“Another empty station,” Myles announced as he ducked out the door to where Delsie and Amos sat in their saddles waiting.
Her somber expression matched the gravity stirring within him and mirrored the lines of concern pinching Amos’s weathered face. Myles eyed the nearby corrals. “No stock, either.”
The horses and cattle had likely been run off by the same Indians who’d driven the workers from the station. He moved to his horse and scanned the surrounding clumps of brush for any sign of movement, though he guessed the station had been emptied several days ago.
A feeling in his gut last night had told him yesterday’s ride through the desert—and their near drowning in the flash flood—might be considered easy. At least when compared with what lay ahead of them now.
Several of the stations they’d passed by today weren’t simply empty like this one—they’d been burned to the ground. The little food they’d procured from one diligent owner had been eaten, and from the looks of things, they weren’t likely to find a home station to eat or board at tonight.
The sun was already dropping toward the western horizon. Both he and Amos had agreed to ride longer than normal, in hopes of finding a post that hadn’t been on the receiving end of an Indian ambush.
“What you do think?” he asked Amos.
Amos’s sharp gaze swept across the desert, his mouth a thin line. “I say we water the horses at the well there, then ride south a few miles. We can camp under the open for the night.”
If Delsie feared the departure from their typical evening routine, she didn’t say. Instead she simply slid off the saddle and led her mare toward the well. Amos followed suit, pulling his gun from his waistband. Myles located a broken bucket—one of the few things that hadn’t been taken from inside the station. While Amos stood guard, he managed to get enough water in the bucket for all three horses to drink. After that, he filled his and Amos’s canteens. Who knew when they’d find another water source?
Amos kept his gun at the ready as they saddled up and turned their mounts south, to skirt the nearby canyon. They picked their way among the sagebrush for several miles before the older man stopped them beside a clump of trees he called pinyon pines.
“I’ll see what I can hunt up in the way of food,” he said, dismounting. “Start the fire now, so we can be through with it before dark. Don’t need anyone else knowing we’re here.”
Myles tied up the horses as Delsie began gathering sticks. “I suppose it’s a good thing I learned how to cook when I did,” she said with a trace of amusement. “Do you think it will be like this the rest of the way to California?”
“It might be,” Myles answered honestly, taking the sticks from her. He set about starting the small fire, while she settled onto the ground nearby.
“Is Elijah off hunting, too?” She glanced up at the sky.
Myles nodded and coaxed the tiny flames to life with some dry grass and more twigs. “I suppose if Amos can’t find anything, we could share whatever rodent Elijah catches.” He meant the comment to be humorous, but Delsie didn’t laugh.
“Thank you, again, for doing this, Myles. You didn’t have to.” She drew a circle in the dirt with her finger. “And now I’ve landed us in the middle of the desert with marauding Indians and little food. Just to reach Lillie.” She lifted her chin to reveal raw anguish in her deep blue eyes. “If anything happened to you...or Amos...”
“We chose to come.” It was as simple as that. Or maybe, it wasn’t them who’d chosen, but rather Someone else choosing them instead. Either way he no longer had any doubts about the validity of their journey. He might have agreed in the beginning for the sake of his future, but he’d stumbled onto two things far more precious than even his dreams of a horse ranch—his friendship with Delsie and a renewed seed of faith. Charles would be proud.
“Besides,” he continued, “this isn’t just about reaching your sister. It’s about your family, Delsie.”
“And that’s something you can understand?” Her words were nearly identical to something she’d said that first day in Saint Joseph. Something he’d thought of over and over since.
He dipped his head in a nod, his eyes locked on hers. “That’s something I can understand—now.”
The smile she rewarded him with brought the distinct memory of kissing her to Myles’s mind. Not the chaste kiss of yesterday after they’d been rescued from near drowning, but the kiss they’d shared in the quiet barn. But giving in to his wish now would only increase the inevitable pain of goodbye later—for both of them. So he busied himself with the fire and with talking over what details Delsie knew about Lillie’s whereabouts until Amos came back.
