by Trumbo, Kari
Aiden shook his head but didn’t look at her. “I got bigger things on my mind than making people think I’m something. I’ve just got to mine enough so I can get home. It ain’t like I want to do this forever.”
“So you haven’t been bitten by gold fever?” Jennie sat forward to look at him, but he glanced away from her. Her stomach fell at his refusal to meet her eyes.
“Maybe I did at first, but the fever has long since cooled. My Da said it would, but I figured if I worked hard and brought back a haul, it wouldn’t matter.”
If what his father said mattered so much, that made him honorable. The more she learned about him, the more Hattie seemed right, he was a good man. “So, you’re hoping to strike it rich in Deadwood, then take your riches home. Where did you say home was again?”
“Kansas, and yes. I don’t even want to be rich. Gold is twenty dollars an ounce right now. I wouldn’t need much.”
“Well, I hope you find what it is you’re searching for in Deadwood. I’m scared pert near out of my hair to go there. It makes sense that you want to go, but everything I’ve heard about it scares me. What if…”
He held up a hand to stop her, but the harsh lines of his face would have done the job. “Don’t start down the road of what if, Jennie. Live life as it happens. You can’t sit there and worry about tomorrow or you’ll make your worries come true.”
“I try to have faith that things will work out just fine, but people get hurt. I’ve been through enough to know that Deadwood could bring back all the things that scare me to death, everything we left Montana for: strong drink and the drunks that come with it, being sold off to anyone who sees fit to ask…”
“You don’t really think Beau and Ruby would do that to you, do you? I may not have been with you but a day, but I can’t see them doing that.”
“No, I don’t. I think women are so rare they’d be a temptation to snatch right off the street.”
He didn’t look at her, but laid his heavy hand atop hers between them on the log, sending a pleasant shiver up her arm. “I think you’ve heard a few too many stories. Tomorrow you’ll see the real Deadwood. Yes, it’s a town in the west, and yes, there’ve been some amazing characters who’ve passed through, but that doesn’t make a town what it is.”
“I’ve told Ruby I’ll stay for three months. If anything happens to me before then, I’m going back to Cutter’s Creek.”
He turned his hazel eyes on her. The heat of his gaze and his hand covering hers made her heart trip. She’d met men in Cutter’s Creek, but most of them had been married. She dearly hoped that her thoughts didn’t turn to pudding every time she was near one. Of course, if they didn’t, that would mean Aiden was different, and she didn’t really want to think about that, either.
He whispered into the twilight. “I hope you give it a chance, Jennie. Deadwood needs ladies to pretty the place up as much as any town.” He pulled his hand from hers and she immediately wanted the contact back. He stood and walked off toward the river, leaving her feeling cold even in the warm May evening. Jennie didn’t feel welcome to follow. He had to have some war going on in his mind to talk to her without the teasing that usually came with it. She almost wished for the teasing again, if it meant he’d hold his shoulders back and smile again.
As the evening wore on, a chill descended on the camp and a light drizzle fell. Jennie helped with the rushed camp cleanup. Once she was done, she put her foot up to climb into the wagon but paused. Under the wagon lay all of Aiden’s things, but it was empty of the man himself. He hadn’t returned yet and he had no blanket other than the horse blanket he used to lay on. If she didn’t do something, he’d get sick from the cold and damp weather. She dug through her trunk and found the blanket her mother had knit for her over the winter. She’d kept it perfect and refused to use it, thinking keeping it nice would somehow keep her mother closer to her. Now, she laid it out over the thick wool blanket so he wouldn’t be frozen in the misty evening air.
It was dark inside the wagon and wet outside of it. There was nothing to do besides sleep, which was what Hattie and Eva decided to do. Soon they were softly breathing, but Jennie couldn’t. She sat up, listening for Aiden to return. Though it was now full dark, and something howled in the distance, Aiden didn’t return. Reverend Level would tell her to pray about it so she clasped her hands and closed her eyes, but words wouldn’t come. She’d never been one to talk to the Lord. Didn’t even know if He would just listen to her. Perhaps if Level prayed, the Lord would hear?
