Chapter Thirty-One

Johnathan giggled and shrieked with joy when he rode atop the big man’s shoulders. Jake kept a secure grip on the playful child as he carried him, walking several miles with him each day. Jake had never considered himself a family man; however, he loved children. Realizing how much he enjoyed Johnathan’s cheerful company, he wondered if it might be time to settle down and sire his own sons.

What am I thinking? Rendezvous is almost here, and I must set sail as soon as it’s over. After I purchase all those furs, I’ll need to get them sold.

The long walks each day proved to work better than a tonic for his recovery. Most of his strength had returned. He knew he could never repay the group of sincere friends who unselfishly gave of their time and talents to nurse him back to health.

He spied Belle on the path, coming to greet him and his charge and to walk back to the hotel with them for the last quarter of a mile. She had a habit of doing that, and Jake looked forward to her appearance. Although she came out to check on her son’s welfare, it was Jake with whom she talked, and he was thrilled she made the effort to be alone with him. He viewed it as her portion of the courtship between them, however he was unsure whether the young widow realized it or not. She was an intelligent person, but so unworldly. It was quite possible she would be surprised if anyone were to ask if she and Jake were actually courting.

Interrupting his thoughts, he caught Belle’s puzzled look.

“What are you thinking that makes your grin deepen so?”

“Just thinking of you,” he answered and saw the corners of her mouth crease before she ducked her head. Chuckling at her shyness and unable to resist the gold and copper highlights crowning the young widow’s auburn hair, he reached out to her and ran his fingers through her long tresses, enjoying the softness and silken feel of it.

She did not pull away as he expected. Instead, she looked up at him, and he was lost in her gaze. All of his dreams came rushing at him, those of the woman with eyes of dark jade or bright emerald, sometimes no particular shade of green. Also advancing were those dreams where the woman sat just beyond his reach and now, here she stood, close enough to touch. He feared he might push her away if he made the wrong move. Although wanting desperately to hold her and crush her body to his chest, he held tight the rein of desire fighting within him.

Instead, he spoke, his voice husky. “Do you know how beautiful you are right now?”

Searching his face, she said, “I don’t think I’m homely, but I’ve never considered myself a beauty.”

“Truly, you are,” he said before catching his breath. He did so to keep from calling her “my love” for fear she would bolt. But when he caught his breath, the sudden intake of air made him choke. Immediately, he handed Johnathan down to his mother and bent over to make breathing easier. After Belle transferred Johnathan to her hip, Jake motioned for her assistance.

He gestured for her to beat on his back with her free hand while he coughed and gasped until he took normal breaths again. He straightened and gave her an accusing look.

“This is your fault,” he said and saw her genuine concern for him dissipate when she stamped her booted foot on the packed earth of the well-trodden path.

“What do you mean? My fault.”

“Why, your beauty took my breath away.”

“How dare you,” she shouted, her face reddening. “You, you insufferable, rude man.”

Even though he was serious and paying her a compliment, Jake could not control the corners of his mouth as they inched their way upward. That proved to be his undoing, because Belle began to pummel his back with her fist. He laughed and, of course, that only made matters worse. When Belle tired of pounding on Jake, she turned without a word and marched toward the hotel, Johnathan bouncing along on her hip. Watching her, Jake was forced to release the big, belly laugh he had been trying so hard to contain.

When he was strong enough, he began preparations at the trading post for the onslaught of trappers coming in for rendezvous. He wouldn’t have Stephen’s help, so he’d have to build up his stamina to put in long hours each day. As he stocked the shelves with bullets, molasses, coffee, flour, and cones of sugar, he wondered how his customers would respond to the tea he purchased in China.

“It’s good to have something new,” he said.

“What’s new?” String walked in, closing the door behind him.

“Tea,” Jake said. “A poor substitute for coffee, but it might be a nice change.”

“Speaking of change,” String said, “how you gonna explain your partner’s absence?”

“My half-brother is no longer a partner in my trading post.”

“Or, in his mercantile, as he called it?”

“Correct.”

“How do you explain his disappearance, Captain?”

“What did I say when I was out of my mind with a fever?”

String tapped his foot. “Well, you said plenty to me, but I’m thinking no one else made sense of your ramblings.”

“Good.”

The door burst open, and a man the size of a grizzly bear stepped in. “Trader Jake,” he said, “Pleased to see you’re up and about.”

Jake shook hands with the man. “Samuel, it’s good to see you, too. Have a successful season?”

“Sure did. Plenty of furs to trade, but that’s not why I’m here.”

Jake cocked an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“The Red River coughed up a body,” Samuel said. “Don’t know how high up it came from or how long the river kept it submerged. You need to come see it.”

The three men hurried out to Samuel’s wagon where Benjamin waited. He uncovered the remains. “Looks like Mr. Owens, don’t it?”

“Could be,” Jake said. “Wearing his clothes, for sure.”

“Ain’t no bullet hole,” Benjamin said. “I searched for one.”

“Looks like he might have drowned,” Samuel said.

“I’m sure that’s what happened,” Jake said. “Please take him over to Doc’s so he can tell us what to do to prepare him for burial.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Samuel said. “I’ve never seen a body in this shape before.”

“Neither have I,” Jake said. “I’ll ride out to River Bend and let them know.”

String stepped back from the wagon. “I’ll finish up here, Captain.”

“Appreciate that, String. Be sure to lock it up. We’re not open for business yet.”

Jake left the men to their duties and walked to the livery to saddle his roan. Riding out to Stephen’s plantation gave him time to deal with his muddled thoughts.

So, it wasn’t a dream. My brother is dead. He shot me, and that loud crack I keep hearing in my nightmares was that old tree breaking and taking Stephen with it to drown in the river.

Jake spurred his horse.

“You should have had sons,” he said aloud, “to inherit River Bend and keep it running. I wonder what will become of it.”