| |
In her dream, Sally and her daughter wore yellow dresses. Sunflowers grew in abundance in the yard by a little white house. She sat on the front porch snapping beans into a bowl. Matthew chased a giggling Carolyn around the yard.
A warm hand closed over her shoulder and a kind voice said, “It’s good to be home. I’ve missed you and the children.”
She knew that voice. It was the one that soothed her when she was afraid, the one that calmed her when she was worried. She turned to face him and woke.
It had been Rob.
The dream had left her in a lazy, floating feeling.
Outside, a bird warbled a soft song. It was early, the sun just coming up. She would rise and face the day. Face the fact that Rob had gone, he didn’t love her, Luke still had Matthew and Moss was wounded.
Reality was about as far from her dream as she could get.
But one fact from her dream remained.
She’d fallen in love with Rob.
Short of Matthew being hurt, it was the worst thing that could have happened.
A cold wet rain fell. As she stepped outside, the cold surprised her. She’d heard Texas was hot.
She wondered if Rob had ridden though the night and reached the fort before the temperature dropped. Every day he’d been gone made her worry more. Had something happened to him? Had he changed his mind and gone looking for Luke?
Moss was awake now and asking about Rob. He was still pretty bad, but at least he’d lost his gray pallor.
“Come along, Carolyn. It’s time to visit Moss.” Carolyn slid her hand into Sally’s and skipped along beside her.
At the doctors quarters she knocked then stepped inside when Moss called, “Come in.”
“How do you feel today?”
“Better.”
“I know it must hurt something terrible.”
“It do hurt some.”
As the doctor changed Moss’s bandages, she saw the gaping wound. “I wish we could do more for you.”
“Cain’t be heped.”
“I’m sorry I brought all this on you. You’re a brave man.”
“I ain’t brave. Ain’t never seen no wild critter feelin’ sorry fer itself. I ain’t no different. Don’t do no good to complain.”
The rain poured down harder, hitting the roof in a steady rhythm. Moss dozed.
Sally walked to the window to look out at the vertical streams of gray.
“He’ll sleep. That’s nature’s medicine,” the doctor said.
She turned to face him. “Does he feel the pain?”
“It wouldn’t make a difference to you if he did or didn’t. There’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Many a man’s been brought to his grave without a drop of relief.” He gripped the whiskey bottle by the neck.
Where he’d gotten his hands on a new one, she didn’t know.
He took a swallow. “At least this one takes it like a man. But I’ve seen that too. They all die just the same.”
He walked out onto the porch with his whiskey, leaving Sally and Carolyn to sit with Moss.
She watched through the window as the doctor drank then leaned back in the chair with closed eyes. Maybe he did see the war dead all around him.
She wasn’t afraid of the doctor any more. He battled his own personal ghosts and took no notice of her. One of the soldiers had told her they brought in new supplies every few weeks. And whiskey for their doctor was a priority or he would’ve deserted long ago.
Sally remained in the cabin until late afternoon when a soldier brought word there’d been an Indian raid a few miles out. Four men had been killed.
Her heart was in her throat. “Was Rob one of them?”
“No.”
Relief coursed through her.
How long would it be until he returned? She was surprised to realize how much she missed him.
Days passed with no word. Then it was Thanksgiving. Sally and Carolyn woke to a blanket of new fallen snow that made everything sparkle.
The fort filled with a festive air as preparations were made for the meal. There was so little to look forward to in the life of a soldier, other than routine and more routine. The soldiers grasped any excuse to hold a festivity. They’d feast on venison, roast wild turkey, fish, rice pudding and dried apple pies.
Sally helped prepare the food and Carolyn helped set the tables.
Everyone came together, except for the men posted as lookouts and Moss. Sally hardly tasted her food as she worried about Rob. He should have been back by now. What if something had happened to him? She’d not even had word that he arrived at the other fort.
Moss was recovering, but slowly. How soon could he be ready to travel?
She’d begun this journey without considering the dangers to herself and the others.
Left on her own, how would she ever find Luke and Matthew? She was no tracker.
