Finally, the colonel yelled, “Stop.” When all was silent, he said in a normal voice he rarely used, “Sam, go get the doctor.”

“Yes, sir.” Sam smiled, obviously happy to be leaving.

“Martha.” The colonel yelled again.

A woman with an apron on, stepped from the crowd watching. “Yes, Colonel.”

“Tell the kitchen to cook up a meal and keep buckets of hot water headed upstairs.” He stared at his girls. “My daughters will be taking baths and dressing properly for dinner in one hour. I’ll be busy taking care of our guests.”

The girls all smiled and walked past their father. Each kissed him, and as they started up the stairs, Chapman grinned as if he just hadn’t lost the first argument in his life.

When he turned back, he seemed to notice Emery for the first time. “Madam, I assume you are the girls’ traveling companion.”

“Yes. I met them in Jefferson.”

“I’d be honored if you’d stay with us through Christmas. Martha will send a bath to your room, and I’m sure we’ll find clothes that will fit you. I see you are a widow.”

“Yes.”

Trapper’s hand was resting on the small of her back, and he could feel her shaking.

“Thank you for seeing my daughters here safely. I hope we have time to talk over dinner. It isn’t often we have such a lovely lady among us.”

Martha took Emery away. Trapper couldn’t help but notice she hadn’t even said goodbye to him. But then, the little widow hadn’t said anything to anyone but the colonel, and that was “yes.”

Sam moved up behind Trapper. “I’ll see you to your room, sir. The doc will be here as soon as he sobers a bit. He always comes for Christmas, but he prefers to stay in the bunkhouse.”

“We have two guest rooms through here.” Sam started down the same long hallway where Emery had disappeared.

Trapper followed, suddenly feeling the lack of sleep catching up with him.

“The old man was sure polite to the widow,” Trapper said to Sam.

Sam nodded. “He’s always nice to his wives and future wives.”

Trapper decided he’d better stay awake a bit longer.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Emery loved soaking in the big tub. They’d made the trip in less than three weeks, but it seemed like a lifetime. Someday she’d write down all that had happened and save it for her grandchildren to read. And there would be grandchildren, because after knowing the girls, she wanted a dozen kids, all girls.

Martha brought her a warm dress made of the softest fabric she’d ever felt. Without a word, the housekeeper took all her dirty clothes to be washed.