Yellowstone Dawn (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 4)

by Peggy L Henderson

  “It’s a chilly morning, ma’am. I’m sure you’d appreciate a warm fire.” He shot a nervous glance at her. His face took on the color of a ripe strawberry.

  “I most certainly would,” Danica said brightly. “You are truly a gentleman.” She batted her eyelashes at him. Groaning silently, she moved her stiff limbs, and stood. She didn’t want to wake Dawn, but she had no choice but to relocate the baby. Making sure her daughter remained securely bundled in her blanket sling, Danica placed Dawn on the ground between two of the boulders that had offered them shelter during the night. The baby had to be out of harm’s way before she could implement the plan forming in her mind.

  She moved to stand close to the soldier, who knelt by her dead fire. He used a stick to scrape some coals around before adding kindling. Danica placed her hand on his shoulder, and his head shot up nervously.

  “What’s your name, private?” she asked in a quiet tone that she hoped sounded seductive.

  “H . . . Harvey. Harvey Sullivan, ma’am,” he stuttered, and swallowed.

  “Well, Harvey,” Danica said, her index finger tracing along the collar of his uniform. “You’ve been so kind to me, I don’t know how I could possibly thank you.”

  Apparently unable to bear her touch any longer, he scooted awkwardly to the side. With trembling hands, he struck a match on a nearby rock and lit the kindling. Danica eyed the pistol in the soldier’s holster. She knelt down beside him, and offered a few branches of wood to the smitten man. Slowly, she reached her right hand toward the gun.

  “Tsk, tsk, Danica. You’re not trying to seduce this poor boy here so you can make your escape, are you?” a sarcastic voice said behind her.

  Danica groaned, and dropped her hand. She quickly got to her feet, and faced Jonathan Douglas. She plastered a forced smile on her face. The private jumped to his feet.

  “Go and tend to the other fire, private,” Douglas ordered the flustered young man.

  “Yes, sir,” he stammered, and rushed off.

  “Why, Jonathan, I wouldn’t dream of running away from you.” Her words were cold as ice, yet dripped with honey. Douglas took a step closer, and grabbed her wrists. He pulled her roughly up against him, and snarled down at her.

  “You will learn your place, Danica. If you try that again, I’ll be forced to tie you up.” Without any warning, he leaned forward and crushed his mouth to hers in a punishing kiss. Danica squirmed, and tried to back away, but he pinned her wrists between their bodies, his hands squeezing tightly.

  Danica raised her knee in an attempt to kick him in the groin, when a gunshot echoed through the stillness of the early morning. Loud shouting followed as the men scrambled from their bedrolls. Startled, Douglas pushed her roughly away from him and drew his pistol. Danica stumbled backwards, then rushed to her sleeping spot where she had left Dawn. She huddled over the baby’s body to shield her from possible harm. Were they being attacked by Indians? Danica’s heart rate increased as memories of last summer came flooding back. Actually, Indians might be the preferable choice than the company she was in at the moment.

  She raised her head to glance over one large boulder. The men in camp scrambled around, shouting and shooting wildly into the trees. She didn’t see any Indians.

  Another single rifle shot reverberated through the clearing from a different direction than before. One of the soldiers yelled out, instantly dropping his revolver and clutching his arm. In rapid succession, several more shots disarmed two other soldiers in a similar manner. The young private who had helped Danica with the fire rushed to his horse. He pulled the reins free of the picket line and swung into the saddle. Kicking his mount into a run, he headed for the trees. The rest of the injured soldiers seemed to think this was a good idea, and followed suite. Apparently they all though they were outnumbered.

  “Get back here, you cowards!” Douglas shouted. The next rifle shot hit the ground inches from his feet, sending up a spray of dirt. The lieutenant hastily backed away. He aimed his revolver in the direction of the trees where the shot had come from. His gun clicked. He cursed loudly. Fumbling with his belt, he extracted several bullets, but in his haste, dropped several as he tried to reload the gun’s chamber. He ran backwards in the direction of his companions. One of them threw a horse’s reins at him, and Douglas leapt into the saddle. He followed the rest of his men, his mount splashing through the creek and into the woods.

