by Stephy Smith
“Someday, you will understand. Now, you are too new to the area.” Kale felt the pull in his chest. He hoped the sound of his words didn’t sound like he was accusing her of taking on the thinking of others in the fort.
Sally stood in the doorway. “Hello, son.”
“How has your new helper been working out?” He turned his gaze to his mother’s. Her eyes danced with delight and Kale read what she thought.
“Good. She learn to grade fast.” His mother’s voice was light.
Kale walked to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Where’s Dad?”
“He out tracking. Mountain man steal pelts from many trappers.” Another round of stars danced in her eyes.
“Do you think they will catch him this time?” Kale couldn’t control the hope in his voice. Catching Morgan would be beneficial to the fort, and the sooner he could ask Bright Eyes to be his wife.
“Catch who?” Emma’s voice chimed out.
“Morgan. He steal for long time. No can catch. All fort people know it’s him.” Sally gazed at Emma.
“He is stealing and tormenting others? That dirty, rotten commander tried to get me to blame Kale and he knows it is Morgan. Why would he do that?” Emma’s voice rose.
“Morgan is his brother. The commander knows deep down Morgan is the one causing trouble. He doesn’t want embarrassment for his family,” Kale said.
Emma pivoted to Sally then back to Kale. Shrugging his shoulders, his heart thundered with desire. His blood ran hot and his lips longed to taste the sweetness of hers. He glanced at his mother and spoke in Cheyenne.
“Take care of Bright Eyes for me. I must go back to the mountain and secure my traps. Morgan already stole two days worth of pelts. I led him to a small stream where I have two set. He has been checking them.” He kissed his mother on the cheek, turned to Emma, and kissed her on the cheek as well.
“Are you leaving already? You just got here.” Emma’s voice cracked. Kale fought the urge to bundle her up and take her with him to the cabin. There were two problems with the thought. One, he didn’t trust himself to keep his hands off her, and two, he wouldn’t risk the danger of another episode with Morgan.
“I have to. I will return in a few weeks with more pelts.” He watched her smooth face wrinkle and her eyes dampen. Kale walked from the trading post and didn’t stop until he was half-way to the cabin.
Dark clouds started dropping big snowflakes. Kale pulled his coat up around his neck and continued to the cabin. Another blizzard settled on top of the mountain. He laughed to himself. The world would be a happier place if Morgan got stuck in the storm.
He stepped into the cabin and pivoted to shut the door. He glared for a moment as the land grew white. He shut the door behind him and walked to the fireplace to add another log on the red-hot embers.
He removed the fur wrapped around his fingers and twisted to place wood in the cook stove. The pot of leftover stew warmed on top. The silence overwhelmed him as he ate. A dread washed over him. Silence wasn’t what he wanted to get used to again. For now, it would have to suffice. His mind drifted back to the trading post.
The glow on Bright Eyes’ face set his blood to boil. Her arms around his neck were so warm, so soft and comforting. His heart thundered. When his lips met hers, lightning shot down his spine and he felt his heart swell in his chest. He had never been happier to see another person in his life. But, when he had to leave, all he was able to take were the memories etched in his brain.
Her image in the fire drew his eyes to the fireplace. The flames flickered and danced, but the woman wasn’t there. He needed the comfort of something to remind him of her. He pulled a piece of her bullet-riddled dress from the trunk and set it on the table. The dress she’d worn when he found her. He kept it to remind him of the woman who worked her way into his heart, and filled the hole that lived there.
A hole, he laughed, that he never knew existed until his eyes met hers when she woke after he’d brought her to the cabin. Guilt tore into his soul. He didn’t want to take her back. Since he’d left her in the fort, his guilt had risen to an uncomfortable level he did not understand. He dwelled on what she was doing now. Her sweet laughter lulled in his ears and her touch lingered on his skin.
Chapter Seven
Emma walked to the door. Her eyes followed Kale until he was out of sight from the fort, and her shoulders dropped. The sting in her eyes blurred her vision, and she swallowed the sob that tried to escape.
Sally came to stand beside her. Emma twirled her head toward her. “I hope he will be all right on the mountain.”
“No worry, Bright Eyes. Kale strong man. Live on mountain many years.” Sally rubbed Emma’s back. Emma relaxed with the knowledge Sally was a part of the man she loved. She would always be a part of him as long as Sally stayed near.
“I just…it’s just that—” Her words caught in her throat.
“You care for Kale?” Sally’s brows raised and she finished the words Emma was unable to speak.
She held her head high and looked in Sally’s soft eyes. “Yes.” She let out a breath. The words spoken aloud lightened her heart. Until now, she knew she cared for Kale, but was unaware of how much. Sally’s friendship strengthened her, making it easy for her to talk to her. Each passing day, the two grew closer. She trusted Sally with all her innermost secrets. For the first time, she admitted to herself, or anyone, her true feelings for Kale.
“He care much for you.” Sally walked back to the counter.
