Finding Home Read online

  “Thanks, we’re starving,” Nat said as she buttered a hot roll pinching a bite off for Gyp. “We are both sick of my cooking too,” she added.

  “How long have you been out?” the young woman asked.

  “What month is this?” Nat asked.

  “November,” the woman replied.

  “Nine months then,” Nat replied.

  “That’s a long time to be in the woods alone,” the young woman commented.

  “I was with my father until a few weeks ago,” Nat replied. “He was killed by a grizzly she added numbly.”

  “I am so sorry to hear that,” the woman said and blushing turned to go.

  “Thanks,” Nat said.

  Nat ate a few more of the delicious rolls while she waited on their dinner. When the woman returned carrying two large plates of food Nat’s mouth watered with one look of the steak. She reached for Gyp’s smaller steak to cut it into smaller pieces and the woman said, “You start on your steak and I will cut this one up for your friend.”

  “Thanks,” Nat said as the woman sat down at the table to cut Gyp’s steak.

  Nat took a bite of the steak and her taste buds exploded with ecstasy, the warm juices and seasoning assaulting her senses. She moaned loudly and the young woman at her side blushed. “This is heavenly,” Nat said. “My compliments to the cook she added.”

  “Why thank you ma’am,” the young lady said, “just be sure to save some room for desert, I have fresh pies baked today,” she added as she stood to leave.

  Nat sat the plate down in front of Gyp and watched with delight as the young pup devoured the tasty meal, gnawing the bone while Nat returned to her own feast. The young woman brought out another basket of fresh rolls and then left Nat to finish her meal.

  Nat cleaned the meat from the T Bone and then placed the bone on Gyp’s plate as she drank from a mug of cool water. Nat looked up to see the young woman approaching again with a tray holding several slices of pie. Nat chose a thick slice of apple which incredibly was still warm.

  Nat finished off the fantastic meal and asked the young woman to send her bill to the front desk. Nat left several silver pieces on the table for the young lady and then walked over to the general store to purchase a pair of dungarees and a soft cotton shirt.

  When Nat and Gyp returned to the room steam was coming off the tub, and Nat was anxious to strip down and soak in its luxury. Nat had just pulled off her top when the door opened up and the same young woman from the dining room was standing in her doorway with a pot of hot water.

  The woman blushed again and quickly stepped inside and closed the door. “I am sorry, I didn’t realize you were in here,” the woman said as she turned away from Nat who was totally naked, except for the bear claw around her neck.

  “That’s alright,” Nat said as she walked toward the tub. “I couldn’t wait to get a bath,” she added as she watched the woman pour the steamy water into the tub.

  “Since you are here,” Nat said, “could I convince you to wash my back?” she asked.

  The woman turned to find Nat standing naked beside her and stammered out her reply, “Yes, I could do that.” Marissa had never seen another woman naked and she felt a strange stirring deep inside as she gazed at Nat’s long sensuous body that had been so cleverly disguised by the buckskins she had worn.

  Nat stepped into the tub, moaning loudly once again and soaked a washcloth in the tepid water handing it to the young woman. “My name is Nat,” she said.

  “My name is Marissa,” the young embarrassed woman replied as she began lathering the cloth with a bar of soap.

  Nat lowered her body under the water and emerged with her black hair plastered to her neck. Marissa stepped forward cautiously and bent down to place the soapy cloth against Nat’s skin. Marissa caressed the tight muscles of Nat’s back and shoulders with the soapy cloth as Nat watched her in the mirror.

  “That feels fantastic,” Nat said as she bent forward allowing Marissa access to her entire back.

  “How long will you be staying in town?” Marissa asked.

  “I hope to rent out the old Johnson place for the winter,” Nat responded.

  “Well then, we shall be neighbors if you do,” Marissa said. “I live in the small farmhouse just down the road,” she said.

  “I am sure we will be seeing each other again then,” Nat said as she took the cloth from Marissa. “Thanks for washing my back,” she added with a grin.

  “You’re welcome,” Marissa said. “I hope to see you again soon,” she added as she slipped quietly out the door.

  “You can count on it,” Nat said to a closed door and then sank deeper into the water to soak.

  Nat washed her hair and body then soaked until the water turned cool. She slipped on a new night shirt and slid between cool clean sheets for the first time in almost a year. Gyp slept on a rug next to the bed and neither of them moved until the sun came up.

  Nat and Gyp went downstairs to the dining room where they were met by Marissa.

  “Good morning,” she said while smiling sweetly. “What can I get you this morning she asked?”

  “How about some bacon and flap jacks,” Nat requested.