Jennie climbed out over the tongue and picked her way around puddles to the reverend’s wagon wishing she’d thought to grab a blanket to cover herself with. Beau stood at the corner of their other wagon, cradling his rifle in the crook of his arm, protecting it from the rain. Staring off in the direction Aiden had disappeared.
“Jennie, what’re you doing out in this? You’ll catch your death. Get back to the wagon and keep dry, now.”
“But Beau, what about Mr. Bradly?” She swiped the rain from her eyes and searched the dark, hoping to see him. A coyote called in the distance and the sound was like running feet up her spine to the nape of her neck.
“I got Aiden’s gear from under the wagon and gave it to Level. He doesn’t have much room in there, but I can’t have him staying with you three. It ain’t right for you to be out here looking for him, either.”
She didn’t move. “Has he returned at all?” She clutched her arms, shivering. The early spring rain was bitter cold, but she just had to make sure he’d come back. He’d left after her remarks and her guilt was a heavy chain around her.
“I’m keeping an eye out for him. You go get in that wagon now, young lady. I’m not going to tell you again.” He pointed the way as the rain picked up, dripping off the brim of his hat.
She scooted back toward her wagon so he would think she’d gone in, but she still needed to speak to the reverend. She couldn’t possibly get more wet or cold than she already was. She’d have to be careful and speak quietly or Beau would hear her and then he’d be angry. She’d never tested him and really didn’t know what he’d do if he weren’t obeyed.
The reverend sat in the back of his wagon, just inside out of the rain, and he looked up when she peeked around the door of his wooden buggy. It was like a large wooden box on wheels.
His old white eyebrow raised in question. “To what do I owe this late visit, Miss Arnsby?”
She gasped, reminded that she shouldn’t go calling anyone after dark, but especially not an unmarried man, even if he was old. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I just wanted to ask that you would pray for Mr. Bradly’s safe return.”
His other eyebrow rose to join the first. “I already have, but now my question for you is, why don’t you just pray? Surely you know that your prayers are heard by the Father just as easily as my own?”
If she weren’t frozen, she’d blush. She tried to keep her teeth from chattering to alert Beau. “I don’t know much, I’m afraid.”
He nodded and his eyes were sad. “Would that I’d given you a Bible instead of a bonnet. Come see me tomorrow, child, and we can make a good trade.”
She nodded then turned around and went back the way she came to stay out of Beau’s sight. She would have to change when she got into the wagon and pray it didn’t wake up her sisters. Warming back up would take a long time, but what of Aiden? If he hadn’t returned, he’d be freezing, soaked all the way to the skin. What would keep him away in this weather?
If you hadn’t scolded him about mining, he wouldn’t have left. She knew it was true right down to her toes. Sometimes an apology wasn’t quite enough. She’d already been in a poor mood about Deadwood and she’d taken it out on Aiden, but how could she make it right?
A coyote howled again and Jennie quickened her pace to the wagon. She climbed up and changed quickly, her fingers shaking in the cold. He’d be all right, he had to be. She closed her eyes tightly and tried to keep from shivering. If she woke Hattie, she’d hav
e to explain why she was all wet.
Okay, Level, here goes. Lord, I don’t know how to do this, so I’ll just ask. Please keep Aiden safe and bring him back to the wagon train… Amen.
Most of the prayers she’d heard had been a lot longer with thee’s and thou’s. Those words meant nothing to her, but she hoped it wasn’t required to sound like that.
There came the barking of either a dog or coyote, and it came nearer, until she heard it within the camp. Her skin tingled a warning and she hid under the blankets. Then voices. First Beau and then Aiden. She smiled as her heart leapt. There wasn’t much of night left, but now that he’d returned, she could relax.
She had just closed her eyes when something large hit the side of the wagon, swinging all the hanging dresses above her head in a great arc. A picture fell from the side of the wagon where it had been tacked up and Hattie and Eva screamed.
