“I can do better than that. I’ll get them a bowl of soup, too.”
“I’m sure they’d like that.”
As Mattie walked off, he turned to Joey. “I’ve got an idea. Come with me, son.”
“Uncle Clint, is...”
“Everything is fine, Joey. You go with Zeke and I’ll come get you before long. Would you like to take your animals?”
Joey nodded and Clint handed the boy his box of carved animals. “Now you go have fun. Everything is fine here.”
* * * *
Leo Carver lifted a spoonful of stew to his mouth and sipped a small bite.” He made a face at Wade. “This taste like pig slop.”
“Don’t complain, Leo. It might be all we get tonight.”
“Since they took the gag off my mouth for me to eat, do you think we should call for help? Surely somebody will hear us and that awful Zeke person will be forced to let us go.”
“I think we better do what they say. The blacksmith said if we made a sound, he’d come in here and break our necks. I think he’ll do it, too.”
“Not if someone else came to help us first. I heard voices outside earlier so I know there’s other people around.”
“I heard them, too, Leo, but I couldn’t tell what they were saying. They might not be very friendly when they learn you took the little girl.”
Leo swallowed more soup and looked at the floor. “I don’t like this, Wade. We know Rose is somewhere on this wagon train. If we could get to her...”
Ira stuck his head in the back of the wagon. “You not get to anyone on this wagon train?”
Leo swallowed. “You were listening to us?”
“Yes, I listen. You not talk so much about yelling. You wish you keep your mouth shut if you utter a sound.”
“I don’t see...”
Ira bounded into the wagon and grabbed the bowl from Leo.
“I’m not through with this insult to the human palate,” Leo whined. “Let me finish eating.”
“You had enough. You too fat anyway.” Ira put the gag back on Leo’s mouth much to the disdain of the tenderfoot.
“Your friend talk too much,” Ira said to Wade as he bound Leo’s hands. He had not untied his feet. “Can you not control him better?”
“He’s a grown man. There’s not much I can do.” Wade shook his head. “I never realized how annoying he could be until we came on this trip.”
“Why you come?”
“My daughter ran away and I’ve come to take her home.”
“Who your daughter?”
“Rose Fillmore, but she says she’s married to Clint Larson. Do you know them?”
“I know them.”
“Is she all right? Has he hurt her?”
“He not hurt her. They nice people. Everybody like them.”
“Could you get a message to her?” Wade looked hopeful.
Leo looked at them and made some mumbling noise behind his gag.
Both Ira and Wade ignored him.
“It not my business. Zeke said keep you here. I take no message,” Ira replied to Wade. “You eat. You not fat like your friend. I not take your bowl.”
“Thank you. I was getting hungry and regardless of what Leo said, this isn’t bad.”
“I make it like my mama in old country. She good cook.” Ira watched Wade with curiosity, but he made no more remarks and as soon as Wade was finished, the blacksmith bound his hands. He decided not to make the rawhide as tight as he did on the fat man because he liked this man better.
* * * *
Clint sat on the mattress and put his arm around Rose’s shoulder. “Now, let’s see if we can all calm down so I can figure out what happened here.”
“Oh, Clint. I almost killed my baby.” She leaned against him.
“You what? Is she all right?”
Fiona was rocking the crying baby back and forth in her arms. “She’s fine, Clint. Rose didn’t hurt her. I think she’s only hungry.”
“Give her here, Fiona. I think I’ll be able to feed her now.” Rose wiped her eyes and unbuttoned the neck of her night gown. “I’ll be careful not to drop her this time.”
“You’re not going to drop her,” Fiona muttered and put Hope to Rose’s breast.
The baby latched on and sucked loudly.
“Now, will someone please explain?” Clint looked at them.
“When the rain slowed down, I decided I’d try to build a fire and see if I couldn’t make us something hot for supper. I knew you’d been busy all day and would like some coffee. I told Joey to stay with Rose.” Fiona was biting her lip. “The next thing I knew Joey ran up and told me Rose had fallen with Hope in her arms. I told him to find you and I came to the wagon to see if Rose and the baby were all right.”
