Under A Prairie Moon (24 page)

“Okute?”

“
Hau
.”

“Get your people together. Hurry.”

Okute did not waste time asking questions. In less than five minutes, the Lakota were ready to leave.

“Here,” Dalton said, handing Okute the soldiers’ handguns.

“
Pilamaya
.”

“Go quickly,” Dalton said.

“Come with us,
tahunsa
.”

Slowly, Dalton shook his head. “No. My destiny lies along another path. Travel in safety, my brother.”

The two men embraced, and then, like shadows on the wind, the Lakota drifted out of the storehouse and disappeared into the darkness.

Dalton blew out a long, low sigh. With luck, Okute and his people would be long gone by morning.

He dragged the two guards into the storehouse, closed and locked the door, then threw the key into a clump of brush. Keeping to the shadows, he made his way back to the bungalow.

Kathy was awake when he entered the bedroom. “Dalton! Where were you? I was so afraid.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed and she threw her arms around him.

“I freed Okute and the others.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. With any luck at all, they’ll get away.”

“Maybe the Army won’t go after them.”

“Maybe.”

He kissed her cheek, undressed, and slid into bed beside her.

“I hope they get away,” Kathy murmured as she snuggled up against him.

“Yeah.” He turned on his side and drew her into his arms. He had done all he could. The rest was up to Okute.

* * * * *

She woke to the sound of a bugle. For a moment, she couldn’t remember where she was, and then she felt Dalton’s arm lying over her waist, felt his warmth at her back. She wondered if Okute and his people had managed to get away, and what the future held for them, and for herself and Dalton.

He stirred, his hand creeping up her belly to cup her breast, and she forgot everything else. He pressed kisses to her back and shoulders, then rose up on one elbow and began raining kisses over her neck and cheek.

A soft sound of pleasure rose in Kathy’s throat as she rolled onto her back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“What a wonderful way to wake up,” she murmured as his weight settled over her.

Dalton smiled, pleased by her quick response to his touch. Lowering his head, he drank deeply from her lips.

There was a shout from outside, followed by the sound of running feet, and more shouts.

Five minutes later, there was a hard knock on the door.

Dalton blew out a sigh as he rolled out of bed and pulled on his trousers.

A red-faced corporal stood at the door. “Colonel Nash would like to see you immediately.”

“What about?”

“He didn’t say, sir, just told me to get you, right quick.”

Dalton nodded. “I’ll be there as soon as I get dressed.”

“Yes sir.”

Dalton shut the door. He knew what the colonel wanted.

Returning to the bedroom, he reached for his shirt.

“Who was that?” Kathy asked.

“The colonel wants to see me.”

“Why?”

Dalton slanted a wry glance in her direction. “Why do you think?”

“Oh.” Kathy sat up, the sheet tucked under her arms. “They can’t prove you did it, can they?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What if they can?”

“They’ll probably lock me up.”

“Dalton!”

“Don’t worry. They can’t prove anything unless somebody saw me.”

“I’m coming with you.”

“All right.”

Twenty minutes later, Dalton and Kathy were in the colonel’s office. They were not invited to sit down.

Dalton stood at ease, one hand resting idly on the butt of his gun. “Something I can do for you, Colonel Nash?”

“Someone turned the captives loose last night.”

“Really?”

“You wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”

Dalton shook his head. “No, should I?”

Nash regarded him through narrowed eyes. “You tell me. You came in with them.”

“That’s right.”

Nash’s gaze moved to Kathy. “What about you?”

“Me?” Kathy squeaked. “Surely you don’t think I had anything to do with it?”

“I don’t know.” The colonel slammed his hand flat on the desk. “I want some answers.”

“Fact is, neither one of us heard anything,” Dalton said. He slid an arm around Kathy’s waist and drew her close. “My wife and I are newlyweds, and last night was the first real chance we’ve had to be alone since we were captured by the Sioux, if you take my meaning.”

Kathy blushed.

A tide of pale red washed up the colonel’s neck. “I see.” He shuffled through the papers on his desk. “That’ll be all.”

Taking Kathy by the hand, Dalton led her out of the colonel’s office.

