Savage storm (7 page)

Erica looked up with an impish smile. "I certainly hope there are more like him in Oregon City, but it is difficult to tell from the sketches he showed us whether or not the men are that tall and handsomely built."

Shading her eyes with her hand, Gabrielle turned to watch as Iris and Jason continued on down the line of wagons. "Yes, I suppose he is good-looking now that you mention it."

"As if you hadn't noticed!" Erica laughed out loud at that prospect but when Gabrielle simply appeared embarrassed and didn't respond she didn't persist in her teasing. "Since I have two bags and you have one, do you want to organize our things

together so we can use one bag to store the things we'll not need for a while?"

"Why yes, if you don't mind." Erica had almost as many pretty dresses as Gabrielle did, but in addition she'd brought along a quilt which took up a lot of space and an intricately fashioned, crocheted tablecloth. "That tablecloth is lovely, but do you think any of the men will have crystal?"

"If not yet, they soon will have, won't they?" Erica was delighted to have found so nice a friend, and while she helped Gabrielle to arrange her things the two young women teased each other playfully.

When Jason Royal walked past their wagon leading Sunny, he did no more than shake his head for he could not imagine why the young women were working so diligently to store their belongings when they'd have to unload them so frequently. Rather than stop to offer any advice, however, h decided to simply let them find out for themselves how futile their efforts were.

While Jason was a skilled scout, able to find shortcuts through even the most treacherous terrain, it was Clayton's ability to organize which made him a valuable partner to their enterprise. He had hired drivers for each of the brides' wagons. They were mature men who'd be unlikely to distract the young women from the purpose of their trip, for not one of them had been handsome even in his youth. They had been hired to tend the teams of oxen and to take turns preparing the meals so the young women didn't have to assume that tiresome responsibility until they were married. Starting with the first evening, the three men proved their worth by assuming a fatherly attitude toward their charges. The young ladies found this both charming and reassuring. Clayton hoped, with the help of the drivers, he and Jason could provide adequate supervision to secure the young women's comfort and safety. Alarmed by Jason's predictions of peril along the trail, he had introduced himself to all the families making the trip and to his delight had found one with two attractive daughters of marriageable age.

Not that he expected to lose any of the girls he'd chosen, hut if he could pick up an extra bachelor or two in Or^on City he'd get the fee for providing the introductions while he'd not had the responsibility or the expense for the two young women's travel. If Joshua Taylor had decided he wanted a bride since all his friends would have one, then Clayton hoped there would be a few other men who'd be similarly inspired.

Paul Slaughter was the driver assigned toGabrielle's wagon, a gray-bearded man with the diminutive stature and ready wit of an elf. After walking around on the pretext of speaking to his fellow drivers, he'd come to the conclusion that the prettiest girls were in his care. Knowing that voicing such an opinion aloud would create rivalry and unnecessary strife, he kept his thoughts to himself. Still, he was pleased.

While Gabrielle had been busy supervising the packing of her group's wagon. Jason had spoken with the head of each family and had made certain all the wagons were adequately prepared to b^n the journey at sunrise. As always there were men who faced what lay ahead with remarkable good humor while others were so taciturn by nature he could not tell what they were thinking. And, unfortunately there were a few chronic complainers. These last he knew would not be satisfied no matter how swift or how easy their journey might be.

Now clad in his comfortable buckskins, he was far more confident that the trip would be a success than he'd been in Kansas City and he was as anxious to leave as any of his fellow travelers. He looked forward to the excitement of the trail for while he recognized its dangers he enjoyed meeting these challenges. He'd unsaddled Sunny soon after they'd arrived at the campsite but had left his bridle on, the reins tied to the rope confining the other mounts. While the stallion had not proved to be difficult, Jason planned to side-tie the horse, placing hobbles on his left legs so the stallion could be turned out to graze during the night without any risk that he would run away. Sunrise, however, saw Jason approaching with the leather thongs in his hands. Letting out a wild cry the horse

reared up on his hind legs, ready to strike the young man with his hooves should Jason dare to come any closer.