She was supposed to be thankful, but it was hard when everything seemed so hopeless. She wondered how Matthew was spending Thanksgiving. Luke usually spent any holiday nursing a bottle of whiskey. She’d had to fight to keep a sense of joy during Christmas when he’d been at his worst.
The more joy she felt, the more he tried to trample it. But she realized that having both her children together and healthy was all she’d ever need for a joyful Christmas. Luke could drink himself into oblivion. He’d ruined enough holidays. Fury almost choked her and she set down her fork. She had to stop thinking about what he’d done to her. Dwelling on it would poison her mind.
When the meal was over and Carolyn went to play with a visiting family, Sally fixed a plate of turkey to take to Moss. He hadn’t had much appetite, but maybe he’d feel like eating once he smelled the food. She’d be sure to stay until he ate it.
As she started across the compound, a horse rode up behind her in a hurry.
Before she even turned around, she sensed Rob’s presence. She turned.
Rob was grimy, wet and grinning at her. He climbed off his horse and came toward her, holding the reins.
Her breath caught. Relief flooded over her. As he walked, she noticed his swift movements, full of grace and virility.
“Well, now, what’ve you got for me?” he asked with that irresistible, devastating grin. “You wouldn’t believe how hungry I am.”
“Got for you?” She blushed. “I... I don’t have...” Her emotions whirled and skidded.
His dark eyebrows arched mischievously. He gave a deep warm laugh and pointed to the plate she held.
How silly of me, he only meant the food.
He wasn’t hungry for her.
“Looks like you’ve saved me dinner.”
“Yes.” She shoved the plate toward him.
He accepted it with a grin. “Might need to see to my horse first.” He sniffed the food. “Smells mighty good.”
“Let me help.” She reached for the reins.
Their hands touched, his fingers warm and strong.
She blushed, breathless as a girl.
He appeared faintly amused.
“How’s the old man?” He asked between bites as he walked along beside her, eating heartily.
“He’s gaining strength.”
“Good.” He smiled down at her.
She’d forgotten how alive she felt when he was near. He’d returned. And his smile told her he’d done it for her. “I was afraid something had happened to you.”
She couldn’t believe she’d let the words slip out.
“Something did happen.” Drops of moisture clung to his damp forehead.
With a pang, she realized he might’ve been hurt. “Are you all right?”
“Had to backtrack to keep away from Indian scouts. They’re moving in circles, hunting.”
“I suppose they need meat for winter.”
“That’s not what they’re hunting.”
“Oh.” She peered closer. “You said something happened.”
“One of them chased me.”
“But you’re all right.”
“Notice anything different?”
“No.”
To Sally he looked fine, though wet and dirty.
“He shot me with his arrow.”
Sally dropped the reins and grabbed his muscular arms. His muscles felt hard beneath her fingertips. “Where are you hurt? Take off your shirt and let me see.”
He threw back his head and let out a great peal of laughter. She let loose as if burned. Her temper flared. “What are you laughing at?”
“He shot me all right.” His deep laugh reached his eyes. “But it was my hat that he hit.”
Sally beat on his shoulder with her fists. “You, you...oh, you rotten...” She couldn’t get the rest of the sentence out she was so angry. “I thought you were hurt!”
“Well, I’m gonna be hurt if you don’t quit pounding on me.” A wry but indulgent glint appeared in his eyes.
Sally stood panting. Tears of frustration filled her eyes. “You don’t know how worried I’ve been.”
He hadn’t meant to shake her up so, only to tease her. He reached his arms around her and held her close.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on, crying as if the world was ending.
He stood, patting her awkwardly with his free hand while eyeing the plate in his other and wondering what to do with it. He didn’t know what to do with her either, so he stood patting her back until she calmed down.
He’d missed her too, not that he’d tell her. He’d arranged to spend the night with a Mexican woman when he reached the fort. But it was a mistake. He’d thought of nothing but Sally all evening, even when Carlota had taken off her clothes. It was the first time he’d ever paid for a woman and walked away. Not something he was likely to tell anyone.
He’d wanted to get away from Sally, feeling caged by his ever growing feelings for her. But Carlota had made him think of nothing but how she compared to Sally, and she didn’t measure up. He had a feeling no woman ever would.
