“Always, ma chère. Have a seat between us.” The cinnamon-skinned man scooted further away from Sam.
Embarrassed at being caught staring, she didn’t look at Sam as she settled in between him and his friend. She looked around the fire, seeing Lucky polish his bugle, Arnold writing in a journal, and Uncle Joe sewing closed a tear in some clothing.
Sam leaned over, bumping her shoulder with his. “Lefty is checking on the animals, Jenny is staying at her family’s camp this evening, and Ellen said she’d try to be here later.”
“Thank you for answering my question before I asked.” She smiled at him, her breath catching at the affection in his clear blue eyes. Afraid to seem calf-eyed over him, Marie cleared her throat and turned to Del. “Do you plan on staying here if Ellen joins us tonight?”
He scooped up another handful of pebbles and tossed them into the fire one by one. “I try to stay away, yet always find a reason to see her.” Again throwing little rocks, he asked no one in particular, “Why do I do this when there are more pressing matters in my life?”
Marie smiled at him, “Such as?”
Del crossed his legs at the ankles, watching the flames flickering beyond his feet. “Such as anything else except convincing Mr. Winslow I don’t have designs on his daughter.”
“Ah,” Sam said. “But don’t you?”
He shrugged. “I might or might not.”
“More like you do and you do.” Sam laughed at Del’s scornful look and asked, “Or are you interested in her as more than a temporary lady friend?”
“Every woman interests me more than as a temporary friend.” He grinned at Marie. “Including you, ma coupin.”
“Are you sure I’m yours?” she asked. “Or has the meaning of coupin changed in Canada to mean something less than a girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” Sam’s eyebrows rose. “But you call every woman that. Which isn’t a surprise now that I think about it.”
Ignoring his friend’s remark, Del responded, “Forgive me, I’ve been too familiar with you. I’m not so much Canadian but French.”
When seeing Ellen approach, Marie said, “Ellen! Hello!” She patted the blanket next to her. “Please join us! Mr. Du Boise was just explaining his citizenship in our two countries.”
“Canada and the United States are the two countries?” Still in Marie’s dress, Ellen settled in.
“More as in France and the United States,” said Sam
Settled in, Ellen gave him her full attention. “You’re truly a French citizen?”
“Yes, I am. The United States won’t grant automatic citizenship to native people. Being born on its soil doesn’t matter. Only if a person is lighter than my buckskins are they given such an honor.”
Her brow furrowed, she said, “I should think the native peoples would automatically be citizens if they chose.”
“Non.” Del shook his head, “Not of the US. France is more inclusive, so, I claim its citizenship, and it claims me.”
Ellen smiled at him. “Have you ever been to France, or is it a distant thought and land?”
“I have been and lived, ma coeur.” He glanced at Sam to quell any remarks. “Then came back home.”
“Did you like it there?” asked Marie. “I’ve never been, though my father was born there and came here soon after. He didn’t remember anything, and you must tell me everything.”
Sam laughed. “If he tells you everything, every conquest, we’ll be here all night. He’s not had as many conquests here in the Territories. Unlike overseas, he’s a face in the crowd instead of a face to crowd.”
“You are so right, but you are leaving out your own escapades with the fairer gender.” Addressing Marie, Del went on, “Our Samuel snuck out of many, many windows in the predawn.” The other man stopped smiling. “There were a few he did not have to pay to enter.”
“My goodness, Sam! You’d told me you’d never had need of…” She glanced at Ellen. “Need of a saloon.”
At Ellen’s confused expression, Del reassured Marie, “It is all in jest. The girls liked the idea of Sam being an uncouth American and found his accent appealing. Our friend here was the novelty all the ladies loved.”
“I see. Well, I suppose we’ve established the women there are very friendly. What was the countryside like, or did you see any while lurking around at night?”
Sam laughed, “She has you there, Del.”
