A Man for Temperance (Wagon Wheel)

by Gilbert, Morris

  “Brennan.”

  “Well, Brennan, I reckon you saved my life. I guess I belong to you now.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Temperance said. “No one should belong to anybody, not that way.”

  “What were you doing out here, all beat-up?” Brennan asked.

  “I been in California. There was a man there, a good-looking fellow. He was going to take me to New Orleans and set me up. You think I’d know better, but I believed him. Maybe I just wanted to get back home again.”

  “You from New Orleans?”

  “Baton Rouge.”

  “Why’d he beat you up?”

  “We had a disagreement.” Belle Vernay’s eyes closed. The pain was getting worse. She began drifting off, and within a few minutes her speech was slurred. Temperance leaned forward to catch her words. “He won this one, but he won’t win the next one though. I’ll plant a bullet right between his eyes!”

  Brennan stared down at the woman. “Well, that’s what we needed—a sick, beat-up woman to help us along.”

  “I’m glad you found her, Brennan. She would have died if you hadn’t.”

  “Maybe we’ll run into that fellow that left her,” he said, and his eyes gleamed. “That would be downright interesting.”

  “Will you shoot him?”

  “No, I reckon I’d let Belle do that. It sounds like she is looking forward to it. Get some sleep. I guess we’d better get this hospital rolling as early as we can in the morning. Might be some more sick, beat-up women or orphans to pick up along the way.”

  Temperance reached out. “You did good, Thaddeus,” she said, and her eyes were warm. “You saved her life.”

  The words embarrassed Thaddeus Brennan. “About time I did something good,” he said. He rose and walked away without a backward look.

  Chapter Twelve

  FOR THREE DAYS AFTER Brennan found Belle, there was little haste on the journey. Temperance had improved rapidly and was back to full strength, with a glow of health in her cheeks. She now sat beside Belle in the wagon, balancing herself automatically as the oxen pulled them along at a faster clip than usual. Turning, she studied Belle, who was holding Timmy on her lap facing her. Her ribs had improved rapidly, although she still winced at times when she made a sudden movement.

  “I think Timmy likes you,” Temperance smiled, studying the fat baby who was gurgling and reaching for Belle’s face.

  Belle ran her hand over the baby’s silky hair. “He probably thinks I’m a clown with these purple eyes.” All of her bruises had turned purple but were fading. “I expect that’s why he likes me.”

  “Be careful you don’t hurt your ribs. I’m glad they weren’t broken.”

  “Thad said I would be laid up for a month or more. He said he got his ribs broken once, and it hurt worse than anything he ever had.”

  “How did he break them?”

  “In a fight somewhere.”

  Gus, who had been asleep under the canvas, suddenly appeared. He leaped easily onto the seat and crawled into Temperance’s lap. He looked up, studied her, and said, “Yow!”

  “That cat sure loves you.”

  “He ought to. I found him when he was a starving kitten and I treated him like a baby. He’s spoiled to pieces.”

  “Nice to have something that loves you.”

  The remark caught Temperance’s attention. “Yes, it is,” she said curiously. Then she asked the question that had been on her mind for three days. “Are you anxious to get back home?”

  “Be good to get back to Baton Rouge. I’ve got friends there, but I’m going to New Orleans.”

  “You know anybody there?”

  “No, but it’s not hard to meet people in that place.”

  Rena, who had been riding in the back, suddenly appeared. She did not crowd in the front seat but knelt behind it, balanced between the two women. She was fascinated by Belle but studied the woman cautiously. “Were you a saloon woman?”

  “I’ve been just about everything, honey. Some I wish I hadn’t been.”

  “Why’d you do it then? My ma was a saloon woman,” Rena said and studied Belle’s face to see the reaction.

  “So was mine,” Belle said. “I ran away from her when I was fourteen years old.”

  “I’m twelve. I’m going to run away if my aunt and uncle are mean to me.”

  “What about Bent and Bess? You can’t run away and take two kids with you.”

  “I’ll find a way.”

