by Trumbo, Kari
He glanced out at the sun. It was only around noon, but getting his new home in order would take most of the day. He knew it would take a few trips, but he grabbed a flour sack he found on the floor and called Jack to follow him.
Though there were a lot of trees, the ground was surprisingly free of twigs. Just under the sparse grass was a layer of rocky gravel, it was sparse and coarse, he wouldn’t use it unless he had to.
Aiden searched in several areas about the camp, but came up with very little he could use, finally settling on the grass, the very stuff he’d hoped to avoid, hoping that as it dried in his mattress it wouldn’t rot or get prickly. He brought the grass litter in and stuffed his tick full. When he’d finished, he was tired and his feet burned.
Peeling off his shoes once more, he noticed the odor which had bothered him before was now much worse and his sweat was not only oily, but thick. He shook his head and lay on his new bed looking up at his sagging, uneven roof. A prayer formed on his lips, a prayer that it wouldn’t rain before he got a day to repair it. Then, he fell into a deep sleep.
His hand was wet, that was his first thought as he woke up to Jack licking him. It was dark in his little cabin and he sat up, looking out the window. All around him, shanties were lit up with men spilling out all over. Music and male banter reached him through his thin walls. He would never make it to town and back and he hadn’t gotten wood or extra leaf litter and twigs for kindling. He rifled through his pack and found a few dollars. He hoped it would be enough for a meal in town and that he could find his way back out to his new home in the dark.
Every step he took sent pain further up his legs. Though he hadn’t gone far, he rubbed the sweat from his brow and took off his coat. Had it been this hot when he’d arrived in Deadwood? It sure seemed warm now. He pressed on though his feet throbbed. With each step, he had to hold his breath, which meant he made nary any progress at all.
Jack whined and ran ahead, then scampered back for him, but as hard as Aiden tried, he couldn’t go faster. Full night came and the trail became difficult to see. Aiden tried to lift his feet with every step, but they were like lead at the end of his legs. He tripped over a large stone on the side of the road and tumbled down the embankment into the ditch. Jack scampered down, licked his face, and ran off barking.
“I didn’t leave you!” he yelled. His voice hoarse. He tried to pull himself up but ferocious heat engulfed him. His body began to shake and he closed his eyes, collapsing in a heap.
*~*~*
“Stop fidgeting, Jennie. What’s gotten into you this evening? This house is snug and safe as a bank, yet you’re wringing your hands and pacing. You’re making me nervous.” Ruby planted her hands on her hips and glared at her.
Jennie couldn’t explain it if she tried. Something had her wound tighter than Carlton William’s clock back in Cutter’s Creek. She’d checked that both doors were locked and looked through the whole house for what had her in a turmoil, but came up with nothing.
“I guess I’m just nervous to be in a new place, is all. I’m sure I’ll settle down after a bit.”
“You’re going to open up the bite on your arm if you don’t. If you can’t help me here in the kitchen, go find something to do. I can’t get anything done with you pacing about.”
Jennie left the kitchen and went back up to the room she now shared with Hattie and Eva. The house was fully furnished, which was good, because they hadn’t brought much with them. It wasn’t a large room, but it didn’t matter. The bed was big enough so she wouldn’t be crowded, there was a desk to sit at, and she had a place to hang her dresses, if she ever had more than two. Jennie picked up the dress she’d changed out of and discarded on the floor. Aiden had ripped it right up the seam. The dress had been large on her anyway, so she could repair it using the extra fabric.
“Jennie! Come on down here!” Beau yelled from below.
Jennie tossed the dress on the edge of the bed and ran down the stairs, holding her skirts away from her flying feet. At the base of the stairs, she stopped and gasped. Jack sat at the front door waiting for Beau to open the screen and let him in. He whined pitifully and lifted a huge paw in the air, gently jabbing at the wood as if to knock.
“Jack… where’s Aiden?” She glanced around the room, but he was not there.
Beau opened the door and allowed the scruffy dog inside. The mutt approached her slowly, and she sat on the stair, her heart racing in her ears. The dog laid his head in her lap and whined. She pulled back, but his soft brown eyes stopped her.
