Pearl

by Ruth Ryan Langan

  He shook his head. “I won’t be sleeping tonight. In fact, from now on, we’ll have to take turns sleeping and keeping watch.”

  “Then you think Rollie Ingram will be back?”

  He didn’t say a word. But she knew, from the set of his jaw, what he was thinking.

  As she crawled between the covers, she realized with a sinking heart that their paradise had just evaporated, like a misty, half-remembered dream. Reality had returned. And with it, the gnawing terror that, somewhere in the night, a killer watched and waited.

  “That was a fine breakfast, Miss Jewel,” Daniel announced.

  “I’m afraid that’s the last of the fish,” she remarked as she passed around a plate of biscuits. “I’ll have to go back to the stream and catch more.”

  “I don’t think I could take another meal of fish.” Cal drained his coffee and idly rubbed the wound at his shoulder. “It’s all we’ve had since we got here.”

  “I could catch us a rabbit or two,” Gilbert offered.

  Cal shook his head. “I don’t want to risk a gunshot.”

  The boy nodded. “I understand. But I don’t need a rifle.” He pulled on his boots, then draped a fur throw around his shoulders and tucked a knife into the waistband of his trousers. “I’ll be back soon.”

  As he exited the cave, Pearl turned to Daniel. “How can your brother hope to catch anything without a gun?”

  The little boy smiled. Now that he’d had a good night’s sleep, and plenty to eat, he was feeling even more talkative than usual.

  “Gilbert can do anything.”

  Pearl knelt down beside him. “You think the world of your brother, don’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am. If it weren’t for Gilbert...” His words faded, and he turned away. But not before Pearl saw the way his lips quivered.

  She dropped an arm around his shoulders. “He’s a very brave boy. And so are you. I still can’t quite believe that the two of you found us when no one else could.”

  “Gilbert’s the best tracker in all of Texas,” the little boy boasted.

  “How about your father?” Cal asked.

  The boy looked away. “Pa knows these hills. He hides out in them sometimes, when the law is after him. But even Pa doesn’t know the land the way Gilbert does. My brother could show you a wildcat’s lair, or a wolf’s den. He can climb to an eagle’s nest, or dig down with one hand and come up with a prairie dog’s pups. When he says he’ll come back with game, you can trust he will. Thanks to Gilbert, we’ve never gone hungry.”

  True to his word, within a few hours, Gilbert returned to the cave with an armload of game. There were four rabbits, which he skinned and tossed into a pot, along with an assortment of spring vegetables, which he’d found under the snow. From his pocket he removed a handful of plants.

  As he crumbled the leaves and tubers and tossed them into the stew, Pearl asked, “What are they, Gilbert?”

  He shrugged. “My ma used to know their names. Things like feverfew and spear. I only know they taste good in stew and soup. And sometimes I use them for healing.”

  Pearl breathed deeply and smiled. “Whatever they’re called, they smell wonderful.” She reached into the sack of flour and brought out a small measure to start her biscuits.

  “Why don’t you let Gilbert make some flat bread?” Daniel asked.

  “You bake, too?” Pearl turned to the boy, who was setting out the rabbit skins to dry.

  “Yes’m. Ma taught me.” With deft strokes, he mixed flour and melted snow and made a batter, which he dropped into the hot skillet. In no time, he had made half a dozen flour tortillas.

  Pearl shook her head in wonder. “Is there nothing you can’t do, Gilbert?”

  He merely shrugged and picked up the hides. In a corner of the cave, he pounded them with a rock until they were softened. Then he laid them out once more to dry.

  While he worked, Cal began to mend a harness, while Pearl plied needle and thread to repair Cal’s shirt.

  While she worked, she said, “This might be a good time to work on our sums.” She pointed to a small stick. “Daniel, I’ll call out some numbers. Why don’t you write them in the sand and see if you can add them up?”

  The little boy brightened. “Yes’m. I’d like that.”

  “Gilbert, do you think you can do the sums in your head?”

  The older boy nodded.

  The hours seemed to fly by as Pearl drilled the boys in their sums, and then engaged them in a spelling bee. And all the while, the wonderful fragrance of rabbit stew permeated the little cave, filling it with a special warmth.

