Teton Romance Trilogy Bundle: Includes Yellowstone Proposal (Short Story)

by Peggy L Henderson

  Adding to her confusion, Joseph instructed Caleb in everything from fire building to fishing, to skinning and eviscerating the small animals he caught for their meals, while she sat idly by, day after day. She tried to shrug it off as inconsequential. Obviously, he didn’t think her capable of performing these tasks. He was probably right, but a part of her was disappointed that he hadn’t included her in the lessons. For the time being, she simply observed and listened, trying to learn what she could.

  Sophia turned away from the mirror. Joseph had left her side and moved further into the store. He stood at the sales counter, talking to the proprietor. If he had heard the women whispering, he gave no indication. Caleb stood next to him, looking like a ragamuffin in his tattered clothes. When Joseph announced that he was bringing Caleb with them, she’d been rather surprised. However, when he told her of Caleb’s circumstances, her heart went out to the child and swelled with love and admiration for Joseph. If only she could muster up the courage and tell him of her feelings. Fear of rejection held her back.

  Unsure of what to do while Joseph conducted his business, Sophia remained where she stood behind the wooden crate. A rack with several simple dresses stood in a corner at the opposite end of the store. A week ago she would have had enough money to no doubt purchase everything in this entire establishment. Traveling through uninhabited areas over the course of the last week, she was acutely aware that none of what Lucy had packed in her trunks would have been suitable to wear. She would have had to purchase an entirely new wardrobe. Now she couldn’t even buy one new dress.

  Sophia ignored the continued stares of disapproval from the ladies doing their shopping. The bell above the door jingled, announcing another customer. Cringing, her eyes darted nervously to the entrance. She surely didn’t need any more people remarking on her appearance.

  Two men dressed in buckskins similar to Joseph’s entered the store, followed by a girl several years younger than herself. Sophia blinked and stared, wide-eyed. The young woman wore buckskin britches and a cotton shirt just like the men. Her blond hair was braided in one long rope down her back. She even wore a knife strapped to the belt around her waist. On her heels followed a petite Indian woman carrying a young child on one hip. A blond-haired boy, about Caleb’s age, darted past them.

  Sophia’s eyes lingered on the Indian woman. She wore a simple buckskin dress that reached well past her knees, long fringes swaying down each side. Her feet were encased in plain leather moccasins that wrapped around her legs and disappeared up under the dress. Her long hair was parted down the middle, and braided on either side. The child on her hip, presumably a boy, had raven-colored hair. His skin tone, although dark, was a shade lighter than the woman’s.

  He’s of mixed blood, like me.

  Her eyes darted to the other child who pushed his way to the front of the store. He couldn’t have Indian blood in him. His skin was too light, as was his straw-colored hair.

  The two women who had whispered about her a moment ago now stood open-mouthed, staring at the group. Both of them set their purchases on the counter, and rushed from the store, declaring they would be back later for the items. None of the new arrivals paid the two women any notice.

  “Joseph? Joseph Walker, is that you?” The pretty blond girl rushed past the two men and up to the counter. Joseph wheeled to face her, and a wide smile brightened his face. Sophia held her breath. Her throat constricted painfully all of a sudden.

  “Kara?” Joseph laughed, and lifted the girl in a tight embrace. He set her down again and his eyes traveled up and down her figure. “Look at you. All grown up.” He glanced up at the two men behind her.

  Sophia’s spirit plummeted even more than before. Apparently, Joseph was back among people he knew, and he obviously held great affection for this girl. She ran a self-conscious hand along the silk fabric of her gown. She’d foolishly believed he might harbor some feelings for her after she kissed him. Heat crept up her neck. How would she ever be able to compete for his attention when his interests were so obviously for women from his own world?

  “Well, if it isn’t little Joey Walker,” the taller of the two blond men exclaimed loudly, and walked up beside Joseph. He slapped him heartily on the back. Joseph reached out his hand, which the older man clasped.

  “Chase Russell, what a surprise,” Joseph said, then turned to the other man. “Sam, how are you?”

