by Linda Ford
They lay there for a while, talking about their past, their hopes and dreams, and mostly about Chloe, who still lay between them.
Someone rapped on the door.
Louise sprang from the bed. “Nate is back and I haven’t even tidied up.” She reached for her bag, intending to brush her hair, but the knocking came again.
“Answer the door,” Missy said, a smile in her voice.
Louise drew in a steadying breath. She was acting like a love-struck girl anticipating an outing with her beau. Ironic that she was a wife, and the man coming for her did not represent love and sweet dreams.
She veered toward the door and opened it to reveal a woman. Her heart stuttered a protest. Just as quickly, she silently insisted she wasn’t disappointed.
“Mrs. Hawkins?”
Louise nodded, her ribs so taut they hurt. “What’s wrong?” Had Nate been hurt?
“Oh, nothing’s wrong, my dear. My name is Mrs. Noble. My husband is a doctor. I am often his assistant, especially with the ladies. Your husband asked if I would have a look at the baby and make sure she is as she should be.”
Louise stepped aside to let the woman enter the room.
Missy got off the bed. “I’m going out to look around.”
Louise nodded distractedly.
“You have a very handsome husband,” Mrs. Noble said. “Also a very thoughtful one. Not too many men would seek someone out to check on their wife and baby.”
Louise took the words into her heart. Was his concern only to make sure she got to Eden Valley Ranch and didn’t delay his travels? Or did his caring go deeper than responsibility? Then, as Mrs. Noble looked at Chloe, she forgot everything but the baby.
Would the woman find something wrong?
*
Nate paced back and forth in the hotel lobby, ignoring Kamoose’s scowl.
“You’re wearing out my floor,” Kamoose said when he couldn’t stop Nate with his looks.
“You’d pace, too, if the doctor’s wife was upstairs with your wife and baby.”
Kamoose laughed loudly. “In that case, go right ahead and wear a trench in the floor.”
“Thanks,” he said, though it wasn’t gratitude he felt at the man’s sense of humor, which did nothing to ease his concern.
There was nothing wrong with either Louise or Chloe, he told himself over and over. But he wouldn’t know that for certain until Mrs. Noble said so.
He slowed his steps to look at the clock on the wall behind Kamoose. She’d been up there almost thirty minutes. That couldn’t be good. He headed for the stairs but stopped at the bottom. Even if Louise was his wife in name, he couldn’t go barging in while she was with Mrs. Noble, so he turned around and crossed the room again, his heels striking loudly on the wooden floor.
“Mr. Hawkins?”
He spun around. “Mrs. Noble. Is she okay?”
“The baby is fine. So is your wife. I gave her some tips on feeding the infant and maybe getting Chloe’s days and nights turned around, though that might be difficult so long as you are traveling.”
“But the baby isn’t in pain?” He’d worried about it since Louise had shared her fears.
“Not that I can tell. She’s only three days old, so she’s still adjusting to a whole new world. It takes time.”
A wave of weakness swept over his arms and legs. “They’re both okay?”
“Well, don’t expect your wife to be as energetic as she was before the baby, especially when the child isn’t sleeping at night. Be patient with her. Help her as much as you can.”
He grabbed Mrs. Noble’s hand and shook it. “Thank you. What a relief.”
Kamoose watched from his post, grinning widely, as if enjoying the sight of a man reduced to such a quivering state.
“You’re welcome. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Mrs. Noble bade him goodbye and left the hotel.
Nate hurried across the room. His foot reached the first step as Louise appeared at the top with Chloe in her arms. He stalled, staring up at her. Had she grown more beautiful in the past hour?
He raced up the stairs and escorted her down. “What would you like to do?”
Her smile was so sweet and confident, he couldn’t take his eyes off her until Kamoose laughed.
“I’d like to look around, if I may?”
He glanced about the room, then realized she meant the fort, not the hotel. “Of course.” He led her to the door.
“Supper is served in an hour. Be here or miss it.” Kamoose’s words followed them outside.
“What would you like to see?” Nate asked.
“Everything.” She cradled the baby in one arm.
He knew he wasn’t mistaken in thinking she looked more peaceful. “Mrs. Noble said the baby is doing fine.”
“Yes, she was very reassuring.” Louise smiled up at him. “Thank you for arranging for her to visit.”
He pulled her close and they proceeded to walk the length of the street. There was a small store, a blacksmith shop and, of course, the long barracks for the men.
“It’s laid out neatly,” she commented.
“The Mounties are efficient and orderly.” Having been through the fort several times, he was able to point out the parade grounds, the various barracks, the officers’ quarters, and other buildings and their use. They reached the end of the street, turned around and made their way back toward the hotel.
A bell rang across the clearing, a man pulling frantically on the rope. “Fire. Fire,” he called. “Barracks C.” It seemed as if every able-bodied man in the fort raced down the street.
“I need to see if they need my assistance.” He was loath to leave her. Not because he thought she needed his assistance, but because he’d been enjoying the few minutes they’d had alone. She’d talked more than she’d done since they’d started this journey.
