Dorothy Garlock - [Wabash River] (33 page)

They waved good-bye to the Badkers and followed Rain down the river path. Amy rode behind Rain, followed by Eleanor, Tally and the pack mule. Gavin rode at the end of the caravan. Eleanor had never ridden astride, and now she marveled at how easy it was to sit in the saddle with both feet in a stirrup. Her dark, full skirt just barely covered the calves of her legs and she giggled at the thought of what her aunt would say if she could see her.

An hour before dawn Amy and Rain had come back to the wagon. Rain had told Eleanor about Hammond Perry and that he suspected Perry was going to try and take her from them. A few weeks ago Rain’s words would have terrified her. Now she had calmly told them she would do what had to be done. For the first time Rain’s dark eyes had shown a faint glint of admiration when they met hers.

Eleanor admitted to herself, as the horse climbed an embankment and headed into the dark forest, that she had never been happier in her life. Here in the woods, her hair in braids, in the plainest of dresses and not the faintest scent of rose oil on her body, she was happy. For the first time in her life she was not concerned with her appearance, and, somehow, she felt a proprietary feeling toward the others, a responsibility to them. It was important to her now that they think well of her. This admission surprised her even more than the others

The trail wound through clumps of poplar, maple, oak and other deciduous trees, with a few pines and cedars among them. Rain set a fast walking pace, and the horses picked their way around brush and deadfalls. Then Rain angled the horses upward. As they climbed higher and higher, pines, cedars and spruce alone faced them. The horses approached a rocky bluff, then began to skirt a path on a rocky cliff.

They rode for the better part of three hours, through beautiful scenery the likes of which Eleanor had not seen before. Suddenly they broke into an open plain and had a panoramic view of more hills and valleys in the distance, covered with the fresh green of spring. Rain drew his mount to a halt beside a trickling stream.

“We’ll rest here for a few minutes.”

Eleanor threw her leg over the horse’s back as she had seen Amy do to dismount only to fall flat on her backside when her legs refused to hold her. The horse shied but was quickly caught by Rain. Gavin lifted Eleanor to her feet and stood holding her until blood flowed into her legs. Laughter bubbled from her lips as she looked up at his craggy, weathered face.

“It’s good that I’ve got a tough backside, huh, Gavin?”

“Tis, lassie.” His hands tightened on her upper arms and he smiled, his white teeth flashing in his weathered face. They stared at each other without speaking. He had watched her since leaving the Badkers. He had gloried in the sight of her shining hair, the contours of her curving back, the feminine roundness of her hips. Even without the deformity of the hideous corset her figure was shaped like an hourglass.

Eleanor stared into the eyes looking down at her. She was deeply disturbed by the power in his bright blue gaze. She and this man were so different, yet she felt that they deeply knew each other, that there was a kinship between them that could not exist between another woman and another man.

He was not handsome, certainly; he didn’t need to be with those compelling blue eyes. His appearance was rough, even crude, but inside he had a sweet and gentle nature. There was character in the hard sweep of his jaw, his firm chin, his nose that angled to one side. Eleanor was close enough to notice the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, the shaggy eyebrows that were too long, and she wondered if he would allow her to trim them.

Finally he broke the silence with a diminutive of her name. She barely noticed that he spoke it without the preceding title; it sounded so right coming from his lips.

“Nora?”

“Yes, Gavin?”

“Ye be all right now, lass?”

“Yes, Gavin.”

“Walk a bit. We be goin’ on afore ye know it.” His hands slid from her arms. He walked away, leading her horse and his to drink.

Eleanor followed Amy into the bushes. “Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m enjoying this.”

“Once, a long time ago, Rain left Quill’s Station saying he had to find out what kind of man he was. I think you’re just now finding out what kind of woman you are.”

“I keep thinking that I should be scared, but I’m not.”

“You will be when the time comes. Uncle Juicy used to say that only a fool wasn’t scared some of the time. Um . . . don’t squat there. That may be a poison weed.”

“There’s a lot I don’t know. Amy . . . do you think there could be killing if Hammond Perry sends men to get me?”

“They’ll not just walk in and ask you to go with them, that’s certain. Rain won’t let them slip up on us. He’ll not let them take you.”

“I can’t imagine shooting a man.”

“I can if he was shooting at me or Rain.”

“I think I know what you mean.”

