Gunsmoke and Gingham

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Hours later, the sun had set outside by the time she pulled the last pie out of the oven. Several fires flickered in the yard, and the men were still talking in loud tones. Several servants had come to the kitchen to take supper to Mr. Laslow and several of the high-ranking men who’d been invited to dine in the house rather than outside with the other men.

  After a quick bite of the leftovers and washing the dishes, Livy removed her apron and bid Jenny good night. She scurried to her room at the end of the hall where the servants’ quarters were located. While her room was no bigger than a closet, it was her place of privacy and solitude. She’d nearly reached it in the dark hallway, when a candle flickered near her face.

  “I thought about you while I was gone, Olivia.”

  The smug voice coming out of the darkness sent chills down Livy’s back. Her throat constricted, or she might have screamed in surprise. Instead, she tensed and swallowed back the dread that grew from within.

  “I think you’ve played cat and mouse with me long enough. You’re my employee, and I won’t be ignored any longer.”

  Livy raised her chin. The smell of whiskey wafted to her nose.

  “Your suggestions were not a condition of my employment, Sir,” she hissed. She backed away from the man whose features were partially obscured by the darkness, but not before catching a glimpse of his lecherous eyes.

  “I decide what conditions exist for your employment, my dear. I hardly think you’re in a position to dictate to me, or you’ll find yourself out in the streets . . . or worse, if I have anything to say about it.” His raspy laugh sent a renewed shudder down Livy’s spine.

  “Are you threatening me?” Her voice raised, along with her anger. How dare he talk to her as if she was a strumpet? Wealthy banker or not, he’d crossed the line with his threats. If she had to leave this place tonight, she’d rather sleep out in the open than do the things he suggested.

  “You can call it what you want, Olivia, but you won’t deny me any longer.”

  Before she had a chance to react, he grabbed her by the wrist and pushed her up against the wall of the narrow corridor. Livy squeezed her eyes shut and moved her face aside when his wet lips made contact with her cheek.

  His fingers bit into the skin on her wrist, but she pushed as hard as she could against him. His bulk was no match for her size, however. When he leaned in closer, she brought her knee up swiftly to connect with his groin. Cursing loudly, Laslow moved away and doubled over, letting go of her. The candle in his hand dropped to the ground with a clank. Livy seized her chance and scrambled away from the wall.

  He grabbed for her again as she managed to squeeze past him to run down the hall. She yanked her hand away before he fully clutched her wrist. In the dark, her fingers connected with his face, and he cursed again as her nails raked down the side of his cheek.

  “You’ll pay for this,” he roared. Livy ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Her heart beat furiously against her ribs, and her ears rang to drown out any sounds around her. She pushed her way into the dark kitchen and out the back door, bumping into the workbench in the process and knocking over several pots. The door shut behind her at the same moment the cookware hit the floor with a loud clank.

  “You’ve done it now, Livy,” she whispered, catching her breath in the crisp evening air. She darted a hasty glance over her shoulder, her eyes fixed on the door that led to the kitchen. Surely he wouldn’t come after her out here. There were too many people camped in his yard.

  If she’d injured his face by leaving scratch marks on his cheeks, at least now she’d have evidence that he’d attacked her. Her claims that she’d defended herself against her employer’s advances would no doubt fall on deaf ears, but it might raise questions he’d rather avoid.

  The fires lit by the expedition members burned low, and the men no longer spoke in loud voices. Their conversations had turned to subdued murmurs, although an occasional laugh erupted around the fires.

  Livy swallowed back her apprehension. These men might be her only hope of escaping the banker’s wrath. Hadn’t they complained earlier about needing a cook? She certainly couldn’t stay here any longer. Her prospects of finding another job anywhere in or near Helena were now slim to none, even if the banker didn’t have her punished for what she’d done.

  Brushing a trembling hand over her face, Livy sucked in a deep breath. Her legs barely carried her across the yard toward the barns. There was a good possibility she was jumping from the frying pan into the fire, but what did she have to lose at this point?

