Savage storm (56 page)

The warrior scrambled to his feet, astonished, for what manner of man would be satisfied with making threats when he could have just killed him? Hoping this was not a trick of some sort, he nodded in agreement. Willing to carry any message if doing so would save his life, he dashed off into the woods, vanishing from sight.

For some moments Jason stood still, listening to the echoes of nearby gunfire as he watched blood drip from the ends of his fingers. His mind was far from clear, but he knew the excruciating pain in his left arm was cause for alarm. The Indian's blade had gone clear through his bicep, leaving a jagged wound as deep as the bone. If he ignored it much longer, he'd simply bleed to death. He sank to his knees, and after wrapping his neckerchief around the deep wound, he tied the ends as best he could using only his right hand and his teeth. When he tried to rise, he found his legs had become too weak to support him. He crawled over to where he'd left his rifle and, with deliberate care, finished loading it. Praying one of his friends would soon come along rather than another Cayuse, he propped himself up against the stump of a tree and waited for whomever fortune might send his way.

^/ux^tlejo JLJ^l/

Michael Jenkins raced up the walk and took the steps in front of Clayton Home's home two at a time. He rang the bell with frantic haste, pacing anxiously as he waited for the door to be opened. When he was told Erica Nelson was a guest at Gabrielle Royal's home, he thanked the maid politely but swore bitterly as he returned to his buggy. This was a circumstance he'd not foreseen, and it was a damned awkward one. He couldn't propose to Erica in Gabrielle's presence, but perhaps he could offer to bring her back into town and thereby have an opportunity to speak with her alone.

Up to their elbows in flour, the two young women exchanged an exasperated glance when they heard a knock upon the front door. Neither could imagine who had come to call.

"Do you want me to get that?" Erica asked as she wiped her hands upon a dish towel.

If Iris had decided to pay another visit, she didn't want Gabrielle to have to face her. Sick with worry over Jason, she simply hadn't been herself of late, and Erica hoped to spare her whatever unnecessary aggravation she could.

"Yes, would you please?"

Gabrielle turned the bread dough out upon a floured tea towel to begin kneading it. They were making several loaves and she wanted to get her baking finished early in the day.

When she found Michael Jenkins standing upon the front porch and smiHng shyly. Erica turned hack to call to Gahrielle before she greeted the young man. **It's Michael!" she exclaimed happily.

"Well, ask him to come in this instant!" Gahrielle replied excitedly, and abandoning her baking, she quickly wiped her hands and ran to welcome their guest. Since he was dressed neatly in a suit, she knew he'd had time to go home and change his clothes after returning to Oregon City so what was keeping Jason? "It is good to see you, Michael, but have all the men come home? Won't Jason be here soon? He's all right, isn't he?"

Realizing by that barrage of questions that he'd frightened Gahrielle needlessly, Michael tried to reassure her of her husband's safety. "I came on ahead, but Jason and the rest of the men should reach Oregon City shortly, he'll probably be home before tonight." To his amazement, rather than appearing happy, Gabrielle's eyes filled with a torrent of tears which spilled over her thick lashes faster than she could wipe them away. Not understanding how he could have caused such unhappiness he turned to Erica.

"I did not mean to upset her. Is something wrong here?"

"No, of course not," Erica replied with a smile. "Gahrielle is simply thrilled to hear Jason will be home so shortly, that's all." Giving her friend a warm hug. Erica guided her over to the rocking chair and insisted she sit down while she and Michael prepared tea. "Come and help me a minute, Michael, will you please?"

"Of course," the young man agreed, not knowing how he could politely refuse.

Erica put the kettle on the stove. Then she whispered to Michael as she began to knead the waiting mounds of bread dough. "Are you certain Jason is all right? Gahrielle has been absolutely terrified he'd come to some harm."

Turning his back toward the pretty redhead, Michael replied softly. "He was wounded, but not badly. He insisted the others

who'd suffered injuries stop by Dr. Patterson's office before going home, so I'm fairly certain he'll go there too."

Her gaze filling with alarm. Erica motioned for him to come closer. "Please don't tell Gabrielle. She'll only worry all the more, and I'm sure Jason wouldn't want that to happen. Are you certain he's all right?"

