Yiska, Eliana, and Papa set out at dawn on horses obtained from the Silverton Livery with Sampson in tow, packed to the hilt with provisions and photography equipment. Yiska and Papa had mailed the interview and photograph of Mr. Snowden to the San Juan Prospector. Yiska also notified Mr. Wilson that he was pleased to accept his new assignment as a correspondent for the Robbins survey and asked him to inform Mr. Whiley. Now they were on their way to rendezvous with Chandler Robbins.
Hymns of praise flowed from Eliana’s joyful heart. Refraining from singing at the top of her lungs, she sang softly, “Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature…”
Yiska’s smile flashed in the sunlight as he pulled up beside her on Shadow. “Don’t stop on account of me.”
Papa rode up beside them. “I’m afraid she’s not one to sing for an audience, though my songbird is worthy of one.”
Eliana hoped that the shade from her hat would shelter her face from the bright sun that so easily tanned her complexion, as well as hide the blush that warmed her cheeks.
Yiska pointed from the narrow canyon to the tempestuous Animas River raging between the Needle Mountains. “This river is a terrible serpent. Not even passable at some points. We follow it all the way to Animas City. Don’t ride too close to the edge. It’s too rocky, and there’s not enough shade. Keep to the tree line, and it will give us some protection and make the ride smoother.”
The river reflected the azure sky on the almost cloudless day. The temperature warmed as they headed farther south. Eliana removed her overcoat and tied it behind her saddle. By noon the small convoy found an embankment by the river under the shade of the tall pines. She was glad for the respite from the struggle she’d had all morning with her ornery mount, Firefly.
After they’d eaten a frugal lunch, Papa put his pipe back in his pocket and checked Sampson’s line. “Time to move on, Eliana.” He mounted and rode back up the rocky incline.
“C’mon Firefly, you’ve had your nourishment.” Eliana coaxed her willful horse with a firm tug and braced her boots on the stony ground by the river’s edge, trying not to slip. She whistled and clucked as she pulled the horse’s reins. “Firefly. Git. Git up here!”
Yiska rode out of the shade. “Stubborn,” he said.
“That mare or my daughter?” Papa asked.
Eliana turned and looked at the two men. Yiska’s grin didn’t escape her notice as he rode by on Shadow. “I could use a little assistance here, gentlemen.” She yanked on Firefly’s halter, but the mare wouldn’t budge.
“You’re doing fine, dear. She won’t obey you unless you learn to handle her yourself.”
“Fine.” She begged, she pleaded, and to her own chagrin, she nearly cussed. Her face flushed. She glared at the men, daring them to say a word.
Yiska called out over his shoulder, “You’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
“Some old Indian saying?” Her father chortled.
Yiska hiked his chin and grinned. “Something Mrs. Whiley used to say.”
“Well, if there were any honey in this forsaken place, I’d give her some,” Eliana huffed.
Yiska made some high pitched kissing sounds. Firefly immediately raised her head, dug in her hooves, and came up the embankment—Eliana in tow. Yiska issued a satisfied nod.
“How’d you do that?” she asked.
“Like this.” He pursed his lips together once again.
Eliana glared at him and shot a glance at her father, relieved that he was looking away. “Yiska…” she whispered, between clenched teeth. “How did you know it would work?” She cocked her head. “Some secret way of the Navajo?”
“Let’s see. You made every other sound possible. Figured I’d give that one a try.”
“Well, thank you. I’ve more experience with mules than with horses.”
“My pleasure.” Yiska patted Shadow on the neck and put light pressure on the animal’s belly with one knee. The horse turned and proceeded toward the ridge. He trotted ahead to scout out the trail.
“Show off,” she muttered under her breath.
Papa let out a chuckle at the exchange and pulled his own horse around. “He’s all right in my book. But you’d best mind your manners.”
“My manners?” Eliana asked.
“Don’t want to stir up any trouble, especially after we get to the rendezvous.”
“Would you care to explain?”
Papa pinched his eyebrows to let her know he was serious. “We have a lot of miles yet to travel. Don’t encourage him.”
Eliana tried to ignore the accusation and let out an exasperated breath. With one foot in the stirrup, she hoisted herself up on Firefly. Papa didn’t really think she’d risk the expedition by entertaining notions of romance, did he? With a kissing noise she urged her horse forward.
After a rough twenty-four miles from Silverton, Yiska led the Van Horns to the shelter of ponderosa pines to camp for the night. He dismounted and took in a deep breath of the pine scented air then gathered branches and leaves to prepare a lean-to while Eliana and Mr. Van Horn set up their small canvas tents. They gave the horses and mule some oats and water from the stream. Then Yiska stretched a line between two trees and tethered the animals. He made a fire, and Mr. Van Horn heated some canned hash, boiled some coffee, and offered a prayer of thanks. After they ate, Van Horn read a short passage out loud from his Bible. As they sat around the campfire in the twilight of the early June evening, they listened to the sounds of the rushing river and chirping tree frogs.
“We made good progress today. You both did well when we had to ride up those ridges. The rest of the way will go a little easier.” Yiska stirred the fire with the end of a branch. “We should get to Baker’s Bridge by late morning.”
“How far is that?” Eliana asked.
