"After the cholera epidemic that killed their parents," Elias had said, "Tobias kept the ranch going himself for a while. Idalee and Prudence got to know each other during that time. They'd both been sort of outcasts themselves, and they were as close as any sisters could have been. Her friendship with Idalee was probably the only thing Prudence ever stood up to Tobias about."
"Idalee an outcast?" Jessica questioned. "And how did they communicate?"
Elias's silver-hued stare immediately told Jessica she had overstepped the bounds of polite questions.
"Prudence could speak as well as anyone else until a year ago," he said grudgingly. "But I won't be a party to the gossip mongering concerning either her or Idalee. Tobias sold the ranch that year, and moved up into the hills, where we're headed now. He came back from time to time for supplies, and to see Eloise, of course. Idalee had been hoping that after Tobias and Eloise got married, Eloise would talk Tobias into getting some help for Prudence."
And Elias flatly refused to discuss the reason for the enmity Tobias felt toward him and Idalee. It would have to suffice, he told them, to know that it had started about the same time Prudence lost her voice. If she and Ned decided they wanted to go back to town, he would ride on into the Jackson cabin himself and take his chances.
Jessica reached down to pat Cinnabar's neck. The action made her realize she had been too engrossed in Elias's story on their ride to question him on how he and Idalee had come to have the stallion. Thoughts of the woman called Prudence, whom she hadn't even met yet, pushed aside her question.
"That poor woman," Jessica breathed silently to herself.
She watched that poor woman's gray skirt flutter around her legs as she made her way across the ranch yard below them. Her slender figure swayed with the effort of carrying a large, wooden water bucket, and Jessica recalled Elias calling her a girl, rather than a woman. The small figure below them could, in fact, perhaps belong to only a young girl.
Way too far away to be able to make out any of the figure's features and ascertain her age, Jessica nevertheless caught the glint in the dark curls tumbling down her back. The dying sun reflected golden highlights from the dark mass. She watched the woman set the bucket on the top step of the porch, then lean back for a moment with her hand against the small of her back to massage it. She could almost feel the aching muscles the woman attempted to ease.
A second later the woman climbed the steps and disappeared into the house. A faint echo sounded when she let the screen door slam behind her.
Elias turned to look across Jessica at Ned, the creak of his saddle breaking the silence.
"Well?" he asked. "It will go easier on us if we ride on down while there's still some light left, if two have decided to go along."
"I'm not so sure," Ned replied. "Might be easier if we went after dark and surprised them. Made sure this here Jackson fellow couldn't do anything to us while we told him what we came for."
"You mean get the drop on him and tie him up?" Elias said.
"Oh, don't be silly," Jessica said.
The noise of a rifle cocking froze all three of them.
"Best you listen to the lady," a steely voice said behind them. "I'm the one who has the drop on you, and I don't want to hear any words from your lying tongue, Elias Gant. Raise your hands."
When Ned cast a warning glance at Jessica, she fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him and the silly giggle the impulse sent winging into her throat. The man had them cold and she definitely wouldn't risk their lives by not obeying the command from behind them. She raised her hands high above her head.
"Now," the voice ordered. "Turn your horses and go back where you came from. I've already protected my land from a trespasser once today, and I won't hesitate to do it again."
"Well, Tobias," Elias drawled logically. "I just really don't see how we can obey you. How do you expect us to guide our horses with our hands in the air? They might just stampede right down into your yard if we kick them in the sides now."
A brief silence descended and Jessica again found herself stifling the urge to laugh, though she couldn't imagine why. The man's voice behind them told her he meant business, but she couldn't help imagining the look of consternation that would be on his face as he considered Elias's words. A brief giggle somehow found space to pass her clenched lips.
"Shut up!" the man behind them roared. "There isn't a damned thing funny in this!"
Jessica's slight shoulders shook and she had to struggle to keep her hands in the air. She wanted to cup them over her offending mouth and still the laughter, but she knew better than to lower her hands.