“I think you’re wrong. He doesn’t care for me.” She ducked her head and dropped her hands to her sides. She walked back to the piles of pelts. A strong need to believe Sally engulfed her. Yet she couldn’t accept the words Sally spoke. Why would Kale want a woman who caused him so much grief?
Her arms grew heavy. For hours, she sorted through the pelts. She tried to concentrate on the job and not the man who invaded her heart.
Emma smiled when Sally brought her some lunch and the two of them sat on crates to devour the tender morsels of deer seasoned with wild onions and berries. They talked of life and the east. She avoided the subject of Kale. Her curiosity of wanting to know everything about him, from the time he was born until now, weighed heavy, but she kept her request to herself.
Sally walked to the front when a customer entered the store. Emma took to the pelts once again and tried to stay busy to keep her mind off Kale. He invaded her privacy too often. Not once had she fought to stop him from the invasion. Actually, she welcomed it for the most part. His presence in her life changed her outlook into a goal to keep him there.
Dark clouds covered the sky. Big flakes of snow fell to the ground, littering the fort with sparkles of white. Emma shivered and pulled her buffalo robe tight. She took a deep breath and stepped out into the cold. Her steps hurried as she made her way home.
Once inside, she threw a log on the fire, removed her coat, and hung it on the rack by the door. Twisting and turning, she shook the flakes from her hair. She went to the stove to warm up some of the leftover lunch Sally sent home with her. A loud gasp escaped her lips.
“What are you doing in my house, commander?” Her clenched hands rested on her hips and she stomped her foot.
“Well, Miss Donley, you told one of my guards if I wanted to talk to you, I had to come here. Now, I am here. You will answer my questions.” His eyes flashed. An evil smile crossed his face. The resemblance to his brother took Emma by surprise.
“Then, get on with your questions, Mr. Morgan.” She didn’t miss his jaw drop.
“How do you know it was Harvey who took you?” His eyes narrowed at her. His voice was cold and accusing.
“From the time he took me until I escaped there was never anyone else around.” Her voice was calm and confident. She realized she held a secret he didn’t want exposed.
“I see. And how do you know his name, Miss Donley?” His glare sent shivers down her spine.
“Everyone in the fort knows his name.” She s
tiffened with defiance. She refused to back down from the offensive game.
“He says Tucker is the one who shot you.”
“Your brother is a liar.” She held strong in her conviction.
The commander’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you learn he is my brother, Miss Donley?” She didn’t miss his attempt to intimidate her.
“Like I said before, Mr. Morgan, it is common knowledge among the people of the fort. Everyone knows you are brothers. They also know you are trying to prevent embarrassment to your family.” Her head cocked at his surprise.
The commander sat still for a moment and rubbed his chin. He stood and started toward the door. His quick glance at her sent cold chills down her back and he reached for the handle. “You better watch your mouth, Miss Donley. Things could get ugly for you.”
Fear ate her insides. Her long steps carried her across the floor to secure the door. She let out a long sigh and shivered at the warning. His eyes held the same evilness his brother’s did and sent terrible unease coursing through her veins. Her instincts told her he would hold to his words.
Emma strolled back to the stove and heated her supper. The aroma of the meat and onions filled the room and her stomach growled with anticipation of the tasty meal. She walked to the window and peered out toward the cabin on the mountain. The swirl of the snow hid it from view. Her shaky hand dished out the food.
The commander’s words stuck in her mind. Fear ate at her soul as she tried to concentrate on her reader. Haunted by his words, she picked up her knitting for a few minutes, and then readied herself for bed. Her dreams were nightmares of Harvey Morgan and his brother’s evil laughter. She tossed and twirled all night, trying to outrun the horrid noise.
In the wee hours of the morning, still tormented by the commander’s words, she rose from her bed and mused at his ignorance. How could he possibly hide something like a relative in a fort where gossip blew as free as the wind? Her experience as a schoolteacher taught her men talked as much as women and children, talked more than the two put together. She laughed to herself, grabbed her coat, and walked out the door.
Her heart skipped a beat when she ran head on with the man outside the door. She raised her hand to push him away. Her fingers wrapped around a button as his hand went to her mouth, and with brute force, he dragged her to a small building. He shoved her in the cold, dark room, then slammed and locked the door.
She beat on the door and screamed. Her calls for help echoed in the enclosure. There were no windows. The thunder in her chest sent waves of nauseating fear to her stomach. She leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor.
Huddled in her buffalo robe, she rested her head in her hands. Her feet and legs ached from the cold. In the total darkness, she heard a scurry headed toward her. She held her breath, waiting for the intruder to come closer. A few minutes passed and she determined whatever it could be was more afraid of her than she was of it.
“Is someone here?” she called out. There was no answer. Despair took over her. Whatever was here with her couldn’t help her escape from the solid walls. She was relieved someone else hadn’t endured the torture she now experienced at the hands of cold-blooded brothers.
Her thoughts went to Sally. She would grow suspicious of her missing. It wasn’t like her to miss work. Sally would send for Kale to find her, or at least she had some sort of hope. She stood on shaky legs and held to the wall. Her hand guided her around the ten-foot by ten-foot prison.
