“Clint would give him a run for that title,” Rose said.
“What title am I after?” Clint walked up with an armload of wood. Joey followed him with almost as much in his arms.
“I said you’re an honest man.”
He grinned. “I try to be.” He dumped the wood beside the cooking pot and then leaned over and kissed Rose’s cheek.
Mattie looked at the boy. “Joey, I came to see if your Ma would let you come sleep with Benny tonight. We decided we’re far enough away from Independence and thought it would be a good time.”
“I don’t know if Joey should. He’s been sleeping in the tent...”
“Ah, Ma. Please let me. I want to sleep under the wagon with Benny.” He piled his wood on the top of what Clint had dropped.
“I’ll be out here tonight, Fiona. I’m on guard duty. I’ll keep an eye on the boys.” Clint looked at her.
“I guess we’re far enough away from Independence.” She still sounded hesitant.
“Sure you are, honey. If that man was coming after you, he’d have been here by now.” Mattie touched her arm. “Rufus will be checking around, too. It’s his night to go on guard duty about midnight.”
Fiona sighed. “Well, if you both think it’s safe.”
Clint came up beside her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I promise you, I’ll keep a sharp eye on their wagon. Nothing is going to happen to Joey.”
His touch burned as it ran from her shoulder down her arm the same as if she’d brushed it in the fire under the cook pot. She wanted to tell him to hold her and tell her he would always protect her and Joey. Instead she said, “I guess it’ll be all right.”
Joey’s face broke out in a big grin and he let out a whoop. He ran to Fiona and threw his arms around her waist. “Thank you, Ma. Thank you a whole bunch. I love you.”
She touched his light hair and whispered, “I love you, too, Joey. You know I can’t stand the thoughts of anything happening to you.”
“Nothing’s going to happen, Ma. Uncle Clint will be close and I’ll yell for him if old man Markin comes.”
“Oh, Lord. Please don’t let me think about anything like that.”
* * * *
When they climbed into the wagon to sleep, Rose said, “Please don’t worry, Fiona. I’m sure Clint will keep as good an eye on Joey as he does when they’re in the tent.”
“I know he will, Rose. I’m just so afraid of losing Joey.”
“Fiona, with Clint watching out you’re in no danger of losing the boy.” When Fiona said nothing, Rose went on. “As I said earlier, he’s not your son, is he?”
There was a long pause then Fiona finally said, “He’s my nephew.”
“I thought it was something like that. What happened?”
“His father was my brother. I lived with them and I love Joey as much as if he was my own son. I can’t give him up, Rose. I can’t.”
“Well, Fiona, there’s no reason why you’d have to give him up unless his parents took him from you.” She took hold of Fiona’s hand. “Markin isn’t your brother, is he?”
“Oh, Lord no.” Fiona took a deep breath. “My brother and his wife were murdered on their way to town to pay the mortgage on our farm. They never made it and the county took the farm.”
“I’m so sorry, Fiona.”
“It was hard, but I knew Joey and I had to work through our sorrow and make it together. Then Luther Markin threatened to take my nephew away from me to work on his farm. Or that was his excuse. I think he meant to make a slave of Joey. Maybe even sell him. I’ve heard it happens to homeless children sometimes.”
“But Joey isn’t homeless. He has you.”
“In a way we’re both homeless. Luther Markin is an evil man and that’s why we ran away. I’ve been terrified he’d find us and take Joey ever since.”
“Markin couldn’t do a thing, even if he tried. Joey’s your blood kin. The courts would make sure he stayed with you.”
“You don’t understand, Rose. Luther said he’d go to court and swear I was an unfit woman to raise a young boy. He has a lot of influence in our county. He can do most anything he wants and he gets away with it. I had to get away with Joey. I didn’t even know where we were going at first, but when we got to Independence and saw the wagon train, I knew that was the answer. I met Mattie Watson and she told me they wouldn’t allow a single woman to travel with them. Joey and I talked it over and he agreed to pretend to be my son so we could get on this wagon train. You know the story from there because the next day we met you and Clint and with your help we were able to get away from Luther Markin. You were the answer to our prayer.”