“He’s a bit scrawny,” Amos said, hoisting the jackrabbit in his hand, “but he’ll do.”
Delsie insisted on skinning the creature herself, even when Myles volunteered to do it for her. He couldn’t help admiring her all the more as she set about the gruesome task without complaint or outward show of disgust. She’d changed a lot in the past two weeks. Or had she always possessed these qualities but hadn’t been given opportunity to cultivate them? He couldn’t help wondering if she would be content to return to her rich house and easy life after all she’d been through.
Once he’d thought her too pampered to survive in his world, but he’d been forced to reassess his opinion somewhere along the trail. Delsie would make any horse rider or rancher a fine wife. But it wouldn’t be him. The hard truth cut deep as Myles focused on making a spit from sticks to cook the rabbit.
Elijah returned soon afterward with a mouse and settled outside their little circle to eat. The horses picked at the few patches of grass nearby. For tonight, at least, they would all have something to eat, despite the less-than-optimal situation—Myles felt gratitude for that.
When the rabbit had been thoroughly cooked, Amos divided up the meat between the three of them. Myles noticed the older man took a slightly smaller portion for himself than what he handed Myles or Delsie. The feeling of thankfulness inside Myles grew larger at the gesture. Amos was not only a good man but a true friend. Myles vowed he wouldn’t take the man’s companionship for granted anymore.
After all the meat had been consumed, Myles doused the fire. The sun had set minutes before, taking the heat of the day with it. Delsie visibly shivered at the drop in temperature.
“It’ll be cold tonight,” Amos told them. “Better use the saddle blankets.”
Myles gathered the blankets and passed one to Delsie and to Amos. His own he spread out on the ground on the other side of Delsie. Amos quietly regaled them with a few stories from his youth and answered Delsie’s questions about his wife. Though he tried hard to listen, sleepiness stole over Myles and he drifted off.
Sometime later he jerked awake at the sound of something rustling nearby. He sat up, his hand on the revolver at his side, but it was only one of the horses shifting beside the trees. Taking a deep breath to calm his thudding heartbeat, he shot a look at Delsie. She’d curled into a ball beneath her blanket, and yet, Myles could see she was still shivering. Amos slept soundly on her other side, oblivious to her cold or the horse’s movements.
Myles hated the thought of her freezing and getting little sleep because of it. If he gave her his blanket, though, he’d end up just as cold and sleepless. He rubbed a hand over his jaw, considering what to do. In the moonlight he spied the sturdy trunk of the closest pinyon pine. The branches began high enough on the tree that it formed an easy shelter to climb under.
Removing his blanket, he set it over Delsie and gathered her into his arms. She startled awake and blinked up at him.
“You’re quaking like an aspen tree, sleeping beauty,” he murmured, “but I’ve got an idea to keep you warm.”
He carried her to the pine and ducked beneath its branches. Resting his back against the trunk, he settled Delsie at his side and draped his blanket over them both.
“What will my father think?” Delsie said sleepily, even as she nestled beneath his arm. Warmth spread through him, as much from her nearness as from the contentment that filled him at holding her again.
Myles smoothed her hair and tucked her tighter against him. “Just tell him I promised to get you back in one piece, and that’s what I’m doing.”
“Thank...you...Myles.”
Shutting his eyes, Myles let his breathing even out and his body relax. Sleeping sitting up would likely mean a less than restful night and a kink in his neck by morning. But he didn’t care. If he couldn’t embrace Delsie forever—and he couldn’t—then he’d simply be grateful for this moment. This moment watching over the woman he’d come to care for more than Elijah or horse ranching or himself. A moment he would cherish for the rest of his life.
