by Danni Roan
“He’s all tangled up Papa, help him,” Katie said, leaning toward the little animal.
“That wouldn’t help him, darlin’,” Joshua said, “He’s got to learn to stand on his own feet.” He stopped as a lump grew in his throat. Someday his girls would have to stand on their own feet as well.
A burning need to see that they had every advantage he could manage before that time roared through him. Silently he lifted his heart to heaven, surrendering fully his very being, even as the foal pushed itself up on splayed legs, wobbled, then tipped sideways into the soft hay.
“He looks like a spider with all those long legs,” Katie said, making her uncle chuckled.
“Now that he does, me dear. I reckon that’s as good a name as ever was for the fella.”
Katie turned her wide, pale green eyes to Brion. “You mean it?”
“I said, it didn’t I?” he chided with a grin.
“Tarnation!” Billy exclaimed as he came stomping into the barn, holding Meg by the hand and carrying a heavily bundled Fiona in the other.
Meg tugged her hand from his and dashed toward her sister. “Horsey,” she said, looking into the stall and gazing at the foal who now stood on shaky legs.
“Yes, horsey, Meg,” Katie said, “his name’s Spider.”
“Spider’s a bug,” Meg said, “Not a horsey.”
“Well this, one’s called Spider,” Katie said firmly.
Billy moved up behind the assembled group and peered into the stall, turning so that Fiona could see. The tiny mite twisted, looking into the stall, and giggled, exposing two even, white front teeth and a row of four more on the bottom gum.
Joshua reached for his youngest and she slipped into his arms eagerly. “See the baby?” Joshua spoke, pointing to the dark foal now wobbling toward his mother, who seemed to move a step away each time he almost reached her.
Fiona laid her head on her father’s shoulder and watched the baby horse with hazel eyes.
“Looks like a fine critter ya got there, Brion,” Deeks said, walking up behind them, “A right fine little colt. When’d ya breed yer mare anyhow?”
Brion Blakely turned bright red with embarrassment. “I didn’t,” he replied, “I reckon she met up with some dandy somewhere along the trail. There were several times the stock got away from us and wandered off in the night.”
“Life does seem ta have a way of just happenin’,” Deeks chortled. “It just gets at and goes on without us when we’re not lookin’.” He shook his head and twisted to ease the pressure on his spine.
“His name’s Spider!” Katie whispered excitedly.
“Ya don’t say,” Deeks smiled, his deep blue eyes sparkling at the wonder in the young girl’s voice.
The foal finally reached its mother and quickly stuck its nose under her flank, looking for milk.
“It’s al’ays a wonder ta me,” Deeks spoke again, “They’s born one minute and the next they’s up and running along to race the wind.” He smiled and ran a hand through his dark hair.
“Papa?” Katie turned her bright eyes to her father, her face serious and pensive.
“Yes, darlin’.”
“I think Spider should be Fiona’s horse.”
Joshua smiled at the girl’s generous heart. “I thought you wanted a pony of your own?” he queried.
“I do, but you already said it would be two years before he could be ridden and this way Fiona can kinda grow up with him.”
Joshua smiled as his eyes filled with pride. “I think that’s a very nice idea, Katie.” He leaned down to kiss his daughter on the head. “Do you think that you and Meg can help with his training then so he’ll be ready when Fiona’s big enough to ride?”
“I’ll do my best,” Katie agreed.
“Me too,” Meg piped, walking over and taking Katie’s hand. “Me too, Papa.”
“You too, Meg,” Joshua laughed.
Chapter 15
SPRING ARRIVED IN A torrent of rain and green. It seemed as if the prairie transformed overnight from the soft, dead yellows and browns of winter to the bright yellows and jade that indicated new life.
The girls tumbled and tussled in the soft warm breezes blowing across the landscape as the men put the plow to the earth and began planting their carefully hoarded stores of seeds.
Slowly the large cottonwoods and tall oaks that dotted the property unfurled their new growth, and new grass and wildflowers covered the scar of the barren grave.
