Where the Wind Blows (18 page)

The first night came and went without incident and was followed by five more. As they climbed in elevation, the weather worsened considerably, with big black storm clouds hanging low over the mountaintops. The ice-cold wind was relentless, whipping about, stinging faces, eyes, and hands with bits of ice.

Jessie tried to keep Sarah’s poor little lips and hands from cracking and bleeding by rubbing castor oil on them, but the harsh elements were too much for her simple efforts. After a particularly unforgiving day, Sarah’s lip cracked so badly, blood trickled down her chin. When Chase saw her, he angrily ordered her to stay in back of the wagon out of the ferocious wind.

Each time Jessie tried to tell Chase that she thought she’d recognized the stranger’s voice, he’d been standoffish and cold. He was building a wall between them. Keeping her at a distance. Maybe she was making too much out of it, and it wasn’t him. Perhaps the stranger just had the same accent. From the wagon she really hadn’t heard him all that well. And at Hollyhock’s, he’d said very few words. If it was Joe, he’d have been back by now.

Chase was worried, Jessie could tell. Getting caught in a blizzard, especially with a small child, would be very bad. It would also make it impossible to proceed farther or return to Valley Springs, if that’s what Chase thought was best. Constantly checking and rechecking the sky, she watched as he pushed them harder and faster, testing the animals.

And still he remained aloof. Secretly she’d hoped maybe he
was becoming attached to her and the children. Maybe he’d want to stay once they were settled. But, with a heavy heart, she knew different. Everything he did or said was to the contrary.

She missed the closeness they’d shared in the cabin. Chase’s boyish charm. She knew Sarah missed his warm smile that they hadn’t seen in over a week.

“He’s probably anxious to be free of this responsibility,” she mumbled to herself.

Sarah, who’d been uncommonly cranky for the better part of the day, came down with some sort of stomach ailment. She cried, and not even Gabe could quiet her. Jessie feared that it might be something serious.

Carefully picking her way through Mrs. Hollyhock’s herbal remedies, she wished the old woman were there. They all looked so much alike. She finally identified the tangy smell of catnip and brewed up one teaspoon in a cup of water, as Mrs. Hollyhock had instructed. Soon after drinking the mixture, Sarah was fast asleep.

“Whoa.” Chase, now riding Cody, reined up in front of a river that was twice the width of the street in the town they’d just left. It wasn’t particularly swift, but there were pockets where the water swirled black and forbidding, in a mystical way. The gelding promptly dropped his head and took in big drafts of water. The wagon pulled up alongside, followed by Jake. All the animals drank greedily.

Chase frowned. The clouded sky churned above them, heavy with the snow to come. They’d never beat this storm. The blizzard would hit tonight—he could taste it in the air. Their luck had just run out.

“We need to find some shelter, a place the horses can have some protection from the storm. Watch for an overhang, a rock wall, or, if we’re lucky, a cave.”

Chase circled his horse around to face Jessie. Her haunting blue eyes were searching his face again. For what, he didn’t know. Irritation flashed through him. What in the hell did she think she would find? He was who he was and nothing more.

“It’ll snow soon. If it gets bad, Gabe may have to walk up in front with the horses, help them see the path. You may have to drive. Think you’re ready for that?”

Jessie nodded. She’d quit talking to him much since he’d put up his defensive wall. But he’d had to. Sitting next to her in that wagon, the seat barely big enough for the two of them, had been gut-wrenching. It took everything he had not to pull her into his arms, to show her what he was really feeling. He had to keep reminding himself that he was her husband in name only.

“Fine. Let’s move out. Drive the wagon through the shallow part of the river,” Chase said to Gabe, pointing to a narrow but swift spot in the swirling torrent. Out of the corner of his eye he saw disappointment on Jessie’s face.

She doesn’t know why I’m rejecting her, Chase thought. She doesn’t know that every time I’m around her, it’s hard for me to keep my hands from bringing her close.

Cody sidestepped once before taking a hasty lunge and plunging into the icy water. Chase sucked in his breath as his legs went numb. His hooves still on the sandy bottom of the river, Cody fought the current until he was climbing the bank on the opposite shore. He shook his head, and then the rest of his body, ridding himself and his rider of the frigid water clinging to them.

“Bring ’em across, nice and easy.” Chase raised his arm, beckoning to Gabe. The wagon rolled easily down the small incline to the riverbank, with Jake following close behind on his mount. When the horse’s hooves sank up to their
fetlocks in the sandy water, they began to struggle nervously in their harnesses.

Fear gripped Chase. Maybe he should be the one to bring them across. Driving a wagon could be tricky, let alone crossing a swollen river. Could Gabe handle it?

He felt stronger about being ready on Cody. In case something did happen, there needed to be a pickup horse.

