Chapter Three
and hustled her into the trees before her father pointed his pistol at them instead of into the air. How could a father turn on his only child—his pregnant daughter—like this? Patrick should know the answer to his questions, considering his own father had left three children to fend for themselves. Not quite themselves. Grandma was there. And David.
A tree branch whacked him in the face as Meredith ducked beneath it.
David. Should he be grateful or angry that his older brother had defended him to Hughes? A man had his pride, after all. Pride that could have gotten him, or David, or Meredith, killed.
He growled, and Meredith gasped, pulling away from him. Her foot caught in the undergrowth and she tumbled to the ground. He reached for her, but she turned away, guarding her belly as if … he would strike her.
Merciful heavens. He dropped to his knees. “I won’t hurt you, Meredith. Please trust me on that. Let me get you to safety.”
Wherever that might be. Here beneath the trees, the light from camp and the moon faded. His breath puffed out in a frosty cloud. Meredith shivered.
Foolish! They’d die of the cold before the night was through. At least Meredith had a coat, and her flannel nightdress covered her boots, but she wore no hat. Patrick had but trousers covering his long johns, suspenders hanging at his hips, and sock feet stuffed hastily into his boots. Could he hide Meredith somewhere, then return for supplies? And food.
Without a word, she allowed him to help her to her feet. Nor did she flinch when he took her hand and led her east with as much speed as safety allowed. He heard no one following, but bullets traveled a goodly distance, and he wanted to take no risk with Meredith’s life. Irony, truly. He’d worked hard to avoid responsibility, and now he had the care of a woman and her unborn child on his shoulders. How had he ended up here? And in just one day?
“Patrick? Is it safe to stop?”
Meredith’s voice was small in the darkness, yet the weight of it bowed his shoulders. He couldn’t be like his father and fail this task now that it was his. They needed a plan.
“We’ll stop just up ahead.” He led her toward a thick copse of trees near where they were harvesting. “Just up ahead.”
She nodded, her breath coming in quick gasps. He’d pushed her too hard.
“Sit, Meredith.” He brought a fallen log to where she stood, then helped her sink onto it before kneeling beside her. Maybe her father had overreacted and they could return to camp tonight. But what if her father still railed, and they arrived in camp only to be shot on sight? At least if Patrick left her here and went back but failed to return, the jacks would find her in the morning. If she survived.
“Why are you helping me? You risked your job and your life for me.” She rubbed her belly as she searched his face, then she looked away. “Or do you plan to leave me here?”
“Leave you?” Did she read his mind?
“I won’t blame you. I’ve already caused you more trouble than—”
“Meredith. I’m going back to camp. Alone. But not because I’m leaving you to fend for yourself. I’ll set up a shelter for you for while I’m gone, but we won’t survive the night without proper supplies. It’s too cold. I need to go back for them, and I will return.” He hoped.
“You didn’t say why.” She kept her gaze on the evidence of a baby growing inside of her. Another man’s baby. A baby whose father had died and whose grandfather didn’t care if its mother lived.
Well, Patrick wouldn’t cause her to cower. Not because of him, but he wouldn’t mince the truth. “Listen, Meredith. I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do. That’s all.”
She raised her eyes, and his gaze tangled with hers. His heart rate picked up, and he jumped to his feet.
No, no, nope. Not a chance. Yes, Meredith Hughes was beautiful, but he didn’t have a death wish. Anyway, he swore he would never marry, never have children, who he would surely disappoint. Tonight was happenstance. She needed a rescue, and he was the one to provide it. That was all this was.
Agitation quickened his pace as he swept up the slash left behind from that morning. Sticks, branches, pine needles, all too green for a fire, but great for stacking into a hut of sorts. Alaric Lumber Company had lasted as long as they had because Mr. Alaric insisted on using most of the slash, like treetops, as well as replanting trees on his land, a rarity among lumber companies. However, scuttlebutt said it wouldn’t be enough. Mr. Alaric already had feelers out for putting the land up for sale, but with no takers, he went ahead with this winter’s harvest. There weren’t many trees left, and bankruptcy was on the horizon.
What would that mean for permanent workers like the Nelsons or Hughes? For Meredith?
He laid pine boughs across the sticks he’d leaned against each other. Once again, he knelt beside Meredith, softening his voice so she didn’t think his frustration was aimed at her. “Can you crawl in there? It isn’t much, but it will keep you warm until I can get back.”
She held up a hand as if she meant to lay it on his chest, and Patrick froze. But she didn’t touch him. Instead, she curled her fingers and offered a smile. “You come back, Patrick Martins, or I’m coming to find you.”
All the more reason to make sure he returned. “Wait until morning, will you?”
She rolled her eyes but dutifully crawled into the small shelter.
He peeked into the opening. “As soon as I get back, we’ll head into the cutover area and build a better shelter, and a fire. I can’t risk one here with all the trees. Is there anything you need me to bring you besides warmer clothes?”
“My Bible.”
Her lack of hesitation took him aback, as did the request. He couldn’t remember the last time he read a Bible. Sure, he went to church because Grandma made him. Even here, he went to the Sunday chapel service since David stiff-armed him. But of all the items he’d want most in Meredith’s situation, a Bible never would have crossed his mind.
