A Hero's Heart

by Sylvia McDaniel

  Seated in front of a warrior on a beautiful palomino pony, Grace waited a distinct pout on her face. Though mud smeared, the child appeared unharmed. The moment she saw Wade, her small hand went up in a fervent wave and she struggled to get down off the horse. But the warrior held her fast.

  Fear rode Wade as he watched Frank speak to the Indians in sign language. The proud warrior signaled back, motioning with his hand to his mouth.

  Frank translated. “His tribe is sick and hungry. They want to exchange her for food.”

  Wade nodded to the warrior in understanding and acceptance. He hurried across the open expanse toward Rachel. Before he reached her Mary and Toby met him, lugging the hind quarter of the elk Ethan had shot the day before.

  “Here, Wade, give him this,” Mary said as she and Toby handed the wild meat over to him.

  Wade wanted to kiss her, but instead he hoisted the meat over his shoulder. “You’re a hell of a woman Mary Beauchamp.”

  She wiped away a tear. “Just get our little girl, Wade.”

  Hurrying back to the warrior, Wade handed the food to another Indian, and then stood back anxiously, awaiting Grace’s release.

  The Indian holding her nodded his head, acknowledging Wade’s gift. He spoke in a low murmur to Grace before easing her to the ground.

  She ran as fast as her short legs would carry her into Wade’s arms. The feel of her against him filled Wade with an indescribable joy that had him fighting to hold back tears. He knelt down and squeezed her tightly against him. “Sprite, you scared the hell out of me.”

  “I was scared, too! I wanted to come home last night, but they wouldn’t let me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I was afraid they would never bring me back.”

  Wade couldn’t resist kissing Grace on the cheek. “I would have found you. It might have taken me awhile, but I would have kept looking for you until I did.”

  At the sound of hooves, he glanced up to see the Indians riding against the first rays of the morning sun.

  Rachel ran toward Grace and Wade, her night rail pulled up, exposing her ankles. When she reached them, she wrapped her arms around the two, giving them both a hug. “Oh, sweetheart, we were so worried about you. Are you all right? Did they hurt you?”

  Grace clung to Rachel. “No. But I was so scared, especially when that big Indian yanked me out of the water. I thought he was going to scalp me and take all my hair.”

  Rachel eyes skimmed the child as if looking for signs of injury. “I knew you’d fallen in.”

  “I didn’t mean to, Rachel, honest.”

  “I know sweetheart.” Rachel hugged the child to her, thanking God for her safe return.

  “My baby fell into the river. I was trying to get her out when my shoe slipped and the next thing I knew, the river grabbed me and took me away real fast.”

  “How did you get out? Wade questioned.

  “That big Indian swam out and got me. Then he took me back to his village. But I kept telling him I had to go home, that you would be looking for me,” Grace said excitedly.

  Deep relief overwhelmed him. He’d been so afraid they would never see Grace again, so afraid he would find her dead.

  Grace took Wade’s and Rachel’s hands, gripping them as if she never wanted to let go. Holding onto each other, they walked back toward their wagon, with Grace happily chattering.

  “I gave that Indian’s little girl my baby, since she lost hers. I said you’d make me another one. Will you, Rachel?”

  Rachel laughed, sounding more relaxed and carefree than in weeks. “Honey, I’ll make you half-a-dozen babies, if you’ll stay away from the river from now on.”

  “I will. That was pretty scary.”

  Toby bounded toward the three of them, relief etched across his young face at the sight of Grace. “You all right? I looked and looked for you, but I couldn’t find you.”

  Grace ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. “I waited for you and Wade all night. I just knew you’d come.”

  “And we would have, Sprite,” Wade acknowledged.

  Soon the two children were surrounded by people from the wagon train, checking for themselves that Grace was okay. Shaking his head, Wade laughed. “I can’t believe they brought her back.”

  “I’m sure it was in self-defense,” Rachel said.

  Relief filled him with an overwhelming urge to kiss Rachel. He touched her shoulder, bringing her closer. For a moment they simply held one another. Wade knew he shouldn’t, but the need to hold on to something concrete pushed aside his doubts.

