by Rita Karnopp
She saw warmth in his eyes and kindness in his smile. "I can feel the vibrations of the music and the dancers on the floor. It isn't too difficult when you get use to it." Buck held her light and loose, unlike Giles or even the stranger.
"I admire you, Miss Sarah. You shoot and ride better than any woman I've seen. You can even throw a knife bettern' me."
Sarah caught most of Buck's words. The lantern light, sufficient for dancing, made lip-reading difficult.
"Thank you, Buck. I'm surprised you…I mean, I didn't think anyone noticed what I do."
"What would make you think that? You're the prettiest woman I've ever seen."
She watched a blush, like a shadow, race across his cheeks. "That is very kind of you to say," she said, attempting to ease his embarrassment and hers as well. "I didn't think anyone noticed me because I can't hear. I think they're all afraid of me."
"To be honest, Sarah, most of the time I forget you're deaf. You never act like it bothers you. You're a real fine lady." He twirled her around the corner and brought them back out into the middle of the floor. The numerous lanterns lined across the center beams improved the lighting. "I think most of the men are afraid to talk to you because your father is the General, not because you're deaf."
"That never occurred to me. I thought they didn't like me."
"Maybe you should talk to them first. You'd be surprised."
"You're right, Buck. I'll try to remember that¾" They bumped into Melody and her partner, temporarily halting their conversation.
"Who is Melody with?" Sarah asked.
"Don't know. He's made a lot of fellows mad. They've waited a long time for a chance to dance with her. I'd say the man looks like a Frenchman."
"Did you say a Frenchman?"
"Sure did. Talks real funny with all the Mizzure and Mozzelle, oh, shucks, I can't even say it. Melody looks real took by him."
The music stopped. Sarah walked back to the bench with Buck. He sat beside her, even though they weren't talking and the companionship felt good. They danced a few more times and Sarah actually found herself enjoying the evening in spite of everything.
She turned toward Buck, and said, "I believe I'm ready to go home. It looks like many of them won't be quitting until late," she said, standing.
"Would you permit me to walk you to your house, Miss Sarah?"
She nodded, aware that was merely a few houses down the street. They made their way through the dancers. The brisk night air had a bite to it, yet it felt good.
They walked up the steps to the front door. She became more aware of the warmth from his hand as he still held her elbow. The lantern spread a soft glow near the door.
"Are you really gonna marry that Giles Rutledge?"
The question took her by surprise. "No, not if I can help it! I don't want to marry him." Talking about Giles made her wonder where he had hurried off to earlier in the evening. Now that she thought about it, he never returned to the dance.
"Surely your father won't force you to marry him, will he?"
"I don't know, Buck. Father won't listen to me when I try to talk to him."
"Why not ask your mother to talk to him?"
"You don't understand. Things are not as they seem here. I killed my brother. They can't forgive me. If I marry Giles, he will take me away from them. They won't have to see me anymore. That is what they want."
"Oh, Sarah, I can't believe that. I heard about what happened to your brother. I'm sure they don't blame you. Your mother seems like a wonderful woman. She is so beautiful and smiling all the time. All the men think she's a goddess."
"Do you think she's a goddess?"
"I think she's pretty for an older woman. I heard that if she likes a man enough she will…I mean…I didn't mean to say…" Stains of scarlet covered his face, he looked away.
She was helpless to halt his embarrassment, even though she understood. Sarah touched his arm with her hand. "It's all right, Buck. You didn't say anything that I don't already know."
"It's getting late. I must go back to my bunk. Thank you for sharing your evening with me, Miss Sarah. I enjoyed myself."
He seemed unable to look at her and she struggled to read his lips. Thank goodness she caught the word enjoy. Between his expression and attitude she could guess the rest. "I enjoyed myself, too, Buck, thank you."
Buck leaned over and kissed the back of her hand, then hurried away.
Sarah smiled to herself. Although she wasn't attracted to Buck in the way she should be to a man, she knew he would make a good friend. Nothing would please her more than to be his friend.