Clint turned from Fiona and looked at Rose. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head. “I was frightened. That’s why I fell.”
“What frightened you, Rose?”
“I had Hope in my arms. She was wet and I didn’t want her to eat and go to sleep with a wet diaper. I stood and was looking in her stack of clothes when a hand print came up on the side of the wagon and an awful voice said something.”
Clint frowned. “What did the voice say?”
“I’m not sure. It scared me and I stumbled sideways and lost my balance. I tried to straighten up, but I couldn’t. I fell on my side onto the mattress and Hope rolled out of my arms.” Rose began to cry again. “I almost killed her.”
“You didn’t almost kill her. She’s fine, Rose,” Fiona assured her.
“Can you remember anything the person said?” Clint persisted.
“I’m not sure. I think it was something like ‘I’ll get you yet’ or ‘you can’t get away from me.’ It was awful, Clint.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“When I fell I screamed and Joey ran to get Fiona. Fiona jumped in the wagon and scooped Hope off the mattress. She then sent Joey for you.”
“Markin,” Clint said under his breath, but Fiona heard him.
“I was afraid of that,” she said.
A voice called, “Hello in the wagon. Got you folks something to eat.”
Clint looked out the back. “Thanks, Mattie. It sure does smell good.”
“It will be. Sarah made it. She’s the best cook of the lot.” Mattie laughed. “Anything else I can do for you?”
“I think when we get something hot in us, we’ll be fine.” He took the food and passed it to Fiona. Rose sat her bowl on the floor beside the mattress.
“If you want any more let me know. I got a big pot full. Wasn’t sure if it’d rain tomorrow or not so Sarah made extra.”
“Thanks, Mattie. I’ll bring the bowls back.”
She nodded and disappeared toward her wagon.
Clint turned back to the women. “Let’s all eat now.” He noticed the bowl beside the bed. “You, too, Rose. You need your strength to keep the baby fed.”
She nodded. “I’ll eat as soon as Hope is through.”
“Will he come back tonight, Clint?” Fiona looked at him.
“I don’t think so.” He tried to smile at her, but it was hopeless. “To be sure, I’ll be right here for the rest of the night.”
“What about Joey?” Fiona looked at him.
“He can sleep with you two. I’ll make a pallet at your feet. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.” He began spooning the soup into his mouth, not feeling as confident as he sounded.
Chapter 18
“When you going to come back to play with us, Susie?” Joey looked at his friend. “Me and Benny miss you.”
“I’m afraid.”
“Are you afraid of the storm?”
“No.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“That man.”
Joey looked at his friend. “I don’t think he’ll bother you again. I bet Uncle Clint will shoot him if he does.”
“Does he shoot people?”
“He only shoots bad people.”
<
br /> “The man was bad. He hit me.”
“Did he hit hard?”
“Yes. The one who grabbed me said he wouldn’t let the bad man hit me again, then he...he wasn’t nice either.”
“What did he do?”
“He rubbed my back.”
“Did it hurt?”
“No. But when he started to squeeze me tight, it hurt.”
“Why did he squeeze you?”
“He said he love me. But he don’t know me.”
“Did you know him?”
“No.”
“Did he hurt you any more?”
“He threw me on the ground. It hurt when I fell. I was scared.”
“What else did he do?”
“I don’t want to talk about it any more.”
“All right. I brought my animals for us to play with. My daddy made them for me and my aunt says they’re special. Uncle Clint said I should keep them for my son.”
“Do you have a son, Joey?”
“No, Susie. I’m a kid. I think he meant when I grow up big like him.”
Susie reached for one of the animals. “I like this one.”
“That’s a pony. Do you want to pretend we’re cowboys and set up a ranch?”
“Will we put our ranch in Oregon?”