Smiling, he responded, “The country is beautiful in a tame way. The mountains seem to hold up the sky, while every city’s streets follow the curve of its river. Row after row of grapes hung from fence-like structures.” He looked at Sam, “What are they called?” Back to Ellen, “No matter. The fruit hangs from the vine, begging to be picked, but you don’t take a single one.”
“You did,” Sam chided.
Del laughed, “Yes, and an angry grower’s pellet gun is why now I don’t.”
“How long were you there?”
Marie smiled at the lowered tones of the couple and stared into the fire. She welcomed the warmth against the chilly night air. Feeling Sam’s gaze on her, she said, “Does it ever feel like Oregon is closer to China than to Independence?”
He laughed. “Yes, more times than I care to admit.” He leaned back on his hands, staring at the stars. “I believe the moon is easier to reach some days.”
She followed his movements, also leaning back on her hands to look at the twinkling canopy above them. “Lately, though, Fort Hall seems distressingly close.” She peeked at him without turning her head. “I’m not sure if I’m feeling fear or dread at the idea of going south from there.”
Sam closed his eyes for several long moments. “Mine is dread.” He sat up, looking at the fire. “I won’t be able…” Interrupting himself, he shook his head. “I can continue on afterward, even though able to and willing to are very different.” He turned to look at her. “If I can’t keep going after the fort, I’ll learn how to pan gold.”
Sitting up, she stared at him. He would follow them? Did she want him to do so? She swallowed the rising lump in her throat, wanting to ask him a dozen personal questions. Before Marie could say anything, he stood and held out his hand to help her up as well.
He smiled at Ellen while saying, “Miss Winslow, I hate to break up what seems to be an intense chat. It’s getting late, however, and I think your father would be happiest if you camped with them tonight.”
Ellen got to her feet. “I know he would. And after today’s events, I’m exhausted.”
Marie took Sam’s arm. “If you’ll see me back to my wagon, Adelard can walk Ellen to her camp.”
Ellen looked from Marie to Del. “Maybe only halfway.”
Nodding, Del said, “Halfway, then.”
The quartet separated, and once out of earshot of anyone else, Sam whispered in Marie’s ear, “I’m glad he’s distracted with Ellen.”
She covered her mouth with a hand to muffle her laugh. “You’re just now telling me this?”
“You are always your own person. I’m rational enough to know such a thing. However, when a man like Du Bois is attentive to you, I can’t stand it.” He caressed her face. “I didn’t like him talking to you that day at the trading post.”
“He was a bit overwhelming to me. His height was one aspect, but his attention left no doubt as to Adelard’s intentions.”
Sam’s expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed. “He had intentions?”
Marie tried to hide a smile. “More like he seemed to have them that day until he met Ellen. Once Adelard saw her, well, he was still very nice to Jenny and me, but you saw how he was with Ellen.”
“All I saw was how he acted with you.”
While she liked his jealousy, Marie couldn’t let him suffer. “It doesn’t matter how he acted with me. I’m not your responsibility.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re much more than that to me.” Sam glanced at the night sky. “We can argue this at a later date. Time for bed.”
Th
ough hidden from the campfire’s light in the wagon’s shadow, Marie saw Sam’s face. She knew his expressions well enough to see the love there, and her heart thudded. Facing away from a sleeping Charles and an alert Hester, Marie let her face betray her emotions. She wanted to caress the stubble on his face, kiss his lips until he begged for more. The idea of doing anything so bold left her lightheaded. To stem the rising tide of desire, she turned without waiting for him to go. “Until later, then. Good night.” Marie nodded at her sister in law while slipping off her shoes. She glanced up to see Hester’s demeanor change from pleasant to sour.
When Sam was out of earshot, Hester said, “I suppose you think you’re special, don’t you?”
“Excuse me?” asked Marie.
“Don’t think I can’t see what you’re doing.”
“And that would be?”
She shook her finger at the younger woman. “You’re lining up a new husband in case something happens to our dear Charles.”
