She met his gaze evenly. “You’re not going to forgive me, are you?” she whispered.
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
“I almost got you killed! John said I should be ashamed for what I did. I am ashamed, terribly ashamed. Why am I so headstrong, Kain? Why is it so hard for me to let someone else take charge?”
“Vanessa . . . Vanessa, you can’t help the way you are. You’re a woman who needs a strong hand.”
“A chore you’re unwilling to take on?” She almost choked as the enormity of her words hit her. When he didn’t answer her taut nerves made her rush into speech. “I was going to meet him and kill him before he killed you. I couldn’t stand to just sit and wait for that . . . animal to make the first move,” she told him, unable to keep the quaver out of her voice. His rejection was the hardest thing she had ever had to endure.
“It isn’t easy to shoot a man, and while you hesitated, which you would have, he would have had you. You didn’t stand a chance. Now, say no more about it,” he added impatiently.
Vanessa looked down at him. Even his voice was closing her out. When he said nothing more she placed his hand gently on the bed beside him and stood.
“I’ll get Aunt Ellie. Are you going to tell her about Adam Hill?”
“No.”
Kain watched her leave and closed his eyes wearily. She was hurt. But what the hell could he say? He had nothing to offer her. It would have been better if Tass had killed him, he thought. But then Vanessa would have had to live with the guilt that she had caused his death. He opened his eyes, afraid he would fall asleep. He had something to do, something he should have done before this.
Ellie came in and took the stool beside his bunk. Her cool hand smoothed the hair from his brow and then rested on his forehead for an instant.
“No fever, thank goodness. We were so worried about you. Are you hungry?”
“No, ma’am. I want you to write something for me. Will you get a pencil and paper?”
“Of course . . . but Vanessa writes a beautiful hand.”
“I don’t want her to know about this yet. Please, Mrs. Hill.”
“All right, Kain.”
Ellie took a box of writing supplies from the compartment at the front on the wagon and returned to sit on the stool beside him. She opened a tablet of lined paper and took a pencil in her hand.
“I want to make a will.” Kain’s quiet words dropped into the stillness and Ellie almost dropped the pencil.
“Oh, no! You’re not . . . Didn’t Vanessa tell you that we have every hope you’ll—”
“There’s a chance I won’t die from the bullet wounds, but nevertheless, I’m going to die soon,” he said calmly. “I want Vanessa to have a house and some land I have near Junction City. If I die without a will, my estate will go to . . . a relative I’m not fond of and I don’t approve of.”
“Oh, Kain! Oh, dear boy! What are you talking about?”
“I have a cancer that will surely kill me.”
“Oh, dear God!”
“I want your promise to say nothing about it.”
“Of course, I promise. But . . . are you sure?”
“I’m sure. Now write, please. I, Kain DeBolt being of sound mind. . . .” He dictated slowly, then asked her to read back what she had written. He nodded his approval, and she handed him the pencil and held the tablet so he could sign his name. “Date it at the top, and sign your name as a witness,” he instructed wearily. “You’ll find the address of my solicitor in New York in my saddlebags. If . . . when something happens, write to him and tell him about the will. He’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying these things to me.” Ellie clasped his hand tightly. “Don’t you have anyone? Family or—” She sniffed back the tears. “Oh, shoot! I’m trying hard to not . . . break down.”
“Don’t cry for me, Mrs. Hill. I asked you to do this because I know you’re a strong woman. You’ve got to be to endure what you have and still hold your head high.”
“Thank you, Kain. You’ll not be alone. Vanessa and I will take care of you.”
“No! Vanessa is not to know. When the time is near I’ll know and I’ll go away.”
Ellie brought his hand to her tear wet cheek. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do. But until . . . I’ll be with you.”
“Thank you. It means a lot to know someone cares.”
“You’ve become very dear to me, Kain. I care, and Vanessa cares. She may be in love with you. I’ve never seen her in such a state as she was today while we were working on you.”
“She feels guilty is all.”
“Oh, no. It’s more than—”
“Aunt Ellie?” Vanessa’s voice reached them from the end of the wagon.
