Once they decided which pastures were the best for the cattle and what ones were good for the horses, they built their new houses. Rhetta had learned to make pies for barn raisings and house-building meals. There were many activities in the town, but she didn’t go. She stayed home with Tara, who’d also preferred to stay on the ranch. Secretly she had longed to be included, but Tara always took her camping instead.
She wanted to attend church, but she found that God was everywhere, and if he really was listening to her, he probably heard her better in the woods than in a building where people had unchristian thoughts. Big Red told her that many people didn’t live near churches and it was just fine. She read her Bible and discussed many things she’d read with Big Red and then Tara. It was strange, but they never thought the same thing.
She concluded that as long as a person had the right intentions in the heart and their actions were kind, it was a good way to live. It was a path to God’s way. Perhaps God would look down on her and hear her prayers, eventually. Once she had asked Harrison a question, and it had been at least an hour before he was done with his explanation. She decided unless there was no one else, she wouldn’t ask him again. Not that he was wrong, he was just too long-winded.
That evening, she wrapped herself up well and went outside. Looking up at the stars she knew Swift Eagle was seeing the same ones, and she felt connected to him. She prayed for their safety especially Hannah. Certainly, they’d be home before Christmas. God could make it happen, and she prayed that he would.
Chapter Six
They were packed and ready, just waiting for first light. Big Red had pulled the map out again, and they discussed if there was a shorter way to the neighboring property and from which way, they needed to arrive so they could watch without being seen.
Once a plan was agreed to, they found their way down to the canyon floor. Tara glanced back up at the cave and shuddered. She nodded and they were off. The two men had taken Tara and Big Red’s snowshoes, leaving their shoddy and broken ones behind, but they’d fixed them during their time in the cave.
A major ridge loomed ahead, and they needed to climb it, and then there was nothing but forest. They all kept up with one another and barely took a break. If they made good enough time, they’d be almost there by nightfall. Swift Eagle knew a few miles of trees wouldn’t keep Tara from her daughter. His legs got a good workout climbing up the ridge but as soon as they got over it and into the woods, there was less snow and less wind.
They didn’t look for tracks. There were many ways to the cabin, and they had probably taken an easier, longer route with Hannah.
Finally, a glow of light ahead of them showed they had reached the cabin. They stopped and glanced at each other. Each knew their part. They would watch for a while first.
From his position behind a thick tree trunk, Swift Eagle could see through the window. Both men were inside looking relaxed, but he could see no sign of Hannah. He glanced over at Tara and Big Red, and from their expressions, they noted the same things he had. Tara looked as though she wanted to crumble, and Big Red seemed eager to rush the cabin, but still they waited. Finally, they saw Chuck Klass carrying a small child to the table and sit her down. It had to be her. It had to be Hannah.
Eddie Connor slid a plate across the table in front of the child, but since her back was to the window, Swift Eagle couldn’t tell what was on it. The child shook her head. Eddie yelled something, but his words were hard to hear. Hannah shook her head again and began to cry. After a moment, Chuck Klass rose and picked her up again, carrying her across the cabin.
Swift Eagle tensed, readying himself for battle. With the child out of the way, this would be their chance so they would not endanger her.
Tara held up her hand. She had her knife hidden in her sleeve and her gun tucked into the waistband of her pants.
They crept slowly forward, stopping and listening every few feet, getting as close to the door as they could. It was so cold, Swift Eagle couldn’t feel his face anymore. He took a deep breath as Tara went to the front door and knocked on it.
Eddie answered it, his eyes narrowed to angry slits. “How’d you get out?” he growled. Then he looked around and over her shoulder. “Where is that big fella?”
“That’s none of your concern, you varmint!” Striking as fast as a rattlesnake, Tara lunged forward, knife in hand. She thrust it into his neck and twisted. With nothing but a gurgle, he slumped to the floor, dead.
Gun in hand, she stepped around the fallen body and walked into the cabin. Swift Eagle and Big Red rushed in behind her, guns drawn. A shot echoed through the cabin, and Chuck Klass slid to the floor, but he was still alive, with a blooming blood stain in his right upper chest.
Hannah screamed in terror, and Swift Eagle gestured for Tara to go to her. Then he quickly kicked the gun out of Chuck’s reach. Big Red was already dragging Eddie’s body out of the cabin and away from Hannah’s view.
“Mommy where have you been? I guess you, but they laughed and said for me to pick someone else.”
“For what, honey?”
“A game. Who would rescue me. Ed, he wanted Hair and Cha wanted Deck. They didn’t play nice. I picked Big too, but they said no. Then I picked Pa, and they said yes that would be just fine.”
Tara held her close, kissing her all over her face.
Big Red kneeled and stared at Chuck. “It’s been nine years what’s your problem? Are you stupid?”
Chuck winced as he pressed a hand to his chest, where blood was oozing through his shirt. “Eddie and me… we tried everything to make money. We lost our land grant because we made no improvements on it. We went to California to try our luck, but there was no gold. We drifted for a long while and ended up back here. He said our bad luck was all you’s fault. Started with Cora and ended with Tara not allowing us to work at the lumber yard. All those women from the wagon train thought themselves better than us. We wanted to show you and make some money at it.” He coughed up a bit of blood.
