Groom For Hire (Pioneer Series #3)

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  Joe continued over to them.

  He was ready to ask them what was going on when Phillipa’s twelve-year-old son picked up a dead rattlesnake. “That was great! Can you shoot another one?” he asked Michelle.

  “Hush,” Phillipa replied, shaking her head. “We don’t ever want to come across another one. Those things are poisonous. Now throw it over there.” She gestured to a vacant area in the grass. “I don’t want to see it anymore.”

  “Oh come on, Ma,” he argued as he studied it. “The skin on this thing is nice. We should make something out of it.” The boy, noticing Joe, asked, “Can we eat rattlesnake meat, Mr. Otto?”

  Phillipa’s face grew abnormally pale at the thought, so Joe decided to help her out. “Get rid of it. There’s not enough of it left to get any use from it.”

  The boy looked disappointed but threw it away from them.

  “I didn’t even see it,” Phillipa told Joe. “Liz was picking some flowers,” she added, squeezing her daughter’s shoulders, “and the next thing I knew, Michelle shot her gun. I’m telling you, my heart came to a complete stop. I had no idea what had just happened until I saw the snake collapse.”

  “I heard the rattle,” Michelle explained. “So I pulled out my gun and shot it before it could hurt Liz.”

  “How far were you from the snake?” Joe asked.

  “Not too far. Just over there.” She motioned to a spot a few feet from where they were standing. “I have good hearing. It’s one of the reasons I was good at knowing when the piano was out of tune before others did while I was growing up.”

  Despite the fact that she didn’t think she was that far away, it was a feat she’d managed to shoot it from that distance with such efficiency. He had to admit it impressed him. He’d never come across anyone who’d done that before.

  Before he could congratulate her on a job well done, she lifted her skirt up to her knee and placed the gun back into the holster that was strapped to the rope she had tied around her calf. What was wrong with her? A twelve-year-old impressionable boy was right in front of her. He was ready to shove the skirt down, but she beat him to it. Granted, she was quick, but she wasn’t quick enough as far as he was concerned.

  When he heard a chuckle coming from the wagons, he glanced over his shoulder and saw that most of the group had returned from the stream. The man who’d been chuckling quickly cleared his throat and headed for his wagon.

  Joe took Michelle by the arm and led her away from the others so he could talk to her alone. “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t I tell you not to show off your legs to everyone?”

  “I don’t recall you saying those exact words,” she said.

  “I’m telling you now. The hem of your skirt needs to go to your ankle.” He paused. “Didn’t your parents teach you that while you were growing up?”

  “I didn’t think anyone was watching,” she replied and glanced at the group of people who were now getting their things ready to get back on the trail. “I thought they were still at the stream.”

  “Well, they weren’t. And even if they were, there was a twelve-year-old boy nearby. You shouldn’t have done it because he was there.”

  Her face grew pink. “You’re not going to tell me that a twelve-year-old boy has the same thoughts a grown man does, are you?”

  He shot her a pointed look. “I was a twelve-year-old boy once.”

  She gasped. “Joe, you had no right to be having those kinds of thoughts when you were that age.”

  “Women’s legs, even if they’re covered with bloomers, aren’t things a boy sees all the time. Of course, boys are going to notice them. That is why I forbid you to ever lift your skirt in front of anyone again.”

  He thought she might be appropriately contrite over her actions, but instead, she said, “Then I would need a belt to hold my holster. The rope I have isn’t long enough to go around my waist.”

  There really was no arguing with her. She could take anything he said and turn it against him. “Fine,” he replied, throwing up his hands in surrender. “Fine. You win. I will get you a belt that you can put around your waist.”

  “Oh good!”

  “You will have to go into the Taylor wagon before you remove the gun from your leg.”

  “When will you get me the belt?”

  “I’m doing it right now.”

  She let out an excited cheer and ran for the wagon. With a shake of his head, he went to his horse where he had a spare belt in his bag. Once he took it out, he headed over to the wagon, glad she’d listened to him and wasn’t anywhere in sight.

