Savage storm (26 page)

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Rather than being the ungrateful troublemaker Jason had predicted he'd be, Sam Duffy became an inspiring example of loyalty. When they had returned to camp he'd told everyone that Gabrielle had happened along the trail just in time to save his life. Because of his cuts and bruises and his obviously shaken state, his tale was readily believed. He then began to follow the young woman about whenever the wagon train camped, offering to perform whatever service she might require from saddling Sunny to unhitching the team of oxen which pulled her wagon. If he were not present himself, he sent Timothy to be certain there was nothing which needed to be done. At first Gabrielle had tried to politely discourage the man's devotion, but he did not seem to hear her refusals and persisted in being so enormously helpful that her friends began to tease her, saying Sam Duffy had been smitten by her charms. She did no more than smile and ask them to be kind to the man. G)nsequently they did not tease him as unmercifully as they did her.

Jason missed little that happened among the emigrants and he thought Sam's transformation a most remarkable event. The man had shaved off his beard, and had begun to wear clean clothing. If he was not following Gabrielle around and trying to be of service to her, he could be found playing with his children

or sitting by his wagon talking quietly with his wife. Far from being jealous, Mrs. Duffy seemed grateful that her husband had become so attentive and she made no complaints whatsoever.

Using Sam as a convenient excuse to speak with Cabrielle, Jason wandered by her wagon one evening and drew her aside. **I would not have left your pet to drown. Had you not pulled Sam out of the pond that day I would have.^'

Astonished by that revelation, Gabrielle asked impatiently, "Do you really expect me to believe that fairy tale, Mr. Royal? I was there and you had already turned to go when I went to Sam's rescue. It is far too late now to tell me you did not intend to let him drown."

Jason took off his hat and thumped it against his knee several times to brush off the dust before he jammed it back on his head.

''You think damn Httle of me, don't you?"

His bright glance was as accusing as his question. He had hoped sheM believe him, but she had scarcely listened to his explanation of his intention. He knew, however, no matter what she thought, that he'd have pulled Sam out of the water. He'd only tossed him in to give him a good scare, not to kill him.

"With good reason!" Gabrielle's long, dark lashes nearly swept hsriirows she was so surprised. "You have given me ample opportunity to observe your true colors, Mr. Royal."

Jason had paid absolutely no attention to her and had not given her one kind word, let alone a compliment, in the many days that had passed since they'd left Bear Lake. He'd been a lover of extraordinary sensitivity that day and then he had retreated behind a wall of silence. He'd become a stranger who valued her reputation above all things. Or perhaps it is his own reputation he values so highly, she thought bitterly. Either way, the result had been the same. He had simply ignored her and his neglect had hurt her badly.

Jason's dark brows came together in a savage frown, his

disappointment profound at finding her in such an argumentative mood. "Sam does not bother you, does he? Just let me know if you find his attentions offensive and I'll—*'

"You'll what?" Gabrielle stepped close to whisper her question. "Just shoot him this time?"

"Damn it, Gabrielle, you're not being fair!"

She turned her back on him then, leaving him swearing angrily with only the wind to hear. She could not understand his moods. It was not a question of forgiving him for the fury of his passions, certainly not. When she could not even control her own thoughts or behavior, it was ludicrous to attempt to make him admit his lack of judgment had nearly cost Sam his life. What a hopeless mess everything had become, but she could not change the way she felt about Jason nor did she even wish to try. He had raised the barrier which existed between them, and she felt as though she were pounding her fists upon a stone wall each time she tried to break it down. He is like the wind he admires, she thought suddenly, warm, sensuous but maddeningly invisible when what I crave is love of the most devoted and enduring kind.

