by Megan Besing
“This is some of the prettiest country in the territory.” Reverence softened his voice.
She studied her surroundings, finding she agreed. “Living in Kansas, I could have never imagined the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. They’re breathtaking.”
“Nor could I, growing up in Indiana.”
She turned her head to look at him, surprised by this tidbit of personal information. “My mother’s family came from Indiana.”
He smiled. “It seems we have quite a few things in common.”
Curiosity regarding her new husband sprang up like weeds in a garden. “Do you still have family there?”
“I do. My parents and two sisters, both married with a passel of children that keep my mother occupied.”
She smiled at his obvious affection for his family. “What made you come to the New Mexico Territory? It’s so far away from Indiana.”
A shadow came over his face, and his smile faded. “The war. When it finally ended, I wanted nothing more than to get on my horse and ride as far away from the battlefields as I could.”
Phoebe stifled a groan. She’d once again inadvertently brought the subject of war to the surface. She searched her mind for a safer topic. “Papa dreamed of moving to the frontier when he was a young man, but Mama wouldn’t leave Kansas. After she died, he lost his desire for adventure.”
“How long has it been since you lost your father?”
She looked up toward the mountain peaks, barely visible now through the vast forest of trees. As painful as the war was for Luke to remember, so too was her father’s death. The wounds in her heart still felt raw.
“He was murdered in October of 1864.”
Her quiet answer put an end to their conversation.
Chapter 4
The mining camp came into view a short time later, appearing as dismal as it had the previous day. Luke felt the first twinge of unease about bringing Phoebe with him clench his gut. He’d been so intent on getting to know his new wife that he’d failed to think ahead to what he was exposing her to. Now with it too late, he saw the camp as she most assuredly would.
With a chill in the air and patches of icy snow clinging to shady areas, the primitive conditions the miners lived in seemed woefully inadequate. Clusters of canvas tents dotted the hillside with not one decent structure among them. Although the men set up camp a mere month ago, having been forced to wait until the majority of winter snow melted, it looked well lived in. Empty bean and meat cans lay where they’d been tossed. Dirty dishes and dirty laundry were strewn about, and mounds of muddy tracks spoke of a recent rain.
Luke brought Ulysses to a halt on the edge of the camp and dismounted. When he looked up to Phoebe, he saw the camp’s deplorable conditions reflected in her wide eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought you up here. I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly. You stay here while I check on the men. I shouldn’t be long.”
She glanced at the tents, at the mine openings on the hillside above, then back to Luke. After a moment, determination squared her shoulders.
“I came to help you with your patients, and that’s what I intend to do.” She held out her hands, waiting for him to help her down.
“Are you sure?” He looked from the mud to her shiny black boots peeking out from beneath the hem of her dress.
“I’m a doctor’s wife now. A little dirt won’t hurt me.”
Pride in her swelled his chest. “All right then.” He reached to lift her from the saddle, setting her on the driest patch of ground he could find. After tying Ulysses’s reins to a tree branch, he took his medical bag in one hand and offered his other arm to his wife. “Shall we?”
A man approached as they carefully picked their way into camp. Luke recognized him from the previous day. “Doc,” the man said, but his attention remained on Phoebe.
“Hello, Mr. Richards. This is Mrs. Preston, my wife. She’ll be assisting me today.”
Richards’ brow arched. “Wife, you say? Didn’t know you was married, Doc.”
Luke wasn’t about to admit he and Phoebe had been married less than twenty-four hours. It wasn’t anyone’s business, least of all a bunch of rough miners. “How are my patients today?” he asked instead. He took Phoebe by the elbow and moved toward the tent where the injured men were housed.
“Moanin’ and complainin’,” Richards said, stepping out of their way. “I sure hope you’ve got some medicine in that bag of yours that will quiet them down.”
Luke and Phoebe arrived at the tent, its flap closed, concealing what was inside. “Let me make sure all is well before you come in,” he said under his breath. Phoebe nodded and waited outside.
