Tara's Trials (Romance on the Oregon Trail Book 4)

by Kathleen Ball

  “Come on,” Zander whispered to her from the bench in the wagon's front.

  Nodding, she grabbed the bedroll and the sack. She climbed out the front, and keeping low, they made a run for the woods. They went far enough not to be seen but close enough to watch.

  “Chuck Klass,” Zander growled when one man pointed to the wagon she’d just been in.

  “Turncoat,” she spat.

  “Are those the men?”

  “Only the one on the roan. The others I haven’t seen before. What if they start shooting?”

  He took her hand and led her to a rather large tree. “Declan saw them far off, and we hid some rifles and ammunition here. There’s food and water too.”

  He checked to make sure the rifle was loaded and handed it to her. She grabbed up the shells and put them in her pocket. Then she grabbed another rifle. Staying down she crawled toward the edge of the woods.

  Zander was right behind her, and they lay side by side ready to shoot. “You really know how to use those?”

  Turning her head she nodded. “I hunted most days. No matter what it took, we had to eat.”

  “Aye, I had to eat too, but I didn’t have a rifle. I’m surprised I wasn’t sent away on a convict ship. But I was lucky and didn’t get caught. Fortune smiled on me one day, and they hired me on a ship to America. Here I was able to find a job and pay my way.”

  “Look, Zander they are going through the wagon. Why hasn’t anyone stopped them?” She shivered. “We could easily pick them off one by one just the two of us.”

  “We can’t hear what’s happening, and I’m not for killing until I know the whole story.”

  “You’re probably right. What do you think they’ve been saying?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  Just having Zander at her side gave her the confidence she needed. She knew he’d defend her just as she would for him. There wasn’t anything to find in the wagon but having a killer in the camp wasn’t right. It was downright dangerous.

  “Maybe I should just shoot the one on the roan. I did see him kill people.”

  Zander’s lips twitched.

  “I don’t see what’s so amusing. Don’t I have the right to avenge my father?”

  “I’m just afraid you’ll end up strung up. We’ll wait and see what they wanted and let everyone know the tall man on the roan is a killer. I’d love to know what story he is telling the others.”

  “Story? As in I killed everyone?”

  “Could be.” He reached over and squeezed her hand lightly. “They’ll be gone soon enough.”

  Chapter Three

  Zander waited until it was dark before he smuggled Tara back into the wagon. The men had been gone for hours, but for some reason he had the feeling they were watching. “How much would you mind posing as a boy?”

  Her smile lit up her face. “Bring me some trousers and a hat. I’ve had to pretend to be a boy many times. There weren’t many females where we lived, and Pa was afraid one of the men might carry me off.”

  “You pulled it off in the daylight?”

  “Sure did, why?”

  “It’s just that you’re kind of pretty, and I certainly wouldn’t mistake you for a boy.”

  She turned red. “I scrub dirt on my face and clothes. Chewin’ on tobacco helps too. That keeps the women away. My life has differed greatly from yours. But I wouldn’t have changed it for all the silk dresses in the world. I am hoping my buckskins are still in the wagon, but I doubt it.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t imagine it.”

  “Are you in that wagon with that killer?”

  Zander grimaced. It was the thorn in his side, Eddie.

  Zander poked his head out of the wagon. “Mind your own business. Your verbal abuse toward Cora hasn’t made you any friends. You need not know everything. Besides, she’s not a killer.”

  “You’ll be forced to marry the little tramp. What is it with all of you and your arranged marriages? Not a courted match in the bunch.” He snickered. “Not that it matters. Now you’ll be stuck with that little thief.”

  “Eddie, I’m never getting married. I don’t want a wife, ever. Goodnight.”

  Zander turned back to Tara and smiled. “I’d best get to sleep under the wagon.”

  “Is he right? Were Harrison, Declan and Heath all forced to marry?”

  “Yes. Goodnight.” He climbed out of the front of the wagon, laid out his bedroll and crawled under the wagon, his weapons by his side.

  They had all been forced to marry, yet they seemed fine with it. But he didn’t need a millstone around his neck. Looking out for himself had taken all he had in Ireland. He never wanted to bring a child into the world either. Children were too vulnerable, and awful things happened. A frown drew in his brows. He’d better spend less time with Tara. He’d rather leave the wagon train then get hitched to some female. There were more men than women out here. Tara would find someone. He rolled over and went to sleep.

  He woke to a rustling noise, and then a shot rang out above him. He rolled out from under the wagon and looked inside. One of the men who’d been there that morning was lying on top of Tara. Blood was splattered everywhere, and she was frantically trying to get out from under the body.

  Zander vaulted into the wagon, pulled the dead body off her and carried her out. She stood there staring at the wagon in silence. Zander pulled his gun out in case there were others. He turned in a circle searching.

  The shot had woken most of the party and Captain London came running. “What happened? Where were the guards? Tara, are you hurt?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not my blood.” Her eyes appeared so big on her face. Fearing she would faint, Zander grabbed a crate for her to sit on. “It was one of the men who were here earlier. Not the one on the roan. They’re probably watching me now. I brought danger to you. I’m so sorry.”