So Sally had worried about him. He grinned.
She looked up at him again.
“Let’s see to these horses, shall we? Then we’ll go see Moss.” He squeezed her shoulder softly.
“Yes.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Don’t play any more jokes like that, Rob.”
He gazed into her watery eyes. “No, Sally,” he said seriously, “I won’t play any more jokes like that.”
He’d never be the one to cause her pain if he could help it. The question was what to do about Luke. What would she do when he killed Luke? Likely that would also kill any chance for the two of them.
When Moss had recovered enough to be out of bed, out of the blue he said to Sally, “Ye ready to head out tomorrow mornin’? I know how ye like to light out at the last minute.”
“Moss, are you sure you’re well enough?”
“I’m held together good ’nough. I’ll be ready at sunup.”
Sally rushed to tell Rob about Moss’s decision when he came back from riding with the soldiers to hunt for meat.
He handed her a brace of ducks he’d looped over his saddle. “Think you can clean these?”
“I can clean anything you bring me.”
He grinned. “Maybe you’d make a good squaw after all.”
She smiled in return.
She’d finally learned how to take a little teasing from him, though lately he’d been careful about what he said and how he said it. “Moss says he’s ready to ride at sunup.”
“Does he now?”
Rob strode toward the doctor’s quarters.
He stepped into the room and saw Moss sitting up in bed. “Well, old timer, Sally tells me you’re itching to ride.”
“Ye done aimed that right. I ain’t staying in this here bed all winter. It’s time we get Sally to her son before Christmas.”
“Now listen. I’m in charge.” Rob pointed his finger. “We’ll ride in the morning, but we do it on my terms, not yours.”
Moss crossed his arms over his chest as his chin jutted out. “I ain’t made ye no deal.”
Rob was glad the old man would make it, but the injury had changed things. Moss was no longer in charge and he needed to know it. “We’ll leave at sunup then. And there’s something you should know.”
“What’s that?”
“Luke’s made a name for himself.”
Moss frowned. “That don’t sound good.”
“It isn’t. I heard he robbed a bank.”
“Think he done it?”
“I’d put my money on it.”
Moss eyed him with a serious expression. “This is more than I bargained for. More than Sally bargained for. Does she know?”
“I’m not going to be the one to tell her.” Rob remembered the look in her eyes when he’d told her she wasn’t married.
Let Moss give her this piece of news.
“If he’s ridin’ with outlaws we’d best keep her away ’til we git the boy.”
Rob nodded. “I agree.”
They shook on it.
A chill sat in the air the next morning as they rode out.
One of the soldiers had told Sally that Luke had been seen on his way to Fort Worth. She could hardly contain her enthusiasm and the cold morning air added to it. She hoped to make it to Fort Worth as quickly as possible.
Moss rode bundled up, but still she worried. “Are you sure you have enough blankets?”
“I done told ye. Stop fussin’.” Moss sat crooked on the saddle and held the reins with one hand as he struggled to get comfortable. “Well, what’re ye waitin’ fer?”
“We’re waiting on you, old timer,” Rob said.
Sally bundled Carolyn up tight. “The wind is picking up.”
As they rode, the sun sent a bright glow across the snow, yet its warmth was absent. The chill wind grew fiercer as the day went on.
About midday they came over a rise and stopped abruptly.
Sally caught her breath. In the valley below, a small herd of buffalo grazed on the wisps of grass that poked through the snow like whiskers on an old man’s chin. Their steamy breath rose in spurts as they snorted and pawed the ground, hairy heads bent low.
Even Carolyn remained silent as they gazed upon the sight.
The crack of a gun split the silence.
“Drive them west,” a man shouted.
Another shot was fired and the herd took off running. Men had ridden just past a clump of trees. Rifles flared as they pursued the massive beasts.
“No buffalo meat for our dinner,” Rob said regretfully.
“Ain’t that somethin’ though,” Moss said.
“They’re huge,” Sally noted with surprise. “And how heavy their fur is.”
“That fur makes warm blankets and coats,” Rob said. “We could use a few of those right now.”