  As they sat down to eat, Pearl was astonished to see Gilbert and Daniel join hands and bow their heads. After an awkward moment, she and Cal followed suit.

  “We thank Thee,” Gilbert said aloud. He lifted his head and added sheepishly, “I’m afraid that’s all I remember of Ma’s prayer.”

  The murmured words had brought a dryness to Pearl’s throat. She glanced toward Cal and saw that he, too, had been moved by the boy’s simple blessing.

  “That’s all you need to say.” She touched a hand to Gilbert’s arm. “The Lord knows what’s in your heart.”

  After only a few bites, Pearl declared, “I can’t remember when I’ve eaten anything so good. Gilbert, this is a feast.”

  The boy blushed at her praise.

  “I told you,” Daniel chirped. “Gilbert can do anything.”

  “No, I can’t.” Gilbert touched the knife at his waist. “I spotted a deer while I was out. But he was too far away. If I could have used a rifle...” He shrugged. “Maybe he’ll come back to the stream tomorrow. If he does, I’ll be waiting for him. Then we’ll have a real feast.”

  “Rabbit stew is good enough for me,” Cal said casually. “Especially when it’s this good.”

  His simple compliment brought a smile of pleasure to the young boy’s face. Seeing it, Pearl thought how much a boy like Gilbert would treasure the approval of a man like Cal McCabe.

  “I believe I’ll have a few more of those spices,” Cal remarked. He glanced up. “How about you, Pearl?”

  “I’d like that.” She held up her plate, causing Cal’s jaw to drop.

  Without a word, he tossed several of the strong spices into her stew and watched as she enjoyed every bite.

  After dinner, Cal rolled a cigarette and ambled to the mouth of the cave, where he stood staring into the darkness. Across the cave, Pearl and Daniel heated snow over the fire and washed up the few battered tin dishes they’d used. Then, not wanting the pan of warm water to go to waste, Pearl said, “Would you care to take a bath, Daniel?”

  “A...bath?” The boy seemed not only surprised, but repelled, by the suggestion.

  “Yes. A bath. Don’t you ever take one?”

  “No, ma’am.” He glanced to where his older brother was busy tanning the rabbit hides. “Like Pa said—what good is a bath? I’ll just get dirty again.”

  “That’s true.” She struggled not to laugh, though a smile tickled the corners of her lips. “But sometimes it just feels good to get all warm and clean. And while you’re bathing, I could wash and mend your clothes.”

  “But what would I wear to sleep in?” he asked innocently.

  “I’ll wrap you in a blanket,” she assured him.

  “I...guess so,” he said reluctantly. “As long as you think I should.”

  “I think you’ll enjoy the experience,” she said with a smile.

  She brought him a blanket and draped it around him as he removed his clothes. Then she showed him how to wash himself, using a scrap of fabric from her petticoat and soap from Cal’s saddlebag. When he was finished, he held up his hands proudly.

  “Look, Miss Jewel. All clean.”

  “Indeed you are.” She studied his shining eyes. “But there’s one more thing.” Leading him to the pan of water, she soaped his hair, then rinsed it off using a tin cup.

  Amid squeals of laughter, he allowed her to wrap a corner of the bla
nket around his head so that he looked like a hooded monk.

  “There now,” she said, drawing him onto her lap and wrapping her arms around him. “Didn’t I tell you you’d enjoy it?”

  “Yes’m. But you didn’t say it would tickle.” He peered across the cave at his older brother. “Gilbert, you ought to try it. You’d like taking a bath. It’s fun.”

  “I think I’ll leave the fun for you,” the older boy said with disinterest.

  Hearing him, Cal tossed out the dirty water and added fresh snow to the pan before setting it over the fire to warm. With a wink in Pearl’s direction, he said casually, “It’s my turn. I’ve been hoping for a chance to clean up.”

  Gilbert turned to study Cal, who removed his shirt and picked up the soap. As soon as the melted snow had heated, he began to wash. When he’d finished, he said, just as casually, “Think you could rinse my hair, too, Miss Jewel?”

