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The town of Abilene stood quiet in the dark night. Most people were inside, out of the wind and cold. They passed a barbershop and bathhouse, a blacksmith shop, a post office, a store and a one-story hotel. Many of the settlers lived in nondescript huts. The Kansas Pacific Railroad would come through soon, but the tracks hadn’t reached the town yet.
Piano keys tinkled as they rode past the hotel saloon.
Rob gave the saloon a wistful glance. Inside he’d find whiskey and a warm woman. He glanced over at Sally, his gaze moving over her curves.
He couldn’t stop thinking of her as she’d dreamed. The sound of her moan and the flush in her cheeks were frozen into his mind and he couldn’t shake them.
I have to stop constantly thinking of her that way. There were always easy women to be found in a saloon and finding one would make it easier to focus on his goal.
Moss cleared his throat and nodded toward the saloon. “Might want to wet yer whistle.”
“There’s plenty of time for that once we find a doctor.”
When they reached the sheriff’s office, Moss got off his mule, handed Carolyn to Sally and went in to ask about a doctor. The sheriff emerged and took one look at Carolyn.
“You’re lucky Doc Collins is in town. Before he moved here, I’d have sent you to the barber.” He pointed down the street to the end of town. “His house is the new one on the end.” A pig waddled past the house in the moonlight and the sheriff chuckled. “Andy’s pig is loose again. Doc’s wife won’t like that.”
“Much obliged,” Moss said.
They hurried toward the house and Moss knocked on the door.
Sally thought they must present a bedraggled sight to the neatly dressed lady who opened the door. Moss always looked trail-worn. Carolyn was doll-like with her porcelain skin and bright rosy cheeks brought on by the fever.
The woolen blanket smelled of mules and Sally wondered if it offended the lady. If it did, she gave no sign.
Rob leaned against a porch post with an expression that said he’d rather be elsewhere. He appeared rough and ready to ride, like an outlaw.
Which he probably is.
“Step inside,” the woman said. “Wait here in the parlor while I fetch Doctor Collins.”
The doctor came out from the kitchen, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“I’m sorry to disturb your dinner,” Sally said.
“I’m finished. I don’t usually eat this late, but I’ve been out making calls.” He took one glance at Carolyn who was asleep in Sally’s arms and his eyes sharpened. “Well, now, have a sick little one, do you? Bring her in here.”
Sally followed him into a front room filled with medical instruments and medicine bottles. She laid Carolyn on the bed without waking her and the doctor bent over her to listen with his stethoscope.
Sally waited in silent worry.
He straightened and turned to her. “We need to break the fever. Has she been near others who were sick?”
“We came from Fort Riley but I didn’t hear of anyone with the fever while we were there.”
“Fort Riley.” He shook his head. “She could’ve caught anything. In a day or two we’ll know if it turns into pneumonia or small pox. It’s in the early stages.”
Sally clutched her throat in alarm. Either disease was deadly. Pneumonia killed many children every year. And smallpox, even if the victims lived, pitted and scarred them for life.
Her fingers rubbed the brooch. “Is there anything you can give her?”
“Yes, but we have to sweat the poison out. Then the fever will break. I see no pox on her yet.” He paused and looked the group over. “Where are you staying?”
Moss twisted his hat in his hands, a look of concern on his face. “We just rode in. Ain’t found a place yet.”
He’d stopped grouching about his wagon once he learned of Carolyn’s illness.
Doc Collins gestured to Sally. “You and the child can stay here. The others will have to stay in the hotel. Long ago my wife and I came to an agreement that no men would stay in our house. We had trouble once.”
Moss nodded. “Now don’t ye worry none, Sally. Jus’ get yer little girl to feelin’ better. We’ll stop back tomorrow an’ see how she fares.”
Rob touched the brim of his hat and nodded to Sally before stepping outside.
Once the doctor’s wife had settled Carolyn in a room, the doctor directed Sally to cover her with heavy quilts.
Carolyn tried to push the covers away.
“No, sunshine, you have to keep the blankets on.”
“Mama, I’m hot.”
“I know, baby, but you’ll be better soon.”
Sally tried to believe those words. She bathed Carolyn’s face with cool damp cloths. Her flushed face felt hot.
Neither the doctor nor his wife could convince Sally to leave Carolyn’s side. The night lingered long and hard. She wept bitter tears remembering all the family she’d lost to fevers and how helpless she’d been, as helpless as she felt now.
