As she sat, a rolled-up blanket showed beneath her, and Zander nodded to it.
“That bedroll… that wouldn’t be the one that was stolen is it?”
She paled. “It is. I thought I’d have to spend another night on the ground alone.”
Zander narrowed his eyes as he held out his hand to help her up. “How long have you been out here?”
“I’d like to speak to your Captain. There’s trouble a few days from here. I need to warn—” She broke off and sighed. “I’m Tara Carmichael.”
“I’m Zander Leary.” He jumped out of the wagon and helped Tara down. “Trouble, you say? Let’s go find the captain.”
People of the wagon party all stared at them as they went in search of Captain London. To Zander’s surprise, he was drinking coffee at his own wagon for a change.
“What’s going on here?” he asked.
With a fleeting glance at Zander, Miss. Tara Carmichael began speaking, her voice desperate, her gestures wild. “Sir, everyone from my train was murdered. I went to the fort but the man there wouldn’t give me any help, so I hid in one of the wagons. I have had nothing to eat in a few days, and frankly I’m scared.”
“Zander, see what you can rustle up. Someone must have their supper ready. And you, Miss.… What might your name be?”
Zander didn’t have to go far. The wagon behind the captain’s already had a cook fire going with food heating. After he explained the situation, the man and his wife happily provided a plate with beans and bread. Zander strode back to Captain London’s wagon, and Tara smiled at him as he handed the plate to her.
“Did you see how many?” the captain asked.
“I was indisposed at first, away from the others. When I heard shouting, I lay flat on my stomach and tried to see through the tall grass. There was running and screaming and the men yelling in triumph. They even took a few scalps. It was so hard not to scream and run toward the wagons to help, but I didn’t have a gun on me. They slaughtered everyone I knew. Then they rummaged through the wagons and seemed mad that they didn’t find whatever they thought they’d find. I wish I could have closed my eyes and put my hands over my ears. I didn’t move until it got dark, and I’m glad I didn’t. They came back and went through the wagons again. They left again, still angry. I snuck away and made my way to the fort.” She wiped her tears away and sighed.
“So, it wasn’t Indians?” Captain London sounded disbelieving.
“Not any that I saw. I saw at least four men and they were white. I tried to report it at the fort, but the storekeeper said they didn’t have any way of reporting it, no authorities there. The man there wasn’t accommodating. I guess if you don’t have money he wasn’t interested.”
“The bedroll,” Captain London murmured. “Where were you headed before all this happened?”
“I was on my way to Oregon with my father. We were coming from the Smokey Mountains, and we were excited to homestead in Oregon. We were thrilled to build a new house and learn about a new land. I guess it’s just me now…” Her voice trailed off as her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”
“Zander, will you take her back to the wagon?” London asked, but it was really more of an order. “Harrison has asked for the next available wagon for his growing family. Meaning you, Heath, and Declan. I have extra supplies I can donate, and maybe one of the women will find a dress or two for… for… I didn’t even get your name.”
“Tara Carmichael, sir.”
“Tara, I’d appreciate it if you stayed in the wagon. If any of the men from the raid see you alive and recognize you, they won’t be happy they’ve left a witness. We need to sort a few things out, but you can trust Zander and anyone he introduces you to.”
“Thank you.”
Zander tried to get back to the wagon with no one noticing, but plenty of the folks in the wagon train saw them.
“Who is she and how is she traveling with us?” Patty Mince asked rather boldly.
Before long, a crowd began to gather and Tara backed up against Zander. Zander groaned. Everyone had to pry into everyone else’s business on this journey.
“Tara here got separated from her party, and we’re taking her with us to meet up with those who took Sublette’s Cutoff in the hope she’ll be reunited with her group. Captain London asked me to keep her in the wagon for now.”
He wanted to laugh. Almost all of them looked as though they didn’t believe him. Too bad. He escorted her back to where he found her. Heath and Dawn were building a fire together. It looked to be taking a long time since Heath had to kiss Dawn on the cheek every few seconds. They jumped apart when he and Tara approached.