  She felt her cheeks begin to redden as she set Daniel on the bed of furs and moved to Cal’s side. He bent over the pan of water and allowed her to rinse the soap from his hair.

  Was it just her heightened senses? she wondered. Or was washing this man’s hair the most purely sensual thing she’d ever done? With each touch of his scalp, with each caress of his hair against her palm, she longed to draw him into her arms and hold him close. But with the boys watching, she forced herself to show none of the emotions she was experiencing.

  When she was finished, Cal shook his head like a great shaggy dog, then ran his fingers through the damp strands.

  “Ah, now that felt heavenly,” he said aloud. And it was clear that he meant every word. He glanced up. “How about you, Gilbert? Want to take a turn?”

  The boy swallowed. It did indeed look inviting. And if Cal McCabe was willing to wash, maybe it wasn’t such a silly waste of a man’s time.

  “I...guess so.”

  “If you’ll undress,” Pearl said, “I’ll wash your clothes along with Daniel’s.”

  “What would I wear?” he asked in embarrassment.

  She was about to suggest the other blanket, but Cal came to the rescue. “Why not wear my shirt tonight? In the morning, your clothes will be dry.”

  “You...wouldn’t mind?” the boy asked, awestruck.

  “Help yourself.” Cal held the shirt out to the boy, who, after a moment’s hesitation, accepted it.

  Just as his little brother had, Gilbert undressed beneath a blanket, and washed himself. Then, allowing Pearl to rinse his hair, he turned away and dressed in Cal’s oversize shirt.

  As he buttoned it, Cal remarked, “In no time at all, you’ll be able to fit into all my clothes, boy.”

  Gilbert made no reply. But the look of pride on his face spoke volumes.

  Pearl heated water over the fire and scrubbed the filthy clothes until, after several rinses, the water ran clear. Then she laid them out over rocks in the cave to dry.

  In the silence of the night, Cal rolled a cigarette and held a flaming stick to the tip, inhaling deeply. He leaned his back against his saddle, while a wreath of smoke curled over his head.

  Humming a little tune from her childhood, Pearl moved about the cave, emptying the pan of water, pouring the last of the coffee into a cup, which she shared with Cal.

  “Thank you,” he muttered as he drank, then handed it back.

  For a moment, their eyes met and held.

  Though Daniel’s lids were heavy, he battled the desire to sleep, forcing himself to watch every move Pearl and Cal made. Snuggled into the cocoon of his blanket, he gave his older brother a smile.

  Gilbert, feeling warm and content, as well, asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

  “I don’t want it to end,” Daniel whispered. “It feels so good.”

  “Yeah.” Gilbert gathered the little boy close. Against his temple he muttered, “Like home used to feel. When Ma was alive.”

  Hearing them, Pearl felt her throat constrict. She was forced to turn away, to hide the sudden tears that filled her eyes.

  Cal, too, heard. And clenched his hand into a fist at his side, before busying himself with the task of mending the harness.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sunshine found its way around the edges of the hide, poking fingers of light into the darkened cave. Pearl yawned, stretched, and sat up. For a moment, her heart seemed to stop, when she didn’t see Cal standing guard at the entrance to the cave.

  But one glance at the roaring fire told her that he had been watching over them while they slept. Moments later, as if on cue, he stepped inside, his arms piled high with logs.

  “Morning, sleepyhead,” he called cheerfully.

  “You’re happy this morning. You must be feeling stronger.”

  “Strong enough to take on that deer.” He glanced to where Gilbert and Daniel were just waking. “Feel like having a partner along to track this morning?”

  Gilbert’s eyes widened. “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, then, as soon as we’ve had some breakfast, we’ll see what we can find.”

  The boys dressed quickly, admiring their clean, mended clothes. They gathered around the fire for a meal of leftover stew and biscuits, washed down with hot coffee.

  A short time later, as Cal and Gilbert prepared to depart, Cal took Daniel aside.

  “Do you know how to handle a pistol, son?”

  The boy nodded. “Gilbert made sure I learned a long time ago.”

  Considering that the boy was only six, Cal’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Then he handed over his gun. “While we’re gone, I want you to stand guard at the entrance of the cave. If you see anything suspicious, fire a shot. That’ll be our signal to come running.”