When they reached the effervescent waters of Soda Springs, the children as well as the adults were delighted by the bubbles that tickled their noses as they tried to drink, making them burst into laughter no matter how serious an expression they attempted to maintain. Gabrielle joined her friends but found it difficult to enjoy their playful antics when Jason was standing nearby. He was, as always, her consuming interest, and she much preferred to watch him rather than concentrate upon the conversation of the young women with whom she spent so much time. He appeared to be as amused as the children. In fact, she'd seldom seen him in so jovial a mood, as if the spring were his own private discovery which he'd been too generous to keep secret. Attempting to be more objective, she thought of the many ways in which he'd helped them all. She was certain he was as fine a wagon master as any man could hope to to be, for despite his strictness, he had infused each

step of the journey with a sense of wonder at the beauty of nature. When they broke camp each morning, he insisted they leave the land unscarred by their stay. Too many wagon trains left the terrain littered with garbage, and he considered that an affront not only to the land but to those who would follow in their path. He had an Indian's respect for the prairie, and since it supplied all of their needs he had taught them it should be cared for in return. There was so much about the man to admire, but she found it difficult to watch him that day without tears coming to her eyes for she longed for the tender affection he'd made it impossible for her to accept.

Erica watched Gabrielle drift away from their group as if the sparkling spring held little interest for her and as this was not the first time she'd seen her good friend become so withdrawn, she followed her.

''Would you like to go back to the wagon and talk? Something is bothering you and I don't mind giving you the benefit of my advice even though I know you'll probably disregard it." Erica gave Gabrielle an engaging smile.

Gabrielle shook her head, sending her auburn tresses flying in emphatic refusal. *'I always enjoy your company. Erica, but I've no more worries than you or any of the rest of us. I am sorry to disappoint you and I don't mean to be unsociable, but I have no problems to discuss. She smiled with what she hoped would be convincing innocence, meanwhile thinking she could not possibly describe her dilemma. She could not admit she had fallen in love with Jason Royal, had even made love with him several times, but had refused to become his mistress since she could not bear the indifference with which he treated her. That was too shocking a secret to reveal, and she was not even remotely tempted to share it with Erica.

Frowning, Erica did not give up on her efforts. "Is it the men, is that it?"

"What men?" Gabrielle asked, confused by what appeared to be so irrelevant a question.

'The bachelors, of course. What other men could there be!"

Erica replied, as if the matter were too obvious to explain. "Marlene is still frantic about the fact that she lied about her age. Have you never heard her crying in the night? She is certain none of the men will want her and she wants so desperately to have a home and family she can't bear the thought that her dreams won't come true."

Cabrielle looked back toward the spring. Marlene was talking with Iris, or rather listening to Iris as that was the only way any of them could pretend to converse with the difficult young woman. "I'm sorry to hear that. Marlene is so sweet, she's very pretty too; but apparently she's had little attention from men and does not believe she deserves the happiness she craves."

"I can think of no way to help her, can you?" Erica asked hopefully. She'd found Cabrielle to be a very sensible young woman who could be counted on in any sort of emergency, and she regarded Marlene's state of mind as an emergency which needed immediate attention.

"No, if there were several young men about, we could ask them to notice her, or at least talk with her occasionally so she would gain some confidence, but that's not possible here," Cabrielle mused thoughtfully.

After a moment's thought. Erica gave a delighted squeal. "Let's ask Mr. Royal to give her some extra attention! He'd do it, don'^t you think? He is such a charming man I'm sure if you asked him he'd do it for us."

Cabrielle found it difficult to respond in a tone below a furious shriek, but after taking a deep breath she gave it her best try. "That is the worst idea I have ever heard. Erica. For one thing, it's unfair to treat the man as though he were a gigolo. For another, were Marlene ever to find out he was being sweet to her only as a favor to us she would be devastated. No. The whole idea is absurd, completely out of the question."

Erica stared wide-eyed at her friend, "What's a gigolo?" She asked innocently.

"That is the French word for a man who is paid to be a

woman's escort. It is not a complimentary term for they are considered little better than prostitutes," Gabrielle explained in a hushed tone.

Clearly astounded that such an occupation existed. Erica nonetheless believed if there were such men they would definitely be plying their trade in France. Deciding it would be better not to pursue that topic, she asked, ''Cam you speak French, Gabrielle?"