Thankfully the men were fully dressed, most likely for warmth rather than for decency’s sake. Luke ushered Phoebe in, and with more efficiency than he could’ve hoped for, she assisted him in changing bandages, administering pain medicine, and generally lifting the injured men’s spirits with her smile and warm words. When Luke finished with the last patient, the men respectfully asked that he bring Phoebe back on his next visit.
With her once again tucked safely onto his lap, he headed Ulysses down the mountain.
“You were wonderful in there,” he said, still amazed at how comfortable she seemed in her role as nurse. “If I didn’t know better, I would’ve assumed you were trained in the medical field.”
“Thank you.”
He couldn’t see her face, but he heard pleasure in her voice. Questions regarding her father’s medical practice and how she helped were on the tip of his tongue, but their earlier conversation and her revelation about her father’s untimely death kept him silent. Perhaps someday she’d feel comfortable speaking of it, but for now he’d respect her privacy.
“There’s a small lake not far from here,” he said. “I thought we could take our lunch there and enjoy a picnic.”
She turned to face him, green eyes shining. “That sounds lovely.”
He grinned, steering Ulysses toward the east. Maybe courting one’s wife wasn’t as complicated as he imagined.
The mountain lake was everything a mountain lake should be. Water clear as glass reflected the azure sky dotted with a few puffy white clouds. Tall pines surrounded the small body of water, with mountain peaks in the background.
Luke dismounted then helped Phoebe. He kept a blanket and canteen of water with him when he traveled into the mountains, never knowing what conditions might come up. He spread the blanket on the grass near the water’s edge and set out their simple meal while Phoebe gazed at the splendor around them.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful.” Her voice echoed her sense of awe.
Luke nodded, pleased. “I felt the same way when I first saw it. The Pueblo Indians have a lake not far from here called Blue Lake. It’s larger than this but just as beautiful.”
Phoebe came to sit on the blanket, her attention fastened on him.
“It’s a sacred place to them. They believe it’s their place of origin, where their ancestors rose up from the earth.”
“That’s fascinating,” Phoebe said, looking out to the crystal water. “Of course we know God created Adam and Eve as the first people, but I can see why the Indians might believe they came from someplace as lovely as this.”
They ate their meager lunch, easily conversing about the mining camp, the men, and simply enjoying the glorious day. When it was time to return home, Phoebe took hold of an end of the blanket and they folded it together.
“I’m glad I came today,” she said, offering a shy smile when he lifted her into the saddle.
With his hands circling her waist, Luke gazed into eyes he knew he could get lost in. “I’m glad you came, too.”
As they rode home, with his wife nestled against his chest, a sense of peace the likes Luke hadn’t experienced in five years settled over him. The sun shone brighter. Birdsong sounded sweeter. Even the air tasted fresher.
He grinned at his crazy thoughts. While the sun and birds may not have changed
, one thing was certain. He’d slept all night without ever waking to a nightmare, and he couldn’t remember the last time that had happened.
Perhaps married life agreed with him after all.
Phoebe found herself humming while she kneaded a mound of dough on the floured table. She hadn’t enjoyed fresh-baked bread since leaving Aunt Augusta’s, and the promise of it had her mouth watering. She and Luke had gone to town the previous day and stocked their tiny kitchen with all manner of supplies, giving her the confidence she needed to prepare meals her husband would enjoy.
The ease with which she referred to Luke as her husband surprised her. After their trip to the mines, followed by their lakeside picnic two days ago, a warm companionship had formed between them. Her heart still belonged to Danny, but she was finding that Luke had a good heart of his own. His kindness and caring attention to her created an atmosphere in their snug home that vanquished any reservations she had regarding whether she’d done the right thing by coming to New Mexico.
