Instead, he turned and began to usher her back to his sisters when he heard his pa call his name.
“Layla, you’re next, but I need to see Pa.”
“And I believe Jax has the next dance with me.” Victoria sent his brother a questioning glance, and he blushed and nodded.
This time Wall did ruffle the boy’s hair as he walked by toward their father. “Thank you.”
In a few steps, he tipped his hat back to better view his pa.
“Pappy brought this for you.” His father held out a letter.
Wall searched the crowd only to see his pappy disappear toward the food table. Wall took the letter, and his heart beat sped up when he read the scrawl on the front.
“It’s about the land I want to buy.”
“I know.”
His father’s words gave him pause. He wasn’t certain if he’d told him his plans, but even if he did, the certainty behind the two words went down like he’d swallowed a live fish.
He opened the letter and read it as fast as he could. “Rejected?”
He glanced up at his father, who stared emotionless at him.
He flicked the letter toward him. “What did you do?”
“I may have had a friend in the land office tell me of your application.”
“So what? You bought it?”
His father shook his head. “Nope.”
“Then what?”
“I just let Nichols know that land he wanted for the project was being bought up before he could get it is all.”
Red slid before Wall’s vision, and his hands tingled. He fought hard to control the rage boiling inside his core. He wrapped one palm over his other fist to keep himself from slamming it into his father’s face. Which he so desperately wanted to do.
“You can’t win, Wallace.” His father’s words penetrated his fog, and he stepped forward to administer the blow, when a small warm hand pressed gently on his arm.
He glanced down at the now familiar site of Victoria’s small hand as she stepped into his vision, pulling him from the rage he’d felt mere seconds ago.
“Ah, Miss Victoria.” His father pulled his pipe from his pocket and smacked the end to empty any old ash. “Wallace here was telling me that I can announce the good news.”
“What good news, sir?” she asked, looping her arms through Wall’s. He laid his hand over her arm, needing the extra contact to help ground him.
“Of my support of your plan to help my neighbors harvest their trees, of course.”
Wall clenched his teeth, and clutched her arm. She opened her mouth to speak, but he knew what she was going to say. She was going to sacrifice herself, the town of Bonner, for his pride. He couldn’t allow such a thing.
“Announce it,” he bit out, and then all but yanked her as he turned and marched past the crowd of dancers, past the table of food, and out toward the horses.
Victoria all but running beside him. “Why did you do that?”
“For you.”
“Not for me. We agreed we would come up with another way.”
“There is no other way!” He skidded to a stop and spun around, searching their surroundings for anyone who may have overheard. “He’s won, Victoria. Go home. Go get your trains and your timber beasts, and send them back up this way, but I can’t be a part of your life, or Great Mountain anymore.”
“You may have settled for this, but I have not. I’ll find a way out.”
Wall gave a sarcastic chuckle, as a flash of color caught his attention. He watched as a group of men headed into the forest, and he knew why.
He let a smile stretch across his face to match his mood. Only one thing could help, but he doubted Victoria would understand.
At this point, he didn’t care.
“Come on.” He grabbed her hand again, and urged her to follow without the slightest of explanations. She’d understand soon enough.
* * * *
Her shoes weren’t made for running through stick-covered vegetation, but she followed Wall anyway. She’d never seen him in such a state, and she didn’t like it. She wasn’t scared of him, but she didn’t like to see him hurt.
They could find another way to save the mill without him having to sacrifice his freedom. He didn’t have to do this.
“Where are we going?”
“To work off some of the fight my father put in me.”
“Now is hardly the time,” she said, glancing around to see if anyone followed. They didn’t.
He chuckled. “As much as I would love to work off anything with you like that, I had something different in mind.”
“Oh,” she said, and then fell silent as she followed, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything which might help her figure out his intent.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity of walking, the deep rumble of men shouting echoed through the trees, and she realized where they were headed.
“Boxing?”
“I like to call it pugilism, or fisticuffs. Boxing sounds so harsh.”
“But you’ve been doing it forever as you mentioned.”
He nodded as he fought his way to the front of the crowd, ushering her behind. “Since I was little. Even toured the West a little after school. Before I joined on with Great Mountain. Went as far as Reno before I came home.”
“You mean before you got your head knocked off.”
He gave a lopsided grin, but didn’t answer. Instead he turned and shouted encouragement at the man who was down. His voice caught the attention of a few onlookers who focused on Wall, and then her. She moved closer to him, clutching his hand and pressing herself closer to him as she watched the men fight.
“Don’t be shy,” Wall yelled over his shoulder. “You’ve seen this at your lumber camps.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t an outsider then.”
Just then a loud cheer erupted from the men and the victor leapt from the fallen loser with hands raised in victory.
As the volume of cheers died down, someone from the crowd cried out, “Wall’s here! Who wants to take him on?”