''Some. My aunt attempted to instruct me in the language, but I was an indifferent pupil Fm afraid. Gabrielle is a French name, so she insisted I know a few words at least."

"Your aunt told you about gigolos?" Erica inquired skeptically, wondering what sort of guardian would reveal such a scandalous thing.

'*No, of course not. She gave me French novels to read in the hope of improving my grammar and one referred to such a man. But we are getting off the subject. Do you understand why your idea is such a foolish one?"

"No. We wouldn't be paying Mr. Royal to do it, so no one could call him a gigolo. And how would Marlene ever find out? I still think it's a good idea."

"It's dreadful!" Gabrielle insisted. "You can't manipulate people like that. They both have feelings and it would be disastrous. That sounds more like something Iris would suggest rather than you, Erica, and I don't want any part of it."

Undaunted, Erica refused to give up. "There's Mr. Home then. Have you noticed how much younger he looks now than when he first spoke with us in Kansas City? I'll bet he's lost twenty or thirty pounds, and if I were to cut his hair the way Mr. Royal wears his, so the curls followed the shape of his head instead of sticking out all over, I'd bet he'd be quite handsome too.

Gabrielle simply stared at her friend dumfounded by her lack of logic. She'd paid little attention to how Clayton Home looked, but as she glanced through the crowd and saw him talking with Barbara, she had to agree that he did look far more

fit than when their journey had begun. Still, no matter how he wore his hair she thought the idea a poor one.

"By ail means offer to cut Mr. Home's hair if that's what you want to do, but leave him out of this scheme too. He is supposed to be escorting all of us to Oregon and he can't have any favorites. Were he to begin paying special attention to Marlene, someone would be sure to notice and be hurt because she did not receive the same courtesy. Just forget it. Erica, and when we arrive in Oregon City we'll do our best to make Marlene feel better about herself regardless of what her age might be."

With so much on her mind, Gabrielle gave the matter of building Marlene's self-confidence no further thought until she noticed Clayton Home sporting a new and very flattering haircut. The change in the man was really quite remarkable. He did look much younger, and with his trimmer waistline he now seemed to have a muscular rather than a stocky build. Erica only laughed when she asked her about it, but when she did not see Marlene in Clayton's company she ceased to worry over what mischief might be afoot because the trail had again grown difficult.

After the wagon train had left Soda Springs, they had angled north, crossing a hot, dry plain with little but sagebrush to improve the view. Their next opportunity to stop for a few days would be at Fort Hall. There they would rest before continuing the trail as it followed the Snake River west.

Gabrielle had just finished her breakfast one morning when Timothy Duffy came running to find her. Breathlessly he explained that his father needed her help that day. "My ma's awful sick. She can barely take care of herself let alone my sisters. Can you ride with us today and help me watch 'em?"

"Why of course I will, Tim. When did your mother fall ill?" Gabrielle was concerned about the woman, and although they were not friends she was happy to help her after the many chores Sam had done for her.

"Mrs. Duffy is ill?" Johanna asked solicitously. "I'd better

come along too, just in case." She considered herself a most proficient nurse and at the same time thought it her Christian duty to help anyone in need.

Seeing her worried glance, Gabrielle did not refuse her help. So leaving their horses tied behind the wagon, the two young women rode to the Duffys' rig. Sam Duffy had hitched up his team, but was waiting for them to arrive.

"Amanda took sick during the night and I can't see to her and drive the oxen as well with three kids to watch." He looked far from well himself, having had little sleep due to his wife's illness.

*'Johanna and I will be happy to help you, Sam. Do you have any idea what could be wrong with your wife?" Gabrielle thought it would be helpful to have at least some idea what sort of illness she was tending.

Blushing deeply, Sam tried to describe her symptoms, "She can't seem to keep nothing down, she was that way before each of the kids was born so it might be that again, or if it ain't that perhaps something she ate was spoiled."

"It has been hot and food spoils easily in this weather," Johanna agreed, promptly taking charge. "Have you some tea? We'll need to give her plenty to drink regardless of the cause of her sickness."