  The men who were dressed in fine clothes and looked to be the leaders of the group sat around one of the fires, talking with the three woodsmen. Her heart pounded as fast as it had when she’d escaped from Mr. Laslow a few minutes ago. She was out of options. It was time to take some action and not be afraid of the future. She was no longer the little girl who’d been too timid to ask for a better life all those years ago.

  Livy straightened, pulled her shoulders back, and raised her chin. This was the moment she stepped outside her level of comfort and took a leap into the unknown. She’d certainly never gotten anywhere in St. Louis. As much as she’d hoped for better things in Helena, there were no decent job prospects for an unwed woman. A brand new direction might be just what she needed and the incident with her employer was the push that had finally forced her to take action.

  She’d never done anything so bold as march into a camp of men and ask that they take her with them to an unfamiliar land. She nearly laughed. She was acting out of desperation, probably not thinking things through, but if she returned to the house, Laslow would have her arrested, or worse.

  The three woodsmen noticed her first. They all stopped talking and watched her approach. The Indian quickly lost interest and returned to whittling a piece of wood with a large hunting knife. The other two, who looked to be of similar build and age, kept their eyes on her as she approached, one with mild interest, while the other’s stare seemed to weigh her down.

  Livy moved faster, shifting her gaze to one of the men in suits who’d stood as she drew near. He stepped away from his companions and faced her fully with raised brows.

  “Is there something we can do for you, Miss?” he asked, assessing her from top to bottom. His gaze moved over her slowly. If he’d tried to be discreet, he’d failed miserably.

  “Yes, sir,” Livy stammered. She wrung her hands in front of her to calm her nerves, then swallowed and cleared her throat. “I heard earlier that you might be in need of another cook.”

  The man’s eyes widened. It was clearly the last thing he’d expected. He turned his head slightly to look at one of his companions, who’d come up beside him. The man wore a friendly smile. He held out his hand. Livy stared at it, then into the man’s warm eyes.

  “Henry Washburn, Miss. I’m leading this expedition.” He nodded to his companion. “This is my associate, Judge Cornelius Hedges. And who might you be?”

  Livy placed her hand in the older man’s, then quickly withdrew it again. She’d never shaken hands with a gentleman before.

  “Olivia Barkley, Sir. I’m in need of work, and was hoping you’d consider hiring me to assist your current cook.”

  Off to the side by the fire, one of the woodsmen slowly rose to his feet, the intensity of his stare stronger than before.

  Chapter 4

  Caleb nearly choked on the piece of dried venison he was chewing. He stared at the young woman who’d boldly walked into camp, asking for work. He’d seen her earlier in the day, carrying a basket into the house. She had the same spring in her step and proud, confident lift of her shoulders as when she’d caught his eye before.

  Since seeing her earlier he’d only half-heartedly paid attention to Kyle and Josh, or their conversations with the rest of the men. Something about her had seemed oddly familiar, but he hadn’t been able to place it – until now when she’d spoken her name.

  “Olivia Barkley . . . do you bark like a dog?”

&
nbsp; “More like she cowers like a mongrel.”

  Unpleasant memories flashed before him of children’s laughter and taunting, imitating the barks and howls of dogs and making fun of a little girl’s name. He was eight years old again, in that cold and dark place that lay buried in the deepest recesses of his mind. It was a place where nightmares lived, a place he’d escaped a long time ago.

  Caleb took a step forward. His eyes roamed over her. He studied her face. No longer the face of a scared little girl, but that of a grown woman with sparkling eyes trying to mask the fear behind her confident exterior. What were the odds this was the same girl for whom he’d taken beating after beating from kids twice his size, and one punishment after another from the headmaster of that hellhole of an orphanage he’d called home for the first eight years of his life?

  “Don’t be afraid of those bullies, Livy. I’ll take care of you.”

  A tidal wave of guilt washed over him as words he’d uttered as an eight-year-old boy echoed in his head. He’d made a childhood promise to a terrified girl who’d had the misfortune to end up at that orphanage, and he’d forgotten all about it.

