Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(48)

“Be careful,” Hannah said.

“I will.”

He went down the steps and she followed him, frightened for his safety. He lifted her when she got to the third step from the bottom and swung her down. “I haven’t checked if it’s safe yet,” he said.

“We’ll check together.”

Together, Seth thought, and he was really enjoying that. He examined everything carefully, pronounced it safe and went up the steps ahead of Hannah.

Hannah dug into her pocket and brought out a little clock. “Theirs stopped when the earthquake occurred,” she said. “They don’t want to be reminded of that.”

“Your pocket is a treasure trove,” he replied. “I thought it was boys who packed their pockets with stuff.”

“I had this dress specially made,” she said. “A couple of others I’ve brought also have secret pockets. I have money with me though most of my money is in a bank which has a branch in San Francisco. I had time to draw out cash which had been telegraphed there. I would like to help Wilfred and Monica but I’m not sure they’ll take money. We could work out how we can help without making it too obvious.”

“I have a bit of money,” Seth said. “But not a lot. I can help in kind by making furniture. We can collect fallen trees which will supply the wood.”

“Yes.”

It was exciting being able to help, Hannah thought, and she was going to do so even when she wasn’t here. She would come over from Lower Pine though not on the days Seth and his future wife would be here. She turned away as the inevitable lump rose to her throat.

“It’s getting late,” Seth said. “Maybe we ought to be getting back.” They walked to the door and he looked back. “It looks quite homely, doesn’t it? I wish I had some toys for the children because all of theirs are gone. Maybe we can get some in Independence tomorrow.” He walked towards the horses and untied them. “There are a lot of people who have lost so much. They’ll all have to start again so we need to help them too.”

“Yes, we do,” Hannah said, swinging up onto her horse.

Seth looked up at the moon which was now totally full, the light making everything around them show up easily.

“There’s a farm about five miles south,” he said. “I was thinking of checking it to see if everyone is alright. Is it too late to check?”

“We should do that,” Hannah replied.

“I should have gone sooner, shouldn’t I, though I rather suspect that people will be checking their neighbours? As I said before, the Reverend said they were checking all the farms.”

“You’ve been busy today,” Hannah said. “We’ll go now.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“I want to go. It’s a good thing the moon is so bright.”

“Yes.” They galloped towards the property and the lights in the window were more than a relief for both of them. They had to be alright, Seth said, and the house looked intact. As they went to dismount a tall, burly man opened the door.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said. “We’ve been worried about our neighbours and have been checking people but we hadn’t got round to you. Did you hear what happened in Lone Pine?”

“We did,” Seth said.

“Come in and have a bite to eat.” The man led the way in to where a lady sat on a sofa sewing. “Enid. It’s Seth and his lady.”

The lady stood, a middle aged woman with what Hannah defined as a homely face, short where her husband was tall with hair which was beginning to go grey. She held out her hand.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” she said to Hannah. “Hello, Seth, and congratulations. It’s a pity your married life began this way.”

“Hannah has been amazing,” Seth said, looking at her proudly. “She has helped rescue people. She’s helped with the clearing up. She’s been a tower of strength. At the moment we have Wilfred, Monica and the children with us and it was Hannah who rescued them because I couldn’t get in the house. They’re insisting on going back to their farm tomorrow and say they’ll live in the barn until they can rebuild because their house is in ruins. Wilfred has broken his leg.”

“Seth reduced it,” Hannah said, looking at him equally as proudly. “And he’s made him a bath chair so Wilfred can wheel himself around.”

“Let me get you something to eat,” Enid said.

“We ate already,” Hannah replied. “But a drink would be nice.”

“How about hot chocolate? I bought some of that in Independence the other day. I also baked some cakes today so you must have a piece. How was your journey here, Hannah?”

“Very interesting. The earthquake occurred just as the stagecoach pulled in at Lower Pine. We then went to Middle Pine to help there.”

“That was a terrible welcome for you. Come and tell me about your journey while I make the chocolate.”

They were all so friendly, Hannah thought, and everyone seemed to know one another despite being a few miles distant. Enid made the chocolate drinks, cut the cake and it was a while before Seth and Hannah mounted their horses to return to Seth’s farm.

Hannah looked down at her dress when they arrived and wished for her trunk. There were plenty of garments in there but then Monica didn’t have a change of clothing either. When they went to Independence tomorrow they could buy some dresses.