“It was my mother’s.” She pulled her coat close around her. “It’s become dear to me since … all of this.”
He shifted on his heels. “You don’t need to explain to me. You have nothing to prove.”
Her nose bunched. Was that doubt crossing her face? A pang hit his heart. Why did he want her to think well of him? Why did it matter? Distance. Distance would help shove the unwelcome feelings back where they belonged.
“I’m going to put another limb in front of the doorway. Huddle up. I’ll be back in a jiffy.” After sliding a bushy branch into place, Patrick dashed away, picking up his feet so they didn’t tangle with the underbrush.
Camp was quiet when he returned, the commotion over. Did that mean Hughes was asleep? Had he given up the chase? Could Patrick sneak Meredith into camp for the night? David would know.
He crept to the back of the bunkhouse where two windows allowed light into the structure. David’s bunk was near the one on the north end. He tapped the secret Morse code they’d used as kids to signal one another. Before Mom died and everything fell apart.
No light blinked on. No shadow moved inside. He tapped the code again.
Then came a short tap, long tap, short tap. R for Roger. David had heard him.
Patrick stayed in the shadows as he waited for his brother’s next action. Would he call him inside? Come to meet him outside? Would he have news? Patrick breathed into his bare hands, his fingertips numb. At least he’d been wearing his stocking cap when Hughes barged into the bunkhouse. He should have left it for Meredith.
“I’ve been worried sick,” David whispered as he came around the corner of the bunkhouse.
Tension in Patrick’s shoulders released. His brother would help him.
“You probably don’t have a job here anymore, and we can hope Hughes won’t put together that Kyle and I are connected to you once his drunken fog wears off, or we’ll be out of a job too. How selfish could you be, getting involved with the foreman’s daughter? Compromising—”
“Whoa.” Patrick raised his palms. “I thought you’d believe me. I’m helping Meredith. I didn’t cause this.”
David rubbed his face.
Patrick stared at him. “You really think I would do that to a girl?”
“What was I supposed to think?” David flung out his arms. “You’re in your twenties and act like an irresponsible—”
“I don’t want responsibility. I’m not you.”
“What are you going to do about Miss Hughes, then?”
“Make sure she’s safe tonight.” What else could he do? And after that, he had no idea. “Is her father sleeping it off?”
David let out a long breath, and with it his anger because his tone was entirely different when he spoke. “I suppose we should be grateful our father wasn’t an angry drunk, just a sloppy one.”
“He still left us.” Bitterness tasted awful on his tongue.
David raised his brows, his implication clear. Their father left, but Meredith had to run from hers.
Maybe his brother had a point. “Will you help me, then?”
David hesitated.
“If for no other reason, it’s Christmas. The birth of baby Jesus, and all that. Shouldn’t you be more charitable to a woman in need at this time of year?”
David’s face reddened in the moonlight. “For someone who hates church, you preach a convicting sermon. Yes, I will help you. It’s not safe for you to bring her back here tonight. I’ll get you clothes, blankets, and food. There’s an abandoned cabin at the far end of the cutover land north of where we’re working. I spotted it the first week we were here, when Hughes had me scout the area. It’ll provide shelter for the night.”
“Is it safe to light a fire there?” He couldn’t believe he was asking David’s opinion, but just now, with Meredith’s life in danger, he needed his older brother’s advice.
“As long as you make sure it’s out before dawn. Then wait for me there. I’ll send Kyle with information, or come myself. I’ll try to clear your name and find out whether Meredith can come home.”
“Even if she can stay, Meredith will remain in danger as long as she’s around her father. He’s not going to change overnight. Grandma would take her in, if we can get Meredith to Crow’s Nest.”
David looked up at the cloudless sky. “Instinct is telling me a storm is coming. My guess is two days and the road will be impassable for a while.”
“Then what do we do?” Patrick dropped his voice. “What do I do?”
His brother cupped his hand around Patrick’s neck. “You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s get Meredith through tonight.”
Patrick nodded. David’s calm assurance bolstered his confidence. He was doing the right thing.
“About your aversion to responsibility …” David leaned in, giving Patrick no choice but to meet his gaze. “Sometimes responsibility is laid across your shoulders because of another person’s actions, whether or not you’re ready for it. You can choose to walk away, or shoulder the burden to care for someone else.”
David meant himself when Dad walked out. He’d been in the same position as Patrick, only younger. He’d chosen to stay, just as Patrick was choosing to do with Meredith. Respect for his brother hit him, and then another emotion followed. Could he be like his brother? Did he want to?
“All right. Let me gather the supplies.” He bumped Patrick’s shoulder with his fist. “I’ll meet you at the ice road in fifteen minutes.”
Patrick nodded, his mind whirling. Then he remembered Meredith’s one wish. Her Bible. He wasn’t about to send David into Hughes’s domain, risk his job and maybe his life. Patrick would handle her request himself. If he missed the rendezvous … no. He promised he’d return to Meredith, and he would do so with her beloved Bible in hand.