The next days ran together. Night and day seemed the same, with nothing but wet cloths to wring and Carolyn’s mumbling and tossing and that wretched cough. There were sheets to change and Sally tried to coax Carolyn to swallow fluids.
Icy fear twisted around her heart at the thought of losing her little girl. She wore herself out with worry until the fever finally broke.
Carolyn was left with a slight cough. It hadn’t been the smallpox and they’d kept her lungs clear. She’d recover.
The doctor convinced Sally that Carolyn was out of danger and ordered her to get some sleep. She slept for an entire day.
When she woke, she heard Carolyn in the next room singing, “Pop Goes the Weasel”. She laid in bed listening to the sounds she’d feared she’d never hear again and closed her eyes.
“All around the cobblers bench...”
Thank you, Lord, Sally prayed.
She rose, went into the room and hugged her daughter.
“Oh, Carolyn, my little sunshine, I love you so much.”
“See my dolly, Mama, her name is Suzy Sunshine.”
The doctor’s wife had given her a rag doll. They’d had to burn the one the sergeant had given her. The doctor said it might carry disease. Carolyn’s new doll had black yarn eyes, and was made from old white sheets with yellow yarn for hair.
Carolyn hugged her doll. “She’s mine, Mama. I’m taking her to Texas.”
Doc Collins appeared in the doorway. “You shouldn’t travel to Texas in this weather. Wait until its warmer.”
“Is Carolyn well enough to travel?”
“She needs to stay warm and dry and she needs shoes.”
“Yes, doctor. We’ll go to the store tomorrow.”
“Be sure to bundle her up and keep her warm.”
Sally’s thoughts turned again to Matthew and Luke. She’d been focused on Carolyn’s illness. She’d had no time to worry about catching up with Luke.
How many days had she lost? Each day Luke took Matthew farther away.
Moss stopped by that evening to visit.
“I have to buy Carolyn some shoes tomorrow,” Sally said. “And I only have a little money left after paying the doctor and room and board. The medicine was expensive.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll come by an’ we’ll git her shoes. I’ll do some tradin’.” Moss said.
Sally reached for her grandfather’s pocket watch.
“I have this.”
“Ye don’t want to trade that there family piece.”
“I do if it means my little girl won’t get sick again. Besides, I mean to take extra medicine with us. What if Carolyn gets sick again? What if Matthew is sick when we find him?”
Her stomach churned at the thought of Matthew sick on the trail with no one to care for him.
“Sally, ye got to think sensible. It’ll be a while ’fore she ken travel. I ken get you settled in somewhere.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m going to find Matthew. You made a promise and I’m holding you to it.”
They’d already spent too much time here in town. Anything could have happened to Matthew by now.
Her fingers closed over the brooch. She had it and the locket with Mama’s picture. Now that her gold was gone, she hoped she wouldn’t have to sell them, but she’d do whatever it took to get her son back.
“We’ll talk later when you ain’t thinkin’ so foggy.”
The one thing they agreed on was the plan to take Carolyn to the store the next day.
It was late in the evening when Rob paid them a visit.
She sensed he was there though she hadn’t heard him enter.
She turned to where he stood in the doorway with his hat in his hands, dark hair dropping in waves over his forehead and those intense eyes focused on nothing but her.
His gaze traveled over her face and searched her eyes. “How is she?”
His voice held a warmth and concern that touched something deep inside of her.
“She’s over the worst of it.” Her hand smoothed Carolyn’s forehead where she lay sleeping, yet her gaze was riveted to his. “She just tires quickly.”
“Good.” He let out a long breath and took a step forward. “I’m glad to hear it.”
The moment he came near, the bedroom seemed to shrink. His presence filled the whole of it and her pulse skittered wildly.
“And how are you, Sally?” He added in a lower, huskier tone, “You look tired.”
I was so afraid I’d lose her.
She wanted to say the words but she couldn’t share how she felt. It was all wrapped up in the tangle of emotion he created whenever he was near.
He moved toward her, cupping her chin and tilting it upward. “You have dark circles under your eyes.”
His gaze was gentle upon her face, his brow concerned, and she knew if she gave in to her desire she would be in his arms in a heartbeat.
She longed for him to hold her.
But it couldn’t be.
She was overly tired, her emotions exhausted, and she hadn’t the strength to stop at letting him hold her.
She set her jaw and the wall of her determination rose between them. “Yes. I am tired.” She turned away. “And Carolyn needs her rest.”
She felt his presence behind her pulling at her like taffy.