She clutched his hand tighter, but he stepped forward, so she let him go. She grasped her necklace, watching the huddle as the men determine who would fight Wall. After a minute, Wall rushed back to her, and yanked his shirt free of his waistband to hand it to her. “If I win you get to log Caleb’s homestead farther down the valley.”
“I don’t want a contract this way.”
To her surprise, he kissed her hard and fast, not caring who saw. Her heartbeat sped up, both in shock and slight giddiness. He smiled. “You don’t have a choice.”
“Wall,” she called, but he’d turned to rush into the make-shift ring.
“Best let him go when he gets like this.” A familiar female voice sounded beside her. She turned as three of Wall’s sister shoved their way beside her.
“Oh, thank God. I thought I was going to have to experience this alone.”
“Are you kidding?” Georgiana asked, surprising Victoria with her presence seeing as she was quite young herself. Barely older than Jax, who couldn’t be more than fifteen. “We don’t miss Wall’s fights.”
Jax took up a position on her other side, and stood with arms crossed. He didn’t say a word, but she watched the way he interacted with the men nearby. He’d taken his role as her protector in Wall’s absence seriously, and she adored him for it. She’d never had a brother who cared for her the way Wall’s did. Luther wasn’t a brother, no matter how much she wished circumstances to be different.
“We saw the group of men sneak off and waited five minutes. That’s how you do it with the mammas around. Layla stays behind to cover for us. She doesn’t like the blood.”
A third man stood between Wall and his bare-chested opponent, and on his mark, they began to circle one another. Throwing occasional jabs, but not yet connecting
with flesh.
Willa shook her head. “Wall’s beatin’ the devil around the stump with this one is all. He must be in a mood.”
“What do you mean?”
“Usually he likes to make it fast and as painless as possible. One or two punches and a knockout so his buddy doesn’t go home hurtin’, but when he doesn’t, he’s aiming to draw the fight out.”
“Why on earth would he do that?” Victoria grasped her necklace again and ran the gem along the chain as she turned back to the fight.
“Come on, Wall!” the other fighter shouted. “What’s your game?”
At the man’s words, Wall snapped a quick jab forward, and the man’s head jerked back with the punch. But he wasn’t out. The man righted himself, and smiled as he swiped at the blood now trickling down his face. “Better.”
With that, the man attacked, and the fight began.
The first blow the man threw, Wall ducked, but he followed it in quick succession by a second that landed straight on Wall’s face. Victoria stepped forward. Her natural instinct drawing her to run to his side to tend to his wounds.
Jax held her back with a hand on her arm, and she stopped. “You’re right. Sorry.”
Victoria forced herself to stay put as Wall continued to fight the man until finally he knocked him out with a punch hard enough to send the man flying across the ground.
Wall tripped toward her as Jax finally released her arm.
“Wallace Adair,” she scolded, and grabbed him, supporting him as he approached. “No more fisticuffs.”
“Sorry, princess. I’ve got three more fights lined up for tonight. Seems I’ve got a few people anxious to give up their trees to you in exchange for a go around with me.”
“Don’t you dare,” she scolded. “I won’t take these contracts, especially if you get them this way.”
“Don’t listen to him, Victoria,” Willa said, and held out a piece of paper to her. “Father’s already gone and told the town you have his support. Mother, Bethany, and I got a list of farmers who need their logs cleared. No need for paying them either.”
“Except the Widow Yancy, of course,” Jax clarified. “She still needs the lease.”
Victoria took the paper, and waved off his concern. Touched that even the youngest of Adair’s cared for the welfare of the people under their family’s leadership. She turned to Wall. “I will not allow you to bloody yourself for me.”
He pulled her close, without a care to anyone nearby. “I did that for me, but I would die for you.”
“Oh, Wall.” She didn’t know what else to say as her heart sank to her stomach. Out of the corner of her eye she watched his family move away, leaving them in what relative privacy they could. “You don’t have to. Don’t do this to yourself. You’re one of the greatest inventors I’ve ever met. For hell’s sake, you made machines to revolutionize Montana logging. We will figure out how to overcome this obstacle, even if we have to spend some time apart. We’ll make certain it isn’t forever.”
He ran the back of his hand down her cheek. “You’re a rare woman. Strong and determined.”
“The sort of woman a filthy cowboy like you needs.” She nudged him with the shirt he had yet to put on, and he took it. “Even if I have to go home, I’ll come back whenever I can. I won’t stay away forever. Just promise you won’t go falling for some Hartland girl before we figure out how to be together.”
“There’s no one else for me. You’re safe there.” He slipped his shirt on, and jammed the hem down his waist band, eliciting a shouted objection from a group of men down by the fighting ring.
Wall faced them and held out his arms in surrender. “Consider this a forfeit. You win…for now.”
“So you’ve had your fill of getting punched in the face?”
Wall shuffled his feet toward the path out of the trees. “I suppose.”
“Then we should probably clean you up a bit before you go back.”
She held on to him as they met up with his sisters and brother, and began to make their way toward the trail, stopping to let Wall clean up enough to make himself presentable.