Jason hegan to swear as he leaped out of the way; he had more than enough problems to handle without an unmanageable horse. But Gabrielle heard the commotion and came running. She was certain Jason had used a whip on Sunny and she grabbed his arm only to see he held no more than the hobbles.

"Why didn't you call me rather than attempt to do that yourself?" she asked heatedly, her outrage as plain as her stallion's.

Sunrise had yanked loose the rope by which all the horses had been tethered and had sent more than two dozen mounts scattering in all directions. He stood motionless, however, all four hooves firmly planted upon the ground, his ears laid back against his head, his nostrils flaring, and an evil gleam in his dark eyes as he dared Jason to touch him.

"It is not too late to geld that beast, you know!" Jason shoved Gabrielle's hand from his arm, as disgusted with her interference as he was with the mischief her stallion had caused, for although he considered himself to be an expert horseman he had not anticipated the trouble Sunrise would cause.

"Don't be absurd!" Gabrielle responded defiantly. Still dressed in her elegant black suit she pushed past Jason, grabbed her horse's reins, and, lifting her skirt aside, swung herself upon his back. She rode as easily bareback as most men did in the saddle, and using Sunny's speed and agility to every advantage, she began to circle the stray horses, forcing them back toward the wagons where Jason and Clayton caught them easily. By the time the last one had been recovered, both she and Sunny had regained their composure but, unhappily, Jason had not. Seeing his furious expression, Gabrielle slipped down from her stallion's back and led him to the young man's side.

"I should have warned you how greatly he distrusts

strangers, but I thought since you were with me at the stable this morning and saw how badly he behaved you would have realized that. Still, no harm has been done, you have all your horses back/'

Jason's piercing gray gaze swept Gabrielle's svelte figure slowly. She'd put on quite a spectacle but seemed to be totally unaware of the stares of the curious crowd which had gathered to watch her. "Where did you learn to ride so well?"

Surprised by that question, Gabrielle hesitated a moment too long. Then she explained, knowing he'd understand who she meant. "A friend taught me; we spent a great deal of time riding together."

Sorry he'd asked since Beau was not a man with whom he could compete, Jason slapped the leather thongs against his hand as he gave her an order, his stern expression a clear warning he expected to be obeyed. 'That's not an effort I want to see you repeat. Miss MacLaren, see that Sunny is side-tied so he can graze without straying; then I'll give you the hobbles for all the other mounts too. Since none is as obstreperous as your horse, you should have the job completed within minutes."

"Are you trying to punish me?" Gabrielle asked curiously. "I plan to do my share of the work, and I don't mind helping you care for the animals." Her bright blue eyes regarded him coolly, hoping for some sign he'd become more reasonable, but the muscles of his jaw were tense, his gaze dark, if anything he was growing more angry rather than calmer. When he didn't reply, she gave up her effort to placate him as hopeless and took the leather thongs from his hand. She then led Sunny toward the expanse of lush grass where the horse could spend a restful night with an abundant supply of food. She scratched his ears playfully as she removed his bridle and spoke in a low soothing tone while she attached the side tie and when she was satisfied her pet could walk comfortably if not run, she gave him a tender pat to send him out to graze.

"Did you ever see anything like that?" Clayton whispered softly to his friend. "She has a rare talent, a real gift for

working with horses."

Jason had been as entranced as the older man with Gabrielle's abihty. He'd seen Indian braves handle their mounts with the same easy grace, but never a white man and most certainly never a white woman. ''I have a feeling that is perhaps the least of her talents, Clay, but this was a disruption we didn't need and I'll not permit that stallion to cause such havoc again."

"Oh, certainly not." Clayton agreed readily, but he stayed to watch while Jason turned away. Gabrielle moved down the line of horses, talking to each as if it were an old friend, her touch gentle but firm, and while it took her more than the few minutes Jason had mentioned to accomplish the task he'd assigned her, no one could have pleased the animals more.