  “Would you like honey, or maple syrup?” Marissa asked.

  “Maple syrup and lots of butter,” Nat said with a grin.

  “Coffee,” Marissa asked?

  “Lots of it,” Nat said, “with sweet cream if you have it,” she added.

  “We even have sugar cubes here,” Marissa teased.

  Marissa disappeared into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later carrying two large plates, one with bacon and flapjacks and another with cut up bits of egg, flapjacks and sausage. “I thought your pal might be hungry too,” Marissa said setting the plate down in front of Gyp.

  “Careful, you’re going to spoil us,” Nat said with a grin.

  “You two look like you could use a bit of spoiling,” Marissa said a she patted Gyp’s head.

  “We could, but won’t your husband get jealous if we start showing up at your place for breakfast every morning,” Nat asked looking at the silver band on Marissa’s ring finger.

  Marissa looked a little shocked at Nat’s comment and then stammered out her response. “I am a widow,” Marissa said with a blush as she turned to get the coffee from the kitchen.

  Nat felt like a total heel, but there was no way she could have known. It was her turn to blush when Marissa walked back to the table. “I am so sorry for prying,” Nat said when she returned.

  “It’s no problem,” Marissa said, “it has been two years now and wearing the ring helps to prevent the men in here from making assumptions,” she added.

  Nat didn’t feel any more comfortable with her answer, but the smile in Marissa’s blue eyes seemed to bore right through her warming her to the bone. Nat was relieved when another customer arrived and Marissa left her table to seat him and take his order allowing her to watch Marissa as she finished her meal.

  Marissa made several more trips to Nat’s table to refill her coffee before Nat finished her meal and left her few silver coins on the table and sent a smile to Marissa before she left the building.

  Nat and Gyp walked over to see Smithy and they received a warm welcome as soon as they stepped inside the door. “I was very impressed with this year’s pelts and I hope you will be pleased with the price,” Smithy belted out. “I lucked up on the bear claws too he crowed. I found one easterner who wanted the whole lot at quite a good price who is just waiting for your approval he added. ”

  Smithy led Nat into the office to go over the figures and Nat was impressed with the offer. The pelts and bear claws would net her over two thousand dollars, more money than most of the townspeople would see in years. Nat carefully reviewed the figures and then signed the sheet and handed it back to Smithy.

  “This looks very generous,” Nat said.

  “Good money for high quality,” Smithy said.

  “Thanks for the compliment,” Nat repl
ied.

  “Nathan taught you well,” Smithy said with a smile. “So well in fact, if you decide to settle down here instead of heading back into the woods, I would hire you in a minute,” Smithy added.

  “I might just have to think on that offer pretty hard,” Nat said as she turned to leave.

  “Stop by later today and I will have your money ready,” Smithy said as he walked Nat out into the morning.

  PART THREE

  Nat walked out into the bright morning and decided to ride out to the old Johnson place to take a look at the cabin before she would go make an offer to rent it out for the winter. She walked into the livery and saddled up Hardy then headed out of town with Gyp on her heels. There was a definite chill in the air and Nat predicted there would be snow flying soon. If the cabin was still in good shape Nat would rent it out and get busy preparing supplies for the coming winter months.

  Nat was relieved to find the cabin in good shape and with a small barn and smoke house it served as an ideal place to spend the winter. Curious, she rode a few hundred yards further down the road until she reached a fairly new farmhouse which surely must be Marissa’s home. Nat felt strangely comforted to know that Marissa was close by which left her emotions rather confused.

  After Marissa had left her room last night, Nat lay in bed thinking how great it felt to have Marissa’s hands on her body as a rush of pleasant warmth came over her body. The longer she thought of her, the warmer her body became and she felt a dampness growing between her thighs. Nat’s fingers probed the wetness as she thought of Marissa and her body was soon trembling with pleasure. Confused by these new feelings and totally exhausted, Nat slipped into the most restful sleep she had experienced in a long time.

  Nat returned to town and once again left Hardy at the livery and walked back to Smithy’s to retrieve her payment. She left the furrier and went directly to the bank to deposit the majority of her funds into the bank for safe keeping. She also met with Mr. Barker who owned the Johnson place and rented out the cabin paying for all three months in advance.

  Nat also returned to the general store and ordered up supplies she would need for the winter and requested they be delivered to the Johnson place the following day. Nat had decided she and Gyp would spend one more night at the hotel and would move into the cabin first thing the next morning.

