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“And how, exactly, did you get here so quickly?” Theo asked as he dumped feed into the stall for Thomas. “With your insistence on riding Scout the whole way, I figured it would be nearly June before you arrived.”
Rena shrugged and shoved her hands in the pockets of her loose trousers. “Let’s just say, by the time we reached Denver I knew we needed to make the rest of the trip on the train.”
“Did you come in on Hope today?” Theo asked as he opened a door at the back of the barn and a red roan cow with a heavy bag ambled inside.
By sheer determination, she kept from rolling her eyes at the mention of the train engine named Hope, and the outlandish notions it stirred in her about hope carrying her along her journey. Rather than let it annoy her, Rena brushed thoughts of hope, and her lack of it, aside. “I got off in Baker City. Scout and I made the rest of the trip on foot. It was actually quite a lovely ride up the mountain. I saw several places where wildflowers are starting to bloom. Is that a sign spring has arrived?”
“A fairly sure sign. We’ve been known to get snow in June a few years,” Josh said, joining the conversation. “But it doesn’t last long.”
Rena couldn’t quite fathom snow in the summertime and fervently wished that wouldn’t be the case this year. She was ready for warm days full of blue skies and sunshine after the cold nights and several rainy days she’d endured on her journey.
“I see you met Josh and Gabi Jo,” Theo said, reaching for the child, then stepping back. “I’d better wait to give you a proper hug, honey, until after I clean up a bit.” Theo was covered in dust and grime from the top of his head to the tips of his boots.
When he’d hugged her, he’d smeared some of it on Rena, but she didn’t care. She was far too happy to see her cousin.
“Were you blasting today?” Rena asked, curious about her cousin’s job as one of the men who worked with explosives at the mine. She knew it was highly dangerous, but it also paid well. Theo’s sister, Laura, was terrified he’d end up maimed or worse, but Rena thought he was brave to take on the job. He’d mentioned in one of the letters he’d written that he only intended to work at the mine for another year, saving all the money he could before he turned his hand to working his land and tending the cattle he hoped to purchase.
“We did do some blasting today, which is why I’m so filthy. I’ll milk Sue, then take a plunge in the creek before I join you for dinner. You all should go on inside.” Theo took a bucket off a peg and scooted a stool over to the cow’s side as she stood in a stall munching hay.
“I’ll milk. You go get cleaned up; then we’ll be able to eat that much faster,” Josh said, rolling up his shirtsleeves as Theo stood with the milk bucket in his hand.
“Go on,” Josh said, moving next to the cow.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Theo asked but held the bucket out to Josh.
Josh grabbed the bucket, then gave Theo a playful shove. “Gabi and I are starving, so the faster the chores are finished, the quicker we get to eat.”
“I’ll make the table pretty,” Gabi volunteered, then latched onto Rena’s hand. “Come with me. You can help.”
Rena tossed a helpless look at Theo, then allowed Gabi to tug her into the cabin. The delicious aroma of dinner filled the space and made her realize how hungry she was. She returned her pistol to the holster hanging from a peg behind the door, left her dirty clothes next to her bags, and washed her hands at the sink. Fascinated, she watched as Gabi hummed to herself and pulled a kitchen chair over to the sink, pushed up the sleeves of her dress, and soaped her hands with unbridled enthusiasm while Rena worked the handle on the pump.
“What do we need to do to set the table?” Rena asked when Gabi hopped off the chair, flinging water droplets in her wake. The chair legs screeched across the rough wooden floor as the child shoved it back over to the table.
“The plates are up there.” Gabi pointed to the crate on the wall that held plates, cups, and bowls. Cutlery stood upright in an empty canning jar.
At least Theo had four sets of everything.
Rena took down the dishes and carried them to the table, then retrieved the cutlery. Gabi flitted around the table, arranging the spoons, forks, and knives at each plate.
“Uncle Theo keeps the napkins in there,” Gabi said, pointing to the chest of drawers.
“Which drawer?” Rena asked with her hands poised at the knobs of the top drawer.
“The next one down.” Gabi twirled around a few times as Rena retrieved four plain but serviceable napkins from the drawer that held a few tablecloths and a stack of dish towels.
Gabi insisted on showing Rena how to fold the napkins and arrange them at each place setting. It wasn’t until she finished that she realized the table was shoved against the wall and no one would be able to sit at the fourth place setting.
“We need Papa and Uncle Theo to move the table,” Gabi said, starting for the door.
Rena pushed the chairs aside and grabbed the edge of the table. “I think if you help, we can take care of it ourselves.” Rena had no intention of asking one of the men to do something she could easily see to herself. She’d learned a long time ago to be self-sufficient.
She pulled on the table, and Gabi rushed over to it. Although the child’s assistance made no difference, Rena couldn’t help but smile as Gabi’s tongue slipped out the corner of her mouth and her brow furrowed in concentration as she yanked on a table leg.
The heavy oak table groaned as it moved a few inches at a time. Rena felt the pull in her arms as she strained against the weight of it. She experienced a great deal of satisfaction when she’d moved it enough that someone could maneuver around it and sit in the chair Gabi shoved into the place nearest the wall.
“You’re strong, Miss … What is your name?” Gabi asked, wrinkling up her face as she searched for the right name.
“Miss Burke, but you may call me Rena.”