  People began peering around and pointing their guns toward the outside of the wagon circle.

  “Everyone stay put,” ordered London. “I want the men to grab their guns and check the perimeter and make sure the guards are fine. Check your own wagons too! Don’t shoot each other!” The captain sat on one crate and sighed heavily. “Dawn, could you please make some coffee? It will be a long night or an extremely early morning.”

  “I’d be happy to.” She wrapped her shawl around herself and got the fire built up before she made the coffee and put it on the fire to boil.

  Luella looked in the wagon then promptly ran off and was sick.

  “I’m sorry,” Tara said. “It’s my fault. I’ll get started on cleaning the wagon now.”

  She stood and as she tried to climb into the wagon, Zander pulled her into his arms and carried her to Cora’s tent. He entered and laid Tara down on the bed next to Cora who was nursing Essie.

  “Sorry to invade your privacy, Cora. I needed a place for Tara to lie down.” He walked out of the tent.

  “I shouldn’t be in here. I smell like blood. I’ll leave.” Tara shuffled toward the tent opening. She had no intention of staying put. She had brought these people danger, and she would not be part of any forced marriage. Who did these people think they were forcing others to marry? It made no sense at all to her.

  “I will take Essie into our wagon. Would you like to join us? There is water in the basin by the trunk, and I have dresses in there too that you could try.”

  “Thanks, Cora, but I’m fine right here, at least for the moment. I would like to clean up though.”

  Cora and Essie weren’t gone for more than a half hour when there were more gunshots.

  Tara ran out of the tent wearing wool trousers and a shirt five sizes two big. She had a beat up hat on and a pistol in her waistband. She used a piece of rope to keep her pants up. Zander was right about her dressing as a boy. Hopefully Harrison wouldn’t mind her borrowing his clothes. She stopped and took in everything around her. People were rushing to the other side of the camp.

  After grabbing a bit of dirt, she ru
bbed it on her face. Then she hurried to Cora’s wagon and found it empty. Puzzled, she went to the wagon she had slept in. Dawn was putting everything that had blood on it in a pile.

  “What happened to the others? Who is shooting?” Tara could hardly catch her breath she was so upset.

  “Tara?” She squinted at her, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “I think they spotted deer. I assume that explains the gunshots. Cora is in the tent with Luella. Luella is expecting and having a hard time keeping anything down. Now, tell me why you are dressed in… Are those Harrison’s clothes?”

  “I figured if I left, y’all would be safe. Traveling as a boy is much easier than traveling as a female. I want—I need—I want to gun down the men who killed the people on the wagon train I traveled on. I need to know why they killed everyone.”

  “You said they searched your train’s wagons twice?” She shook her head. “They must have been looking for something in particular. Was anyone carrying anything valuable like guns or money? I’m just so sorry you’ve had to go through it. Why don’t you have a cup of coffee? Bet the captain has more questions for you.” Dawn smiled and went back to cleaning.

  She’d planned to just leave, but she hadn’t thought everything through. She needed to stay and keep Cora, Dawn, and Luella safe. And the baby. Her eyes watered. There had been children on the train she’d been on. Innocent babes. What were those men looking for? What could it be?

  And they had come right for her this time. How did they know who she was and what she saw? That could only mean one thing. There was a snake in the grass, and she was going to find out who. She watched people walking around. A few started cook fires and had coffee on to boil. Pulling her hat down, she concealed more of her face. She looked at people from under the brim. Almost all of them wore frowns. There was also fear in some women’s eyes.

  It was all because of her. How far away was Fort Hall? The only thing she knew was she had heard the water would start tasting worse as they went along toward Soda Springs. Some she’d met as she traveled said they liked the water. She couldn’t abide its sulfur smell. It was drinkable and usable and perhaps she shouldn’t have complained.

  She waved a hand in front of her face trying to get the mosquitoes away. They were unusually thick in number. It was best to stay near the fire and away from the water to reduce the pesky bugs that bit. The swarms seemed bigger than before but she hadn’t had time for sitting then.

  “Tara? Is that you?” Declan asked. “The captain would like to talk to you in his tent.”

  She glanced up at him. “Tent?”

  “Are those Harrison’s clothes?” He waved a hand as if to tell her to ignore his question. “It’s a big tent and others are already in there talking about the man that was killed. I guess they have a couple of questions.”

  “No. I won’t go. It’ll just lead to a lynching, mine to be exact.”

  “Why would you think that?”

  “I’ve seen people gather after a death, especially a shooting, and the next thing you know there’s a hanging.” She tilted her head. Surely he knew this.

  “They just want more information so we can protect ourselves. Come on.”

  “Tara, the captain—” Zander nodded to the both. “Let’s go.”

  She wasn’t being given a choice. She might as well get it over with.

  “You don’t seem surprised to see her in Harrison’s clothes,” Declan commented.

  “It’s a great disguise, though Harrison is a big man. She should have asked Heath for some of his.”

  Declan laughed. “She should have asked for yours.”

  “I was small from starvation, but this trip has made me filled out and strong.”

  They exchanged some knowing look, and Declan nodded.