  “Fair enough, considering I have to put up with my brother-in-law,” the other man said, less boisterous than his companion. “It’s been what? Three or four years since we last saw you?”

  “How’s life along the Madison?” Joseph asked. “Your folks all right?”

  The man named Sam laughed. “You know my father. Nothing’s going to slow him down. Mama tries her best to keep him in line.”

  “What brings you this far east so late in the season, Joey?” the taller man with the odd name and short hair asked.

  “I’m on my way home from Boston.”

  The tall blond man whistled. “Boston? That’s a long way from the Rockies.”

  Joseph finally looked her way. “Come and meet some friends of mine, Sophie,” he called. Sophia lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. On rubbery legs, she moved around a wooden barrel toward the group. Sam turned to the proprietor on the other side of the counter, handing him a piece of paper.

  “Chase, this is Sophie Yancey, granddaughter of Two Bears, a Bannock chief who is a friend of mine. Sophie, meet Chase Russell and his family.”

  The man named Chase appraised her boldly, a bright grin on his face. He reached for her hand, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Russell,” she said, and plastered a practiced smile on her face. She had plenty of experience greeting her father’s important business associates, and feigning confidence where there was none. Chase Russell’s smile widened, then he looked again at Joseph. His forehead wrinkled in apparent puzzlement.

  “How many years has it been since . . .” He paused mid-sentence, and tapped at his forehead with his index finger, as if he tried to knock a memory loose in his head. “Weren’t you hitched with some Blackfoot who—”

  “How’s Sarah and the rest of your family?” Joseph cut him off abruptly. “Are they here, too?”

  Sophia wondered at Joseph’s rude behavior for cutting the man off. Chase’s eyes lingered on him, then darted to her. His lips twitched and his green eyes sparkled. He didn’t seem upset by the interruption.

  “Sarah’s fine. She stayed home with the rest of the girls to look after her parents and keep them out of trouble. Kara came to stay with her Uncle Zach and help him in his law practice. I think she’s secretly hoping to snatch a husband here in St. Louis, even though she’s much too young to be thinking about men.”

  “Oh, Papa, stop embarrassing me.” Kara smacked her father on the arm, her smile matching his. “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with coming to the city to try and meet a man. I’m nearly seventeen.” Her eyes volleyed to Sophia. “You’re all the way from Boston? How long have you lived there?”

  “Best watch out, Sophie,” Chase said with a chuckle. “She’s about to ask a million questions.”

  Kara scurried next to Sophia, and eyed her tattered dress. She shot an accusing glare at Joseph, then hooked her hand through Sophia’s arm and ushered her away from the men. Sophia glanced over her shoulder. She hadn’t expected Joseph’s eyes on her, and the intense, almost possessive look in his stare sent a jolt of adrenaline rushing through her. Unsure of how to interpret his expression, she turned her head and gave her attention to the girl pulling her away from the group.

  “You live in the mountains where Joseph is taking me?” Sophia asked when they stood a good distance from the others. Caleb and the other boy seemed to be getting along well, and they both pointed at a display case filled with knives.

  “Yes, my family lives along the Madison River, further to the north of where Joseph and his family have their homestead. Are
you on your way home to your people?

  “I’ve never been this far west that I remember.” Sophia shook her head slightly.

  Kara’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “But you’re a Bannock. On whose side?”

  “My mother,” Sophia answered. There wasn’t a hint of disapproval in Kara’s eyes, only curiosity. Sophia liked her, despite her initial reaction to how Joseph greeted her. “I was raised in Boston.”

  “My Uncle Samuel’s wife, Summer Rain, is Shoshone.” She pointed to the Indian woman and the child hanging off of her hip. The short woman stood next to the other blond man. “Their son, Josh is almost two years old. And over there’s my brother Kyle.”

  Sophia’s unease lifted. Her chest seemed to lighten all of a sudden. Was she finally among people who wouldn’t judge her based on the color of her skin?

