The Woodsman's Rose

by Gifford MacShane

  Chapter 61

  Four hours after the west-bound stage departed, Jane Barber heard Sarah calling from the back window of the apartment above the Trading Post. Jane went home to wait for her brother, then sent him to see what the trouble was. The doctor returned in high spirits.

  “Well, my girl, be glad you got out of it when you did, for she’s paying the piper now. Taylor’s off to California. Left her high and dry. No,” he amended, “not quite dry. Left her a ticket to San Antonio and two hundred dollars and all their personal belongings except some of his own clothes. And she says she doesn’t know why.” Theo shook his gray head. “I guess you’ve got to believe it. She’s never understood anything in all her born days. Why should she start now?”

  Jane didn’t answer, but regarded her brother with a heart that acknowledged his part in her transformation. How easily she could have been in Sarah’s place—the laughingstock of the town, left to go home to a family she’d alienated long ago. Instead she had security, affection, and the love of a good man and his children. She put down her embroidery and went to her brother. She bent to kiss the top of his head. “Thank you, Theo.”

  “You’re welcome, Janie. I’m glad I could help.”

  SARAH’S STORY SPREAD like wildfire through the Territory. There was much laughter at the deserted wife’s expense at the next Donovan family gathering, but Jesse didn’t join in.

  “It’s so sad,” she murmured to Adam. “She must be so unhappy.”

  Sitting on the floor near her feet, Daniel heard her remark and changed the subject abruptly, telling everyone of a beehive he’d found in the foothills, promising them fresh honey in the fall. Adam gave him a grateful look and took his wife’s hand. Annie reached out a toe, nudging Daniel to invite Jesse along on the hive-hunt.

  “When will you go?” Jesse was smiling slightly at her brother-in-law.

  “Late September, early October,” he replied. But she shook her head. “Why not?”

  “Oh,” she said airily, “the doctor will probably want me home in bed again.”

  A puzzled silence fell, then John Patrick sputtered and Molly beamed, while Irene burst into joyful crowing.

  “When? Tell me when!” Evelyn demanded.

  “About Christmas,” Jesse said.

  “That’s why the doctor laughed!” Evelyn slapped her husband’s arm affectionately. “He told me Christmas, too, and then he laughed. Right out loud!” Another joyful chorus went up.

  “What?” demanded Jake, and Brian echoed, “What?”

  “Babies!” Irene cried. “There’s two babies on the way!”

  “Who’s having a baby?” Patricia demanded. Suzette repeated the news to her and they both began to squeal.

  “Three,” said Annie so softly only Jesse heard her.

  “Three?” she cried out. “Oh, Annie—you, too? When, oh, when?”

  “January,” she answered, and her voice was even more shy than before. “Right around Kevin’s birthday.”

  Adam stuck his hand out at Daniel, who grabbed it and held it hard. Then the whole room exploded, the men pounding each other on the back, the women sharing tearful embraces. The babies complained of all the noise and suddenly everything quieted.

  Into the hush, Evelyn said, “You know, it might actually be four babies.” They looked at her in confusion and she blushed bright pink. “The doctor said mine might be twins.”

  Mouths fell open and eyes grew wide. The silence was broken by Annie’s delighted crow. “That would be wonderful! Daniel, then we’d get ‘O’!”

  Chapter 62

  Several weeks later, the doctor stopped in at the yellow cabin on the knoll to check on Annie; he brought with him news from the Navajo camp. Thanks to the Garryannie Foundation and the banker’s liberal interpretation of “medical treatment” to include preventive measures such as sound nutrition, all the children of the tribe were healthy for the first time in years. There was no fever, no influenza, no chicken pox to contend with. Theo was more grateful than he could manage to say.

  He reassured Annie her pregnancy was progressing normally, but later he drew Daniel aside and cautioned him. “Watch her carefully, and let me know if anything unusual happens—even if it doesn’t seem serious. I don’t know how it might affect her fainting spells. I have a friend in St. Louis—we went to school together, and we still keep in touch. He’s a surgeon and he does a lot of work with different brain conditions, and he likely knows more about Annie’s ailments than I do. With your permission, I’ll write to him and get his opinion.”

