The Journey Home

by Linda Ford

  “Good thing he saw your predicament.”

  “But I went of my own free will.”

  The sheriff stopped the car and faced her. “Didn’t you just ask me for help?”

  “I need someplace to stay until Harry sends for me.” Her eyes stung with embarrassment as she prepared to beg. “I thought I could stay with you and your sister.” She hated the desperate tone of her voice, but truth was, she had quickly dispensed with her pride about the time she walked off the train platform. “I could scrub up after the prisoners for you.”

  Sheriff Mack shook his head. “No can do. If I take you back, I’ll turn you over to Lother. It’s my duty.” He patted Charlotte’s hand. “Now don’t you fret none. Many a young lady has been nervous on her wedding day. It’s perfectly normal. But once it’s done, you’ll feel better.”

  Anger and disgust raged inside her at the way these men decided her future with absolutely no regard for her wishes. “I would not marry Lother if he was the last man on earth.” She tipped her head toward Kody. “This man is the only one who has had the decency to offer to help.”

  Sheriff Mack looked uncomfortable. “Now, Miss Charlotte, no need to get all high and mighty on me.”

  “He’s done nothing wrong. Release him at once.”

  “Now wait one cotton-pickin’ minute.”

  “Now.” She tilted her head toward Kody, indicating she wanted him released.

  “You’re making a mighty big mistake.”

  But Charlotte would not relent.

  Muttering dark predictions about her future, Sheriff Mack took the handcuffs off Kody. “You’re free to go.”

  Charlotte stepped out of the car as Kody backed away. He remained motionless as Sheriff Mack untied the horses. When Kody made no move to take the reins, Charlotte reached for them.

  Sheriff Mack looked at her a moment, then scrunched up his lips on one side and made a sound of disgust. “Lother isn’t going to be happy about this.”

  She didn’t answer, although her brain burned with angry retorts. Too bad about Lother. That’s your problem, not mine. Next time you should… There would be no next time for her. She intended to seek refuge with Kody’s parents in Favor. What choice did she have? No one else offered sanctuary. God, help me.

  She turned her head away as the dust whipped up around the departing vehicle.

  Only after the gray cloud abated did Kody turn and in one smooth move, leap onto Sam’s back. “Let’s get out of here,” he muttered as he urged Sam into a run.

  Charlotte climbed onto the mare’s back and kicked her sides, trying to catch Kody, but it seemed the mare’s fastest pace was a bone-shuddering trot that practically shook Charlotte from her back. After several futile attempts to get the animal to gallop, Charlotte settled back into a slow walk as Kody and Sam disappeared over a hill. The puffs of dust swirling from Sam’s hooves gave her direction.

  Why would no one help her? I wouldn’t be a burden. I’d make them glad they’d taken me in. But her silent arguments were a waste of time. She had to think about the future. My times are in Your hands. God had promised. He would not fail her.

  With each exhalation she let out fear and disappointment. With every indrawn breath, she pulled assurance and peace into her heart. Certainly she couldn’t understand why He would choose to send help in the form of a stranger and a half-breed. But she would not fear. She would trust. She’d allow Kody to take her to his parents, but she’d be on guard at all times to make sure she got there safely.

  Courage and determination returned before she caught up to him twenty minutes later.

  He lounged in the shade of a ragged rock, his legs outstretched, his head tipped back and his hat pulled over his eyes.

  She dismounted, swaying a little with light-headedness.

  “Not used to riding?” Kody murmured.

  How could he see with his hat pulled down? “I ride fine.” It wasn’t riding that made her weak but lack of food. Yesterday she’d eaten the last dry biscuit.

  He sat up so quickly she jerked back, alarm skittering across the surface of her skin, eliciting goose bumps. She grabbed the saddle horn, preparing to mount up again and ride away if he threatened her. She sighed with defeat. He could probably outrun the mare on foot. She would have to find another way of protecting herself. Her mind blanked, her blood pooled in a cold puddle in the pit of her stomach as she admitted her defenselessness. In the middle of open country. In the company of a stranger. God is with me. I will not fear. Despite her assurance of God’s protection, her mouth remained dry.