  Finally, Rachel said against his shoulder. “Something happened yesterday that I have to tell you about.”

  “What could be more important than a kiss at this moment?” Wade whispered, kissing the top of her head.

  She looked up, her eyes dark with worry. “This is serious.”

  “One kiss, then you can tell me this worry of yours.” Wade’s lips grazed hers, kissing an invitation for more.

  “People are watching.” Rachel breathed the words against his mouth.

  “So, they’ll think we’re a happily married couple celebrating the return of our daughter.”

  He deepened the kiss, savoring the feel of Rachel against him, until she put a hand between them and pushed him away.

  “Wade!” she scolded breathlessly.

  “It was just a kiss.” He smiled at the spots of color on her cheeks.

  “Not in front of everyone!” she said, walking away from the growing crowd. “I need to tell you about Becky and Ethan.”

  Reluctantly he followed her, a wave of uneasiness crawling up his spine. “What about those two?”

  The joy of Grace’s homecoming disappeared from Rachel’s face. “While I was looking for Grace yesterday afternoon, I found them.” She looked down at her tightly gripped hands.

  Wade didn’t have to hear more. Evidently they hadn’t learned anything when he’d discovered them fornicating on the hill.

  He ran his hand across his face, wanting to wipe out the words he’d just heard. It must have hurt Rachel to find her sister with Ethan. “So, that was her worry last night. That you’d tell Mary about finding the two of them together.”

  Rachel rubbed her hands up and down against her arms. “I hoped she worried about Grace, but you’re probably right.”

  “I knew about them, Rachel,” Wade admitted walking to her side. “Several hundred miles back, I found them together. Ethan threatened to tell everyone about our…marriage.”

  Rachel’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “But that would mean Becky knows about us.”

  “I don’t think so. Ethan sent Becky back to camp before he gave me the ultimatum. My silence for his.”

  “I told Ethan about us.”

  “I know.”

  “But why didn’t you tell me?” Rachel asked, clearly exasperated. “Didn’t you think I had a right to know about them?”

  “I didn’t think you’d believe me. I tried to warn you,” Wade reminded her.

  Rachel glanced down at her hands. “I’m sorry. You’re right. It seemed too incredible to believe. I knew you didn’t like Ethan, and thought you were trying to cause trouble.”

  “Honey, I don’t need to cause trouble.”

  “Do you think Mary suspects anything?” Rachel asked.

  “What are you afraid of me suspecting, Rachel?”

  Mary’s sudden approach, with Daniel in tow, caused them both to start.

  “How much we’re going to hate leaving you in The Dalles,” Wade smoothly replied.

  “You two have become very special to me. We’ll keep in touch.” Looking about, she asked. “Is Grace really all right?”

  “She’ll be okay. She’s busy telling Toby and everyone else who will listen about her adventure.” Mary’s eyes were bloodshot and swollen, as if she’d been crying. For a moment, Wade felt remorse for not noticing earlier how distraught she appeared.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, afraid he knew what troubled her.r />
  She squared her shoulders, but couldn’t hide the noticeable tremble of her lip. “I’m tired, that’s all. I want to give you the rest of the elk. We won’t be needing it.”

  Rachel laid her hand on Mary’s arm. “You’ve been so helpful these last few days. Why don’t we combine our meals tonight? The elk won’t go to waste, and we can celebrate Grace’s return.”

  “I don’t know, Rachel. I’m truly tired.”

  “You won’t have to cook dinner. Besides, you cooked for me last night and watched Daniel. No wonder you’re tired today.”

  “Okay, I’ll stew some dried apples and bake biscuits.”

  Wade couldn’t help but wonder if they could celebrate with the knowledge of Ethan and Becky between them. Only Mary was in the dark regarding her husband, and from the look of her, he thought she, too, knew the truth.

  “Speaking of food, I’d better get dressed and fix us something to eat so we can get going.”

  Mary handed Daniel over to Rachel. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  Walking past the thinning crowd of onlookers, Mary went by Becky who stood beside Grace. Becky chose that moment to bend down and hug the child, looking over at Rachel and Wade.

