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

by Kathleen Ball

  “You demonstrated that. You’re tall but slim. Well not exactly slim, you have the right curves for a female. What I’m trying to say is you’re surprisingly strong. I almost wasn’t able to fight you off. I’m just glad we didn’t get hurt.”

  She touched her cheek and glanced back down at her lap.

  He lit the candle and groaned at the mark forming on her skin. “I did that? You’re cheek is turning black and blue. I need to tend to the cut.”

  “It’s my fault.” She touched her face and winced. “My cheek landed on a rock when you got on top of me.”

  “Do you have a clean cloth I can use to tend to it?”

  “What I think is that you’d best get out of my wagon. I’m surprised we haven’t drawn a crowd.” Her eyes held humor.

  “Blast!” He hurried and blew out the candle. He reached the tailgate and turned back to her. “I’m sorry about yelling at you and about your cheek. Get some sleep.” He jumped down before she answered him. After rolling onto his bedroll he wondered if she’d had to defend herself often in her life.

  He woke before her and snuck away. It was a cowardly move, but he didn’t know what to say to her. He was sorry, but that was it. If she was looking for a man, it wouldn’t be him. He started the fire outside the wagon they all used and made the coffee. He would have started breakfast, but apparently his cooking wasn’t appreciated. Most of the food he used to steal was already made, so he’d never learned to cook.

  Eli walked over and helped himself to a cup of coffee. “Got myself a new job and maybe a wife.”

  Zander cocked his brow. “Oh really?”

  Eli smiled. “Many of the Culver cattle died and Mr. Culver doesn’t want to pay me now. Only up to the time they died. That gal that wears trousers needs a driver, and I’ve been hired.” He puffed out his chest. “It won’t be long before she takes a likin’ to me.”

  “I see. That happened quickly.”

  Eli turned red. “I was listening outside her wagon last night. I wanted to know if I could pay her for some services, if you know what I mean.”

  “You should be ashamed, listening to others. Besides, she’s not like that.”

  Tilting his head, Eli directed a speculative, narrow-eyed glare at Zander. “Keeping her for yourself, are you? I heard you talk about her being on top and then you on top.”

  “What exactly are you planning?” Zander asked, keeping his voice even with an effort.

  “I already struck a deal with her,” Eli answered, a smug expression creeping over his face. “I doubt her services will be available anymore.”

  Zander started to his feet. Eli needed to learn a lesson.

  “Good morning!” Tara practically sang out as she strode up, her fresh buckskins catching the morning light, making it appear she was glowing.

  “I just told Zander about our deal,” Eli announced with a sly smile. “I’ll bring my things to the wagon. It’ll be nice to sleep somewhere dry for a change.”

  Zander stared him down.

  “I’ll get my things now. I’ll be back in plenty of time to get the oxen all hitched.” Eli hummed as he left.

  “You hired him awfully quick.”

  “Yes. I got lucky.” Her smile widened. “He was waiting outside the wagon hoping I had a job for him. I hired him right away.”

  “You do know what he meant about sleeping in a dry place, don’t you?” he was forced to ask.

  Tara’s brow furrowed. “He’ll be sleeping under the wagon instead of out in the open. Why, what do you think he meant?”

  “I think he plans to sleep in the wagon with you.”

  She shook her head. “There isn’t enough room for us to sleep separately… I think you have it all wrong, Zander. I need to get all packed up. Have a good day.”

  He shook his head as she walked away. How would she ever get along as naïve as she seemed most times?

  “What’s going on?” Heath asked in a pleasant tone.

  Zander stared. His friend had a distinct look of happiness about him. “Perhaps I should ask you that very question.”

  “We… we’re very happy together.” Crimson swept up Heath’s neck and flooded his face.

  “Good.” He smiled for his friend, but a sense of trouble stole some of his joy. “Tara hired Eli to drive her wagon. He thinks she is a prostitute and plans to sleep with her in the wagon.”

  “What? Did you warn her?”

  He shook his head in frustration. “She is positive I’m wrong. Now I’ll have to keep an eye on her,” Zander complained.

  Heath laughed. “You were watching out for her anyway. I don’t understand the fallen woman thing. Is it because she wears those buckskins? That’s just practical if you ask me.”

