The Jewel of His Heart

by Maggie Brendan

  “You’re shivering. Let me get my coat.” Josh went to get his coat for her, then hurried back. Her pert nose was stuck up in the air, and her jaw was set in a hard line, but he ignored her tantrum to slide the coat over her shaking shoulders. “There! All better now?” He paused. Taking the lapels of the coat in his hand, he pulled her close to his face, then lifted her chin with his fingertips. “I’m sorry. I didn’t notice the ant bed when we spread the blanket out. Guess I was too eager to have lunch. At least we drowned the buggers!” But Juliana simply looked back at him and was quiet.

  He looked into her flashing blue eyes and leaned in to touch his lips to hers, lightly at first, then with more fervor as he placed his hand on her back. Josh was pleasantly surprised at their softness but more so their tenderness. A deep, sweet longing was filled in that tender kiss, and he pulled away with a deep sigh, then he brushed her eyelashes with a couple of light kisses, still holding her close. He wanted to hold her like this until the stars twinkled in the evening sky. The rest of the world didn’t matter. He had been waiting for her.

  She leaned against him but kept her face tilted toward his. She closed her eyes dreamily, and her lips formed a half smile of contentment until a dragonfly buzzed around her head, and they slowly pulled apart. In that moment, their hearts committed to what they had already known weeks ago in their heads.

  24

  The thundering sound of horses’ hooves broke the peaceful afternoon silence and the intimate moment of the courting couple. Josh jerked his head around, watching as a pair on horseback rode furiously toward them. Juliana put her arms through the sleeves of Josh’s coat and pulled it together, hiding her wet dress as best as she could.

  “Looks like something’s wrong,” Josh whispered under his breath.

  Juliana lifted her hand to shield it from the sun, squinting to see who it was. “I think it’s Andy and Nellie.”

  As the pair approached, Josh walked toward them as Andy reined in, his horse’s sides heaving. Josh took hold of the horse’s bridle to steady him. “Boss, we’ve got trouble,” Andy spit out, clearly agitated. His breathing was ragged, and his hat was missing. “Just beyond our camp, I’m not sure, but it might be a prairie fire coming. There’s smoke. Lots of it. Me and Nellie rounded up as many of the sheep as we could and drove them to the other side of the ravine in case it comes this way. I left Shebe with them.”

  Josh moved quickly, rushing to the buckboard and unharnessing the horses. “Can you ride bareback, Juliana?”

  “I guess I could.”

  He lifted her up to the horse’s broad back before mounting the other one. “What about the wagon?” she asked.

  “No time for that now. You ride back into town where it’s safe.”

  “Are you crazy? I’m coming with you.” She looked him square in the eye for a brief moment. She knew from his expression that he was thinking it was a waste of time to argue with her. Worry creased his brow, and he slammed his hat on.

  Josh yelled orders as his horse danced around in a half circle, waiting for direction. “Andy, you get back to the sheep and keep pushing them out as far as you can. I’ll head to camp and try to save the sheepherders’ wagon and supplies. Nellie, you’d better go on back to town.”

  “No, Josh, I’m going with Andy.”

  “Fool women,” Josh muttered under his breath.

  “Let’s go! There’s no time to lose!” Andy said. Giving his horse a swift kick in the side, he galloped off with Nellie. Josh and Juliana went the opposite direction. Any thoughts of a lazy Sunday afternoon were shattered.

  Upon reaching the campsite, they could see a red glow on the horizon along the western slope. It was a frightening sight to behold, and it was moving fast. Juliana had never seen anything like it and sat stunned, looking at its approaching blaze. They would never be able to stop this disaster, and her heart was full of fear now. She hoped Josh’s half-built home lay beyond the fire’s fury, and she prayed it had somehow miraculously escaped its onslaught.

  Josh practically threw himself off his horse when they reached the campsite. “Juliana, we’ve got to hitch the horses to the sheepherders’ wagon, and I’ll need your help. Grab the harness,” he barked. Beads of sweat broke out over his furrowed brow. He jerked the nervous horses to the front of the wagon to maintain some control to keep them calm. They seemed to sense some impending danger.