  Thankfully, the people in the group respected him enough to not bring up the fact that Michelle had shown off her legs to everyone. Maybe he shouldn’t be too hard on her. She was incredibly naïve. Her father had sheltered her way too much. Didn’t he want to make sure she didn’t pull that kind of stunt in California? But then, the whole scenario probably never occurred to him. After all, when had she ever needed to tie a holster around her leg in Omaha?

  Either way, this kind of behavior was unacceptable, and the sooner she stopped, the sooner he could relax. The last thing he needed was to have a heart attack while on the trail.

  When he reached the wagon, he heard Michelle and Henrietta talking.

  “I wish I had seen you shoot the snake,” Henrietta said. “That must have been exciting.”

  “It was,” Michelle replied. “But it was also scary. My hands are still shaking. Those snakes are dangerous. What if I had missed and it had gotten Phillipa’s daughter?”

  “You didn’t miss. And that’s because you practiced all the time. I think you’re right, Michelle. I need to learn how to shoot it, too.”

  Joe cleared his throat. “Are you ready for the belt?” he called out.

  Michelle stuck her head outside the wagon. “You really got it?”

  He held it out for her to see.

  “It’s gorgeous.” She came out of the wagon, the holster in her hand.

  Henrietta followed her out of the wagon and stood beside her. “That was some fine shooting Michelle did today, wasn’t it?” she asked him.

  He nodded.

  Michelle took the belt from him and studied it. “It looks new.”

  “It is new,” he said. “I’ll have to buy a replacement when we get to town.” He touched the one currently at his waist. It just might make it through another week or two.

  “You’re giving me the one you were planning to use?” Michelle smiled at him. “That’s one of the sweetest things anyone’s ever done for me.”

  She gave him a hug, and though it embarrassed him that she was doing it right in front of everyone, he really didn’t mind it all that much.

  She looped the belt through the holster then slipped the belt around her waist. “Now to get the gun.” With a smile in his direction, she added, “Don’t worry. I won’t be lifting my skirt.” She reached into the wagon, pulled out the gun, and tucked it into the holster. “The gun fits perfectly. This is a lot more comfortable than what I was doing before. Joe, how can I thank you for this?”

  “Never lift your skirt when others are around again,” he said. Then, deciding to lessen the hard tone in his voice, he added, “Now get back to work.”

  With a wide grin, she replied, “I’ll do it right away!”

  As she hurried off to help the people get ready to continue their journey, Henrietta said, “That was really nice of you, Joe.”

  “Nice has nothing to do with it. I can’t have her showing off her legs to the entire group during the rest of the trip.” With a sigh, he went to his horse.

  Chapter 14

  The following week, Michelle had managed to talk Henrietta and two older women, Diana and Ruby to go further away from the group so she could safely teach them how to shoot a gun.

  “I don’t know about this,” Henrietta said as she inspected the gun in her hand as if it was about to come alive and bite her. “This has the power to kill someone.”

  Michelle
placed a comforting hand on Henrietta’s arm. “You can’t look at it like that. This isn’t a weapon to be used to hurt people. It’s something we can use for protection. I shot that rattlesnake that was close to Phillipa’s daughter. Remember?”

  “That was a good shot,” Henrietta admitted.

  Michelle nodded. “Imagine if Phillipa had been able to shoot it. What if I hadn’t been there? What if one of the other men hadn’t been nearby to shoot it? And that’s not the only example of what a gun can do. You can get food with it. I haven’t had any luck with that yet, but one of these days I’m going to get us an animal to eat on this trail. And let’s say you get to California and you find an animal that’s getting into the hen house. Earlier today, I overheard one of the women saying her husband had to kill a fox once.”

  “But the gun can kill someone if we use it,” Diana pointed out.

  Next to her, Ruby nodded.

  “Yes, that’s true,” Michelle consented. “But who would you rather die? You and your children, or the outlaw who attacks us?”

