by Ingis, Gail
“We need to set up a watch to deter Confederates from sneaking up on the survivors.”
Joshua sat up, head hanging. “I need to check on my wife.”
Rork nodded. “I’ll check if Leila, Cornelia, and Michael are safe.” He rose unsteadily, beyond exhausted, clutching his throbbing shoulder. Together, they staggered to the trees.
Joshua found Kate. She sagged against him, tears dripping down her cheeks. He kissed her forehead. “Hey, why the tears?”
“I thought you’d drowned or been shot.”
“Let’s join Rork and the others.”
Rork smiled. “Your husband is a brave man, Mrs. Formby.”
She beamed and gazed up at Joshua. “I know. Please call me Kate.”
“Don’t mind if I do, thank you.” He glanced around at soldiers propped against trees. “Do you know where Leila is?”
“She went for help.” Cornelia said. “She’s headed for Boonville.”
Rork’s heart tripped. “Alone?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t stop her.”
“I’m going after her.” He turned to Joshua. “I need a weapon. Any idea where I can find one?”
“I helped a captain from the ship. He insisted on keeping a haversack. Said it had his gun in it. Perhaps he’ll give it to us.” He kissed Kate and strode off.
Rork put a hand on Cornelia’s shoulder. “How is Michael doing?”
“He seems to be holding his own, but I’m worried that his wounds might become more infected without medication.”
“Joshua can search the ship for medication at first light. I need to find Leila before renegades do.”
Joshua returned and handed Rork a Remington revolver. “Here you are. He also gave me a handful of paper cartridges and nipples. Be careful how many shots you fire. This was all the ammunition he had.”
“Thank you. Hopefully, I won’t have to use it at all.” He stuffed the gun into his belt and hung the pouch of ammunition on it. “How did the man keep it dry?”
“He had it wrapped in a tarred bag. He was escorting his troops to Kansas and wanted to join you but thinks he’s better off staying here with the survivors.”
Rork nodded. “Fair enough.”
Joshua handed him an army greatcoat. “He said to give you this.”
“Give it to Cornelia for Michael.”
“Keep it. I found a blanket for Michael. I’m going deeper into the forest to light fires. The captain and I will move the injured there. He already has men posted on watch.” Joshua chuckled. “He ordered every soldier who wasn’t seriously injured to answer the call to duty.”
“I’d better be on my way.” Rork took off at a run, heading west.
Walking briskly in an effort to keep warm, Leila quelled the fear curdling up from the pit of her stomach. As moonlight filtered through the canopy of the dark forest, frightening shadows appeared. Dead leaves and branches crunched under her wet boots. She slowed down to listen. Flesh crawling, the hairs stood up on the back of her neck. Her former life of ease and luxury seemed a million years away. “You can do this, Leila. You can do this,” she whispered.
A low growl filtered through the undergrowth. Her legs turned to jelly, and bile rose in her throat. Leila glanced up at the trees. She could scale one, but she didn’t know if the animal could climb. A sob escaped, and she pressed her back to a tree trunk. The animal gave another rolling growl. The sound stabbed her like a sliver of glass. Being cold was no longer her problem. Dear God, I’m going to die a virgin. A nervous giggle escaped. Really, Leila, that’s to be your last thought on this earth?
Crouching, she groped around. Her hand landed on a log, and she snatched it up, holding it in front of her. She crept closer. In the distance, firelight flickered through the trees. She hesitated, trembling. Stop being a ninny, Leila. The rough, low growls weren’t comforting. The growls diminished as she crawled forward on her hands and knees. She crouched and listened again. Through the thick foliage, the flicker of a campfire cast eerie shadows.
When she began to move again, her skirt caught, and her heart seized. A boot had her skirt trapped. A scream ripped from her throat, and rough hands grabbed her arms.
“Rork, thank God. I thought it was all over for me.”
“It’s a wild cat, may be a cougar,” Rork whispered “Leila, drop!”
She complied and fell to the ground.
The cougar charged. Rork fired. The bullet hit the animal, and it ran off. “We aren’t safe if that cat isn’t dead. And it could have been more than one cat,” said Rork.
“I should have never left, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m so sorry, Rork. I put us both in danger.”
“Your intentions were noble. We will find help.”
Rork surveyed their findings. “This camp must have been attacked and the man dragged to the cat’s den—it probably had cubs to feed. We’ll know if there are more hungry cats. They don’t scare easy. The man was probably a bushwhacker. If he was the cat’s dinner, we have a lucky find.”
He rummaged through the haversack.
“Once again, you saved my life. Thank you.”
Sitting cross-legged next to her, he gazed into her eyes to see if the same hot, dark depths were there as he remembered. “It was purely selfish. I can’t bear the thought of losing you.” He moved a strand of hair from her cheek. “You’ve become very precious to me.”
“How did you find me? I thought you’d be busy all night rescuing soldiers.”
He shook his head. “It was too dark. I doubt there were any left to save. We were going to look for medicine at first light, but Joshua will organize that.”
“You are fearless.”
“So are you.” He winked and squeezed her hand.
