have died."
"Yes, that was my thought as well. I kicked my horse into action and hurried toward Hank. I graspeed for the bowie knife I carry in a casing in my boot. Just as I reached your father, I jumped out of the saddle, and wrestled with the wolf until I could shove the blade into its neck."
Tam ripped his sleeve open and took a moment to check out the wound on his arm. "By the look of this deep gash, the damned beast wanted a bite out of me, too."
He wiped a dribble of sweat off his brow before continuing. "Jory and Luc shot the other wolves and now Luc is herding the horses into the barn. Matthias and I brought your father here."
"I don't understand why you didn't shoot the wolves in the first place."
"They were too close to the mare to take the chance."
"Is she all right?"
"Yes, thank the good Lord."
Jory walked into the kitchen. "How's that coffee doing?"
"It should be ready." Caroline got up and set a tray on the sink board.
Jory noticed Tam's arm. "Let me see what you've got going there." He winced at seeing the wolf bite. "We need to clean it out right away. I'll be right back."
He returned with a bottle of whiskey. "Come over here and hold your arm over the sink."
Tam glanced at Caroline. "If you don't look, I promise not to scream."
Jory shook his head. "Oh, come on, this won't be worse than that horrid iodine Grace would pour into it. "Caroline heard a quick gasp, but true to his word Tam didn't let out a sound.
"Who is Grace?" she asked.
Tam gritted his teeth as his brother poked around in the ravaged flesh and poured more whiskey into it.
"Grace is our long-time housekeeper/cook. After our mother died, she stepped into Mama's role and finished raising us boys. She has this jar of purplish medication she pours on our wounds. It's strong enough to put us to our knees, but we don't dare make a sound. She doesn't approve of us fighting and when we do, she delights in making her point with the iodine."
Caroline peeked over Jory's shoulder at the bite. Chills ran the length of her. She remembered how it felt the other day in the barn when her father poured Spike's booze into her gash. Her wound was nowhere near as bad as Tam's, and it seared her raw flesh.
Time to vacate the kitchen.
"I'll take the coffee to Uncle Matthias and bring the medical box back." She set the pot and cups on the tray and carried it into the other room.
"How are you, Daddy?" Caroline set the tray on one of the tables next to where he rested on the sofa. "The splint looks painful."
"I've been better." He winced as he pulled himself up to a sitting position. "Now I could use some of that brew."
She poured a cup and handed it to him. His hands trembled. It took all the willpower she had not to throw her arms around him, and tell him how happy she was that he was alive.
Matthias joined them. "Can you spend some time with your father? I need to clean up the bar area before morning."
"Yes, thank you, Uncle Matthias. You do what you need to do and I'll be here for Daddy."
He nodded and tossed a couple of logs on the fire before heading to do his task.
Caroline put the medical supplies her uncle hadn't used back inside the box. "You and Tam could have been killed, Daddy. Why on earth were you on foot instead of your horse?"
"The wolves were incensed. We worked better with three of us with feet on the ground."
Luc entered the main room. He shucked off his coat and looked at the splints. "Matthias did a good job." He pulled a chair over and sat by Hank. "We have all the horses inside the barn for a while. I want to make sure there aren't any wolf stragglers out there."
Caroline handed Luc a cup of coffee. "Tam was bitten by the wolf he killed. Should we be worried?"
"Where is he?"
"He's in the kitchen with Jory."
Luc finished his drink and handed her the cup. "You stay here and I'll take care of the problem."
She handed him the medical box. "What are you going to do?"
"I'd rather you not know. Can you find something larger than the usual bandages to use as a sling for his arm when I'm done?"
"Yes, I'll bring it to you."
"No, when I need the bandage, I'll come and get it."
Caroline went to the storage room and found exactly what she had in mind. She returned to the chair by her father and laid the clean cloth on the arm of the sofa.
"Luc is scaring me. What do you think he's going to do to Tam?"
Hank took his daughter's hand. "Honey, Luc comes from a long line of Sioux medicine men. I'd trust my life in that man's hands anytime."
"Did Tam save your life tonight?"
"He sure did. He wrestled that wolf and shoved his blade into the beast's neck. His act of heroism puts him equal to Luc in my opinion. I am grateful to both MacGregors tonight. They're good men."
"Tam sat with me in the kitchen while Uncle Matthias set your leg. Does it really hurt?"
"Yes, but I'm alive. Would you mind if I offer Tam and Jory temporary jobs? They could take over my responsibilities until I can walk on both feet again."
"Do you know how long a broken bone takes to heal?"
"Matthias said about six to eight weeks, depending on whether I stay off it or not."
Caroline leaned down in front of his face. "If I see you doing something you shouldn't, I'll let you have it." She slammed her fist into her hand.
Hank chuckled. "You're talking like the stable boys, Caroline. What would your Mother think?"
