Vestige of Courage

by Sara Blackard

  “If that’s not a miracle, then my understanding of miracles is off.” Verne, the older ranch hand, sauntered up to the fence, his skinny legs slightly bowed in his jeans like he’d spent too much time in the saddle. Blue, the ranch’s dog, followed at his side, glancing up at the old-timer with love.

  Beatrice had instantly liked Verne when he’d arrived the night before for dinner. He didn’t resemble her Uncle Dan, who wasn’t really her uncle at all, in looks. Dan’s bushy red beard and larger-than-life frame was a complete contrast to Verne’s slender build and trimmed gray mustache that sat upon his lip like a fat, hairy caterpillar. Yet Verne’s jovial attitude and straight-forward talk reminded her so much of Dan, she’d almost given Verne a hug as he’d left the house the night before.

  She grinned at him as he leaned on the fence. “What’s a miracle?”

  “Well, first off, the fact that this animal came right up to you when you whistled is a sight I thought I’d never see. Usually a fair amount of time is spent coaxing him to a place we can get him saddled.” He shifted the toothpick that stuck from his mouth to the other side. “Secondly, that you’ve finally arrived and I’m blessed enough to meet you.”

  Her eyes slowly widened and her heart beat quickly in her chest.

  He chuckled low. “We’ve been waiting a long time to meet you, Beatrice Thomas. I just wish Vicky had lived to see you.”

  Her hand moved to her mouth, not sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. “You know me?”

  “I know you.” His kind eyes twinkled in joy as he reached over and lightly squeezed her shoulder. “My family and yours have been connected for generations, all the way back to my great-great grandpa Dan, or as many called him Trapper—”

  “You’re Uncle Dan’s great-great grandson? Uncle Dan got married?” She willed her voice to stop rising as it wanted to shout in excitement.

  He smiled. “Married and lived happily for another thirty years, having four children in the process.”

  Her mouth hung open in shock as Storm nudged her shoulder. A bug buzzed by her face, and she snapped her mouth shut. No use leaving it hanging open for invitation.

  “I don’t … I just …” She rubbed Storm’s cheek as her heart filled with joy. The revelation that Dan had found a happy life after being a light to so many overwhelmed her. The fact that she’d missed it all clenched her heart anew.

  “When did you arrive?” Verne asked.

  “Two days ago.”

  “How are you adjusting, darling? Are you doing okay?” His mustache twitched in concern as he reached down to pat Blue’s head.

  She shrugged, giving Storm one last rub and turning to lean her back on the fence. “Ever since Hunter tumbled down that mountain back into our time, I’ve wanted to do the same. Now that I’m here … I realize all I’ve missed. I wish I could go back home.”

  Storm butted his head against her back, causing both her and Verne to chuckle. The horse put his head over her shoulder, nuzzling his cheek to hers. She sighed and petted Storm’s face.

  Verne whistled. “Two days and you’ve already tamed the dragon.”

  “He’s just a big baby, really. Firestorm was the same way.” Sorrow was laced thick within her words.

  “If you need anything, anything at all, I’m here for you.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Now what can you tell me about Great-Great Grandpappy Dan? I’ve lived my life attempting to live up to his example. I’m dying to know what he was like from someone who knew him.”

  She chuckled, knowing just the stories she would tell about the one-of-a-kind Trapper Dan. Though the memories would sting, she couldn’t wait to share them with Dan’s family. Her smile grew. She may have missed a lot in the years that had passed, but years of love and moments were already stored within her heart.

  Chapter 10

  September 12, 1881

  Chase, I’m in the process of tanning my first deer hide. Up to now, I haven’t had the opportunity to. Viola and Beatrice kept saying they didn’t have a need to save the hides and that they had enough. So when Viola decided I needed to learn, at first, I honestly was excited. I mean, we always pretended to be Jeremiah Johnson and Jim Bridger when we were kids. Now, I get to actually live like them! Yeah, the charm wore off pretty fast once I realized how much scraping of rotting flesh and fat I’d have to do. This morning I thought I was done with the disgusting part, when Viola walked over where I had the hide stretched out and handed me a bucket with a lid. I opened it, and the reek that filled the air instantly set off my gag reflex. Guess what I’ve spent the afternoon smearing onto the hide? Brains, Chase. Fermenting brains mixed with water. Today, I missed the good ol’ days of getting greasy working on the truck or dirt bikes with you.