“You go help. I’ll go back to the hotel and wait for you to join us for supper.” She slipped from his grasp and gave him a smile that made him even more reluctant to leave her.
Before he could change his mind and stay, he turned and followed the others racing to fight the fire.
*
Louise watched Nate run to fight the fire. Part of her was proud of his quickness to rush to the aid of others. Part of her worried he might be in danger. Lord, keep him safe.
They had been on their way back to the hotel, but she wasn’t anxious to return on her own and sit in the little room or stay in the lobby and stare at Kamoose. Neither option offered any pleasure, although she’d been anticipating going to the dining room and sitting across the table from Nate. Not that she hadn’t done it for the past nine days, but being in a proper dining room made it seem different.
Though how proper could a dining room be that said it used the sheets off the beds for tablecloths?
Perhaps her restlessness only resulted from her improved mood after Mrs. Noble’s visit. The woman had shown her how to make the baby nurse properly, had assured her the infant showed no signs of being in pain and told her what things she needed to watch for.
Louise’s life felt good and right at the moment.
Her measured steps had brought her to the store. Some dried apples would taste real fine right about now. She shifted Chloe into one arm and opened the door. The store smelled like old cheese and coal oil and a few things she didn’t care to give a label to.
At her request, the storekeeper dug out a handful of dried apples and wrapped them for her. She paid for them and left the store without another thought.
Out in the cold, as she turned her steps toward the hotel, she checked on Chloe, making sure the baby was still well wrapped. She looked up in time to sidestep a man. But she paid him no mind at all. She wanted to get back to the hotel and enjoy her apples.
“Well, well, if it ain’t just the person I’ve been looking for.”
That voice. It sent fingers of fear up and down her spine. She’d recognize it anywhere. It belonged to the last person in the world s
he wanted to ever see again.
Louise lifted her head and gave Vic her fiercest scowl. She should have known he would follow them. “Why aren’t you back in Rocky Creek carrying out your nefarious deeds?”
He sneered. “I don’t understand those big words and you know it, Miss High and Mighty.” He saw the bundle in her arms. “And now ya got yerself a baby. How nice.” He rubbed his greedy hands together as if already enjoying the money the child represented to him.
Louise managed not to reveal her loathing and fear. “And a husband, remember?”
“Did you think that would stop me?”
Truth was, she had hoped it would. At least it meant she had the law on her side.
Vic crowded to the side where she held the baby. He pinched her elbow. A passerby might think he was being solicitous and guiding her along, but that was only because they didn’t hear his whispered words. “One sound out of you or any attempt to get away and I’ll make sure that precious little bundle of yers goes flying.”
She had no reason to doubt both his ability and his intention of doing exactly what he said. The best she could do was drag her feet without being obvious, in the hopes someone from the stagecoach who knew her would see her and intervene.
Where was Nate when she needed him?
Gone helping others. Something she’d admired just moments ago but that now put her nerves on edge.
Trust God. Seemed He was the only one whom she could count on.
Her prayer was simple but never more heartfelt. God, help me get away from this evil man. Protect Chloe.
Chapter Sixteen
It turned out to be a chimney fire and was soon extinguished.
Nate stopped only long enough to wash the dirt from his hands before he jogged back to the hotel.
Kamoose looked startled at his entrance. “What’d you do with the missus?”
“I went to help with the fire. I’ll bring her down now for supper.”
“Bring her from where?”
“Why, from her room.” He pointed up the stairs.
“I didn’t see her come in and I was here the whole time.”
“You must have missed her.” He took the steps three at a time and banged on the door.
Missy pulled it open. “Is it supper time? I’m ready.” She closed the door behind her.
“Where’s Louise?”
“She’s with you.” Her eyes narrowed. “What is this about?”
“She’s not with me.” He explained about the fire. “She said she was coming straight here.” Had she stopped at the store? Perhaps found someone to visit with? “Go ahead. She must have gotten sidetracked. I’ll find her.”
Missy’s eyes widened with fear. She spoke but one word. “Vic?” She swallowed hard and couldn’t go on.
“He couldn’t have caught us,” Nate told her. But even as he said the words, he knew the man could have. They’d been delayed enough for him to have overtaken them. “I’ll bring her back.” No one—not Vic, not anyone else—would take her, or the baby, away from him.
Outside on the street he stopped in the store. No Louise. He headed for the doctor’s office. Perhaps she’d gone to consult with Mrs. Noble again.
“No, I haven’t seen her,” Mrs. Noble said. “Does she often wander off?”
“No.” Maybe he hadn’t seen much of Louise over the past few years, but he knew she wouldn’t simply walk away. His Louise would stay and fight. Which, he realized with a jolt of understanding, was why she’d stayed in Rocky Creek. She’d hoped she could change things by staying, just as he’d hoped to change things by leaving.
“Thanks.” He hurried up and down the broad, rutted street and ended up in front of the Mounties’ headquarters. Colonel Macleod exited as Nate was about to enter the building.
“Can I help you?”
“I don’t know.” He quickly explained Louise’s disappearance.