Outside, Kathy punched him on the arm. “Stinker.”

Dalton grinned at her. “I had to think of something quick.”

“Do you think Okute got away?”

“I’d say there was a good chance.” He looked over to where a bunch of soldiers were getting ready to ride out. “They’ve got a good start. And I think we should get started ourselves.”

* * * * *

They left the fort an hour later, headed for Johnson’s Landing, which was the nearest town. From there, they would take a stage to Ash Grove, and then catch the train to Boston.

It was a beautiful day for a ride. Taffy Girl pranced and tossed her head; Dalton’s big buckskin stallion pulled on the reins, obviously eager to run.

“What do you say?” Dalton asked. “Shall we let them go?”

“I don’t know,” Kathy said dubiously.

“Just a slow gallop then,” Dalton suggested, and she knew he was as eager as the horses to go thundering over the grassland.

“All right,” she said.

Dalton touched his heels to his horse’s flanks and the buckskin shot forward. Taffy Girl immediately took off after the stallion. With a shriek, Kathy grabbed for the saddle horn.

Dalton drew back a little on the reins, slowing the stallion to an easy lope.

It was exhilarating, riding across the plains, with only miles of green grass and blue sky as far as the eye could see.

After a few minutes, Kathy released the saddle horn and let herself enjoy the ride, the feel of the breeze in her hair, the warmth of the sun on her face.

She loved horseback riding, loved the sense of freedom it gave her, the bond she felt with her horse. It gave her an odd sense of power, to be in control of such a large animal.

She watched Dalton. She never tired of looking at him, never grew weary of thinking about him. A look, a touch, and her insides turned to mush. It was like being a teenager again, madly in love, certain no one else had ever felt the way she felt, certain that the love they shared was a love like no other.

That, at least, was true. Surely she and Dalton shared a love like no other. It was a sobering thought, reminding her that they could be separated at any moment. But surely the Fates would not have brought them together only to tear them apart. She couldn’t bear the thought of going back to her own time without him. What would she do without Dalton? He had become the most important thing in her life, her reason for going on. He had given her hope and love, pulled her out of the well of despair she had been floundering in ever since Wayne’s death.

She couldn’t go on without him, wouldn’t want to go on without him.

They rode for several hours, then stopped alongside a shallow stream to rest and water the horses.

Kathy sat with her back against a rock, her thoughts drifting, while Dalton watered the horses, then tethered them to a bush so they could graze.

“Something wrong?” he asked, dropping down beside her.

“No.”

“Come on, something’s bothering you. What is it?”

“I don’t know how to explain it. I feel like Fate’s manipulating us in some way.”

“What do you mean?”

Kathy blew out a sigh. “I don’t know. It’s like the village was attacked so that we’d have to leave. And now we’re going to Boston, and…” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just scared.”

“Scared?” He frowned at her. “Of what?”

“The future. I feel like time is getting away from us, that we’re not going to be together much longer.”

Her words made his gut clench. He knew exactly what she meant. He remembered standing near the stream back at the Triple Bar C, remembered thinking of the promises he had made to his parents. Was that why he had been given a second chance, to fulfill those promises?

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Kathy asked.

“Yeah.” He’d made a promise to himself too, he mused, thinking of the land he owned in Wyoming. He’d always wanted to build a ranch there. Would Fate grant him time enough for that, as well?

Dalton slid his arm around Kathy’s waist and drew her up against him. “I’ll never leave you, you know that, don’t you?”

“But what if it isn’t up to you?”

“I don’t know, darlin’. I guess we’ll just have to play the cards we’re dealt.”

With a sigh, Kathy rested her head on his shoulder. He was right. There was no point in worrying about things over which they had no control.

They reached Johnson’s Landing at dusk. It was a large town, prosperous by the look of it. They saw several Army mounts tethered in front of the saloon.

After leaving their horses at the livery, they walked down the boardwalk to the hotel. Dalton asked for a room with a bath and in a remarkably short time, Kathy was happily immersed in a tub of hot water.

“You look as happy as a flea on a long-haired dog,” Dalton mused.

“I am.” She regarded him through half-lowered eyes as he began to undress, felt a thrill of anticipation uncurl deep inside her when she realized he meant to get into the tub with her.