  Chase glanced up from the old dirt bike he’d been pretending to fix as a beat-up Bronco came roaring into the driveway. While he should’ve been attempting to get the bike up and running, his attention had been glued to Beatrice where she leaned against the corral fence talking with Verne. Chase had spent the last thirty minutes wishing he could join them as she related animated stories that had both of them laughing. He was glad she’d found a friend in the old cowhand. His jealousy of their ease of conversation pinched, though. What kind of jerk was he that he wanted to keep her to himself just a little longer?

  He tossed his wrench into the toolbox, glad to be able to put away the pretense. He grabbed the rag from the dirt bike’s seat and wiped his hands clean as he approached the visitor. He inwardly groaned as Zeke Greene, aka the coolest guy Chase knew aside from his brother, stepped out of the vehicle, stretched his massive muscles in his too-tight jacket, and surveyed the area like the good Army boy he was. Zeke’s face stretched into an appreciative smile as his gaze landed on Beatrice, the playboy in full flirt mode. Chase smirked as she scowled and crossed her arms, erasing the smile from Zeke’s face.

  “Hey man, what’s with the new wheels?” Chase gestured toward the Bronco.

  “I found this beaut online and couldn’t just let her pass me by.” Zeke shrugged. “Besides, I needed something to explore these mountain dirt roads with since I decided to move out here. The Vette just wasn’t up to them.”

  “That’s the truth.” Chase fist pumped Zeke. “Thanks for coming up here.”

  “No problem, man. Your message was too intriguing to pass up.” Zeke pulled his phone out of his back pocket and read the screen. “‘You’re not going to believe what I found in the woods.’ Is it the wood nymph walking toward us?” He pointed toward Beatrice with his chin. “Cause I’m telling you now, if beautiful women are getting lost in the forest, I may just move in with you and spend my time on search and rescue, if you know what I mean.”

  Chase shook his head with a smile. “Listen, Zeke. I have a lot of info to download on you, but you have to take it easy with the smoldering looks and blatant flirtatiousness around Beatrice. She’s not used to it, and you’ll make her uncomfortable. And honestly, I don’t want to have to take you down because you upset her.”

  “You worried I’ll jump your claim?” Zeke wagged his eyebrows up and down, that infuriatingly cocky half smile gracing his face.

  “Geez, Zeke. We aren’t gold miners here.”

  “Man, the love of a good woman is worth much more than gold.” Zeke placed his hand over his heart dramatically. “Of course, you and that priest of a brother of yours wouldn’t know that, would you?” Zeke punched Chase in the arm.

  Chase grimaced at Zeke alluding to Hunter’s determination to remain chaste until marriage. It was something their father had challenged Chase and Hunter to live by, to wait for intimacy until getting married. Of course, Hunter had succeeded, a fact his unit had razed him for constantly. Chase hadn’t stayed as strict to the challenge as Hunter. However, in recent years, Chase had grown determined to follow in Hunter’s footsteps in this one thing, letting the memory of his father’s hope for his boys to keep him on track when he was tempted to stray.

  “Love of a good w
oman, not lust. I think you’re confusing the two,” Chase commented as he led Zeke to Beatrice, who was walking to them. “Just do me a solid and keep that Greene charm of yours to a minimum, okay?”

  “No worries, bro. I’m not one to encroach where a friend is already attempting.”

  “It’s not that … I mean, it’s kind of … ugh. It’ll all make sense once we explain everything. Just behave, please.” Chase ran his hand through his hair, wondering if he should’ve just told Zeke about everything over the phone. He pushed his frustration aside and smiled at Beatrice, whose forehead wrinkled and hands clenched as she walked up to them. “Bea, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Zeke Greene. Zeke, this is Beatrice Thomas.”

  Zeke held out his hand, which she took hesitantly. “It’s nice to meet you. I can’t wait to hear how you met Chase all the way out here.”