  Rachel quickly turned away. “I can’t talk to her right now. Anything I say will only sound bitter. Maybe later I’ll be able to speak to her without saying things I’ll regret. But not now.”

  “Regret! Isn’t it obvious the woman has no feelings?” Wade clenched his hands at his sides.

  “Even Becky has feelings. But they’re all centered around herself,” Rachel replied. “What do you think we should do about Becky and Ethan? Somehow we’ve got to stop them.”

  “Honey, they’re two grown adults, old enough to make their own choices,” Wade counseled. “We can’t stop them.”

  “Well, I can’t just sit by and watch them destroy my friend. I have to do something.”

  “Are you prepared to tell Mary? Are you ready for Ethan to tell everyone we’re not married?” he whispered.

  * * *

  The late afternoon sun edged lower in the sky as Rachel set up camp with Grace playing at her side. Digging a small pit, she laid twigs and dried leaves inside, then struck flint against stone. A spark jumped, and the leaves smoldered. Fanning the smoke, she waited for the twigs to catch fire before she added the larger limbs. It was nice to use wood again, instead of the buffalo chips they’d used for so many miles.

  The twigs crackled and popped, smoldering as she added the dried branches and hung the meat on a spit to roast. Smoke drifted across camp, blowing with the ever-changing wind.

  All day, Becky had been as nervous as a sinner on Sunday morning. Several times she’d attempted to speak with Rachel, but each time Rachel had walked away, not ready to discuss the latest misdeeds with her wayward sister. She knew sooner or later they would have to talk. But not now. Not tonight.

  Right now, all she could think about was Mary, the friend who had become more of a sister than Becky had ever been. If Rachel told Mary, Ethan would sacrifice her reputation by telling everyone of her pretend marriage to Wade.

  “Are you all right, Rachel,” Grace asked.

  She held out her arms for the little girl, who slipped into her hug. “I’m fine, sweetheart.”

  “You seem sad,” Grace said, an anxious note in her voice.

  “I’m just tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night, worrying about my little girl.”

  Grace’s eyes grew round. “You won’t let them get me again, will you, Rachel?”

  The question tugged at her heart. “Not if I can help it.”

  Arms loaded with a pan of hot biscuits and a pot of apples, Mary strolled into camp. “Has Wade come in yet?” The circles under her eyes had grown larger and darker as the day waned.

  “He’s helping Toby with the horses,” Rachel said, wondering what she should say to her friend.

  “How long before supper is ready?”

  “As soon as the men come in, we’ll dish it up,” Rachel said, noticing the tight lines around Mary’s lips.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Ethan’s late again,” the other woman responded dully.

  “We can wait awhile,” Rachel said. “I still need to have Toby find Bec—” How could she be such a fool? Ethan was late, and she hadn’t seen Becky in hours.

  Mary drew in a shaky breath, her bottom lip quivering. “I meant to bring a jar of peach preserves with me,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

  Whirling away, Mary almost ran back to her own wagon. Why would the mention of Becky upset her, unless she already suspected the truth?

  In that moment, Rachel knew her conscience would not give her a moment’s peace until she told Mary what she’d found. Since Grace’s return, she had struggled with the knowledge that telling Mary would mean sacrificing her own good name. She would be an outcast from the rest of the train, but Mary’s friendship meant more than the opinion of anyone on this journey.

  Tension eased from Rachel as Wade strolled into camp. Grace ran as fast as she could, her tangled curls bouncing on her shoulders as she launched her body into Wade’s arms.

  Wade released Grace, but held her small hand in his as they walked into camp. His emerald gaze captured Rachel, holding her prisoner as his look seared her. Her breath caught in her throat before she reluctantly broke away from his stare.

  “You finished early, “she croaked, passion clogging her throat.

  “With two currying the horses, it didn’t take long,” Wade replied as Toby strolled in behind him. “Where’s everyone else?”

  “Mary went back to her wagon for a moment. Ethan hasn’t come in yet, and I don’t know where Becky is.”