"I apologize, Mr. Jackson," she finally managed to gasp. "I guess it's just a woman's hysterics at finding herself on the verge of being shot. But, please. You have to listen to us. We've come here to tell you about Eloise."
The deadly silence lingered for a long moment before Jessica heard the man behind her breathe out the name of the woman he loved in a sigh. The click of the rifle hammer falling back into place sounded loudly into the stillness, and she waited quietly until the man gave them the order to turn around.
Chapter 10
When she finally faced the man behind them, Jessica found herself wondering if the woman she had seen in the ranch yard could possibly be half as good looking as her brother. They shared the same color hair, but his curled in ringlets on his head and lashes almost as lush as Elias's surrounded deep brown eyes in his handsome face. But his body spoke of the fullness of his years in manhood, not the slightness of lesser years on his sister.
Those eyes, though, now held an unfailing wariness and warning. He kept his rifle trained on them, one hand near the trigger and hammer.
"What did you come to tell me about Eloise, Elias?" he said abruptly, though a little of the steel had left his voice.
"Tobias, I...I don't even know how to say it. Oh, my friend...."
"I'm not your friend any longer, Elias," Tobias growled. "Tell me what you've come to say and leave my land. Then I'll go to Eloise and see if you're telling me the truth."
"It's not as easy as that, my friend," Elias said softly. "She's dead. Since this morning."
Jessica felt her heart lurch in sympathy as she watched the agony fill Tobias's eyes. She had no doubt he believed Elias when his shoulders slumped and he dropped his head to hide his pain. The rifle slipped forgotten from his hands.
"How?" he asked in a choked voice.
"Tobias...she...she...."
Tobias raised his head, fixing eyes swimming with tears on Elias. "Tell me!" he demanded.
"She was murdered. They found her in her room this morning."
"No! It can't be true! Elias, please. Tell me you're just playing a cruel joke on me."
Elias only shook his head and watched his gesture send Tobias wilting to the ground, where he buried his head on his knees. Elias stepped forward, then stopped. But when the sounds of wrenching agony erupted from Tobias's throat, he shook off his hesitation and knelt to put his arm around the other man's shoulders.
For an instant Tobias allowed himself to sag in Elias's arms. Then, with a lurch, he shook off Elias and rose to his feet, wiping ineffectively at his eyes.
"We...have to tell Prudence."
"That's why I brought Miss Callaghan with me, Tobias." Elias turned and introduced Jessica and Ned. "I thought Prudence might want a woman with her. Idalee wanted to come, but...."
"I won't have her here!" Tobias bellowed. "I'll won't have her near Prudence — or let her witness my grief and gloat at me. It's enough that you're here."
"Idalee wouldn't gloat, Tobias," Elias denied. "But I don't guess you'll ever believe that."
"Never!" Elias gritted. "Besides, she'll have her own grief to contend with."
"What do you mean?" Elias grabbed the other man's arm.
Tobias shook him off again and turned furious eyes on Elias. "The bastard came here. I'd heard he escaped prison, and I thought maybe God was smiling on me. But now I s
ee He took His payment for my revenge on my sister's honor by taking Eloise. There's always a price to pay, isn't there? But if I'd only known, I'd have whipped the bastard before I killed him!"
"Storm. Oh, God, Tobias. You don't mean Storm was here?"
"I should've ridden in closer, to make sure of my shot," Elias said in a deadly voice. "But I couldn't hold myself when I saw him below in the yard with Prudence. He had his hands on her — those damned hands that had held her in submission before. I couldn't chance his ravaging her again."
"Tobias, Storm didn't...."
"Yeah! So you and Idalee have said!" Tobias said with an angry toss of his head. "Over and over. But the court proved you both lied!"
"Where's Storm now? Tell me, or so help me God, I'll beat it out of you!" Elias demanded.
"Your friend," Tobias spat, "is lying dead somewhere near here. He couldn't have gone far, even if he did manage to get on that damned horse and outride me. I was looking for his body when I saw you three coming."
