To Honor and Cherish (19 page)

“Probably best that way.” He looked up at her, his eyes clearing. “I hope that by telling you a little, you’ll understand I’m not a criminal. I did nothing to Lars to earn being hunted across the country, except maybe being alive. This isn’t easy. Every sheriff I’ve told, every law man for that matter, has not believed me. Lars has friends all over the country and it means he can do whatever he wants.” He brushed his thumb across the top of her hand. She fought against her desire to return the brief caress.

“I met Lars about six years ago or so. His father was a big cattle rancher in Texas, but split his herd and continued moving further and further north. Last I heard, he even had a small herd in Montana. That’s how Lars Larson has so many connections. His father had ranches all through this part of the country and he owned many of the small towns near the ranches he owned. When his father passed, Lars inherited it all. But he was missing every good character trait his father had. Wish I’d known that.” He looked off into the darkness.

“My father died when I was young, so I helped my mother by working cattle or whatever I could find to do to earn a buck. That’s how I knew of the Larson’s, their name was well known where I grew up. Lars was looking for some men to ride with him, the pay was real good. Though, he didn’t tell us what he wanted us to do.

“I joined up with him and did what he told me. If he told me an old man stole money from him and we should go get it back. I went over and talked to the old man. I wasn’t like the other guys that worked for Lars. They’d beat up anyone who Lars pointed a finger at. My thinking was if you talked to a man in a respectful way, you’ll find out what you need to.” Jax seemed to need her approval. She nodded in the dark. He must have seen her because he continued.

“I came home one night to find him sitting at the table with my mother and sister. He was looking at my sister in a way I didn’t approve of. Mom spoke up and told me Lars had offered her a lot of money for my sister, Mary, to take her as a wife and mama had agreed. She didn’t know, Meghan, she really didn’t. She figured since I worked for Lars, he must be trustworthy. It was my fault. If I’d left when I first saw how his men acted, my mama never would have agreed.” he heaved a huge breath and went on.

“I kept working for Lars even after the wedding, so I could keep an eye on Mary. Lars wouldn’t let mama see her anymore. It broke her heart and she got sick and died about six months after the wedding. I never told her Mary wasn’t allowed to get out, or that she was also sick with missing her mama.

“About a year after the wedding, Lars told me I needed to talk some sense into Mary. She wasn’t being cooperative. I refused and threatened to go and take my sister from him. He laughed at me. No one ever takes from Lars Larson.” His shoulders and head slumped forward.

“He and his friends drug me over there, tied me to a chair, then they beat her. They took turns beating her until she couldn’t cry anymore. They left me there to watch her breathing get more and more shallow, until she just stopped.” He got so quiet she almost didn’t hear him. Mary had been a beloved sister, not a lover.

Meg stood up and wrapped Jax in her arms and held him to her chest, it might not have been the proper thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.

“I begged her to stay with me, Meg. I promised her I would find a way to get help. I tried so hard, but I didn’t get free until she was already cold and blue.” His voice was empty of emotion, the void wrenched her heart.

“I’m so sorry, Jax.” she rested her head on top of his for a moment, it felt almost too intimate to bear and she lifted her head off with a small gasp. “Why didn’t the sheriff do anything?”

“Mary was his wife, and the sheriff was hired by Lars. He has a lot of money and owns various businesses and townships all over that area. Pretty hard to convince any lawman to put the man in prison who pays his wages.”

“But why does it matter if no one will do anything to him anyway, why does he keep pursuing you?” Meg asked.

“He’s angry I didn’t do as he told me and he is angry I was able to get free of that chair. I was supposed to sit there and starve. I guess he sees me as his failure. Not only that, there’s always the chance I’ll find a town where someone would care about my sister’s murder.”

“There has to be something we can do. My father might not be that powerful, but he is pretty influential. When we get back home we’ll figure out what to do. You didn’t do anything wrong and you deserve a life, and frankly, your sister deserves justice.”

“Your father knows about Lars and even who he is. I don’t think he can do anything. He has known since Thanksgiving.” Jax pulled away. She pulled back and looked down at him. It occurred to her he was talking about the shooter. “We’ll figure something out. Lars won’t take another thing from you.”

Jax looked up at her with an intensity she’d never seen before. “No, he won’t. If he gets anywhere near you, he’ll get what he deserves.”