  Danica raised herself to a kneeling position. A quick glance down at her baby reassured her that Dawn was all right. How could she sleep through all that noise? Scanning the edge of the forest, she saw a lone man emerge from between the dense lodgepoles. For a split second, she thought it was an Indian. He wore fringed buckskins, and a loose-fitting blue flannel shirt, a wide belt around his hips that held his knife and tomahawk.

  There was something very familiar about him. The proud, easy way he moved. Josh! She’d recognize him anywhere. His rifle held at his side, he strode fearlessly into the clearing, looking in the direction the soldiers had escaped. She expelled a quick breath of air, and scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over her skirts. She lifted the material, and dashed across the opening. “Josh,” she called.

  He stopped. With tears burning her eyes, she rushed to him, and threw her arms around his neck. “Josh,” she breathed against his neck. He was alive! Her hands reached to touch his face, and she leaned up to kiss him. Josh stood stiff, his mouth hard. His hands spanned her waist, and peeled her away from him. Danica had no choice but to release her grip around his neck and take a small step back. Puzzled, she looked into his emotionless eyes.

  “Sorry to break up the lover’s tryst,” he said coldly.

  Her forehead wrinkled. “Josh?” she asked hesitantly. She didn’t understand his cold demeanor.

  “You switching sides again, Dani?”

  His accusatory tone startled her. She shook her head, her brows drawn together in confusion. “What are you talking about? I thought you were dead. Do you have any idea how glad I am to see you alive?”

  “I guess I just don’t die that easily.”

  Danica’s heart sped up nervously. What had gotten into him? Dawn’s loud wail at that moment made her tear her eyes from him.

  “Excuse me,” she said, and reluctantly moved around him. She hastened to her daughter, and picked her up off the ground. Turning her back on Josh, she sat on one of the boulders, and unbuttoned her dress. She didn’t understand his behavior.

  “Sorry I ran your lover off, Dani. At least he’ll be a lot easier for me to track, now that I know who I’m looking for.”

  Danica gasped, and turned around to face him. “What the hell are you talking about?” Anger flooded her system. “Where on earth did you get the notion that Jonathan Douglas is anything but the vilest vermin in my mind?”

  Josh walked up to her. His face remained stoic, but uncertainty clouded his eyes. “Is he Dawn’s father?” he asked. The words sounded forced, pushed through his clenched teeth. “For once, tell me the truth.”

  Danica’s mouth dropped open. “I’ve never lied to you, Josh. Yes, he’s Dawn’s father.” She refused to look away from his heated gaze.

  “He didn’t look to be any deader than I am,” he hissed, his voice laced with accusation.

  She inhaled deeply. Josh must have been unconscious already when she told him she loved him. He still thought she’d betrayed him. Still holding Dawn to her breast, she stood to look him squarely in the eyes.

  “Jonathan Douglas raped me last summer,” she said in a firm, matter-of-fact voice. “I shot him. I thought I killed him. I should have checked to make sure he was really dead before I ran. You have no idea how shocked I was when he showed up at the cabin a few weeks ago.” She inhaled deeply, then continued. “Yesterday, he threatened to kill Dawn and you if I didn’t cooperate. He found out my father is a banker, and he had it in his head to get rich through me. I had no choice but to do what he said, at least for the time being.”

  Josh stared
at her for what seemed like an eternity. His eyes roamed over her face, as if he was trying to find an entrance into her mind to see if she really was telling the truth.

  “I tried to tell you I love you,” she whispered. “I guess you were already unconscious. Do you know how hard it was for me to stand there and watch them beat you?” Why didn’t he believe her? After everything they’d shared?

  The sides of his eyes twitched for a mere fraction of a second. His jaw clenched. “Why didn’t you tell me about Douglas the day he was at the cabin?” His voice softened considerably.

  Danica expelled an exasperated breath. “Because I didn’t want you to get hurt. What would you have done, Josh? If you would have confronted him, or killed him, what do you think would have happened? I didn’t want you to get hurt because of me. The rest of those soldiers would have shot you on the spot for killing a cavalry officer.” She reached her free hand up to touch his arm, imploring him to understand.