  “Not exactly.” He frowned then went on to explain. “I thought I’d sleep under her wagon last night. She must have heard me and the next thing I knew she jumped from the back with a knife in her hand. It was dark, and I swore from her strength it was a man. We struggled until I got the upper hand. I guess we made enough noise for Chuck to nose around, and I jumped into the wagon so as not to be seen. When he left, I saw a cut on her cheek, and she said it happened when I rolled and got on top of her. Eli was snooping around her wagon and heard that and thought…” Heat crept into his cheeks.

  Heath laughed so hard tears ran down his face. “How’d, How’d did she get rid of Chuck?”

  A chuckle slipped out, and some warmth in his face eased. “She told him the ghosts from the wagons were unhappy because some people were greedy and took things they didn’t need.”

  Heath clutched his stomach and kept laughing until he could hardly breathe. “He believed her?”

  “He left, didn’t he?” Zander was annoyed.

  “That’s the best laugh I’ve had in ages,” Heath said, drawing a deep breath.

  Harrison came to the fire and looked at both of them. “I just sold the bay mare to Tara. She’ll pay extra when the foal comes or she’ll give me the foal once it’s weaned. She said she had a drover all lined up to take care of the animals.”

  Heath started to laugh. “She hired Eli.”

  “What’s so funny?”

  Heath gazed at Zander. “I’ll tell you later. Right now Tara is convinced she made a good choice. We’d best keep our eyes open and sending up a few prayers to the Lord might not be a bad idea. I know he drinks and I’m not sure he knows one end of an ox from the other.”

  “Heath I need you to drive the wagon today and I want your wife off her feet. I saw her limping,” Harrison said.

  “We’ve tried and tried but her feet don’t seem to want to heal completely. The Indians made her stand in hot coals. That, combined with the fact she didn’t have shoes the whole time. I’ll make sure she rests.”

  “The more I hear the more I wonder how she survived. Your wife is one brave and strong woman.”

  Heath smiled. “That she is.”

  Tara patted her new horse as they started to slow for the nooning. She’d gotten more than a fair deal from Harrison. The mare was excellently trained, but she didn’t have a name. Well, she did. It was Bay Mare, The Pregnant One.

  “I’ll find something better for you pretty lady.”

  She was wondering if she had been too impetuous in hiring Eli. He wasn’t the best of drivers, and once they reached the mountains again, she’d have to drive.

  She tied the mare to the back of the wagon. Captain London wanted to talk to them. “There are trading posts as you can see. We’ll be here for two hours and then onto where we split. One way will lead to California and the other to Oregon. Those of you going to California will need to pick a new Wagon Master. The who are going to California, gather at Tom Simps’ wagon.”

  Tara headed back toward her wagon and came upon a few men talking and gesturing toward it. She didn’t like the look in their eyes, not that she recognized them.

  “Tara, come keep me company,” Dawn yelled over to her.

  Tara walked toward Dawn, but she kept
her eyes on the men.

  “Do you know them?” Dawn asked.

  “No, I don’t.”

  Dawn reached inside the wagon and drew out two rifles. She handed one to Tara. “They are interested in your wagon. Where is Eli?”

  “His time is his own.”

  Dawn nodded but pressed her lips into a grim line.

  “Why aren’t you at the trading post?” Tara asked.

  “I don’t want to be near the Indians, and I’m not convinced that Kills Many has stopped looking for me. I’m anxious enough being here. I don’t need to go.”

  “Kills Many?”

  “The Lakota who kidnapped me and killed my baby. Another had the pleasure of killing my husband. I was with them for almost nine months.” Dawn stared at her, waiting for something.

  “My pa had dealings with all kinds of Indians. One stole my pa’s pelts and tried to buy me with them. We were always armed, and we had a hidden tunnel out of the cabin as well as hidden supplies. I’ve seen all kinds. They’re like whites—some are pleasant enough and some are snakes. Trappers are the same way. They knew not to mess with me because they were wary of my pa, and now my pa is gone, some might try. But I’ll protect myself.”

  “Tara, we’re alike in some ways. I always carry a knife. No one will ever take me again.”