“I’m not!”
Hester’s eyes narrowed even more. “You heard me. Don’t get any funny ideas about running off with Granville. He’s too good for you.”
Anger at the insult cloaked Marie like a second skin. “Oh? He’s also too good for you as well, yet, that’s not stopped you from flirting.”
Giving her a mean little smile, Hester said, “I’m not serious. Not as much as you are.”
Marie opened her mouth to deny everything and stopped. She had been flirting, although not too sincerely. She couldn’t lie. “I have no ideas about running off with anyone. I’m also not planning on Charles’ death. Thus, there is no list of future husbands I’m cultivating.”
Hester looked down her nose at Marie. “I’ll pretend to believe you for now.”
“It doesn’t matter what you believe. The truth is the truth.”
Her sister in law rolled over to face away from Marie. A weight settled in the pit of her stomach. She settled in beside her husband and slipped her hand between his arm and waist to hold him. Had she been overtly flirtatious with Sam in front of anyone? She grimaced. One of the problems already apparent was thinking of him as someone more familiar than Mr. Granville. When she added in the kissing and other intimacies? Marie shook her head. She’d been desperate for touch and let that drive her actions.
Charles’ body heat warmed her as she snuggled in closer. He smelled like sunshine and his own sweat. The trip had been grueling on all of them. She pressed her forehead against his back. He had all the responsibility. No wonder he’d been short with her. Most men had behaved far worse than he ever did. Guilt took a solid hold of her. She needed to be a much better wife to Charles and dwell a lot less on Mr. Granville.
Marie greeted the morning with good intentions. Yes, she loved Sam, adored him, even. If not for her marriage, loving him as more than a friend would be so easy for her. She sat up, seeing the empty space where Charles had laid. When ignoring his sometimes cranky and distracted treatment, she enjoyed his loving care and fatherly protection of her. She sighed, pushing down the feelings within her for Sam, struggling to be acknowledged. After a glance at the stone cold embers, she eased her chilled limbs into standing. The still morning air managed to smell of coffee, despite the lack of a breeze. She placed a hand on Charles’ side of the bedding. Judging by the warmth, he’d not been gone long.
No one had gathered more fuel in her absence last night. Marie stretched, hoping that’s what the Warrens were doing at the moment. She searched for and found the water pail. The sight of crusted dinner dishes greeted her, and she gritted her teeth. Blood pounded in her ears as she stifled a curse. She took a deep, calming breath while picking up the pail. A second examination of the plates showed the food might wash off easier than she’d expected. She walked to the water’s edge, keeping her jaw clamped against anger.
She managed to smile at others as they fetched water for their breakfasts. It seemed no one else cleaned up dinner dishes as she did. Having her hands in the stream felt oddly comforting. Marie’s temper cooled while she worked. Setting the pans on soil more rock than dirt, she put the plates and silverware on top. She eased from her knees to her feet, balancing the dishes in one hand and carrying the half-full pail in the other.
By the time she reached the camp, a fire burned in the pit. No coffee boiled since they’d relied on her to bring the water, she supposed. “Good morning.” She smiled as both nodded a greeting. Filling the coffee pot took no time, and she placed the frying pan on the small grill. After a quick mix of the batter ingredients, Marie began cooking the biscuits.
Hester sighed as if weighted by the world’s problems before she stood and started gathering the beds. Charles stood up as she came over to him to put away his and Marie’s beds as well. “Let me help you shake these,” he said. She gave him the opposite ends of a blanket, and they shook the fabric clean. Marie smiled, watching them almost dance as they folded until everything was stored in the wagon.
After eating and drinking, she and Hester washed up while Charles tended the animals and yoked them to the cart for the day. The bugle sounded to travel with them ready to go. Marie took their preparedness as a good omen for the day. Various head of families chirped to their beasts, and they all started moving north along the valley.
