Page 31 of Hank and Elsie
“Wooof.” He pretended to cave his midsection. “A mighty pointy weapon you have there, Elsie.”
She loved their playful banter, so different from what she was used to with her more serious family.
Hank extended his free hand to help Elsie into the back seat like she was a grown-up lady. The seat wasn’t as high as the one on their buckboard, which she’d occasionally ridden in with Pa when Ma stayed home. She usually scrambled up into the seat on her own, uncaring if she exposed her lower limbs.
Oh, my.Elsie held in a nervous giggle, wanting to appear composed. But as she set her hand in his, her heart thudded. Gathering up her skirts, she tried to climb up in as ladylike a manner as possible but still was clumsy in doing so.
The leather tufted seat felt so comfortable, Elsie couldn’t help a little bounce and then, for good measure, another one. With a happy sigh, she settled back.
Until Hank climbed in and suddenly the seat, which had seemed so spacious, shrank. He slid all the way onto the seat, his broad shoulder almost touching hers, his nearest lower limb only a few inches away.
Even as her nose registered his smell of bay rum soap and horse, his presence seemed to suck all the air out of Elsie’s lungs. She squeezed her arms and lower limbs together to avoid accidentally touching him. But as Dr. Angus snapped the reins to start the surrey, she found that the movement of the vehicle, especially when the wheels hit a bump or pothole, made it impossible to avoid swaying against him.
She kept her gaze straight ahead or to the side, not wanting to look at the man when his face was only a few inches away, close enough to kiss. The thought sent a flush of heat throughher body, and she struggled not to squirm away from him.Just my luck, if in avoiding being close to Hank, I fall out.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, they started up the narrow road, barely wide enough for the surrey. Hank proved to be quite the tour guide, pointing out the flora and fauna and telling humorous stories of his various adventures.
Caught up in his tales, gradually, Elsie allowed herself to relax, marveling at the man’s ease with conversation. “I’ve never heard a man talk as much as you, Hank,” she said in an admiring tone when he paused for breath. “You say as much in one day as my pa does in an entire season.”
“Well,” Hank drawled. “I don’t have much of a chance to converse. When I speak with my livestock, the horses, chickens, and pig don’t talk back.”
Elsie giggled. “Ours don’t, either.”
Hank leaned forward, grabbing the seat in front of him and pointing over Constance’s shoulder. “Turnoff’s coming up ’round the bend. Go right at the bur oak. Don’t worry, Doc.” He had a grin in his voice. “The trail is wide enough for your pretty surrey. This week, I took an axe and cut back any brush and overhanging branches. Wouldn’t want to scratch up your beauty, here.” He patted the seat back.
Dr. Angus tossed a quick glance over his shoulder. “Appreciate that. I know the surrey will become battered in time. But I’d like to enjoy the shiny newness for a few more days.” He slowed Zeus to carefully navigate the bend.
Elsie leaned forward, peering through the trees to see ahead. But no house was in sight.
“You sure live in an isolated area.” Miss Taylor twisted around in the seat to look back at him.
“Nah. Two other men live close by. We call ourselves The Bachelors of Three Bend Lake. We’re not in sight of each other because of the way the lake curves. But as the canoe glides, we’reonly about fifteen, twenty minutes apart. Maybe double that on foot.”
“Why, that’s not bad at all,” Elsie exclaimed. “Where my family lives, the walk’s an hour to the nearest neighbor.”
Hank pointed up the mountain. “If you keep going up the road, ’bout half an hour’s climb, you’ll hit the Swensen place.”
“Swensen,” Miss Taylor echoed. “Do they have beautiful, little blonde girls?”
“Got that right. Nicest family you ever met.”
Miss Taylor shifted to better view them in the back seat. “I saw five of the girls in the sweetshop once. They were so adorable, I wanted to adopt them all.”
Elsie tried to think if she’d seen the family at church. From the description, she couldn’t recall them.
“They are little sweethearts,” Hank agreed. “I see Swensen more than his wife and girls, though. We sometimes cross paths when we’re both out hunting. He’s got a baby boy, now. Pleased as punch, he is.”
The narrow road opened up to a view of a bowl-shaped valley with a lake cupped between mountains—the body of water looking large to Elsie’s marveling eyes—even if Hank had described Three Bend Lake as small, narrow, and twisty. The breeze blew their direction, bringing a scent—Elsie couldn’t quite describe what—water, perhaps, and greenery from the mossy rocks tumbled on the edge near a sandy beach.
Two long-necked white swans drifted side by side. One dipped its head, and the other pivoted close. She watched in awe as their long necks merged to make a heart shape and let out a slow breath at the romantic sight. Suddenly, Miss Taylor’s swansdown cloak, which Elsie had so admired when her employer wore it to the Norton-Bellaire dinner party, seemed like a travesty. The thought of killing these beautiful creatures to make such a garment turned her stomach.
Dr. Angus pulled up in front of a snug cabin, with a wide porch. As he tied off the reins and set the brake, Elsie tore her attention from the swans to take in the sight of Hank’s home.
Blue shutters framed the windows. On one side of the porch sat two rocking chairs. A square table had obviously been moved outside and covered with a snowy cloth. On it resided a cut glass vase stuffed with wildflowers.How lovely. We’ll be able to enjoy the view while we eat.
Hank waved toward the right side of the house. “Ladies, while we see to Zeus, you’ll find a privy and pump in back.”
“My ma once said she liked a man who knows a woman’s needs,” Elsie exclaimed with a smile in his direction. Then, embarrassed by speaking so freely, she covered her mouth with both hands and didn’t dare look at Miss Taylor.