“I’m glad you’re away from that horrid man. I’m sure he’d never come this far to steal one little boy.”
“I don’t know, Rose. Luther Markin might do anything he thought he could get away with. I’m sure he’s a thief. He has to be to have the money he always has in his pockets.”
“Do you think he killed your brother and his wife?”
Fiona became stone still. “Oh, my God. I hadn’t thought of such a thing.”
“I’m sorry I brought it up. I’m sure he’s probably not that vicious.”
Fiona closed her eyes. She knew Luther Markin was an evil man, but was he evil enough to kill Jonathan and Marian? For some reason, she thought he might have. Finally she muttered, “I’ll feel better when we’re out of his reach completely.”
Rose yawned. “If you’re not already, I’m sure you will be soon.”
“I hope so.” Fiona turned over to her side. “You’re getting sleepy. Maybe we should try to get some rest. Good-nigh, Rose.”
“Good night.”
Fiona lay awake for a long time. She’d known all along Luther was wicked; it was only now that she began to know how malicious he could be. If he had killed her brother and his wife, there was no way he’d stop until he got his hands on her and Joey. He could be out there in the night watching them right now. He could snatch Joey and no one would ever know what went with the boy.
Oh, Lord, she thought. I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to be sure Joey is all right.
She was getting up when Clint’s voice came into the back of the wagon. “Fiona, are you asleep?”
“Is Joey all right?” She almost panicked.
“He’s fine. I’m putting him in the wagon with you and Rose.”
Joey, still half asleep, climbed into the wagon and fell on the mattress beside Rose. He was asleep again as soon as he lay down.
“Clint, what happened? Is it Luther Markin?” Fiona moved to the back of the wagon and stuck her head out.
“We don’t know who it was, Fiona. It could be a robber or anyone. Rufus got a glimpse of a moving horse and rider. We decided the boys needed to be inside. Benny is with his mother and you have Joey. Stanly developed a stomach ache and went back to his parents earlier.” He reached up and touched her cheek. “Now go back to bed. I’ll keep a close watch. Everything will be fine.”
She grabbed his hand. “Thank you, Clint.”
“Sure.” He squeezed her hand. “Now you go back to sleep.” He closed the cover on the wagon.
Fiona crawled back beside Joey. She put her arm around the little boy and said a thankful prayer that Clint was as watchful as he said he’d be. She then spent the next half hour reliving the touch of Clint’s fingertips on her cheek.
Chapter 8
Clint turned away from the wagon and couldn’t help thinking of the lovely lady whose cheek he’d caressed. Lord, how was he going to get through this trip without showing his lust for this woman? He’d been with a lot of women through the years, but never had one affected him as quickly and as thoroughly as Fiona Webb. Yes, she was beautiful. Her golden hair reminded him of the yellow roses his grandmother always had planted in the garden of her large two-story home in Baltimore. Her aqua-blue eyes made him think of standing on the sand and staring at the deep ocean on Galveston’s beach. And watching as she moved about the fire
with her skirts molding to her shapely legs and her full breast straining behind the buttons of her fitted bodice made him want to grab her slim waist and drag her into the woods and explore her exquisite body.
Damn you, he said to himself as his denims grew tighter. You’ve got to remember you’re tied to another woman. It doesn’t matter your marriage is something you can never explain to anyone. You love Rose because of what she has done for you. Somehow you have to learn to hide your growing attraction to Fiona.
Shaking the thoughts away, he moved to the wagon where Rufus was leaning against his tailgate, peering into the night. “Seen him again?”
“No. Not a sight of him.” He turned toward Clint. “I’m not making it up though. I saw a man. It wasn’t my imagination.”
“I know you did, Rufus. I have a feeling it was the man Fiona is so afraid of. He didn’t appear to me to be the kind of man to give up his pursuit easily.”
“I agree.” Rufus pushed back his battered hat. “What’s with him and Fiona? Are they related or something?”