“Talk to them, Gabe. Use your voice to calm them,” Chase yelled to be heard over the rushing water. “Easy now, easy.”

Jessie sat next to Gabe. One hand clung to the bow of the wagon, and the other reached over the wagon seat and gripped Sarah, crouching behind. Chase could see Jessie’s mouth moving, talking to the horses, he presumed, but he couldn’t hear what she was saying.

The wagon groaned loudly as a surge of water buffeted its side. “Chase,” Jessie called to him, a ring of panic in her voice.

Then, as if that weren’t enough, a wagon wheel sunk axle deep in a hole. The wagon careened sideways. Gabe slapped the reins over the horses’ backs, demanding more power from them. They responded, pulling the wagon back around swiftly toward their destination.

Spurring Cody back out to the middle of the river, Chase rode up to Jessie’s side of the wagon.

“You’re doing fine.” He smiled his encouragement. Her reaction was a mixture of hurt and confusion. “The hardest part is almost over. You’ll be out before”—he looked at Sarah’s scared face—“you can say ‘Pop goes the weasel.’”

She smiled.

“Let’s get this wagon across and find shelter. My bones are aching.”

Once out of the river, the animals lumbered along slowly.
They were cold, tired, and hungry, much like the rest of the group. Gabe was up front now leading the horses, proceeding at a snail’s pace. They’d switched at the riverbank, putting Jessie in the driver’s seat.

Just as Chase had predicted, the snow had started slowly, softly, but was now coming down hard and fast, making it impossible for animals or humans alike to see.

Jessie wrapped the stiff, hard reins around her gloved hands to keep them from slipping. Pain shot up her arms and down her back. Driving a team had always looked like so much fun to her. She’d had no idea of the strength it actually took.

Bone weary and almost overcome with exhaustion, Jessie strained her eyes, trying to see Gabe.

“Don’t think about the cold,” she encouraged herself. “Soon you’ll be settled in a beautiful little home to call your own.”

She knew she shouldn’t speculate about the home they were traveling to, but the temptation was just too great. The thought of a snug bed with heaping blankets, and a cheerful, snapping fire in the hearth was the only thing that kept Jessie from losing heart.

Besides, Chase, Gabe, and Jake were out there somewhere. If they could withstand the elements, so could she.

Chase suddenly appeared out of the swirling wall of white. His scarf was wrapped around his mouth, his hat pulled low. He rode up next to the wagon seat.

“Everything all right here?” he shouted.

“Yes.”

“I’ve found a grove of trees up ahead. Not too far. It’s not much protection, but we’ll have to make do. Follow me and keep the horses as steady as possible.”

Jessie nodded. It took too much energy to answer in the howling wind.

Sarah peeked her head up over the seat behind where Jessie was driving, startling her.

“Sarah, honey. What is it? What do you need?” “Scared,” Sarah said, reaching out and taking hold of

Jessie’s coat. “Bad man.”

Jessie was shocked. She’d thought that Sarah didn’t know about Lonnie and what he’d done back in Valley Springs. The little girl had understood more than she let on.

“Don’t be scared. By now the mean man is back in Clancy. He can’t get you.” Even as she said the words, a sliver of fear sliced through her heart. Would she ever feel safe again?

“Out,” Sarah said, pointing to the swirling snow. She popped her two fingers into her mouth. Up until now, the habit of finger sucking had almost been forgotten.

“No, no, he’s not out there. Just roll up in your blanket and stay warm. We’ll be making camp soon, and I’ll fix you something to eat, all right?”

She smiled at Sarah, wanting to put her at ease. She wished she felt better herself. The white wall of snow was eerie. And so quiet. The only thing she could hear was the creaking of the wagon and the thunk of the horses’ hooves as they struck the frozen ground. Jessie hunkered down and gripped the reins, feeling totally alone. Anyone could be lurking five feet away and she’d never know it.

“Here—turn here.” She heard Chase’s voice call out through the storm. “Try to drive them between the two tallest trees.”

Jessie heaved on the right rein, turning the horses into the spot Chase had directed. Pulling up, she winced as pain sliced through her hands. Even her heavy leather gloves were no match for a white Wyoming norther.

Chase was there again, this time on foot. He craned his neck to see her.

“Stay inside and I’ll unhitch. Bundle up and keep Sarah warm. The boys will be in shortly.”

Jessie prepared to step over the wagon seat, when she heard him call her name. She turned back in question.

“You did a fine job driving the team.”

For one instant, Jessie saw the spark. It was there, lingering in the depths of his eyes. That fragile thread connecting them. Just as quick, it vanished, leaving Jessie colder than she’d ever felt.

Finding the matches, Jessie debated lighting the lantern in such a wind. The possibilities of starting a fire in the wagon were great. But the darkness put her on edge. She knew she was being silly, but she had the frightful feeling of being watched.