  “You can count on me. I won’t allow anyone to torture you again.”

  “Did Heath tell you what they did to me?” She looked troubled.

  “No, I can see it in your eyes. I doubt many can see it if they haven’t seen it before.” She looked over her shoulder at the gathered group. “Those men are still talking about my wagon. I’m not sure I want to go back to it alone.”

  “We’ll wait until the men get back. Zander will take you.”

  “True, but I hired Eli. I’ll just wait for him.” Needing a change of subject, she said, “I’ve heard the water will get stronger smelling from here. We should be at Fort Hall in about five days if we push it.”

  “We are alike in that way too. I always want to know exactly where I am and where we are going so, I can find my way if I need to.”

  Tara smiled at Dawn. “Thank you for being my friend. Eli’s heading this way. I’ll see you this evening.”

  “Being your friend is easy,” Dawn assured her. “Be careful!”

  Tara walked toward her wagon and smiled at Eli. “Did you find anything useful at the trading posts?” she asked nodding toward the two burlap bags he had.

  “Just a few things. They have readymade dresses if you want to get yourself one.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I’m just suggesting it. The other women don’t like you wearing men’s clothes.”

  She studied Eli’s face. “And that’s important?”

  “I would think so, if you plan to get yourself a husband, that is.”

  Tara shook her head. “I have no plans for such a thing.”

  “From what I’ve seen around here, you don’t get a choice. The captain tells you when to marry. He don’t cotton to any female traveling alone. Few men want a woman who wears pants for a wife.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. An odd sensation stole over her, and she had a feeling someone was watching her. When she looked around those same men were standing in the distance. She glanced at Eli but he didn’t seem to notice the men. “Do you know those men over there?”

  He glanced and shook his head. “Never seen ’em before. They probably rode ahead of their wagon train.”

  Ignoring the group of men as best she could, Tara climbed into the wagon and collected her gun belt. When she scrambled out of the wagon, Eli stared her up and down.

  “That’s not going to make you popular, you know. Men like women to be more feminine.”

  She scowled at him. “I don’t want to hear your advice. I think we’ll be pulling out soon. Go check on the oxen.” Obviously, he’d be of no help as far as protection went.

  As soon as Eli left two of the men, came her way. The rest of the group kept their distance, but when she risked a glance their way, they were watching. She took a deep breath and hovered her hand over her pistol.

  Thanking God was the first thing she did when she felt Zander walk up behind her.

  “Do you recognize any of these men?”

  “No, but they’ve been watching the wagon the whole time. They make me nervous. What would they want with my wagon?”

  He stepped closer behind her. “Maybe it’s you they’re watching. Where’s Eli?”

  “Getting the oxen.” Zander didn’t need to know her doubts about Eli.

  The two men approaching differed greatly from one another. One looked more of a businessman with new clothes—fancy trousers and a white linen shirt. He even had a tie around his neck. The other man looked more like an outlaw, with his frayed trousers and stained red shirt. He kept a wide stance with his hand resting on his gun.

  “Did you need something?” she asked warily.

  “Yes, you can give me my wagon back,” the outlaw said.

  “And you are?” Zander asked.

  “The name is Bennett. This wagon was part of a fleet of wagons I bought. It was being driven by a Patrick Carmichael to California for my boss, Mr. Cane.”

  “I take it you’re Cane?” Zander asked the well-dressed man.

  “Yes, and I would like my property back.” His eyes narrowed as he looked between Zander and Tara.

  “I’ve never seen you before,” Tara said.

  “It don’t matter. This here wagon is going to California,” Bennett said as he took a step forward.

  There was no way she was giving up her wagon. She was about to tell them so, when Zander put himself between her and them. It wasn’t the time to show annoyance. She’d let him know later how she didn’t appreciate his highhandedness.

  She heard a rifle being cocked behind her and then another and another. The next thing she knew she was shoved behind a crowd of men. She was tall but not tall enough to see what was happening.

  Zander took her arm and dragged her to a wagon. A little roughly, he pushed her inside then sat in the front.

  “What are you doing?” It outraged her.