“Best we move on,” Moss said with a shake of his head. “I ain’t gettin’ in the way of no buffalo hunters an’ that sun ain’t getting’ any younger.”
They rode until dusk as the snowdrifts became deeper and the horses grew tired. When they stopped for the night, Rob built a large roaring fire using the buffalo chips that were abundant under the snow.
Soon everyone slept except Rob.
Moss snored raggedly. Since he drank whiskey at night, he slept soundly, but he snored. He had the bulk of the blankets while Sally and Carolyn curled together sharing theirs. Rob walked from time to time to stay awake and warm. The fact that he got little sleep on this trail made it harder and harder to stay awake, keeping watch.
He’d just stepped beyond a tree on his way back when he heard riders.
The men crept close to the fire. He counted four.
“On my signal,” one man said.
Rob positioned himself behind the man who’d spoken. He must be the leader. He’d be the one to shoot first.
If only Moss still had his gun. But the shoulder that was wounded was on his gun arm side. So it was no matter.
Rob could take these men. He froze and listened, waiting for the right moment.
The leader fired a shot into the air.
Sally, Moss and Carolyn woke at once.
“Don’t move,” the man said.
Sally gathered Carolyn close in her arms. Both stared, their blue eyes wide with fear.
The leader leered at Sally. “Well, now, look what we got here, boys. Ain’t she a mighty fine looking filly?”
The other men snickered.
Panic filled Sally. Rob wasn’t here. Where had he gone? Had they shot him? Was that the shot that had waked her?
Moss kept his eyes on the leader. “We ain’t got no money. Nothin’ here ye want.”
“Not so hasty,” the leader pointed his gun toward Sally. “Stand up, give us a look-see.”
Sally glanced past the men into the darkness.
Where was Rob? Had he deserted them?
“Sit very still,” she whispered to Carolyn.
She rose slowly.
One of the men hooked the corner of her blanket with his rifle and yanked it away, letting it fall on the ground.
“Well, now, ain’t she purty, boys?” The leader chuckled. “Seems we found us some treasure after all, old man.”
More snickers followed from his men.
“Come on over here. We ain’t gonna hurt you. We know how to ’preciate a fine woman.” He smiled.
Sally could see his rotten teeth. She froze, mind and body numb with cold and fear. Goose bumps covered her skin.
The man who’d pulled off her blanket said, “Oh yeah, she’s gonna feel real ’preciated when we’re done with her.” He looked at the leader. “I call seconds.”
The leader nodded. “Long as you keep in mind who’s first.” He gestured with his rifle. “Move on over here, gal. Ain’t any need to be so cold.”
Sally forced herself to move forward slowly, hugging her arms to herself. She tried not to look at the men.
If they wouldn’t hurt Carolyn, she could endure anything.
Fear filled her. She couldn’t feel her body now but she knew she was still moving. When she stepped barely within arm’s length of the leader, he stopped smiling and a look of surprise came over his face.
The barrel of a rifle pressing on his back made him freeze. Rob stepped out of the shadows. “Drop your guns. Slowly. Then kick them over here.”
“You heard him, boys,” the leader said.
“Now your boots.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
The men removed their boots.
“Now back away.”
Sally watched Rob’s steely eyes, which didn’t blink or waver. The look in his eyes told her he was a dangerous man, but it didn’t frighten her like the eyes of the men who’d followed her movements as if they’d pounce at any moment.
Like a pack of wild dogs, the men backed into the shadows.
Rob released the leader. “If you or any of your men come around fifty feet of my family, I’ll shoot you on sight. Now get out of here before I change my mind.”
The men ran into the darkness.
“Ye jus’ gonna let ’em go like that?” Moss squinted at Rob. “They’ll come back.”
“Not on foot. I’ve got their guns and boots, and their horses are gone.”
“Gone?”
“I cut them loose and sent them running. It’ll take them a while to round them up again. Best we mount and put some distance between us though.”
“Why didn’t ye jus’ shoot ’em?” Moss shook his head. “Now they’ll come lookin’ fer us.”