Noting that Jason had gone, Gabrielle returned to her wagon where she found Iris complaining because they'd have to eat their dinner either standing up or seated upon the ground. "Did you really expect a dining table and chairs to appear magically each night. Iris?" Gabrielle took the tin plate Paul handed her and thanked him warmly. He'd roasted two chickens and baked biscuits which were as light and feathery as any she'd ever tasted. She took a bite as she went to sit down beside Erica, then called to the man to show her appreciation. "This is delicious, Paul, do you have experience as a cook?"

"Sure, I've been eating my own cooking all my life!" He replied, a twinkle in his eye. "I'm glad you're enjoying the meal, but there will be plenty of times when we'll have to make do with bacon."

"Can't you men hunt along the way so we'll always have fresh meat?" Iris asked as she finally resigned herself to taking a place beside Margaret on the grass.

"I am a mighty fine hunter now that you mention it, miss, but where game is scarce skill doesn't fill the stew pot. Just enjoy each meal as it comes and let me worry about the next one.

Iris looked at her companions and whispered so Paul would

not overhear. "I know we were chosen for our beauty, but none of us will be pretty if we are no more than skin and bones by the time we arrive in Oregon City. I expected Mr. Home to have made some better arrangement for our food than he has. We are going to become dreadfully tired of bacon and biscuits. I never even liked them in the first place!"

Marlene and Margaret continued to eat in embarrassed silence, not wishing to become involved in any conversation based on Iris' complaints. Johanna sat talking quietly with Barbara. Both ignored the striking brunette while Gabrielle and Erica exchanged knowing glances and simply enjoyed their dinner without bothering to respond to Iris' comments. They had decided that afternoon just to ignore her and hope she would soon move to another wagon, but after they had finished eating and all twenty-one young women moved about and got acquainted, it soon became apparent that Iris alienated everyone with whom she spoke. She monopolized each conversation, criticizing anyone who dared to disagree with her opinions, and she soon found herself standing alone while the others chatted happily, filled with excitement at the adventure they'd undertaken. She knew how to captivate men but she did not use that same charm on women. By the time the cooking fires were all extinguished and the girls were getting ready to go to sleep. Iris had not found anyone she liked, nor had she realized that no one had liked her either.

The bedding was soft, and by trying different positions the young women who shared Gabrielle's wagon soon found they could sleep comfortably. However, they were still too excited to close their eyes. As always, Barbara was in a talkative mood. She described her best friend's reaction to her announcement that she was going to answer Mr. Home's advertisement.

"She was shocked, absolutely horrified, but for men to seek brides through newspaper advertisements is nothing new and I didn't see it as a scandal. Besides, I didn't want to stay at home and wait years for a man to find me when Oregon seems to be filled with men who want a nice wife. I don't think what we're

doing is wrong; it's merely sensible. That's the way I look at it, and thank goodness, so did my mother."

Erica moaned softly. "You should have heard my parents, but I convinced them this is what I want to do, and since I have two older brothers with children who live near them I don't think they'll be too lonely without me. What did your folks say about this, Gabrielle?"

"My parents died when I was a baby. An aunt raised me and she's gone now too. There was no one I needed to ask, but even if there had been, I would have come whether or not I'd received permission."

"I hope you marry a man who does not expect obedience then," Iris offered sarcastically. She'd not shared her thoughts with her wagonmates, merely her usual flippant criticisms.

"I shall make a point of asking each of the bachelors what he thinks on that subject. Iris. Thank you for the wonderful suggestion," Gabrielle replied sweetly but she could not stop her giggle as Erica poked her in the ribs.

"That's a good idea. We should think of some questions to ask so we can get to know the men quickly. Then we won't waste time on those whose views don't suit us," Barbara stated enthusiastically.

"Just ask to see their homes, Barbara; they will tell the whole story," Iris recommended, as if she'd given the matter a great deal of thought. "You'll be able to see exactly how the men live and what sort of life each can offer you."

"Will Mr. Home permit that?" Marlene whispered. "Will he allow us to visit the men's homes without a chaperon?"

"Certainly not!" Johanna protested sharply. "I'd never go out to a man's farm, why who knows what he might try to do!"