* * *
Delsie kept her eyes shut, even as she slowly began to wake. She’d never felt so content or comfortable—even more so than in that dugout, with its thick buffalo robes. Her hand loosely gripped soft fabric and warm air fanned her hair. A steady heartbeat thrummed in her ears. She pressed her cheek more snugly into the solid warmth beneath it. Until she heard a deep rumbling chuckle that vibrated through her chest.
“Would’ve thought you’d be warmed up by now.”
Reality doused Delsie with all the shock of ice water. She was dozing beside Myles and had been all night. She scrambled up, her face hot. What would her father do if he could see her? Any amount of freedom she’d enjoyed would be gone. She would likely be foisted off on Flynn to save her reputation.
“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean...” She let her apology fade out when he chuckled again. “It’s not funny, Myles. If my father...”
He shook out his blanket. “Like I told you last night, I intend for you to reach your father in one piece, Delsie. And that means not letting you lie on the cold ground all night and catching sick.” He bent forward to peer directly into her eyes. “Besides, nothing untoward happened. I promise.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” Amos watched them from beneath the branches.
Myles stiffened beside her, red creeping up his neck. “Amos. Morning.” He ran a hand over the bristles of his jaw without looking at Delsie. “Delsie was shivering something fierce. I wasn’t sure what else...to do.”
It was her turn to laugh softly. “Apparently Myles was being gentlemanly.”
A smile worked at Amos’s mouth as though he, too, was trying not to chuckle. “Good to hear. I’m going to see if I can’t rummage up some breakfast.”
Delsie maneuvered out from under the pinyon pine and brushed bits of dirt and twigs from her dress. Myles offered her some water from his canteen. The water tasted good, but her stomach still rumbled with hunger.
While he saw to the horses, Delsie started making a fire. By the time she had some good-sized flames built up, Amos returned. “What’s on the menu for this morning?” she asked teasingly.
“Snake.” Amos held the long reptile aloft. Delsie fought a cringe by reminding herself it was food, and possibly the only meal they’d get until tonight.
Amos helped her prepare the snake, then the three of them ate the meat. She certainly wouldn’t put it down as a delicacy or even something she wished to have on a regular basis, but she had to admit it wasn’t all bad.
After washing down the snake meat with a little more water, each of them climbed back into their saddles. Amos led the way through the sagebrush to the main trail, where they headed due west again. The sun had fully risen in the east, and with it, the temperature. Delsie could hardly believe she’d been shivering violently with cold last night, when the day felt warm and pleasant now.
The memory of being cold sparked the recollection of waking with her cheek pressed to Myles’s shirt and his arm resting loosely against her shoulders. She ought to be mortified, but he’d done nothing improper. He’d just been concerned for her.
Not for the first time, she offered a silent prayer of gratitude for Myles’s presence in her life and for his and Amos’s help. God had truly been looking out for her to lead her to two such competent and kind men. She wished there was more she could do to repay them, beyond the money she’d promised them at the end of their journey and the horse waiting for Myles. If undying thankfulness could be converted into wealth, these two men riding silently ahead and beside her would live like kings the rest of their lives.
Delsie smiled at the thought of either Amos or Myles sporting a crown and strutting around a palace. While they had both insisted they’d chosen to come on this journey and would see it through fully, she was still grateful they had all made it so far unscathed. In light of all she’d experienced—a runaway horse, nearly freezing to death, an unwelcome marriage proposal, a flash flood and a night out in the open with only rabbit and snake to eat—Delsie couldn’t imagine anything worse ahead. A seed of optimism sprang up inside her and she fueled it with thoughts of Lillie and the rapidly narrowing distance between her and her sister. Lillie would be married in five days, and Delsie had every intention and belief she would be at the blessed event.
The first station they came upon that morning stood as empty as the one they’d encountered the night before. Thankfully, this one also had a well. Amos suggested taking a rest earlier than normal to water the horses and let them feed on the surrounding grass, and Myles agreed.