  Juliana watched Josh tighten the leather straps over his horse’s back and tried to copy what he did, meeting him in the middle where the harnesses came together. She hoped the fire would die out before it reached the ravine, sparing the sheep, but what if it didn’t? Lord, help us, please. She sneaked a glance at Josh, whose face was sober, his square jaw clenched and his face lined with worry. His pants were wet up to his waist, but he didn’t seem to notice.

  The task completed, he assisted her into the expensive Candlish wagon she’d toured when she visited the campsite, and she suddenly realized she was barefoot. Her face flamed red just thinking what Andy and Nellie must have thought. Maybe they hadn’t had time to notice.

  Josh slapped the reins across the horses’ back, and they sprang forward, leaving the campsite in a furious fashion. Juliana clung to the side of the hard wooden seat to keep from falling, feeling miserable and chilly in her damp dress despite Josh’s coat. She hadn’t sat this high above ground since she’d crossed the plains in a covered wagon as a child.

  The peculiar smell of smoke burdened the afternoon breeze, and Juliana wondered again if the ranch had escaped the fire. In the distance they saw flames lick the dry tree limbs, sending fire shooting up into the pine trees. Wildlife scattered in sheer terror. Juliana felt a pang of sorrow for them and uttered another small prayer.

  Despite the crackling heat behind them, she could hear the constant bleating of the sheep from across the ravine, where Andy and Nellie had frantically tried to move the frightened herd in a desperate attempt to save them. Shebe barked, running this way and that and snapping at the sheep’s heels in an attempt to keep the animals together.

  When they had driven as many of the frenzied sheep as they could to safety and moved the wagon as far as they could away from the fast-moving fire, the pitiful bunch sat slumped together, exhausted and stunned. They watched the raging rhythm of the strong wind and hot air as it took a dramatic shift in direction and pushed the fire southward and away from them. Shebe limped up to her master, tongue hanging out from exhaustion and thirst.

  The smell of smoke and smoldering ash was sharp in Juliana’s nostrils. In their line of vision, scores of charred woolies littered the once beautiful landscape.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Andy said, his large eyes staring in shock.

  “What do you think caused the fire?” Nellie asked, her round face smudged from the soot and smoke. Juliana knew all of them must look rather frightful. And she was full of an emotion that was hard to explain—horror, yes, but also a sensation of how fast life could change.

  “It could have been from a lightning strike in the forest or nature’s natural burn,” Josh said. He wiped his brow with his handkerchief, then tucked it into his back pocket. “Or worse—it could have been set on purpose.”

  “Let’s hope not. I can’t imagine anyone doing something so wicked.” Juliana stared at the disaster. “Thank goodness it didn’t happen at night while you two were sleeping.”

  Josh stood, hands on his hips. “Juliana, why don’t you and Nellie ride back to where we left the buckboard and go on back into town. We’ll come get the buckboard later. There’s nothing more you can do here. Andy and I will have to dig a large hole deep enough to bury the burned sheep.” His face looked numb and sad. Juliana thought that if he hadn’t been a man, he would have cried, and he might have anyway if she and Nellie hadn’t been present.

  “Sounds like a good idea.” Nellie grabbed Juliana’s arm. “Come on, let’s go find your shoes.” She stared down at Juliana’s bare feet with a curious look. Juliana’s feet wer
e dirty with red welts on them, but that seemed insignificant compared to what had just happened.

  “We must all be thankful we survived,” Nellie said.

  “If the wind hadn’t shifted like it did, we wouldn’t be standing here to talk about it,” Andy said, nodding his head.

  Juliana let Nellie guide her back to her horse, but she looked back over her shoulder at Josh. She wanted to tell him how wonderful his kisses and the picnic had been, but instead could only say, “I’m sorry.” Then she walked over to him and slipped off the coat. “Here. You’ll need this tonight.”

  Josh took his coat from her without even looking and said nothing. He was staring into the distance, and Juliana could barely stand to see the sorrow etched on his face. She turned to go, stopping long enough to pat Shebe’s head. “Good girl, Shebe. You’re a hard-working dog, and I’m sure you’ve saved many sheep today.”