  “Saving your hide.” He didn’t turn around. “You know all that money you found? They know about it. That’s why they want your wagon. I don’t believe their story that it belongs to them. They didn’t know where in the wagon the money would be. But you did. I’m getting you out of here and ahead of the rest for a bit.”

  The wagon lurched, and she fell to her knees as Zander drove off. Looking out the back she saw the line of people going to California blocking the way for anyone to follow them for a good while.

  “How’d they get it all set up so quickly?”

  “The captain had a feeling about them as soon as we stopped today. The California-bound wagons were ready to go but held off until I got you out of there.”

  Her eyes filled. They went to a lot of trouble to save her. Her father, must have been up to something, but it wouldn’t have been anything shady. She knew that in her gut. He had talked about a great venture so he could rest his weary bones. He and his friends, he said. But they were going to Oregon, not California. Had he misled her? Was their destination California? He didn’t seem to be the least worried.

  “Are you all right back there?”

  “Zander, will they take my wagon?”

  “If you’re worried about going broke, don’t. You’re among friends.”

  She smiled. He was a nice man. “I hid the money in your wagon. Not all of it. Some I have on me.”

  He quickly glanced over his shoulder. “You are smart. I don’t think I would have taken any from the hiding spot.” He looked straight ahead for a bit then glanced back again. “Unless I thought someone who already knew about the secret place was around.”

  “I did have a moment of doubt after hearing bits here and there about your life on the streets in Ireland. But I had a feeling someone would come gunning for me eventually,
and I didn’t want them to get their hands on the money.”

  He nodded but didn’t say anything for a long while.

  “Is it true no one will marry me because I wear pants?”

  He laughed. “Where did you hear that?”

  “Eli.” Movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention, and she glanced over then gasped as a roiling gray-black mass loomed. “Look at the dust! It looks like a huge cloud coming at us!”

  “Quick wet a cloth for me and then for the oxen. Cinch the back as tight as you can!”

  She flew around the wagon, wetting cloths and handing them to him. The wagon dipped as he climbed down. She cinched the back, but it looked bad. Luckily, the storm was coming at the side of the wagon and not at the front. The wagon dipped again as Zander jumped onto the front and then into the back. He cinched the canvas as tightly as he could.

  “Whew. I could hardly see the oxen out there. I put the cloths around their heads covering their eyes. They are not happy.”

  She handed him another wet cloth and a cup of water.

  “Thank you.”

  “How long do you think we’ll be stuck here?”

  “It could be hours. I really don’t know.”

  Tara nodded. “You could tell me about your life in Ireland.

  For a moment, he didn’t say a thing. So many memories came forward. “My parents died when I was young. First my father had an accident while shipbuilding. He lost his leg and there was no more money. My ma tried to find work, but her being so pretty there was only one job she was offered. I was around seven, and I brought food home. I’d snatch it here and there but soon we were evicted and were homeless. My pa grew horribly sick, so fast. The next thing we knew he was dead. My ma and I managed to get him buried at the church. I’d never been so thankful, Father Murphy allowed us to bury him on consecrated ground for no payment.”

  Tara remained silent.

  Zander took a few minutes to gather his thoughts. “Then Ma and I went looking for a sister of my father’s, but we never did find her. We slept in doorways when we could or alleyways. It was dangerous to be out after dark, and two men tried to grab my ma. She ended up dead from a stab wound. The authorities took me to an orphanage. It was not a place you’d ever want to be, but once in, it was near impossible to escape.” He sighed. The less said about his time there, the better. Boys his age were sent to workhouses during the day and sheltered in the orphanage overnight. If any pay was to be had, he’d never seen it; the orphanage claimed it as due for his keep. “After a year, I had carved enough places in the stone wall surrounding the place for me to scale it halfway. I jumped and caught the top of the wall and dropped down the other side. I had to run as fast as I could. I hadn’t counted on the other kids cheering and alerting the guards. It seemed like a long way back to Galway. Finally, when I was seventeen a captain hired me. I was always on the scrawny side and every year I’d try for a job, but no one would hire a lad who was likely to keel over with a bit of labor. I was might proud that day. We sailed to Boston, and I decided to stay. I met up with the Leary boys right away. We were competing for the same jobs on the dock. We pooled our resources and I had a home for the first time since I was seven.”