The Reluctant Bridegroom (23 page)

“No apology necessary, Edith.” He walked along silently, then said, “Edith, would you ever—”

He broke off and she prompted, “Would I ever
what,
Sky?”

He stooped, picked up a smooth stone, and after studying
it sent it sailing through the air. “I guess I feel a little bit skittish about all this, Edith,” he admitted. “But please let me ask you to do something—just between us.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t make up your mind about a man right off. I mean, when you get to Oregon City, there’ll be a hundred fellows trying to turn your head. Some of them will be pretty flashy, Edith, making us ordinary fellows look pretty slow. Some of them will have enough money to dazzle a woman, and they’ll all be promising you the moon with a fence around it.”

“Sounds very enticing, Sky.”

“Yeah, I know—that’s why I’m asking you to wait.” He almost spoke the truth, but held back. “Just don’t jump into anything too quick. I’ll have more to say to you about this later, Edith.”

“I’ll wait until you tell me, Sky.”

He left her then and Rita came up to walk beside her. She glanced at Edith’s glowing cheeks with a smile. “You look like a girl who’s just been asked to a dance. What’s our fearless leader been spilling in your shell-like ear?”

“Oh, nothing.”

Rita studied her carefully. “Edith, take a tip from a girl who’s spent a lifetime getting to know men, will you?”

“Why, I guess so, Rita.”

“Sky Winslow’s not going to have a wife. “

If Rita had any doubts about Edith’s being in love with Winslow, the woman’s reaction settled it. Edith’s eyes flashed with denial, and she gave an involuntary shake of her head. “Rita, you’re cynical! He’s not as hard as you think.” Then she retorted, “He may have turned you down, Rita, but just because a man isn’t looking for a quick romance with no ties doesn’t mean he’s not ready for something more real!”

Rita didn’t take offense, but shrugged philosophically. “Well, I
did
make a try for him. And he turned me down, you’ll be glad to hear.” She touched the other woman on the arm. “Believe it or not, honey, I’m on your side. You’re a
good woman—but you’re headed for a fall. God knows I’ve taken enough of those to know what it’s like! Still, I hope you’re right. I’d like to see you marry Mr. Sky Winslow and live happily ever after—just like in the story books!”

For the next week, the train crawled slowly along the Snake River’s high, boulder-strewn south rim. Just getting water to drink meant clambering down a precipice into the gorge of the river, then toiling back up again.

“By the time a man gets back to the trail, he needs another drink,” Dave complained, returning to the wagon with a flushed face. “How long before we get out of this, Sky?”

“Hang in there, Dave,” Sky shrugged. “When we leave the Snake, we’ve got to scramble up the Blue Mountains—that’ll be worse, I reckon.”

“Can’t be worse!” Dave growled, but he took his words back when they got to the mountains a week later. They were forced to cut timber to make a way for the wagons, then in many places had to rig a windlass to haul the wagons up the steep grades.

After one such haul, Sky called a halt for a two day’s rest on the flat land at the top of the bank. By then the oxen were sore-footed and the men were almost past going, so everyone sighed with relief, and that night there was a festive air in the camp. Game had been plentiful, but up till now there had been little time to cook it. Besides, no one had the strength to catch it, so huge fires were built from fallen timber, and one of the weaker oxen was butchered and set to turning on a huge spit. There were a few delicacies left, and everyone brought out what remained. The women found enough dried fruit to make pies, and they used the last of the coffee. “We can get more in Walla,” Sky nodded.

“What about the Rikers, Sky?” Dave asked. “They’re not too well fixed for grub—but they say it’s your rule to keep the trains separate.”

Sky hesitated, then said, “I guess we can bend a rule now, Dave. I’ll go give them an invite.”

He found the Rikers beginning to make their meal, and said, “Al, bring your bunch, and let’s celebrate making it to Oregon.”

Riker looked up in surprise. “What about your rule?”

“Figure we can bend it a little. We’ve had a hard trip.”

“Well, we ain’t got much to put in the pot—”

“We got plenty, Al.”

By dark the smell of barbecued beef was rich in the cool air, and for once the drivers and the women mixed freely. Sky sat back and watched, his eyes alert for trouble. Someone brought out a fiddle and soon there was a couple here and there dancing.

“They’re sure enjoying themselves.” He looked around to find Edith standing beside him. She was dolled up in a clean blue dress he hadn’t seen before, and there was a ribbon in her hair.

“They deserve it,” he said. “Sit down and watch the frolic.” She sat beside him as he silently watched the scene. “I’ll probably regret this,” he remarked glumly. “There’s still lots of time for trouble between the men and women.”

“I guess you can handle it, Sky.” She smoothed her dress, and they talked quietly, enjoying the music and the festive air. Finally Lot Penny called out, “Come and get it!” and they went to get some of the food. He walked with her back to a spot at the edge of the clearing where they sat down and ate hungrily.

Sky listened as she told him about the train—how this woman had this problem, how Timmy was cutting a tooth—little things out of their microcosm of a world. As she talked, Sky suddenly made up his mind.

“Edith, I started to tell you something once—before we hit the Snake.”

“I remember.” Edith’s hands went to her throat nervously. “Are you ready to tell me now, Sky?”

“Well, Edith, I’ve been thinking about you ever since I
met you in New York.” He smiled at her and added, “I guess you’re just about the most able woman I ever met.”

“Thank you,” she murmured quietly.

“Well—it’s like this—I know you can get just about any man you want in Oregon City, but I’d like you to think about . . .”