  But Kody only pushed his hat back to study her.

  She took a good hard look at him, hoping for something to ease her fears. Eyes blacker than coal. No surprise. Skin bronzed. Again, no surprise. But the kind gleam in his eyes caught her off guard. One thing her mother had said repeatedly before her death, “Charlotte, never judge a man by his looks. Always seek below the surface.” Of course, even the look in his eyes revealed nothing of what lay beneath. Nevertheless, it eased her fear.

  “You could have changed your mind back there.”

  She shuddered. “And go to Lother? I’d sooner be tied out in the sun and left to bake.”

  Kody’s black eyes bored into her gaze.

  The skin on her cheeks tightened as she realized she’d blurted out one of the ways Indians supposedly used to torture captives.

  He nodded. “So be it.” He strode over to Sam and dug into one of his packs.

  Relieved to be free of his intense look, Charlotte sucked in the hot, dusty air and coughed.

  “Here.” He handed her a canteen. “It will have to last us the day, so ration yourself.”

  “Thank you.” She tipped her head back and let the water fill her mouth, kept it there, savoring the relief to her parched tongue and throat before she swallowed. She allowed herself one more mouthful, then screwed the top back on and held the canteen toward Kody.

  “It’s yours. Hang it from your saddle.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Hold out your hand.”

  She hesitated as a spidery sensation crept up her spine. Was he trying to trick her? Take advantage of her?

  “Look, you’re going to have to trust me.”

  Trust him? No. She couldn’t even trust her brother, her only living relative. She wasn’t sure she would ever trust anyone again. Except God, of course.

  Kody made an impatient sound. “Take it or leave it.” He began to withdraw his hand.

  She realized she’d made him angry and understood it made her even more vulnerable, so she opened her palm to him, keeping a careful distance between their hands.

  Raisins dribbled into her hand.

  Raisins? She’d expected…She didn’t know what, but not this. Why had God chosen such an unusual way to satisfy her hunger? Her mouth watered in anticipation of the waiting treat and she decided to deal with her hunger first and her questions later.

  “Thank you.” Her voice rose in a squeak.

  He grunted acknowledgment and swung up on Sam. “Best keep moving.”

  As Charlotte nibbled the raisins, savoring them one at a time, her thoughts returned to doubts about her decision. She blinked back tears. It wasn’t her fault she’d been left with little choice but to ride across the country with a stranger. But who was she to blame? Lother? Now that he knew her to be alone, she would never be safe back at the farm. No one in Big Rock offered her shelter. Did they not believe in Christian charity? And what about Harry? He had promised to care for her always. Of course, he hadn’t stopped caring. Things just hadn’t panned out yet. They’d soon be together again as they should be. Perhaps she should blame Nellie with her whining and complaining. The last few weeks, it seemed no matter how hard she tried, Charlotte could not please her sister-in-law. But then many people, men and woman alike, found the continued drought more than they could bear. The drought? Surely that accounted for some of her problems? But who sent the rains or withheld them? God. Ultimately blaming anyone
meant blaming God and she couldn’t do that. She trusted Him, depended on His continuing care to see her safely returned to Harry’s home. Relieved to have settled the matter, she glanced about her, seeing vaguely familiar landmarks. “We’ll never make Favor by nightfall.”

  “Nope.”

  She glanced at him. He seemed unconcerned, but then, he was probably used to sleeping on the trail. The very thought filled her with fresh alarm. “Where will we spend the night?”

  “With friends of mine.” Kody slowed Sam so he could ride at her side. “Seems you have no choice but to accept hospitality where you can find it.”

  He’d pinpointed her hard feelings. She had no choice. She’d had none when her mother died and Harry became her sole guardian. She’d had none when Harry sent her to the Applebys, nor when he left her behind a few days ago. She had little choice now. She suddenly laughed. She didn’t need to trust people to help her. “God will take care of me wherever we spend the night.”

