On the Mountain

by Peggy Ann Craig

  “What the hell are you talking about?” He felt his blood beginning to boil.

  “Had my suspicion about that little piece of scum you hired as your new ranch boy. But didn’t make the connection to the whore who had gotten away from us on the mountain though, until I overheard the two of you talking at the town spring festival.”

  “She couldn’t talk. Why the hell didn’t you just leave her be?”

  “And have the chance she may speak one day? Hell no. I wasn’t going to take that chance. Besides, scum like her don’t deserve to be allowed to live.”

  Wade had to fight with every willpower he possessed to keep himself from springing from that boulder and emptying his rifle up at the constable. “Is that why you killed her family?”

  “Hell, the whole group of them.” He sneered back, his voice bouncing off the wall of the gorge. “Trash like that have no right existing. You should thank me, Haddock, for cleaning up your mountain. Hell, it was what your father wanted.”

  “I’m not my father,” he replied but more to himself than to the lawman.

  “The little piece of vermin thought she could soil my seed, but I’d be damned before I allowed some whore to bear my child.”

  Wade frowned, trying to digest the constable’s words. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “She tried to hide it from me. Nearly a year gone by since I made that whore pay the price for her son filching what wasn’t his. Damn stupid bitch, didn’t even realize that you can’t hang for stealing.”

  Wade looked up the gorge and saw Frank and another ranch hand close in on the constable. “A year later she comes into town with her filthy brood, except this time she’s bearing a new bastard. She lies and says he ain’t mine. Hell, I’m no fool. I can see clearly that the hybrid is my offspring.”

  “So you went to take him?”

  “Jesus, no, that little bastard was filth and needed to be abolished. Me and the fellas went there to slice the little bastard’s throat. Told them damn idiots I had a very important job to do and might even be able to make them my deputies when we were done.” His snicker echoed down the gorge. “Fools believed me. When we got there I decided to eliminate the whole good-for-nothing lot.”

  Wade lowered his lids, feeling the disgust run throughout his body. A blast echoed down the gorge and his eyes flew open.

  “Frank?”

  There was a moment’s pause, then, “We got him boss.”

  * * *

  Wade stood on the back porch of the homestead and looked down at the corral where Anna sat on Lucy’s bare back. Joe had tried many times to train the horse with a saddle, but the filly refused anything on her back other than the woman. It had been three weeks now since the incident down at the river. She had regained her voice, but Anna had become more withdrawn than ever before.

  He didn’t doubt with her memory restored, she would be haunted daily by the events that happened up on the mountain. A stab of his own suffering ached deep inside, for he wished he could have done more to help her. Though he had killed the murderers who had done this to her and her family, the constable had been allowed to live.

  After Frank had shouted down the rock wall to Wade, he had raced up the gorge to find the constable only shot in the leg. The man’s evil eyes had glared up at him and told him that Anna was nothing but trash. When Wade raised his rifle to blast a cavity into the side of the man’s head, Frank had shouted that two riders were approaching over the ridge. They turned out to be Prescott and the RCMP officer.

  Wade aimed his hatred toward the lawman and realized that if he killed him, he would be no better than the constable. It was not revenge or prejudice or even hatred that slaughtered that village. It was pure evil. The same evil that tempted him now to end the lawman’s life. Slowly, he lowered his rifle and waited until the RCMP officer arrived to arrest him. Wade recounted the constable’s story to the officer, but didn’t need to as Stanford was only too obliging with the details.

  Now, as he stood and watched sorrow dim the light from her eyes, he regretted not pulling that trigger.

  “Wade?”

  He turned around to see Kathleen approach. With effort, he offered her a smile. She came to him and slipped her arm through his and leaned out over the porch rail to look toward the mountains beyond. It was a beautiful day, but not nearly as hot as it had been in the past several weeks.

  “I know you always thought otherwise, but I love this land as much as you.” He turned and offered her a raised brow. “I’m just not cut to live out here.”