  “Sure, Doc. You don’t think she’s in any danger, do you?”

  “No, I don’t. Everything seems fine. I’d just like to know if there’s anything special we need to do for her. She’s a fine girl, Annie is. And I want to make sure we do everything she needs us to do.”

  “All right.” Daniel brushed a hand over his mustache. “So things are good up at the camp?”

  Here Barber demurred. The interlopers had recruited some followers and the elders had cautioned the doctor once more: do not go about alone. “I’m not going back up there without Tommy or Alec along.”

  “You think it’s that bad?”

  “Bad enough for me not to take any chances,” he answered as he climbed into his buggy. “Tommy said he saw that Yellow Knife in town the other day, and not for the first time. He was skulking around—maybe looking for something. Or somebody. So it wouldn’t hurt you to be closer to civilization, either.”

  Daniel didn’t respond, and Theo drove away wondering if his advice had fallen on deaf ears.

  ANNIE INSISTED ON HELPING with the preparations for her father’s wedding. Carolyn had come to Molly and asked if she could be married in the formal parlor—the small, intimate ceremony Daniel had arranged seemed to her the perfect wedding. She told Molly she felt it would be a most appropriate setting for a second marriage.

  “Besides,” she’d said, “we’re old folks, Owen and me. We don’t need all the fuss the young people want.”

  Molly had protested: Carolyn was only three years older than she was, and Owen two years older than that. She’d agree to their use of the Donovan home only if Carolyn would refrain from referring to her as “old folks”.

  A few days before the wedding, Daniel arrived at the ranch house as Molly, Irene and Annie were completing the preparation of the dining room. They’d chosen the colors of royal blue and gold—the blue to complement Carolyn’s gown of sky blue and the gold to signify Owen’s heritage, for he was descended from the royal line of Theodor or Tudor, which included Owain Glyn Dwr, the most celebrated Prince and ruler of Wales. Against the backdrop of cream-colored wallpaper with trailing ecru vines separated by rows of deep red, the room appeared fit for a prince and his consort.

  “Nice,” the woodsman said with a look around the room. It was high praise from him and they accepted it as such. He saw his wife’s cheeks were bright with excitement and held out a hand to her. She ran to him, hugged him tightly around the neck.

  “Only two more days—we’ve got so much to do!”

  “Got your cake ready?”

  “Yes.” Annie had planned only two tiers for this small gathering, and Daniel had already caught the scent of almonds and mace. “I’ll ice it tomorrow if you’ll put it together for me.”

  “Sure. You ready to go now?”

  “Why don’t you stay to supper?” Molly asked. “’Twill be ready in a few minutes.”

  “Okay with you?” Daniel asked his wife.

  “Sure. If I don’t have to make it, it always tastes better!”

  So they ate Molly’s stew and strawberry tarts, and later Daniel found an opportunity to speak privately to John Patrick about the interlopers. The old man agreed to take a warning to town in the morning. It might be difficult, he remarked, to get the people of White’s Station to take it seriously. Though the Apaches still fought and raided to the south and west, it had been a long time since there was trouble in this corner of the Territory.<
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  “Why don’t you stay with us awhile?” John Patrick asked his son. “Just ’til this thing blows over.”

  “I’ll talk to Annie in the morning.” At his father’s frown, Daniel added, “We’d have to go back and pick up some clothes anyway.”

  As he walked home with his wife, Daniel deliberately cleared his mind of the possible trouble to come. The days were at their longest and the first rosy blush of sunset had turned Annie’s skin to peach, like the roses climbing on their porch. The woodsman’s rose. How lucky the woodsman is.

  “What are you thinking about?” Annie asked.

  He smiled at her. He’d been thinking she was beautiful, and would have been a princess in her own country had the Anglos not disrupted their history. Much as he would have been a prince in his. The thought had given him pleasure and he’d wondered if Alec could make her a little silver crown for her birthday. He pulled her into his arms, kissed her tenderly, and began to tell her how much he loved her.

