Bewildered in Billings (Yours Truly: The Lovelorn Book 17)

by Lynn Donovan

  She turned from speaking to some girls their age and smiled. “Why, yes, Tatem Miller, I believe you do.” She stepped into his outstretched arms and he pulled her onto the dance area. Although she was short, she fit with him perfectly and he twirled her to the rhythm of the music. “Did you get more names?”

  She leaned back to look into his face. “A few.”

  He nodded. “If you find yourself without a dance partner, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

  She smiled. “That’s very kind of you, Tater.” He loved the happiness twinkling in her eyes. He didn’t even mind her calling him Tater. She laid her head against his shoulder and he leaned his cheek against her hair, inhaling deeply. She smelled like a field of roses and lilacs. It was his new favorite aroma. Thoughts swirled in his mind as he turned and spun Ginger with the music. He was busting at the seams to ask her his ultimate question, but he hadn’t spoken to her father yet, and he couldn’t break protocol. Now, if her father refused him the chance to court her, then he’d consider tossing decorum aside and protocol out the window, but he would go through the proper channels first.

  All too soon, the song ended and another fellow tapped Ginger on the shoulder. Bobby Fletcher. Tatem and Ginger knew him from school, and now Tatem did business with Bobby as the tanner’s apprentice. Tatem had recently delivered some pine lumber to Fletcher so he could build framework to tan the trapper’s hides. Tatem watched Ginger spin off in Fletcher’s arms. She was grinning from ear to ear. Now he regretted not completely filling in her dance card.

  He turned and walked to the water barrel. He needed a cool drink and some fresh air. The first star shined brightly in the dusk sky. Tonight will be the last that Tatem will have to watch Ginger dance away with another man. After that last dance came to an end, and he gave her his grandmama’s ring, she will forever be his.

  Her jerked a nod and returned to the barn. It was time to speak to his future father-in-law.

  

  “May I speak with you, Mister Houndsman?” Tatem stiffened at his full height and looked the man square in the eye.

  Roderick put down a mason jar with a clear liquid that Tatem knew was not water. He had been sharing some of Drake Two-Rivers’ moonshine. Perhaps it was good Tatem had decided to come speak to the man earlier in the evening.

  Curiosity gleamed in Houndsman’s partially closed eyes. “I suppose you can, son. What’s on your mind?”

  Tatem cleared his throat. “Sir. My father has recently make me partner in the family lumber business. In fact, he changed the name to George Miller and Son. Our business is prosperous and we make a good, honest living.”

  Houndsman nodded. “I’m aware of your family’s line of work.”

  “Well, sir.” Tatem considered his next words. “I would like your blessings… to-to court your daughter.”

  Houndsman cocked his head back, as if Tatem had suddenly gone out of focus.

  Tatem rushed on. “I will provide a good home and she will not have need for anything. I love her, Mister Houndsman. I’ll be a good husband to her and a good father to our children.”

  Houndsman’s brows sprang up high on his forehead. “Well, now, whoa there, son. I imagine you will be a good provider for any lucky gal whom you choose to marry. Now, how does my daughter feel about this?”

  Tatem gulped. He wasn’t expecting this question. “I-I don’t know. I haven’t asked her.”

  Houndsman turned to look at his comrades and laughed loudly. They joined him in the mirth. “Well, son. I see. You wanted to ask for my blessin’s afore you asked her, do I understand the situation correctly?”

  Tatem nodded. “Yes sir.”

  Ginger’s father glared at Tatem. “I tell you what, you go ahead and ask my daughter if you can court her and if she says yes, then rest assure that George Miller’s son will be a welcome addition to our family, and you’ve got my blessings.” He slapped Tatem on the shoulder, nearly toppling him forward.

  Tatem straightened. “Thank you, sir. I plan to ask her tonight.”

  Houndsman busted out laughing again. “Well, all right, son. Good luck to ya.”

  Tatem grinned and stepped sideway. “Thank you, sir.” He rushed off to see where Ginger was. If she wasn’t dancing, he was going to sweep her off her feet and have a dance with her. Now he was really busting at the seams to ask her to marry him. He scanned the heads for her bright red hair. But couldn’t find her. He turned to the dance area. There she was, with one of the Orchid boys.