Michael took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. "He is doing fine. Now let me help you with this mess and then I'll take you back to Clayton Home's. Unless you'd like to be here when Jason arrives."

I "Oh, you're right. That might be very awkward." Erica bit her lip, knowing Michael was assuming one kind of awkwardness while she was worried about another. "Would it be out of your way to take me back into town? I would really appreciate the ride. "

i Michael pressed the bread dough into a rectangle; then he folded it over and pressed it out again. He felt very foolish working in the kitchen when he'd worn his best suit in order to be properly dressed to propose. Fortunately he knew flour would just brush off his clothing when they were finished, and he did want to help Erica so they could leave promptly. "I came here to see you. Erica. Did you really think I'd come to visit Gabrielle?"

I "Well, I'd hoped not," Erica responded with a deep blush. "I have missed you," she finally admitted shyly, not daring to look up as she spoke.

I The shrill whistle of the teakettle interrupted them before Michael could respond, and wipingoff her hands. Erica poured the boiling water into the teapot. She added tea leaves and let them steep for a moment before pouring a cup of the flavorful beverage for Gabrielle.

"Here. Just drink this and try to relax."

"As if I could!" Gabrielle responded hoarsely. Her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't hold the cup steady as she tried to take a sip of the steaming tea. "Aren't you and Michael going to join me?"

"In just a moment, as soon as we get the bread in the oven,"^ Erica promised with a pretty smile. j

Gabrielle turned around then, and seeing Michael had taken ii her place, she blushed with embarrassment. "I am sorry, [ Michael. You needn't do that, I can finish in a moment or two."

*'I don't mind," Michael insisted with a good-natured grin. "I have to bake my own bread at home, I know how to do this so you needn't look so stricken."

''You really don't mind?" Gabrielle wondered what Iris would say were she to see this. She could well imagine what gossip asking a man to help in the kitchen would cause.

"Not at all."

Michael placed the first loaf in the waiting pan and began to knead the next ball of dough. He would gladly have cleaned the whole house or done the ironing for the chance to take Erica back into town. Working together, they soon had four loaves of bread baking. He then accepted a cup of tea and went to sit down near the fire while Erica packed her belongings.

Noticing that the fear had not left Gabrielle's eyes, Michael decided to distract her, but then he recalled how impossible that had always been for him. Nonetheless, he made an attempt by choosing a safe subject.

"It must have worked out well for you to have Erica here while Jason was away. It didn't occur to me she'd not want to stay in Oregon City with the others. I thought she'd want to attend Clayton's parties."

That he could be so mistaken made Gabrielle smile for the first time since he'd arrived. "She seemed to have no interest in attending parties when you weren't going to be there, but ; don't you dare tell her I told you that."

Michael shook his head. "I never thought I'd be discussing another woman with you." He chuckled at the thought, glad that Gabrielle seemed to regard him as a friend now, and he hoped she'd offer him some advice. "Do you think I might still have a chance with Erica? I mean, if she's not seeing any of the

others maybe she does care for me a little,"

*'0h, Michael." Gabrielle reached out to pat his hand lightly. *'0f course she does, but you've given her little hope you care for her."

Michael was dumfounded by that news. "But I, well that is I-'

"Exactly." Gabrielle nodded as she leaned forward to whisper. "I assume you do know how to kiss a woman as though you love her with all the passion it is possible for a man to feel?"

Erica came out of the bedroom in time to see Michael blush a deep red» and not knowing what they had been discussing, she feared the worst. "Fm ready to go now, if you're still willing to take me."

Michael gave Gabrielle one last frantic glance before rising from his chair. He thought he knew what she was suggesting, but he wasn't at all sure that would please Erica.

"Yes, I'm ready."