Meg held back, unsure of exactly how to deal with what he was saying. It was awfully possessive. Though if she were honest, it didn’t bother her. She wanted to change the subject. “Do you want to take the bed the rest of the night? I can sleep here, if you want?”

“No ma’am, I’m not going to be the guy that takes a bed and lets a lady sleep on the couch.” He laughed, but with little humor. “Go, get some sleep. We’ll head out in a few hours.”

So many things now made complete sense. The man at the boarding house watching her. Jax’s beating. The window on Thanksgiving. Even Jax’s insistence on staying that very first night. Sleep came within a few minutes for Jax, she heard his breathing relax. The rest of the night, he had no nightmares. Meg had no such luck. She couldn’t put the feeling of him in her arms out of her head and more than that, she couldn’t put what he’d said far from her thoughts either. Jax may not have a lover waiting for him like she’d thought, but he wasn’t free either.

Chapter
Twenty-One

Meg heard a gentle rap on the door to their room. Jax got up to let in the housekeeper. She was dressed in all black, with a long white apron and cap on her head. Her attire should have made her look severe, but her smile ruined that image. She tidied and straightened humming while she made the bed.

“Jax, we need to find somewhere to get coats. It was chilly even in here last night.” Meg shivered and rubbed her arms.

The housekeeper stopped humming, “Where are you from? If you think this is cold, you should stay after Christmas. January and February are cold, this is barely chilly.” She chuckled.

Meg tilted her head in surprise, this woman was one of the most friendly they’d met so far. “Oh, I can’t even imagine. We are from Kansas. Do you know of anywhere to buy a warm coat?”

“Well sure, you can go see my brother. He has a dress shop only one block or so from the Stage platform. He has all sorts of warm coats, in men’s and women’s.”

It did get cold in Kansas and it did snow, quite a bit of snow to Meg’s way of thinking, but the cold did not seem quite so bitter there as here in Minnesota. She wrapped her long wool shawl around her tightly and followed Jax since he had asked the housekeeper for directions. Meg put her head down to the wind and followed, thankful for her new wool bonnet. Jax held out his arm for her and she took it gratefully.

They found the clothier without any trouble. There were racks of ready-made dresses and suits in colors and fabrics Meg had never even seen before. To Meg, the store was a wonder. More ready-made items than Little Springs would see for years. Oh, to never have to sit and sew a whole garment again. The wealthy ladies her mother had bragged about from London had such options, but she never had. If Chase had not taught her to be so frugal she could make use of this store.

Thinking of her mother made her thoughts invariably turn to her sister who didn’t even have anything more than a wool shawl, similar to what Meg wore now. She’d never gone out in the cold. Meg worried about Lizzy. Funny how she hadn’t realized what she had until it was taken away from her.

Meg’s attention caught fast on the dress before her. On a dress form, up on a table was the most beautiful outfit she’d ever seen. The fabric had been dyed a dark blue, but not navy. Made of a soft wool but not overly thick, it drew the eye and your fingers. It felt much warmer to her than the crinkly crape she had to wear. The dress looked like a riding habit with a fully darted jacket on top and long tailored skirt on the bottom. One thing that distinguished it from a riding habit, the shirtwaist underneath which had sharp French cuffs, and a bit of frill down the front. Also, the skirt didn’t have a longer hem on the left side to cover the rider’s feet. Meg didn’t know it, but it was the same dress that had caught her sister’s attention weeks before.