Before she could begin looking for her friends, fresh gusts brought the heavy smell of rain. Moisture in the air pressed back against her as she walked forward. Soon enough sprinkles fell, followed by larger, hail like drops of water. Huge splashes pelted Marie, and she ran to the back of their wagon. The animals pulled slow enough; climbing aboard wasn’t difficult, even with slippery shoes. She crawled over the cargo to the front. Hester waited there while Charles sat, tipping his hat against the wind. Both women stared out the opening. Marie wanted to suggest they stop until the storm ended, but all the other wagons continued inching forward.
She went to the back of the wagon. Closer to light, Marie pulled a book she’d not read in a while from her trunk and began reading. She’d forgone reading on sunny days just for this reason. The rough road made a necessity of keeping a finger on the line of text as she read. The morning passed with her in another world and unaware when the rain stopped.
The motion easing to a stop caught her attention. Marie looked out to see a line of their party following them. She placed a marker in the book and set it aside. She hopped out of the wagon and walked around to the front. A few other families remained in front of them. They all faced a huge spiny hill. The sharp ridges rising vertically from the stone reminded her of shark fins placed in rows. She marveled at how the layers of rock lay vertically instead of the usual horizontal. Thinking ahead to lunch or even dinner led her to look around for wood before she shook her head. No trees dotted any of the landscape, and any wood would be too wet to use right now. Even the trusty sage seemed absent. All that lay between her and the various foothills was grass and Smith’s Fork.
The ground squished under her feet as she went to the front of the wagon train. Several people stood around Sam. He nodded when seeing Marie. “Everyone going to the village can head over with me and Del. Otherwise, we’ll spend noon here before heading up the fork for the best camping.
Hearing someone step up behind her, Marie turned to see Charles and Hester. Marie asked, “Do you want to go to the trading post with us?”
“No, we don’t need anything over there. In fact, I think it’s best if you stay here and help me reorganize our belongings.”
“Oh?” She turned to see Sam, Del, Jenny, Ellen, and Lucky walk toward the village. Marie frowned at being left there. “They might have something we need.”
“In that case, I’ll go,” said Hester. “I personally don’t think there’ll be much of value there, but would like the chance to see for myself.”
“Splendid, Hessy.” He turned to Marie. “Come along then, and we’ll get better organized. He turned toward the wagon and began walking, Marie following. “I’ve heard talk of steep mountains, worse than wha
t we’ve seen so far.” He let down the wagon’s tailgate. “I want you to help me double check what we have with an eye toward getting rid of excess.”
“We’ve done this twice already!”
“Yes, and we’ll do it as many times more as needed.”
Marie kept quiet as she climbed in after her husband. Arguing, while appealing, was useless with his jaw set so firm. “Finding fresh clothes to wear might be a good idea.”
“Hmm, I suppose so.”
“What we’re wearing now is threadbare.”
“Fine.”
By working together, they rearranged foodstuffs, putting dry goods into smaller containers when possible. Halfway along the trail meant half of their original stores remained. Not for the first time did Marie wish Charles were a better hunter.
“I’ll set this to the back for Hester. I’m sure she’ll want fresh clothes, too.”
Marie nodded as he did just that. She took his offered hand to help her out of the wagon, smiling at the thoughtfulness. “We should have a bite to eat and let the animals drink, too.”
“Agreed.” He took the pail. “I’ll get water for all of us. You can locate our lunch biscuits.”
She smiled her assent and reached into the back for their lunch wrapped in a napkin. Away from the wagon, she saw their group return from the Indian village. No one smiled as they approached. The men scattered to their horses as Jenny, Hester, and Ellen came up to Marie. “What’s wrong?”
“Ellen almost started a war.”
“Miss Allen is overstating the issue,” Hester retorted. At Marie’s raised eyebrow, she went on, saying, “It’s all so foolish. This young savage saw Miss Winslow and offered for her.”
Undesirable Page 22