They meandered together back to the homestead where the band struck up a fast country dance when a new face in the crowd caught her attention. She tugged on Wall’s arm and motioned to where Garrett stood waiting.
He noticed them at the same time, and hurried over. Raising his head in greeting as he approached. “I’ve come to fetch Victoria.”
“Why?” An ache started between her brows as she frowned, and dread spread to her stomach at his tone.
“It’s your father. They’ve found him.”
Before she could open her mouth to speak, Wall’s father approached. “Did you say they found Abner Harrison?”
Garrett nodded. “He should be home tonight.”
“Is he hurt?”
Garrett shook his head. “I don’t know. All I know is they told me he’s been found, and would arrive here tonight, and to come get you with all haste.”
“We’ll go,” Wall placed his hand on the small of her back, and she leaned into his support.
“No, I’m sorry, son. You’re needed here. The snows about to settle in the valley and we got to get the rest of the cattle down before then.”
“But what if he’s hurt? I need to go with Victoria.”
Wall’s father stood straighter, as if trying to gain power from height. “You’re needed at home. If we don’t get those cows down, they’ll freeze and we’ll lose half of our years pay. Your mother and sisters will have less to eat. You have a responsibility here now. No more running off whenever you want.”
Wall opened his mouth to argue, but Victoria placed her hand on his arm to stop him. As much as it pained her to lose his support, now was not the time to argue their case. “I’m confident father is okay. Mother said he’d gone exploring, and gotten lost. That’s all. I’ll send word as soon as we make it home and I hear more. I swear.”
“Fine,” Wall conceded. He directed his next words to his father. “Once she writes to me, if I find that something has happened, I will go to her, but I will come back.”
“As long as there’s nothing pressing on the ranch.” Wall’s father stuck his hand in his vest pocket, and rocked back on his heels.
Victoria turned to Garrett, did you ride or bring a wagon?
“Took the train to Bonner, and then rode from there. It’s faster.”
She turned to Wall, and he nodded. “I’ll take you back to the house to get your stuff. You can take my horse back to the mill.”
“What will you ride to go get cattle?”
“One of the stock horses.” He started toward the string of horses tied up near the wagon. She followed, and he lifted her behind the saddle, and then mounted.
“How did you find us out here?” she asked Garrett when he rode up to them.
“Followed the chain of wagons headed out of town. I figured something was going on, and I’d probably find you were all the people were, knowing Wall.”
Wall chuckled, and shook his head, kicking his horse into a gallop to lead the way toward his homestead.
In half the time it took them to get there, they loped into the yard she’d grown to love, and she slid to the ground before Wall even had a chance to dismount.
She wanted to stay, but knowing her father was coming home boosted her spirits. She ran upstairs to Wall’s room and began to pack a bag small enough to fit over the saddle horn. Was he injured? Or had he just been on his own little holiday up there while everyone scrambled to find him?
And what would he think of what she’d done with the mill? He’d be furious with her, of course. She was angry with herself for losing the land to Luther the way she did.
The deep echo of boots along the hallway drew her attention to the door as Wall entered. “Can you have my trunk shipped to the
mill?”
“You’re anxious to be rid of me, eh? I’ve made you quite mad by fighting.”
“No.” She let out a deep exhale. “I’m eager to see my father.”
“I’m teasing, princess.” In three steps he stood before her, towering over her. She laid her head on his chest, and he kissed her head. “I’m sorry I can’t come. I’ll be there as soon as I can convince my father to let me go.”
“I understand. I wouldn’t want your father to despise me any more than he already does, and I don’t want your family to suffer on my behalf because I selfishly took you away when you should have been rounding up your cattle before the snow.”
“As soon as I can. I’ll come to you.”
“Or I’ll come to you.” She placed both of her hands along the side of his face. “We’ll make this work. Somehow.”
He bent down and kissed her last words away. A kiss she felt stamp her heart like a brand. Even if she never got to come back to the man she’d fallen in love with, she had this moment to remember him. Forever.
Chapter 19
The pads of her feet began to ache as Victoria paced before the fireplace in her father’s study. He’d been in bed when she’d arrived. Well and whole, but too tired from the train ride—and she suspected whatever adventure he’d gone on—to see anyone.
So she’d waited.
And drank coffee. Lots of it. She glanced at the tray holding her empty cup with and equally empty pot of coffee. At Wall’s house he would have drunk most of the pot. She smiled as the memory of his breakfast habits ran through her mind. As he did every morning before heading out to work the cattle.
Knowing her father would be awhile she’d cleaned the road dust off and changed, and then visited her office to see if there was any pressing business that had happened while she was away, but her mother had taken care of everything—opting to stay in their Bonner home, rather than return to Missoula like she’d done over months past.
The orders had gone out without issue, and now their log piles were depleted and they were on their last few trees. With everything happening, she was more than eager to speak with her father about what to do next with the mill.
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