Rustlers and Ribbons

by Kirsten Osbourne

  All that had changed since her arrival in Independence. Her luggage was missing. It contained all the money the reverend had given her, not to mention a change of clothes. The longer she’d argued with the conductor, the more frantic she’d become.

  Sherri blinked away the tears of frustration that threatened to fall. No, not just frustration. She was scared. Nothing at all had changed in her life so far. She was still alone. The only difference was that she was alone in another century, and didn’t have the first clue what to do. When Alexander Walker had offered his help, she’d latched onto him like some scared little puppy.

  Several children ran around, laughing as they chased each other. They were all grungy looking, with dirt streaking their faces, and holes in their pants or dresses, but they seemed to be having a good time. Women were busy packing various sacks and dishes, folding laundry, or stirring pots over an open campfire. Men yelled at mules or cows, fiddled around with wagon wheels or the canvases that covered the wagons, or working on other things Sherri had never seen done before.

  A few women and men cast her curious glances. Sherri smiled to hide her nervousness, but their stoic looks didn’t change. If anything, they seemed more suspicious of her than before, when Alexander Walker had ridden into this camp with her hanging on for dear life on the back of his horse.

  “You don’t have to grip me so tight, Miss Stucki. You won’t fall,” he’d said when they’d left the train depot in town.

  “Easy for you to say. I’ve never been on a horse before, and I don’t see you wearing as many layers of clothes as me. If I had on some pants, it might be more comfortable.”

  He’d glanced over his shoulder with a puzzled frown on his face. Sherri had bit her lower lip and cursed silently. Reverend Johnson had given her strict instructions not to tell anyone that she had time traveled. Not that anyone would believe her, anyway. Most likely, she’d be deemed crazy and thrown in a dungeon or something.

  For the most part, she’d tried to blend in as best as she could, but it wasn’t easy. A lot had changed in over a hundred years. People had different ways of talking and acting than she was used to. When she’d accepted the reverend’s offer, it had seemed like an easy thing to do, but it wasn’t quite so easy anymore.

  “If this is how you plan to get me to Wyoming, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”

  Alexander had stopped his horse. “I don’t plan on having you ride double with me the entire way, Miss Stucki. I know a lady like you wouldn’t last a day. I’m leading a group of families who are moving their entire belongings to Idaho to start a new life there. My idea was to ask if they’ll take you on to get you to your your destination.”

  “Take me on?” Sherri had stared at him, or rather, she’d stared at his broad back and shoulders that she was facing at the time. He’d smelled like leather and horse, but it wasn’t an unappealing smell. It suited him.

  Everything about Alexander Walker screamed outdoorsman and someone with an adventurous personality. He was the complete opposite of any guy she’d ever dated. None of them would ever be seen in public with dirt under their fingernails.

  Alexander didn’t seem to think much of her, but he was polite and her instincts told her she could trust him. Unlike the guy in the fancy suit, who’d tried to pick a fight with Alexander and had looked at her as if she was a piece of filet mignon he’d been served at a fancy restaurant. Choosing between the two, Alexander Walker had been a no-brainer. Besides, he was definitely much better looking than the pretty boy in the fancy suit.

  After the scary ride on the horse that left her behind and legs sore and feeling like ground beef despite all the padding from the dress, Alexander had peeled her off the back of the animal in the middle of this camp of people and left her standing there.

  “Let me talk to the men, and see what I can do about bringing you along,” was all he’d said before walking away.

  His horse hadn’t budged, and without anywhere else to go, she’d remained standing next to the animal. Now she stood there, feeling self-conscious with all these people either staring at her or completely ignoring her.

  One of the kids, a little girl, ran up to her, screeching and laughing, and grabbed onto her skirts. A slightly bigger boy came to a skidding halt a few feet away. Luckily, he stopped or he would have collided with Sherri and probably sent her toppling on her butt again.

  The boy stared up at her with wide eyes as if she was something he’d never seen before. The little girl giggled and peeked out from behind Sherri.