In the fields, sleek horses grew fat on lush grass and a spindly-legged foal cavorted near its mother on legs that became more gray than brown by the day.
“I’m ridin’ out toward the clear cut,” Joshua called down to Billy where he and Meg were busy milking the goat while Fiona sat on a blanket nearby. “Will you and Deeks be all right here with the girls?”
“We’ll be just dandy,” Billy said, turning his head at an awkward angle to look up from his three-legged stool.
“Where’s Brion?” Joshua asked before turning his horse toward the tree line.
“He went out huntin’ a little bit ago,” Billy answered. “Deeks is in the garden with Katie if you’re taking roll.” Billy sniped.
“No,” Joshua said, “Brion seemed distracted lately. I’ll see you soon.”
“You think any more about what I said about cows?” Billy asked before Joshua could ride away.
“Yes, I sent a letter to my brother Jonas in Texas with that troop that came through last week. He settled there after the war and collected a herd of wild longhorn with some fella that mustered out with him,” he said, then reined his bay horse and left, turning toward the wide stream that bordered the compound.
The air was chilly but the sun was warm as he rode out along the flat land toward the hills. In the distance, Joshua could see the tall pines and the sharp outline of the snowcapped mountains jutting into a clear blue sky.
He pulled his horse to a stop at the top of a low rise and scanned the prairie. He watched as a group of mule deer skipped and skittered across the prairie, frightened by his approach. They’d not gone hungry yet with the wild game to be found in this wide-open space.
Pulling his hat down low over his eyes, he gazed across the wide-open prairie that still separated him from the hills. Green grass swayed in the light breeze, its bright greens and golds rippling like waves on a pond.
Colorful wildflowers danced among the grass, their heavy heads swirling in the golden light of day. White chamomile turned yellow faces to the sky, while Amica stretched yellow petals to the sun. Fireweed turned whole swaths of open ground a pale lavender and pockets of flame-like blanket flower vibrated orange and yellow.
A flutter of white sparked in the corner of Joshua’s eye and he twisted in the saddle, squinting to pin-point what had caught his attention. He could just make out a covered wagon moving awkwardly through the grasslands, its six-horse team straining at their harness.
Focusing further, he noted the clear white of a woman’s apron stirring in the breeze as she pushed against the fender of the wagon.
Someone was in trouble. Joshua shoved his hat tight onto his head and kicked his horse into a canter, leaning over the animal’s neck for balance and speed. The clean-limbed bay stretched out and seemed to skim across the prairie, bringing the struggling wagon closer and closer with every beat of his hooves.
A wiry man, his dark head bare, turned from where he’d been leading the team and hurried to the wagon seat, grabbing a rifle and cocking it as Joshua approached.
“Hello!” Joshua bellowed, slowing his horse’s pace. “You look like you could use some help.”
The rifle held steady in the smaller man’s hands as his bright cinnamon-colored eyes glinted dangerously in the sun.
“Who are you?” he asked in heavily accented, but very precise, English.
Joshua pulled his horse to a stop, leaned one arm casually on the saddle horn, and pushed his hat back on his head, trying to look nonchalant.
“I’m Joshu
a James,” Joshua said, smiling to show he was no threat. “I live a few miles back and thought perhaps you could use a little help.”
His eyes strayed to the broken wagon wheel that had been wrapped with willow branches to hold it together. It was an interesting way to try to make repairs, but it wouldn’t hold.
A woman in her thirties moved around the back of the wagon, smoothing her white apron over a dark gray dress. Her black hair was pinned into a tight knot at the nape of her neck and her dark brown eyes looked weary.
Careful not to get into the line of fire, she moved toward the man, speaking softly in a language Joshua didn’t understand.
“Bianca, we don’t know this man,” the man replied, the rifle never wavering.
Again, the woman spoke gently, laying her hand on her husband’s arm. He turned his head toward her, keeping an eye on Joshua.
“We have no one else,” the woman spoke, this time in English. “Have faith, Isadoro.”
Slowly the man lowered his rifle, but still looked cautious as he took a step toward Joshua’s bay.