“Then I’ll be going. I’m glad to hear she’ll mend.”
His voice rumbled into her body and his words rested in a small place in her heart.
This general store was bigger than the one back home, though chickens still ran down the center of town. The store was fully stocked and smelled of dried fruit, vinegar and smoked ham.
“You seem to have everything,” Sally said to the owner.
“Once the railroad reaches us, cowboys will come through with longhorns to load on the train. After the cows are loaded, and the men get paid, they’ll have plenty of cash to spend and I’ll be stocked and ready.”
“Would you have any shoes to fit my little girl?”
He looked at Carolyn’s feet. “I surely do.”
After searching in the back he emerged with a pair that fit her.
Carolyn tapped her toes together and giggled.
Sally watched with a smile.
How easy it was to please her daughter.
On the way back to Doc’s house Moss said, “It’s too bad you had to trade your Grandpa’s watch fer them shoes.”
“What use would it be to me if I lost Carolyn? Grandfather would’ve wanted me to use it as I did.” Sally walked briskly and blinked away tears.
“Settle here in town. I ken find Luke an’ Matthew.”
“No.” Sally shook her head. “We’re going to Texas and I’m tired of you trying to talk me out of it.”
Moss grunted and they walked in silence.
Then she stopped and turned to him. “Let’s leave tomorrow morning. But don’t tell Rob.”
“Yer the one invited him. What changed yer mind?”
“Nothing. I just had second thoughts about traveling with a man I don’t know.”
A man she was drawn to like no other.
Each time she saw him the feeling grew stronger. She couldn’t think when he was near. Or she thought too much about his nearness. But she could have controlled her desires. It was his tenderness that had nearly done her in. She’d had too little of it in her life and her heart cried out for it.
“’Fore ye go rushin’ off, what did Doc say?”
“She’ll be fine. We’ll leave at first light.”
“An’ if I say no?”
“I’ll go on my own, and you’ll have broken your word.”
“I figured.”
They parted and then Sally entered Doc’s house.
Carolyn danced around the parlor in her new shoes as Doc’s eyes twinkled.
“New shoes are good medicine,” he said, “aren’t they?”
“Yes, sir. Suzie Sunshine likes them too.” She held the doll down near her feet and made the doll dance.
One of Doc’s patients came in, and Sally and Carolyn went into the kitchen where his wife was cooking.
Carolyn sat on a little stool near the fireplace playing with her doll while the women baked bread. Sally kneaded the bread dough as her thoughts wandered.
How long would it be until she had her own kitchen again? She didn’t mind helping out but it wasn’t the same as having her own place and her children needed a home of their own.
How would she ever be able to afford a home? With no husband she’d have to settle for whatever she could afford. Which at the moment was nothing.
What would she do once she had Matthew back? She’d never longed for anything but a happy family. Now she had no home and her husband wasn’t really her husband. All she had were her precious children. But she needed a place to raise them.
First though, she’d have to get Matthew back. This time tomorrow they’d be back on the trail, that much closer to her son.
Rob sat in the saloon holding his cards and waiting for the man across the table to make a play. His thoughts returned to Sally. She wouldn’t stay any longer than she had to. She was probably itching to leave already. He was glad Carolyn was out of danger, but he wished Sally didn’t have her along. They could’ve traveled straight through without being slowed down by a child. Matthew wouldn’t slow Luke down.
It could’ve been worse. Carolyn could’ve been sick for a long time. He steered his mind back to his cards and resigned himself to waiting. His luck was good tonight. He won again and raked in the winnings as he thought about the past.
Luke had cheated him, though not at cards. Five years of his life could never be repaid. Five years rotting away in jail. Then the two years he’d spent searching for Luke. Seven lost years that could never be recovered.
While he’d suffered, Luke had played at being a family man. One thing he’d learned about Luke through the long search was the man never stuck with anything. Rob was surprised Luke had stayed with Sally so long. Though she was a beauty, Rob suspected her innocence had been part of the attraction for Luke. The man left a trail of ruined women everywhere he went.
He’d find Luke soon. Sally must know where he was headed. Women could be secretive.
May Belle had been found dead in Rob’s room one week before their wedding. And Luke had disappeared, leaving no trail. Rob had been escorted off to jail before he’d even had a chance to prove his innocence. Before he’d learned what secrets May Belle hid.
When he was released, Luke had long vanished. No one knew where he’d come from or where he’d gone. Little was known about his family or childhood.