  “I’m safe. You can’t get me,” the little girl sang at the boy. A quick glance down at her confirmed that she was sticking out her tongue.

  “Maude Shepherd, what on earth are you doing, bothering this lady?” A woman came running, looking nearly as mortified as the boy. “Step away from her this instant.”

  The little girl’s tongue disappeared inside her mouth, and she lost her smile. Slowly, she stepped away from Sherri, looking truly contrite.

  “I’m so sorry for the trouble, Miss. The children forget their manners sometime.”

  The young woman, who couldn’t be much older than Sherri, reached for the little girl. The boy had already run off, as if he was going to be in big trouble for being anywhere near Sherri.

  “It’s okay. They were only playing.” Sherri smiled at the woman.

  The woman stopped trying to drag the girl away and offered a weak smile. She nodded in response.

  Sherri held out her hand in greeting. Time to stop looking like such a fish out of water. “I’m Sherri, by the way.”

  The woman looked even more mortified, staring at the offered hand. Strands of her dirty-blonde hair had come loose from her long braid that was partially tucked underneath some fabric she had tied around her head.

  “Mary Shepherd,” she said, without offering her own hand to shake. “This little one is Maude. She’s always getting underfoot and into trouble.”

  “Am not,” the little girl protested. She glanced up at Sherri. Her smile had returned, and Sherri smiled back.

  “Run along and help your sisters pack. We’re leaving bright and early in the morning, and everything needs to be ready to go.”

  “I want to stay with the pretty lady.” Maude managed to get away from her mother and ran up to Sherri. She touched the fabric of her dress. “I’ve never seen anything so grand,” she said, her eyes sparkling in awe.

  “No?” Sherri bent down and smoothed the little girl’s hair. “I bet you’d look really beautiful in a dress like this. Like a real princess.”

  The girl’s mouth gaped open. She glanced over her shoulder. “Did you hear that, Mama? I could be a princess.”

  Mary Shepherd frowned. “Not right now, you can’t. Now get going and mind what I say, or I’ll tell your Pa you haven’t been listening again.”

  Sherri straightened, and took a step toward the girl’s mother. “It’s really no problem that she’s here. I don’t mind. She can keep me company, if it’s okay with you.”

  Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to speak up for the little girl. At least she had a mother who looked out for her. Sherri’s own mother would have simply bribed her with some new toy rather than correcting her behavior.

  Mary Shepherd hesitated. She looked genuinely surprised. “I’m not sure that’s appropriate, Miss.”

  Sherri took in the woman’s dress. The plain brown fabric had been mended in several places. Her hands looked dry and calloused and dirty, like she’d done more work in her life than the average twenty-first century man ever did.

  The rest of the people in this camp weren’t dressed much better. Sherri gazed at the fabric of her own gown. She stood out like a mansion among a group of shacks, and it had nothing to do with being from a different century. These people probably thought she was some rich snob. Well, in a way that was true, but this was her chance to prove that she wanted to be different.

  You did this on purpose, didn’t you, Reverend Johnson? Money doesn’t mean anythi
ng here among this group of people.

  This was her first test. Somehow the disappearance of her luggage didn’t seem like such a mystery anymore.

  “I heard my husband talking to the man he hired to get us most of the way to Idaho. He said that you’ve been robbed and are looking to get to Laramie.” Mary Shepherd spoke hesitantly, but at least it was a start.

  “Yes, someone stole my luggage with all my money. I’m supposed to meet someone in four days, but I don’t have any way to get there now.”

  “If the men agree to let you come along, you’re welcome to ride with us.”

  “Really? Thank you so much, Mary. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

  Relief flooded Sherri. She stepped closer and almost threw her arms around Mary Shepherd, but stopped herself in time. That was probably not an appropriate behavior. At least now she wasn’t completely stranded. Apparently, the men had to give their permission first, though.

  Time to bite your tongue again, Sherri.