  He considered what the boy’s name was. Gavin. He was the oldest, about fifteen. Ginger was such a sucker for Dorothy Orchid’s children. Tatem smiled. Just one of the many things he loved about Ginger Houndsman. Soon, they would have children of their own. Tatem liked the idea of Ginger out there dancing with their son. He wiped his hand through his hair and spun around. Excitement swamped his chest. Man, would the last dance ever get here? Maybe he’d ask her sooner. Soon as he could get her alone.

  But he had it planned out all special with the last song being a slow waltz and then going on one knee in front of everybody… Ginger would be so thrilled that he made it so special just for her, and romantic. He strode out of the barn. He’d never been so anxious for something to end in all his born days. Surely they were halfway through the dance cards?

  A group of young men hovered over by the corral gate. Blue smoke rose above their heads. Tatem walked up to them. “Hey.”

  “Oh, hey, Tater.” Bobbly Fletcher put a cigar in his mouth and puffed on it a few times, then blew smoke into the night air. “Want a cigar?”

  “I go by Tatem, now, Fletcher.” Tatem considered his offer. After all he was about to ask the love of his life to marry him, he had her father’s blessings, why not celebrate with a cigar? But on second thought he wasn’t completely certain she’d say yes or that there would be anything to celebrate later. “Nah. Thanks, though. I was just walking where it was cooler. All those people make it hot inside that barn.”

  Bobby and his friends laughed. Tatem nodded and walked away.

  Two of Ginger’s friends spilled from the barn giggling. “Excuse me.” He stepped up to them. “Do you know what number dance they’re on?”

  The girls were still giggling. Perhaps they had found Drake’s famous recipe too. But they looked down at their cards. “Yeah. Looks like we are… on number eight.”

  Tatem nodded. “Thank you.”

  Three more to go. He’d better locate Ginger so they’d be ready for that last dance. He glanced up at the sound of a horse trotting into the mining camp. It was the sheriff and he looked serious. “What’s wrong, Sheriff?”

  The man shook his head and rushed past Tatem. “Nothing! I hope.”

  Tatem watched to see who he wanted to speak to. The sheriff pressed into the crowd. He had a specific person in mind. That was obvious.

  That dance ended and another started. One more, then the waltz. He scanned the heads for his favorite redhead. The sheriff stopped at Aidan Orchid. They spoke for a bit, then the two of them pressed through the crowd for someone else. Tatem watched them for a minute then blinked and turned to search for Ginger.

  Scanning the dancers, he didn’t see her. Scanning the food tables, he didn’t see her. Shoot. If he could just find her, he’d go ahead and ask her to dance and then just stay out in the dance area for that last waltz. He looked across the people once more. The sheriff and Aidan stopped at the group of men drinking behind the tack storage. Tatem paused to see who they spoke to.

  It was Roderick Houndsman! Tatem’s eyes darted back to the people. Where was Ginger? He rushed outside and even trotted around the barn. She was nowhere. He entered from the back and pressed through the people to get to the sheriff.

  “I can’t find Ginger!” He hollered as he stepped up to Mr. Houndsman and Guffy.

  Mr. Houndsman jerked his gaze to Tatem. “What? She’s not with you?”

  The Sheriff hopped sideways, positioning himself to climb the hayloft ladder so he could look acros
s the people better. Tatem scanned the heads again, no bright red hair.

  “Why are you here, Sheriff?” Tatem hollered over the music.

  He twisted from his higher perch to face Tatem. “Houndsman tells me you are going to ask her to marry you tonight.”

  “Yes sir, I am.”

  “So you haven’t asked her yet?”

  “No sir. Why?”

  He hesitated. “Because Theodore Binks has escaped from prison and we haven’t been able to find where he went. Now Ginger is missing. I’m afraid—”

  Tatem rushed up to Dorothy. “Missus Orchid? Have you seen Ginger?”

  She shook her head. “Not for some time, why?”

  Tatem froze in place. “I think…” He swallowed hard. “Theodore Binks got her!”

  Chapter Eight

  

  “We don’t know that for certain.” Dorothy leapt to her feet but lost her balance and fell back onto the hay bale. “Someone get up on the platform and call her name.”