“You’re sorry, eh? So, where is that master of yours?” She gingerly laid her hand on the dog’s head and he scooted closer, looking up at her.
“Aiden had gotten mighty attached to that dog after saving it. I don’t think he’d leave our train for the dog, then let him go. I’ll go with Jack and see if we can track him down.” Beau opened the drop down of the secretary’s desk by the door and grabbed his gun belt from inside, fastening it on. He pulled the gun from the belt and filled each chamber, then slid it back into place. Grabbing a few extra bullets, he put them in his leather munitions pouch.
“Come on, Jack. We need to find Aiden.” Beau opened the door and the dog lifted his head off Jennie’s lap. He nipped the bottom of her skirt and pulled.
“No boy, I can’t go out there. But I’ll be waiting right here when you bring him back.” She patted his head. He whined and pulled again.
“Jack,” Beau called and the dog reluctantly let go of Jennie’s skirt.
She watched as the two disappeared into the night. Ruby locked the door behind them.
“I’m surprised you didn’t hear the commotion. He started scraping on the door as soon as I sent you out of the kitchen. He must’ve tracked us by scent, because he couldn’t have known we were here.”
“He must’ve been a good dog for someone.” Jennie replied. “Now, I hope he’s a good dog for Aiden.”
Ruby stood behind her and gently gripped her shoulders. Jennie realized she was shaking.
“Beau and Jack will find Aiden and bring him back here. Though with the way they parted, I don’t know if Aiden will come here or not. Maybe you could make yourself busy cleaning up that servant’s room down here behind the kitchen? That will give you something to focus on. Also, that’ll be a good place for Aiden if he decides to stay. Far away from all of you.” She peeked around Jennie’s arm to the other girls in the parlor.
Jennie couldn’t help the tear that ran down her cheek as she searched the darkness out the window, knowing Aiden wouldn’t be found so quickly. “Or in case he has no choice…”
“Well, now, I wasn’t going to say that, but we both know Aiden was having trouble with his feet and he walked a long way today. Beau wouldn’t let me look at him, but from what he described to me, he might have some sort of infection.” Ruby shook her head. “Men and their infernal ways. If I’d been able to look, I could’ve told him right away if they were just sore or if they needed tending to. I have to finish supper now or we’ll never eat. You go get busy.”
With Ruby’s red hair and no-nonsense words, she reminded Jennie of Ma, so she didn’t complain about being told what to do. Jennie stopped at a small linen cupboard and grabbed clean bedding, then opened the servant’s room.
The house was equipped with room for one servant, not even a couple could fit in the small space. The bed was little bigger than a cot, but had a mattress stuffed with feathers so the lady must have cared for whomever had been doing her chores and cleaning. Jennie dusted the few pieces of furniture with a wet rag and made the bed. She’d added oil to the lamp and opened the window to let in a little air when she heard Jack barking again.
Jennie couldn’t keep to the room and finish. Had Beau found Aiden? She ran out to the kitchen in time to see Hattie unlock the door. Jack raced into the house and skidded across the shiny floor. Beau struggled under the weight of an unconscious Aiden over his shoulder.
“Beau, the room is ready back here.” She
called and moved out of the way in the narrow passage leading to the back room. Beau shuffled past her and she heard a grunt and the moan of the ropes holding up the bed mattress as Beau dumped Aiden onto it. She peered through the door and saw Beau working to pull off Aiden’s boots, but they wouldn’t come off. Ruby pushed her aside as she bustled in with a pair of scissors.
“We’ve got to cut them off.” Ruby knelt beside him.
“Ruby, I don’t want you to have to do this.” Beau refused to move and laid his hand on her shoulder.
She shook his hand off. “Beau, you know I respect and love you, but I can do this. I need to see what’s going on so I know whether I can treat him or if we need to call for a doctor.”