  “Maybe they’ll be just what you need,” Temperance said quickly.

  “That’s not what Ma said.”

  Temperance opened her mouth to make a remark but discovered she had none to make. She was relieved of the responsibility when Brennan, who had been walking alongside the lead oxen, called out, “Whoa!” and the wagon lurched to a stop. “We’ll stay here for the night,” Brennan said. “Been hot today.”

  That was a signal for the work to begin, and everybody except Belle went to his or her chores. Brennan had picked up dry wood along the way as was his habit, so there was no need to collect firewood. As the sun began to enfold itself on the earth in the west, the fire dotted the prairie with its cheerful yellow blaze. Temperance milked the goat and then cooked a quick supper. Brennan had knocked down a few sage hens. She baked them on sticks. As she tended the meal, which included baked potatoes and the inevitable mush for the baby, she saw that Brennan was talking to Belle. She could hear their words clearly enough and found herself listening intently.

  “Have you ever been in New Orleans, Thad?”

  “Twice. Wound up in trouble both times. That’s a sinful place.” He grinned rashly, his teeth white against his tanned skin. “I think I had a good time, but I was too drunk to remember most of it. What’ll you do when you get there, Belle?”

  “Oh, I’ll find something.” Belle reached up and touched her face. “These bruises will be gone by that time.”

  “What was that fellow’s name that put you out?”

  “Benteen. Dirk Benteen.”

  “Dirk’s a funny name.”

  “That’s another name that sailors give to a knife. He always carries it with him.” She shivered slightly and said, “I saw him cut a man all to pieces with it in San Francisco.”

  “Be interesting to meet up with him.”

  “What would you do if we did?” Belle said, turning to face Brennan.

  “Why, I might ask him to explain why he would beat up a nice lady and put her afoot on the prairie.”

  “Don’t have anything to do with him if we do catch him. He’s mean.”

  Brennan smiled. “I’m mean myself, Belle.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re rough, but you’re not mean.” Belle took a deep breath. “How long do I have to wear these bandages?”

  “Oh, you can take them off just about any time.”

  Temperance had been poking the sage hens and called out, “Supper’s ready!”

  Brennan rose to his feet, stretched lazily, and said, “You know what I fancy right now? A nice glass of ice water. Been hot today.”

  Belle laughed. She seemed always amused by Brennan. “Well, you won’t find ice water around here.”

  “You want to bet?”

  “I don’t have anything to bet, but maybe I’ll think of something.”

  “There’s no ice around here,” Bent said, staring at Brennan. “You’re always saying things like that.”

  “I always tell the precise, exact truth, Bent. You don’t think I can find ice in this place?”

  “No,” Bent said stubbornly.

  “What about you, Rena? You think I can find ice?”

  “No, not out here. It’s hotter than blazes.”

  “Well, it does hurt my feelings that my folks I travel with have no confidence.” He turned and studied Temperance. “What about you, Peabody? You think I can work a little miracle?”

  “I think that’s what it would take.” Temperance had grown somewhat accustomed to Brennan’s ways. “If you
say you can do it, Thaddeus, I suppose you can, but I don’t see how.”

  “Well, I’m glad I got one believer in this crowd. You folks just watch this.” He went swiftly to the wagon, picked up a shovel, and began digging a few feet away from the campsite.

  “You’re going to dig up ice?” Rena laughed and said scornfully.

  Brennan didn’t answer, but a few seconds later they heard the shovel hit something hard. “You hit bedrock,” Belle said. “I didn’t know rock was that close to the surface.”

  Brennan took the pick he had brought also and began striking the hard surface. He leaned forward and filled both hands with what appeared to be rock. “How about this?” he said. He handed one chunk to Belle and another to Bent.

  “Why—it is ice!” Bent said with astonishment.

  “It sure is,” Belle said, blinking with surprise. “What’s it doing here?”

  “I ought not to tell you since you doubted me, Belle. But maybe you’ll believe me from now on.” He waved his arms around and said, “This is what they call Ice Slough. There’s a bed of ice about a foot down. It’s there year-round.”