But it didn’t matter now. What mattered was finding the man and exacting vengeance.
Wherever Luke was, he brought trouble. It was the one constant with Luke; where he went, trouble followed. And that made his trail easier to follow once Rob knew what to look for.
This time trouble was going to find Luke and there’d be no running.
I’ll trail him to the ends of the earth.
Luke would face his past. He’d set up the wrong man. One who would never quit, no matter how far Luke ran.
He raked in his winnings with a grim, determined smile.
In the morning, Moss brought the mules to Doc’s house. Sally handed Carolyn to him before climbing into the saddle of one of the new mules he’d traded for.
“How far to the next town?” Sally asked.
Moss scowled. “We’d go quicker if’n I still had my wagon.”
Sally regretted having said anything to remind him.
“We need to hurry. We’ve lost too many days already.”
And if we hurry, we can get there before Rob does.
Rob finished his breakfast and wondered where Moss was. It wasn’t like him to be late to a meal, let alone miss one.
Something had to be wrong. He paid for his meal then hurried to Doc’s house.
Had Carolyn taken a turn for the worse?
Though irritated by the delay in his plan to find Luke, he was worried about her.
She is a sweet little girl. It isn’t her fault her father is a skunk.
Doc’s wife opened the door.
“How is Carolyn?”
A look of surprise came over her face. “Why, they left early this morning.”
Damn, not again.
He jammed his hat on his head and ran to the livery stable.
I helped Sally, hell, she’d invited me along, and she’d still snuck off without a word.
What had made her change her mind about him? Had she told Moss he was looking for Luke and the old man convinced her to go without telling him? Or had she heard from Luke?
Twice now she’d secretly taken off at the crack of dawn. He should’ve known she might do it again. No one had said a word about Carolyn being well enough to travel. Only that she was on the mend.
Rob collected his horse. He’d catch up with them. It wouldn’t be hard. They could only travel so fast with a small child and the load Moss still had to deliver.
He gritted his teeth as he rode out of town.
Sneaky woman. She won’t lose me this easily.
He shouldn’t be surprised, with her being Luke’s woman. He’d let the way she cared for Carolyn sway his thinking.
Being a good mother doesn’t make her an honest woman.
To be honest with himself, he’d let his attraction to her sway his thinking. Despite all his efforts, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. She’d crawled under his skin and into his thoughts.
But she wouldn’t distract him from his plan for revenge.
Sally glanced over her shoulder. If only they could travel faster, away from Rob. She’d had plenty of time to regret asking him to join them. This had been a perfect chance to correct her mistake. It felt good to be on the trail again, finally doing something and moving that much closer to Matthew. But she couldn’t help worrying about Rob catching up with them.
Carolyn coughed.
Sally shot her a worried glance. Had she made a bad decision leaving today?
Well, the choice is made now. There is no going back.
Moss kept Carolyn bundled in the smelly horse blanket, and her left cheek was pink from dozing on the rough cloth.
The wind blew, whipping dirt across Sally’s face. She covered her nose with a handkerchief and urged her mule on.
Moss had warned her before they left that storms this time of year could rage fiercely. On the ferry across the Kansas River just after they left Abilene, Moss had said he hoped they’d be able to make their way as easily across the other big rivers. But he’d sounded worried. Or maybe he was still thinking about his wagon.
She was tired of speculating about what was on men’s minds. Luke. Rob. Moss. The only way to know was to ask and hope for an honest answer. At least Moss would be honest.
“What’s worrying you, Moss?”
“We got to cross the Cimarron, the North and South Canadian, the Washita and the Red. All them rivers is treacherous.”
It was the biggest word Sally had ever heard him use. “All five of them?”
“Yep.”
“Why are they so dangerous?”
She’d much rather know what she was getting into than be surprised.
“Quicksand, fast changin’ waters. An’ if them mules won’t want to cross, ye cain’t ride across. Ye have to lead ’em. Cain’t say as I blame ’em. I ain’t lookin’ forward to crossin’ them rivers neither.”
They plodded along against the wind for a while without speaking, as Sally’s thoughts worried over the picture Moss had drawn of the dangerous rivers.
She couldn’t swim. Neither could Carolyn.
Moss spoke up, startling her, “Yer friend is back.”
Sally turned to see. Rob was behind but quickly gaining on them. “He’s not my friend. I fear he’ll follow us all the way to Texas.”
“Now why would he do that?”
“He’s looking for Luke.”