  Alexander appeared from behind one of the wagons at that moment, cutting off her train of thought. He strode toward her, oozing with male pride and confidence without coming off as arrogant. His tanned skin and nearly black hair that almost reached his shoulders, coupled with the fringed leather clothes he wore, made him look like a native American. Hadn’t that pretty boy at the train station asked if this ‘Injun’ was bothering her?

  Sherri’s heart beat faster. She stared openly. Alexander definitely was a good-looking guy. That rugged look sure had its appeal, and she’d never met a native American before.

  He nodded at Mary Shepherd before his eyes went to Sherri. The other woman grabbed her daughter, excused herself, and made a hasty retreat to one of the wagons. “You’re welcome to come along, but I had to give my word that I was responsible for you.”

  Sherri’s brows rose. “Responsible for me? You make it sound like I’m a little kid that needs a babysitter. I appreciate your help and finding a way for me to get to Laramie, but . . .” She stopped herself when his expression turned darker with every word she uttered. She had plenty to say, but this was not the place, or the century, to be voicing her opinions.

  Alexander frowned, and shook his head. “Maybe this was a mistake. I can take you back to Independence, and you can find someone else to help you.”

  Sherri darted forward, putting her hand on his arm. “No, I’m sorry. I really need to get to Laramie. I promise I’ll behave. You won’t have any trouble with me.”

  He looked her over without uttering a word. Clearly, he didn’t believe her.

  “Please,” she sang, dragging out the word, and instantly curbed the desire to slap herself. She was behaving like a spoiled brat, and using tactics that had always worked on her father when she’d wanted something when she was little. The next step would have been a temper tantrum. Alexander Walker was not going to put up with a whiny woman, that was for sure.

  “If you cause any trouble or won’t pull your weight, I’ll leave you along the trail, is that understood?”

  His dark eyes stared holes right through her. Sherri nodded wordlessly. She gritted her teeth, but right now she had no other choice. She was at this man’s mercy.

  Alexander reached for his horse’s reins. “You’ll be riding in the Shepherd’s wagon and taking your meals with them. They have plenty of mouths to feed, so you’d better be ready to work.”

  Before he turned to lead his horse away, clearly expecting her to follow like some obedient puppy, the look in Alexander Walker’s eyes left no doubt that he was having serious second thoughts about bringing her along. Sherri lifted her chin and marched after him. If it was the last thing she’d do, she was going to prove him wrong about her.

  Chapter 5

  Alexander tossed the last of his coffee into the fire, causing it to hiss loudly as smoke and steam rose in the air with the ashes. He stuffed the tin mug into his saddle bags, gathered his bedroll off the ground, and shook out the twigs and leaves that were stuck to it before rolling it up and tying it to the back of his saddle.

  Behind him, the camp was starting to stir as families woke and began morning preparations. The sun was slowly climbing over the hills to the east, promising a warm day. Two days into this journey of roughly six hundred miles were behind them, and another one was about to begin.

  Alexander smiled. He’d told Miss Sherri Stucki that it would be about a four-week trip because it had sounded like a nice, round number. Even if he pushed hard, it would take a bit longer than four weeks to cover the distance, and that was if the weather remained decent. The wagons simply couldn’t move any faster, and there was no reason to wear out the animals or the people. Whoever was waiting for her in Laramie would simply have to be patient.

  He’d thought about her a lot over the last couple of days. As much as his mind should have been on other things, it kept wandering back to her. For some inexplicable reason, she intrigued him, and not only because she was nice to look at. He’d heard the spunk in her voice on the train platform when she’d argued with the conductor, and as time passed, he’d only been more curious about her.

  Haven’t you learned your lesson with women?

  If he had any brains at all, he would stay as far away from this female as possible. What was done was done, and he’d brought her along, but that didn’t mean he had to remain in her company. He had taken responsibility for her, but he could do that from a distance. If anyone complained that she wasn’t pulling her weight, it would be easy enough to talk to her and remind her of what he’d threatened before they’d left Independence.