“Mama?” a young woman peered around the back of the wagon. Her dark brown hair was pulled up at the back of her neck, but not tight like the other woman’s, and framed her face like a forward-swept raven’s wing.
She looked up and her bright eyes, dark brown like a cup of good coffee, lifted to his and she smiled.
Joshua was stunned to see the young woman. She looked tired and overheated as she pushed her heavy curtain of hair away from her face.
“Come, Camilla,” the woman spoke, stretching her hand out, “meet the man who God has sent to help us.”
Joshua tipped his hat, then swung down from his mount. “Ma’am,” he offered in greeting, before extending his hand to the wiry fellow with the rifle. “I’m Joshua James,” he said again, and this time the man lowered the rifle and offered his hand.
“Isadoro Leone,” the man said, still eyeing Joshua suspiciously.
“You been out here on your own for a while?” Joshua asked.
“Yes,” the other man replied, “our wagon train left us here five days ago.” His eyes flashed with righteous anger. “The master was in a big hurry to go on and when our wagon wheel broke, he waited one day and when it was not fixed, he left.”
“It’s no land to be stranded in,” Joshua agreed. “Didn’t you have a spare wheel?”
“We did,” the woman spoke up. “I am Bianca.” she offered, dipping her head before continuing. “Another wagon broke a few weeks ago and we gave them the wheel.”
“Mother,” it was the girl who spoke this time, “Should I make some coffee for our guest?”
“That would be nice,” Bianca Leone said, “Our daughter, Mr. James. Camilla, say hello.”
“Hello, Mr. James,” the young woman said dutifully.
“Pardon me, Ma’am, but perhaps it might be a better idea if you were all to come back to the farm with me. You can pack what you need for a few nights on the horses and then the other men and I can come back and see about your wagon.”
Isadoro adjusted the rifle under his arm again.
“Mr. Leone, I can only offer what I know and what I know is that you and your family are a prime target for wild animals out here by yourself, or worse yet, you lose your stock and are stranded out here.”
He waited, studying the man, hoping he’d agree. It would take nearly two hours to get back to the soddy as it was, and he didn’t like the idea of this small family spending the night out here on their own.
“Issy,” Bianca said softly, her dark eyes studying the man’s grizzled face.
“Thank you,” he said, raising the rifle and laying it gently on the wagon seat. “I’ll start unhitching the horses. What should we take with us?”
“You’ll need bedding and a change of clothes. We don’t have much, just a barn and a few sod shacks, but they’re warm and dry.”
The women nodded and turned to go, but not before the young lady called Camilla offered a smile of thanks.
Chapter 16
“JOSHUA’S BACK!” DEEKS called from the garden. “He’s got someone with ‘em.”
“What do you mean he’s got someone with him?” Brion stepped from the barn, still holding a pitchfork in his hand.
“Don’t know, but they’s with ‘em.”
Brion turned toward the trail just as Joshua splashed across the stream followed by six horses, three bearing riders.
“Now how in thunder did he go out scoutin’ lumber and come back with folks?” he asked, leaning the fork against the wall and heading toward the riders.
Behind him, the soddy door squeaked open and Katie and Meg poured out, squealing with delight as they raced toward their father.
“Pa, Pa!” Katie called as she dashed along the trail.
“Papa, Papa,” Meg echoed running, trying to keep up.
Noticing the extra horses and riders, Katie ground to a stop, all knees and elbows. As Meg came abreast of her, Katie reached out, pulling the little red-head to her.
Joshua smiled as he approached, pulling his horse to a halt next to the girls. Meg immediately lifted her hands, “Up, Papa!” her cheerful voice called.
Joshua leaned down from the saddle and grasped her arm. Meg grabbed tight to his wrists and he swung her up before him on the saddle.
“Katie.” He offered his hand again, but Katie was busy studying the people who moved up behind them. “These are some new friends I met out riding,” Joshua offered.
Katie blinked up at the newcomers. A pretty woman with brown hair and brown eyes smiled at her from where she sat awkwardly on a big, heavily muscled horse.