“What do ye mean lookin’ fer Luke?” Moss glared at her. “What else ain’t ye told me?”
He was already angry about the wagon. Now he’d really be mad. “Nothing. He’s looking for Luke, that’s all.”
“That’s all. Humph. What fer?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say and I didn’t ask.”
Moss shook his head. “Ye ain’t been straight with me.”
Sally’s cheeks flushed. It was true. She hadn’t told him about Rob. But she’d had no chance to tell him before. First Rob had been watching her every move, and then Carolyn had taken sick. She’d hoped they’d ride away and she wouldn’t ever have to tell him. Now he’d never trust her and he was even madder.
“An’ him bein’ so friendly-like.”
“He only helped us because he thinks I know where Luke is. I don’t want him to find Luke before I do. Matthew could be hurt. So that’s why I asked Rob to join us.”
Rob rode up beside her. “I thought we had an agreement.”
Sally kept silent and twisted the reins in her hands. She didn’t know what to say. She’d asked him to join them and he had a right to be upset. But she’d changed her mind. She didn’t want to travel with him. She couldn’t take the way he watched her, or the way he made her feel when he was near.
“What kind of agreement?” Moss frowned.
“Sally asked me to help her find Luke.”
Moss glared at them both. “Ain’t neither of ye been straight with me an’ I don’t like bein’ made out to be no dad-blamed fool.”
“I did ask Rob to join us,” Sally admitted, heat rising in her cheeks.
“But you didn’t feel the need to tell me you planned to leave this morning,” Rob said.
“It was a last minute decision.”
Rob snorted.
“I don’t trust you,” she said.
“That makes two of us.”
“Now listen here,” Moss growled, “I aim to take charge of this here trail ride. An’ here’s my conditions. If’n ye cain’t be straight with each other, ye’ll at least be straight with me. I don’t want no more surprises.”
Sally nodded. “All right, Moss.”
Rob tipped his head and looked into Moss’s eyes for a moment before nodding.
“Do ye know where Luke went?” he asked Rob.
“Do you think I’d be here if I did?”
“No. But she don’t know where he is neither. He run off with her son an’ we don’t know where he is. Texas somewheres. And that ain’t much hep. So it ain’t goin’ to do ye no good to hang onto her skirts hopin’ to find him.”
Sally watched Rob for a sign of anger.
A muscle in his jaw clenched. But his eyes and his face remained neutral.
He obviously held a great amount of anger inside and that scared her more than shouting would have.
“We’d best avoid Newton,” Rob said, changing the subject. “There’s trouble.”
Moss squinted at him. “What kind of trouble?”
“Outlaws. They’ll rob anyone who comes through town.”
“How do ye know this?”
“The sheriff told me.”
Moss nodded and they rode off the path to the east of Newton. The mules slowed as the wind picked up.
Some time later, Moss shouted back. “I’d hoped we’d make it to the river, but it ain’t likely. We’d best make camp.”
They found a place in a cluster of trees.
Moss stopped and handed Carolyn down to Sally. “Get her in a bed roll an’ we’ll set out the storm. It’s blowin’ too hard to move on.”
Moss and Rob took care of the animals then started a fire, but the wind kept blowing it out. They finally gave up and huddled together under blankets, eating beef jerky.
Sally didn’t think she could eat, the way her stomach clenched tight with nerves.
As Rob handed her a piece of jerky, his fingers brushed hers and she jumped. She had the wildest urge to run. But then Carolyn snuggled closer and Sally pushed the urge away.
Carolyn nibbled on her jerky until she fell asleep.
“So Luke took your son.” Rob gazed into her eyes as he spoke. “How old is he?”
“Seven. I left him at home when I went to help a neighbor. Luke and Matthew were gone when I came home.”
“Why did he take the boy?”
“I have no idea.”
Rob chewed for a moment, mulling it over.
“And you have no idea where he’s gone?”
“No. I told you that already.”
“He ever mention Texas before?”
“No.”
“Not even in passing?”
“Never. Don’t you think I’ve already been over this a thousand times in my mind? He never told me a thing.”
“How did you meet him?”
“We were on a wagon train to Kansas. He joined up with us on the trail.”
“Someone he knew was traveling with you?”
“No.” She sighed. “He never said where he was going or where he’d come from. When he asked me to marry him, I thought he wanted to work my father’s homestead in Kansas.”
“He’s not the farming type.”
“Yes, well I learned that the hard way, didn’t I?” She stared off into the distance, away from him.