“Are you hungry?”
“Heavens, no.”
“I found a bottle of whiskey. I think you should drink some.” She nodded, and he rose to fetch it. Holding her head, he tipped the bottle to her lips.
She swallowed and pushed the bottle away. “Enough, or I’ll be drunk.”
Rork took a few swigs. He put the stopper on the bottle and set it down. “I think we should stay here until first light.”
She shuddered, her eyes skittering to the bushes.
He followed her gaze. “Do you think there is something in the bushes?”
She grabbed his arm. “Please don’t leave me alone.”
Rork went to the bushes. The cougar had fallen and was dead. He launched him into the undergrowth.
“We don’t have to worry about that cat.”
“Please lie next to me.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” But he complied and lay down with her, holding her in his arms, his heart beating erratically. Her even breaths brushed his neck. She fell into a deep sleep.
For a long time, he lay listening to the night sounds. Crickets whirred, and somewhere a mockingbird sent out a melodic song.
Rork quietly built up the fire as Leila slept. He reloaded the revolver and leaned against a log, keeping watch.
Chapter 20
Rork woke with a start. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees. His eyes immediately went to Leila. He released a long breath. She was there. Stumbling to his feet, he walked to her and smiled. She was fast asleep.
He found a can of beans and biscuits. Building up the fire, he set about heating the food in a battered frying pan.
Leila sat up and stretched. “How long have you been up?”
“A while,” he said. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
“We should get a move on fairly soon.” He nodded at the haversack. “You’ll find a shirt in there and breeches. It might be easier to walk without that dress.”
Leila nodded and took out the clothes. “I don’t want to go into the bushes to change. I’m afraid an animal may be there. Besides, I have no desire to stumble across a carcass.”
“I’ll turn my back.” He concentrated on the beans boiling in the pan, anything to avoid thinking of her naked.
“I’m done.” She walked around and stood in front of him, spreading her arms. “Do I pass muster as a boy?”
Swallowing hard, he turned, and his eyes traveled down her slender body to impossibly long legs. He put the pan aside, stood, and walked to her.
“Well?”
“You make a terrible boy.”
Her eyebrows arched. “I do?” She smiled impishly. “I thought I looked pretty debonair.”
“I agree with pretty. Well, gorgeous, actually.” He put his hands on her hips and pulled her against him. “You may not pass as a boy, but you sure as hell make a delectable one.” Bending, he captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
She broke the kiss and laughed lightly. “Do you make a habit of kissing boys?”
“No, but I could spend my life kissing you.”
Pressing her hands against his chest, she leaned back in his arms. “Rork, there are men dying. We need to get to Boonville.”
He nodded and released her, gathering the bushwhackers’ supplies. “Let’s eat and go. It surely can’t be much farther.”
Nodding, Leila scooped food into tin plates.
Rork and Leila crept to the river’s edge, keeping to the trees. Boonville seemed quiet on the opposite bank. “We can’t possibly swim across,” he whispered.
“What if Boonville is controlled by Rebels?” Leila sat and pulled off her boots, wincing as they peeled off the skin from multiple blisters.
“It’s a chance we’ll have to take. We can pretend to be Confederates and make our way to Kansas.”
Her eyes popped. “Kansas?”
“Or the next place controlled by federal soldiers.” He knelt and touched her bleeding feet gently. “I’m sorry. I wish we had salve for your poor feet.”
“I can’t believe we’ve been walking through this inhospitable terrain for three days only to find we can’t get across.”
“There has to be a canoe or something. People cross to Boonville all the time, or so I heard.” He crept closer to the edge.
Leila sighed and clenched her teeth. She put her boots on again and followed Rork. “What if we swim across holding onto a log? I saw some back in the forest.”
He blew out his cheeks. “The current is pretty strong and the water is too cold. We wouldn’t survive.” He searched the bank, finding nothing. “Let’s get back into the forest and think of a way across.” He glanced up at the sun as it was sinking toward the horizon. “We’ll camp for the night, and maybe by morning we’ll come up with an idea.”
“Another night under the stars.” Leila’s mouth twisted. “Just what I envisaged for a joyous evening.”
Rork chuckled and put an arm around her waist. “It hasn’t been that bad, has it? Personally, I’ve enjoyed our time together.”
She stared at her grimy hands and split nails.
“Hey.” He stopped and lifted her chin. He held her gaze. “We’ll get across the river. Then it’ll all be over.”
She sniffed and stared. “It will only be over when I get Hank to sign those papers.” A sigh escaped. “And that may never happen at this rate.”
“Such little faith.” He drew her close and held her head against his chest. “I promise we’ll soon be on our way to Atchison.” He put his arm around her waist again and led her deeper into the forest. “Let’s make a fire and cook the last of our provisions. Things will look better in the morning.”
Rork’s eyes snapped open as his brain registered the loud click. He stared into the barrel of a rifle. Shifting his eyes left and right, he swallowed. A dozen more rifles were aimed at his head. He realized they wore blue uniforms, and he sagged with relief. “Thank God, you’re Union soldiers.” He slid his arm from under Leila, who slept on peacefully. He tried to sit up.