  He smiled then and turned his attention back to the corral.

  “I was thinking of going back on the last stagecoach tomorrow evening,” she surprised him by saying.

  Wade straightened and turned to look at her. “I always hate to see you go, but I understand. Your family, I’m sure, are missing you terribly.”

  “And I them.”

  He nodded, and for the first time understood. “I’ll have one of the ranch hands ride in and send word to the stagecoach.”

  She nodded, then looked out to the corral as well. “I’m bringing Anna back with me.”

  Wade couldn’t have been more stunned if she had punched him. “What?”

  “I think it’s in her best interest.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. She doesn’t belong in the city.”

  Kathleen sighed and told him, “She has nothing left here, Wade. Her family and community are gone.”

  “What the hell are we?” He cursed, forgetting momentarily his manners around his sister. Automatically, he apologized, but then said, “You can’t take her from this. It’s her home.”

  Kathleen gave him a sad look. “It’s your home. Not Anna’s.”

  “I told her she could stay at the Circle H as long as she wanted.”

  “As your servant?”

  “Many woman do.” He pointed out.

  “I want more for Anna. She’s been through so much and has been given a second chance. I want that chance being full of opportunity.”

  He frowned heavily, and turned away from his sister. “She won’t be happy there.”

  His sister shrugged and said, “She’s not happy here. At least in New Westminster she might find a nice young man. Someone to love and be loved in return.”

  Wade’s brow drew together in anger. “What type of gentleman can she capture? She has no family, no status.”

  “Wade, please. Try to understand.” Kathleen put her hand on his arm. “If she stays here, she will resort to the type of lifestyle she was brought up to expect. In New Westminster I can give her an opportunity to improve her life. I’m certain there are plenty of young gentleman who would be willing to take on such a beautiful bride.”

  He raised his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. From his distance he could see the slump of her shoulders as she rode Lucy round and round the corral. There was so much despair and unhappiness in her brown eyes. Gone was the fear, but instead a sorrow replaced their depths. Wade wanted more than anything to help her, but he had failed her once and knew there was nothing left for him to do.

  “I always felt the mountain belonged more to Anna than to me,” he quietly told his sister. “But it holds far too many painful memories for her now. The city just might be her salvation.”

  Kathleen offered no comment, simply touched his arm gently. Wade continued to stare out at the girl and felt a sharp, piercing pain in his chest. No matter how much his sister made it sound like the right thing to do, Wade felt Anna belonged in the city as much as he did.

  “Or her demise.”

  * * *

  “Does Wade know?” Anna must surely be having a nightmare, because she couldn’t possibly have heard Kathleen correctly.

  The woman nodded her head. “We discussed it and concluded it was best if you returned to the city with me tomorrow night.”

  She felt utterly miserable at Kathleen’s announcement. “So soon?”

  Kathleen nodded. “I’ve been gone far
too long.”

  Anna thought frantically for a reason not to go. “You don’t need to do this. I can find work in town.”

  She smiled, leaned forward and touched Anna’s hand. “You won’t ever have to work again, Anna. Your days of being a servant are over.”

  But she felt less than enthusiastic. “I’ll work harder, I promise. I’ll learn when not to speak or what silverware to put out. I’ll do better.”

  Kathleen chuckled softly. “You don’t need to work harder. We’re going to find you a nice young man and you’ll become a gentleman’s wife. You’ll have servants.”

  Anna felt her face drop. “Wife?”

  “Yes. New Westminster is full of proper gentleman. John and I already have a list of suitable candidates.”

  The blood drained from Anna’s face. “Wade approved this?”

  A slight flickering of her brows was the only indication that Anna’s question puzzled Kathleen. “Of course.”

  She took a deep, unsteady breath and turned her back to Kathleen. Closing her eyes, she felt an overwhelming urge to cry. If ever there was proof that he did not love her, it certainly was now.