“Sure. If you want to.”
Nina Fritz glanced at her husband. “Looks like it has stopped raining.”
“Yes it has. Would you children stay here in the wagon and play with the animals if we step outside and start a fire to cook us some supper?” Herman Fritz asked.
Susie looked at her father, then her mother, but said nothing.
“We’ll be right outside the wagon. All you have to do is call us if you want us to come back,” her mother said.
“Don’t worry, Susie, I’ll protect you. I been protecting Aunt Rose and baby Hope. Uncle Clint says I do a good job.”
Susie let a small smile slide across her face. She nodded at her parents.
As soon as they were outside, Nina said, “Can you believe it, Herman? She hasn’t said half a dozen words to us since she was stolen, and now she’s rattling to Joey Webb almost like nothing happened to her.”
“I know. It shocked me, too. She told him what happened and she hasn’t mentioned it at all to us.”
“It makes me ashamed. I almost didn’t let Joey stay with us when Zeke brought him over. Now, I’m sure glad I did.”
“Nina, I think maybe we should invite Benny to come play with them tomorrow.”
“I agree.”
Bruce walked up. “What’s going on? Where’s Susie?”
“Joey Webb is here playing with her in the wagon,” his mother said.
“Who’s with them?”
“Nobody. Can you believe it?” Herman said.
“No, I can’t.” Bruce went to the back of the wagon and looked inside. He grinned at the two children.
“Hi, Bruce. Me and Joey are playing ranch.”
“Are you having a good time?” Bruce asked.
She nodded. “Joey’s my friend. He’s going to protect me.”
“Yes, I am.” Joey said. “Now, Susie, let’s set up the cows over on this ridge I made out of the salt box. Nobody can get on our ranch and steal our herd there.”
“All right.”
Bruce came back to his parents. “It’s almost like a miracle. She’s actually talking normally and seems to be having a good time.”
“I know.” Tears came into Nina’s eyes. “It’s the first time since it happened that she’s shown an interest in anything.”
“Well, I’m going to let them spend some more time together, but I’ll stay near the wagon.” Herman smiled. “I think this is better for Susie than to sit there with her mother and me.”
“When did Joey come to play with her?”
“Zeke brought him a little while ago. Said there had been an accident at their wagon. Wanted him to stay here until somebody came for him.” His mother moved to the fire pit.
“I’ll build you a fire, Mama, then do you mind if I check on the Larsons? I might be able to give them a hand.”
“Fine, son.”
* * * *
Zeke rode up to the Weatherbee’s wagon and dismounted. Granny Weatherbee’s grandson was sitting on a log with his wife. They were drinking coffee. “Howdy, Charlie. Ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “Evening, Zeke.”
“Has Granny’s patient come to yet?”
“I think he might have. Granny’s in there with him. She won’t let either of us in, but she might let you.”
“I’ll see.” Zeke went to the back of the wagon and looked inside. “Granny Weatherbee, how’s he doing?”
“He’s got his eyes open a time or two. Said a few words.”
“I need to talk to Zeke,” Mac said to her in a weak voice.
“You can’t talk to him long,” Granny chided her patient. To Zeke, she said, “Come on in, Mr. Wagon Master. He can say a few words to you.”
“Thanks, Miz Weatherbee.” Zeke climbed inside and knelt down beside Mac. “Can you tell me what happened?”
“Met up with some easterners and was shot.”
“Did one of them shoot you?”
He shook his head. “The fat one took the Fritz girl, though.”
“I know. I got them both tied up in the blacksmith’s wagon.”
“Good.”
Zeke wiped his sleeve across his brow. “If neither of the dudes shot you, do you know who did?”
“Must have been Markin.”
Granny Weatherbee butted in. “That’s about enough talk for tonight. This man is weak and doesn’t need to use up what little strength he has.”
Zeke stood. “Don’t worry, Mac. You concentrate on getting well. I’ll take care of things until you get better.”