Turning, Katie looked at the next rider, a slightly plumper woman with black hair pulled tight against her scalp. This woman didn’t smile, but her eyes were kind and inviting. She looked like she might slip off the big horse she rode, but its wide back kept her seated instead.
“Who’re you?” she asked the last rider, who was leading a string of other horses behind him. He was a smaller man, short but with strong arms exposed below rolled-up shirt sleeves.
“I am Isadoro,” the man replied, his eyes twinkling as if he were delighted to meet her. “And who might you be?” he asked, his lips pulling to one side in a smile.
“I’m Katie,” the girl replied, “this is my home.”
The man called Isadoro looked around him, carefully assessing the plot. Four square, squat sod shacks sat at various angles and a low, narrow log structure stood with open doors beside a rail fence.
“It looks like a fine place,” Isadoro spoke again, “I hope you won’t mind if we stop a while.”
Katie studied the man for a while, tilting her head to the side as if thinking.
“I reckon that’d be all right,” she said, tapping her chin with a small, dirty index finger.
“Thank you,” the man smiled down at her.
“You’re welcome,” she said, reaching for her father who pulled her up behind him, shaking his head.
“Fellas,” Joshua called as he reined his horse to a stop in front of his friends. Billy and Benji had followed the girls out of the shack and gazed up at Joshua.
“I’d like to introduce you to the Leones.” Joshua shifted in his saddle, lifting his hand toward their guests. “Mr. and Mrs. Leone, and their daughter, Miss Camilla.” He paused while the men tipped their hats.
“These fellas are my partners, so ta speak, out here in Wyoming. This is Benji, my oldest friend, my brother-in-law Brion, Billy, and Mr. Deeks.”
Benji walked up to the older woman and offered her help down off the big wagon horse. She smiled thankfully and accepted.
Mr. Leone dropped from his horse lightly and moved to his wife, while Brion helped Miss Camilla.
“It feels good to be on my own two feet,” the young woman said.
Katie turned sideways on the rump of her father’s horse and slid down, landing in the dirt with a thud, then stood and brushed off her hands.
“Oh
, my, aren’t you spry,” Camilla laughed. “I can’t wait to meet your Mama.”
At once all the men turned to look at her and a heavy silence settled over the crowd as everyone waited.
“My Mama’s dead,” Katie said seriously. “It’s just us and Pa now and everyone else, I guess.”
“I’m sorry,” Camilla said kindly, “but I’m very glad to meet you.” She offered her hand to the girl who stared at it and shrugged.
“Are you gonna stay with us, too?” the girl asked.
“We had an accident with our wagon and your father said he’d help us,” Camilla offered. “Is that all right with you?”
“Sure,” Katie said.
Moments later everyone was talking and helping the Leones move their tired horses to the corral.
“I reckon yuns can stay in my place tonight,” Billy offered, walking along with Isadoro. “I spend most of my time with the youngins, anyways.”
“Thank you, Mr. Billy,” Isadoro said.
“Just call me Billy,” the older man said.
“Very well.”
“Where was you headin’ anyway?” Billy asked, turning toward Joshua’s place.
“Colorado.”
“Hm, mighty fine place, Colorado; buildin’ up these days.”
“You have been there?”
“I’ve been around a bit over the years.”
“What brought you here?”
“Joshua,” Billy said, jutting his chin toward the little shack.
The dark, wiry man looked at Billy.
“Seemed when I met him my itchy feet settled a bit. Him and them girls has been like the family I never had.” His blue eyes were soft with affection.
“He is good man, no?”
Billy chuckled. “Yes, he’s a good man, if a little lost just now.” He patted Isadoro on the shoulder. “Yuns is lucky he came along when he did. I’ll get the coffee on.”
“Who is this?” Camilla Leone asked as they moved into the warmth of the little sod house to see baby Fiona, standing up next to the bed. “Aren’t you a cutie,” she added, running a finger over the little girl’s cheek, making her giggle.
