The end of what she and Nate presently shared.
She would not think of that for now. Perhaps something would change, though she couldn’t think how or what it could be.
It was late afternoon when Dutch called, “Fort Macleod ahead.”
The passengers crowded to the windows for a glimpse. All Louise saw were the stockade walls with a union Jack flag flying from a tall pole. At some point, they had crossed into Canada.
She sat back, eagerness mixing with a dozen other nameless emotions in her heart although one had a name she refused to acknowledge. Dread...dread of Nate’s imminent goodbye.
She forced herself to focus on all that the fort offered and clutched Chloe to her chest as, a few miles later, they drove through the open gates. A wide lane ran the length of the fort with wooden shanties on either side. “It’s not much to look at,” she ventured.
Rowena peered out the opposite window. “I trust there is more behind the surface than we see.”
Eight red-coated Mounties marched past in perfect formation, paused to salute the arrivals, then marched on.
Rowena pressed a hand to her throat. “Oh, my. If that’s what hides within these walls, I’m more than ready to settle here.”
Gabe sighed expansively. “Don’t they make an impressive sight?”
“Indeed they do.”
Louise giggled at the enthusiasm of the pair and slid her gaze toward Nate. Her amusement fled at the serious look on his face. She wanted to ask him what was wrong but not in front of the others. Then he smiled and her worries fled.
He chuckled. “You’ll find it a busy place with lots of unexpected offerings.” They pulled up before what the sign said was the Macleod Hotel. “Not the least of which is this hotel.”
Dutch threw open the doors before anyone could demand explanation.
Nate took Chloe and helped Louise to the boardwalk. She breathed deeply. “Finally, civilization.”
“Or the nearest thing to it,” Nate said half apologetically.
“Compared to some of the mining camps I lived in with Pa, it’s downright inviting.”
Louise looked up at the sign—a large silhouette of the back of a man’s head and the words No Jawbone. She shivered at the sinister sign. “What does that mean?”
Nate chuckled. He seemed to be enjoying her reaction. “It means Kamoose accepts no credit.”
“Kamoose? Who or what is that?”
The others hung back, as curious as Louise about Nate’s comment.
“Kamoose Taylor is the proprietor of this establishment.” Nate enjoyed everyone’s interest.
“Strange name,” Missy said.
Nate grinned widely. “I believe his real name is Harry, but the Indians call him Kamoose, which means wife stealer.”
Louise gaped at him. “He stole someone’s wife?”
Laughing, Nate explained, “I believe he stole his wife when her Indian family refused to sell her despite his generous offer of a horse, two pairs of blankets and some tobacco.”
Louise couldn’t stop staring at the sign. What kind of world had she come to that a man tried to buy a woman and then stole her and everyone seemed okay with it?
She drew in resignation. It really didn’t sound much different than what she and Nate did. Well, maybe she’d overreacted.
Nate and Louise followed the others through the door into the hotel lobby.
“That’s Kamoose,” Nate said, indicating the man behind the wooden counter.
Louise tried not to stare. The man seemed ordinary enough. Tall and rangy.
“Howdy, folks. You looking for a room or two?”
“Yes, sir,” Nate said.
“First off, read the rules.” Kamoose pointed to a sign on the front of the desk.
Louise read them silently and gasped. She turned to Nate, who seemed constantly amused by the situation, and whispered, “Surely these aren’t to be taken seriously.”
Nate shrugged. “I don’t think anyone’s ever tried to challenge them. Kamoose has been a whiskey runner and likely a number of other things outside the law. I, for one, don’t want to see if he means it.” He kept his voice very low, but still Kamoose watched him keenly.
“You got a problem with my rules?”
“Nope. They sound fair to me,” Nate readily announced.