  Tatem dashed to the musicians’ platform. “Sorry, guys. But there’s an emergency.” He turned to the dancers. “Excuse me, Please. We need Ginger Houndsman to come here to this platform.” Tatem’s mind reeled. If she showed up, he’d just drop to one knee and propose. If she didn’t— he couldn’t think about that right now.

  “Ginger Houndsman!” Tatem shouted. “Does anybody know where Ginger Houndsman is? If she’s outside, could somebody go get her and tell her she’s needed at the musicians’ platform?” He choked on the last word. She wasn’t coming. His eyes scanned the crowd. No redhead moved among them. Tatem scanned for the sheriff, spotted him, and then Tatem pushed through the people to get to the lawman.

  “She’s not here, Sheriff! What do we do?” Mr. and Mrs. Houndsman came up to Tatem’s side.

  “Where’s our daughter.” They waited for the sheriff to answer.

  “We need to question everyone. Surely somebody saw her leave.”

  Tatem ran back to the platform. “Everybody, please.” He held up his hands to quiet the crowd. “Ginger Houndsman is… missing. Did anybody see her leave… or go with anyone?”

  The sheriff joined Tatem on the platform. “Ladies and Gentlemen. We have reason to believe that a fugitive from the prison may have taken Miss Houndsman. If anyone saw her leave, please come forward and help us to understand what may have happened.”

  Theodore Binks’ name was whispered through the people. Alarm and fear flared into panic. Tatem stayed on the platform, scanning the people for anyone who looked like they might be coming forward to tell what they saw. But no one walked toward them.

  “I found something!” Young Gavin Orchid ran into the barn from the back door. He held something small in the air. The sheriff made his way through the people and met the boy half way. “What is it, son.”

  Gavin handed the object to Sheriff Guffy and Mrs. Houndsman gasped. “That’s my pearl earring. Ginger was wearing them tonight.”

  The sheriff turned back to Gavin. “Where’d you find this?”

  Gavin lead the group outside, behind the barn, to where he found it in the dirt.

  Drake Two-Rivers held up a lantern and scanned the ground. “A man, and a woman scuffled here. He dragged her this way. She put up a fight.”

  Mrs. Houndsman cried out. Dorothy gently led her back inside.

  Drake followed the clues. “A horse was tied here in the trees. It needs to be shod, see how this shoe is off center with the horse’s gait.” He looked up slightly. “They rode away, that way.” He pointed west. “They won’t get far. That horse will throw that shoe before long and be lame.”

  “Do you think you can track him?” Sheriff Guffy leaned into Two-Rivers’ face.

  “Of course. But daylight would be better.”

  “We can’t wait that long!” Tatem shouted.

  Sheriff Guffy grabbed Drake’s arm. “Man, if you can follow where Binks took Miss Ginger, you might be able to save her life.”

  Drake stared into the sheriff’s eyes, then he jerked a nod.

  “I’ll come too.” Aidan Orchard stepped closer to the sheriff.

  “Me too.” Tatem shoved between Aidan and the sheriff.

  Guffy eyed the three men. “Okay. Orchid, can Young Miller borrow a horse?”

  “Of course.” Aidan ran back to the corral, and he and Drake prepared three horses with tack.

  Tatem leapt into the saddle prepared for him and followed Drake into the woods. They each had a lantern and a loaded gun. What no one knew was when Binks had taken Ginger or how much of a head start he had on them. The last time Tatem had seen her was midway through the dance card when she danced with Gavin Orchid.

  Why hadn’t he asked her on the first dance? Then she would have been with him all night.

  Then, she would have been safe.

  

  A shiver raked across Ginger’s body, waking her. So cold! She moved, but white-hot pain slammed into her head. “Owww.” Grit crunched between her teeth. She spat. The room spun around her. “Uhhhh.”

  The rustle of her taffeta dress told her she was not in her own bed, and this was not the bad dream she thought it was. She opened one eye, but all she could see was darkness. Maybe a faint light beyond her feet, but it was a long way away. Was this a cave?

  She lifted her head, despite the intense agony. Nausea swamped the back of her throat and she wretched. Oh, the pain! Sparks streaked behind her eyes even though wherever she was had so little light. It smelled damp. Dirty.