  “What’s ice doing here?” Temperance asked with astonishment. She went over to the hole and picked up a fragment of ice.

  “You don’t realize how high we are. About seven thousand feet. What do you say I chunk some of this out and we wash it off and if we had some lemons, we could have some lemonade—if we had some sugar too.”

  “I’ll make up something,” Temperance said. “Maybe vanilla soda. That worked with that carbonated water.”

  Soon all of them were sipping the ice they had washed in the stream, and Brennan was laughing.

  Afterward the camp grew quiet, but they noticed that Brennan carried his rifle around camp, which was unusual.

  “You expecting trouble, Thaddeus?” Temperance asked.

  “Just pays to be safe.”

  “No, it’s more than that. I can tell you’re expecting something.”

  “Could be Cheyenne around here. I don’t think so though. Just pays to keep your eyes open.”

  Temperance would have asked more, for she was worried, but at that moment Belle came over and said, “Well, Thad, I’m ready to get rid of these bandages. You want to give me a hand?”

  Thad grinned at her, and she was staring up at him with a provocative light in her eye. Even with her face marked by bruises, she was an attractive woman. “It’d be unseemly for me to do that. I’d shock your modesty.”

  “Not mine. Yours, I expect.”

  “You’re right. I’m easily shocked. Peabody, help this woman take them bandages off. Reckon I’ll take a little walk around. You won’t see me, but I’ll be out there.”

  Temperance and Belle watched as the tall man disappeared into the darkness.

  “Well, that didn’t work,” Belle said.

  “What didn’t work?”

  Belle suddenly laughed. “Why, I was trying to tempt our guide. I was too beat-up when he stripped me down and put those bandages on, but I’m feeling better now.”

  Temperance stared at her and could not think of a reply. Finally she said, “Do you really want to take the bandages off?”

  “No, leave them on. They don’t do much good now, but it’ll give me an excuse to get Doctor Brennan to help me with them.” She looked at Temperance and saw something in her face. “What’s the matter? You afraid I’ll steal your man?”

  “He’s not my man, Belle.”

  Belle studied Temperance carefully. “You’ve never been married, have you?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “There wasn’t much of an opportunity for courting.”

  “What held you back?”

  “My parents were very strict when I was growing up. Then they got sick and they kept men away from me most of the time.” She found herself telling Belle about her strange life, how the religious group her parents were with had placed very rigid restrictions on their women.

  Belle listened and finally said, “But your parents are gone now, you say.”

  “Yes, they are, both of them.”

  “Well, you must want a man.” This was a simple enough matter to Belle, but it troubled Temperance.

  “Not every woman has to have a man.”

  “Well, I want one.” She looked out into the darkness as if she might see Brennan, then said, “There are worse out there than Thad. I met some of them.”

  Belle turned away and Temperance watched her go. The conversation had disturbed her deeply, but Timmy began crying, and she went to change him. Afterward she sat in front of the fire, rocking him until he went to sleep. Everyone else was tired from the day’s journey, and the camp fell silent. She could see Timmy’s face by the flickering light of the fire and realized she had become very attached to him. It’ll be hard for me to give him up, she thought, but it’ll be the best for him. The thought troubled her and she rose. She took two steps, turning as she did, and then came to an abrupt halt. Her mind seemed to stop for a moment, for there stood an Indian staring at her with obsidian eyes. He held a bow in his left hand, and the very silence at which he had appeared seized her throat with fear.

  Temperance thought of screaming or running, but it was obvious she was helpless. She swallowed hard and finally said, “Hello.” It sounded like the most ridiculous, mundane thing she could say as soon as the word was uttered; but to her shock and amazement, the dark face of the Indian broke into a smile. He held his hand up in what was obviously a sign of peace, and even as he did, Brennan’s voice broke the silence. “Little Bear, I told you not to scare my folks.”

  The Indian was short and rotund, an older man obviously, for gray was in his hair. He turned to face Brennan, who had appeared almost as silently as the Indian himself. Brennan said, “This is Little Bear, chief of the Pawnees—one of them at least.”