“All I know is that he’s determined to take Joey away from her and she is just as determined he won’t.”
“Don’t reckon he’s Joey’s father, do you?”
“I’m pretty sure he’s not.” Clint shifted his eyes to the west of the wagons. “He told me he had a bunch of daughters and he needed Joey to work on his farm, but I can’t help wondering if he didn’t have a more sinister plan for the kid.”
“Then we’d best be sure he don’t get his hands on the boy.”
“I agree.”
* * * *
Luther rejoined Wade and Leo at the camp they’d set up about three miles behind the wagon train. “What did you find out?” Wade demanded as Luther climbed from his horse.
“Not much.”
“But that’s why you insisted on scouting out the wagon train without us,” Leo complained. “We should have gone with you.”
“Shut up, you fat fool.” Luther shuffled to the dying embers and picked up the coffee pot. Pouring the last of the coffee into a tin cup, he eyed Leo. “They’re guarding the train, like I suspected. I’m sure they rotate the guards. Tonight happened to be Clint Larson’s turn. Of course he was staying close to his wagon and the people in it.”
“Did you see who was in it?” Wade asked.
“No. His wife wasn’t anywhere in sight. Neither was Fiona. I figured the women were in the wagon. I saw Clint grab the boy from under the neighbor’s wagon and shove him inside with the women.” He shook his head. “If I’d have known the boy was outside, I’d have grabbed him before they knew what was happening.”
“I’m not interested in the boy.” Leo threw down the stick of wood he had in his hand. “All I want is the beautiful Rose back...with her family, of course.”
Luther eyed him. “Looks to me like you’re awfully concerned about a woman who’s not your daughter.”
Leo sputtered. “I told you, Rose is like a daughter to me.”
“Leo has always loved Rose as if she was his own. He’s spent a lot of time with her over the years.”
“Don’t you have any young’uns of your own?” Luther still eyed Leo.
“No.”
“Leo’s children were all weak and unable to survive into adulthood. His wife died after the fourth child passed away at age twelve. She and Rose were the same age at the time. He became close to my youngest daughter at that time. I think she filled in for his lost family.”
“Of course she did. She’s like my own daughter.” Leo puffed out his chest.
“Why the first time Rose visited with Leo she came home with an arm load of presents and she said he’d been wonderful to her.” Wade looked at Luther. “He’s given her many gifts in the last six years.”
“Still seems strange to me that he’s more interested in getting your daughter back than you are.” Luther drained the coffee and sat the cup down. “A father—”
Wade interrupted. “Listen, Markin, I’m very interested in getting my daughter back. Why do you think I came all the way from Baltimore then hired you to lead us to this place? I can’t stand the thoughts of Rose being in this God forsaken land with a bastard like Clint Larson.” His voice was not only full of anger, his eyes flashed and Luther wondered if he was going to strike out at someone.
“Calm down,” Luther said. “I didn’t mean nothing.”
“Well, why don’t you think of a way we can get some sleep tonight. I’ve never slept on the ground before,” Leo complained.
“Hell, I don’t care if you sleep or not, but I’m sure not going to let your complaining stop me from getting my rest.” Luther moved to his horse and removed his saddle and bedroll.
“Markin’s right, Leo. We bought these bedrolls for the purpose of sleeping on the ground.” Wade’s voice had calmed down. “I’m not looking forward to it myself, but do you see a hotel?”
“I still think we should have brought cots or something.” Leo was fumbling with his bedroll.
“If you’re going to keep complaining, move it away from here.” Luther spread out his bedroll beside the saddle he’d dropped to the ground. He then moved to a grassy area and hobbled his horse. Shaking his head, he turned to the two men. “You fools! You can’t leave a horse saddled and tied to a tree for the night. Even a tenderfoot should know that. Get your asses over here and unsaddle them.”
Leo looked confused. “Didn’t we hire you to take care of such things?”
“Hell no. You hired me to follow the wagon train and help you find his daughter. I’m not going to do anything else.”
“Well, I don’t know how to do it,” Leo whined.