  Ruby bit her lower lip and glanced at Diana. “It’s hard to argue her logic.”

  “It is,” Henrietta agreed. “I’m just as nervous about this as you two are.” Her gaze went to the gun. “This thing is scary. But it does have some good, practical uses.”

  “Exactly!” Michelle said. “As long as we use the gun responsibly, we’ll be just fine.”

  “Yes, I suppose so,” Diana replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

  Henrietta took a deep breath and turned to the large branch they’d found for target practice. “How do I hold this thing?”

  “Like this.” Though Michelle had already shown Henrietta how to do it, she did so again. “The important thing is to keep your shoulders stiff. After you shoot, the gun pushes back against you.”

  “It does?” Diana asked, a worried frown on her face.

  “It’s really quick,” Michelle assured her. “It’s nothing to be scared of. Why, you have two children. I bet giving birth to them was a lot worse.”

  “Shooting is probably also better than lugging a ton of wet clothes from the creek to hang up to dry,” Henrietta said.

  “Yes, it is,” Michelle replied. “I had no idea wet clothes could be so heavy.”

  “Alright,” Henrietta said. “I’m ready to shoot. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck,” the three women said in unison.

  Henrietta shut her eyes and fired the gun. The bullet didn’t go anywhere near the branch.

  “You need to keep your eyes open,” Michelle told her, trying not to laugh. “You won’t be able to hit your target if you’re not looking at it.”

  Henrietta offered her an embarrassed smile. “I suppose not.”

  “You’ll do better next time,” Michelle said. “It can be frightening at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.”

  “I hope so,” Ruby commented as she bit one of her nails.

  “It will,” Michelle said. “And the best time to get comfortable with the gun is when you don’t need it. That way you can focus on what you’re doing.”

  “That makes sense,” Henrietta replied. She took a deep breath and fired another bullet. This time she kept her eyes open, but she still missed the target.

  “It was closer,” Michelle said, so her friend wouldn’t get discouraged. “It took me about twenty tries before I finally hit the tray. After that, it was easy.”

  “I thought the target you were really going for was Joe,” Henrietta teased.

  Face warm, Michelle glanced at Diana and Ruby, who had no idea what Henrietta was referring to.

  “Well, a wife should spend some time with her husband,” Michelle replied, praying she sounded nonchalant.

  Diana gasped. “Is that why you wanted to learn to shoot a gun? You wanted to spend time with Mr. Otto?”

  Michelle was ready to answer when a shrill voice called out to them. The four women looked over at Alice as she stormed over to them with Sherry and Nancy. Up to now, Michelle hadn’t spoken to Nancy. She couldn’t even remember her last name. For the most part, Nancy had kept to herself and her family.

  “Just what is the meaning of this?” Alice demanded.

  Michelle couldn’t be surprised Alice was upset. Joe had warned her. She stepped forward, ready to give her the speech she had prepared for this moment.

  But Alice stopped her. “I thought I made myself clear that what you’re doing is wrong when I had Stuart talk to your temporary husband,” she told Michelle. “Did Mr. Otto not relay the message to you?”

  “Joe doesn’t own me,” Michelle replied. “I am allowed to make my own decisions.” Then, ready to give her speech, she began, “It is to every woman’s benefit that she learn how to defend herself in case—”

  “Don’t you use that high and mighty tone with me,” Alice interrupted. “You think just because your father is rich that you have the right to tell us what’s right and what’s not?”

  Michelle’s eyes grew wide. What did her father’s wealth have to do with anything? “No. I thought it was a good idea if the women on this wagon train could help the men in case they need it.”

  “And what gives you the right to make a moral decision for the entire group?”

  “I wasn’t making a moral decision for the group.”

  “Yes, you were. You said the women should help the men if they need it. Well, there are other women in this group, myself included, who believe it’s the wagon master’s duty to decide whether or not women should be shooting guns.”

