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out?”
    Wolf closed his eyes for a moment. “Many friends, yes, but they must feed their own families. My son would come home, but if I ask that of him, he will lose all he has worked for in the woods. My brother- in-law, Swift, works in the timber as well, and he is needed there to help Chase fill the orders. I cannot ask others to lose everything in order to help me.”
    Clearly, Hunter hadn’t quite managed to put his pride behind him. “Sometimes, we have no choice but to call on family.”
    “Not to save a mine that could play out next week or next month. Timber is my son’s future. It may end up being mine.”
    No one knew better than Jake how insecure a mining venture could be. He sighed and nodded. “Well, for as long as I’m here, maybe your son’s help won’t be needed.”
    Wolf’s eyes warmed again. “My woman believes her God sent you to us. If that is so, then He will see that you stay until our need is finished, yes?”
    He could have said anything but that. Feeling horribly guilty, Jake stared out the window for a moment at the slanting rain. He was tempted to tell Wolf the truth about who he was and why he had come, but if he did that, the half-breed would send him packing. And, under the circumstances, who would blame him?
    “Well . . .” Since beginning this conversation, well had become his favorite word, Jake decided. A deep subject with a hollow ending, a word that said everything and nothing. Anxious to escape his new employer’s penetrating gaze, Jake rose from Mrs. Wolf’s rocker and retrieved his rain slicker from the floor. He felt angry, impotently angry. All this man wanted was to make a modest living for his family. It didn’t seem fair that some people had so much while others far more deserving lost what little they had. “I hope you’ll be happy with my performance.” Jake meant that from the bottom of his heart. “For as long as I can stay, I’ll give you my best.”
    Wolf’s eyelashes fluttered. For an instant, Jake thought he might drift off to sleep before their conversation was completely finished. The laudanum sitting on his bedside table seemed to be doing its job.
    With what was apparently a great effort, he focused. “The work has piled up—at the mine and here. Since my son and brother- in-law left, I’ve been shorthanded. I got the roof patched this fall, but there are other things—”
    “Don’t worry about the work,” Jake interrupted. “I’m pretty handy. If I see something that needs fixing, I’ll work it in.”
    “Indigo—she tries. But it is a heavy burden for a girl.”
    “I’m here now, Mr. Wolf. You just concentrate on mending yourself. I’ll worry about everything else.”
    Because his right arm was in a sling, Wolf extended his left to shake hands. Though weak and a little shaky, the Indian’s fingers closed around Jake’s in a firm grip.
    “To my friends, I am called Hunter.”
    The last thing Jake wanted was to forge a new friendship. His mission here would be difficult enough without his loyalties being divided. “I go by Jake.”
    Wolf smiled. “It is good.” His grip on Jake’s hand relaxed, and his arm dropped heavily to his side. “I will rest easy now, eh? Because you have been sent to us.”
    The half-breed’s eyes closed, and his features fell into repose. Jake stood over him, feeling like a condemned man who had just heard the cell door clang shut behind him.
    A movement drew Jake’s attention. Loretta Wolf glided into the room. Though she wore simple clothing and no jewelry, she was radiant in her quiet way, the kind of woman who made a man feel like smiling. Jake could see why Wolf’s eyes warmed when he spoke of her. So fragile of build a strong wind might blow her away, she was no match for the rugged man lying on the bed. Yet Jake had the feeling she probably ruled the roost. It’d take a hardhearted man to say no to those blue eyes of hers.
    “Our daughter, Indigo, has agreed to show you around, Mr. Rand.