* * *
Dirk knew he shouldn't have gone into the fort. How could I let a woman cloud my thinking? How could I risk everything for one dance with a woman? He shook his head, struggling to understand what made him act like such a fool.
He closed his eyes. Immediately he felt her shapely body pressed against his. She smelled faintly of lemon. Her long, golden curls felt like silk against his face. He breathed in her feminine smell, feeling drunk with excitement.
How had she recognized him? There were so many strangers there. He'd taken great pains in finding suitable clothing from the wagon train. He talked, and dressed like all the others who danced around the floor. No one gave him notice, except Sarah.
Dirk returned the clothes he had borrowed, and then fled the area. He would spend the next couple of days as far away from Fort Bryson…and Sarah…as he could. Giles certainly wasn't planning anything until he met again with Enos. Dirk would be nearby for that meeting, but until then, he had to have time to think. He had to forget Sarah. He could not have her, and no amount of self-torture would change that. He had held her in his arms for the last time.
* * *
Giles worked his way out of the fort. He slipped in and around the wagon train camp, finally heading toward a wooded area nearby. Stopping several times, he waited, making sure no one followed him.
He slid behind a forked cottonwood, then remained as still as the night. He saw René a short distance ahead of him. The small man stepped out from behind a tree, a woman followed. She tugged and pulled down her skirts. Giles grit his teeth and tightened his jaw. Damn, René and his women!
"What the hell did you bring the girl along for?" Giles shouted. Walking closer he recognized Melody. She appeared nervous and embarrassed, smoothing the front of her skirt with her palms.
"Melody is coming with me tonight. Oui! We are in love and she is running away with me."
"Shit, René, what about our agreement? I wasn't bluffing when I warned you."
"I have explained it all to my love. She understands we are trying to get Sarah out of Fort Bryson for her own good. I explained how Sarah's father asked you to get rid of her. Now we must sneak the lovely miss out, before the General has a chance to have her killed."
Giles watched Melody's reactions. She clung to his arm and her expression indicated she believed René's every word.
"You tell anyone, Melody, and they'll have you killed, too." Giles watched her flinch at his words.
"I won't say a word. I like Sarah and I'll do anything to help."
"Good. Are you doing it tonight?" Giles asked, making sure he remained in the shadows, just in case they were spotted.
"Oui. My love and I have a plan. With all the strangers coming and going it should be easy for us to get Sarah away."
Giles could see the logic in that. René had been at the dance and he came when the wagon train did. Yes, he could definitely see things were working out.
"Which direction are you heading when you get away tonight?"
René hugged Melody to his side and kissed her forehead. "We'll head southwest and connect up with a few friends of mine. I believe I'll have some heavy business to attend to at Three Forks, if you know what I mean."
Giles looked over at Melody. Her moonlit face revealed no traces of concern or suspicion. "I understand you completely, René. When the women are discovered missing, and a resc
ue party is assembled, I'll lead them northeast. That should give you more time to get away."
"Oui, for sure that will help. We must get our freight and wait for Sarah to go back to her house. We have much to do. We are even, no?"
"Certainly, René," Giles said, shaking the Frenchman's hand. "Don't fail or there will be hell to pay," he muttered, then walked away.
* * *
Sarah looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Buck had said she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. Did he really mean it? What man would think any woman could be more beautiful than her mother? She had a way with men, what to say and how to act. Sarah hated watching Rachel carry on when men where around, but they seemed to like it.
Sarah dropped across her bed, not the least worried about wrinkling the party dress. She closed her eyes, immediately finding herself in the arms of the stranger. His muscles held her tight against him, his neck felt warm. She threaded her fingers through his dark, shiny hair that dropped several inches below his collar. She pulled back to see his face and his grip tightened, pressing her closer to his body.
A gentle nudge brought her back from the dream. Sarah looked up to find Melody standing by her bed. "Melody, what in heaven`s name you doing here?" she asked, reaching over to turn the lamp wick up.