  Josh’s features slowly relaxed. He glanced at Dawn. “I’m your husband, Dani. I had a right to know. You need to learn to let me take care of you.” He touched his fingers to her cheek. Danica closed her eyes and leaned her head into his touch.

  “And I’m your wife, Josh. You need to learn to trust me.”

  His mouth widened in a soft smile. “I guess we have a lot to learn about each other,” he said. He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. “I love you, Mrs. Osborne,” he whispered.

  “And I love you, Mr. Running Wolf,” she smiled up at him. “Here, take your daughter so I can make myself decent.”

  Josh’s eyes darkened. He grinned wickedly at her. “I think I like you just fine as indecent as you are now.”

  “Perhaps later, Josh,” she said, her voice stern. Her smile belied her mock anger. She placed Dawn in his waiting arms. “What if Douglas and his men come back?”

  He laughed. “They hightailed it out of here so quick, I bet they’re halfway to Virginia City by now. Cowards like that don’t fight back when they’re called out. They only prey on the weak.”

  “I’d like to go home,” Danica whispered.

  His face sobered. “I’m taking you and Dawn to Helena.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “What? Why?” She hastily finished buttoning her dress.

  “You’re staying with my family while I go after Douglas.”

  A cold wave of dread washed over her. She gripped his arms, and shook her head.

  “It’s my job, Dani,” he said before she could open her mouth to argue. The muscles along his jaw clenched. He stared at her intently. “And it’s become personal.”

  “Maybe you should have someone else take over your duties for that very reason,” she suggested softly. Josh laughed.

  “No one threatens my wife and child,” he said forcefully. “He’ll try again to get to you, Dani. I’m going to make sure he doesn’t get another chance.”

  Danica knew that arguing would be pointless. Josh was not the type of man who would relent until Douglas was brought to justice. She realized trying to talk him out of his mission was one battle she wouldn’t win.

  “Do you think our daughter would mind if I set her down for a moment?” Josh grinned at Danica. “There’s something I need to do right now.”

  Danica frowned. “She needs her linens changed.”

  “That’s not what I had in mind,” he said, his voice deeper than usual. He placed the baby on the blanket. Dawn appeared to be content kicking her feet and staring up at the clouds overhead.

  Josh pulled Danica into a fierce embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his body trembled. Their lips met in a clash of unbridled yearning. Danica was sure her blood had turned to liquid fire as Josh crushed her to him. Breathing became impossible. Her hands raked through his hair, eliciting a growl from deep within him. He broke the kiss, breathing hard, as his passion-filled eyes reached deep into her soul.

  “Don’t ever doubt that I love you, Josh. It’s always been you,” she whispered on a heated breath. His brows furrowed for a brief moment. She pulled his head down for another kiss that would leave him with no doubt she spoke the truth.

  Chapter 25

  The bell above the mercantile door jingled. Josh held the door open and stepped aside to allow Danica to enter ahead of him. She moved across the threshold with Dawn tucked in her sling. Josh’s warm hand rested on the small of her back as he followed her inside. This store, situated near the southern edge of the sprawling town of Helena, was much larger than the one his family had owned in Virginia City. A long polished wooden counter ran along the back wall of the store. Glass jars filled with assorted candies lined one end. Two small boys stood before the jars, deep in conversation. One of the boys repeatedly tossed a coin from one hand to the other, and his companion shook his head. They must be debating which candy to buy with their precious penny. The quiet debate brought a smile to Danica’s lips.

  The shelves behind the counter were stacked floor to ceiling with dry goods, including tin cans and bottles of all shapes and sizes. To the left was a row of bins that held fresh fruits and vegetables. Danica’s gaze fell on the apples. Her mouth began to water. When was the last time she enjoyed a good, juicy apple? It seemed as if she had lived on meat and biscuits, and bland roots longer than she cared to remember.

  Bolts of fabric were laid out on a flat table on the right, next to the glass case displaying everything from cooking pots to fine china dinnerware. A large-bosomed woman and presumably her daughter, based on their resemblance to each other, stood and compared several patterns of cloth.