  Little Bear said something in his native language. It sounded as if he was trying to talk around a mouthful of hot mush, but Brennan obviously understood him well. “He says he’s hungry.”

  “I—I’ll fix something.”

  She at once moved to put Timmy down and quickly brought out what food she could. The quality didn’t seem to matter, for Little Bear ate everything she put before him, and finally the two men sat in front of the fire, speaking in the Pawnee language. Belle had not been asleep. She came closer, but the Indian took one look at her and asked a question. Brennan answered, and Belle asked, “What did he want to know?”

  Brennan grinned, his eyes glinting with humor. “He wanted to know if I needed another squaw. He says two squaws are not enough for a great hunter like me.”

  Belle laughed, but Temperance was shocked. “He offered you a squaw?”

  “Well, it was the polite thing to do.”

  The two women listened as the men talked, and finally Little Bear got up, looked at the two women and made a remark, and then left silently.

  “What did he say, Thad?”

  “Oh, he tried to get me to take the squaw. I figure she’s causing some trouble with his tribe, and he thought I could tame her.”

  “Is that all he said?”

  “Not all,” Brennan admitted. He saw that the women were waiting for him. “He said be careful. He saw a Cheyenne war party a few days ago. Nothing to worry about. They’re not likely to get this close to the fort.”

  Belle was smiling at Brennan. “Don’t you even want to know what the squaw looked like?”

  “Maybe I passed up a good deal, but I reckon I got enough to take care of with two women and a wagonload of kids.”

  Belle stared at him, shook her head, and said, “I’m going to bed. Wake me if the Cheyenne get here.”

  Temperance was still shocked about the Indian. He had appeared almost like magic, and she admitted, to herself at least, that she was frightened. The Cheyenne could come as Little Bear had and kill them all.

  Brennan was studying her. “You’re not worried, are you?”

&nb
sp; “I am a little.”

  “It’ll be OK. The wagon trains are pretty thick around here, and the fort’s not too far away. The Cheyenne aren’t likely to make a raid this close to the soldiers.”

  He looked down at the fire. “I had a good time with Little Bear and his people, but it was a long time ago.”

  Temperance felt better merely by his presence there. He stood so close she could have reached out and touched him, and finally her curiosity caused her to say, “Would you have taken the squaw if we hadn’t been along, all of us, I mean?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Brennan’s form was tall and angular, outlined by the flickering fire that cast shadows over his face. “Did you ever have a special feeling for one woman?”

  Brennan turned to stare at her. “I did once, but she didn’t feel anything for me.”

  For a moment Temperance tried to imagine what that situation had been like, but then, without thought, the question that had been at the back of her mind for some time came to her and she asked it. The words almost tumbled out of her mouth. “Do you—do you ever think of me as a woman, Thaddeus?”

  The question obviously caught Brennan off guard. “Why, Peabody, we haven’t done anything but argue since we met. We’re too different. One of us would have to change before anything like that could happen.”

  “I can’t change.”

  “No,” Brennan said slowly, “I don’t reckon you can.”

  For a moment the two stood there, and then something whirled rashly between them, something that neither of them could explain. Brennan reached out, brought her to him like a man reaching for something he was not sure of.

  When he pulled her close, it seemed that a temptress howling like the winter wind went through Temperance. She had never felt such a thing before, and for that moment she understood what it meant to be a woman. It frightened her but gave her a feeling such as she had never known before. She waited, saying nothing, and Brennan was suddenly aware of the strength and honesty of this woman.

  For that one instant Temperance did not move away from the pressure of his hands. He didn’t move forward. He pulled her to him, looked down at her face and he saw her lips tremble, and then something came to him. He was a man who had known women, and she was a woman who had never known a man, but at that moment by the flickering fire, he realized she was there waiting for him, and it was her innocence, perhaps, that caused him to stop. He suddenly dropped his arms and said, “I guess I’d better go back on guard.”