Chapter Five
AIDEN STRUGGLED AGAINST the rope tied around the scraggly mutt’s neck, but it was wet and slipped out of his grasp. He’d found the dog while wandering in the cedar scrub to clear his thoughts. The old yellow dog was tall, and came up to Aiden’s knees. He was a scrapper and had no intention to mind. The mutt ran for Jennie’s wagon and jumped toward the tool box on the side. He landed atop it and growled down at Aiden. A wave of screams erupted from inside and Aiden could imagine their terror. He hadn’t considered when he’d found the mutt that it would be a danger to Beau and his girls.
The dog had to be under his control before it hurt someone. Edging closer, he lunged for the rope, yanking the dog off the tool box. He tied it to the wheel and scrambled for the dinner bones Level had left by the ashes of the fire. They’d stayed long enough in that camp to hunt a little, so there were fresh meaty bones. It was only a few jack rabbits, but the dog was starving and would have the bones devoured quickly.
Aiden threw them at the dog and he snapped them up, not even allowing them to hit the ground, growling when Aiden stepped too close.
“Aiden, what have you brought back with you?” Beau stood behind him, his voice a low rumble, now without his rifle, his arms crossed over his chest. Aiden didn’t need light to tell him Beau wasn’t pleased about the addition. The rain dripped off them both as they faced each other and Aiden shivered, just noticing the biting cold.
“He was being followed by a pack of ‘yotes. I helped him get free but he hasn’t been especially thankful yet.”
Beau gestured at the dog under his wagon. “And what do you hope to do with him? He’s gone wild. Can’t even get near him.” Beau’s face may have been hard to read in the dark, but his voice wasn’t. He was doing just what Aiden would do if he had a passel of girls to look after; protect them.
He glanced back at the dog, now curled up in the center of the wagon, the only dry spot left. “He’ll calm down. I think I’ll call him Jack.”
The dog lifted his head and stared at him, then leaned forward. His hackles rose and he growled a low rumble that shouldn’t sound half as menacing as it did since the dog was near dead with hunger.
“Don’t seem like he likes that name.” Beau came alongside Aiden, and he knew he had to be strong. He’d been pushed around enough as a young man, but no more. Beau would respect him if he stood up, and respectfully did what he had to do.
“Maybe not, but that’s what I’ll name him. Thanks for bringing in my pack. I had no desire to sleep on a wet bed.”
“You probably will, anyway. You’re soaked and there’s nowhere to change. Level’s little cart is hardly big enough to change your mind, but it’s dry.”
“Much obliged.” Aiden knocked lightly on the side of Reverend Level’s rig, then climbed in. It was small, especially with everything hanging from the ceiling and walls, but he toed off his boots near the back and curled up on his wool blanket. Atop his saddlebag was a folded up knit blanket that was not his. He didn’t want to get it wet, but it sure would be warmer than going without. He unrolled a measure of his bedroll and covered himself with it, then he pulled up the knit blanket.
The wind blew the pots and kettles above his head together, softly clanging and plinking above his head. The noise of the rain and the song of the pots lulled him to sleep.
It seemed like he’d just shut his eyes when Level shook his shoulder. “Good morrow, Mr. Bradly. Are you in need of anything?” he spoke out of the darkness, and Aiden blinked wildly to remember where he was and who spoke to him.
He took a deep breath and yawned, recognizing the reverend. “No, sir. Just trying to catch a few winks before the sun comes up.”
“Men don’t take long walks in the rain for no reason. Either they are compelled by duty, such as searching for a military foe or chores on a farm, or they are compelled by a negative spirit in their head. We have no farm, and are under no threat of military action, as far as I can tell. So, Mr. Bradly, what is weighing so heavily on you?”
Aiden sighed and scratched his temple. The reverend wasn’t going to let him go back to sleep, as much as he wanted it. At least he cared enough to ask. “Sir, all I really want to do now, is sleep.”
“So, after finding a lost dog out in the wild, you have now figured out all of your problems and you can rest easy? Oh, that life were that easy for me. Perhaps I should keep my own ears open for a dog.”