  The older of the two women looked up nosily to see who had entered the store. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Josh, and her mouth clenched together in a firm line. Her disapproving gaze darted between him and Danica, and she even shook her head slightly. Danica hooked her arm through Josh’s, and hugged it tightly for emphasis. The woman’s mouth sprung open. Danica nodded at her and smiled sweetly. The woman harrumphed, and grabbed the younger woman standing next to her by the wrist, pulling her to the other side of the table, as if the ten feet that separated her from Josh wasn’t far enough.

  Danica had seen stares and disapproving looks like this woman’s since their arrival in town an hour ago. With every passing minute, Josh’s body had grown more tense as they walked down the street. He had secured stalls at the livery a few blocks away for their horses. He hadn’t said anything, but she was sure he wondered how she would react to the obvious disapproval from the fine citizens of Helena to a woman walking with a man like Josh. She refused to acknowledge him as a half-breed. He was her husband, the only man she cared to be with, and she would prove to him once and for all that the opinions of others mattered little to her.

  ”Josh! Oh my goodness!” A gray-haired woman emerged from the storeroom behind the counter, and rushed out to meet him with her arms wide open.

  “Hello, pawahh,” Josh called. Danica released his arm. Josh pulled the older woman into a tight embrace. “You’re looking well, Imaah.”

  “What a surprise,” Sarah Russell beamed, hugging her nephew tightly. Obviously she didn’t care about her customers’ opinions of Josh, either.

  “But mother, I’m not done picking out my fabric yet.” Danica’s head turned to watch the buxom woman pull her protesting daughter toward the door.

  “Come back another day, Mrs. Tarvish,” Sarah Russell called out. Mrs. Tarvish stuck her chin up in the air, and increased her strides. The bell jingled vigorously when the two women rushed out of the store.

  “Silly old biddy,” Sarah mumbled.

  The store was empty now, except for the two boys still squabbling over which candy to buy. Danica stood off to the side, suddenly feeling nervous. How would Josh’s family react to the news that she was his wife? They had been nothing but kind to her years ago in Virginia City. She remembered standing by their side, frantic with worry after Sarah’s son Kyle had been shot and fallen from a second story hotel window. No one placed blame with her tha
t day. They all knew it was because of her that Kyle had gone to that hotel in the first place to speak with his future wife, Kate.

  “Your father, Chase, and Kyle are over at the supply depot,” Sarah said, finally releasing her hold on him. “They’ll be so glad to see you.”

  Only now did her attention fall on Danica. Recognition filled her eyes, followed quickly by confusion. “Danica Jensen?” Sarah stepped toward her, and put a hand on her arm. Quickly, her gaze settled on the blanket sling around Danica’s shoulders, then traveled back to study Danica’s face. “The last we heard, you were killed in that Indian massacre in the park last summer,” she said slowly.

  Danica smiled. “I know everyone thought I was dead, but I was fortunate. It’s nice to see you, Mrs. Russell.” She held out her hand, and Sarah clasped it between both her hands in a firm grip that belied her age. Concern was written on the old woman’s face. “Have you been to Virginia City? Your father must have been so happy to see you alive. Everyone from that party was presumed dead.” Her eyes darted to Josh.

  Danica sniggered. “My homecoming wasn’t exactly as I had pictured it, Mrs. Russell.”

  Josh cleared his throat behind her. He placed his hand on her waist. “Imaah, Dani is my wife.”

  Sarah Russell’s eyes grew large for a fraction of a second. She darted glances at both of them, then at the baby sling. Dawn was snuggly hidden away from view. Sarah cleared her throat. “Well . . . isn’t this a surprise.” She seemed rather unsure of what to say next. “Wait til your father finds out . . . that he’s a grandpa?”

  Danica glanced up at Josh, who smiled brightly. “He’ll be as proud as I am,” he said while his eyes rested on her face. Danica blinked to ward off the tears that threatened to spill over. She’d always liked the Russells and Josh’s father when she knew them in Virginia City. And now she was part of that family. All those years of growing up without a loving family . . . Danica swallowed. She couldn’t believe Sarah Russell seemed to have accepted her without question.