Her thoughts revisited last evening. After a supper of smoked trout and potatoes, which Luke declared tastier than any he’d eaten at the fanciest restaurants in Denver, they’d settled in for a pleasant night around the fire. Luke had several books on a shelf, and Phoebe volunteered to read poetry aloud while he restocked his medical bag. Long after he put the leather case away, they stayed up taking turns reading from the book and discussing the meaning behind the poets’ words. It was one of the most pleasurable evenings she could remember.
The sound of mule hooves outside told her Luke had returned. He’d gone to see about purchasing another animal so they wouldn’t be required to ride double on Ulysses. She had to admit she’d miss being tucked safely within Luke’s strong arms as they traveled through the mountains. She had little experience riding alone, but Luke promised to find the most docile animal in the territory.
Wiping her flour-covered hands on a towel, she moved to the door as Luke entered.
“Oh!” She hurried to avoid getting hit as the portal swung open, but her skirt tangled around her legs, causing her to topple over backward.
In a swift move, Luke caught her before she hit the plank floor. He pulled her up, with the momentum landing her hard against him. “Well now, that’s some kind of greeting.” Laughter sounded in his voice.
“I suppose I’m head-over-heels happy that you’re home,” she said, her droll words muffled by the front of his coat. She was rewarded with a deep chuckle rumbling in his chest.
When she moved her head enough to look up at him, she found his brown eyes shining. “I can get used to this kind of welcome every day, Mrs. Preston.”
Warmth spread up her neck and spilled onto her cheeks. His hands remained around her waist with their lower bodies flush against each other. Suddenly timid, she looked away. He released her, but it occurred to her it wasn’t such a bad thing to find oneself in the arms of a strong, handsome man.
“Were you able to locate another mule?” She kept her back to him until she was certain her face had returned to its natural color.
“I did. Would you like to meet her?”
Phoebe turned. “Her? I assumed you would get another male.”
“Mr. Collins, the livery owner, says Dolly is real gentle.”
“Dolly.” She smiled. “I like that name.”
They went outside, where two mules waited. While Ulysses was taller and broader through the shoulders, Dolly was no small animal. The thought of being up so high sent a tremor of apprehension racing through Phoebe. She’d been a child the last time she sat on a horse alone, and even then it hadn’t appealed to her.
“I thought we could go for a ride and let you ladies get used to each other.” Luke offered an encouraging smile.
Phoebe eyed the dark brown mule. Dolly stood peacefully alongside Ulysses, who kept sniffing his new companion. Doubts wormed their way into Phoebe’s stomach. Could she ride such a large animal alone?
“I’m not sure about riding my own mule,” she finally said, regret tugging her brow into a frown. He’d gone to a lot of trouble and expense to find Dolly. “Maybe it’s not such a good idea for me to go along with you when you see patients.” Even she heard the tremor in her voice.
Luke stepped closer, forcing her to look up into his face. He reached to take her hand in his and gave her fingers a slight squeeze. “I’ll be right next to you. It won’t be that different from riding with me on Ulysses. Besides,” he said, grinning, “the men at the mine are expecting you to come back. You wouldn’t want to disappoint them, would you?”
She shook her head and glanced at Dolly. “I suppose I can try.”
“That’s my girl.”
Surprised by the affectionate phrase, she looked up to find Luke smiling at her. Was that admiration in his eyes? Butterfly wings fluttered in her stomach under his warm gaze.
“Let me set the dough to rise,” she said, breaking eye contact and hurrying toward the cabin entrance. Luke’s nearness and her strange reaction to him had her confused.
“Wear your new split skirt,” he called after her, bringing a flush to her cheeks again. She nodded and hastily closed the door behind her.
She set the bread dough to rise, draping it with a thin dish towel, then hastened to change into the new riding skirt Luke had insisted she purchase at the mercantile. Mrs. Frank, the mercantile owner’s wife, had ordered it last fall for a young miner who planned to bring his bride west. The bride, however, refused to move to such a remote area, forcing the miner to return home before the skirt arrived.