“Put that away,” Kain whispered.
“Don’t worry.” Ellie lifted the lid of her trunk and slipped the tablet inside.
“Are the Hookers out there?” Kain asked in a louder voice.
Vanessa climbed into the wagon and glanced curiously at her aunt as she moved aside.
“You’re awfully pert for a man with three holes in him.”
“Three? You said I was hit twice.”
“Don’t forget I had to cut a hole in your back to get the bullet out.”
“I bet you enjoyed that,” he said dryly.
“He’s going to live, Aunt Ellie. He’s back to being mouthy.” She gave a nervous little laugh.
Kain tried to smile, but it was a meaningless flexing of his facial muscles.
“Could you eat a cup of potato soup?” Ellie asked.
“Don’t go to any bother, ma’am.”
“I saved it from supper. I’ll get it.”
“Did I hear you ask for the Hookers?” Vanessa inquired after Ellie left. “They’re not out there, but John and Henry want to see you if you feel up to it. They—we were all so worried about you. We’re glad you’re going to be all right.”
“Is this your bed?”
“Yes. I’ll sleep in Aunt Ellie’s so I can hear you if you need anything. She’ll sleep in with Mary Ben. It’s all been decided.”
“I’ll get up tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? You’ll do no such thing. You’ll stay flat on your back for a week if I have to tie you to the bunk.”
“We should get to Junction City the day after tomorrow.”
“We’re not traveling tomorrow. We’re staying here so those wounds can start healing.”
“Damn it, Vanessa! John and the Hookers know this is dangerous country. We have to leave here at daylight.”
“I was thinking of you. Tomorrow you may feel a lot worse than you do now.”
“I know. I’ve been shot before. I could be out of my head with a fever by this time tomorrow. That’s why I’ll tell you this now. Do what John and the Hookers think best and don’t give them any sass.”
“All right, Kain. If that’s what you want, I’ll—” she had to stop when sobs threatened to close her throat. She found herself looking directly into his eyes and watched his gaze fall away and become fixed on her blue sunbonnet hanging at the end of the wagon.
“When we get to Junction City, ask directions to a place called The House. All you have to say is The House. It’s about five miles out of town. I own it and the land around it. The woman that rented it wrote that she left it boarded up. I want you to stay there—all of you. Don’t argue, Vanessa,” he said tiredly. “Do this one thing for me without arguing.”
“We’ll take you there and stay until you’re on your feet.” She said the words as though they were being dragged out of her against her will. “Do you want to see John and Henry?”
His gaze returned to her white face and he felt his mind grind to a halt. The silence that enveloped them was so complete that he could hear Ellie’s voice in the Wisner wagon telling Mary Ben how glad she was they were nearing the end of their journey. Every word was as distinct as though she were speaking a few feet away. Into that continuing stillness, he tur
ned his face away and murmured, “I guess so.”
* * *
At the end of two days of hard travel they came down out of the foothills and entered a wide valley that stretched for miles. On each side lay rolling hills topped with glossy evergreen, and beyond were snow-capped mountains. It was a breathtaking sight, one Vanessa was unable to appreciate because she was so worried about Kain. He was hurting and as cross as a bear. His stomach had been troublesome, and he would allow only Ellie to attend him.
Junction City was a town of unpainted buildings and rutted streets. Small boxlike houses set in rows fanned out from the main street which was lined with false-fronted stores. Vanessa drove into town with Jeb and Clay Hooker leading the way. She looked with dismay at the crude buildings, the curs that ran out from between the buildings to nip at the heels of the mules, the big-wheeled freight wagons, the loafers sitting along the boardwalks and the drunken Indians who staggered along the street. The double swinging doors of the saloon opened and a man was tossed headfirst into the street.
Ellie sat stiffly erect, her face white and drawn, her hands clenched tightly together. She turned her head and stared dully at Vanessa.
“We’ve traveled hundreds of miles for this?” she asked in a low, strickened voice.