  He turned in his saddle to give her a hard look. “Seems you’re depending on me to help do God’s work. Does that make me an instrument of God’s using?” He paused but before she could answer, he continued, “Or does it make me an accidental encounter?”

  She wondered if he mocked her faith. Or were his questions sincere? “Do you have cause to wonder which you are?”

  “You better believe I have.”

  “And what would it be, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  Kody brought Sam to a stop and turned to stare at her.

  Charlotte decided he looked surprised and disbelieving at the same time.

  He rolled up his sleeve and pointed to his arm. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the color of my skin.” He tugged at one braid. “And the color of my hair.”

  Indeed she had. And yes, she shrank back, knowing his heritage, but she trusted God to keep her safe. And whether or not He used a half-breed to serve His purposes, she would continue to trust Him. Besides, did God care about the color of a man’s skin?

  She turned to look Kody full in the face. “Doesn’t the Scripture say there is no difference between people?”

  “Words mean nothing to most people.” He jerked forward and resumed their journey.

  The sun beat down with unrelenting persistence. An hour or so later, Kody pulled off the road into the meager shelter of some trees. “We’ll let the horses rest out of the sun for a while.”

  Charlotte kept her gaze on the trail ahead. She’d prefer to keep moving, the sooner to reach safety, but she understood the wisdom of giving the horses a break from the heat.

  He settled down in the shade of a tree and pulled his hat over his face.

  Slowly, Charlotte got down from her horse. She found a tree as far from Kody as she could and sank to the heated ground, trying unsuccessfully to pull both shoulders into the shade. The blazing sun sucked oxygen from the air. Lethargy seeped into her bones. She blinked, trying to keep her eyes open, knowing she’d be easy prey if she allowed herself to fall asleep. But sleep continued to threaten. Unwilling to succumb, she pushed to her feet and moved around slowly to keep herself awake. She leaned against a tree and stared across the parched fields.

  “Get up real slow.” A rough voice spoke behind her.

  Charlotte stiffened and sucked in a gulp of oven-hot air. Slowly she turned. She couldn’t see the speaker and edged a little to the right to see past the mare grazing placidly between her and Kody. What she saw made her blood jolt to her heart in a pounding pulse—two men, unshaven and unkempt, looking as appealing as last week’s slop. One aimed a small handgun at Kody.

  Kody folded his legs under him and rose in one slow movement.

  “Hands above your head and don’t try no funny stuff.”

  The shorter man, a menacing sneer slashing his face, held the gun. The taller man had a narrow face and beady eyes, reminding Charlotte of a rat. She pushed her fears to one side and tried to think what she should do.

  “Looks like a good pair of boots. Them and the horses will come in mighty handy, don’t ya think, Shorty?”

  Charlotte sent up a prayer for help and then her brain kicked into gear. It seemed they hadn’t noticed her. If she kept quiet, maybe they wouldn’t. She glanced around, saw a boulder several feet away. If she hid behind it and didn’t make a sound…

  But what would happen to Kody? He’d been kind enough to rescue her. So far, he’d been nothing but a gentleman. She had lingering doubts about her safety with him, but she had no such doubts about these two. She would not be safe with them. And she couldn’t imagine they’d have any compunction about killing Kody. She could run and hide, or—she gulped—she could do something to help. She fought the fear racing up her limbs and setting her teeth to chattering and made up her mind. God, help me.

  Silently, as slow as a shadow following the sun, crouching low, she moved away from the shelter of the tree and edged toward the mare. She reached the horse just as Kody pulled off his first boot, and she cautiously removed Harry’s rifle. Thankfully the placid mare paid no attention to her.

  Charlotte put the rifle to her shoulder and tried to think how to be more convincing with this pair than she had been with Kody. She took a deep breath to stop the gun from wavering in her hands, forced a deep scowl to her face. She feared her eyes were wide with fright and concentrated on narrowing them. Only then did she step out from behind the mare.

  “Drop your gun.” She did her best to sound menacing. In truth, she was surprised any words escaped. It felt as if someone had tried to padlock her throat shut.