  WHEN ANNIE AND DANIEL didn’t arrive in the morning, Molly’s first concern was for Annie. Her daughter-in-law had been much healthier lately, and the disability she suffered from headaches had been somewhat lessened. Still, it is possible that she is ill. We know we have not cured her—only made the pain less.

  She called for her youngest son and sent him to Sidhean Annie. The cake needed to be iced and if Annie couldn’t do it, she’d have to try it herself. She was sure her attempts wouldn’t compare to Annie’s, yet they needed a cake for the bridal couple. Jake could put the frame together for her. But only if Annie was too sick to come.

  Jake stopped to pull on his buckskin boots then headed out over the fields on foot. The day was beautiful, soft and warm as many June days begin, and he was whistling an Irish ditty as he crossed the boundary of his father’s land to Sidhean Annie.

  He stopped for a moment to admire the field full of flowers—it seemed to get prettier every time he saw it. Hoping his sister-in-law wasn’t too sick, he started off again but stopped in his tracks at a low moaning sound he could identify as human pain.

  He wondered if Annie could somehow have come out of the cabin into the field. Wouldn’t Daniel have taken her back in? He stood perfectly still until the sound came again, then located it to his left. After three strides he broke into a run, for his brother lay face-down in the meadow with the hilt of a knife protruding from his back.

  “Oh, my God.” Jake knelt beside the woodsman. “All this blood!” It had soaked the woodsman’s shirt and still trickled from the wound.

  And where was Annie?

  Chapter 63

  Jake shouted for Annie and looked around wildly, then realized he was close to panic. He took a deep long breath and forced himself into calmness. He felt for the pulse in Daniel’s neck. It was regular, though not strong. His hand hovered over the knife, but he remembered the advice he’d had from Alec when a cactus thorn was caught in his leg: Don’t take it out unless you’re sure of what it is, how it went in, and unless you’re ready to stop the bleeding.

  He couldn’t remove the knife. He needed his mother, his brothers, his father. He couldn’t move Daniel, for his brother was a big, solid man. Besides, it might make the bleeding worse. He needed help.

  And he needed to know if Annie was safe.

  It was four miles back to the ranch but only sixty yards to the cabin. He sprinted to the door, found it locked and kicked at it. It flew open and a quick search told him Annie was gone. She could have gone into town for help, he told himself. But he didn’t really believe it. Annie should have been right there, or on her way to his mother. He would have seen her. No, she was gone, and whoever had stabbed his brother had taken her.

  I need help. I need Mother and I need Alec. If I go for Alec, Daniel may die from loss of blood. If I go for Mother, we may lose Annie’s trail. But it’s two miles farther to town than back home. If I take his horse, I’ll be at the house in fifteen minutes and it may save his life. This happened a long time ago—if the trail’s still there, another hour or so won't make any difference.

  His decision made in the time it takes lightning to strike, Jake grabbed a bridle and forced his hands to stop trembling as he placed it gently into the buckskin mare’s mouth. Then, not taking time to saddle, he leaped on her back and urged her across the open fields.

  He found Geordie out inspecting his crops, and shouted, “Daniel’s hurt! He needs help. Get out to the cabin!” His brother took off at a run toward Sidhean Annie.

  As soon as he could see the ranchhouse, Jake started shouting again.

  “Mother! Dad! Frank! Mother!” They spilled onto the porch as he pulled the horse up. She was winded and trembling.

  “What is it?” his father demanded. “What’s wrong?”

  “Daniel’s hurt. I sent Geordie.” He slipped off the mare’s lathered back as his mother disappeared into the house after her medical kit and Frank ran to the barn for horses. “Dad, he’s been knifed. In the back. Looks like he’s been bleeding all night.” Jake struggled for calmness, for breath. His father’s horse was saddled and ready to go. Putting Daniel’s horse in the corral, he grabbed the reins to the roan mare. “I’m going to town for the doctor and Alec.”

  “Why Alec?”

  “Annie’s gone.” The words hung in the stilly air until the old man groaned.