"Yeah, well I'm serious. Let us wait on you for the length of time it takes for you to heal, Daddy."
"Sitting still won't be easy for me."
"You can sit on the porch in the lounge chair and shout your orders."
"Thank you, daughter. Now answer my question. Can you handle the MacGregors staying longer than we expected?"
"Would it make you feel less stressed if they stay?"
"Yes, of course. After our discussion this morning, I want to keep us on good terms. If you feel uncomfortable with the twins being at the trading post all winter, tell me now."
"Do you think they'd stay all winter?" Most years the winter lasts until at least April and this is only the first week of November. Six months would be a long time for them to be snowed in here.
"Caroline, stop daydreaming. What are you thinking? I need an answer so I can settle it with them tonight."
If I'm making a mistake, God help me. I cannot be so selfish as to say no, not while he's hurting and worrying about keeping the trading post running. A lot of trappers counted on them during the winter months. "Yes, ask the MacGregor brothers to stay and help. What about Big Dog? Maybe he'd stay, too."
"He's already spoken about staying. I hired him to help in the blacksmith's shop while he's thinking about making the trading post his new home. I think you can find him sitting with Genevieve. They are discussing ideas on what the preacher should say over her mother's grave tomorrow."
"Big Dog is a great comfort for her."
"Yes, he is. Apparently, he's been her driver for years and is very protective." Hank yawned. "I'm ready for bed." He tried to get up, but the splint restrained his movement. Frustrated, he tried to lift his broken leg again, but the splints were too heavy. He laid back down and calmed his nerves until help came.
"You can't walk to your room without help." She rose from her chair. "I'll be right back."
She hurried upstairs and knocked on Genevieve's room. There was no answer. She moved down to Madam Vellechamp's room and knocked. Big Dog answered.
"Can I speak to you outside for a moment?"
"Of course." He stepped into the hall. "What can I do for you, Miss Caroline?"
"My father broke his leg and he'll need help getting up to his bedroom. Could you help him?"
"That's terrible. Wait just a minute." He went back into the room and came back out with Genevieve.
She grabbed Caroline's hand. "What has happened to your father's leg?"
"I didn't want to disturb you tonight. You have enough on your mind already."
"Please, I'd like to know."
"My father stepped in a deep hole and broke his leg. Tam saved his life when he stabbed the wolf that was poised to attack Daddy. I am so thankful nobody died."
"I'm not surprised that one of the MacGregors jumped in to save him."
"Can you help Daddy up to his bedroom?"
"Of course, I can. Is he ready right now?"
"Yes, with the splint he can't even get off the sofa alone." Caroline led him down a back staircase. He took one look at Hank and shook his head. "You're a mess. Let me help you to your bed."
Big Dog slid his arms under her father and lifted him off the sofa. "Put me down, I can make my way to the stairs."
Big Dog did as Hank insisted, but the splint was heavy and awkward.
Hank finally broke down and let Big Dog wrap his arm around his waist for support as he hobbled across the floor.
The stairs were another problem. Even if he held onto the bannister, he couldn't hop his way up to the top. He gave in again and let Big Dog carry him. Caroline hurried ahead so she could open the door and light his lantern.
Big Dog maneuvered her father's splinted leg carefully into the bedroom without bumping it against anything. He laid Hank on the bed, took the boot off his good leg, and tucked him into bed. "You need anything at all during the night, you call Big Dog.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome. Now get some rest. I'll get a fire started in your grate and then check on you every so often. Leave the door opened so I can hear your call for help."
"Thank you." Hank watched Big Dog light the kindling. "I have a question."
"Sure."
"Earlier in the week you mentioned you would consider staying here. If you'd like the blacksmith job, it's yours along with one of the empty cabins, or a room down the corridor. I'll pay you extra to help me get around until my leg heals."
Big Dog smiled. "Yes, boss, you can count on me. For the time being, I'd better stay where I am. It'll give me a better chance to get my bearings as to where I should live."
Hank settled against his pillow. "I can rest easy now."
"I'll return to Miss Genevieve."
"How's she doing?"
"Her heart is heavy. There's a bit of guilt tugging at her for coming here. Madam Vellechamp didn't travel well and wasn't happy when she saw your trading post setup. I suppose she could have willed herself to death, but it's hard to say with that woman."
"Genevieve will heal in time. My daughters already love her."
"Yes, I've seen how they greet her. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night, Big Dog."
He left the room.
Caroline started to leave, too. "Honey, as soon as Luc is done with Tam, please ask him and Jory to see me before they turn in for the night."
"Let me go and check with them right now. I'm getting tired, too, and need to go to bed. It's been a very long day."
She left the room and hesitated a moment outside her father's bedroom door. Telling her father that she didn't care if the MacGregors stayed all winter was one thing, but after their shared kisses she wasn't convinced it was a good idea for Tam to stay.