  They stared at her in disbelief. “Where’d you come from?”

  “God sent me.”

  The pair glanced heavenward and shuffled backward like they feared the wrath of God. She smiled at their frightened look and jerked the rifle upward slightly in what she hoped was a scary gesture. “Drop the gun.”

  “Do as she says,” Ratface said.

  “I am.” Shorty tossed the gun aside.

  Kody dived for it and turned it on the pair. “Best be on your way,” he said.

  Lifting their feet high as if afraid they might step on something, the two beat it down the road, glancing over their shoulders every few steps to see if anyone—or perhaps anything—followed them.

  Charlotte moved to Kody’s side and they kept both guns aimed toward the fleeing men until they disappeared from sight.

  Only then did Charlotte let the heavy rifle drop. She leaned over and gasped for air.

  Kody laughed. It started as a little burst of what Charlotte took for relief, then grew steadily to a deep belly laugh.

  She shot him a look of disbelief. She saw no humor in the situation. They’d just been threatened by two men who surely would have had taken more than their belongings. She shuddered to think of what they might have done to her. And Kody. Surely he’d been aware of the danger. How could he laugh?

  Kody sobered as she scowled at him, although his eyes continued to brim with amusement and his smile seemed as wide as a door. “They really thought you dropped out of heaven. Scared them good. And to think that old rifle has no ammo.” He chuckled some more. “Apart from your bravado.”

  “I fail to see what’s so funny.” She pulled herself onto the mare’s back. “I intend to ride as far and as fast from those two as I can.”

  Kody leaped to Sam’s back. “Did you see the look on their faces as they ran off? As if they expected a whole flock of avenging angels to descend?” He laughed again.

  Charlotte tried to urge the mare into a gallop. She only wanted a safe place with no more threatening men. No more wondering what lay around the next corner. But the mare had one gait and would not be pushed. Charlotte sighed and stopped fighting the horse.

  Kody stayed at her side as if a short halter rope connected the two horses. His continued chuckling annoyed her almost as much as did the fact that she felt safer with him there.

  “You saved us.”

  He tried, she guessed, to persuade her to see the humor
in something she found too frightening to be amusing. “God saved us. I prayed. He answered. It’s that simple.”

  “Didn’t see God holding the empty rifle. Only saw you, though I’m thinking those two drifters saw more.”

  She turned to study him. Saw he teased, but his words had triggered an idea. “Maybe they did see something more. Maybe God sent angels to surround us and only those two men saw them. Like that story in the Bible.” The idea made her feel better and she smiled.

  “Could be your miracle.” He grinned at her.

  “I believe it is.” For a moment she let herself forget she’d only just met this man and let her heart open a crack to enjoy a shared laugh.

  But just for a moment. She hadn’t forgotten her precarious state—riding across the dried-out prairie with a stranger, confronting dangers on the trail, facing a fearful, uncertain future. It provided little reason for amusement.

  They rode on, for the most part in silence. The lonely days of worry, too little food, too little water and now a long ride took their toll. Charlotte grew weary, barely able to stay awake. She swayed in the saddle.

  Kody grabbed her shoulder to stop her from falling. “Hang on. Just a little farther.”

  She could barely keep her eyes open. Her head kept falling to her chest. Kody stayed close to her side, steadying her several times.

  “We’re here,” Kody said.

  She realized they’d stopped at a picket fence before a low white house. “Where’s here?” Her words felt stiff on her tongue.

  “Where we will spend the night.”

  A robust-looking woman opened the door, drying her hands on a towel. “Claude, we have visitors.” She shaded her eyes and studied Kody and Charlotte. A tall man joined her at the doorway.

  Suddenly the woman’s face broke into a huge smile. “Well, I’ll be. It’s Kody Douglas.” She rushed down the pathway.

  Charlotte saw it in fractured glimpses through eyelids refusing to open more than a crack. She felt Kody jump to the ground, felt his steadying hands on her arm as he introduced his friends as Ethel and Claude. She tried to remember how to dismount, but her limbs refused to obey her brain.