  “Dear Lord.” He pulled a trembling through his gray hair as Jake swung up into the saddle. “Oh, dear Lord. You’ll have to tell Owen.” He slapped the mare on the flank. “GO! And get back as quick as you can!”

  Jake needed no further urging. An excellent horseman on a superb horse, he made a direct run for the town, galloped in at the north end, and pulled the horse up before the silversmith’s cottage.

  Tommy came running from the stable as Jake pounded on Alec’s door.

  “What’s wrong?” he demanded, grabbing the youth by the arm as Alec opened the door.

  “What’s wrong?” the silversmith echoed.

  “Daniel’s hurt. Annie’s gone. We need you,” he added to Alec.

  “Where?”

  “Sidhean Annie.” Jake was gone again, running down the street to the doctor’s house.

  “I’ll saddle the horses,” Tommy told his son. “You pack some food and water.”

  By the time Alec had packed and put on a buckskin suit and boots, his father had four horses ready and the stable door closed behind them. Jake was once again running up the wide street. The citizens of the town were gathering behind him.

  “Where’s Doc?” the youth demanded.

  Tommy stared at him for a moment. “Oh, no, no, no! He went out t’ see the new rancher—what’s ’is name? The one who bought the Wilson ranch—out there by the stage line. Look, I... I’ll get Jane—she’s jus’ over at the Callendar’s checkin’ up on the li’l girl. I’ll bring ’er out in the buggy.” Tommy had taken two steps before Jake called him back.

  “Tell her we need... whatever she has to stop bleeding.” Then he added so no one but the smith could hear. “Daniel’s got a knife in his back.

  “And Tommy, please... tell Owen. I don’t know what to say.” With that, he jumped onto one of the fresh horses and sped away with Alec at his side.

  Tommy stood for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. It would break the bootmaker’s heart if anything happened to his daughter. And Carolyn—the wedding. He tied the extra horses to a rail and padded down the street to the Trading Post.

  As he entered, he found the “Closed” sign in its usual spot and placed it in the window. The only customer was a trapper and as he left, Tommy locked the door.

  “What are you doing?” the new merchant asked with a little laugh. “It’s too early for lunch. Besides, Carolyn will be here any minute.”

  The blacksmith didn’t respond as he led Owen to the chair behind the counter. “Sit down, Owen.” He put a firm hand on the bootmaker’s shoulder. Owen sat.

  “Tommy?” He looked up in confusion, then clutched at Tommy’s arm
. “Tell me.”

  “Dan’l’s hurt,” the smith replied, his deep voice shaking. He tried to go on, but the words wouldn’t come.

  Owen’s hands were groping at his friend’s arms. “Annie... What about Annie?”

  “She’s gone, Owen. Alec’s gone t’ look for her.”

  “Gone? Tommy, where’d she go?”

  “We don't know yet,” the smith replied, his face set in a mask of hope. “Alec’s gone t’ find ’er.”

  “Find her? Oh, dear God, what’s happened to her?”

  “We don't know. Maybe Dan’l can tell us.”

  “But he’s hurt? How bad is it?”

  “I don't know. But Jake came for the doctor.”

  “Tommy.” Owen’s voice was rigid, demanding. “I want to know what’s going on. I want to go out there. I need to be there.”

  “Horses are saddled,” replied the smith, surprised and pleased by the strength in his friend’s voice. “You wanna tell Carolyn first?”

  “Of course.” Owen got shakily to his feet.

  They met Carolyn in the street and broke the news to her. She agreed to stay in town and send word if any news came back. She’d go to Wang Shen and get one of his clerks to help her in the Trading Post, and she’d try to keep the rumors in check.

  “Carolyn...”

  “Don’t be silly, man. You go out there and stay there until she’s home again. How could we get married without her?”

  Speechlessly Owen hugged her tight, then planted a kiss on her cheek.

  “She’ll be all right,” Carolyn said. “Everything will be all right.”

  “I love you. Pray for her.”

  “And for you. Now get going. And don’t come back until she’s home again.”

  The two men hurried down the street toward the horses. Tommy gave Owen a leg up onto one of them.