Her tone was bitter. It was clear she was angry with Luke for taking the boy. And she obviously regretted marrying him.
But that didn’t mean she’d lead Rob to Luke. Some women defended their husbands no matter what their husbands did to them. And there was always the chance Luke could sweet-talk her. He must have laid it on thick to make anyone believe he wanted to be a farmer. Hard labor wasn’t Luke’s style.
As the temperature fell, the group huddled closer together, Moss on one side of Sally and Rob on the other while she held Carolyn.
Though they weren’t touching, Sally was aware of Rob’s breath and the muscles beneath his blanket each time he shifted. His closeness disturbed her, but they needed as much warmth as possible. She tried not to think of her discomfort but of keeping Carolyn warm.
Eventually exhaustion swept over Sally and she dozed.
Rob was fully aware of Sally’s every move. Her shoulder leaned against him and her breasts rose and fell with her breath. The wind blew loose tendrils of her long hair across his face that tickled irritatingly.
Everything about her irritated him. Inviting him to join her and then breaking her word. Taking off with no notice as if she wanted him to chase her.
Now there was a thought.
He smoothed her red-gold hair back and lightly fingered a loose tendril, thinking how soft it felt. Like her lips now parted in sleep. He could lose himself in softness like that.
But no. He had to control himself. She had him following her around like a duckling and mooning over her.
As he yanked his blanket tighter, her head fell slightly onto his shoulder.
The old man leaned forward and turned to watch him with narrowed eyes.
Rob shrugged. He hadn’t asked her to fall asleep there, but he wouldn’t move or wake her. She felt warm and soft against him with Carolyn snuggled on her lap.
Warmth spread through his body until he thought he’d never sleep, but finally exhaustion had him nodding off.
The next morning, he woke early, before the others. It was a habit from his prison days to always wake before his jailers or the other prisoners. He’d learned to sleep light. Sometimes he wondered if he would ever sleep soundly again.
The tree he was leaning against felt cold and hard, and all his muscles ached from sleeping in that position. He looked down at Sally as she slept. Her head still rested on his shoulder. His elbow seemed to have lost all feeling.
Carolyn snuggled into her blankets with only her nose peeking out. Sally sighed in her sleep.
The gentler sex, the ones men were raised to protect.
In sleep Sally bore the same innocence as her child.
So this must be how it feels to have a family. Waking to this every morning. Feeling a responsibility to care for them.
The strange feeling in his throat made him swallow.
It was enough to choke a man. And all from watching them sleep. Appearances were deceiving.
He thought back to the night he’d asked May Belle to marry him. He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life caring for her. Not a mistake he would make again.
He needed to get up. He moved his arm and Sally relaxed, sinking deeper into his shoulder. He cleared his throat.
Sally slept on.
“Sally?”
She leaned into him, but still she didn’t wake. Uncomfortably warm and aroused, he shifted his leg to ease the pressure.
Moss was awake and must have noticed his discomfort. He shook Sally. “Ye goin’ to sleep all day?”
He frowned at Rob.
Rob stared back. A man couldn’t help his reaction, could he? It wasn’t as if he wanted to be attracted to her. His body wasn’t listening. And as for his heart, he would never allow it to be hurt the way May Belle had wounded him.
Sally stretched, and then opened her eyes to look into Rob’s. Overwhelmed by his nearness, she sat up with a gasp. Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm, and she was aware of warm arousal throughout her body. A tumble of confused thoughts and feelings assailed her.
She watched Rob in confusion. How wonderful it felt waking up next to him. Long ago she’d missed waking to the warmth of Luke’s body, before she learned what a harsh man he was.
Sally clenched her fists.
All those nights together, the things he’d done and they hadn’t even been married.
She wasn’t that kind of woman and she wasn’t going to have those kinds of feelings toward Rob. That way led to ruin for a woman.
But this morning the glow had spread throughout her body and she couldn’t seem to turn it off, even if she didn’t want to feel that way about Rob. Perhaps she was that kind of woman. Apparently she was drawn to the wrong kind of men, she reflected with bitterness. She’d have to fight her wanton nature.
As Rob went to check on his horse, she woke Carolyn, feeling her cheeks for any return of fever. But she was fine.
The wind had died and Moss built a fire for coffee and bacon.
Carolyn wrinkled her nose. “Mama, I don’t want bacon,” she pouted. “I want cookies.”
“No cookies here, sunshine.”
The doctor’s wife had spoiled her. Cookies were a luxury.