  “It’s nice to meet you as well.” She shot a look to Chase, her eyebrow lifting cutely in question.

  “Zeke’s a friend of Hunter’s from his Army team. He now owns a security firm in Glenwood Springs. We’ll need his help with your paperwork.” Chase didn’t miss the way she flinched at Hunter’s name and quickly glanced around. “Let’s go inside and chat.”

  She nodded curtly, then marched with determination into the house. He lowered his head quickly to hide the smile splitting across his face. Man, he loved how she just tackled things head on, no hesitation. His YouTube fans would rave over her spunk and spirit, not to mention she was downright gorgeous. He shook his head. He had to stop thinking like that. It might be a very long time before he got back to filming his channel, if he ever did. Helping Beatrice had to come first if he was ever going to live up to who Hunter believed him to be.

  “I’ll just get the coffee going,” she called over her shoulder.

  “Oh no.” He cringed.

  “What? She make horrible coffee or something?” Zeke walked beside him.

  “Something like that.” The image of her surrounded by smoke as she attempted to make breakfast quickened his pace to a jog to catch up to her. He reached past her and held the door open. Her smile momentarily steered him off course. He mentally shook his head. “I’ll help you with the coffee. Zeke, make yourself comfortable. We’ll be right back.”

  Chase followed Beatrice into the kitchen, pulling the creamer out of the fridge as he kept an eye on her. He knew he was being a little paranoid. It wasn’t like she could burn down the house with the single-serve coffeemaker. He would attempt to convince himself that he wanted to make sure she was adjusting alright, not that he was stressed about the safety of his house. Though, if she accidentally burned the house down, they would no longer have a reason to stay stuck here. The thought held merit. Chase contemplated as he rubbed his chin pensively. Maybe he should introduce her to the microwave? If anyone could start a fire with a microwave, Beatrice could. He smirked as he grabbed the sugar container and added it to the tray. He shook his head. There he went with selfish thoughts again. Would he ever move past his egocentric attitude?

  Beatrice popped a new cup in the coffeemaker, closed the lid, and pressed the button. She smiled as the coffee came streaming out below, the easiest and fastest coffee she’d ever seen made. Sure, she’d failed at toast this morning, but even she could master coffee when all she had to do was push a button.

  She peeked at Chase, who stared at the sugar container in his hand, his gaze inward and lips smiling wistfully. She wondered what thoughts distracted him. Her heart sank. She knew the look of longing transfixed on his face. It was one she’d often seen reflected back at her from the window in her hayloft. She wondered what he was yearning for. Was her arrival here keeping him from his own dreams?

  “What are you thinking about?” Beatrice twisted a strand of her hair in worry.

  “Huh?” Chase startled, looking over at her with wide eyes. “Oh … um, nothing really. I was just thinking about your toast this morning.”

  His face transformed to one of mirth, his mouth twisting up on one side, revealing his dimple. She never realized how dangerous dimples could be on a man. All the men she knew wore thick beards that hid such things. With Chase’s personality much more relaxed than Hunter’s, oftentimes laughing and joking, he wielded those dimples with precision, shooting butterflies straight to her stomach.

  “Well, I think your kitchen is safe if all I’m making is coffee.” She shrugged. “Especially since all I have to do is change the little cup and push the button.”

  “You’ll learn the rest. Just give it time.” He set the coffee mugs on the tray and headed for the parlor. “Of course, since I don’t mind cooking, there’s no rush for you to learn your way around the kitchen if you don’t want to.”

  “Chase Bennett, are you trying to keep me out of the kitchen?” She pushed his shoulder as he walked away.

  “Maybe I’m just trying to keep my kitchen intact.” Laughter was thick in his words.

  “I’ll have you know I’m a decent cook. I’m just a bit lost when it comes to all those shiny contraptions you have in here.” She knew decent was the key word. Not great, but decent.

  He stopped in the doorway and leaned the tray on the edge of the counter, his expression serious with his unwavering eye contact and strong nod of his head. “You’ll figure all this out, I know you will. It just might take some time to adjust.”