“I need to scout...”
“Clint Larson’s helping out until you get back on your feet. Others have volunteered, too.” Zeke stood. “You’ll be back before you know it.”
“Scoot out of here, Mr. Zeke. He’s talked enough,” Granny said.
“I’m going.” Zeke went out the back before Granny could push him out.
When his feet hit the ground, she leaned out of the wagon and said, “Didn’t you tell him you had the man locked up who took that little girl?”
Zeke frowned. He didn’t mean for anyone to know the dudes were in the camp. “They’re where they can’t do any more damage.”
Her beady black eyes bored into his. Finally she said, “I won’t say nothing, but you better keep it a secret. If you don’t, we’ll have a lynching on our hands.”
“I know. I appreciate you keeping quiet about it. As soon as we get to the Fort, I’ll turn him over to the authorities. I know a federal Marshal comes there every so often.”
Granny nodded. “I wouldn’t bet a penny he lives to see a federal Marshal. Ain’t no decent people gonna put up with the likes of him.”
“I know, but at least it’ll be something we won’t have to take care of ourselves.”
Granny nodded and let the flap down on the back of the wagon.
Zeke was glad to see that Charlie and his wife were at the cooking pit and didn’t overhear the conversation. The fewer people who knew the men were here, the better it would be. After all, he hadn’t had a chance to talk to Clint about it yet.
Chapter 19
The next morning dawned clear and the train started on its way. It wasn’t long until the hot sun began to bake the water ruts into cracked packed earth. Fiona was driving the wagon and Joey was on the seat beside her.
“Is Benny still sick?”
“Yes. Mrs. Watson said he had to stay in the wagon today. Maybe he’ll be ready to play with you tomorrow.”
“I had a good time with Susie last night.”
“I’m glad you went to play with her. I’m sure she enjoyed it, too.”
“She said she liked to play with my animals.” He looked at the wagon in front of them “Where’s Uncle Clint?”
“He’s helping Mr. Zeke, but I’m sure he’s keeping an eye on us.”
“Why can’t I go with him, Ma?”
“Today isn’t a good day, Joey.”
Hope began to cry.
Joey looked up at his aunt. “Why does she cry so much? Is it cause she’s a girl?”
Fiona laughed. “No, Joey. It’s because she’s a baby. Some babies cry a lot. Hope seems to be one of those.”
“She sounds like she hurts somewhere.”
“Aunt Rose seems to think she’s not getting enough milk to eat.”
“Then why don’t we give her some milk when we get it from the cow at night. I know you give a lot of it away.”
Fiona looked at him with a smile. “Joey, you’re a genius. I don’t know why we hadn’t thought of that. Tonight when we milk the cow, I’ll strain some of it for Hope.”
Clint rode up beside them, took off his hat, and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “Everything going all right?”
“We’re doing fine.” Fiona smiled at him. “Joey, why don’t you check on Rose and Hope.”
“Sure.” He climbed in the back of the wagon.
“No strangers around, are there?” Clint asked after Joey disappeared.
Fiona shook her head.
“Good. Rufus is keeping an eye on you. If you need anything give him a yell. He won’t be helping with the scouting until tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Clint.”
Joey climbed back to the wagon seat. “Aunt Rose said she was fine. She said if you didn’t hit so many ruts she might try to take a nap when Hope gets through eating.”
Fiona said, “I’ll do my best.”
“Uncle Clint, can I ride with you?”
“Maybe later, Joey. You take care of the women.”
Joey dropped his head, but he muttered, “All right.”
“Zeke said if we could make another six miles today, we’d camp near a river. I sure could use a bath.”
Fiona gave him a happy look. “Wonderful. I could also use a bath, and I need to wash some clothes.”
“I’m out of clean ones.” He winked at her. “I’ll check back later.”
Fiona watched him ride off and she had to stop her heart from beating so hard. Why couldn’t she get the thought of him in the river taking a bath out of her mind?
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