"Sarah, you must listen to me!" Melody clutched at Sarah's hand.
Sarah read fear and anxiety from her actions. "What is wrong?"
"I don't have enough time to tell you everything right now, but you must trust me. Your life is in danger! You must come with me or you'll be killed!"
Sarah stared at a frightened-looking Melody. Few of the girl's words were clear. "What? Who was killed?"
"No. Someone wants to kill you," she pointed at Sarah. "I know this is hard to believe, but Giles said your father took the new men out just to get Trail Walker from your side. It's the General who has ordered you to have an accident while he's gone."
Melody had said Giles and something about getting Trail Walker away. It was enough for Sarah to believe Melody's anxiety. Sarah sensed Melody's desperate attempt to protect and help.
"Are you sure?"
"I swear it on the Bible. You must listen to me. You have to leave Fort Bryson or you're going to be killed."
"I have no place to go."
"Come with me."
Sarah starred at Melody, confused and overwhelmed by Melody's words. With Trail Walker gone, what should she do? Fear stabbed at her. She felt as if she were drowning under great waves of confusion and despair. She looked up at Melody, twisting her hands together.
"Come with you? I don't understand. Where are you going, Melody?"
"Don't worry. René is going to help us. He won't let anything happen to you, he promised. Sarah, I'm going too! I've fallen in love with a wonderful man. Oh, you'll like him. Don't worry, he's a good man."
Melody spoke too fast. Sarah struggled to understand. "What? I'm not sure what you're saying. You're going away with René? Who is he? Where are you going? Do your folks know?"
"René is the man I was dancing with at the party. I don't dare tell my folks. They'd never agree to my marrying René. They don't want me to marry for three more years. I can't ask René to wait that long. Besides, I don't want to wait. We are going to be married in the first town we find a preacher. I hate the way my father watches me. I can't even talk to a man without him looking on, or listening in. I want a husband and children."
Melody spoke faster and faster as she explained her plans. Sarah concluded Melody planned to marry René. "Melody, you just met this man two days ago, didn't you? Are you sure you can trust him?"
"You don't understand. We don't have time to talk now. We'll talk later. We have to leave. If you don't come…you'll die."
Sarah tensed at the word die. She found it hard to believe Giles planned to kill her. What about his plans to marry the General's daughter? Yet, just one look at Melody convinced Sarah of the girl's sincerity. None of it made sense. Unless…unless he somehow found out she'd discovered his connection to the rifle shipment attacks. But how could he have?
If only Trail Walker were here. But he wasn't. She'd have to make a decision. Sarah felt swallowed up. All of her loneliness and confusion welded together. If she went with Melody, what would happen to her? She needed to hide from Giles. Did she have a choice?
"I'll do it," Sarah said, forcing an iron control on her fears.
"I'm so glad. Be quick and put some things in a bag. We have to hurry."
Sarah looked around at the shelves of fancy dolls, toys, pretty clothes, and jewelry. She wanted none of them. She opened a door on the armoire and withdrew a cloth bag. In it she shoved a brush, her leather riding breeches, and a cotton blouse. The last item she grabbed was a beaded leather belt. Sarah paused to pull out a long, shiny knife from the sheath, and then shoved it back into place. She dropped it into the bag and drew the drawstring closed. Ready, Sarah looked over at Melody.
"What on earth do you want that thing for?"
"For protection. I can use it as good as any man in this fort. Maybe I should stay right here with my knife."
"Don't be ridiculous, Sarah. You wouldn't have a chance. Now come on. We don't have much time left before we're supposed to be at the wagon."
Sarah chewed on her lower lip and stole a look at Melody. "What wagon?"
"We'll hide in René's wagon. He's going to get us out of here. There's so much going on with the wagon train people, no one will suspect a thing."
Did she say René was one of the wagon train people? A nagging suspicion haunted Sarah. "I'm not sure we should be doing this, Melody. Are you certain this René can be trusted?" Sarah watched Melody's face soften.