Delsie dismounted and accepted another drink from Myles’s canteen. Wiping her mouth, she eyed the nearby cabin. Could there possibly be any food left inside? Something they might take with them? She left the men and moved with purposeful steps to the door, which had been left ajar. A quick peek through the gap showed the place was devoid of its former occupants. She pushed through and smiled when she spotted the cupboard across the room. Perhaps there was a little flour inside it.
She started forward but stumbled over something on the floor. Righting herself, Delsie glanced down to see the offending object. It was a boot and not an empty one, either. Her gaze shifted from the boot, to the pant leg, to the dead man’s vacant eyes and finally to his bloodied forehead. A panicked scream fled her mouth as she stumbled blindly back out the door.
“Delsie?” Myles rushed toward her, Amos right behind him, his gun in his hand.
“Th-that man in there. He’s been...” The horror washed over her anew, sickening her stomach. She clamped a hand over her lips and fled to the nearby corral, where she dropped to her knees beside the fence. In a matter of minutes, she’d emptied her meager breakfast into the dust. Her body trembled with shock as if cold, though a clammy feeling made her sweaty, too. She sank against one of the fence posts and wrapped her arms around her knees.
“It’s all right,” she whispered to herself. “It’s all right.”
From the corner of her eye, she watched Myles slowly approach her as if she were a skittish colt. “Delsie? You all right, darling?”
She shook her head and rocked her body back and forth.
“You’ve had a shock, but you’re going to be fine. Do you hear me?” He squatted next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. The human contact released some of the numbness inside her.
“I wish I hadn’t seen... I’ll never forget...” She stifled a cry with her hand to her mouth.
“Amos is burying the man now.” Sure enough she heard the scrape of a shovel against the dirt. Where Amos had procured a shovel, she didn’t know.
“Do you want to sit some more or do you think you can stand?”
“I... I’ll stand.”
Myles gently helped her onto her feet, then pulled her to his chest. Delsie wrapped her arms around his waist and allowed the steady beat of his heart to soothe her shock.
“What have I done, Myles?”
He rested his chin on top of her hair—she’d hung her hat on the saddle horn before going into the cabin. “You didn’t do anything. That man was dead long before we came along.”
“No. I mean having us come all this way, in the middle of a warpath.” She bit her lip to keep from sobbing. “I knew we might encounter things, but I foolishly let my desire to reach Lillie outweigh the dangers.”
Myles eased back and tipped her face upward. “It wasn’t foolish. God knew you’d be here—now—on this very trail, fighting to restore your family.”
“Do you really believe that?”
A faint smile creased his mouth. “Do you?” he countered.
Delsie thought back to the night Myles had told her the journey wouldn’t work, at least not in the way she’d planned in the beginning. She’d been full of doubt and despair until she’d read that verse of scripture. Cast not away therefore your confidence. She’d tossed aside some of her confidence since then, but she still had some remaining. This was what God wanted her to do and He’d provided everything she’d needed to make it happen.
“Whatever comes, Delsie, He’s with us.” His words so closely mirrored the ones in her own head that she wondered if he could somehow read her thoughts. “Isn’t that what He wanted Elijah and those priests to understand?”
She nodded, grateful for the reminder.
“Don’t give up on Him or Lillie. Not yet. Not when we’re so close.”
His assurances restored some of her own, but doubts still loomed large in her mind. “But the worst might lie ahead. We could end up like that...” She swallowed the taste of bile in her throat. “Like that man.”
His expression hardened with resolve, deepening the black of his eyes. “Then we’ll do so, knowing we followed God’s will and didn’t let fear rule our lives.”
Embracing him, she cleared her throat enough to say, “You’re a good man, Myles Patton.”
“And you’re a strong woman, Delsie Radford. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
She let his courage and compliment seep into her troubled heart and thoughts.
“You ready to keep on?”
She took a deep breath and stepped back to see his face—this handsome face she’d come to know nearly as well as her own. “As long as you’re keeping on with me.”
He tucked a curl behind her ear and smiled, though the gesture held a trace of sadness. “Until the last inch of the trail.”