  The odor of smoke clung to Shebe’s thick fur. She sniffed and nuzzled Juliana’s hand, her brown eyes shining up at her, but she never left the side of her master.

  25

  A lone figure camped out under the evening stars, aware of the pungent smell of charred forest that lingered heavily on the night air. He’d barely escaped the fire and was horrified at what he’d done by accident. He foolishly thought he would locate the Yogos in the sheepherder’s house and be back in town by nightfall, but instead he found nothing. Frustrated, he had stalked out of the house and mounted his horse, flicking his cigarette aside. Like spontaneous combustion in the dry brush, it ignited, and a fire quickly began to spread. God help him! What had he done?

  Worn out, dejected, and exasperated, Josh instructed Andy to stay with the herd while he rode back to see what was left of the ranch. He knew what to expect, but maybe, just maybe, God had spared him that grief.

  When he couldn’t make out a roofline from his usual spot, he instantly knew his home had not survived. With a heavy heart, he slowed his horse to a walk and faced the wreckage of what used to be his ranch. It had been gutted by the fire. Burning embers of blackened timber glowed against the backdrop of the brick fireplace he’d proudly laid himself.

  A lump caught in his throat, and his eyes burned with tears. He hadn’t even finished all of it yet! Why, God? Why did this have to happen? I put every cent I had into this ranch and the sheep. Now I have nothing!

  There was no point in even dismounting. Nothing was left to salvage. Josh turned his horse back to camp, his mind a fog. His plans had been so different. He had secretly hoped to complete his home while courting Juliana, drive the herd to Billings, then hopefully ask her to marry him.

  Now all his plans would have to change. He owned very little and would never ask his father for a dime. Never! A loan at the bank was out of the question. He’d already borrowed to buy the property. He couldn’t afford a wife, much less to rebuild the ranch. His dreams of giving Juliana a better life had just dissolved into ash like the burning timber.

  Andy had moved the camp and herd further eastward beyond the ravages of the fire. He’d already set up a campfire and had thrown together something for supper by the time Josh returned.

  “Boss?” Andy looked at Josh with sympathy. “I can tell from the look on your face that the news is not good. I’m just as sorry as I can be.” Andy stood by the fire, his arms folded across his chest and a weary look on his face.

  “No, it’s not good. I just don’t believe it. Everything wiped out in a flash. Everything I’ve worked so hard for.” He slapped his dusty hat against his leg in anger.

  “Well, we survived, and the ladies too, along with about twenty-eight hundred head of the woolies. It could have been all of ’em. I’m feelin’ pretty lucky about now. Here, sit yourself down. I threw together some soup, and there’s some leftover bread.”

  “I’m not hungry. But I’ll take some coffee.” Josh took the bridle off his horse and fed him some oats. Shebe trailed Josh with every step he took until he stopped and stroked her head and face.

  Andy poured Josh a steaming cup of coffee. “Tomorrow everything will look a little better, Boss.”

  Josh was usually the one to give encouragement about such things, but tonight he didn’t have one ounce of it to give, and he wasn’t looking forward to tomorrow.

  Nellie and Juliana had managed to gather the remnants of the picnic and hitch the wagon to their horses. They said very little on the way back to Lewistown. From the bustling excitement as they drove into town, it appeared the news of the fire had quickly reached the townsfolk from neighboring ranches. A few people looked curiously at them as they made their way to the boardinghouse.

  For her first time to drive a team and wagon, Juliana had done well. She stopped the wagon in front of the boardinghouse, and the front door flew open, with Miss Margaret and her daughters nearly tumbling over each other in their rush down the steps to reach her and Nellie.

  “My goodness, are you two all right?” Miss Margaret hobbled to Juliana’s side as quickly as her cane would allow and took hold of Juliana’s arm, appraising the worn-out women.

  “We’re okay. Nellie and I are just really tired and could use some water,” Juliana answered.

  Natalie assisted them inside with Miss Margaret’s help, while Louise raced to get them water to drink.

  “You poor dears!” Miss Margaret led them to the parlor. “Have a seat.” She was fussing over them like they were her family.