Aiden inspected the pots and other oddities Reverend Level had hanging from the inside of the rig, but kept silent. Chasing a dog wasn’t going to make him feel any better about what he’d done with his life so far, and he couldn’t go home until he’d fixed it. The dog was lost and beaten up, just like him. He couldn’t just leave it there to die.
He heard Jack yipping and his eyes flung open. Jennie was in that wagon and would be scared out of her wits. Had Beau told them about the dog or just gone off to bed? He hadn’t even expected Beau to be out waiting for him when he’d returned to camp, though maybe he hadn’t really been. He might have been watching for coyotes. They didn’t generally go for prey they had to work too hard for, and didn’t like people much, but it was never a good idea to take that for granted.
He listened hard for the sounds of fear in the night, but all he could hear were the distant yips of the coyotes and the occasional growl of his own Jack.
“If sleep is what you need this morning, I’ll leave you until the sun is up, but I do want you to think about the demon chasing you, Mr. Bradly. If you don’t douse it, it’ll enflame you.”
Aiden blinked up at the ceiling as Level climbed out of the rig to start his morning. Now, he had plenty to think about.
*~*~*
Jennie had never had a dog in her life and she was sure after this night, she’d never want one. Every time any one of the three of them moved, the dog laying under the wagon would growl, at least she hoped it was a dog. It sounded more like a wolf. She tried closing her eyes and just ignoring it, but the fierce sound kept her tossing until the light of dawn glowed around the wagon.
She grumbled as she dressed, then stuck her foot out the back of the wagon. The dog yapped and lunged at her ankle, clamping onto her skirts and yanking her hard. She screamed as she lost her grip and tumbled to the ground, hard. The dog barked and growled, it’s hackles raised on its back.
“Jack, no!” Aiden ran at the dog as it sprang at her. Her heart raced and she gasped, covering her face as it latched onto her just below the elbow. Pain raced up her arm. She couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. I’m going to die. Weight like she’d never imagined landed on her. She heard herself scream and then the weight vanished. She pulled her legs up to her chest, covering herself as best she could. Her hands shook as she swallowed back tears.
There was a commotion, yelling, but what they said she couldn’t hear distinctly. She felt a strange pounding in her head. The pain blocked her hearing, her vision, everything but the beat of her heart. Strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground as if she were a child, caring arms like she’d always dreamt of when she had been a child.
“I
got you… He was tied… I never thought…” Aiden’s voice drifted through the pain. She raised her head opening her eyes and they focused on him. His eyes raked over her, stalling on her arm. He set her down on the tongue of the wagon, still nestled against his chest. He tore the fabric from her wrist all the way to her shoulder. She shrieked in protest, but the damage was done.
Her head swam at the sight of the blood running over her arm. It wasn’t much, he’d only bitten once, but she’d never really seen her own blood before. Ruby rushed toward her with a bucket of water. Ruby’s pale face worried her and Jennie couldn’t stop her breath from rushing ahead of her, making her head swim. She leaned against Aiden’s strong chest to steady herself.
Ruby set down the pail at Aiden’s feet. “It’s cold. I didn’t have a chance to even put it over the fire, but it’s clean far as I can tell.”
Beau came forward. “Why don’t you let Ruby handle this? We should take care of that dog.”
Aiden lifted her arm. “I learned a few things about doctoring from the prospector I was with in California. I’ll get the dog tied closer to me as soon as I do this.”
Beau took a step closer. “I don’t think you catch my meaning, Aiden. Let Ruby handle this and get your hands off her.”
Jennie wanted to wrap her good arm around Aiden, to hold him close. His strength had fortified her and now Beau was taking him away. She looked to Aiden for help and his eyes bore so much pain. He showed her how to hold her arm bent and then turned on his heel and left. She swallowed her protest, her words had done nothing but damage yesterday. She hadn’t seen him return last night, hadn’t been able to ask if he was all right. What if he just walked the rest of the way to Deadwood and she never saw him again?
“No!” Jennie yelled when Ruby touched her arm. “Aiden, don’t go!”
He turned back toward her and waved as he gathered his saddle and the dog’s rope. She ignored Ruby as she watched him get gradually smaller.