Chapter Eleven
Jeb reined in his horse and waited for the wagon to catch up.
“Stop here, ma’am, and I’ll do some askin’. Ain’t no use us goin’ on if’n the place we’re lookin’ fer is back yonder.”
Vanessa pulled up on the reins and the wagon stopped in front of the harness and blacksmith shop. It was no longer difficult for her to remain quiet and let someone else take over. Humiliation had drained her of energy and she hurt as she had never hurt before.
“Hey, thar, mister.” The man Jeb spoke to had come out of the harness shop with several horse halters hanging from the crook of his arm. The cowboy put his foot in the stirrup, swung into the saddle and turned his mount toward them.
“Were ya talkin’ to me?”
“Howdy. We’d be obliged if you’d give us some help in findin’ a place. We’re looking fer The House. That’s what the feller said the place is called: The House. Would ya be knowin’ where it’d be?”
“The House? Why shore. Ever’body knows where The House is at.” A huge grin split the cowboy’s weathered face. He leaned on the saddle horn and grinned with open admiration at Vanessa and Ellie, then craned his neck to see who was in the wagon behind. “Yo’re a-goin’ to open The House?”
“Figgerin’ on it.” The Texan’s voice was less friendly and he edged his horse between the cowboy and the caravan.
“The House is openin’?” The cowboy threw back his head and let out a wild yell. “Yahoo . . . ee!”
Vanessa looked at him in astonishment, then looked quickly around. His bellow hadn’t attracted the slightest bit of attention from the people in the street or on the boardwalks.
“Yo’re a-goin’ to open The House!” he repeated excitedly. “Doggy! I’m pure proud to hear it. If thar’s anythin’ I can do to help ya get settled in, ma’am, jist send out a call fer Stan Taylor. Now, don’t ya be fergittin’ that name. Yes siree, Stan Taylor’ll shore be proud to help ya ladies out. Jist wait till the fellers hear.”
“Give us a pointer, mister, so we can be on our way.” Jeb’s voice was hard with impatience.
“Jist go right on through town and foller the river road. Hit’s a plank house painted white. Hit’s a right purty place, but it’s been boarded up fer ’bout a year now.” The cowboy leaned over and spoke to Ellie. “Don’t ya be frettin’ none, ma’am. Stan Taylor’ll spread the word. The boys’ll be plumb tickled to hear The House is openin’.”
Jeb nodded to Vanessa and she slapped the reins against the backs of the mules and the wagon moved ahead.
“We’re obliged to ya.” Jeb dismissed the man with a nod of his head.
The cowboy grinned. He tipped his hat to Mary Ben when she passed, then headed for the saloon to tell the news.
“What in the world was that about?” Ellie drew her shawl closer about her shoulders. “He was sure friendly.”
“Too friendly, if you ask me. He acted as if he hadn’t seen a woman for years. What’s the matter with these men out here?”
“I doubt he’s seen one as pretty as you. You are a pretty girl, dear. You don’t know what a beauty you are, do you?”
“Pshaw! Beauty doesn’t get you anywhere, Aunt Ellie. I might as well have been as ugly as a mud fence.”
“Speaking of Kain—”
“Who is?” Vanessa countered sharply.
“Anyway, dear,” Ellie said patiently, “when we get out of town, stop and let me get in back with him. The last time I looked in on him he was sleeping. He may want a drink of water by now.”
“I get the feeling he’d just as soon never set eyes on me again. If I hadn’t promised him we’d stay at his house we’d leave him there with the Hookers and camp while we look around for a place of our own.”
“He didn’t mean anything last night, Vanessa. He’d suffered something terrible jostling around back there all day.”
“It was his own fault. He wouldn’t let us stop.”
“I’m sure he had his reasons, dear.”
“Why are you always defending him? You heard him tell me to get out and leave him alone. That was awfully hard to take, Aunt Ellie.”
“I’m sure he didn’t intend to speak so sharply.”
“I told him I was sorry. What more can I say?”
“He was throwing up, dear. I don’t think any man would want a young woman to see him vomit. Especially if he was fond of her.”