Donning the strange garment, Phoebe felt scandalous preparing to go out in public without her petticoats, even though her chemise and drawers were in place beneath the sturdy wool material. Sewn up the middle to create two separate legs, the split skirt was as close to wearing men’s trousers as she’d ever come. She couldn’t help but giggle thinking what prim and proper Aunt Augusta would say could she see her niece in such a getup.
When she exited the cabin, more than a little self-conscious, Luke’s wide grin spoke his pleasure. “Perfect.”
“Thank you,” she said, hoping her cheeks didn’t give away her embarrassment.
They walked to where Dolly waited. Luke bent and cupped his hands. “I’ll hoist you up, since the stirrups might be a bit higher than you can manage.”
Phoebe placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, feeling the muscles beneath her fingers ripple as he readied to take on her weight. When her booted foot settled in his hands, he easily lifted her so she could swing her right leg over the saddle. Dolly never flinched.
“Let me adjust the stirrups,” he said, doing just that. “We’ll ride down to the river.”
“I don’t remember how to steer,” she said, taking up the reins. Dolly bobbed her big head in response.
“Just give a gentle tug, either left or right, or back toward you if you want her to stop.” Luke patted Dolly’s neck. “She’ll follow Ulysses, so you won’t have to worry much about directing her where to go.” He swung into his saddle. “Ready?”
She gave a halfhearted nod, glancing down to the ground and praying she didn’t land in the dust on her backside. “Be a good girl, Dolly,” she whispered as Luke and Ulysses started off. True to Luke’s prediction, Dolly turned to follow the boys without much coaxing.
Riding side by side with Luke offering encouragement and helpful instructions every so often, they made their way slowly down the path toward the river a mile away. After the first few terrifying minutes, Phoebe began to relax and enjoy the freedom she felt sitting atop her own mule.
“You did well,” Luke said when they reached the riverbank.
“I admit it isn’t as difficult as I imagined.” She leaned to pat Dolly’s neck. “We’re going to be friends, aren’t we, girl?”
“I’ll need to add a second stall onto the lean-to now that Ulysses has a friend.” His dark eyes danced as he bent near the mule’s tall ear and whispered loudly, “I guess our bachelor days are over, old
fella.” He winked at Phoebe before turning the mule back toward home.
Luke couldn’t know how the teasing gesture reminded her of Danny. He’d often winked at her, usually at the most inappropriate times, forcing her to hide her smile behind her hand. The first time she saw him at a dance, he’d winked at her from across the room. She thought him brash and rude, but when he came forward and asked her to dance, she couldn’t resist his sparkling blue eyes and dimples.
Oh Danny, how I miss you.
She let Dolly plod along behind Ulysses, the joy of the adventure suddenly gone.
Chapter 5
Hello in the cabin!”
The call came after breakfast the next morning. Luke glanced up to find Phoebe’s eyes wide with alarm where she stood at the washtub, scrubbing their breakfast dishes. He rose from his chair and set aside the medical instruments he’d been examining, trying to determine which should be replaced and what to include in the order he planned to put in with Mr. Frank at the mercantile later that day.
“It’s a common practice in these parts,” he said, walking to the door. “Folks call out rather than knock to announce themselves.”
Relief swept her face. “I see.”
Luke opened the door, surprised to find a tall Negro man standing in the yard, holding the reins of an ancient horse. Although free Negroes were slowly drifting into the territory now that the war was over, giving them their long-awaited freedom, seeing one outside his door was unexpected.
“Hello. What can I do for you?”
“You the doc?”
Luke nodded. “I am.”
The man’s expression went from wary to worried. “It be my wife, Doc. She been trying to birth our young’un for two days now, but it ain’t comin’.”
Dread washed over Luke. He’d participated in a number of births, so he knew the information this father and husband relayed wasn’t good. “Where is your home? I’ll get my things and come right away.”
The man’s broad shoulders sagged with relief. “We be camped down near the river, ’bout a half-mile north of the road.” He hesitated. “I ain’t got no money to pay you, though.”