  Declan held the tent flap open. She took Zander’s hand before entering. By the way people zeroed in on their hands it had been a mistake, and she let go.

  “Tara, come take a seat.” The captain gestured for her to sit on a crate in the same area where he was sitting on a much larger one.

  “You’re not a judge are you?”

  “No, but I make the decisions while we are traveling.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Ever send a person to the hangman?”

  Captain London’s eyes widened, then he smiled. “Not yet.”

  Tara swallowed hard and glanced away.

  “Tara, did you know the man who was killed?”

  “No, only that he was with the man who rode the roan. The man who rode the roan was one of the men I saw killing people. I stayed hidden and wish I could have closed my eyes but I couldn’t. I saw it happen.”

  She heard murmurs and realized there were over ten men in the tent. Her nerves must have gotten the best of her. Usually she was observant of her surroundings.

  “Did he say anything to you? Did he draw his gun?”

  She gave a decisive nod. “He drew his gun, and I heard him pull back the hammer. I turned from my side and shot him before he could shoot me. I was also afraid for whoever was under the wagon. A bullet can go through wood you know.”

  “Zander, you were the one sleeping under the wagon, weren’t you?”

  “Yes, and I’m glad Tara thought of me under there.” A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth,

  “Miss. Carmichael, was everyone on your wagon train killed?”

  “I believe so. No one was alive, but I don’t know if anyone was able to sneak away. I didn’t see anyone. It felt cowardly to watch, to not try to help, but I would only have been killed along with them.”

  The captain nodded. “You did the right thing. Tell me, do you know anyone on this wagon train? I mean from before the killing?”

  “That’s been puzzling me. I haven’t seen anyone I recognize, but the killers knew I was here. Either someone told them or they planned to kill all of you too. But why start with just me?” She lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “Maybe they thought I knew something. I don’t rightly know what, but something very strange is going on.”

  London gave her an assessing stare. “Are those Harrison’s clothes?”

  The crowd laughed.

  “Yes, sir. I didn’t steal them. I’m borrowing them.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “It’s a good way to make them think you left us. If they’re still watching, that is. Maybe they didn’t get enough cash and are planning to wipe us out next. You may have saved us, Tara. No hangings today. Everyone, let’s get ready to go. I want to put a few miles between us and those men.”

  She was first out of the tent, and she kept walking. They must think her simple minded. Why hadn’t Declan told her that there would not be a hanging? Abruptly, she stopped and stared at the Bear River. Because she hadn’t given him a chance. She was worse than her pa. He’d always jumped on things before finding out all the facts.

  Turning, she watched some of the women. Most looked very feminine. Perhaps rubbing dirt on her face was a bit much. She just didn’t know. She felt more relaxed in her borrowed clothes but what did a man think when he saw her?

  The mosquitoes got to be too much and after waving her arms this way and that she headed for the wagon.

  Chapter Four

  They had been up one side of a mountain and down another. It had been an exhausting day, and Zander could see the tension building inside Tara. The camp should be another few miles ahead, and he didn’t relish seeing and burying dead people.

  “I never did ask what about the animals?”

  Tara was quiet for a moment. “They were driven away. Sorry, I had forgotten that part. They rounded them up and drove them off. That adds at least four additional men. I had to walk all the way to the Fort Bridger because there wasn’t a horse to be had. I was just glad there was water most of the way. How could I have forgotten?”

  “You’d just seen people you knew brutally murdered. It’s amazing you knew the way back to the fort.”

  “I can track anything. I’m a crack shot too. I’m good with a knife,
and I hit what I aim for.”

  “You’re talented.”

  “Yes,” she sighed. “Men aren’t looking for those types of talents. I’ve observed the camp, and the women with the best men wear dresses and keep their hair up. They don’t seem to question their husbands. They are hardworking, and they seem to be able to make their man happy with the slightest of touches. They have set chores too. Men hunt, take care of the animals and the wagon, carry water and a few even gather wood. Men drive most of the wagons though a few women take the reins. It’s interesting to watch and hard to understand.”

  “Surely you noticed things that way with your party.”

  Tara shrugged. “There weren’t many women. I think one wife with children and then there was a wagon full of women my pa wouldn’t allow me near. Personally, I thought they should have put on more clothes so the mosquitoes didn’t get to them.”

  Zander wanted to laugh, but he held it in, knowing she’d be insulted. She sure was naïve. Her father hadn’t done her any favors keeping her isolated on the mountain. Cora, Luella, and Dawn all tried to be friendly, but it was almost as though Tara didn’t know how to act. Now he knew she didn’t have a clue. That bit of information was bound to smooth a few ruffled feathers. Not that she hadn’t wanted to be included; she just didn’t know how to say yes. There was plenty of time yet for her to learn what she needed to find a husband. She’d be an asset to the right man. Her eyes were pools of chocolate, and her blond hair had a silky appearance. He often wondered what it would feel like. As far as dressing like a man, it was a good thing she did have Harrison’s big shirt on. There was no real way to hide her curves.

  He pulled on the reins and brought the wagon to a stop a bit away from the others. The wagons from Tara’s train sat in the distance like an old ghost town with canvases ripped and blowing in the wind.