“Oh, fiddle faddle! Don’t give me that nonsense about him being fond of me. We’ve been at swords’ point since the day we met and he can’t stand the sight of me.”
They reached the edge of town and Vanessa stopped the wagon. Henry rode up to lift his mother down. When they started up again he rode alongside.
“What did you think of the town, Henry?”
“It’s nothing like Springfield. I don’t think I want to live in town, Van.”
“Maybe we won’t have to. We’ll stay at Kain’s until he’s better, then we’ll decide what to do.”
After only a few minutes of conversation, Henry drifted back to ride beside John’s wagon so he could be near Mary Ben, and Vanessa allowed herself a moment of self-pity. Henry was so in love with Mary Ben that he wanted to be with her all the time, Vanessa thought painfully. They shared what they had seen or done during the day, how the country looked, how tired they were or how scared. Loneliness crept into her bones like an ache. There was a clammy, sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. It had been there for the previous two days, sapping her strength, eating away at her self-esteem and so controlling her thoughts that she had not been able to eat or sleep.
The night before she had just stepped into the wagon to see how Kain was feeling when he asked her to go and leave him alone. His tone had hurt her even more than the words he had spoken. Thank God she had been able to hold back the tears until she could grab up a bucket and go to the stream for water. There she had cried as she had not done in years. After supper she had crawled into the wagon with Mary Ben, leaving Ellie to tend to Kain during the night. Even now, thinking about it, she blinked her eyes rapidly to keep them from filling.
Vanessa brought her attention back to the mules and slapped their backs with the reins. The road ran alongside a rushing stream. It was level and meandering and quiet after the noise of the town. Several riders were on the trail ahead. As the distance between them and the wagons grew smaller they shifted into a single line and curiously eyed the fancy caravan and the girl driving it. They tipped their hats and Vanessa nodded coolly.
When Vanessa first saw the white house in the distance, it didn’t occur to her it was Kain’s house until they drew closer and she could see the planks nailed across the doors and lower windows. It was larger than she had expected
and had a shiny tin roof. Surrounded by large oaks, it loomed tall and square with a barn and several sheds and outbuildings behind it. Dry, brown weeds were knee-high in front, and porch and window boxes were empty of flowers. The place looked sadly neglected, Vanessa thought, but with some work it could be beautiful again.
Jeb rode ahead and opened the wire gate so the wagons could enter. Vanessa drove through and pulled the team to a halt between the house and the barn. She sat on the high seat looking around, uncertain as to what to do. Evening was approaching and a chill wind was blowing down from the mountains. She shivered, but more from nervousness than the cold. The back door of the caravan opened and Ellie called to Henry.
“Kain said to get some tools and pry the boards off the door, son. We’ll cook supper on a cookstove tonight.”
Vanessa climbed down and began to unhitch the tired team. She and Mary Ben helped John turn the mules and horses into the pole corral where they rolled in the dust, then began cropping the sparse grass. Henry called to Mary Ben to come look at the house.
“Go on. I can finish.” Vanessa slung the heavy harness over her shoulder and went to the barn. John followed carrying the horse collars. It was the first time she had been alone with him since Kain had been shot.
“John, I want you to know I’m sorry for what I said that day you tried to stop me from riding away from the wagon. You see . . . I thought I was so right, that by riding out to meet Tass I could keep him from killing Kain.”
“It’s all right, missy. I knowed why ya done it.”
“I heard you say I should be ashamed. I am, and for the way I talked to you. If not for you and Mary Ben and Kain—” She stopped, turned her head and sniffed back tears, hating herself for being weepy. “We were dumb to think we could make it out here alone, weren’t we, John?”
“Ya might be lackin’ in knowin’ the trail, but ya know how to crack heads,” he said with a grin that showed his tobacco-stained teeth. “Don’t ya be worryin’ none, missy. Ya got grit. Ain’t no city woman I ever heard of could a stood up to drivin’ that span of mules clear to Colorady.”
Dorothy Garlock - [Colorado Wind 03] Page 17
