Savage storm (31 page)

Jason slept for fourteen hours straight once they'd made camp near the Whitman Mission and he knew everyone would be reasonably safe for a few days. He had the advantage of youth to make his body resilient, but even he had his limits and he'd exceeded them far too frequently of late. He liked Marcus Whitman and meant to talk with him as soon as he'd cleaned up, but inspired by the near completion of the trail, he unpacked his razor and took the time to shave off his beard too. He didn't realize until he looked in the mirror how thin his face had become, and for a moment he was sorry he was again clean shaven. But he decided he looked no worse than anyone else. The Oregon Trail had taken its toll from them all.

As always. Dr. Whitman was pleased to see Jason, and seeking privacy, the two men went into his study to sit and talk. "How have you been since last we met?" The good-natured physician inquired politely.

"Fine. But I'm growing weary of making this trek. We lost too many good people this time, cholera was the main culprit, then we lost several more in the last weeks due to exhaustion."

Marcus nodded sympathetically. "I know how you must feel, but you've a lively group camped out there. Survivors, every one. I'd say Oregon will be all the better for their arrival, no matter how difficult their journey. Being a bit of a romantic, Narcissa went to meet the brides. You aren't thinking of taking one of those pretty ladies for your own wife, are you?" He was

merely making conversation, trying to brighten Jason's mood, and he did not expect the reply he received.

As Jason glanced out the window toward their camp, his expression was a most dejected one. Marcus was a close friend, more like a father since his own parents were dead, and he didn't hesitate to tell him the truth. "I wouldn't even know what to do with a wife, wouldn't make much of a husband when I couldn't tell a woman if I'd be home for dinner from one day to the next. That's no life to offer any woman, especially not one as fine as the brides we've promised to other men."

Sitting forward, Marcus grew serious too, for he saw more in his young friend's dark gaze than he'd heard in his words. "Narcissa is my best friend, Jason. I cannot even recall how I lived before she became my wife. There's nowhere I'd rather be than home when I know she'll be here waiting for me. It sounds as though you've been giving the prospect of marriage a great deal of thought, but it's unfair to make your decision without consulting the young woman involved. Maybe she has some thoughts on the subject."

"That's not the problem, I've already heard her ideas," Jason admitted sadly. ''It's too long a story to relate, but there's no point in marrying a woman who's in love with a dead man."

"She is a widow?" Marcus asked curiously.

"No, but she might as well be." Embarrassed to have revealed so much, Jason got to his feet and offered his hand. "I didn't mean to bore you with my complaints, but thanks for listening. It's always good to see you."

Knowing he'd not made his point, Marcus tried again. "I'll give you some advice, son, love is for the living to enjoy. I'm sure you'll find a way to convince your young woman of that."

Jason laughed ruefully, "Oh, no I won't. That's how I made my first mistake way back in Kansas City and it's been my undoing. I'll come by to see Narcissa before we go. Tell her hello for me." He let himself out of the doctor's house and

forced himself to think again of practical matters. He knew everyone would be anxious to leave in a day or so and there were last-minute repairs which could not be forgotten. He'd keep busy helping those who needed it and once again push the pain of his own unanswered needs aside.

*'Was that Jason Royal I just saw leave?" Narcissagave her husband a warm hug as she entered his study.

"Yes. I think the young man's in love but unfortunately he seems to believe his cause is hopeless."

Narcissa thought such a prospect unlikely. "I doubt there's a woman alive whose heart Jason couldn't win. He is far too handsome and much too clever to let another man steal the woman he loves."

"Now why didn't I think to tell him that?" Marcus asked his wife, a merry twinkle in his eye.

"Because you're a man, of course, and much too logical to see the obvious. Is the young woman in question among those in the wagon train?"

"I think she's one of the brides, my dear, a woman he's promised to someone else. That was only my impression, but I think it's accurate."

The pretty blonde grew thoughtful as she tried to decide which of the young women she'd met could be the one Jason wanted.

"I know who she is, Marcus, at least I think I do. You'll have to meet her. Better yet, you come and meet them all, and then tell me who you think it is. We'll see if our choices match."

