“I’m not looking for a job.” He glanced from Ethan toward Naomi. “And I don’t want to upset anybody. I’ll leave first thing in the morning.”
“You can’t leave,” Ethan said. “You’re the best shot we have. What if the Indians attack us again?”
“Your wound still needs looking after,” Naomi’s father said.
“How much would you charge?” Norman asked.
“Why would I charge anything when I’m already going in that direction?”
It was Tom Hale who spoke up. “Because you’d be responsible for finding water—food in case we need it—deciding when and where to camp, for making sure every wagon gets across every stream and river, and for protecting us in case of another attack.”
Colby glanced at Naomi, then back to Tom. “Can’t say I want that much responsibility.”
“Is your conscience willing to take the chance that we might perish if you don’t help us?”
“It not fair to put a man in a corner like that,” Colby said.
“Look at us,” Tom said. “We’re townspeople. We don’t know anything about this country. We need you.”
“You could wait here or go back. There’s bound to be a caravan you could join.”
Tom paused before answering. “There are reasons why that’s not possible.”
“He’s wearing a Union Army uniform,” Naomi reminded everyone.
“We can see that,” Norman said, “but he says he’s not in the army anymore.”
“How do you know? You said somebody might come after us.”
A strained silence followed Naomi’s outburst. Ethan elbowed her, but she stood her ground. If they refused to tell her what had happened—what she had done—to force them to leave Kentucky, they had to expect her to be afraid of anyone wearing an army uniform.
“I’m wearing this because I don’t have anything else,” Colby explained. He paused. “I don’t like the sound of somebody might come after us. Especially if that somebody is wearing a Union Army uniform. What kind of trouble have you people gotten yourselves into?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Tom assured Colby. “Our community was on the line between Kentucky and Tennessee. Neither side trusted us. With all the hard feelings after the war, we decided it was best to leave.”
That’s what Naomi had been told whenever she asked. It sounded logical, but something didn’t quite ring true. Everybody had been different since her nightmares had started. The men met in secret; people who had been friendly suddenly stopped speaking; people whispered and looked over their shoulders. Rather than welcome visitors, they were nervous until they left.
“I don’t like the feeling I’m getting about this,” Colby said, “but I couldn’t square it with my conscience to abandon anybody on this trail.”
“Will you take us to Santa Fe?”
“I’ll get you to La Junta. That’s where this trail hooks up with the one from Bent’s Fort.”
“Let’s talk about money,” Tom said.
“Where’s he going to stay?” Ethan asked. “He doesn’t have a wagon.”
“He can travel with us,” Dr. Kessling said. “After what he’s done, that’s the least I can do.”
Naomi turned and rushed from the gathering. They couldn’t have hired Colby to guide them, but they had. They couldn’t expect her to trust anyone in a Union uniform, but they did. Worst of all, her father had invited him to travel with them. Ethan was delighted. Ben probably would be, too. How could she explain that she was frightened because she found herself attracted to the man she was certain had come after them to take her back to Kentucky to face punishment for some unnamed crime?
Ethan caught up with her. “What is wrong with you?” he demanded angrily. “You act like Colby is our enemy.”
“He could be. We don’t know anything about him.”
“That’s nonsense. We don’t have any enemies.”
“Then why did we leave Kentucky?”
“You know why we left.”
“I know what everybody says, but there’s something else, something about me they aren’t telling.”
“You’ve let those dreams spook you,” Ethan said.
“You’d feel the same way if you dreamed you were standing over two bodies covered in blood.”
“It’s probably the war. It’s hard to ignore when it’s all around you.”
Hearing Colby’s voice behind her was a shock. She spun around to face him and was victim once more to the attraction that was as powerful as it was unexpected and unwanted.
“I know you’re not happy your father invited me to travel with his wagon.”
“I’m glad he did,” Ethan said. “Maybe you can teach me to shoot like you can.”
“I’ll be happy to,” Colby replied, “but I want to assure your sister I’ll do my best to stay out of her way.”
“She’s just upset about the attack and Abe and Toby being killed. She’ll be okay by tomorrow.”
Colby directed a wry smile at Ethan. “It’s been my experience that a woman’s sensibilities are more delicate than a man’s. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life as a bachelor, you’d best remember that.”
“Naomi’s not like Cassie,” Ethan assured Colby. “She’s as tough as any man.”
“Maybe so, but I expect she would enjoy a little pampering now and then.”
Ethan turned to Naomi, puzzled. “Would you?”
Naomi itched to smack him. “Both of you are talking nonsense.” She directed her attention to Colby. “I’m too old to want or need pampering, and you don’t have to stay out of my way. You have a job to do that is more important than my feelings.”
“There’s no reason I can’t do my job and still consider your feelings.” His gaze narrowed. “I wish I knew why you disliked me.”
“I don’t dislike you. I don’t even know you.”
“Then why do you distrust me?”
“For the same reason.”
“Did you know Mr. Greene before he was hired?”
Naomi wasn’t about to be backed into a corner. “I expect you’ll want us to start moving soon. Will we travel into the night?”