“About ten or twelve miles,” he said. “Then another twelve to Animas City. We should get there by sundown tomorrow.”
Eliana let out a deep sigh. “I’ll be so glad to get there.” She rubbed her legs. “I’m so tired and sore.”
Mr. Van Horn tapped his empty pipe on his knee. “You’re not used to all the riding. But I’m afraid there’ll be much more of it ahead, my dear. The expedition hasn’t even commenced.” He raised an eyebrow. “Other than that, how are you holding up? I haven’t heard any sneezing.”
Eliana stretched, issuing a low moan when her body protested. She mumbled as she lumbered toward the river’s edge. “I’m fine…. It’s the other end I’m worried about.”
Yiska cocked his head, covering his mouth to smother a laugh.
Van Horn chuckled as he got up, Bible in hand. “I’ll turn in now so I can be up for the second watch.”
Eliana placed her fingertips on her lips then turned them toward her father, sending him a good-night kiss. “Sleep well, Papa. I’ll go to my tent shortly.”
Yiska observed the closeness between the two. They meant everything to each other.
“Be sure to wake me, Yiska,” Van Horn said.
“You bet.” Although they weren’t in hostile Indian territory, small parties kept guard. There was always the danger of wild animals or the occasional desperate soul who ran dry while prospecting the river to beware of. Good thing Eliana could handle a weapon.
Yiska wandered to where she stood, her silhouette like a male. But underneath the manly clothes, he knew she was every bit a woman—the woman he was falling hard for.
Eliana took off her hat and untied the cord from her hair, her tousled locks falling around her face. Her hat dropped to the ground, and Yiska picked it up. Their eyes met as he handed it to her, but neither of them spoke.
The firelight, reflected in her eyes and gave the illusion that he could see deep into her heart. He longed to kiss her, passionately, as he did the first time their lips met, but he dared not. He had to train himself to keep a proper emotional distance for the expedition. Maybe when it was over…
A branch snapped. Eliana let out a tiny gasp. Their heads darted in the direction of the noise, Yiska’s hand ready at his side. He caught a glimpse of the white tails of deer fleeing into the woods.
Eliana sighed in relief. “Perhaps I’m not cut out for this.” She turned and took a few steps away.
Yiska walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. With his head nestled over her shoulder he spoke into her ear in a low voice. “Eliana, this is your dream. Every moment, all of it. Even when you’re tired or afraid. You’re braver than you realize, and you will do this, and do it well.”
She sniffed and put her hand up to her face to wipe her tears. She clung to his arms, and her breathing relaxed. There they stayed as one, watching the light of the moon dance upon the river.
When Eliana awoke the next morning before dawn, breakfast was already cooking on the fire, and Cornelius Crawford was serving it up.
“Mornin’ Miss…I mean, young man.” His whiskered cheeks framed a toothless grin. “I came in last night after you all had retired. I’d have caught up with you sooner, but I got a little off track. Betcha didn’t know I’m going on that survey expedition to New Mexico with you.”
Astonished, Eliana placed both hands on her hips. “I’m surprised you’re leaving your mine behind.”
Papa and Yiska emerged from their shelters dumbfounded.
“You didn’t say anything about that when you came into camp last night,” Yiska said.
Cornelius handed Eliana a plate of beans, bacon, and biscuits. “Told you I was down on my luck. Lost my gold claim in a card game. But since I gave my heart to Jesus, He’s been blessin’ me and helping me get my life in order. I gave up the whiskey and even got me a job.”
“I take it you have a job on the expedition then,” Papa said.
“Sure do. I wuz hired as the cook. Providin’ I can get down to Animas City in time.” Cornelius chewed on a piece of bacon and smacked his lips.
“All this in a matter of a couple of days, Crawford?” Yiska asked.
“You betcha,” the reformed miner said.
Papa chuckled. “Sounds like a genuine miracle. Glad to have you along.” Yiska choked on his coffee and shook his head.
They rode along at a good pace, making their way through the gorge. Eliana breathed in the fresh morning air and relaxed as she and Firefly fell into a steady gait. Peacefulness permeated her heart as she remembered Yiska’s soothing words the night before, and the thought of his masculine arms around her.
Yiska rode ahead to scout then circled around to meet the group. “Baker’s Bridge is up ahead.”
“That’s the bridge Charles Baker and his team built back in the sixties, during the gold boom,” Papa said. “I’d like to photograph it if you think we can afford the time.”
“We’ll cross and rest for a spell. Then you can get your pictures,” Yiska said.
Eliana contemplated the narrow section of the river where logs were strewn together from one thick section of rock to another. “Is it safe?”
“It’s as safe as it ever was.” Without hesitation Yiska rode Shadow across and waited on the other side. Papa followed, Sampson trailing behind him. Cornelius came along next on a coal-colored mule loaded with pots and pans.
Eliana sat on Firefly and urged her to cross the bridge, but the horse seemed frightened of the water rushing underneath. Firefly’s hooves clopped up and down on the logs, and then she backed up. Eliana tried to ease her forward once again then increased pressure with her heels.
The horse reared and threw Eliana to the ground with a thud. The force pushed the wind from her lungs and left her gasping for breath.