Her heart was pounding as he slid into the tub behind her, his body cradling hers. His hands cupped her breasts, and she felt his lips move in her hair.

“I begin to see why you like baths so much,” he drawled.

Kathy laughed softly. “Do you?”

“Oh yeah.” She shivered with pleasure as he slid one hand over her belly. “Like that, do you?” he asked.

“Hmmm, very much.”

“And this?” His hands caressed her thighs.

Her breath quickened as his hands moved over her. “Dalton…”

“What?” he asked, his voice almost a growl. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want you. Inside me. Now.”

She didn’t have to tell him twice. In one fluid movement, he picked her up and stepped out of the tub. Dripping water over the floor, he carried her to the bed, placed her on it, and lowered himself over her. He whispered love words to her, his voice husky with desire, and she embraced him with her whole heart and soul, praying fervently that his seed might take root within her, that she might have a child to love when Dalton was gone.

Later, they bathed again, then went to the hotel dining room for dinner. Still later, they walked to the stage station to check the schedule. There was a stage leaving for the East first thing in the morning. Fate was with them, Kathy mused, or perhaps against them, depending on what awaited them in Boston.

It took two days by stage to reach Ash Grove. Kathy felt bad, seeing Taffy Girl and the buckskin tethered by long leads to the back of the coach even though Dalton assured her the horses would be fine.

When they reached Ash Grove, they secured a room in the hotel, bathed, went to dinner. After dinner, they took a walk through the town, then went back to the hotel where they made love, then fell asleep in each other’s arms.

They boarded the train at noon the next day. Taffy Girl had gone up the wooden ramp into the stock car without protest; Dalton’s stallion had balked and refused to enter the car until Dalton blindfolded him.

She had expected the train ride to be an improvement over the bouncy, smelly stagecoach, and it was. Even so, trains in the nineteenth century were nothing like what she was used to. It was noisy. It was smelly. Soot and ashes and sparks floated through the windows. The man in front of them puffed on a cheap cigar that smelled even worse than the train.

The woman across the aisle was traveling with four children and couldn’t control any of them. They ran up and down the aisle, playing cowboys and Indians, until Dalton caught the oldest one by the arm and threatened to scalp him if they didn’t settle down.

She had never liked flying, but she thought, in this instance, she would gladly have taken a plane.

With a sigh, Kathy turned away from the window and looked at Dalton. “Maybe we should have wired your mother that we were coming.”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Does she still work for that family you told me about?”

“The Worthinghams? Yeah, as far as I know. They live in a cottage behind the big house. It’s a nice place, big enough for the two of them.”

“Did your mother ever have any more children?”

“No.”

“I hope she’ll like me.”

Dalton put his arms around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “She’s gonna love you. I just hope…”

“What?”

“I hope she’s all right.”

“Why wouldn’t she be?”

“I don’t know. I’ve just had this feeling…” He shook his head. “I just hope I’m not too late.”

* * * * *

Kathy was glad when they reached Boston. Train travel in the nineteenth century was not near as fast or as comfortable as it was in the twentieth century, and by the time they reached Boston, Kathy was tired of the noise and the smoke and more than ready for a long hot bath and a good night’s sleep.

Kathy waited at the depot while Dalton went to collect their horses.

Their first stop was the livery stable. After making sure both horses were settled in clean stalls with fresh hay and water, they went to the bank where Dalton kept an account. He withdrew several hundred dollars and they went shopping for a new wardrobe.

“You first,” Dalton said.

The sign outside the dressmaker’s shop read Madame Tulare, Modiste.

Kathy was enchanted by the lovely gowns. No gingham frocks here, but gowns of silk and satin, bombazine and velvet. Dalton told her to buy whatever she liked. She ordered several dresses, which the seamstress promised to have ready by the end of the week. There were several ready-made dresses to choose from and Kathy picked a pretty russet silk that brought out the red highlights in her hair. It had fitted sleeves, a square neckline and a slim skirt that was gathered to form a modest bustle in the back. She felt like a queen. She also bought a pair of half-boots made of kidskin. Dalton declared she looked good enough to eat.