  Caleb’s eyes pored over this girl’s features. The flickers of firelight danced off some strands of her golden hair, making them shimmer in hues of copper. Could this lovely young woman be the same Olivia Barkley he’d left behind when his opportunity to run away had come along? The girl he’d forgotten because he’d been awe-struck when Joseph Walker, the man who’d become his father, had taken him away and given him a new life?

  “Miss Barkley, what makes you think you’d be suitable to go on a journey such as the one on which we’re about to embark? This is not an expedition for the faint of heart.” Henry Washburn’s words broke into Caleb’s thoughts. “And why do you want to leave Helena in the first place? We won’t be returning this way for some time.”

  The girl stood straighter and raised her chin. She looked directly at the older man. Caleb’s lips twitched in the corners. If this was the Olivia Barkley from his childhood, she was no longer the cowering little mouse she’d been as a child.

  “I assure you, I’m more than capable of pulling my own weight, Mr. Washburn. I’m accustomed to fending for myself. I’m a good cook, and I’m not afraid of hard work.” She held the older man’s gaze. “I’m looking for new employment, even if it’s temporary, and there is nothing keeping me in Helena.”

  The expedition leader smiled. He ran his fingers through his long beard and furrowed his eyes as if in deep contemplation. He wasn’t seriously considering accepting her offer, was he? Caleb was about to object when Kyle nudged his arm and shot him a quizzical look.

  “I think I like you, Miss Barkley,” Washburn said. Caleb frowned at Kyle’s interruption. He’d have to wait until the man was done talking to make his thoughts known.

  “You’ve got tenacity and spunk. If you truly believe you can pull your own weight, I’m sure my men would be happy to have a female along who can provide a good meal. I’m very much in favor of making sure morale stays high, and good food goes a long way to keep the men’s spirits up.”

  Olivia Barkley’s face lit up like the rising sun shining on the Tetons. Her face widened in a smile, and her eyes sparkled with joy, and possibly even relief. Caleb groaned at the odd flutter in his chest.

  “Thank you, Mr. Washburn. You won’t regret this.” She reached for the older man’s hand to shake it.

  The man laughed before his face turned serious. He leaned slightly forward and looked directly at the young woman standing in front of him.

  “I will not tolerate any promiscuity among members of this expedition, however. You will promise me your intentions are only to come along as a cook.”

  Her smile faltered and her mouth opened slightly. Annoyance sparked in her eyes before she shook her head.

  “I have no intention of any kind of impropriety, Sir.” Her words came out clipped. “In fact, I –”

  She cut off without finishing her thought, apparently thinking better about what she wanted to say. She looked scared and worried all of a sudden like a flighty deer, glancing over her shoulder as if she was expecting some predator to pounce on her at any moment.

  Caleb’s eyes narrowed. What was she hiding, and why was she so eager to leave Helena and join an expedition into wild country on her own?

  One thing was clear. Livy Barkley, the little girl he vaguely remembered, the scared little mouse who’d cowered from other children, stood proud and unafraid in front of Washburn and Hedges, but something else had her worried.

  Caleb shook his head. He should speak up. Going on this expedition was no place for a girl like her. Washburn might not tolerate impropriety among his men, but he wouldn’t be able to oversee them all and make sure they acted honorably. It was a long journey. Men got restless and lonely, and if there was a young woman - a beautiful young woman - among them, there was no telling what might happen.

  “I have references to prove that I work hard,” she continued. “If you’ll ask Jenny Washington, the cook for Mr. Laslow, I’m sure she’ll put in a good word for me.”

  “Pack your things and be ready to leave at sunup, Miss Barkley. I will want to speak to Mrs. Washington, as you’ve suggested, if you could inform her to come and see me.”

  “Thank you, Sir.” Her eyes shimmered in the firelight.

  Henry Washburn studied her for a moment, then nodded. “We will see you in the morning, Miss Barkley. If all goes well, you’ll be riding in the wagon with my cook. I’ll let him know he will have an assistant and have a talk with the rest of my men.”