Meg had never been big into fashion, much to the disdain of her mother and sister, but this dress caught and held her like none before had. Worse, she couldn’t do a thing she about it. She had no room in her bag for it. Not to mention, by the time she finished her year of mourning it would be out of fashion. If she could buy it she would have to buy the special corset to go with it, which would not be pleasant to travel in. To finalize the matter, she couldn’t sit astride a horse in that narrowly tailored dress. No, she simply couldn’t do it now… but maybe on the way home.

~~~

Jax saw her look at the dress longingly and wished he could do something about it. He was almost as tired of the black as she. Then an idea came to him, it might get him in trouble, but she’d appreciate it later.

Jax walked up to the store owner looking over his shoulder to make sure Meghan didn’t see him and asked the man how much the dress cost. The price about knocked him off his feet, but Gus had given him full authority on expenses and this seemed like a necessary one. Jax told the shop keeper his plan and he laughed for a moment, then looked at him hard. “You wreck any of my other things and you’ll buy them too,” he grumbled.

Jax assured him he wouldn’t wreck anything but what he intended to. The shop keeper gave him a cup to use and Jax got himself a bit of the free coffee available in the back of the store. He sipped a small taste to make sure it wasn’t too hot. It tasted terrible and was only warm. He wouldn’t feel at all bad sacrificing this swill.

He walked up to where she eyed the dress. “That’s not a coat, boss-lady.”

“No.” She looked at it longingly and touched it. “It isn’t.” She turned to go to the section with coats. Jax moved his boot as if he’d slipped in her way and she tripped over it. The coffee went flying all over Meg’s skirt. Meg sputtered and wiped feverishly at the damp spot as it spread, the dye quickly releasing all over her hand.

“Oh, Jax!” She wiped more feverishly. “I know you didn’t mean to, but this is awful.”

Meg continued to brush at the warm, wet stain. The black dye of the dress started to drip on the floor and she looked to Jax and shopkeeper for help. As the color bled all over, a large area on the hem faded, leaving a large black stain on the floor.

“Look what you’ve done to my floor!” The shopkeeper sputtered at Jax.

“I am so sorry, sir.” Meg turned red, embarrassed. “I’ll clean it up.”

“I’ll get it,” he grumbled. “This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with wilted mourning clothes. Well, I hope you have another outfit. That one is ruined.” he tried to help Jax, and himself, with a sale.

“Meghan, why don’t we get you that dress you were looking at over there? I could get it for you. I sure feel bad about ruining yours.” Jax tried hard to sound contrite and not to smile.

“I don’t see how. I’m not supposed to.” She sniffed and turned away.

“Who’s going to know the difference here?” Jax crossed his arms over his chest.

“Sometimes you simply do what is right, not because you agree, or because no one will see or notice, but because it does not hurt anyone to follow the rules and it is the right thing to do.” She crossed her arms over her chest, mimicking him.

“All right.” He held up both hands in defeat. “Instead of wearing the dress you want, you’re going to wear the dress that’s not black anymore because of some probably bitter old hag who never married at some time in history said you have to wear black for a year so she’d have better chances. That makes about as much sense as pouring a cup of water in a lake to watch it rise.”

Meg scowled at him. The sales clerk smothered a laugh.

“Look Meghan, I understand loss. I do. But the clothes you wear don’t decide what you feel in your heart. If you don’t want that blue dress, then pick another, but we need to get you a new one. Fairly quickly too, because we need to check with the stage coach soon.

Jax watch Meghan take one last look around the store, standing in one place and doing a slow turn. They did have other mourning clothes, but Jax gave her a critical look when she started toward them. He steered her toward the blue outfit. He was sure blue would look beautiful on her. The salesclerk got it down and offered to wrap it for her. Meg asked instead if she could just put it on. He offered her a spare room in the back of the shop that offered privacy.

Meg left them to put on the exquisite dress. She emerged from the back room in short order and Jax had to force his facial expression to passive. Despite being ready-made, the dress fit as if it had been made for her. She affixed the matching blue wool bonnet to her head with a large pin. It was for show, not warmth, but it completed the outfit. Jax knew she had no idea how beautiful she looked and he inhaled audibly. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. One thing was for sure, Meghan had excellent taste in dresses.

While Meg had been dressing, Jax had picked out a grey, warm, wool coat to go with her new suit. The storekeeper wrapped up the ruined dress for Meg and they left to find the Red River Ox Cart Station.

They found it without trouble, there were two wagons pulled by teams of oxen waiting out front, the only cover an oilcloth tarp over the boxes. It looked like people were arguing over seating on top. Behind the carts were two grand looking stage coaches with teams of four giant percherons.

Jax and Meg stood and admired the horses. They were absolutely beautiful animals all matched and taller than any horse he’d ever seen. Each of the tall horses stamped their hooves and blew steamy breath in the cold air. Their bodies were black, one had a white diamond on the head, their silky manes and tails shone in the morning sunshine. Enormous chests sat at about eye level with the shorter Meg and they easily could have stolen Jax’s hat without bending down at all.

“Jax.” She grabbed his arm. “See if you can get us a ride in the coaches. Even if it’s faster, I don’t want to sit on one of those carts for days. The drivers don’t seem to care much for the human cargo on those carts and, well….”

Jax understood without Meg finishing her thought. She was worried that the ox cart wouldn’t make stops. She would be at the mercy of the driver. Whereas the coach would have to stop frequently to change horses. He nodded his understanding and went into the station.

Jax returned from inside and handed her a ticket. She looked down at it, it read: Stage 4 St. Paul, Minn. to Selkirk, Canada. He knew it would confuse her and he waited for her usual barrage of questions. He wasn’t disappointed.

“Selkirk? I thought we decided we needed to go to Koochiching. That was where the newspaper man at the hotel said that ad originated from. Isn’t it strange that man would have placed so many ads?”

Jax shook his head. Even knowing it was coming, it took getting used to following Meg’s train of thought. “First, yes Selkirk. The ox team is going to a small village near Koochiching. Second, there will be a third leg of our journey. We’ll have to ride. Selkirk is quite a ways further northwest than I want to go. This coach will stop often enough we can stop before we reach Selkirk. If there’s a place horses can be rented before then that’ll determine our stop. We may even be able to rent them from the station, if they have enough to spare.”

“Oh, do you think they would let us rent one of those?” She pointed at the beautiful percherons.

“No, I doubt they would let those beauties out of their sight, and you might get a nose-bleed sitting that high off the ground.” His eyes glistened as he smiled at her.

Meg looked wistful. “All right, we’d better get in. It looks like our stage is getting ready to go.”

Meg and Jax climbed the three steps into the coach. The interior gleamed, plush, polished, and comfortable. Nicer than an average buckboard, but not as nice as a rented chaise. Meg sat next to the window where she could watch the horses. Jax made sure she was comfortable then sat facing her. Two other people joined them for the Canadian trip. They were plainly dressed and seemed to avoid looking at either Jax or Meg, even when spoken to.

Soon they were off. It always bothered Jax how fast the driver made the team run. It seemed wildly wasteful to stop every fifteen or so miles to change out horses when each team could have pulled for much longer if not driven so harshly. Meg sat with her back as straight as a rod in her seat. She shifted every few minutes as if she were sitting on pins. He assumed her corset was uncomfortable. Why women felt they had to adjust a perfectly curved form was beyond him.

Jax pulled his hat down a bit, enough that his eyes could not be well-seen, but he could see. He leaned back and pretended to sleep. Meghan had no one to talk to, but he felt like just watching right now. Something wasn’t right with the couple riding with them. The pair seemed to be actively ignoring them and everything he’d learned in his last three years of running said they couldn’t be trusted.