“Meet Tara, our new passenger,” Zander said.
Heath and Dawn both nodded to Tara and then stared at him for an explanation.
“First, I need to get her into the wagon and then I’ll explain.” He put his hands around her tiny waist and lifted into the wagon. He could have sworn she frowned at him.
“We’re not to let her be seen, though most of the camp has seen her by now. I’ll explain when everyone gets here.”
Dawn appeared perplexed. “I’ll gather the rest.” She hurried off.
“You can tell me,” Heath coaxed.
Zander laughed and nodded toward the approaching group of people. “Here they come.” He waited while Harrison and Cora, Luella and Declan joined them. “Tara is inside the wagon.”
Tara nodded from the back of the wagon.
“She saw her whole party slaughtered a few days ago and has been on her own. Captain London asked that she stay hidden since she’s the only witness. She hid out in our wagon because needed help but also because she wanted to warn us.”
Everyone stared at him taking it all in. Cora was the first into the wagon, followed by Luella and Dawn. Essie—Cora and Harrison’s baby—cried, and Cora just put her hands out and waited for Harrison to put Essie into her arms.
“The bedroll?” Declan asked.
Zander nodded. “She was traveling with her father and went to take care of personal needs in the tall grass when it happened. They were white men, and they were looking for something. They came back hours after they killed everyone to take another look. Tara stayed in the same place until nighttime, and she’s been walking and hiding since it happened. She hadn’t had any food. I managed to get her a plate of beans. She did get water at the fort. She has nothing except, now, the bedroll.”
“Why didn’t she stay and get help from the man at the fort?” Heath asked.
“He told her he couldn’t get any messages out. Her clothes are torn to shreds, and she was hungry. What type of person turns his back on another in need?” Zander shook his head. “What? I have compassion and can even be nice occasionally.”
Harrison’s lips twitched. “You can’t blame us for being surprised is all. How many men are we talking about?”
“She saw four men but is sure there were more. They even scalped some of the dead.”
“Trying to make it look as though Indians had done it?” Declan asked, his voice laced with anger.
“If she saw who did it, she’s in danger. We need to guard her at night,” Harrison said.
Heath frowned. “How are we going to do that, watch the cattle, and sleep next to our wives?”
Declan laughed. “It’s not easy being newly wed on this trip.”
“It’s not just that,” Heath protested. “Dawn has nightmares.”
“We’ll draw up a schedule, and Dawn can bunk with Tara on nights you have guard duty. Any of our wives can double up. Have a feeling we’ll all be pulling extra guard duty to keep us all safe,” Harrison said.
They all turned toward the wagon when they heard laughter. “A hen party?” Zander furrowed his brow. “I thought there’d be tears.”
Harrison nodded. “That might come next with Cora and Luella both expecting.”
Declan grimaced. “Why?”
“Pregnant women cry a lot,” Harrison told him.
> “It’ll be a long trip if that happens,” Declan said.
Harrison smiled. “Yes it will.”
Continue Reading
Candle Glow
Each step was colder then the previous one. He’d had a nearly impossible time getting over the mountains that some called the Cascades, but finally he was here. Crouching behind some low bushes, he examined the area. From his vantage point, he made out six rather big houses, arranged in a huge circle as if to give each other room. Three barns stood just outside the circle. One was long and narrow, probably for horse stalls. Beyond those, he could see a few buildings in the distance. Bunk houses, he assumed.
He smiled deeply. His friends had done well for themselves. He closed his eyes and thought about the last time he had seen Luella. Did her blue eyes still sparkle when she was happy? Their paths had been meant to cross but never to be joined. Yet he’d thought of her often in the last few years and prayed for good things for her and her family. Was she a mother?