  Louise brought water, and the two gratefully drank it. “Nothing has ever tasted so good!” Nellie remarked after emptying her glass.

  Natalie shook her head in sympathy. “Please, tell us what happened. How did you get caught up in the goings-on of a fire?”

  “It came out of nowhere, it seems.” Juliana pushed her hair off her face. Her dress was dirty, and she knew from the looks the ladies gave her and Nellie that they were a little the worse for wear. “Josh lost some sheep, but he and his sheepherder, Andy, are fine.” She stared down at her hands, which were blistered from holding the reins without the protection of gloves.

  “How terrible. I wonder if it was just a wildfire that popped up. We haven’t had much rain, and things are dry around here,” Miss Margaret said. She sat on the edge of her settee with so much concern in her lined face that Juliana felt as if she was the one who needed a hug.

  “That’d be hard to know for certain, unless someone actually saw it happen,” Nellie said.

  “You’re right—we probably will never know.” Louise’s calm voice was like a soothing balm for Juliana’s heart.

  “I say let’s run a hot bath for these two gals and rustle up some supper.” Miss Margaret stood up and started giving directions to her daughter.

  “I must be going home. Me mum will be scared out of her wits wondering where I got off to. But thank you so much for thinking of me.” Nellie gave her new friend a quick hug.

  “Thanks, Nellie, for all your help. I know Josh appreciates it. I’ll see you soon.” Juliana stood to walk her to the door.

  “It was no trouble at all. Your Josh fellow looked like a mighty sad man. I’m hoping Andy’s cheerful nature will be able to perk him up after a few days.” She gave her thanks to Miss Margaret and her daughters for their kindness, and slipped out the front door.

  After a warm bath and a bowl of thick chicken soup with crusty bread and milk, Juliana bade them all good night. She was so tired, and tomorrow was a workday. Before she closed her bedroom door, she turned to Miss Margaret. “If I can get Albert to let me return the buckboard to Josh, I’d like to pack him and Andy lunch. Besides, I could write a story firsthand.”

  “Sounds like a good idea to me. In fact, you just march into work and ask my son for a couple hours off in the morning. If he gives you any trouble, just let me know. The girls and I will make up a hearty lunch for your young man and his friend. Now, don’t you worry any.”

  “Miss Margaret, you’re just too good to me.”

  “Off to bed with you. You look exhausted.”

  In tr
uth, Juliana could barely stand up and couldn’t wait to sink her head into her soft pillow.

  Downstairs in the kitchen, Miss Margaret told Natalie and Louise about her plan to put together enough staples of food to last for a couple of days for Josh and Andy, besides making their lunches. There was no argument from them, and they started taking out of the pantry jars of pears, applesauce, and beans they’d canned themselves from last summer’s garden. In the morning they would make up sandwiches and other necessary items.

  “So you think Albert won’t mind Juliana taking time off in the morning to drive the wagon back?” Natalie broke the silence as they worked quietly.

  “Humph. Albert may be a hard worker, but he always has compassion for folks who need it. I reckon Juliana learned right quick-like how to drive that team.” Miss Margaret chuckled. “She’s tough, and she’s got spunk in her, that’s for sure. From what I hear from Sally and Albert, she’s had it hard in her young life.”

  Louise put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “You’re just the one to make her feel good about herself.”

  Miss Margaret beamed at her daughter. “I sure hope so. It’s only been a few weeks since she lost her mother, and she hasn’t seen her father in a decade. I don’t think she trusts too many people.”

  “Bless her heart,” Natalie said as she stacked the cleaned dishes from dinner.

  “Yes, may God bless her really good,” Miss Margaret agreed.

  A thick cloud of depression covered Josh like a mantle when he surveyed the acres of charred grass. He realized how quickly his circumstances had changed, along with his hopes and dreams, but most of all he was thinking of all the work and countless hours that had gone into building his house. The only good thing was that he hadn’t really furnished it yet.

  As he walked around the ruins, a hard knot began to form in the center of his chest. He and Andy had buried the sheep in one gigantic hole, and he was worn out physically and mentally. His usual cheerful spirit was sinking just below sea level.