He held up his hands and stood back, giving her space. Ruby had to use both hands to cut through the heavy leather of Aiden’s boots. The closer she got to his feet, the more restless he became until Beau had to hold him down. She pulled the scissors away and set it to the side. Beau came to the end of the bed and peeled the boot away from the tender skin of Aiden’s ankle, then off his foot.
The smell of Aiden’s swollen red flesh hit Jennie’s nostrils and she gagged. He had no sock left whatsoever and the inside of his boot had rubbed his foot raw. Jennie went to get a basin of water and soap while Ruby worked on the other boot.
Jack laid quietly in the kitchen and rested his head between his paws. She knelt down and patted him on the head. “Aiden must’ve shown you a pretty good turn for you to change your ways so much. Thank you for helping Beau find him.” She stood and tossed down the bone Ruby had pulled from the stewpot, along with a few bits of pork fat. While Jack ate his dinner, Jennie finished warming some water and brought the basin back to Beau and Ruby.
“Oh, Jennie. Thank you.” Ruby wiped her brow with the back of her wrist. “It isn’t good. I hope we can get this infection under control.” She turned to Beau. “I need you to go get the vinegar from the kitchen.”
“Aren’t they pickled enough?” Beau’s eyes grew wide.
Ruby ignored his attempt at humor. “It isn’t for pickling. In this case, I want to clean the wound and I don’t have any alcohol to do it. The vinegar should work instead.”
“Or burn his foot right off his ankle…” Beau muttered under his breath as he left.
“Ruby, do you think he’ll be all right?” Jennie came into the room and looked down at Aiden’s pale face, her heart ached for him. If not for her, he would’ve ridden with them in the wagon and his feet wouldn’t be as bad as they were. She winced as she looked down at his ravaged feet.
“Oh yes, he just walked too far on boots that wore his feet away. I don’t know how we’ll replace his boots, but I suppose we’ll have to. There was nothing for it, I had to cut them off.”
“It’s good to know. He wants to get to work so he can return to his pa. He can’t do that if he can’t walk.” She set the basin down next to Ruby, then straightened. Her hand seemed to move of as if it had its own mind, first resting on his shoulder, then up to his still-soft cheek, lingering a little longer than she knew she should. But being in the same room with him again felt more right than she could explain. Would he wake up and tease her, or want to leave right away?
“Why don’t you grab that stack of rags and bring them here.” Ruby interrupted her thoughts with a gruff command. She gathered the strips of cloth and knelt next to Ruby.
Jennie whispered softly. “You can go finish in the kitchen. I’ll tend to his feet. It’s the least I can do. I should’ve known better than to jump out of the wagon with a growling dog underneath it.”
“It wasn’t your fault you got bit.” Ruby snapped and picked up the cloths, moving them from her.
“It might not be my fault, but I should’ve known better. He didn’t know I wasn’t an animal coming to get him. Jack was scared.”
Ruby stood and washed her hands in the smaller basin by the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” She tilted her head and her eyes said she could hear everything. “Just on the other side of this wall, if you need me.”
Jennie nodded and washed her hands, then carefully pulled one of Aiden’s legs off the bed, dipping it into the warm water. The soft cloth soaked up the water from the basin she’d brought and she wrung it out over his ankle to wet the whole area. His foot was heavy and slippery as she gently lathered a cloth with the soap and dabbed it over the sore area, careful not to scrub. As she dipped his foot back in the water, she heard a sharp intake of breath and looked up at his beautiful hazel eyes, wide with surprise and pain.
“Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon.” His voice rumbled in the small space.
Jennie felt heat rush from her neck to her ears then smiled, dabbing his foot dry with a clean towel. He sat up in the bed and lifted his other leg into the water. He winced and sucked in a long breath.
“That really stings.” He moaned and leaned against the wall.
Beau strode in holding a jar. He wore the look of a concerned parent as he handed it to her. “Here you go, Jennie.” His hard face nodded to Aiden. “Aiden,” he said before sitting in the one chair, a presiding force in the room.
Aiden rubbed his eyes and his stomach rumbled loudly. “What’s in the jar?”
Beau laughed. “Jennie’s going to pickle your feet so we don’t have to smell them anymore.”