Jessica's eyes were burning with the effort of staring at the two men and trying to make sense of their words. When Elias raised his clenched fists, she stepped forward, ignoring Ned's hand, which fell an inch short of restraining her.
"Both of you, shut up!" she said. "There's a woman lying dead back in town who deserves a little reverence from the people who knew her."
"You don't understand, Jessica," Elias said as he dropped his hands. "But...I don't guess you should."
Turning, he faced Ned. "Ned, I've got to go while there's still some light left. Will you and Jessica be able to find your way back alone?"
"I'm going down there with Tobias to break the news to his sister," Jessica informed them both.
"Please, Miss Callaghan," Tobias said, his voice again filled with grief. "I'd appreciate it if you'd do that for me."
"Don't worry, Tobias. That's what I came for."
"Then I'll be going," Elias said as he reached for his horse's reins. "If you aren't in town when I arrive, I'll come back looking for you."
"Elias." Jessica's voice stopped him before Elias could swing into the saddle. "Elias, I'll be all right if Ned could help you. Two people can search more area than one."
"I'm not leaving you alone, Jes," Ned insisted.
"She'll be well cared for," Tobias promised. "I'll give you my word on that. And with two of you searching, maybe I'll get word sooner that the earth is rid of that bastard for good."
Elias ignored him and looked at Ned. "I could really use your help, Ned. I can assure you, Jessica will be in no danger here with Tobias and Prudence. She can ride back into town with them tomorrow when they come in for Eloise's funeral."
"When...?" Tobias choked out.
"It won't be until the day after tomorrow, Tobias," Jessica informed him. "Ronnie has arranged it. I'm sure she can find a room for you and your sister at the hotel, if you want to spend tomorrow night in town."
"We'll probably do that," Tobias said, hunching his shoulders and turning away.
"I'm still not sure, Jes," Ned said as he took her arm and moved her off to the side. "Are you sure you want to do this? We don't really know these people. And I ain't so sure about this Jackson feller. He acts damned dangerous to me."
"It's the right thing to do, Ned." She patted his arm comfortingly. "Elias appears to feel that I'll be all right. I don't think he'd put me in a position where I'd be in danger. Even Idalee assured us that Tobias respects women. Prudence will need me, and right now Elias needs your help."
"All right, Jes. But if you aren't in town tomorrow with them, there'll be a whole band of mighty angry cowboys scouring the countryside."
"I'm counting on that, Ned."
Her words told Ned she wasn't as totally sure as she appeared to be, but he nodded reluctantly and reached for his reins.
Jessica stirred up the fire and threw a dry log on it. She didn't think Tobias would mind her using the wood, but then she realized she really didn't know the man well enough to read his mind.
Oh, well. She shrugged her shoulders inside the cotton night rail Prudence had loaned her. Though she had thought she would fall quickly into a deep, untroubled sleep after her long ride today, she soon found the questions crowding her mind keeping her wakeful. And rather than spend hours tossing and turning in the small bed she shared with Prudence, she slipped out and went to the rocking chair in front of the fireplace.
The flames crackled cheerfully and Jessica sat down with one bare foot tucked under her. The other sent the chair rocking gently when she touched it now and then on the cold floor. She almost rose to pull the braided rug nearer to cushion her foot, then sighed and settled against the chair back.
The flames blurred a little as Jessica recalled holding Prudence in her arms earlier while the young woman sobbed out her heartbreak over the news of Eloise. And, yes, Jessica told herself, she had definitely held a woman, though a slight figured one. The breasts Jessica had felt under the gown Prudence wore confirmed Prudence's maturity. She must be at least almost out of her teens.
But one of the questions demanding an answer in Jessica's churning mind was why Prudence's eyes had already been red from crying when they came into the cabin. Jessica shrugged. She must have been upset over the man Tobias told them had attacked her.
Idalee had been right — Tobias wasn't worth much at all. He awkwardly patted his sister's shoulder, but gave up any attempt to comfort her almost immediately. Instead he slammed out of the cabin, not returning until after full darkness.