They went to the tailor shop next. Kathy waited for Dalton in the front of the shop. Sitting near the front window, she watched the traffic in the street. Boston was a busy place, filled with people in a hurry. Well-dressed women paraded along the boardwalk, their faces shaded by dainty parasols. She saw men in dapper suits, and girls, obviously servants, who were running errands.

She hardly recognized Dalton when he appeared. He was clad in a pair of black trousers, a white linen shirt and wine-colored cravat, and a black jacket that emphasized his broad shoulders and swarthy good looks.

“Wow,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows in her best Groucho Marx imitation. “Wow, wow, wow.”

One corner of his mouth lifted in a wry grin. “Quit that.”

“Dalton, you look so pretty, like the groom on the top of a wedding cake.”

“Are you trying to remind me that I asked you to marry me?”

“No, but now that you mention it…”

“I haven’t forgotten.” He tucked her arm through his. “Come on, let’s go get a room at the hotel, and then go out to the estate. We can spend the day in the cottage.” He smiled at Kathy, his eyes alight with anticipation. “I can’t wait to see the look on my mother’s face when she comes in tonight and finds us there.”

A hired hack conveyed them to the Worthingham estate. Kathy stared at the place in open-mouthed awe. It was huge. Made of glistening white stone, it looked like a storybook castle. Tall trees and hedges surrounded the house. There was a huge fountain in the front yard.

Alighting from the hack, they walked along a wide pathway toward the rear of the house. The backyard was as impressive as the front, with more trees, more hedges, another fountain. There were stables off to the left. A peacock sat in the shade of a large gazebo, preening its feathers.

The cottage where Dalton’s mother lived was to the right of the main house. It was a pretty little house, white with yellow trim. Colorful flowers bordered the walkway that led to the house. A thin plume of blue-gray smoke rose from the chimney.

Dalton felt a rush of unease. No one should be in the cottage in the middle of the day.

“What’s wrong?” Kathy asked.

“Probably nothing,” he said, but the sense of foreboding increased as he opened the door. “Ma?”

“Dalton? Is that you?”

“Yeah.” He took Kathy by the hand and led her down a narrow hallway and into a large bedroom located in the rear of the house.

He paused in the doorway. Peeking around him, Kathy saw a small woman propped up in a big four-poster bed. Her hair was brown, just turning gray. Her face was pale, making her dark eyes seem huge. And she was thin, so thin.

“Dalton!” The woman put down the book she had been reading and held out her arms.

Dalton crossed the floor in two long strides. Dropping to his knees beside the bed, he drew his mother into his arms.

“What brings you here this time of year?” his mother asked. She looked at Kathy over her son’s shoulder. “And who is this lovely young woman?”

“Ma, this is Kathy. Kathy, this is my mother.”

Kathy smiled. “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs…” Her voice trailed off as she realized she didn’t know her future mother-in-law’s last name.

“Call me Julianna, dear.” She looked at Dalton. “You’ve never brought a woman home before.”

“She’s special, Ma,” Dalton said. “We’re getting married.”

“Married! That’s wonderful.”

“Ma, what’s wrong? Why are you in bed?”

A shadow passed through Julianna’s eyes. “I’m fine. Just feeling a little under the weather today. Dalton, it’s so good to see you.” She patted the bed. “Come, sit beside me, Kathy, and let us get acquainted. Dalton, why don’t you go find us something to drink.”

Rising to his feet, he kissed his mother on the cheek, then left the room.

“My dear,” Julianna said, taking one of Kathy’s hands in hers, “I am so happy to meet you. How soon are you planning to be married?”

“I’m not sure.”

Julianna patted Kathy’s hand. “I hope you’ll make it soon.”

“Me too.”

“I always dreamed of having a daughter,” Julianna said. “We tried several times, but…” She sighed. “I could never carry another child after Dalton.”

“I’m sorry. He’s a wonderful man.”

“Do you love him very much?”

“Oh yes.”

“How long will you be staying in Boston?”

“I don’t know.”

A rattle of china heralded Dalton’s return. He entered the room carrying a bottle of brandy and three glasses.