“I done tol’ Eddie winter… was a bad time. But he knew Tara had… money. We thought we’d pulled it off, yes we did.” His laugh turned to an obscene gurgle as his head rolled to the side, and then he said no more.
Muttering under his breath, Big Red took hold of his legs and dragged him outside too.
“We’ll spend the night here and see how rested we all are in the morning,” Big Red announced when he came back into the house. “Then we’ll take it from there.”
Swift Eagle put another log on the fire and put a blanket over Hannah and Tara who sat in a rocking chair. “There’s food made. Looks like bean and potato soup.”
“Sounds good to me,” Big Red said. “How you holding up, Tara?”
“I’m so relieved I’m trying not to cry.” Her voice wobbled. “Who would believe they harbored so much hate for so long? I don’t remember the last time I gave them a thought.”
“I don’t understand it. It would have been much easier to knock on your door with a gun drawn. But they were cowards,” Big Red said as he shook his head. “Let’s eat, I’m missing my Rhetta, and I know you’re missing Zander and Patrick.”
Swift Eagle was quiet. He too missed Rhetta, and he wasn’t happy about it. He couldn’t stay in their small community, and she wouldn’t go away with him. Though he had wanted to celebrate the holy day with them, he needed to leave right after they got back to their homes.
* * *
“Rhetta, what are you doing now?” Zander asked. He sounded exasperated, but she had no idea why.
“I’m making tin stars for the tree.”
“You’re going to cut yourself—and deep. Put those tin snippers down and I want the tin up high enough no one touches it.”
“Yes, Zander.” She sighed and then did as he asked.
He walked over and gave her a hug. “I miss them too.”
She nodded and slipped into her coat and then grabbed some rope.
“Now what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to tie rope from each house to the barn, the house next to them and to the privy. Big Red would have had it done by now. I just need to stay busy.”
“What about your shoulder?”
“It doesn’t hurt.”
Zander stared at her, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. “I’ll look at it when you get back.”
She nodded quickly and was out the door before he could say another word. She tied the rope to her house and started for the barn, still fuming over Zander’s rebuke. Everyone liked tin stars. She would have hung them up high in the tree so no one would touch them. She got to the barn and tied the rope. Next she gathered more rope and went from the barn to each house so they had a secure way to find the door for when the storms got worse. People had been known to get turned around and walk the wrong way to their deaths.
She’d just tied a rope from her house to the privy when Harrison came out to help her.
“I should have thought to do this days ago.” He studied her for a moment. “How are you with Big Red and Tara gone?”
She suppressed a sigh, unwilling to admit how hard she was finding it. “I’m a believer and I want to–I do believe God will bring them.”
Harrison smiled. “I have faith too. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and I hope they get back by then.”
“Will we go get the tree tomorrow?”
“Yes. Declan’s moving furniture around in his house to make room for it. If not for the children I might not go through with all the decorating and celebrating, but we can’t disappoint them.”
Harrison was always a voice of reason, and she had much respect for him. “I have the presents all ready. Swift Eagle helped me before he left.” She frowned.
“Miss him, do you?”
Heat flooded her face. “He’s a good friend. He left a few things here, so I’m confident he’ll be back.”
“I hope so.” He glanced up at the sky. “It’s getting colder, and you need to be inside.”
She never won going against Harrison. So instead of arguing the point, she handed over the rope she still had. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He gave a brisk nod. “You take care of that shoulder.”
Walking back to her house, she smiled. The people here really cared about her. Her insides warmed. It still hurt her at every holiday and birthday that her real family didn’t want her back. They’d never so much as sent her a letter. And she had done nothing wrong. She had just happened to be the one outside when the Indians rode by that day. Sometimes she thought she was over her experience, but then she’d have nightmares, which eventually brought back the fact that she was unwanted by her own family.
She loved everyone on the ranch, and they loved her, but it was always there in the back of her mind. Was she unworthy? Did they think it was her own fault? Big Red said she’d probably never know. He was bound to be right; he usually was.
She gazed out across the horizon, hoping she’d see them, but nothing was there. And the clouds gathering in the sky didn’t look friendly. She stepped inside and smiled at Zander and Patrick. “Are you hungry?”
That night the wind made an awful noise, and the snow fell, lots and lots of snow. She remembered the debate of how the doors should swing closed. Should the door open to the outside or into the inside? It was Cora who told them if it swings outwards, they wouldn’t be able to open the door if snow drifted against it. Turned out, that was a right smart decision.
Normally snow didn’t bother her. They just hunkered down. Of course, there were chores to be done outside, but the men did all that. The snow upset her now. Were they out on the trail in this? Had they found Hannah? Maybe Swift Eagle never found them and was still wandering about, looking for them. It was so hard to be the one left at home.
She wanted to make something for Swift Eagle for Christmas, but Big Red wouldn’t like it if she did. And she had no idea what to make him anyway. She needed to get busy. She had baking to do and supper to get on. She also wanted to take a bath. Then she needed to find something to wrap Big Red’s present in. She had sewn him a new buckskin shirt, and it was big. She had to scrape and soften many skins to make it, and she was pleased with the way it looked.