They bid Gabrielle goodbye, certain they'd pass Jason on the road, and climbed up into the buggy in which Michael had arrived, waving as they rode away. Once they were alone, Michael found it impossible to speak. He'd been so anxious to see Erica again he'd not prepared any pretty phrases to express what he wanted to say and he now realized that had been a grave error. He was so nervous he didn't even know how to begin, let alone plead his cause effectively, and to make matters worse. Erica was directing all her attention toward the scenery as though the trees provided a more interesting view than he did. Gabrielle was obviously mistaken. The young woman by his side couldn't care anything for him. All she'd wanted was a ride into town.

Erica attempted to wait patiently for Michael to speak, but when he did not she didn't know what to do. She'd thought since he'd gone to the trouble of coming all the way out to Gabrielle's house to see her he had something important to say. However, his silence was telling the whole story.

"I guess it really was Cabrielle you went to see/* she finally mumbled, unable to keep her thoughts to herself a moment longer.

Shocked by the ridiculousness of that notion, Michael pulled his horse to an abrupt halt. ''I wanted to see you. Of course I like Cabrielle, but I wouldn^t have gone out to her home if you hadn^t been there."

Erica didn't reply. She hadn't really meant to speak her complaint aloud and was sorry she'd done so. She was embarrassed by his response, feeling he was only being polite, and she again looked away since it was far easier than returning his inquisitive glance.

Michael knotted the reins over the brake to leave his hands free and, hoping Cabrielle had known what she was talking about, slipped an arm around Erica's shoulders. ''I have had very Httle experience with women. I don't know what it is I'm supposed to do or say to please you, but I would like to try. I like to think my dancing has improved since you came to Oregon City, so I know I can still learn whatever else I must if you'll just help me."

Erica frowned. Then she replied in a serious tone. "But if I have to tell you—I mean, if it is not something you wish to do spontaneously—then it's just no good, Michael. I shouldn't have to beg you to speak to me while we ride into town; you should simply want to tell me about your adventures." She was becoming angry now, she'd waited as patiently as she could for him to express some affection for her but clearly he was loath to do it.

Watching the color rise in Erica's cheeks, Michael knew he'd made a mistake by being so frank with her. He'd hoped to win her sympathy by being honest and was disappointed to have failed. *'You want to hear about adventures? I wouldn't describe what I've just been through as an adventure. It was far closer to a glimpse of hell! I went because I thought I should, because I didn't want any more of my friends to be killed. I didn't want the Cayuse to think they could murder whomever

they pleased without fear of retaliation. I won't make up stories so you'll think me very brave because I have never been so scared. The only comfort I have is that I wasn't the only one who was terrified. Still, none of us let the others down. I'm glad it's over, and I hope I never have to do anything like that again. I'm not cut out to be a soldier. I just haven't got the guts for it. I enjoy being a farmer but that's pretty tame; it involves no adventure at all."

"I didn't mean to insult you!" Erica clenched her fists in her lap, mortified that she'd hurt him when she had not meant to give offense. "I just wanted you to talk to me!"

'That's all I've been thinking about the whole time I was away, just how good it would be to see you again and what I hoped to say. But I can't even have a simple conversation with you, let alone ask what I wanted to." Michael was thoroughly disgusted with himself and his downcast expression clearly showed it.

Puzzled by his remarks. Erica hoped to end his reticence. "You can ask me whatever you wish and I'll try to answer you.

"Erica!" Michael simply gave up then, frustrated because she appeared to have no idea what he wanted to ask. He yanked the reins from around the brake handle and slapped them soundly upon his horse's back. "I'll take you home as I promised, but I don't think I should ever come back."

Stricken by that announcement. Erica begged him to reconsider. "Oh please, Michael, please don't say that. I know I'm not Gabrielle, but I've tried, really I have, and—"

Completely exasperated now, Michael again pulled his horse to a stop. "You mean you do want me to continue to call upon youi*

"Yes, of course I do," Erica responded with an engaging smile.

"Well then, why can't you understand that it's you I want and not Gabrielle?"

Her concern that she might not see him again lessening at

that question. Erica began to hope that perhaps he did care for her. "Really?''

Since he thought he'd already blurted out the truth, Michael saw no reason not to continue. "I have been waiting as patiently as I could for you to want me because it would be senseless for us to marry if you're still in love with Lewis. There. I finally said it. Was that plain enough for you?"