“Brandy?” Julianna asked.

Dalton shrugged. “I thought a toast was in order.”

“Of course,” his mother said. “For the bride and groom. Dalton, I can’t tell you how happy I am.”

He poured brandy for his mother and Kathy, and then a glass for himself.

Julianna lifted her glass. “To the bride and groom,” she said. “May you have a long and happy life together, and make me a grandmother as soon as possible.”

“I’ll do my best,” Dalton said with a wry grin. “Is Murray up at the house?”

“Yes.”

“I think I’ll go up and let him know we’re here.”

Julianna smiled. “You do that. It will give me a chance to get acquainted with Kathy.”

Dalton brushed a kiss across Kathy’s kiss. “I’ll be back soon.”

He found Murray in the kitchen, sharing a cup of coffee with the cook.

“Dalton!” Murray exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“Just felt like I needed to come home,” Dalton said.

“I’m glad you did.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Mrs. Sheffield said. “It’s good to see you again, Dalton.”

“It’s good to see you, too. Any chance of getting one of your apple pies while I’m here?”

“I think that can be arranged,” Mrs. Sheffield said.

Dalton sat down at the table across from Murray. “What’s wrong with my mother?”

Murray sat back in his chair, looking suddenly old and tired. “She’s dying.”

“Dying?”

Murray nodded.

“But why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s her heart.”

“Her heart?”

“She’s always had a weak heart. Didn’t you know?”

Dalton shook his head. “No.”

“It’s true. She never told me either, until she couldn’t hide it anymore. You know how badly she wanted children. We tried several times, but she miscarried them all. The last one was just a few months ago. I came home one day after she lost the last one and found her lying on the floor, unconscious.”

“A few months ago! She’s forty-eight years old.”

Murray seemed to shrink in his chair. “I know. I’m glad you’re here. She’s been praying you’d come home before….” Murray choked on the words. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said again.

“Yeah.” Dalton stared out the kitchen window. He’d known something was wrong.

“I’m sorry, Dalton. When I found out about her heart, we stopped, ah, being intimate. But then one night we went to a party, and we both had a little too much to drink, and I…” A slow flush climbed up Murray’s neck. “I never meant for it to happen, but I’m not made of stone.”

“How much time does she have?”

Murray shrugged. “A few weeks, maybe a month. Who knows?”

He looked up, his eyes filled with anguish. “You’ll stay until…”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry, Dalton. It’s all my fault. I would have written if I’d known where you were.”

Dalton nodded. He couldn’t believe she was dying. His mother had always been so full of life. When they lived with the Lakota, she had always made the best of things. Even when times were hard and food was scarce, she hadn’t gotten discouraged.
Things will get better
, she’d say, and they always did. Even though he hadn’t spent a lot of time with her in the last few years, he had always known she was here if he needed her. He wished now that he had made the time to visit more often, that he’d been the kind of son she deserved. He knew she was appalled by what he did for a living, knew she would have preferred him to stay in Boston and settle down, but she had never said or done anything to make him feel bad, never acted like she was ashamed of him or of what he did.

More regrets. His life was full of them.

* * * * *

Contemplating her son’s wedding seemed to infuse Julianna with new life. She insisted on accompanying Kathy to the dressmakers, oohed and aahed as they pored over the different styles, and proclaimed Kathy’s choice the perfect one. Kathy had remarked that it seemed foolish to spend money on a fancy dress when there wouldn’t be anyone at the ceremony except the two of them and Dalton’s family, but he had insisted. “We’re only gonna do this once,” he had said, “so let’s do it right.”

Now, a week later, Julianna’s eyes were bright as she watched Kathy try on her gown.

“You’re going to be a beautiful bride,” she murmured with a sigh. “Dalton is a lucky man.”

“Thank you.”

“You never told me how you two met.”

“Didn’t Dalton tell you?”

“No. You know how men are.”

Kathy smiled. Stalling for time, she asked the dressmaker if the hemline shouldn’t be just a little shorter. She paid little attention to the woman’s reply as she cast about for an answer to Julianna’s question. Finally, she opted for the truth.

“I met him at my ranch.”

“Oh? You’re from out West then?”