Page 22 of Beyond Montana's Sky
“Please trust me.”
Did I not just a few minutes ago vow I’d do anything to survive for my family?
“Very well,” she said in a begrudging tone, not willing to admit the prospect of spending private time in the same cabin with him made her heart speed up and her throat turn dry. “Lead the way to this cabin of yours.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “My beauty, you’ll find my lair lies just around the next bend to the right,” he said in an exaggerated drawl.
She didn’t know whether to laugh at his absurdities or lean over and smack him.Good thing I have the reins in both cold hands.
He winked and tilted his head to the right.
If Edith hadn’t been looking, she would have missed the turnoff—a narrow track between the trees. She slowed the horse into a turn and drove along a short path to a clearing. The shelter was set back off the road about fifty feet and surrounded by woods—a sturdy log cabin with a separate structure at the back that looked like a stable. A tiny stream passed to the left of the homestead, threading darkly against the ghostly landscape.
Shutters of the same blue as those at the ranch house, but without the hearts, covered the windows. No porch ran across the front, only a short overhang above a step up to a broad plank door. A rock chimney jutted from the roof. The snow drove diagonally against the structure, lightly frosting one side of logs and stones.
“Drive toward the back and park in front of the stable,” Cai ordered.
They arrived at a shack with one open side and a manger. He swung down from his horse, extending an imperious hand for the reins.
Edith lowered her arms, more than glad to relax her aching muscles.No hot bath tonight.
With regret for that bath, she tied off, set the brake, and shoved the bear fur off her lap. Once she handed over the reins, she slid the handle of her reticule over her wrist and allowed him to help her down, biting her lip to keep from releasing a groan of pain.
Cai reached around Edith and gathered up her fur, setting the muff on top. “You go inside. I’ll see to the horses and bring in your basket of food.”
She nodded. Another cold gust tugging at her topper made her wince at the pull of her hair.The snow will ruin my new hat. Quickly, she yanked out the hatpins and threaded them through the front of her coat.
With her free hand, Edith reached to take the fur and muff from Cai and, carrying her hat underneath the bundle, bent against the wind and hurried to the front of the cabin. The sole of her left shoe slipped off a slick stone, and she teetered.
“Whoa, there.” Cai caught her elbow. “Steady now.”
His close proximity made energy curl in her stomach. “Thank you.”
He surveyed her. Sudden heat flared in his blue eyes. “The snow against your sable hair sparkles like diamonds.” Warm air emerged in a cloud with his exhale.
His compliment caught her by surprise, so lovely and sincere. Edith could feel her cheeks heating.Goodness. When was the last time I blushed from a man’s admiration?She couldn’t look away from the intensity in his gaze.
He winked and released her. “Careful now.”
Her face still warm, this time Edith moved gingerly toward the cabin and pulled on the latchstring, pushing open the door.
The interior was dim with the only light coming from the open doorway. The place smelled a bit stuffy. As her eyes adjusted, she could make out one large room containing a row of six narrow beds, piled with blankets, a table with half a dozen chairs, a dry sink, and some wooden cabinets. With trepidation, Edith realized she’d be trapped in this place with a man she barely knew and no privacy whatsoever. She peered in a corner, seeing a folded screen.Well, very little privacy.
Frowning, she dropped the bearskin on the nearest bed, slid off the handle of her reticule and set it down upright so as not to jostle the prickly pear flower inside. She laid her hat on top, wrinkling her nose at the sight of the limp feather. With a shrug, she pulled off her driving gloves and added them to the pile.
To necessities.Edith used the Driscoll’s outhouse before she left the ranch. This was her only chance to use a privy again before the storm trapped her inside.Even an outhouse is better than a pot in the corner.She didn’t even want to think of having to use the thing later.
Bracing herself, Edith went outside in the cold in search of the outhouse, finding the privy on the opposite side of the cabin from the stable. With a grimace, she opened the door.
Inside was barely room to stand in front of a wooden box with a hole in the middle. A stack of yellowing newspaper lay next to the seat and a bucket of sawdust shavings was tucked into the corner. Luckily, the place mostly smelled of the cedar and pine sawdust, with only the faintest hint of excrement. Grimacing, Edith used the facilities, the indignity a reminder to be grateful for the modern plumbing of her brother’s home.
Once outside, she glanced around for a well, but with none in sight, she sighed, moved to the stream, and crouched, careful to keep the hems of her coat and skirt tucked behind her. She plunged her hands into the water and flinched at the cold. After rinsing, she stood, shook off the worst of the droplets, and rubbed her palms over the wool of her coat.
The falling snowflakes stuck to the ground. Another cold gust of wind made her tuck her hands into her coat pockets. Edith knew she should go inside, but that meant facing the reality that she and Cai were about to spend the night together.Unchaperoned!
Please, God, only one night.Sometimes, Montana storms lasted forever.
Edith supposed she should make herself useful—light a fire or such. Not that she’d done that task since she was a girl. Years of living with radiators had spoiled her.