Colby’s smile said he’d accepted her decision, but this wouldn’t be the end of it. “We need to cover as much ground as possible. We often get violent storms in June. We don’t need water-starved livestock dragging us into a swollen stream.”
“My father’s wagon will be ready to leave when you give the command.”
Naomi turned away, but Colby’s voice caused her to halt.
“I have my own grub.”
Naomi turned. “As long as you’re my father’s guest, you’ll eat with us.”
Unwilling to strain her self-control any further, she hurried off. Somehow between now and tomorrow she had to learn how to stop being attracted to Colby Blaine. Now that he’d shown an unexpected depth of understanding, that was going to be harder than she expected.
***
Colby didn’t like the look of the sky. He wanted to make at least five more miles before they stopped for the night.
“Gosh. The breeze is picking up real fast.”
Ben Kessling had begged to ride alongside Colby. He had always wished he could have found his brothers, but now he was reconsidering. The youth had pummeled him with questions from the moment the caravan started moving.
“It’s doing more than picking up fast,” Colby said. “It’s building up to a storm. Ride back and tell everybody to make sure everything is tied down. Inside and out,” he called back to the boy who had taken off at a gallop, delighted to have something important to do.
Colby had experienced many storms over the years, but never one that built up this fast. Ben wasn’t out of sight before he saw a wall of water coming at them with the speed of a train. This was the kind of storm
that could spawn a tornado. He wheeled his horse and galloped back to the following wagons.
“Circle up!” he shouted as he rode from one wagon to another. “Unhitch the stock and herd them in the middle.”
They took too long and didn’t do it the right way, but this was no time to try to teach proper circling. The most important thing now was keeping everybody safe. Seeing one team of mules on the verge of breaking from the circle, Colby grabbed the bridle of the outside mule. Using his Appaloosa’s body, he forced the mules back into the circle.
By the time the circle had closed up, the storm was upon them. Rain came at them in horizontal sheets, slamming into the wagons and blinding anyone who didn’t turn his back. Despite the onslaught, Colby went from wagon to wagon telling everyone to put out buckets and pans to catch water for cooking and watering the livestock. Just then a bolt of lightning lit up the sky and sent several mules bucking in their traces.
Men fought the rain to get their teams unhitched before they broke the traces or got tangled up in the harnesses. The rain was coming down so hard that within minutes everyone was sloshing through water up to their ankles.
“Get inside,” Dr. Kessling called to Colby.
A bolt of lightning struck the ground practically under his feet. A woman screamed, and an ox bellowed in fear. Within moments the lightning strikes were so numerous it was practically like daylight. Raindrops struck with stinging force while the wind threatened to throw Colby off his feet.
That didn’t help when hail as big as pigeon’s eggs started plummeting to earth. Over the wind Colby could hear it bouncing off the canvas coverings of the wagons and pinging as it landed in pots and pans. It was as though the elements were furious he had invaded their domain and were determined to drive him out.
“Come inside!” Ben Kessling urged.
Colby didn’t bother answering. The wind would have ripped his words away before they could reach the boy. He needed to make one more circuit.
Once he was sure everyone was inside their wagons with both front and back flaps secured, he turned his attention to the animals milling about inside the circle of wagons. Colby didn’t like oxen. Not as strong or as temperamental as mules, they were generally placid animals easy to control—except during a storm. They didn’t mind the wind and rain, but the lightning dancing all around caused their eyes to bulge and their placid nature to turn skittish. Having someone around generally helped to calm them.
Crossing between two wagons, he was surprised to see a rain-drenched figure moving among the restless animals. He was shocked when he realized that figure was Naomi. “What are you doing out here?” he shouted when he was close enough for her to hear.
Naomi spun around, her eyes wide with shock.
“You’re drenched,” Colby shouted. “Get back in your wagon.”
Naomi pulled the rain slick lower to shield her face. “Mr. Greene said oxen can get frightened during thunderstorms, that they sometimes run off.”
“I’ll make sure they don’t stampede. Now get back to your wagon.”
“There’s no reason you should be the only one to be cold and wet.”
“I’m paid to get cold and wet.”
Yet Naomi didn’t leave. Colby didn’t know when he’d met such a stubborn woman—or one who was willing to take on a man’s job and act like there was nothing unusual about it.
“It’s my job to take care of the livestock. It’s your job to stay safely in the wagon so I can do my job.”
Naomi didn’t answer.
“If you don’t go, I’ll carry you.”
The rain and the slick made it impossible to see her expression even with the constant flashes of lightning, but anger mingled with surprise in her voice. “You have no right to force me to do anything.”
Colby admired her courage, but this was not the time or place to display it. He scooped Naomi into his arms and headed toward her father’s wagon. She wasn’t a small woman, but he was surprised how light she felt. He suspected she hadn’t been eating well for quite some time. He’d have to talk to her father about that.
“Put me down!”
He didn’t bother answering. It should have been obvious he wouldn’t have picked her up if he’d been willing to put her down the moment she objected.