He studied the homestead again. Which house belonged to which of his friends? He knew them all… or maybe not. There was an extra house. Had someone joined them? Maybe someone’s family had come out to stay. He wouldn’t be able to remain this close to the homes for much longer. He was starting to shiver, though he had a buffalo robe over him.
He was suddenly grabbed from behind, and the next thing he knew he was on the ground. He looked up into giant pools of green though the eyes were narrowed with fury.
“Wait.” He held his arm across his face to ward off possible blows. “I wish you no harm.”
“Hiding and watching our houses means you’re planning harm. You must’ve lost your edge. You didn’t hear me coming. Now, should I slit your throat or would stabbing you in the heart be best?”
She was strong, but he was stronger, and in one quick move, he had her on her back with her hands pinned to the ground. “Now, tell me again how you plan to kill me?”
“Any way I can.”
“Are you always so suspicious?” he asked, smiling down at her.
“Don’t smile at me. And don’t pretend you don’t plan to do me much harm before you kill me.” She said something in an Indian language he wasn’t familiar with, and he loosened his grip.
“A captive? It’s a hard thing to get past. I hope Dawn is well?” He felt her body relax a tiny bit.
“Yes, she is married and has one child, a boy.” She narrowed one eye and shot him a suspicious glare. “How do you know Dawn?”
“My tribe, the Lakota took her. I saved her and brought her to Luella.”
With a gasp, she quit struggling. “Swift Eagle? Well, I’ll be. You’re a legend around here. I’ve heard all the stories, and Luella still has her eagle feather.” A smile lit up her face. “My name’s Rhetta. Let me up so I can bring you to my pa. He’s likely to shoot you if he just sees me with you. He’s one of a kind.”
He slowly let her up, after taking the knife from her, but she laughed. “You don’t think I have just one do you?”
“If you are Luella’s friend, you won’t kill me.” He helped her up and followed her through the deep snow to one house; the one without a wraparound porch. This one had a much smaller porch, and it seemed more practical.
“Does your father hate Indians because they took you?”
She sadly shook her head. “My people didn’t want me back, so Big Red took me in. He’s my new pa. He’s a trapper and the strongest man I know.” She angled her head and gave him a warning glance. “So be on your best behavior.”
Swift Eagle turned away as he smiled about her unspoken threat. He followed her up the steps and stamped his feet on the porch to dislodge much of the snow packed on his fur-lined boots.
She opened the door and hollered, “Pa! We have a visitor! He’s an Indian and says he knows Luella.”
A commotion rose from inside and a figure came barreling through the door. He was a large man with hair like a flame. This must be the man named Big Red. Swift Eagle stiffened. He hoped he would not have to fight this man.
“You must be Swift Eagle! Come in and get yourself warm.” Big Red held the door and gestured for them to enter.
Swift Eagle followed the girl inside, then Big Red led him to the fireplace. “Coffee?”
“Please.”
Big Red left the room through a doorway toward the back of the house.
“Is it true you rescued Luella from the very brink of death?” Rhetta stared at him with adoration in her eyes.
It made him uncomfortable. “I just helped her out of the water is all.”
Big Red returned and handed him a cup of coffee, and it felt wonderfully warm going down. “I have my horse tied not too far away with my supplies. I just wanted to see that Luella was doing fine before I headed north.”
“Rhetta, yell out the back for John to take care of the horse.” He turned to Swift Eagle. “Where is it?”
“Two miles out, right near the beginning of some cleared land. There’s so much snow I couldn’t tell what you’d planted.”
“Our wheat. Rhetta—”
“I heard him Pa.” She disappeared through the front door.
“So, tell me, why are you headed north? Are the Lakota moving?”
“It’s been bad with the white soldiers, and I had a vision that it was time to move on. In my vision I came to see Luella—that’s why I came here first. When her group traveled through, there weren’t as many wagons, but now there are wagons constantly moving toward this place, Oregon. I heard of California too, but this man doesn’t believe in roads paved in gold. Too much killing going on. I was always a peaceful man. It took me a long time to get here, but I knew I couldn’t wait for spring. The Creator urged me to go.”