  “Anna?”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, fearful her voice would fail her. “I’m sure you’re right. This is very generous of you.”

  She heard Kathleen get up and approach her back. Then she felt her hands lay gently on Anna’s arms. “Anna?”

  She turned and looked into his sister’s eyes. The pain she felt was clearly written all over her face, but Anna was not good at hiding her emotions. The woman sighed. “Are you in love with my brother?”

  Her chin dropped and Anna wished wholeheartedly that she wasn’t. Next to the death of her family, this was the most painful thing she had to endure. “Yes.”

  “Oh Anna.” Kathleen rubbed her arms in a reassuring manner.

  “I know I’m stupid.” She closed her eyes in agony. “He doesn’t love me. Nor will he ever. I’ve heard everyone say that he’ll never marry, but I would be happy just to stay here and work for him for the rest of my life.”

  “It’s not stupid.” She tugged on Anna’s arms and led her back to the sofa from which they had left. “And don’t listen to everything you hear. Rumors are dreadful and only cause pain. Wade very much has the ability to love. He loves me, doesn’t he?”

  “You’re his sister.” She pointed out the obvious.

  “And he’ll love the right woman when she comes into his life. He just hasn’t met her.” She reached up and brushed a strand of Anna’s hair aside. “Until now.”

  Anna raised startled eyes. “That’s not true.”

  “I told you Wade agreed you should return to the city with me.” Kathleen smiled. “He just wasn’t happy about it.”

  A flicker of hope lit her eyes. “But he still agreed.”

  “I’m very obstinate. That’s the one thing about being the only female sibling. No matter what I wanted, I always got my way.”

  Anna tempted a smile but said, “If he cared, why wouldn’t he have told me?”

  Kathleen’s brows lifted. “He has. You just haven’t been listening.”

  This time Anna frowned hard. She had been listening, and watching, but Wade most definitely did not give her any signals. If anything, it was the complete opposite. An image of him withdrawing anytime they may have gotten too affectionate, came to mind. She hated telling his sister that she was wrong about her own brother, but in this case Anna felt she was right.

  “Kathleen, I think Wade might have feelings for me as a little sister. But I’m not young enough not to know the difference.”

  She smiled suddenly and got to her feet. “Trust me, Anna, as a little sister speaking, that is not sisterly love.”

  Anna frowned again and reminded his sister, “He’s sending me away.”

  Kathleen shook her head. “Change of plans. It’s time someone shook up that brother of mine’s life. It’s far too routine. He needs a little jolt back to reality. And we’re just the women to do it.”

  The frown between Anna’s brows deepened. Kathleen may be willing to play with fire where Wade was concerned, but Anna was not. “I don’t know. Wade knows what he wants in life, and I’m not included.”

  Kathleen reached for her arm and pulled her to her feet. “Sometimes Wade is too bright for his own good. What he has needed in the past twenty-four years is a good wake-up call. He has carried the burden of responsibility for so many people on his shoulders far too long. It’s about time he learns he doesn’t need to carry it alone. Some of us will do it for him. Now, come on. Tomorrow is going to be a big day. We need to start planning.”

  Alarm filled Anna’s eyes, but she allowed the woman to drag her off to the reading room where she proceeded to sit down at the desk with pen and paper. As the woman spoke, Anna couldn’t help but feel intensely worried. If Wade had felt anything before, he certainly wouldn’t after tomorrow.

  * * *

  At the breakfast table the following morning, Wade avoided eye contact with Anna as she served him and his sibling’s breakfast. He felt horrible about sending her away and had contemplated several times telling his sister he had changed his mind. But he couldn’t let his own feelings jeopardize Anna’s chance at happiness.

  “Wade, would you mind going into Lantern this morning?” Kathleen asked across the table. “Anna requires a veil for the road to keep the dust off her face. She may borrow my hat, but unfortunately I only have the one veil.”

