by Norah Hess
Daniel was placing another pillow behind Fletch, then helping him to sit up. When Maida placed his meal in his lap, he tore into it like a hungry animal. When he had scraped the bowl clean and asked for more, Daniel shook his head. "Your stomach will cramp if you eat any more. It's not used to solid food." Daniel took a smoked-up coffeepot off the hearth. "How about a cup of coffee?"
Fletch grinned. "Sounds good. Maybe it'll help fill the empty hole in my belly." Fletch was allowed a second cup of coffee, and while he drank it slowly, savoring its strong flavor, he asked, "When do you think I can travel?"
"Not for a while." Daniel poked up the dying fire and laid another log on it. "I'd say in about three weeks."
"Three weeks! I want to get home before winter sets in."
"You've got a nasty wound there, friend," Daniel said. "If it should start bleedin' again and you're on the trail alone, you'd most likely bleed to death."
"Where are you from, Fletch?" Maida settled herself on Daniel's lap. "I know you're not a native."
"I'm from Big Pine. It's in the Upper Peninsula in northern Michigan."
"I've heard of that settlement," Daniel said. "It's a right far piece from here." He stared thoughtfully into the crackling flames and after a couple minutes spoke again.
"You could probably strike out in a couple weeks if you had someone with you."
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"Maybe." Daniel tugged Maida's hair to make her look at him. "You still want to get married, gal?"
"You know I do, Daniel. I ache to hold your baby in my arms."
"All right then, we'll go with Fletch to Big Pine and stand before a preacher." He looked at a surprised Fletcher. "You've got one in Big Pine, don't you?"
"Hell, yes." Fletcher's teeth flashed in a wide smile. "I plan on using his services myself when I get back. We'll make it a double wedding."
"Is your intended named Laura?" Maida gave him a teasing grin. Fletch smiled sheepishly. "I guess I talked a lot during my fever."
Daniel let loose a loud guffaw. "Talk? You never shut up talkin' about Laura. We know everything there is to know about her. You also raved a lot about some friends bein' killed. Do you mind tellin' us about that?"
With a long sigh Fletch told his story. After a few moments of silence, Daniel said, "You sure acted the fool when you went off and left your woman like that. Don't be surprised if she's not waitin' for you when you get back."
"I know it, man. I have nightmares about her marrying someone else."
"Well, let's hope for the best and in the meantime work at gettin' your strength back." Daniel gave Maida a light slap on the rear. "Bedtime, gal."
While the big man shoveled ashes over the fire, Fletch turned his head to the wall as Maida undressed and pulled on a nightgown. Minutes later, in the dark room, the bunk above him began to rock and creak as Daniel made love to his gal. Fletch hoped with a wry smile that the bed wouldn't fall on top of him.
Chapter Four
The valley below was veiled in a thin gray mist when Laura walked out onto the kitchen porch and sat down on the top step. With her knees drawn up and her chin cupped in the hand whose elbow rested on one knee, her gaze drifted over the wide yard that separated the cabin from the post. The flowers in their beds had long since bloomed, with nothing left but dried stalks and brittle leaves that had been driven into the mud by the cold rain last week.
She had saved their seeds, however, and would scatter them over the rich soil next spring. She narrowed her eyes at a movement at the edge of the forest. Animal or renegade Indian?
Laura relaxed when a bear, weighing close to a thousand pounds, she judged, lumbered across the clearing, then disappeared in the forest. "You'd better get yourself into a cave or hollow log pretty soon, fatso," she muttered. "Snow will be falling any day now."
And I'll be glad, she thought, leaning her head on a supporting post. Big Pine's women would be mostly shut in then and she wouldn't have to see their sly looks, or hear the snide remarks and whispered words that went on behind her back.
There had been some talk and raised eyebrows when she and Pa got married, but that was nothing compared to what was being said after they saw Jolie's fair skin and light blond hair. She had seen the shocked looks on their faces, the knowing smiles that had been exchanged.
No one in the village believed that Taylor Thomas had sired the little one.
