Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

Zerelda nodded. "It would be nice to have a bigger place eventually The main house is good for a young family: There are two good-sized bedrooms upstairs, as well as a smaller bedroom plus a bathroom, and there's a large living area on the main level. Much of the furniture has been left behind quality pieces. Mr. Saberhagen spared no expense for his wife."

"Good. Then it's settled. Kjell, I know you have your plate full, but would you be willing to talk to the agent on my behalf?" Lydia asked.

Zerelda didn't miss the look in Kjell's eyes. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her niece. Of this, she was certain. The man was crazy in love with Lydia, and Zerelda was just as certain Lydia cared for him. Once they both figured it all out, she had no doubts she'd be welcoming Kjell into the family.

"Sure, I'll talk to him, Liddie. If you really want me to," Kjell replied.

"Good morning, all," Captain Dimpfel announced. "I'm glad to find you here, Kjell."

"Do you have news about the fire?" Zerelda asked.

He shook his head. "Not exactly. I sent my men into the Ranche this morning to look for the two Tlingit boys Kjell employed. No one has seen anything of them since yesterday. Of course, I think the family could be lying."

"I know that family well," Zerelda said. "I don't believe they would lie about it, but just in case, I'll go have a talk with their mother."

She looked at Lydia. "Why don't I take you home first?"

"I'11 get her home, Zee," Kjell said. "You go ahead. I truly appreciate the help you're giving. I doubt the family would be so willing to talk to me."

"If you find them, Miss Rockford, please see to it that they come in immediately for questioning."

"I will, Captain. You needn't fear on that account."

Lydia allowed Kjell to help her onto the wagon. It was extremely difficult with her long skirts and heavy abdomen. She thought it might have taken more effort to climb up onto the wagon scat than if she'd merely tried to walk the few miles home.

"Are you all right?" Kjell asked once she'd settled beside him.

"I found that positively exhausting," she said with a laugh.

Kjell smiled. "I'll have you home in a quick minute."

"Shouldn't you stop by the land office first and see about the property?"

No, that can wait. I don't want you sitting out in the cold, and I sure don't want you having to get down from here more than once today.

He guided the horses in the direction of Zerelda's cabin. Lydia tried to focus on the scenery around her but found herself wishing she could offer Kjell some comfort regarding the fire. He seemed, however, to be taking it all fairly well.

"Kjell, how is it that you can he so… well, you don't seem upset about the fire."

"Oh, I'm plenty upset about it," he admitted. "I lost some things that were pretty special to me, but in the end, they were only things. I'm worried about the boys. I hope if they did cause the fire that they will just admit it. I'll forgive them, of course-I wouldn't hold an accident like that against anyone."

"But if it wasn't an accident… If someone…" She thought again of Marston. He could have done this to exact revenge for Kjelfs confrontation.

"Are you all right?" Kjell asked. He moved to touch her arm with his gloved hand. "Liddie?"

"What if Marston did this to you?" She found she was unable to say anything more. Had she brought this misery upon Kjell? Was this all her fault?

"Liddic, stop it. I can almost hear your thoughts."

She looked up at this and found him smiling. She shook her head. "This isn't funny.

"I didn't say it was, but it doesn't have anything to do with you. If Gray did this, then he did it because I stood up to him-told him to leave. Not for any other reason." Kjell urged the horses to pick up speed for the hill. "We'll get to the bottom of what happened, but you need not concern yourself with it. I won't have this fire he the cause of bringing on the baby too soon."

The cold penetrated Lydia 's woolen skirts and coat, and by the time they pulled up in front of the cabin, her limbs felt half frozen. Kjell didn't seem to mind that she moved ever so slow. He was good to assist her and seemed to enjoy lingering at her side as they moved up the porch steps.

"Why don't I come in and get the fire built up? You look like you need to unthaw."

Lydia nodded. "I would like that very much." She decided against ridding herself of her coat and went to take her favorite chair at the fireside. The rocking chair was nearly identical to the one she'd left behind in Kansas City.

She watched Kjell set the logs on the dying embers. He worked with the kindling and soon brought the fire back to life. Once the logs were sufficiently blazing, he held out his hands to warm them.

Without thinking, Lydia looked up at him and asked, "Why did you kiss me last night?"

Kjell didn't turn to acknowledge her but kept staring straight into the fire. "Seemed like the right thing to do. You appeared to be misunderstanding my feelings toward you, and I guess I didn't want there to be any doubt about where I stood."

Lydia considered this for a moment. She wasn't about to pretend she didn't understand, but at the same time, she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to hear Kjell make any declarations of love or affection.

"I'll get some wood in here, and then I'd better head hack to the mill," Kjell said after several minutes of silence.

She thought about stopping him but decided against it. She waited until he'd gone outside to get to her feet and move closer to the fire. What should she say to him? What could she say' She wasn't sure of her feelings. Furthermore, there was the baby to consider. She had to do whatever was in the best interest of the child.

The sound of wood being chopped rang out. Lydia moved to the kitchen window, where she could see Kjell hard at work. He had taken off his coat, revealing the outline of muscles against the material of his shirt. With each swing of the ax, he displayed his strength and agility. Lydia found she could not look away. It was only the sound of a wagon approaching that drew her focus from the tall man.

Fear edged up her spine. What if Marston had come to pay her another call? She went to the door and cracked it open to look out. It was Zerelda.

"What did you find out, Zee?" Kjell called out. He was approaching the cart even as Lydia moved down the porch steps.

"No one has seen the boys, and I believe them. Their mother is frantic, and their grandfather has everyone in the clan looking for them."

"I hope they haven't come to harm," Lydia said. She could see the frown on Kjell's face and longed to ease his worry.

"Mr. Fuller had this for you, Liddie," Zerelda announced, approaching with a letter. "He apologized for not getting it to you sooner. It came in on the last ship."

Lydia took the missive, which was from Mr. Robinson. She stiffened. Her anger toward him for sharing information with Marston kindled anew. While Zerelda continued to speak with Kjell, Lydia went back into the house to read the missive.

Dean Mts. Gray

I write this letter with grave concern and to offer a warning for your well-being. My clerk, Mr. Lytle, was recently attacked. On his deathbed, lie told me of something most grievous. It seems yonr stepsons coerced him into allowing them to see my records regarding yonr whereabouts and other correspondences.

I have no way of knowing what, if anything, the Grays plan to do with this infornuttion, but suffice it to say they noit' know- of your location. I would be on the watch for then or their representative.

The letter continued with his most sincere apologies and concerns for what problems this might cause Lydia. She sighed in relief. Mr. Robinson had not betrayed her trust. She felt sadness that Mr. Lytle should have suffered such a vicious attack, but she could not bring herself to think in a forgiving manner for what he had done in giving Marston and Mitchell her information.