“Don’t worry about it now. We’ve got a long way to go.”

“I wish we could go on and on and never get there,” Eleanor murmured.

“What a thing to say,” Amy chided. “Your Willy is waiting for you.”

“I don’t want to think about it,” Eleanor said hurriedly. “We’d better get back. I want a drink of water before we start.”

*   *   *

The sun, concealed behind the thick forest, was slowly sinking in the west. It had been hours since they had stopped for a rest and Amy was beginning to feel tired and hungry. She had passed out the sticks of jerky Vonnie had sent for an afternoon snack, and the salted beef had made her thirsty. They followed Rain along a ridge and into a valley, then up a steep incline. They went along the edge of the valley to where it curved to a line parallel with the slope of the mountain before turning up the mountain path.

Daylight was fading when they heard the sound of rushing water. The noise of the creek, the whisper of the breeze in the trees, the rustle of leaves underfoot, the chirping of the birds, and the scurrying of small animals were all comforting sounds to Amy.

Rain stopped directly under a huge tree drooping over the edge of a limestone wall.

“We’ll stop here.”

They stopped but sat their horses, looking at him. Although Rain seemed tireless, Amy and Eleanor were exhausted. Eleanor had been holding on to the saddle horn for the last few hours, but not a murmur of complaint had passed her lips.

Rain went to Amy and helped her down from the horse. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m all right, but Eleanor . . .”

Eleanor looked at Gavin dully when he stood beside her horse. There was no feeling whatever in her cramped limbs. She was paralyzed, unable to move. He lifted her from the horse, carried her a short distance and set her down beneath the tree. Sharp flashes of pain attended every movement of her body, and she stifled the moans of agony by biting her lips.

“Ye did good, lassie.”

“Oh . . . I don’t think I’ll ever move again,” she whispered. “I don’t want Rain and Amy to . . . know.”

“It’ll get worse afore it gets better.”

“Oh, Gavin, will I ever be able to walk?”

“Ye need the kinks worked out a ye, lass. Sit here till I tend the animals. I’ll be back fer ye.”

The animals were stripped and rubbed down with handfuls of dried grass. Rain worked on his horse and Amy’s. Gavin tended his horse and Eleanor’s, and Tally the mules. Amy unpacked the food, but was hesitant about starting a fire until she had talked with Rain.

“Sit still, Eleanor,” Amy said when Eleanor made a groaning attempt to get up and help her. “I can’t do anymore until Rain tells me it’s safe to build a fire.”

“I don’t know if I can move. Oh . . . I am useless!”

“That was a hard ride.”

“Don’t Rain and Gavin ever get tired? I think they could go on all night.”

“Maybe they could, but the horses couldn’t.” Amy walked to meet Rain coming from where they had hobbled the animals. “Shall I build a fire for tea?”

“Yes. That’s the reason I chose this place. Come, I’ll show you.” He led her around a large boulder and under a ledge. “Build it here. The smoke will hit the top of the ledge and scatter. The fire won’t be seen until someone is close enough to hear the horses. But first—” He caught her hand and pulled her to him. His arms went around her and he lowered his mouth to her upturned lips. She shook from the force of his deep, starved, unrelenting kiss. “I’ve been thinking about that for hours.”

“I’ve been thinking about . . . last night.”

“Sweet, brazen, little hussy!” he chided with rough tenderness. Laughing softly, he framed her face with his two hands before planting a soft kiss on her mouth.

“I am what I am, Rain Tallman!”

“And I wouldn’t change a hair on your head!” He hugged her fiercely for a long delicious moment. “We’d better get some tea made,” he said when he released her. “I found some dry hickory that will make a quick fire. How’s Eleanor?”

“She’s never ridden astride. The last few hours were torture for her, but she didn’t complain. I . . . I like her.”

“She’s not the same woman I brought out of Louisville. I even like her a little bit myself.”

“As long as it’s a little bit it’s all right. I’d hate to have to put a nick in your other ear!”

“What a vicious child you are!” He grinned down at her happily.

“You didn’t think I was a child last night.”

“Noo . . .”

“And tonight?”

“You’ll be a bit tired for loving tonight, sweet woman. Or will you?” he asked hopefully.

“I’m not a small, delicate woman, Mr. Tallman!”

“Thank God for that!”