"Is this to be a contest?" Marcus thought the idea rather appealing. "Well, why not. But we must never tell Jason if he writes to tell us he has gotten married that the girl isn't the one we would have chosen for him."

"You have my word on it; you know how good I am at keeping secrets."

Laughing, Marcus gave her a quick kiss. "That is only because a wagon train does not stop here every day and you have so few people to tell!"

Used to her husband's teasing, Narcissa wasn't insuhed. She introduced him to the brides, and when they returned to his study each wrote down a name. When they compared them, they were so close a couple it was not surprising that they had both written the same name: Gabrielle MacLaren. They kept their game to themselves, but they looked forward to hearing from Jason soon to see if their choice was also his.

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An ecstatic mood of elation poured through the emigrants as they reached Fort Walla Walla for they regarded the forthcoming trip down the Columbia River as a slight hazard compared with all the difficulties they'd faced coming overland. The sound of laughter and music again filled the night air, and the brides could scarcely wait to unpack their trunks and try on the dresses they'd saved to wear for their first meeting with their future husbands.

''Husband, isn't that a marvelous word?" Erica let it roll off her tongue several times deciding she liked the sound of it immensely. "Do you realize that after all these months of looking at Mr. Royal's sketches and dreaming about the men we'll be meeting them shortly? Do you suppose Lewis Bradley will be all I want him to be?"

Cabrielle could not help but be amused by her enthusiastic friend. "How can he possibly be that perfect? I am sure being human he must have some faults, but what if you are not the woman he hopes you will be?"

"Well, why shouldn't he like me?" Erica demanded indignantly for she'd not even considered such an unlikely possibility.

"Compose yourself, please. I do not mean to ruin your plans, but you must realize Lewis has a say about whom he'll

marry. You can't simply greet him with, 'How do you do, Lewis. Would you like to get married this afternoon?' The poor man would run for the nearest door!" Gabrielle pointed out logically, but Erica was not feeling in the least bit logical at that moment and her expression became an unhappy pout.

"I suppose you're right. Perhaps you have been the smart one not to allow yourself to dream of a man who might not even like you once you are introduced." Erica's unusual green eyes were suddenly veiled by a mist of unshed tears. "It is only that I am not the most patient of women, and whatever shall I do if Lewis is too shy to approach me?"

"I doubt any of the men will be so shy as that. Erica." Gabrielle gave her friend a comforting hug. ''Why don't we just take one thing at a time? First we'll go to Oregon City and rest a few days. Then we can attend the first of Mr. Home's parties and let the men try to impress us favorably. I think after we have gone to all the trouble to make such a difficult journey to meet them, we deserve to be courted with courtesy. We don't have to fall into the arms of the first man who comes to the door."

Encouraged by that thought. Erica had to agree. "You make it sound so easy, Gabrielle, but if you are so clever at charming men why did you have to come all this way to find a husband?"

That was not something Gabrielle had revealed in the many discussions the women had had about the reasons they'd become mail-order brides. Her motivation was going to remain a secret, and she turned that question aside as if it no longer mattered, telling only part of the truth.

"It was the lure of Oregon, Erica. I told you that when first we met. I wanted to live my life there, and I'm certain the men waiting for us will make our trip worthwhile. All we need do is wait and give them a chance to impress us."

"You have far more patience than I do, Gabrielle. I think I'd better stand next to you all the time. Then if I sound too eager you can poke me in the ribs and I'll know I should be quiet."

"You'll need no such help. All I'm suggesting is that you let the men take the initiative," Gahrielle explained confidently.

'That's the best advice I've ever heard a woman give. Miss MacLaren." As Jason walked up behind them he could not help but overhear her comment. ''Do you plan to follow such a sensible course yourself?"

A bright blush filling her cheeks, Gahrielle turned to look up at the only man she wanted to impress. He was smiling, teasing her again, and she knew it would be foolish of her to take offense. "I do not want to appear too forward, Mr, Royal, for truly I am not that type of woman. I hope there will be plenty of time for us to become well acquainted with the bachelors before any decides he wants to propose. I don't want to encourage haste in a man when we'll have a lifetime to be married."