Laura knew they were convinced that Adam Beltran had fathered her child. If she and Adam happened to be in the post at the same time, knowing looks and smirks appeared on the faces of others in the post.
A long sigh escaped Laura's lips. No one had been more surprised than she when she had her first look at the almost white hair on her little daughter's head. And later when the soft blue eyes remained blue she was doubly bewildered. The Thomases, as well as the Morrises, were dark of hair, skin, and eyes.
She had come to the conclusion that there could be only one explanation. Generations back there must have been a fair man or woman on one side of the family. An aunt or an uncle or maybe a grandparent.
She wondered what Fletch would think of Jolie if, and when, he ever saw her. And what would be his reaction to her marrying Pa? It would be awkward all the way around. Pa would probably be embarrassed a little, and Fletch was sure to feel shame that he had made love to his father's wife.
Laura hoped that the son would feel a lot of shame. It wouldn't be fair if he got off scot-free from their one time of lovemaking. So far she had borne the brunt of that event.
When would Fletch get home? she wondered. It was the last of October with winter nipping at their heels. If he didn't make it in soon, it would be many more months before the snow-choked passes melted, enabling him to get through.
But he'd return sooner or later, she knew. He and Pa were very close, and Fletch wouldn't stay away any longer than necessary. And there was Milly Howard, whom he'd been courting, the woman whom, according to gossip, he would marry.
Laura snorted her disdain for the woman. Milly certainly wasn't sitting home waiting for Fletch's return. Nightly she entertained some man or other. Laura shook her head. Why was Fletch so blind when it came to that slut?
The sun was beginning to sink and the air to grow colder, and Laura was thinking of going in when her friend Justine Fraser, the only one who had stood by her, called out a greeting. Laura looked up to see the pretty, bright-faced young woman walking briskly down the path that led from her parents' home a quarter mile away.
"You look mighty pleased with yourself" Laura smiled when her friend plopped down beside her.
"Oh, I am pleased. You'll never guess why."
"Old Eli at the mill asked you to marry him?" Laura teased. Eli was 75 years old and did odd jobs around the grain mill.
"You are so funny today, Laura." Justine slapped playfully at Laura's hands. "But someone did ask me to marry him."
"Justine! Who?" Laura exclaimed.
"Tommy Weatherford. Besides my parents you are the first to know."
Laura clasped Justine's hands between her own. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you, Justine. You've loved him for so long."
Justine smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I guess when you married Taylor, Tommy gave up his hope of getting you and turned to me."
"That's not true," Laura protested. "Tommy was never seriously interested in me. We were only good friends."
"He was interested in you, Laura, but I never held it against you. Every single fellow in the village had dreams of marrying you. Haven't you noticed that there have been two other weddings since yours? When you were suddenly out of their reach, the men started looking at the rest of us girls."
"You're mistaken, but I'm not going to argue with you. Now, when is the wedding taking place?"
"We hope before it snows." Justine blushed. "Tommy doesn't want to wait too long."
"I wonder why," Laura said, tongue in cheek, and Justine blushed all the redder.
Laura laughed softly,
then asked, "Will you have your own home or will you live with his mother?"
"We'll have our own place," Justine said proudly. "Tommy felled the trees for the cabin a couple weeks ago and started framing it out yesterday. He waited until then to ask me to marry him."
"He's a smart young man to know that there is no roof big enough for two mistresses."
"Of which I'm thankful," Justine said. "His mother is very domineering. I'd hate living with her. The first thing Ma asked me was 'Do you have to live with that woman?'"
Justine looked at Laura and changed the subject. "I want you to stand up with me on my big day."
"Oh, but, Justine, are you sure?" Laura looked alarmed. "You know the bad name I have now. Everyone will be scandalized."
"I don't care if they are or not. We've been close friends since we were little girls. It's my wedding and I'll ask whom I please to stand up with me. Those who take offense can just stay away."
"If you're sure, I'd be honored to stand beside you," Laura said, tears glimmering in her eyes.