Once on the trail Carolyn forgot about cookies as she played with her dolly and sang nonsense songs.
They reached the Arkansas River at dusk. Moss wanted to cross before morning. Wichita had a trading post at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers near the Wichita Indian Village and he wasn’t comfortable around Indians.
Sally saw a ferry and a store, but no one seemed to be about. There was a sign by the door. “What does the sign say?”
Rob read it for her. “Rates of ferriage. Horseman ten cents, man on foot five cents, one-horse wagon fifteen cents, two-horse team twenty cents, four-horse team thirty cents, the other rates are for cattle and the rates double at night.”
He turned to Moss. “I don’t mind paying the extra ferriage to save time.”
Moss muttered, “Ought to be half what he gets regular, seein’ as how I ain’t got a wagon no more.”
Rob went inside to look for the ferry driver and came back out. “He’s too drunk to take anyone across tonight. He’s passed out. There are extra beds. We can settle with him in the morning.”
Sally settled Carolyn into the bunk nearest the fire. On the other side of the fireplace, the ferryman sat, tipped back in his chair, his jaw hanging open as he kept up a steady snore. The jug in his hand rested on his thigh, while his hat threatened to fall off his
bobbing head.
“It’s stinky here, Mama,” Carolyn said.
“Yes, sunshine, I know.” Sally’s nose twitched. “Roll onto your side facing the other way and it won’t be so bad.” She smoothed Carolyn’s hair. “Go on to sleep.”
Soon her daughter was sleeping soundly. Moss and Rob had settled the animals for the night and stoked the fire, and Sally slid into bed beside Carolyn. Rob and Moss took the bunk against the wall, Moss still muttering under his breath about his wagon and being charged for a full team he didn’t even have.
“Hell, old man. I’d pay you just to shut up,” Rob said. “First sunlight I aim to be up and crossing that river.”
The room fell silent and Sally curled onto her side away from the men with a smile as she hugged Carolyn close.
The next morning, Sally had just fixed the coffee and was starting the bacon when the ferryman woke.
“Well, damn my eyes if it ain’t an angel come to save me,” the man roared as he stood with a lurch.
Sally jumped and took a step back.
“Ain’t you the purtiest thing,” he said with a leer.
She smiled nervously, not wanting to anger him.
Rob chose that moment to enter the store. “Morning. It’s about time you were awake. Name’s Rob.”
“Fletcher, but you can call me Fletch.”
“We need to buy passage across the river.”
The ferryman’s gaze drifted back toward Sally. “Cain’t take you across.” He shook his head. “Not for another two weeks.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Water’s running too high.” Fletch stepped behind Sally. “That bacon sure does smell good.” He peered over her shoulder. “You smell mighty good too.”
“That’s it.” Rob’s voice hardened.
Sally heard the cock of a gun and turned.
Rob stood with his gun pressed to Fletcher’s head.
“I think you’ll be taking us across. You’ll be taking us across today.” He jerked his head. “Sally, get your things.”
“Ye heard the man,” Moss argued. “That water is too fast, too high.”
“We’re going now.” His tone brooked no argument.
“Ain’t we goin’ ter eat first?” Moss persisted.
“Lost my appetite.” Rob’s jaw clenched and he nudged Fletch with his gun. “Now move.”
Sally watched Rob force the ferryman out the door and her hands shook as she gathered their things. “Carolyn, you stay away from those men and do as I tell you.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Even her bubbly daughter was subdued by the force Rob had brought into the store. And just when she’d begun to relax around him.
But he was no better than Luke. He was just another man who would use force to get what he wanted. And men like that were dangerous.
Sally reached for Carolyn’s hand while they silently watched the men load the ferry. Rob stood atop the bank with his hand on his gun as Moss began to coax the mules up the dock and onto the ferry.
“You better pay me double like you said,” Fletcher shouted to Rob.
The coolness and steel in Rob’s reply made Sally shiver. “You’ll get your money when we’re on the other side.”
“Stupid cowboys,” Fletch muttered with a frown. “Water’s too high.”
Rob’s expression did not change, yet Sally knew he’d heard the man.
“Get them mules on up in front, just them two,” Fletcher directed Moss, as he squinted against the sun. “Get ’em up on that hitching post.”
Moss hitched the first two with a grumble.
“Now them other two in the middle.” Fletcher frowned. “And keep them calm. I don’t want no animals giving me trouble.”
“Don’t ye worry none about my mules.” Moss hitched the other two. “I know my business good as you know yourn.”