Nodding thoughtfully, Jason could not offer much encouragement. 'The men have waited a long time, years in fact. Do you honestly think they will be content to take you for buggy rides after church on Sunday or to come calling in the evenings for no more than an hour? I doubt any of you will still be single at the end of two weeks' time."

While Erica thought that a marvelous prospect, Gahrielle did not. She had pushed the thought of marriage as far into the future as possible. "Marry in haste, repent at leisure is still good advice, Mr. Royal. Two weeks can't possibly be enough time for anyone to make so important a decision as the choice of a mate."

'Then by all means, take your time. Miss MacLaren. We want all our brides to be content with their husbands. I just don't advise you to take too much time or you might find the choice has already been made for you."

Smiling prettily. Erica thanked him for his suggestion since it suited her temperament far more closely than it did Gabrielle's, but then she asked a teasing question. "Have you no plans to marry, Mr. Royal? Didn't it occur to you and Mr. Home to find brides for yourselves if you were going to find

wives for so many of your friends?"

Rather than being insulted by so personal a question, Jason laughed. ''I think Clay might consider marriage if the mood struck him, but I certainly never will. Business men and farmers need wives, of course, but as a wagon master Td be home so seldom when I turned up my wife would probably mistake me for a robber and shoot me before she realized who I was. I wouldn't want to risk so needless an injury since it might well prove fatal. Now if you'll excuse me. Til bid you a good day." With a sly wink Jason strolled off, not remembering where he had been going in the first place. He knew he had only been teasing Erica rather than responding truthfully to her question, but while she had been amused, Gabrielle had stared coldly at him as if she found his jest impossible to appreciate. Yet it was extremely difficult for him to even consider marriage, let alone answer a question about it in a straightforward manner. He knew he had created the impossible situation in which he found himself, but it sickened him to consider how swiftly Gabrielle would be another man's wife. He still had several options open to him, none of them honorable, but with each passing hour they grew more attractive. He was shocked to think to what lengths he would go to keep the lively redhead for himself. A marriage to her, however, would be agony when her heart would never truly be his. He was unwilling to share his wife with any man, even a dead one.

Erica watched the attractive young man walk away and then declared with a saucy smile, "I think two weeks is exactly the right amount of time for a courtship. I want a home of my own, with a real bed to lie down in at night, and I don't want to sleep alone. I want a husband who'll be generous with his affection as well as his money. Do you think that's a scandalous thing to

Gabrielle barely heard her friend's comments she was so lost in her own thoughts. At least Jason had not been angered by Erica's impertinent question but he'd evaded the issue rather than giving any answer she wanted to hear. Apparently he had

believed his casual advice would be helpful. Perhaps it was to Erica, who was so eager to marry, but it certainly wasn't to her. Gabrielle truly considered marriage far too critical a partnership to be entered into blindly. She watched the handsome man saunter off and then stop at another wagon to offer some jest which was met with a loud burst of laughter. He had spoken to her frequently of late, but always when she was in the company of one of the other brides and never for more than a minute or two. His manners could not be faulted, but each encounter left her feeling more dissatisfied for he seemed to be trying to make her forget they had ever shared more than idle conversation. She wanted to speak with him alone. What she'd say she didn't know, but she knew it was important that they have at least one more opportunity to talk before they parted company. He owed her at least that much, and she vowed to herself not to let him refuse her request for one last conversation.

When Gabrielle approached him later that day, Jason was so astonished that he did not at first understand her request.

"I beg your pardon?" he inquired incredulously.

"I've had enough of your jokes, Jason," Gabrielle replied impatiently. "I want to speak with you. I said please. Do you expect me to beg for a few minutes of your time?"

Sorry that he had upset her when he'd not meant to, Jason attempted to apologize. "No, of course not. You just startled me, that's all." He frowned then, perplexed that after the many weeks she'd failed to give him more than a word or two in passing she had chosen to converse when he was occupied with the construction of the rafts.