  He didn’t like the idea of him being gone for several hours’ right before she left. Wade would have wanted to spend the time with Anna instead. He frowned and pushed his plate aside untouched. He was suddenly not very hungry. “I’ll bring her along and she can pick out which one she prefers.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Kathleen brushed his offer aside. “They are all the same. Besides, I want her to stay and help me pack.”

  His eyes locked on his coffee mug. “Fine.”

  “Good, that’s settled.” She got up and headed for the kitchen.

  Wade sat there stiffly and only realized then that Prescott sat quietly across from him watching. He looked up and noticed an odd look cross his features. “Well?”

  “I hear Anna’s leaving.”

  Wade silently cursed his brother, he hated being reminded. “Kathleen made a valid point. She can offer so much more than I—the Circle H can.”

  Prescott did not reply immediately, then said, “It did all right for the three of us.”

  His eyes shot up and narrowed in on his brother. The man was far too smart. He also had a bad habit of looking at things too deeply. Wade envied him at that moment, because he would have given anything to understand these turmoil emotions he had been feeling ever since her arrival.

  After breakfast, he saddled up Sty and headed into Lantern. A part of him wanted to glance back and see if she was watching from the porch, but he refused to allow himself to look. Instead he rode hard through the valley until eventually he pulled his horse in front of the general store. Dismounting, he walked briskly into the shop and spotted Marion at the same time she spotted him.

  “Well, hello there lover.” She said in her usual seductive manner.

  Wade tilted his cowboy hat at her. “Afternoon, Ms. Walsh.”

  Her brows shot up. “My, how formal.”

  He simply gave her a polite nod in response.

  “Heard about that boy of yours. Turned out to actually be a girl.” She smirked suddenly. “Bet you feel like the biggest fool.”

  Wade’s mouth set in a grim line. “Wasn’t one of my initial responses.”

  Marion feigned shock and ran a hand up and down his arm. “Turned you on did she with her flat little boy’s figure?”

  He snatched her wrist in a tight grasp. “I have an errand to run, so if you’ll excuse me.”

  She arched one brow theatrically. “There was a time when you couldn’t get enough of my company.”

  He held her gaze with a blank expre
ssion, then dropped her wrist. “Good day, Marion.”

  The saloon woman looked at him one more time, then brushed him off and left the shop with a sarcastic chuckle echoing throughout the store. Wade looked around and noticed they had created an audience. He cleared his throat and approached the storekeeper. “I’m looking for a veil.”

  The man looked slightly surprised, but led him over to a bunch of fabric. Wade frowned as he looked down at all the different kinds. Kathleen had said there was only the one to choose from. “Are you sure these are veils?”

  The man grinned and pulled the closest fabric towards Wade. “This one in particular is lovely. Very soft to the touch.”

  Wade studied the cloth, then looked back at the others. There was one in particular that jumped out at him. It was one in a soft lilac color and reminded him of the dress Kathleen had given Anna at Christmas. “I’ll take that one.”

  The shopkeeper smiled and nodded his approval. “Two yards plenty?”

  Wade paused, not having a single clue, but the shopkeeper was clearly one step ahead. “Is this for the young lady from the mountain?”

  He sighed awkwardly and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “That’s right.”

  “Then two yards will be plenty.” He grinned and his plump cheeks puffed out. “I have a lovely pair of gloves in the same lilac shade. Perhaps the miss would like them as well?”

  Wade stared hard at the man. “Fine.”

  The man went over to the counter with the purple veil and placed it gently on the counter. Wade looked around uncomfortably. A few older ladies were in the shop watching his every move. He tipped his hat at them, then turned back to the clerk. He was unlocking a cabinet from which he retrieved a pair of gloves.

  Wade frowned. “They’re in a locked cabinet? How expensive are they?”

  The man grinned once again. “I had them on display with a diamond brooch.”

  While he rang up Wade’s purchase, he wandered over to the cabinet and looked at the brooch sparkling in the glass case. It certainly was beautiful. “How much?”