Aiden’s face turned red. “Well, if you give me my boots, I can be on my way. You don’t have to put up with my feet no more.” He shoved himself forward to sit up but wouldn’t yank it from her.
Jennie washed his other foot as Aiden and Beau bantered. She tried to ignore the irritation in Aiden’s voice, but it hit her deeper inside than she had any right to feel. If she could find a moment of peace to apologize, that need to speak with him would surely go away.
“You ain’t going anywhere, Aiden. My wife says you have an infection in your feet and you need to sit for a couple days to let them heal. You also need some new boots because she had to cut them clean off. They wouldn’t budge.”
Aiden glanced from Jennie to Beau, his voice exploded around her. “You cut a man’s boots off? I need those!”
Jennie carefully poured the vinegar over his feet and his body tensed as he pulled away from her. He threw his head back against the wall with a crack.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s done now. I just need to wrap them up.”
Beau stood. “You’ll have to stay here a couple days to mend. While you’re here, this’s your room. You’ll stay on the main level of this house and won’t go anywhere near the stairs, understood?”
“Yes, sir. Not like I can walk, anyway.” Aiden responded bitterly as he tried to lay back on the bed. He struggled with his feet still on the floor. Jennie lifted first one, then the other for him and finished binding them. His soft, calm breathing left her sure he’d fallen back asleep and she gathered the left-over rags and basin of dirty water balanced against her waist to leave him be and let him rest. As she walked by, he reached out and grabbed her hand. She gasped and jumped at the light pressure, sloshing the water a bit.
“Jennie, I’m so sorry about what Jack did. I didn’t know he’d do that, I wasn’t thinking. I tied him under the wagon I was sleeping under.” He grimaced. “Is your arm all right?”
She nodded, staring at his hand touching hers, trying to memorize the feeling for later when he was gone again. “Yes. Ruby said your quick action saved me from getting bitten worse. Thank you.”
“I’m surprised you let my fool dog in the house after what he did to you.” He pressed his thumb into her palm and her belly did a strange quiver.
“It isn’t my home and all of us knew if Jack found us without you, something was wrong. He wouldn’t have broken free of you to find us, so he had to have been looking for us to help you.”
“I’m glad he was there or I’d still be in that ditch, probably until morning when, who knows what would have happened.”
“You’ll stay, won’t you?” She closed her eyes and s
queezed his hand, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t run again.
“I’ll stay until I can get new boots. I had a job lined up and I’m afraid I’m going to lose it.”
She set the heavy basin on the table. “Tell Beau, maybe he could work in your stead, so you don’t lose your place?”
Aiden shook his head and his face hardened. “It’s mining. Beau already told me he wants to avoid mines. He doesn’t want to get bit with the fever. Too many pretty girls to provide for.” His eyes softened and smiled up at her, pressing his thumb in the palm of her hand once more. “I think I need a little rest. Thank you for bandaging me up. I’m sorry…” He turned red as a beet and glanced down to his feet.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault. Rest now.” She reluctantly released his hand and turned down the wick on the lamp, then left him to rest.
Chapter Eight
AIDEN LAY IN HIS BED and listened to Beau and Ruby and all the girls talking. He tried to remember the last time he’d eaten and far as he could tell, it had been the noon meal two days before. A shadow darkened his doorway.
“Are you awake, Aiden?” Jennie’s soft voice made him smile and the smell that came with her had his mouth watering.
“I am.”
She came in balancing something in her arms, slowly making her way the few steps to the edge of his bed. She set it down, then pulled out a card of flexibles to light the lamp. It was black as pitch in the small room, but he could see Jennie in his mind’s eye with little trouble. The lamp bathed the room in soft light and her gentle features came into focus. She replaced the hurricane and smiled at him, though he was distracted by the stew sitting on the table beside him and the wonderful savory smell wafting from it.
“I heard your stomach making a fuss before and figured you could stand some supper.” Jennie pulled up the chair next to his bed. “I’ll stay while you eat. I already fed Jack, so don’t worry. He isn’t starving.”