“I’ll have you fired for this.”
He laughed. It would be a relief to have only himself to worry about rather than a dozen families who should have stayed on the other side of the Mississippi River.
“I thought you had a streak of decency, but you’re just as barbarous as every other man I know.”
When he reached the Kessling wagon, he shouted, “Open up. Naomi wants to get in.”
“I do not.”
He ignored her protest.
The canvas cover opened and Dr. Kessling’s head appeared. “Where have you been?” he demanded. “Ben is looking for you.”
Colby set Naomi on her feet. “Get inside. I’ll find your brother.”
“Make sure you do.” Naomi accompanied her command with a fist to his jaw.
“Naomi Annabelle Kessling,” her father exclaimed. “Apologize immediately.”
“I’m very sorry I’m not strong enough to hit you harder.” With that she turned and climbed in the wagon.
“I’m very sorry for my daughter’s behavior,” Dr. Kessling apologized. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her. She was never like this back home.”
Colby rubbed his sore jaw. That woman packed a powerful punch. “Just make sure she stays inside until the storm is over.”
“You can be sure I will.” Dr. Kessling drew back inside the wagon and closed the flap.
For a few moments Colby didn’t move. His jaw still stung, but he was barely aware of it. It had been a long time since he’d had a woman in his arms. After Elizabeth’s betrayal, he practically had to be hogtied to deal with them. That was pretty much how he expected to feel when he scooped up Naomi.
But it wasn’t.
Despite the raging elements, his own irritation, and the several layers of clothing between them, he’d been startlingly aware he held a woman in his arms. More worrying than that, he thought she was attractive. Most important and almost frightening, he’d liked it. Added to that was the physical response. Warmth spread through him despite the cold wind and rain. For the first time in years he felt tempted to linger.
He had to be crazy. He was in the middle of one of nature’s hissy fits. He had to find Ben and calm the oxen. How could he be so lost to common sense as to be affected by a stubborn woman who didn’t like him and had underscored that fact by punching him in the face? Maybe the lightning had unsettled his brain. He would find Ben. Then he would stay out in the rain until the chill drove every trace of unwelcome warmth from his body.
***
Naomi was furious, and the fact that she knew she’d behaved badly did nothing to ease her anger. It wasn’t all her fault, however. Norman Spencer and Tom Hale had no business hiring Colby to be their guide. How did they know he hadn’t been sent to find them? He’d been following them. He was wearing a Union Army uniform.
“I’m appalled by your behavior,” her father said. “I can’t believe you struck a man who’s shown us nothing but kindness.”
The inside of the wagon seemed spacious enough when she was free to walk alongside. However, when three adults were crammed inside—two of whom she wanted to get as far away from as possible—it felt like they were practically cheek by jowl.
“He had the effrontery to pick me up.”
“That’s because you didn’t have sense enough to come back to the wagon on your own.”
“I wasn’t in danger.”
“You put your brother and Mr. Blaine in danger looking for you.”
“No one had to look for me. I can take care of myself.”
A gust of wind s
truck the canvas covering with so much force it tipped the wagon to one side. The double covering of osnaburg cloth flapped noisily against the hickory bows. The lantern suspended from the central bow swayed so wildly her father took it down and blew out the flame.
In the dark, the storm seemed even more threatening. Raindrops and hail struck the covering with pistol-like cracks. The shrieking wind sounded like a wild animal dying in agony while the crashing thunder made the earth tremble.
Ethan spoke in the darkness. “I don’t know why you dislike Colby so much.”
Before she could respond, the wind lifted the wagon far enough off the ground that the metal pots suspended from the bows clanged noisily against each other. Naomi was flung against the side of the wagon hitting her shoulder.
“I wouldn’t have believed a wind could be this strong,” her father said.
“Colby said there are spring storms like this all the time out here.”
The muffled sound of Ben’s voice came from outside the wagon. “Let me in!”
Groping for the buttons in the dark, Naomi managed to open the flap.
Ben crawled inside, dripping water all over Naomi and the bottom of the wagon.
“The next time you decide to go out in a raging storm, I’m not going to risk my neck to find you,” he complained through chattering teeth. “Colby thinks you’re crazy.”
“Did he say that?” Naomi wanted to know.
“Of course not, but what else could he think?”
Something cold and wet landed on Naomi’s foot. Ben was changing out of his wet clothes. He was no longer a little boy. Even in the dark, she was uncomfortable at the thought of being next to a naked male.
“It’s horrible out there. I begged Colby to get in the wagon with us, but he wouldn’t.”
Another piece of wet clothing hit the floor.
“He said it was his job to make sure everyone else stayed warm and dry.”
More wet clothing. Did he have anything else to take off?
“I told him anybody out in this mess deserved to be wet and cold.”
She supposed the piece of clothing that hit her in the face was intended to hit the floor, but Ben’s aim was off because a tremendous gust of wind lifted the left side of the wagon off the ground and tipped it over. A half-dressed Ben landed atop his sister.
To Have and to Hold (Cactus Creek Cowboys) Page 4