  The little boy said solemnly, “Yes, sir.”

  “You won’t forget?”

  “No, sir.” He glanced at his beloved teacher. “I’ll look out for Miss Jewel.”

  “Good boy.” Cal turned to Pearl and touched a hand to her cheek. “We won’t be long.”

  “I know.” She placed a hand over his and waited the space of several heartbeats, until she became aware of the way the two boys were watching.

  Cal turned away. Within minutes, he and Gilbert had disappeared into the sun-dazzled snow.

  While they were gone, Pearl shook out their blankets and rolled them up, setting them to one side. Then she cut fresh evergreen boughs and scattered them over every inch of space, filling the cave with the fresh, sweet fragrance of a pine forest.

  When the cave had been made as comfortable as possible, she prepared fresh biscuit dough and set it by the fire to rise.

  Daniel crouched near the entrance of the cave. “Umm...it sure smells good in here,” he said, breathing deeply.

  “Yes, it does. Funny.” Pearl paused to brush a strand of hair from her eye. “I never would have believed it, but I guess just about anyplace can be made to feel like a home.”

  “Yes’m.” Daniel turned, fixing his gaze on the snowy approach to the cave, as Cal had instructed. “As long as it’s got the right people in it.”

  Within a few hours, Gilbert and Cal returned, carrying a buck between them. They dropped the heavy burden at the entrance to the cave. Then Gilbert reached into his pocket and removed a tiny bundle of fur.

  “What’s that?” Daniel asked excitedly.

  “A coyote pup,” Gilbert said as he cuddled the prize close to his heart.

  After a series of whimpers, a small pink tongue reached out and licked Gilbert’s neck, and the boy ran a finger gently over the fur until the whimpering ceased.

  “Can I see?” Daniel asked.

  Gilbert knelt down and held the tiny pup in both hands.

  “Oh.” Pearl dropped to her knees beside him and watched as Daniel petted him. “Where did you find him?”

  “Down by the creek. Probably born in the blizzard. His mama was dead nearby. He was shivering and half starved. Don’t know if we can save him. But we can try.”

  He fashioned a sling out of a piece of Pearl’s torn petticoat, then
placed the pup inside, next to his heart. “It’ll remind him of his ma’s heartbeat,” he explained as he returned to his chores.

  Pearl marveled at the tenderness in the boy. How could someone who had been so badly mistreated harbor such a nurturing, caring heart?

  Soon the deer had been skinned and butchered. While Pearl and Gilbert set about cooking all the meat, Cal and Daniel began preparing the hide for tanning.

  “This ought to make a fine jacket for you or your brother,” Cal said as he worked on the supple skin.

  “You’re giving it to us?” the little boy asked.

  Cal nodded. “It was Gilbert’s kill.”

  “Then we’ll make him buckskin leggings,” Daniel said quickly, “to wear next winter when he’s out hunting.” His voice lowered to a wistful sigh. “I sure hope Gilbert lives to use them next winter.”

  Cal looked up from his work to spear a glance at the little boy. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Pa.” Daniel swallowed. “When he finds us here, he’ll whip Gilbert good. And this time...” His voice trailed off.

  In the silence that followed, Cal asked, “Has he ever whipped you?”

  The boy shook his head. “No, sir.” Cal saw the bleak look of despair that came into Daniel’s eyes as he added softly, “Only Gilbert.”

  Across the cave, Pearl heard. And offered a silent prayer for these two sweet, gentle boys who had known so much hardship in their young lives.

  Dinner was, as promised, a feast. There was tender roasted venison, as well as tubers dug from the banks of the stream and an assortment of plants. Once again, Pearl found herself enjoying the taste of the spices Gilbert had added to the meal.

  As the others mopped up every drop of gravy with their biscuits, Pearl caught Daniel slipping tiny bites to the coyote pup, who sat between the boy and his brother.

  “Have you given him a name?” she asked.

  “I think we should name him Blizzard,” Daniel said. “’Cause he was born in a blizzard.” He turned to his older brother. “What do you think, Gilbert?”