“Have you looked in all the buildings?”
Nate told him the places he’d been to.
“She’s just had a baby, you say? Could she have fainted somewhere?”
“Wouldn’t I have come upon her?” He scrubbed at his neck. Where had Louise and Chloe disappeared to?
“Come along.” Colonel Macleod signaled Nate to follow.
Nate struggled not to rush past the man and dash up and down the street calling Louise. His brain screamed her name. Louise, where are you and Chloe?
*
Vic led Louise behind the buildings, down a narrow passage and into another building. A storage shed of some sort. What did the man have in mind?
He looked about, then pushed her deeper into the dim interior.
She wondered if he had a plan or if he was making it up as he went. He seemed to be thinking hard. While he thought of what he meant to do, she tried to come up with her own plan.
If she called out, would help come before he could escape or harm either of them?
She wasn’t about to test the idea.
She had to find a way to escape without putting herself or Chloe at risk. She looked at the items in the storeroom and her eyes lit on an array of axes. Quickly she shifted her gaze, lest he notice her interest. But how was she to get at them and how could she swing one while holding Chloe?
“What do you plan to do with us?” Every word was a challenge.
“I’m going to take you someplace where no one will ever find you.”
“You’ll be a hunted man and you know what they say…the Mounties always get their man.”
“Not this time.” He grabbed her arm. “Come on. We’re going to my horse.”
He didn’t say the barn, which gave her cause to think he’d left his horse elsewhere.
“You planning to make us ride double?” She almost gagged at the thought.
He sneered. “One way to make sure you won’t get away.”
She considered her options quickly. “The baby is going to get in the way.” Much as her heart broke to say the words, she told him, “Let me leave the baby here.”
He leaned close and lifted the blanket covering Chloe. “Ugly little thing.”
Her fists curled, but she knew the only way she could hope to save Chloe’s life was to remain calm. She had to make Vic see the wisdom in leaving the infant behind. Chloe would cry when she wakened, which would be soon after Louise stopped rocking her. Someone would hear and save the baby’s life.
“Hadn’t you better get moving? Nate will be looking for me by now.”
Vic squeezed her arm so hard, tears came to her eyes. She blinked them away. She would not show any weakness in front of him.
“Okay, let’s get going.”
She tried to put Chloe down.
“We’re taking the baby. I haven’t come all this way in the cold snow to lose out on my sale.”
“You’ll have a hard time hiding with a baby. They cry a lot, you know.”
“So muffle it.”
She snorted. “You don’t know much about babies, do you? You muffle one and it could well suffocate.” Her throat was so dry she could barely get out the words. “Think about it. We leave the baby here, recognizing it’s going to cause you problems, and I go with you.”
“I want Missy, too.” He shook his head as he grunted. “This isn’t going the way I planned.”
Which pleased her no end. However, it wasn’t exactly going the way she wanted, either. But whatever happened, she must get him to let her leave Chloe.
“Nate expected to meet me for supper. He’ll be turning the place upside down looking for me by now.”
“Put it down and let’s get out of here.”
Thank You, God. She set Chloe on a table and tucked some packages around her to keep her from falling. She’d be safe until someone found her. Tears filled her eyes and clogged the back of her throat as she let Vic drag her out the door.
He glanced to the right and the left, then hurried her toward the open gate.
“Did you leave your horse outside the fort?”
“Never you mind.” His grasp on her arms hurt like fury, but she welcomed the pain. It helped divert her from the horror of leaving her baby. Had her mother felt the same tearing inside when she left? Vic paused at the last corner before the open gate.
A guard stood in the watchtower, but his attention was on those approaching the fort, not on those leaving it.
If only the guard would look in her direction, she could mouth the word help.
But he didn’t.
“Now.” Vic rushed for the gate, pushing her along. He clung close to the wall as he rushed toward a horse tied nearby.
God, she cried silently, her heart about to burst, save Chloe but save me, too. I want to be her mama. I want to be Nate’s wife.
Where had that come from? Likely from her fear. Without Nate at her side, she felt vulnerable. He had taken care of her on every step of this journey. If only he had stayed with her, Vic would not have been able to capture her.
Where was Nate now? For all she knew, he was still fighting a fire. Maybe he’d even been hurt doing so.
She added one more desperate prayer.
Keep Nate safe. Help him be the one to find Chloe.
Then Vic pushed her up on the horse, her legs to one side. “Now we ride. And you best not be a problem if you know what’s good for you.”
She knew what was good for her and it wasn’t riding away with Vic’s arms about her.
All she needed was one chance to escape. But the frozen ground pounded under the horse’s hooves, taking her away from the fort, from Nate, from Chloe. And she saw no means of escape.
One chance of escape is all I need. Please, God, provide it.
Two mounted men rode toward them. Vic muttered under his breath. He would have reined away, but deep snow lay on either side of the trail and it would bog the horse down. Ahead, another trail veered to the left and he kicked the horse into a faster gallop, aiming for the fork in the road.
If only she could get the attention of the patrol returning to the fort.