  Olivia Barkley smiled again. She glanced at the men who sat nearby before her gaze fell on Caleb. He stared back at her. A momentary glimpse of confusion passed through her eyes before she looked away. She seemed to hesitate, then headed back in the direction of the big house.

  Caleb turned on Henry Washburn. “You can’t be serious about letting her come along?” he blurted. “She won’t last a day on this expedition.” Behind him, Kyle coughed and cleared his throat.

  Washburn smiled. “I’ll find out from Laslow’s cook why she’s so eager to leave her employment here. I don’t believe she’s got criminal motives, but when you see desperation in someone’s eyes as what I saw in hers, there has to be a compelling reason for her to risk asking for sanctuary among a group of strangers, and be willing to head into the unknown.”

  “But that’s exactly the reason she shouldn’t be allowed to come. How can you let her travel alone among a group of raucous men? You can’t vouch for all of them to behave honorably.” Caleb raised his voice to make a point.

  Washburn’s lips twitched. He glanced from Caleb to Kyle. “I trust the men, and I’m sure I can trust you three to help keep an eye out for her. Your job as scouts also includes looking out for the well-being of the expedition members.”

  Kyle stood and nudged Caleb’s arm again. Josh let out a sound that sounded like a snort.

  “We’ll look out for her just as we look out for everyone else.” Kyle smiled at Washburn.

  Caleb turned to his friend. “Can I talk to you?”

  He moved into the shadows, then turned to face Kyle. He glanced from Kyle to where Livy walked toward the house. Her steps weren’t as swift as when she’d approached the camp, as if she was reluctant to go back inside.

  “You can’t allow this, Kyle. I recall you saying you don’t let women come along when you lead explorations into the mountains.”

  “You’re right, I don’t want a woman along.”

  “Then tell Washburn he can’t hire Livy Barkley.”

  Kyle stared at his friend with keen eyes. “I don’t want wagons, either, but we’ve got a supply wagon coming along. The problem is, Washburn doesn’t need me as his guide, but I need him to recommend protection of this area to Congress. I have to make an exception this time.”

  Caleb cursed. He wasn’t going to get any help from Kyle.

  “What is your fixation with this young woman? Y
ou were watching her earlier, too.”

  Caleb glanced in the direction of the house. “I made a promise once to protect her and keep her safe.” He turned back to his friend. “I didn’t keep that promise then, but I intend to make good on it now. That means keeping her from doing something foolish, like coming on this expedition.”

  Caleb didn’t wait for his friend to respond. He rushed off after the girl before she reached the house.

  “Olivia Barkley . . . Livy,” he called as she reached the back door of this massive home.

  She stopped and her spine visibly stiffened. She turned slowly while still holding on to the handle of the door, and raised her eyes to his. Caleb slowed his pace and came to a stop directly in front of her. She stood her ground, her eyes widening as she tilted her head to look up into his face.

  Caleb swallowed. Were those the same eyes staring up at him that had belonged to the little girl who’d been full of gratitude and relief after he’d come to her rescue the first time, when he’d caught some older boys demanding her supper? It was hard to tell, but she clearly responded to being called Livy, the name he’d called her all those years ago.

  “I’ll inform Jenny Washington to speak to Henry Washburn in the morning,” she said. She looked at him with slight creases above her eyes as if she was trying to remember something.

  “I don’t think it’s wise for you to go on this expedition,” Caleb blurted.

  Annoyance instantly registered in her gaze, and she stood taller. “I beg your pardon?”

  Caleb shifted weight. His harsh words clearly had her bristling. He’d seen that kind of reaction plenty of times from Sophie Walker, the woman he considered his mother, or from Lucas’ wife, Tori. When they made up their minds about something, not even their husbands could usually talk them out of it.

  “Best to try and sweet talk them than get into an argument,” Lucas had always advised. It might be wise to take that advice and try a different tactic with Livy.