  The day slipped by quickly, nightfall setting in as Nat headed back to the hotel. She was disappointed that Marissa was not in the dining room, but ordered up another hearty meal from the hotel owner’s wife. Nat devoured pan fried chops and fresh vegetables sharing the bones and scraps with Gyp who accepted her masters offering with licks from her soft tongue.

  Nat took a large mug of spiced apple cider out to the porch where she sat with Gyp and watched as large snowflakes began to spiral down from the sky. Nat laughed as Gyp jumped into the air trying to catch the flakes before they floated to the ground.

  “Quite a pup you have there,” Smithy said as he walked up to the porch and sat beside Nat.

  “Yes she is,” Nat said. “Dad and I found her at a burnt out wagon site as we worked our way west,” she said. “You would never know from looking at her now that she was abandoned by her mother as the runt of the litter,” Nat added.

  “Those usually turn out to be the best of the litter,” Smithy proclaimed.

  “Well I know I couldn’t ask for a better companion,” Nat said as Gyp returned to the porch and laid her head in Nat’s lap.

  Smithy chuckled and said, “I think that feeling is mutual. I am going to head in to get some dinner, but please don’t be a stranger this winter,” he stated.

  “I will stop in whenever I come into town,” Nat promised as the huge man left the porch.

  Nat finished her cider and she and Gyp retired for the evening. After a hearty breakfast, she and her traveling companions would move into the Johnson place and she would begin preparing their home for the winter.

  Nat’s mind whirled with plans as she prioritized the tasks she would need to complete in the next few days. She walked over to the window and peered out to see that the snow had almost completely stopped. Hopeful that the first heavy snows would hold off for a few days Nat curled up on the comfortable bed and drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning Nat packed up her goods before heading down for breakfast. She was pleased to see that Marissa had returned to the dining room and deducted that she must work most mornings which Nat felt was a great way for her to start her day.

  Marissa approached her table and with a warm smile asked, “What can I get you this morning?”

  “Why don’t you surprise us,” Nat replied with a grin as Marissa poured her a cup of coffee.

  “Not a problem,” Marissa said as she spun around and headed to the kitchen.

  Marissa returned a few moments later carrying a steaming platter of fried eggs, bacon and fried potatoes and a small plate with the same combination for Gyp. She sat the plates down in front of Nat and Gyp and watched as the two devoured the food.

  “This is fantastic,” Nat said and Gyp raised her head long enough to lick her lips in agreement.

  “I thought you might want something hearty this morning,” Marissa said. “It is really cool outside this morning and this should help to keep you warm,” she added.

  “This is exactly what we needed today,” Nat said. “We will be moving into the Johnson place today so we have lots of chores to do.”

  “So we will be neighbors then,” Marissa stated.

  “Looks that way,” Nat responded with a smile.

  “I get off later this afternoon,” Marissa said. “Would you mind if I stopped in to check on you later,” she asked.

  “No, not at all, feel free to visit anytime,” Nat told her as she gobbled down another mouthful of the food.

  “Okay then, since you will be busy why don’t I stop by with some supper,” Marissa suggested.

  “That sounds delicious,” Nat said as she wiped the corner of her mouth. “From the looks of the weather I am a few days behind in preparing for winter so I won’t take time to cook,” she added.

  “I will see you later today then,” Marissa said as she turned to walk back to the kitchen.

  Nat finished her meal then went to the desk to pay her bill before returning to her room to gather her packs. Marissa was in the dining room when she walked down the stairs and Nat tipped her hat to her as she left the building. Nat walked to the livery and paid her bill there and then saddled Hardy and her father’s mount and packed her bags on Quincy. Nat mounted Hardy and they rode out of town as the sun was rising.

  It was a brisk twenty minute walk to the Johnson place that morning and Nat watched as Gyp ran ahead of her chasing different scents, but always returning to where her master was. Nat thought that after all was settled in a few days, she and Gyp would do some hunting so she could begin training the small pup.

  Nat tied Hardy and her father’s horse to a porch post and unloaded the packs from Quincy, carrying them into the cabin before taking the animals into the barn. Nat unsaddled them and let the two horses and the mule out into a small pasture to allow them to graze on the remaining few patches of grass. Nat searched the wood bin and found barely enough wood to start a fire in the hearth. That would be her first task, to set in as much firewood as she could before the weather turned miserable. She could work on the inside of the cabin after the sun set and on the dreary days ahead.

  Nat took out her axe and walked into the woods behind the cabin. She didn’t have to travel far before she located several fallen trees that were large enough to provide a good start to her stash. She took her coat off and began chopping the trees into three foot sections, trimming the smaller branches and tossing them in a separate pile.