“I didn’t want Carolyn or Sally to get hurt in a gun fight.”
“We’d best be movin’.” Moss gathered the guns.
Sally stood frozen in place, her color drained.
Rob knew she was cold. He bent down to retrieve the blanket. Gently he said, “Sally Mae, come on, let’s get you warmed.”
He placed the blanket around her shoulders and rubbed up and down her arms creating friction.
She broke out of her frozen position and started to shake. Her eyes raked the area wildly.
“Are you sure they’ve gone?” she whispered. Her voice died away as she looked around again.
“If they weren’t I’d have shot them.” He said it matter-of-factly. He knew she’d been terrified.
She turned to look at him. “Don’t leave us again.”
“I was right here all the time, Sally.”
She grabbed his arm and looked up into his eyes. “Don’t leave me again.”
Her voice was fragile and shaking.
He moved in an instinctive gesture of comfort and gathered her into his arms. “All right, Sally. I’ll stay close by.” He kept his voice calm and steady. “I’ll keep you safe.”
He held her until she relaxed then moved away reluctantly and held her at arm’s length. “You’re safe, Sally. They can’t hurt you.”
He guided her to the horse Moss had readied.
“We need to go, Sally.”
He helped her onto the horse and noted how her legs shook. Then he mounted and they rode into the dark night.
He considered what he’d promised. Keeping her safe wasn’t in question. But when you made that kind of a promise to a woman, she began to expect certain things.
Things he wasn’t able to give her.
If he’d been courting her, it would have been fine. But he wasn’t. He’d come to kill Luke. And the moment he did, her eyes would fill with the fear and loathing he’d seen when Moss has asked him why he was in jail.
Any way you cut it, the action made him a murderer.
She wouldn’t take kindly to Rob killing Luke, even if she wished the man dead herself. That was no way to court a woman. There was no hope he’d win her heart.
Rob snorted. A fine mess he was in. He’d promised to protect her, and he’d keep his word. He’d stay close by and make sure Luke didn’t hurt her. And he’d see her settled with her children after he took care of Luke.
It was the first time he’d thought about what he’d do after Luke was dead.
Carolyn slept as they rode and Sally kept nodding off.
She would’ve liked to stop to rest, but they kept moving, putting as much distance between them and the rogues as they could. All her strength had fled, and she wished she’d never set out on this journey.
She doubted she’d ever find Matthew. Terrible things kept happening, and if not for Rob she’d never have made it this far.
They rode through the night until the sun began to rise over a valley with snow-covered trees. Fog sat low on the land.
“I never imagined there’d be this many trees in Texas,” Sally said. Her mind was so tired she felt as if she were dreaming. It was like nothing she’d ever seen before.
“Texas is a big place,” Moss said. “It’s got ’bout ever’thin’ ye ken think of, rivers, lakes, desert, trees an’ grassy plains. This here’s the hill country. In summer it’s as green as can be.”
Sally looked out at the snow and thought of how different her life would be now. Soon she’d confront Luke. He’d put her through so much. Everything that had happened on this trail was his fault. But he’d better not have let anything happen to Matthew or he’d be sorry. She would take Rob’s gun and shoot Luke herself.
Though the fact that she didn’t know how to shoot a gun might be a problem. She would ask Rob to teach her, but like the promise he’d made to teach her to read, nothing would come of it. He’d probably even forgotten he’d made the offer.
That was just like a man, making promises he didn’t keep. Even Moss had wavered between keeping his promise and trying to talk her out of it.
She was glad she had Rob to look out for her and Carolyn.
But Matthew only had Luke. What would Luke do if Matthew got tired, hungry or cold? What would Luke do if one of the terrible things that had happened to her on the trail had happened to Matthew? If Matthew got scared he’d never tell his Pa. Luke preyed on weakness and he didn’t allow it in his son. Matthew would probably be more afraid of his father than anything they encountered on the trail.
She closed her eyes and pictured his small, bony frame and the freckles that crossed his nose, so like hers. She had to find him, but how? Like Moss said, Texas was a big place.
If only someone had seen Luke. When they reached the next town, perhaps someone would have seen him.