  “Oh,” Wade said, his lips turning down.

  “Would you check on Mary for me, please?” Rachel asked, uneasy with the way her friend had left camp earlier.

  “No need,” Mary called, walking back into the firelight. “I’ve brought back the last of the peach preserves.”

  Rachel glanced at Mary. Her nose was as red as her eyes. “Thanks,” she said. “As soon as Ethan comes in, we’ll eat.”

  “No. We’re not waiting on Ethan any longer. Everyone else is here, so let’s go ahead,” Mary replied, placing the jars of preserves on the wagon’s toolbox.

  “But Becky’s not here,” Grace insisted.

  Rachel quickly tried to cover up the child’s protest. “We’re not waiting on her any longer, either.”

  “Good,” Wade said. “The smell of Mary’s hot biscuits has my stomach rumbling.”

  Rachel handed out plates as everyone filed past the food set up on the wagon’s toolbox. The roasted elk was cut into thin slices, the biscuits were hot and fresh with apple or peach preserves and relish on the side.

  Though the elk was tender and succulent, Rachel couldn’t seem to get the meat past her throat. She picked at the slices, pushing them around on her plate; wondering where Ethan and Becky were, outraged at their flagrant disappearance.

  Finally, Wade asked the question that hung over the group like a gathering thunderstorm. “Did Ethan say where he was riding out to today?”

  “He didn’t tell me,” Mary replied. “He disappeared soon after Grace returned this morning.”

  The sound of giggling drew Rachel’s attention from the conversation. “Finish eating, you two. You need to get to bed.”

  “Can’t we stay up for a little while?” Toby asked.

  Rachel rose to her feet and began to clear the dishes away. “No. It’s been a long day.”

  “Let’s get these dishes cleaned up; then I’ll help you get the children to bed,” Mary said, rising to her feet. The food on her plate had been shuffled around and picked at, too.

  “Thanks. But why don’t you sit by the fire and rest. It won’t take me a minute.”

  “I can’t just sit and do nothing, Rachel.” Mary wrung her hands. “I’ll put the children to bed, and you wash the dishes.”

  “Deal.”
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  For the first time since they’d joined up together, Wade dried the dishes while Rachel washed. “I think we have to tell her,” Rachel whispered.

  Running the towel across a plate, Wade acknowledged, “I’m not too sure she doesn’t already know.”

  “She’s definitely suspicious.”

  “Are you willing to risk everyone finding out about us, for Mary’s sake?”

  Rachel closed her eyes, pain pounding in her temples. “I can’t live with this knowledge anymore, Wade. My conscience will not give me any peace until I tell her the truth.”

  Wade sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”

  “How are you going to feel about everyone finding out we’re not married?” Rachel asked, wishing he would put an end to her unmarried state and say the words she so longed to hear.

  “I don’t like it one damn bit. But I like Mary. She deserves to know the facts, not Ethan’s lies.”

  Rachel scrubbed the dishes with a force that reflected her frustration. “I have to tell her, no matter what it does to us.”

  “I know,” Wade said, his voice full of resignation.

  Strolling back from the tent where she’d put the children to bed, Mary called, “You two are whispering like conspiring thieves. Whatever are you talking about?”

  The answer stuck in Rachel’s throat. Now was the time to confess, tell Mary the truth. But the words lodged in her throat were not to be released, for the guilty pair strolled into camp. Mary’s expression, already tense, tightened. Her lips thinned at the sight of Becky and Ethan standing side by side, their clothes slightly rumpled.

  “I knew I’d find you here.” Ethan walked over to Mary, a big smile on his lips. He acted as if strolling in with another woman was an everyday occurrence.

  “Did you forget about our celebration dinner?” Mary asked, her tone polite yet distant.

  “No. I rode further than I realized, and I just got back. But I did find Becky along the way.” Ethan’s face wore a mask of innocence that made Rachel physically ill.

  Stepping around Ethan, Becky walked over to the box where the food was stored. “You’ve already put everything up?”

  “Supper was an hour ago.” Rachel tried to control the trembling in her voice. “Where were you?”