Low moans and groans came from under the tree as Amy and Rain returned for the cooking gear. Gavin had cut some boughs and placed Eleanor facedown on them. He was on his knees beside her, vigorously robbing and massaging the cramped muscles of her feet and ankles and working swiftly up to the aching thighs.

“Oh! Oh! Gavin, stop . . . stop! I can’t bear it!”

“Ye must, lassie. We can’t be lettin’ the muscles tighten up on ye.” His huge hands kneaded the muscles in her thighs and legs through the heavy skirt.

“But . . . my bottom is sore too and—”

“Hush now. I’ll tend to it.”

Rain knelt down beside Gavin. “Can’t move, huh?”

“She be in a bad way, mon. Muscles tight as a bowstring.”

“If I remember right, there’s a hot spring up and in back of this bluff. The Indians use heat for sore joints and cramped muscles.”

“I’ve heard of it. Can I be carryin’ her up there?”

“I’ll go up first and make sure the spring is still there. It’ll help her to soak, and then you can work the kinks out of her muscles. She’s got to ride tomorrow.”

Amy walked with Rain toward the place where he would start up the bluff. It was narrow, steep and rocky.

“Can Gavin carry her up there?”

“Sure. He’s as steady on his feet as a cat.”

“He doesn’t seem to mind taking care of Eleanor,” Amy said.

“He’s a good man,” Rain said quietly.

“I think he’s in love with her.”

“I’m sure of it. That’s why he’ll treat her honorably. He knows that she’s the intended of another man. He’ll do nothing to cause her pain. I’d stake my life on it.”

“Don’t be staking your life on anything, Rain. It’s too precious to me.”

While Rain was gone, Amy carried meat and bread to Gavin and Eleanor. Gavin brought a cup of water from the creek and Eleanor drank thirstily, but ate little.

Rain returned. “There’s a nice little pool of hot water up there. It smells like sulphur. It’ll be rough going up that shale to reach it, but it’ll help her to soak in it. I’ll show you the way.”

“Do you want me to go with you, Eleanor?” Amy asked.

“Not unless you want to. If you’d get my other skirt and shirt, I can get in the pool with these clothes. Oh, Amy, I’m one big aching lump! How do you stand it?”

“I’m used to walking and riding. Now you know why Rain wanted you to walk part of the time.”

Gavin wrapped Eleanor in a blanket and lifted her in his arms. Eleanor felt as if she had been beaten with a flat board, and surrendered to her misery. She lapsed into a semiconscious state against Gavin’s broad chest, feeling secure in his arms, confident he would take care of her. She was only halfway aware when he started up a long slope, the shale sliding beneath his boots, and that occasionally he turned sideways to keep the brush from slapping her. After a while she had the blurred impression that he was breathing heavily and wondered why. She found this speculation too great an effort and drifted into sleep.

Eleanor felt herself being lowered to the ground, heard the murmur of Gavin and Rain’s voices.

“You could see a fire for miles up here,” Rain said.

“Twill be a bright night when the moon is up.”

“Can you make out?” Rain asked. “It’d be a hard climb for Amy. She’s tuckered out but won’t admit it.”

“I be makin’ out, mon. I’ll soak the lassie ’n work the kinks from her joints. She be in shape to ride come mornin’.”

“Gavin . . . she belongs to another man.”

“I be knowin’ it. Ye’re not to be thinkin’ I’d force meself on the lassie.”

“I know that.” Rain gripped his shoulder hard. “Sometimes fate deals us a losing hand, huh, Gavin?”

“Aye. Tis true.”

“Here’s your rifle and knife.” Rain placed the weapons nearby. “Give the night signal if you need help.”

Gavin removed his boots and shirt before he knelt down beside Eleanor and stripped off her shoes, stockings and heavy skirt. She moaned rebelliously, angry that he had snatched her from her comfortable state of sleep. He unbuttoned her shirt with trembling fingers, feeling as if he had no right to be touching her at all. Eleanor was aware that she was being undressed, but it did not astonish her. Clothed or unclothed, the pain was the same.

He lifted her in his arms with only her thin shift covering her body and carried her to the pool. Waves of warm vapor wafted up from the heated water. The smell of sulphur was strong. Gavin sat on the edge and plunged his feet into the water. It was warm, very warm. He waited a minute or so, then slowly slid into the water with Eleanor in his arms. Her eyes flew open and her hand clasped his forearm when first her feet and then her bottom touched water.