“Getting over the mountains must have been bad.”
“The mountains were covered in snow, and the valleys have very high snow. Hard to walk through, especially with my horse, but it was just a matter of doing it. I made myself caves in the snow at night unless I could find other shelter. Going north will be just as bad.”
“My daughter…” Big Red made a helpless gesture with one hand. “Well I’m surprised she didn’t kill you.”
Swift Eagle smiled. “She tried.”
The front door opened, and Luella ran in with her arms open wide. She didn’t look a day older than the last time Swift Eagle had seen her. Her cheeks were rosy, and her nose was red. Before Swift Eagle knew it, she was in his arms. It had been a dream a few years ago to have her in his arms. He’d never married because no one else would do, but somehow the dream had faded. He still had much love in his heart for her but not in the same way.
Luella kissed his cheek and stepped back. “You don’t know just how timely it is you’re here. We celebrated Thanksgiving last week, and your friendship was one thing we were thankful for. How long can you stay?” Her eyes widened as though a thought had just stricken her. “Oh my! Why are you here? Is something wrong? Are you sick? On the run?”
“Now, Luella…” Big Red gently guided her into a chair. “The man can only answer one question at a time.”
She sat and laughed. “Of course, you’re right. Just tell me you’ll stay a few days?”
How could he deny his Lu-ella? It had taken him a bit of practice to pronounce her name correctly. He didn’t have the heart to tell her he hadn’t planned to make himself known.
“A few days, and then I need to keep going north.” He could see the questions in her eyes but he said nothing more.
The front door burst open, and Rhetta rushed inside.
“Luella!” she shouted upon entering. “Declan says only for Swift Eagle would you run out on your three children. He wants to know if he should invite everyone to your house.”
“Rhetta, close the door. You’re letting the cold in,” Big Red told her.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “I’m still looking for John.” Then she ran out again, closing the door behind her.
Swift Eagle turned to Big Red. “She
told me she was a captive. Is she doing well now?”
Big Red nodded. “She still has nightmares, but they were trying to adopt her and get her adapted to their way. She learned a lot, but her adoptive father thought she was hopeless. We were able to trade for her. She’s my daughter now, and I treat her with gentleness and respect. Not right certain what she plans to do with her life, but I don’t think she ever wants to marry.”
Swift Eagle grinned. “I understand. I’m not looking for a wife at the moment. My vision stopped here, but I feel that Canada is the place for me.”
Luella stood. “We might as well go to my place. We built it extra big to hold us all on occasions such as this. Wait until you see all the children. We have been abundantly blessed.” She started for the door.
Swift Eagle wrapped his buffalo hide around him and looked at Big Red.
“Go on ahead. I need to bank the fire. Did either of you notice if Rhetta had gloves on?”
“Not when she was holding a knife on me but afterward, I am not sure.”
Luella gasped.
Big Red threw back his head and laughed. “That’s my girl.”
Luella’s house was two houses away. It had an enormous porch. It was good that she’d made all her friends into her family. From her smile, he bet Declan Leary was a good husband to her.
They walked into the house and Swift Eagle was greeted warmly by Declan and all three boys who looked like little Declans.
Declan kneeled. “Boys, this is the man who saved your mother when the wagon tipped in the water. She was swept away, and I couldn’t find her. I looked everywhere but Swift Eagle found her and brought her back to me. Swift Eagle, this is Levi, Simon, and the little one here is Alex.”
Levi put out his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, sir.”
Swift Eagle shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too, Levi. How old are you?”
“Eight years old, sir.”
“You can all just call me Swift Eagle. Simon, it’s nice to meet you.” He placed his hand on the boy’s red hair. Then he lifted Alex and smiled at him. “Yes indeed, three little Declans.”
Declan looked proud while Luella’s lips twitched.
Sullivan: Cowboy Protector: The Kavanagh Brothers Book 4 Page 16