She kept up her pace in an attempt to keep herself warm. Her feet stung with each step she took. Another half round, she positioned herself from the cold seeping in the door. She slumped in a corner when her feet could bear no more. Her head rested on her knees. It felt as if she had been in the room for days. Hunger bit at her stomach and she hoped someone would bring food soon.
She leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. Her body was numb and she knew frostbite must have set in. She fell asleep with the warmth she now felt. Dreams of Kale became real in her life. In the darkness, that was all she had to hold on to. She wondered what time it was. There was no way of knowing, for sleep came when it came and there was no routine to her life now.
The hunger pains grew intense with each passing moment. She no longer knew if her eyes were open or closed. The door hadn’t opened once since the man had placed her inside. No one came to her rescue, to bring her food, or a warm bed and blanket. Depression threatened to take over, she fought back the tears, and held on to the hope someone would soon find her.
As far as she could tell, there wasn’t a fireplace or stove in the ten-by-ten room. Whatever animal scurried around in the dark, it was the only thing occupying the space. Her feet were so numb she no longer felt the floor when she walked. The few times she attempted to move, she fell.
Lost in thought, she lay in the floor waiting for her captor to come visit the cold, dark room. Her thoughts formed images of Kale and Sally. Why hadn’t Kale come for her? Why hadn’t Sally sent out a search party to find her and free her from her plight? The more she thought about it, the madder she got.
How could she have been so blind? They’d never cared for her, yet they sure put on a good act.
Then all reason returned to her. There was no way they would be able to find her. She didn’t even know where she was, herself. Besides, the blizzard made it impossible for her to see where the man had taken her.
The one thing she did know, it wasn’t Harvey Morgan this time. The man was not large, nor did he smell bad enough to be Harvey. She wouldn’t doubt it was the commander acting on Harvey’s request to shut her up or he would kill her.
The commander would have some other poor man at his mercy do his dirty deed to make her life miserable. Commander Morgan was a coward, but he had threatened her. She felt sure he was behind all of this nonsense.
Her mind raced back to the conversation with the commander. Why would he feel the need to kidnap her and lock her in this small room? She didn’t pose a threat to him. There were too many questions without answers for her to dwell on. A shudder ran down the length of her exhausted form. The constant ‘what ifs, how comes, and who dids’ nagged at her. The only answer that made sense happened to be that Commander Morgan was responsible for her imprisonment.
Emma didn’t know how long she had slept, nor did she know how many days she spent locked inside the room when the door opened. The brightness of the light filtered in to burn her eyes. She raised her weak hand to shade them. Two men in uniforms entered and grabbed her arms. They partially lifted her from the floor and dragged her through melting snow to the commander’s office.
Her body was so weak she was unable to stand on her own. The men let her fall to the floor. Words spoken faded in and out, and she tried to focus. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids were too heavy. Too weak to do anything else, she resorted back to a deep sleep where the whole world left her in total darkness once more.
A painful sensation in her fingers and toes traveled to her feet and hands. Her lips and jaws were stiff while she tried to form words. She wanted to scream out, to stop the pain of thawing, but nothing she tried did any good. Endless prodding and kneading on her arms and legs burned with the fierceness of flames roaring across the prairie.
Voices loomed above her. No matter how hard she concentrated, she couldn’t understand the words. She felt she was in a foreign country, listening to a foreign language. Her brain failed to function the way she thought it should. She shook her head to clear away the confusion gathered there.
A small hand lifted the back of her head. Warm steam rose to her nose. A vessel of some sort touched her mouth, and warm liquid flowed over her dried and cracked lips. She forced herself to swallow. The savory taste lingered on her tongue. The sound of her voice was too weak, and her silent pleas for more of the hot broth went unknown.
She faded in and out of consciousness, and her vision always blurred. The people above her were strangers, maybe even angels sent from heaven to escort h
er to the holy land. Their touches on her body were gentle. The pain eased into a dull ache. Whatever they did to her helped her discomfort. It was better than freezing in the ten-by-ten room. A heavy cover warmed her.
Day after day, she held to the faith that the people who hovered above were her saviors. Steadily, she grew stronger. Her eyes focused on the Indian man. She wasn’t afraid; she knew who he was. His two long braids hung down his chest. His wrinkled brow and weathered face wrapped around kind, dark eyes. He did not smile, but he resembled an elderly Kale. She accepted the broth he offered.
“Thank you.” Her weak whisper finally reached his ears. His head nodded. “You can’t keep me here. The whites will attack your village.”
The old man disappeared. Emma glanced around. A rustle at her side drew her attention to Sally. She peeked under lashed lids to Sally who knelt beside her. Tears filled the tiny openings and she reached to her friend. “How did you find me?”
Sally patted her arm. “You rest. We talk later.” She lifted more broth to Emma’s lips.
“Where is Kale?” She closed her eyes and prayed he was near.
“He talk to elders. He come see you when done.” Sally offered tea. Emma’s lids grew heavy and sleep took over once more.