  “You finally awake?” A gruff voice demanded.

  “Wh-where am I?”

  “That horse went lame, so I shot him.”

  She knew that voice. “What? Why?”

  “I told you, I don’t let nothing hurt the ones I care for.”

  “Theodore?” Ginger tried to sit up. But the nausea took over and she went onto her hands and knees and wretched again. “I-I’ve hurt my head— I need help.”

  “Yeah. Sorry about that.” Theodore chuckled. “You gave me quite a tussle back there at that Indian-lover’s barn. I had to knock you unconscious.” He chuckled.

  She sat back and pressed her fingertips into her temples. “Why did you knock me unconscious again?”

  “I’m free, sweetheart. So I came to get you. Now we can get away, together.”

  She tried to look him in the eyes but could only make out his silhouette. “Free? Together?” Her head hurt so bad she couldn’t make sense of what he was saying.

  She heard him shuffle in the dirt, he had scooted closer to her. She could smell him, too.

  “Yeah, Sweet Ginger, we’re together.” He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her against him. His lips crushed hers. She jerked her head to the side, but he followed her movement and forced his mouth onto hers.

  The nausea threatened again, she shook her head and tried to speak, despite his slobbery lips pressing against her mouth. “I’m gonna be sick!” She pulled back, as best she could, but the vomit spewed all over him.

  He spat a string of curse words and threw her away from him. She fell on a rock that caused her breath to catch. “Ow! You’re hurting me.” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “What makes you think I want to go with you?”

  He charged into her again and yanked her off the ground. The motion was dizzying. He squeezed her arms so hard, she cried out. “Stop! You’re hurting me!”

  “Your father told me I could marry you!”

  “He did not!”

  He slapped her so hard her jaw felt wrenched. “You saying I’m lying? Or that I don’t know what your pa told me! He wanted to make a deal with the railroad and you were part of the bargain.” Theodore chuckled a hideous laugh.

  She opened her mouth to move her jaw back and forth, trying to ease the pain. “I don’t believe you!”

  Her eyes were slowly adjusting to the dark and she could just make out his features. She wanted to spit in his face, but he was already hurting her. What harm would he cause her if she acted in su
ch a way? Had he already… harmed her in a way she was not yet aware?

  She looked down at her dress. The bodice was torn and her chemise was exposed. A strip of the hand-make lace hung down over her arm. Tears sprang into her eyes. “What have you done?”

  He stared at her, confused. “You wouldn’t come quietly. I had to—”

  “Force me?” The tears spilled over her cheeks. “Why? You’re supposed to be in prison. You killed a man—”

  “I killed an Indian!” He spat. “They ain’t men!”

  “Theodore!” She softened her tone. “Look what you’ve done to me. And you say you want to marry me. How can I marry a man who would do this… to me?”

  A smile slowly exposed his teeth. He turned his head this way and that, as if he were examining her eyes. He touched her single pearl earring. “Looky here. I got you something.” He held up her mother’s dangling emerald earring. “Only I lost one of ‘em. Looks like you lost one of yours, too.”

  She gasped and grabbed the earring from his fingers. “You! You were in my bedroom?” She swallowed. “How dare you! You are a criminal! I will never marry you!”

  He shoved her back and she fell down hard on her bottom. “Fine. Don’t marry me, then. Stay here and rot for all I care,” he growled. “Maybe I’ll just shoot you like I did that useless horse!”

  “They went in here!” A man’s deep voice echoed from the far-away light. Was that Drake Two-Rivers?

  Theodore jerked around and then back toward her. “They found me!” He whispered and then cursed. “You’re nothing but bad luck for me!”

  “There’re branches, let’s split up!” Another man’s voice. It sounded like Aidan Orchid.

  “You go there, I’ll go here.” The sheriff directed.

  “I’ll take this one.” That was Tatem Miller! She knew it!

  “Taaateeem!” She screamed. Theodore fell on her and shoved his filthy hand over her mouth. She bit his finger and he fell back from her. Nausea tightened her throat. She gagged and swallowed, trying to regain control. He called her a vulgar thing that no lady should ever be called.