“Damn!” Luther walked to the two horses and removed the saddles. He didn’t bother to bring them to the campfire. He dropped them where the horses stood. He moved the animals to the grassy area and hobbled them so they could eat. “Now,” he turned to the two wide eyed men, “I’ve done it for you tonight, but don’t expect me to do it again. Your damn horses can drop over and leave you to perish on this prairie as far as I care.”
“I didn’t know it was done this way. I’m sure we’ll be able to do it from now on,” Wade said.
“I don’t like horses.” Leo turned up his nose.
“I didn’t figure you did.” Luther laughed. “You’re more the jackass kind of man, if you ask me.”
“Why, you uncivilized...”
“Go to hell!” Luther removed his gun belt and sat down on his bedroll. After removing his boots, he stretched out and covered his face with his hat and ignored the two men from Baltimore.
* * * *
Bruce Fritz was not sleeping well. In fact, he hadn’t slept well since leaving Independence. Or maybe even before. It wasn’t because his father snored so loudly. He was used to that. Tonight, he lay under the wagon and tried to figure it out. Was it when the Larsons joined the wagon train? Or was it when Clint Larson first brought the beautiful Fiona and her son to meet the group? She might be the mother of that little squirt, but to Bruce she was the epitome of the woman he hoped to someday spend the rest of his life with. He just hadn’t expected to meet her so soon. He knew he was only sixteen and he had some living and loving to do before he settled down, but still, if he could win Fiona’s heart he’d give up all the women in his future. Being in love with a woman like her was worth giving up anything.
He remembered clearly the first time he saw her. Clint had brought her to the encampment in a black buggy. Bruce hadn’t paid much attention when they pulled up to the Watson wagon, but when Clint reached up and took Fiona’s hand and helped her down from the buggy Bruce’s heart skipped a beat.
She was wearing a faded blue dress and a big floppy straw hat. As she stepped to the ground, the hat blew back and revealed her lovely oval face with the golden hair framing it. Bruce knew immediately he was in love. So much in love that when Clint introduced her to his parents, he hadn’t been able to say a word. He’d only nodded and grinned. He thought he may have blushed, b
ut if he did nobody said anything. Since their first meeting he’d not said more than a dozen words to her, though his mother had sent him over to their wagon to fetch his half-sister, Susie, several times.
He was trying to get up his courage and speak to her more often, but he had plenty of time. They hadn’t been on the trail long and it would be months before they reached Oregon. Maybe Clint would be too busy or tired one day and he’d offer to gather the wood for her cooking fire or he’d fetch water when they camped near a stream. He might even offer to take Joey fishing with him and Susie. He wondered how it would be to be a step-father to a boy like Joey.
Probably not so hard, he thought. I was seven when Papa married Nina and after I got used to her, I didn’t have a problem. I even call her Mama now and I think of Susie as my whole sister. I bet Joey would get used to brothers and sisters, too.
Before he could fantasize further, he turned over and saw Clint stuffing Joey in the back of their wagon. It wasn’t long until he saw Clint touch Fiona’s cheek. Damn, why couldn’t he touch her like that? Maybe he would hand Joey up to her sometime and see if she’d smile at him the way she was smiling at Clint.
A surge of jealously flew through Bruce’s body. Why does he touch her anyway? He’s got a wife. He’d better keep his hands off Fiona.
He watched as Clint moved away and Fiona disappeared back into the wagon. When Rufus Watson joined Clint, Bruce quit worrying about him and Fiona. It was probably only a friendly touch, he decided.
Easing out from under the wagon, he decided to go see what Rufus and Clint were talking about. He made a little noise so they wouldn’t think he was sneaking up on them, but not enough to wake his mama and papa in the tent beside the wagon.
As he approached the two men, Rufus asked in a whisper, “What you doing up, son?”
“Had to answer a call of nature,” he lied.
“Don’t go too far into the bushes. We thought we saw someone out there earlier.” Clint nodded toward the woods. “Someone who didn’t belong.”
Fiona's Journey Page 8