She made venison stew with biscuits for supper. Neither Zander nor Patrick had much to say, and they didn’t eat much either. Afterwards, she cleaned up the dishes and got busy making cookies. The wind howled and howled. She prayed they had shelter.
* * *
Swift Eagle was last into the line shack. Thankfully, this wasn’t the same one he had stopped at before. Wood was stacked up, and he quickly made use of it. Tara set Hannah on the bed and unwrapped her, checking her fingers and toes. They must have been fine since she didn’t say a word.
Before taking off his coat, he grabbed a bucket and went back out into the storm and packed it with snow. They’d need water. He’d put it on the tiny stove. At least they were out of the wind. Every step had been a fight, but they kept going, each taking a turn carrying Hannah.
He went back in and made sure the door was tightly closed. Glancing at the bed he saw Tara and Hannah both sleeping.
Big Red smiled. “Not much room in here is there?”
“Not if we wish to sleep.”
“I was thinking on that. If we both lie on the floor with our heads in the opposite direction, we might just fit.”
Swift Eagle laughed. “I’m not sure I can take the smell of your feet in my face but I’ll make the sacrifice.”
Big Red opened three cans of beans and put them into a pot to heat. He set it on the stove and then sat on the floor. “It’s been grueling from the moment we left home. I’m worn to the bone, and that doesn’t happen often.”
“The worry plus the weather makes a tough combination. It was hard going today. My face feels like porcupine quills poked at it all day. We’ll get to your home tomorrow, and then I’ll be off again.”
“I think you should stay awhile. I want Rhetta to see you are a friend and not a man to pine over.”
“She knows I’m a friend, and she knows I’ll be leaving soon. I hope I’ve made it clear there is no chance for us. I have to admit she has a pull on me that is greater than Luella’s ever was.” He held up a hand as Big Red stiffened and sat straighter. “Do not worry, I’m old enough to know better.”
Big Red grunted as an expression of confusion crossed his face.
Silence fell between them after that, and they went to sleep.
* * *
Rhetta jumped out of bed and thanked God the skies were clear. She was afraid to hope, but she couldn’t stop the feeling. She missed Big Red, Tara, and Swift Eagle. They all understood her. The rest of them loved her, but they didn’t always seem comfortable with her. Especially the men. They liked to talk about horses and cattle more than hunting and fishing. They didn’t understand her desire to be outside most of the time.
Today, they would chop down a tree. Declan and Heath would have already scouted out where a small one was growing, and the group would just “happen” to find it. She’d help make the day special for the children, though her heart hurt, wondering where her loved ones were.
She dressed and then made coffee, bacon, eggs, and flapjacks. Soon Patrick and Zander woke and joined her. Swifty stared at her every time she held a piece of bacon. That little pup sure could eat a lot. He’d want to come with them, but she’d make him stay in her room. She’d had her fair share of lectures over the years when animals she brought home chewed Big Red’s things.
“After we’re sure the cows are all milked, and the horses are fed we can go. I want to stop at the bunk house and thank the men for their hard work these past few days. Getting hay to the cattle couldn’t have been easy,” Zander said. He stood and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Then he took his dishes and set them next to the sink. He put on his snowshoes and pulled on his coat. “I won’t be too long.”
“My pa said you like the Indian,” Patrick said. “Are you going to marry him? I want to learn how to use
a bow and arrow.”
Rhetta was grateful she was busy cleaning the kitchen, so the boy didn’t notice her blushing. “I can teach you how to use a bow and arrow. Your mother is great, she could teach you too.”
He shuffled his feet. “It’s not the same as having a real Indian a man teach you. Girls just don’t get it.”
She did her best not to smile. “You are absolutely right. Girls just don’t get it.” She turned to wash the dishes, and suddenly she felt Swift Eagle. She wasn’t sure how but she knew he was getting closer and he was unharmed. A shiver trickled down her spine. How scary! She’d never had this happen with anyone else. What would the others think if she said they were on their way? Laugh most likely.
A little while later, Zander returned. “Everyone is gathering to get the tree. Come on, you two.”
Patrick jumped up and got ready to go outside, but Rhetta hung back. Zander frowned at her. “Aren’t you coming?”
“My shoulder is aching today. I think I should rest for the party later.”
Zander nodded. “Stay safe and keep that rifle close.” He nodded to the one hanging above the fireplace.
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
Zander smiled. “I know. Come on, Patrick. Rhetta, get some rest.”
She nodded and locked the door behind them. She watched them all gather, and she could see the excitement in the children’s faces. Maybe she should have gone, but the feeling that she’d she Swift Eagle soon was strong. Did he feel it too?
The thought of putting on a pretty dress for him lasted about two minutes. Either he liked her the way she was, or he didn’t. Maybe he didn’t like her in that way at all, but she had a powerful feeling that they were just on the verge of something wonderful. Why couldn’t she be a bit worldly and know what all these feelings meant?
Candle Glow and Mistletoe: Romance on the Oregon Trail Book 5 Page 6