A rifle slammed into his chest. “Stay right where you are.”
Rork scowled. “Who or what the hell do you think I am?”
“A bushwhacker.”
Leila woke and stifled a scream.
Rork put an arm around her and drew her close, his eyes on the soldier. “Our paddle steamer came under fire, and the Rebels sank the damn thing three or four days walk from here. We were transporting injured soldiers to Atchison.” He glanced at Leila. “My intended and I decided to find help, but the Rebels are everywhere.”
The soldier lowered his weapon and held out his hand. “I’m Captain Webb.”
Releasing a long breath, Rork rose slowly and glared at the other soldiers and civilians still pointing rifles at him. “I’ll thank you to put your weapons down, gentlemen.”
Webb signaled his men to comply.
Rork helped Leila to her feet. “We looked for a way across to Boonville.”
“The Rebs took it in a battle, but I heard they left the town today. No idea why, but I do know they’re intent on taking control of bigger towns.”
“I think there could be bushwhackers. One was killed by a cougar. Same cougar was about to attack my fiancée.” Rork avoided looking at Leila, certain she was glaring at him for lying. “I killed the cat.”
Webb’s eyebrows rose. “How many bushwhackers do you think are in the bush?”
“I don’t know. We found a campsite that appeared to be from the one killed by the cat.”
“That’s why I’m here. We’re after bushwhackers who are terrorizing folk in smaller towns. You’re damn lucky you didn’t run into more of ‘em. We skirted Howard County. All I could see was bushwhackers.”
“Glad to hear the army is protecting the towns,” he said in a voice certain and desperate. He asked Webb a question in that same voice. “How can we get help to the soldiers and nurses who managed to get off our paddle steamer?”
Webb called a civilian and spoke quietly. The man took off at a run. “My tracker will hail a steamer that’s on its way to St. Louis with troops.”
Rork rubbed his cheek. “The soldiers on our ship were taken from the hospital in St. Louis to make room for more. I doubt they’ll be happy to see them back there.”
Webb nodded. “I’ll speak to the pilot. I could use more troops here. Perhaps their commanding officer will be willing to assist.” He smoothed his full beard, his eyes troubled. “I hate to admit it, but Johnny Rebs are gaining the upper hand in this war.”
“I need to sit,” Leila said softly.
“We must get down to the river, miss.”
“I’ll carry her. I’m afraid the long walk has taken a toll on her feet.” Rork scooped her up.
“What possessed you to say I’m your betrothed?” she whispered.
Rork grinned at her as he followed Webb and his men. “Because soon you will be, and it’s easier than trying to explain.”
Standing on the deck of the paddle steamer, Rork towered over the commanding officer, hands on his hips. “Major Jones, why can’t the boat be turned once we pick up the injured soldiers? They need to be hospitalized. And St. Louis isn’t an option.”
Jones bristled. “Young man, don’t take that tone with me. I have my orders.”
Rork rubbed the back of his neck and glared at the small, gray-haired man. “Fine. So what do you suggest?”
“I have wagons on board. I’ll let you have three of ‘em.”
“There must be at least two hundred survivors. At least half can’t damned well move, let alone walk. How the hell will you fit that many men into three wagons? Another problem, how can I get three wagons, singlehandedly, back to the injured? Rather, I’ll wait for another steamer. Maybe the pilot
and commander will have a heart.”
“You whippersnapper.” Jones balled his fingers, head tilted back to glare at Rork.
Captain Webb stepped in. “Major, I think you should reconsider. Those brave men were injured fighting for the Union. The least we can do is aid them.” He laid a hand on the incensed major’s shoulder. “And I could use help here. I think St. Louis has sufficient troops for the meantime. Bushwhackers are causing trouble in this area. They are robbing and killing civilians.” He looked at Rork. “Why, this man encountered a cougar that killed a bushwhacker. He shot the cougar that was about to pounce his fiancée.”
”Fortunately for us, the bushwhacker left behind his campsite and supplies. There could’ve been more bushwhackers, but we didn’t see or hear any,” said Rork.
Jones smoothed his mustache, his eyes sweeping Rork’s length. “Very well, but we will only pick them up and bring them back to Howard County. They have a hospital facility at Boonville. I had word that Price fled with his Reb army the day after they took the town.”
Rork inclined his head, delighted to have succeeded, even partially. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll find another steamer to take us to Atchison once they’ve been attended.”
“I’ll inform the pilot.” Jones bowed briefly and strode off.
Rork grinned at Webb. “Thank you, Captain. I was ready to force him at gunpoint.”
Webb chuckled and glanced at armed troops milling about on the deck. “That might not have been a wise move.”
Cornelia traversed the gangplank to Leila and Rork, grinning. “You made it.” She hugged them. “Well done.”
“How is Michael?” Rork asked, walking onboard with Leila and Cornelia.
“Not well, but when I get him dried out and have access to medication, I’m sure he’ll rally. Joshua couldn’t salvage anything. The Confederates were helping themselves.” She chewed her lip. “Quite a few soldiers died.”