Rob led his horse up the ramp next. As Moss took the reigns from him he said, “I hope like hell you know what you’re doing.”
Rob merely grunted.
Finally Fletcher called to Sally, “Come on, little lady, you get on over here by me.” He held out his hand to her.
Though Rob’s eyes narrowed, he said nothing, just continued to stand with his hand on his gun as he watched them.
Sally lifted Carolyn up to Moss and reached for Fletcher’s hand. Though he was behaving like a gentleman now, his bloodshot eyes took her in. “That’s it,” he said as he helped her onto the ferry, his sour-whiskey breath making her wish she could hold her nose. His hand was raspy, rough and strong.
She waited till he turned away to push off from the bank to wipe her hand on her dress.
The ferryman grabbed a pole and gave a shove off the bank.
Moss squinted at him when he turned back around. “I ’spose ye expect me to hep ye.”
“One of you has to. I let my men off for two weeks till this river is ready to cross, and they’ll be at the nearest saloon till I send for them.”
They both glanced at Rob who stood by his horse, his right hand never far from his gun. He’d just displayed how fast he was with it.
“It’s gonna be hell to get this ferry back across the river by myself.” Fletcher grabbed the rope and began walking hand over hand down the length of the ferry.
Though the ride was smooth at first, Sally eyed the rushing waters into the middle of the river and wondered what would happen when they reached it. From the glances of the men, they were wondering the same thing. This did not reassure her.
Carolyn stood with Sally in the middle where it was most stable. She bounced up and down with excitement.
Sally gripped Carolyn’s shoulders. “Stand still.”
“Ma’am, you got to control your child,” Fletcher said as he continued working the ropes.
Sally looked down at the cold, dark, swiftly flowing water, remembering with a shiver of panic that neither she nor Carolyn could swim.
“Carolyn, sit down.”
Her daughter obeyed and Sally looked for something to hold onto. The ferry didn’t feel so sturdy as it began to creak and shift with the water becoming steadily rougher. Sally’s knees shook as her thoughts ran with the dark and dangerous river. The creaking grew louder as the mules shuffled and shifted their hooves.
The whites of their eyes rolled in fear when the boards of the ferry began to moan and groan. They didn’t like this raft any more than she did. She briefly touched the brooch at her neck and reached out to balance herself against a mule.
“I told you this river was too fast,” Fletch growled at Rob as the creaking and groaning grew louder and the river shook the ferry.
They were three quarters of the way across and the ropes were straining as Fletcher and Moss strained to pull them across.
Crack!
The rear guidepost holding the guide ropes snapped in two.
“Son of a bitch!” Fletcher dropped to the floor of the ferry, holding on, just as the ferry flipped around, lurching and twisting as if it were playing crack the whip.
Carolyn and Sally screamed.
“Damn it! Sally, hold on!” Rob shouted.
The mules brayed and his horse whinnied. The horse and mules struggled against their ropes and the strain snapped the hitching post in half. One mule jumped off into the water, making the ferry tip even more.
“Dang nab it, Critter!” Moss turned and shouted.
His favorite mule was swimming toward shore with all the gear on its back while a second mule followed. At the same time, a third fell onto its hindquarters braying and Moss caught hold of it, fighting to get it under control. The fourth kicked back and Rob’s horse, which had been dancing in fear, fell into the water along with the fourth mule. The commotion tipped the ferry, flinging them all into the water, except for Fletcher who clung to the one remaining pole, cursing all the while.
“Mama!” Carolyn screamed as she was flung from Sally’s arms.
“Carolyn!” Sally shouted. Raw panic seized her as the current carried Sally downstream in the opposite direction.
“I’ve got her!” With two long strokes, Rob reached her, grabbed her by the back of her dress and reached for the saddle of his horse.
Moss was already holding the tail of one of his mules as the animals swam to shore.
Sally thrashed and screamed as the rushing water carried her further and further downstream, bobbing her up and down in the water, her heavy wet skirts twisting around her legs, threatening to pull her down.
She bobbed, the river alternating between dunking her and allowing great gasps of air.
She grabbed part of the broken hitching post and clung to it to keep her head above water.
Rob glanced back, realizing Sally hadn’t swum to shore. A look of horror crossed his face when he saw how far the river had taken her.
“Help! I can’t swim!” Sally screamed and swallowed water as the river carried her swiftly downstream.
“Sally!” Rob called. ”Hold on!”
She’d drifted too far beyond his reach.