  Would he really be able to leave her alone along the trail if she decided to display the temper that no doubt simmered just under the surface? Hopefully, simply the warning of leaving her behind would be enough to keep her in line. Unfortunately, however, not all women who were brought up in wealthy households, thinking they were better than common folks, turned out like his mother.

  His father had often told him of his first meeting with his mother, and how she’d pretended to be someone she wasn’t. Having been brought up as a lady among Boston’s elite social class, she’d denied her Indian heritage and looked down her nose at Joseph Walker when he’d tried to take her home to her Bannock people.

  “She finally realized she couldn’t live without me, and she made the choice to give up her Boston life to be with me,” his father had often said with pride and love in his voice.

  Alexander grabbed his saddle off the ground and strode to where his horse was picketed. His parents were a lucky couple. Their love for each other shone after decades of being together, living on a homestead at the base of the Teton Mountains, alongside Alexander’s grandparents.

  He proudly carried his grandfather’s name. The elder Alex Walker had been one of a few brave men who’d entered the wilderness to make their fortune in the beaver trade, trapping and hunting, and leaving civilization behind. Even so, he’d found a good woman with whom to settle down and raise a family.

  That was all Alexander had ever wanted for himself, but clearly it wasn’t meant to be. After the disaster with Cordelia, the woman he’d thought was the one with whom he’d spend the rest of his life, his dream was now heading in a different direction. His little cabin in the mountains was calling to him, and he was ready for some time of solitude. Perhaps in a few years he’d be ready to return to face his family again in the Jackson Valley.

  His gaze drifted to where the Shepherd wagon was parked. Abner Shepherd was up, inspecting his oxen. Mary had gone to the creek a few minutes ago, presumably to get water. Three of her daughters were with her. The little one, Maude, hadn’t come out of the wagon, yet. Neither had Sherri.

  Alexander’s eyes narrowed. She’d better not be sleeping late while everyone else around her did all the work and waited on her. Neither Abner nor Mary had come to him complaining about her, which had given him no reason in the last couple of days to approach her.

  She’d walked beside the wagon a good
deal of the time over the last two days, and he’d often caught her laughing with the Shepherd children. Her fancy dress had started to look ragged, and it couldn’t be comfortable to wear on the trail. A plain wool dress would be more practical, something he should have thought of before leaving the city.

  She’d also been completely without a hat or bonnet, despite the sun beating down on them for the better part of the day. She’d worn her hair loose, which had often drawn his gaze to her. For as much as he’d told himself not to notice her, there was a lot to notice, and a lot to discover about Sherri Stucki. Except, he had no reason to talk to her and find out more about her.

  The thought had crossed his mind that perhaps she was running from something or someone. Why would a woman like her travel cross-country on her own? She’d said she was supposed to be meeting someone in Laramie, but she hadn’t mentioned a name or reason. The only name she’d dropped had been that of a Reverend Johnson. There were a lot of missionaries who helped people make a new start in a place far from home, where no one would recognize them.

  Alexander shook his head. He lifted his saddle onto his gelding’s back. Too much time had been wasted thinking about the woman, when she was really none of his business. He’d offered her a means to get to Laramie, and that was it. He patted the gelding’s neck, then bent to loop the cinch through the girth ring when movement by the wagon, and the flutter of a blue skirt caught his attention.

  Alexander turned slightly to have a better view while still adjusting the cinch. Sherri climbed out of the bed of the wagon, gripping the material of her long skirts high enough to show off plenty of her ankles. She almost lost her balance as she raised her leg in a most unladylike manner over the tailgate. Why didn’t she simply lower the board to make it easier to get out?

  Despite his self-talk to not be watching her, Alexander straightened and locked his gaze on her. She muttered something, but he was too far away to hear. She looked haggard and worn out as she combed her fingers through her long strands. Despite that, there was a certain spark and determination in her. His lips crept up in a smile. It was difficult to keep a straight face while trying to make sense of that woman.