  “I’d love to hear more about life in Boston. Now that I’m about to turn seventeen, I finally persuaded my parents to allow me to spend a year in St. Louis with my uncle. My older sister, Emily, was allowed to come here last year. We don’t see a lot of white folks where I live. It’ll be exciting to meet some new people.”

  Sophia smiled. Ironic how this girl wanted what she herself was trying to escape from. But then again, Kara never had to contend with Beacon Hill society.

  “There’s a much better shop in town for buying clothes than this place,” Kara said. “I assume you’re going to purchase something more appropriate for wilderness travel?”

  Sophia shook her head. “I lost all my money in a steamboat accident almost a week ago. What I’m wearing is all I have.”

  “Oh my. That had to have been quite scary. I’ve never been on a steamboat before.” Kara made it sound as if the ordeal had been more of an adventure than a life and death situation. She smiled, and squeezed Sophia’s hand, then glanced toward the men. “Well, I’m sure Joseph will buy you some clothes that are better suited,” she said brightly.

  Sophia quickly shook her head. “No, I couldn’t impose on him like that.” Her eyes darted to him. He stood with the other two men, deep in conversation.

  Kara’s forehead wrinkled. “You can’t travel into the mountains in that dress. Joseph knows that.” She paused, then her face brightened again. She snapped her thumb and middle finger together. “I have an idea. I need to get some clothes more suited for St. Louis. It’s more comfortable and practical to travel through the mountains in britches, but I won’t need them here. You can have my clothes. I have a clean shirt in my travel pack.”

  Sophia’s eyes widened. She glanced at the girl’s britches.

  “ I . . . I’m not sure I can accept your offer,” she stammered.

  “Nonsense. Of course you can.” Kara squeezed her hand again. “And as repayment, you can help me pick out some appropriate dresses and undergarments. You must know a lot about fashion.”

  Yes, that was all she seemed to know. It wasn’t exactly useful knowledge for the wilderness. Maybe if she dressed more appropriately, and didn’t remind him so much of a city girl, Joseph would take notice. Would he look at her differently if she wore these clothes?

  “Agreed,” she said firmly, grasping Kara’s hand. There was only one way to find out, and as Kara had said, britches would be more practical in the wilderness. Her silk dress wouldn’t last much longer. Sophia’s mouth widened in a soft smile. She almost laughed out loud. Not in her wildest dreams had she ever thought to wear britches, and buckskin ones at that. Her eyes darted to Joseph, whose back was turned to her.

  Or that you would fall in love with a man like him.

  Chapter Twelve

  Joseph didn’t turn around, but he was acutely aware of Sophie talking with Kara in the far corner of the store. The sound of Sophie’s laughter sent a thrilling wave of warmth through him. He’d never heard her laugh before, not like that. He was glad that she had found a friend in Kara Russell. From the few comments she’d made about her life in Boston, it didn’t seem like she had too many close friends. When the store’s doorbell jingled, he knew immediately that the two women were heading out the door. His head turned just in time to see Kara’s blond rope of hair swish from side to side before the door closed behind her. Through the glass window, Sophie smiled and giggled brightly as she and Kara headed up the wooden boardwalk. The complete change in her from the somber woman earlier today was amazing, and it lifted his own mood.

  “How long are you in town, Joey?” Chase Russell asked, cutting into his thoughts.

  “Long enough to get some supplies, then we’re heading out.”

  “You’re gonna take that gorgeous girl of yours cross country all by yourself?” The blond man cocked his eyebrows. Joseph had known Chase Russell all of his life. His wife’s parents and his own folks were good friends. The man was a bit strange at times, and his manner of speech perplexing, but he had made a name for himself as one of the best mountain men along the Yellowstone, and as someone to be respected.

  Joseph laughed at Chase’s words, ignoring the reference that he somehow considered Sophie to belong to him. “How else am I going to get her to the Tetons?”

  “Sam and I’ll be heading home tomorrow. You could hook up with us, at least part of the way.”

