Wildest Dreams - By Rosanne Bittner Page 0,27

with backbreaking work that left them both exhausted at night, yet there had been few nights when they hadn't found the energy to explore the wonders of their passion. Luke was a good father to Nathan, always took time for the boy, even on the days when he worked so hard cutting and stacking wood and building fences for the animals that he could hardly walk straight when he came in at night.

"Yes, Luke is a good man," she said. "I met him much the same way you met Will—on a wagon train west. My family was headed for Denver. I just couldn't bring myself to let Luke go on alone when we reached Julesberg. I had to make a decision, and I know it was the right one." She set Nathan down, and he toddled off to explore the cabin. "Luke wrote out a paper for me back at Fort Laramie, where we married. He put it in writing that he has legally adopted Nathan, giving him full rights to anything Luke owns. He even had it witnessed. He wanted it as legal as possible, considering there are no judges out here for such things. I told him it wasn't necessary to put it in writing, but he insisted, not just for me, but for Nathan's sake in future years. Nathan already looks to him like a father."

"And what a fine-looking little boy! Look at that blond hair! Oh, you're so lucky, Mrs. Fontaine." Lettie felt sorry for her, realized she must be longing for the child she'd never had. Henrietta watched Nathan a moment, then took a deep breath, as though to shake off bad memories of her own. "I don't know why these men can't choose to settle in civilized places," she said then, as though to change the subject deliberately. "They have their big dreams of getting rich by claiming all this land for themselves, but the price many of them pay makes me wonder if it's worth it." She turned to take some cups down from where they hung under a shelf of dishes.

The words worried Lettie, and this time it was she who changed the subject. "You have a wonderful home here," she spoke up, looking around the spacious main room. A huge stone fireplace graced one wall, and there were many shelves for pans and dishes built into another, as well as a counter-top for the dishpan and water buckets. Braided rugs were scattered on the clean, hardwood floor and curtains hung at the windows. Although the pine table and chairs in the center of the room were hand-made, they were very well built and varnished to a shine. She noticed a curtained doorway at the back wall, which she supposed led to a separate bedroom, something that would be a luxury for her right now. Lettie longed for just such a home.

"Well, thank you, but it wasn't always this way." Henrietta set the cups on the table, then took down some plates.

"I do hope you intend to stay for supper. I'll have it ready soon." She set the plates on the table, then took a moment to admire Lettie's startling beauty as she removed her hat and coat. She ached at the thought of the hardships that lay ahead for the young woman. She could tell by Lettie's lovely green velvet dress that she was accustomed to a far different way of life. She wondered how long it would take the poor girl to start wondering if she had made a grave mistake. "In fact, you should stay the night."

"Oh, we couldn't do that. We're going back to Billings. We'll stay the night there and head home in the morning."

Henrietta self-consciously smoothed her own simple calico dress, then pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. It had fallen from the clumsy knot into which she had twisted her hair that morning. She walked over to the fireplace to stir a pot of stew that hung over the flames. "Nonsense. If you're going to stay in town, then you might as well stay here with us. You'll have company, and Luke can talk half the night to Will, learn a few things he'll need to know for the long winter ahead. My goodness, it isn't often we get company. It will be the same for you. Take advantage of the moment, Mrs. Fontaine. That's what you have to do in these parts." The woman picked up a hot pad and wrapped it