~~~

She furrowed her brow, pensive about the trip and Jax. He was ignoring her. She could see him sitting over there watching her and the couple they were with. It wasn’t having the same effect on them it was having on her. She couldn’t sit still, though some of that was the merciless corset. She hoped they would get there soon and wondered if Lizzy was safe and well. So far, their trip had taken a little under a week, but it had seemed a lifetime since they’d left. Lizzy had run away almost a month ago now. If they didn’t find her as soon as they reached Koochiching, they wouldn’t make it back to the ranch for Christmas. Hopefully they would not held up by weather.

The coach bumped and jostled along the frozen path. The icy road made for tough riding and Meg took the chance at every stop to go into the Station to get a warm drink and rub her hands by the fire for as long as it took them to change the team. She hadn’t been wearing the bonnet she made because it didn’t match the new dress and the new one made her feel much prettier. After a few stops, she gave up and placed the new hat in her bag careful not to smoosh it, and put on her wool hat that covered her ears. It was shaped like a regular bonnet, only knit in a nice, thick wool. Jax hadn’t seemed to notice anyway, he hadn’t said one thing about the outfit at all.

Meg lost track of the number of stops for fresh horses. Because the ground was frozen, they didn’t have to worry about dust or mud, but the occasional hard rut made for a bouncy and rough ride. Meg’s body ached from the jostling movement. At the next stop, Jax went in to see where they were and how far from the border they were. He must have found them far enough along because he came over to talk with her at the pot-bellied stove where she warmed her hands.

“We are far enough north now. We need to start heading east. All the stations beyond this will be small. We have no better chance than here to find horses and we can shorten our journey if we don’t go out of our way.”