  Joseph considered the idea. It would certainly be safer to travel with more people. Over the last week, he’d had the nagging feeling that they were being followed. The man on the big dun horse he’d seen across the river on the day of the accident came to mind. Avoiding settlements, Joseph had sometimes cut his own trail, and even backtracked a few times. He’d barely slept, and often wondered if he was simply imagining things. A lifetime in the mountains had taught him to never second-guess his intuition. It was safer to be cautious now, rather than dead later.

  If it had been just him, he might have followed up on his hunch and gone looking for the man. He hadn’t wanted to alarm Sophie or Caleb and worry them needlessly, so he hadn’t mentioned his suspicions. The responsibility of keeping her and the boy safe weighed heavily on his mind. He had told Yancey that he planned to get her safely to the Tetons, and that’s exactly what he would do. Even though she wasn’t aware of it as far as he knew, he watched her like a hawk. His protective instincts were at an all time high because of her, and perhaps his mind was merely playing tricks on him.

  He didn’t have the first inkling as to why anyone would be tailing them. He thought of Oliver Sabin, but that was highly unlikely. The man hadn’t been heard from or seen in nearly twenty years. If he were still alive, would he still carry a grudge? And how would he have known about Sophie’s presence here now?

  Joseph made up his mind. “All right, Chase. We’ll go along with you, at least part ways up the Missouri.”

  “Glad to have you. You never know what scum is out there trying to waylay someone. And you sure as hell don’t want to become a target for sport by a bunch of Indian bucks who need to prove themselves as warriors.”

  Joseph nodded, knowing Chase spoke from first hand experience, but he didn’t comment.

  “Now where did that daughter of mine run off to?” Chase glanced around as if realizing for the first time that Kara was no longer in the store.

  “Knowing your girl, she’s gone off to the dressmaker’s place. She’s been ogling that store all morning,” Sam chimed in with a smirk on his face, and reached for three licorice sticks from the candy jar on the counter. He handed one each to a wide-eyed Caleb and Kyle, and the third to the dark-haired little boy in his wife’s arms.

  Chase sighed heavily. “Yeah, she’s definitely turned into a female over the last couple of years. How did I get so lucky and end up with four daughters?” He rolled his eyes.

  The mention of dresses reminded Joseph of another item he needed to buy in addition to the provisions. Sophie was in desperate need of something else to wear other than that fancy dress she had on. It wouldn’t last another week out on the trail and barely looked like the gown she’d worn on the riverboat. Heck, it barely qualified as a dress. It was dirty and to
rn in places, and without those cumbersome contraptions she usually wore underneath, it hung limply from her body. Thankfully, she had left all those things behind of her own will. He’d been prepared to burn them if she insisted on bringing them along.

  Glancing toward Caleb, Joseph decided that the boy could use a new set of britches, a shirt, and new shoes as well. His coins would be depleted after today. He still had to see about two more suitable saddle horses. The old nag he’d bartered for from the farmer in exchange for the buck he’d shot for him would last about as long as Sophie’s dress.

  He eyed the rack of women’s clothes in the corner. Would Sophie agree to wear a simple dress like that? Even she would have realized by now that silk gowns had no place where they were headed. Joseph ambled to the dress rack. He fingered a simple blue cotton gown. Blue seemed to be her favorite color, and it looked good on her. The dress wasn’t pretty or fancy, but it looked practical and sturdy. Adding a set of boy’s britches, shirt and shoes to his purchases, he leaned forward and whispered to the proprietor behind the counter, asking where he could find women’s underthings.

  “Maude,” the man called loudly over his shoulder, and seconds later a burly woman appeared from the door leading to the back of the store. Joseph groaned.

  “Can you add some female things that go under a dress to my tally?” he mumbled to the woman, rubbing at the back of his head. He’d been in some tight situations before, but nothing had ever made him feel as cornered or uncomfortable as asking about unmentionables for a woman. The proprietor’s wife smiled broadly and studied him with a knowing eye.

  “Does your lady prefer something practical, or a little more fancy?” she asked, batting her lashes.