Pretending not to see that Laura was ready to cry, Justine stood up and said, "Good, that's settled." Then she walked away, her head in the clouds.
Laura watched Justine disappear in the gathering twilight and felt a pang of envy. Lucky little friend, she thought, getting to marry the man you love. She stood up after a while and walked back into the cabin. Maybe she'd never know that joy, but her baby had a name, and that was more important than anything else.
It was a raw and wet day when Fletcher, Daniel, and Maida set out. A misty freezing rain glazed the surface of the deer trail they followed, making it almost impossible for Maida to stay on her feet. When she slipped and fell the second time, Daniel laughed, and after he helped her to her feet he hung on to her arm as they moved on.
Fletch, being a healthy specimen of manhood, had healed rapidly. Within a week he was able to go hunting while Daniel spent the time gathering up the traps he had laid down. He would reset them when he and Maida returned, weather permitting.
Fletch had shot three deer in as many days, and with Maida's help he had cut them into serving pieces to be cooked on the trail when they made night camp. He also cut thin strips of the venison which Maida roasted slowly over a low-burning fire. These strips of jerky could be chewed as they walked along, making it unnecessary to waste time by stopping to cook a noon meal.
All three were in high spirits. Fletch was looking forward to seeing Laura, to ask her to marry him, and Maida couldn't wait to get married and start her family. As for Daniel, he was always happy when his Maida was happy.
The rain stopped shortly before they made their first night camp, but it remained bitterly cold. As Fletch and Daniel erected a three-sided windbreak from pine boughs and Maida built a fire that would be their fourth wall, the men glanced up at the sky often, silently praying that snow wouldn't follow the rain.
Their prayers were answered. The skies remained clear and the air dry and cold.
The three travelers had passed into Michigan when they narrowly missed walking into a group of Chippewa Indians with war paint smeared on their faces. They barely had time to drop down in a thick patch of brush and hold their breath as they counted the braves passing within five feet of them.
There were 23 Indians. Fletch shivered when the last one disappeared out of sight. He and Daniel wouldn't have had a chance in hell trying to fight them off.
After that scare, for the next four days they holed up in the daylight hours and worked their way toward Big Pine under the cover of darkness.
One early afternoon under gray lowering skies the three finally stepped out of the forest and looked down on Big Pine. Maida was exhausted and needed a long rest. Both men had thinned down considerably, and Fletch's beard was as full as Daniel's. The surprising thing was there were streaks of blond in his mustache and facial hair.
Fletch's heart set up a wild beating as he paused to gaze down on the village. His eyes went straight to the post and the home place. No one stirred around the cabin, but the four horses tied up outside the post told him there was activity going on inside.
He looked at Daniel and Maida, the girl leaning tiredly against the big man, and said, "We'll drop in at the post first so you can meet my pa. While you gab with him a bit I'll look in on Laura." A flash of white teeth stirred his beard. "I'd like to see her alone at first."
"I don't blame you, friend." Daniel nodded. "You've got a lot offence mendin' to do there."
A hush fell over the big room when Fletch pushed open the door of the post and stepped inside, Daniel and Maida behind him. None of the five men there recognized the bearded man at first, and suspicion flared in their eyes. Strangers weren't overly welcome in Big Pine.
"Hey, you wild timber wolves, it's me, Fletch," he laughed, his eyes going to the counter expecting to see his father standing there. Elisha Imus stood there instead, an uncertain smile on his weathered face.
Laughing and swearing good-naturedly, the men gathered round Fletch, slapping him on the back and shaking his hand. "We'd just about given up on seein' you make it in before bad weather," a trapper friend said. "How did you like Canadian land? Did you get them fellers settled in all right?"
Fletch's face grew sober. "I did. It's a long story, though, that I'll tell you about later. In the meantime I want you to meet my friends, Daniel and Maida. They came out with me to visit Reverend Stiles. They want to get married, and there aren't any preachers in the wild country where Daniel traps."