"With my whole heart. Now come on," Melody said, grabbing Sarah's arm, leading the way out of the room. They tiptoed down the stairs, then quickly out of the house. They rushed to the shadows of the trees.
Sarah's heart thundered against her chest, leaving her breathless. Confused and afraid she followed Melody.
Step-by-step they made their way from Sarah's house to the loading area behind the mercantile store. It appeared Melody had given her father's store key to René.
Looking over the alarming amount of goods, Sarah felt uneasy. She watched Melody run into René's arms. He took a moment to hold her, then walked over to Sarah.
He gestured with his hands while he spoke. Due to the darkness, she found it impossible to understand a thing he said.
Sarah watched Melody climb into the wagon, and then extended her hand. Sarah grabbed it, pulling herself up into the rig. They crawled to the back of the wagon, then nestled upon the coverlets René had spread out for them. It wasn't long before he had a blanket covering the front area of the load, where the girls lay. He shoved the remainder of the supplies against them, securing their hiding place.
Sarah trembled in the darkness that surrounded her. She didn't have a good feeling about what they were doing; yet there seemed no other choice. She had no love or ties that bound her to Fort Bryson, except Trail Walker…and he couldn't stop her father from making her marry Giles Rutledge.
How will I survive? Where will I live? Sarah asked herself. Panic gripped her as the wagon moved. She fought the instinct to scream.
Why had she agreed to this plan? If it had been anyone but Melody, she wouldn't have believed it. But Sarah had no doubts that Melody told her the truth. The wagon slowed, and then stopped. If only she could hear what was going on! She never realized how much she heard with her eyes before.
Melody grabbed Sarah's arm and she tensed. Had something gone wrong? The wagon jolted, then moved forward. Sarah felt Melody's hand relax on her arm. They must have cleared the gate. Although the knowledge frightened her, she remained quiet.
Chapter Four
The wagon bounced and shimmied all night. Every bone in her body felt bruised. Not once had René stopped to check on them or allow them to stretch.
Shadows now formed around them. Sarah glanced over at
Melody; surprised she'd been able to sleep. Pulling the comforter up over their shoulders, Sarah repositioned herself closer to Melody's warm body, without disturbing her. The brisk, early morning air penetrated through the coverings. She shivered in the cold.
Melody's added warmth brought little comfort to Sarah's confused and troubled mind. She needed Trail Walker. Smothering a sob, Sarah struggled to get some much-needed sleep.
Sensing the wagon had stopped moving, Sarah quickly glanced toward Melody. Where had she gone? Tensing, Sarah sat, and then tossed the supply tarp aside. Blinded momentarily by the blazing sun, she paused and blinked several times to rid herself of the bright spots glaring before her eyes.
Then Sarah saw them. Melody and René stood facing each other, just beyond the wagon. They appeared to be having an argument. He pushed her to the ground with his body. He jerked and pulled her skirts upward. Sarah searched for Melody's face, confused by the scene before her. Melody tossed her head back and forth, then, in an instant, Sarah saw the fear, the hatred, the tears, as she struggled with the man on top of her.
Sarah bolted from the wagon, racing to Melody's side. "Let her go. Stop it, René."
His shocked gaze locked with Sarah's for a brief moment. They stared at each other and then she realized his expression had changed from surprise to amusement.
Her temper rose in response. She jumped at him with all the force she could manage. He dropped to his back, Sarah on top of him.
He shoved her off and leaped to his feet. "Oui! You surprise René. You will not like the results of your actions, Mademoiselle."
Sarah stood and took a step backwards. She glanced at the wagon, if only she'd taken time to get her knife. But wishing wouldn't change things. He advanced several steps toward her and Sarah felt the distance closing in on her.
The golden gown restricted her movements. Taking another step back wasn't enough. René lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. Sarah twisted free.
She retreated. Her foot caught the hem of her dress and she went sprawling to the ground. The jolting impact compared nothing to the warning spasms of alarm that erupted within her.