As soon as Tobias informed Jessica they would leave at daybreak for Baker's Valley, he disappeared into one of the small rooms at the back of the cabin and closed the door. Once, though, while she insisted Prudence eat at least a small bowl of the stew the other woman had previously prepared for the evening meal, Jessica heard Tobias's agonized sobs through the door.
The tell-tale squeak of the door on the bedroom she shared with Prudence drew Jessica's attention, and she turned her head to see Prudence's slight figure approaching her.
"Oh, Prudence," she said quietly. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Her short time with the other woman had already shown Jessica that Prudence understood everything she said. They had even been able to communicate a little in sign language, along with Jessica's spoken words. Now she watched Prudence shake her head negatively and pull the braided rug over to sit at Jessica's feet.
"I guess I didn't wake you, huh?" Jessica questioned. "You couldn't sleep, either."
Prudence shook her head again and looked up at Jessica.
In the glow of the firelight, Jessica could swear she saw the muscles of Prudence's throat working as though she were trying to speak. Only a soft grunt emerged, though, and Prudence's face took on an almost furious glare. Jessica watched her jump to her feet and pull open a drawer on a small chest beside the fireplace.
Prudence rummaged in the drawer and finally turned with a piece of charcoal and a drawing pad in her hand. With a smile of satisfaction tilting her lips, she knelt down on the rug and motioned for Jessica to join her on the floor.
As soon as Jessica complied, her puzzlement clear on her face, Prudence laid a hand on her arm. She pointed a finger from her free hand at Jessica, then laid that hand over her heart.
Jessica nodded in understanding. "I like you, too, Prudence. Even though we've just met, I think we could become fast friends."
Prudence nodded emphatically before she dropped Jessica's arm and picked up the paper and charcoal. She drew with swift strokes for a moment, then held the paper out for Jessica to peruse.
Jessica tilted the paper so the firelight illuminated it, studying the picture Prudence had drawn. Mountains. The jagged peaks could be mountains or high hills. Clouds shot through with angry bolts of lightening obscured their tops.
"Yes, I see," Jessica said as she glanced at Prudence. "It's the land around you here."
Prudence shook her head and grabbed the paper from Jessica. She took the charcoal and
quickly shaded in the clouds on the mountain tops. She pointed at them as her eyes implored Jessica to understand.
"It's not the mountains, is it, Prudence?" Jessica questioned. "The clouds. The clouds mean something."
A fringe of curls fell over Prudence's face as she shook her head up and down. She blew them from her face and tossed her head to throw them back into place. Again she pointed the charcoal at the clouds.
Jessica could feel the other woman's determination to make her understand, and her heart went out to her. What would she do if she ever lost her power of speech? She struggled to comprehend the drawing and found herself playing a word game with Prudence.
"All right, Prudence. They're clouds, but there's something else you want me to see in them. There are all types of clouds. You've colored them in. Black clouds?" she asked.
Prudence nodded.
"All right. Black clouds. There are different types of black clouds. Snow clouds?"
Prudence's negative shake told her she hadn't figured it out.
"Then rain clouds."
An up and down shake and a hopeful light in Prudence's eyes.
"Rain clouds. Rain clouds bring rain. Rain comes in...storms?
Prudences throat began working again and she nodded furiously.
"Storm clouds," Jessica mused. "Prudence, are you trying to tell me something about this man named Storm that your brother and Elias were talking about earlier?"
"Sss...Sss...."
The hiss issuing from Prudence's lips left Jessica no doubt of the other woman's attempt to speak. But Jessica assumed the long unused throat muscles wouldn't cooperate.
"Prudence, don't," she said as she laid a comforting hand on Prudence's arm. "It will come soon, if you relax and keep trying."
Prudence nodded compliance, then touched the clouds on the paper again.
"Storm. Yes, Prudence. I understand. You want to tell me something about Storm."
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