The men shook hands with Daniel and nodded to Maida. Then the door opened and Milly Howard came rushing in. She ran over to Fletch, crying, "I knew I recognized that big body of yours come in here." Grasping his arm, she smiled up at Fletch and said softly, "I'm so glad you're back. I've missed you so much."
Snorts of low-toned laughter said that Milly had been too busy with other men to miss Fletch Thomas. Every man there with the exception of old Elisha had slept with Milly while Fletch was gone.
Fletch gave his own amused laugh at the phony claim. He shook off her hands and asked, "Where's Pa?"
When no one answered, concern etched Fletch's face. "He's all right, isn't he? Nothing has happened to him while I was gone?"
After several moments in the suddenly tense room, Elisha said evasively, "I take it you ain't been home yet."
"No, I haven't. We just got in. I figured to say hello to Pa before going up to the cabin."
"You're gonna have a big surprise when you get home," Milly spoke up slyly.
"Oh? What's that?" Fletch frowned at Milly, her tone telling him that he wouldn't like hearing her answer.
"You've got yourself a new mama."
"The hell you say?" Fletch laughed his surprise. "You don't mean to tell me that Pa finally got up the nerve to marry—"
"Laura," Milly said, finishing his sentence. "They got married shortly after you left for Canada."
While Fletcher stared at the smirking Milly, she added, "You'll get another surprise when you get home. You've got a new baby sister."
Their shoulders touching, Daniel felt Fletch stiffen, so he said from the corners of his lips, "Steady, friend. Don't let your hurt show."
Fletch forced the rigidness out of his body, but as he fought to control his features, to pretend that he accepted the unacceptable, a black anger was coursing through his blood. How long had his father had his eye on Laura? Or had it been the other way around? How long had she planned on marrying the old fool? Did she hope to secure a permanent home for herself, to one day be a well-off widow?
Well, he thought with a rage that defied reason, his sire had slipped up. He should have taken the little bitch to bed a long time ago instead of treating her like a little princess, waiting until they spoke their wedding vows. His son had taken her virginity.
Fletch got another jolt when Milly volunteered, "We don't think the baby is Taylor's. It's fair and very blond… like Adam Beltran."
His fingers clenched into fists. She had put the ho
rns on Pa right away. He hadn't been able to satisfy her, and she had turned to Beltran, the one she had always seemed to favor among the men who came courting her.
He turned his back to Milly. He didn't want to hear any more from her. He didn't think he could bear hearing one more word about Pa and his wife. His tortured mind became aware that Daniel still stood beside him. What was he to do with him and Maida? It was out of the question to take them to the Thomas cabin as he had planned. It was his intention never to set foot in his old home again. He wished that he'd never have to lay eyes on the pair again. Maybe he would return to Canada with Daniel and Maida.
After thinking a minute, he looked at Elisha and asked, "Is that old place of Sam Crock's still empty?"
Elisha scratched his gray head. "I think so. It was last week. Why do you want to know?"
"Me and Daniel and his woman need a place to live for a few days. And well need some grub. When you get it together, send some kid over with it."
"What do you want, Fletch? Just regular staples?"
"Right," Fletch said, hurrying Daniel and Maida toward the door. If Pa should enter the store now he might hit him.
The sun had a couple hours left before setting as a brisk ten-minute walk took Fletch and his friends to the old forlorn cabin sitting in a clearing of about three acres. It had been vacant for over four years, ever since old man Crock had died from the flu one winter.
Weeds had taken over the place, even choking out the path that led to the sturdy building. Fletch ran a swift glance over the cabin. Its shutters were in fair condition, although one hung by one hinge and the second one had fallen off and lay on the ground. He noticed that some of the chinking between the logs needed to be replaced, but other than that the place was sound.
A good place for a man to live, he thought. A place for a man such as you, his inner voice suggested, making him ask why he should leave the community he'd lived in for 16 years, leave behind friends he'd known since he was a teenager. He had done nothing to be ashamed of, and damned if he would run away.