  Michelle bristled. Just who did this woman think she was? Straightening her shirtwaist, Michelle said, “As it so happens, the wagon master gave me permission to do this. If he was opposed to it, he’d stop it. He wouldn’t need you to do it for him.”

  “I don’t remember him telling the rest of us that he wants you to do this. In fact, before we left Omaha, he made it very clear that the men are supposed to be the protectors while the women are to take care of the children.” Alice pointed her finger at her. “But you aren’t used to taking orders from those you deem beneath you.”

  “Beneath me?”

  “Just because the rest of us don’t come from money, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a voice. Out here, you’re outnumbered, and I will not tolerate you telling the rest of us what we should do.”

  Since when did Michelle give anyone in the group a reason to think she was trying to tell everyone what they should do? She had asked Henrietta, Diana, and Ruby if they wanted to learn how to shoot a gun. She didn’t tell them they had to do it.

  “We believe in doing things in their proper order,” Alice insisted. “Men are the leaders and the protectors. Women are to submit to the men, especially their own husbands, and take care of them and the children. It is the natural way of things.”

  “B-b-but…” Michelle stammered as she tried to figure a way to gain the upper hand in this argument.

  “Your money is useless out here,” Alice continued. Then she turned to the other women. “Do you really want her telling us what to do?”

  “I’m not trying to tell you what to do,” Michelle finally snapped once she found her voice.

  “Word around the group is that Mr. Otto can’t stand to be around you,” Alice told her. “He’s only letting you do all of this because your father is paying him. Otherwise, none of this would be happening.” She turned to Sherry and Nancy. “Do we want someone who lauds her wealth over the rest of us dictating what all the women in this group should be doing?”

  Michelle gasped. “I have never once lauded my wealth over anyone.”

  “You’re acting better than the rest of us with the way you’re doing everything the wagon master is supposed to do. You ought to take your place with the rest of us women, but you won’t. Not all of us have a father who can afford to buy a husband just to make the journey to California. We either have to go with family members, friends, or our family.”

  For some reason, this was
the remark that caused Diana and Ruby to glance at each other as if they thought Alice made a good point.

  “My father can’t leave Omaha yet,” Michelle told them. “He has a lot more work to do first. I’m of marriageable age, and it’s important that I find a husband in California before I become an old spinster.”

  Alice put her hand to her chest. “Is that an insult? You think that just because I don’t have a husband that there’s something wrong with me?”

  “Oh, she didn’t mean that at all,” Henrietta spoke up, coming up beside Michelle. “You’re making too much out of all of this, Alice.”

  “Naturally, you’d say that because your father struck it rich in California,” Alice said. When Henrietta didn’t respond, she added, “You thought I didn’t know, didn’t you? But I overheard your brother talking to Mr. Otto.” She turned to the others. “They’re in it together. They have nothing but contempt for the rest of us because they’re rich. That’s why they’re bossing us around.”

  “Bossing?” Michelle and Henrietta said in shock.

  “Maybe we should go,” Ruby told Diana. With a glance at Michelle and Henrietta, she added, “Thank you.”

  Michelle watched as the two women followed a very smug Alice with Sherry and Nancy. Cheeks warm with embarrassment and anger, Michelle looked at Henrietta and said, “That didn’t go at all the way I expected.”

  “How were you to know Alice was going to barge over here and be mean like that?” Henrietta waved at Alice as if she was no more than a minor annoyance. “To be honest, I’m glad she knows. I was tired of hiding the truth from everyone. If I can’t be myself, then what good is it?” She turned back to the branch in front of them. “Don’t let her bother you. Once we’re in California, we’ll never have to see her again.”

  Michelle wished she could have the same nonchalant attitude, but tears stung her eyes. She quickly wiped them away before her friend noticed. She’d wait until she was alone. She’d cry then.

  * * *

  Joe was making his rounds for the evening to make sure everyone was getting settled for the night when he realized Michelle was missing. He’d seen her an hour ago as she was teaching Henrietta to shoot. Surely, she was still in the area.