“I think it’ll be all right if I light this. We’ll have to watch it very closely not to knock it over.”

With a scratch Jessie lit the match. Cupping it in her hand, she carefully guided it to the lamp wick and lowered the glass encasing the small flame.

“There, that’s better.”

The little lantern cast a hopeful golden glow about the cold, dreary wagon. Jessie patted her lap, and Sarah gladly climbed up, snuggling in. Out of habit, the slow, haunting melody of “Amazing Grace” came from Jessie’s throat. It was the only song she knew all the way through. Mr. Hobbs had often sung it as he worked.

The north wind screamed, and a sudden blast of cold wind sent the wagon rocking. The little flame danced as Sarah huddled closer.

“Don’t be scared, sweetie. Chase and Gabe and Jake will be in here real soon.”

The sound of Sarah’s growling stomach interrupted her.

“Oh, listen to your tummy. It’s trying to tell me something. I’ll fix something for our supper as soon as the men get here.”

With a squeal, Sarah jumped up and wrapped around Jessie’s neck and head.

“Sorry if I spooked the little one.” It was Chase looming just outside the back of the wagon. The only way Jessie knew was by the sound of his voice. He was completely invisible in the blanket of snow.

In the next instant, Gabe and Jake were climbing in through the front, bringing the snow and wind with them. They hurried to pull the cords that would close the canvas opening.

Jessie eyed the slush with dismay. It was impossible to keep anything dry. After days of trying, she was almost ready to give up. Still, it was a relief to have the men back.

“What’s to eat?” Gabe asked. “I’m starved and froze to the bone.”

Chase climbed in. He looked around. “This will be cramped with all five of us inside. But we’ll get by.”

Jessie looked from one frozen face to another. She couldn’t bear to tell them the meat was gone and all they’d be eating was cold leftovers.

Jake slowly peeled off his sodden gloves and inspected his fingers. They were stiff and red. He stuck them inside his mouth and breathed hard. Even though he didn’t say anything, she could tell they were hurting.

She glanced at Chase. Was he worried? Was this storm life threatening? If it was, he didn’t let on.

His poor face was raw and red from the cold. Snow and ice clung to his whiskers and covered his expressive eyebrows in white. Jessie restrained the urge to reach over and
wipe them off. Instead, she pulled out one of her kitchen cloths and handed it to him. “For your face.”

“You boys get on over into the corner and give Jessie a little working room to set out the food,” he said, using the proffered gift. He handed it to the boys when he was finished.

Jessie picked her way through their food, taking out anything that would make up a meal. Thank heavens Mrs. Hollyhock had insisted Jessie take extra canned goods and anything else that wouldn’t spoil. She’d even stuck in a couple dozen hard-boiled eggs. Keeping the food fresh hadn’t been a problem in the cold weather.

“We’ve got plenty for supper,” she said cheerfully. “Biscuits from today’s noontime meal,” she said, giving one a squeeze. “Not too hard.” She held out the cloth and passed them around.

Chase took one and set another on Sarah’s plate.

“Look what I’ve been saving,” Jessie said excitedly, trying to raise everyone’s spirits. She held up a basket, full of Mrs. Hollyhock’s hardboiled eggs. “With a little salt these are delicious.”

The boys groaned.

“I can’t wait to hit town. I’m gonna buy me the biggest, rawest steak this side of the Rockies,” Jake said. “Heard they have some so big, three men couldn’t finish it off. Sure would love to have one now, hot and juicy.”

“Yeah, wouldn’t we all?” Gabe chimed in.

Chase took two eggs and passed the basket to Jake. “Well, we don’t, so we’ll just make do with what we have. Won’t be that much longer before we reach Logan. And eat the eggs. They’re good protein.”

Jessie handed a jar of pickles to Chase, and he quickly snapped open the lid with his knife. Jessie nodded her thanks.

“Are they sweet, Jessie?” Jake asked. “They’re my favorite.”

“Yes, sir, they are. Take as many as you like.”

Chase handed the jar over to Jake and watched as the youth dug in. Then he reached out to hand Sarah an egg, but the little girl shook her head.

“Come on, honey,” he insisted. “You need food to keep your insides warm.”

Sarah shook her head and clung to Jessie’s back. She held her biscuit in her hands, which were shaking from the cold. Every now and then she would take a nibble.

Jessie rummaged for a can of beans and again handed them to Chase to open. She met his questioning gaze. “She’s jumpy. The storm has her scared.”

“Don’t be scared, Sarah,” Gabe said around a mouthful of food. “It’s just a storm. We won’t let anything happen to you.” Extending his arm, he reached for her. Sarah clung tighter to Jessie and whimpered.