  His confidence in her made her feel a lightness she hadn’t experienced much since her father’s death. Her lips twitched as she hid the smile that wanted to bloom across her face. She nodded her head in thanks and shooed him through the door with a quick motion of her hands. When he turned and moved into the parlor, she let the smile free for a second before tamping it back down and joining the men.

  Zeke lounged on one side of the couch, his muscular body seeming to take up more than his share. As Chase set the tray down on the coffee table and moved to the chair across from the couch, Beatrice huffed and sat on the opposite end from the imposing giant. She hated this sudden anxiety she felt with every new encounter, tightness that wouldn’t release her chest. She’d never been the anxious sort, leaving that to Viola. Would her courage to face problems head on ever return, or would she be stuck with sweaty hands and the desire to bite her nails forever plaguing her? Maybe if she could wear her holster she’d feel more herself. That was a thought worth asking Chase about.

  “So what’s so important you feel the need to send cryptic messages to get me up here?” Zeke’s voice was deep and rich like molasses. He took a long drink of his coffee, and Beatrice marveled at the flex of his arm muscles as he lifted the mug.

  “Yeah, well … I found Hunter,” Chase said nonchalantly as he sat back in his chair and settled a foot on his knee.

  Zeke sputtered and choked on his coffee, putting the mug down quickly and coughing violently. Beatrice was about to whack him on the back when he took a deep breath in. The glare he sent Chase’s direction reminded her that this man was a member of Hunter’s elite Army force and probably wasn’t someone to mess with. She settled back into her corner, determined to let Chase explain for now.

  “Details, stat.” Zeke pointed his finger at Chase, his hand shaking before he tucked it under his armpit.

  “This is going to sound crazy, like Twilight Zone crazy.” Chase leaned forward, while she wondered what the sunset had to do with time travel. “But Hunter said you’d help, that you could handle it.”

  “Man, you know I’d do anything for Hunter or you.” Zeke rubbed his hands together before taking a deep breath. “You’re the only family I’ve got.”

  Beatrice wondered at that, since Chase had introduced Zeke as a friend. She inwardly shrugged, understanding how friends could become closer than family. Trapper Dan sure had. Did Zeke not have family because something had happened to them or did he just not communicate with them?

  “Okay … so … well, Hunter got transported back in time, back to 1878.” Chase’s words rushed out like an excited squirrel, ending with a whoosh and an expre
ssion that begged Zeke to believe him.

  Silence fell heavy in the room. She fidgeted with her mug, rolling it back and forth between her fingers. Would he believe them?

  “Dude, that’s not funny.” Zeke’s voice came out hard and quiet. “You know how much Hunter’s disappearance affected me.”

  “Do you think I would joke about this? Look at me.” Chase motioned wide at the house. “Look at what I’ve done to find him. I would never joke about something like this.”

  Beatrice wondered what Chase meant by that. Zeke pushed off the couch and started pacing the length of the room. He scrubbed his face with his hands. He stopped with his back to Beatrice and Chase, his hands clenched at his sides and his shoulders slumped.

  “It’s true. My sister and I found him.” She surprised herself by speaking, her whispered voice dropping into the tense room like a stick of dynamite.

  Zeke whirled around. “Are you kidding me? You’re in on this as well? You guys are messed up to joke like this.” He stomped toward the door.

  Chase rushed across the room, standing before the door, his hands up like he was calming a spooked horse. She stood, preparing to help Chase if Zeke decided to force his way out.

  “Chase, I can’t—” Zeke turned away, his hand covering his mouth and rubbing his chin.

  She crossed to him, placing her hand on his huge shoulder. His shoulders shuddered. His hand moved to cover his eyes. She inched around to the front of him, moving her hand down his arm to squeeze his hand in hers.

  “Zeke, it’s the truth, and I can prove it. Please, just give us a chance to explain.” She held her breath, gripping his hand tight as she waited for his answer.

  He dropped his other hand limply to his side. She stared into his red-rimmed eyes, willing him to at least listen. She remembered stories Hunter had told of Zeke. How Zeke appeared to be a big tough guy, but he’d move heaven and earth for those he cared about.