He floundered, and Edith smiled and put her hand on his. “Think about what, Sky?”

He stared at her hand, confused; Edith was not a demonstrative woman. Then he squared his shoulders and plunged ahead. “Edith, the best man I know is a friend called Sam Birdwell. This trip is all his idea, and he got it up mostly because he wants a wife. He asked me to look all the women over and see if one of them would do for him.” He paused and gestured with both hands. “Edith, Sam’s not much for show, but he’s solid gold!”

She sat as still as a stone, her face stricken. “This—this is what you’ve been trying to ask me all this time, Sky?”

“Well, yes. It’s asking a lot, Edith, but you’re just about the best woman I’ve ever seen, and if you could just hold off until you get to know Sam a little—”

“Excuse me, Sky—I don’t feel very well.” Edith got up hastily, and he scrambled to his feet and walked with her until she said in a tight voice, “You stay here, please. I—want to be alone.”

He stopped and watched her go to the wagon she shared with May Stockton, climb inside and draw the canvas.
Sure did upset her,
Sky thought.
Guess she thinks I’m pretty bold, asking a thing like that.
He shuffled back to the fire, depressed and wishing he’d said nothing to her.

The dancing was in full sway, and he moved over to stand by Lake, who was holding Timmy and talking to Rebekah. “Where’s Edith, Sky?”

“Got to feeling a little woozie, Tom. “

Lake handed him the boy and said, “I’ll just have a look. Hold this captain for me.”

As he walked away, Rebekah looked puzzled. “I talked to her earlier, and she seemed fine, Sky.”

“Came on pretty sudden. Probably not serious.” He looked at her carefully. “You got a new dress. Looks good on you.”

“It’s one of Rita’s.” Her attention focused on the dancers. “Look at her, Sky. Isn’t she beautiful?”

He turned and saw that half a dozen of the drivers were lined up to take their turn for a dance with Rita. She was wearing a bright green dress, and her face glowed with enjoyment. “She sure can dance,” he commented. Then he turned and began to dangle Timmy. “Mary all right?” he asked Rebekah.

“Healthy as a horse—and eats like a pig,” she laughed. She kissed the baby and held her up for him to see.

“Looks like you,” he smiled. Then the music slowed, and he looked around quickly. Dave was standing close by, talking with Karen, and Sky suddenly handed the boy to him, then reached out and took the baby from Rebekah, who stared at him, bewildered, as he gave the child to Karen. Then he turned back and held his hands out.

“Care to dance, Rebekah?”

She took his hands shyly and he pulled her to her feet and into the circle of dancers nearby. As the pair moved around by the firelight to the tune of the fiddle, Dave watched them, saying, “Don’t know what to make of that. Wouldn’t even think Sky could dance. Somehow I always think of him as fighting or killing something. Guess he’s got his weaknesses like the rest of us.”

Karen frowned. “I’m not sure it’s good, Dave.”

“What? Her dancing with Sky?”

“I’m worried about her. What will happen to her when we get to Oregon City?”

“Why, she’ll find a man and marry him. Just like—” He broke off and looked at her strangely. “Just like the rest of you.”

“A woman with two children? It won’t be so easy—even in Oregon City.”

They talked a while and then Lake came from the wagons and stood beside them. He watched Sky and Rebekah dancing, and said quietly, “They make a good-looking couple.”

Something in his tone drew Karen’s gaze, and she shook her head as Dave opened his mouth to agree. They all watched until the dance was over; then Sky brought Rebekah back. “How’s Edith, Tom?”

“Just a little stomach upset. I gave her something for it to make her sleep.”

Sky started to speak, but a loud commotion at the edge of the clearing distracted him. “That’s trouble!” he said, running quickly across through the crowd, followed by the other two men.

At the edge of the circle just beside the trees, they saw Jack Stedman. He was holding the arm of May Stockton, who was struggling to free herself. At his feet lay Mack Malone, who was holding his face and twisting in pain. Stedman lifted his foot to kick the small man in the head, but Sky called out, “Don’t do it, Stedman!” The big man instantly wheeled to face him.

“Better see to Mack, Tom,” Sky ordered, and as Lake went over to pull Malone’s hands from his face, Sky demanded, “What’s this about?”

“He tried to cut me out with this gal,” Stedman said sullenly.

“That’s a lie!” May jerked free from his grasp. “Stedman pulled me into the woods and was making free with me. I screamed and Mack came and told him to turn me loose.”

“It was none of his business!”

Lake stood up and helped Mack to his feet. “He’s got a broken nose. I’ll have to work on it.”

“Get it done fast, Doc,” Sky said. “You’re going to have another customer right soon—in a lot worse shape.”

Silence fell like a weight, and Stedman’s eyes narrowed. “I ain’t got a gun, Winslow!”

“I brought mine along.”

A streak of fear ran through the burly Stedman. “You can’t shoot an unarmed man!” he protested.

“I could—but I’m not going to shoot you.” Sky took off his gun belt and handed it to Dave. “Just cripple you up enough so that you can still drive a team—but you won’t be bothering any more women on this trip.”

The pronouncement hit Stedman hard, but he sized up Winslow’s body, which looked frail compared to his own bulk, and growled, “Try it, Winslow. I’ll bust you up for good!”

He was fast for a big man, and his lunge almost took Sky off guard. Stedman’s massive fist grazed his head, the brutal force of it turning him around and driving him to the ground. He rolled to one side and doubled up to protect himself from the kick he knew was coming. The numbing blow caught him in the flank, but he managed to grab Stedman’s foot and twist it enough to send the man heavily to the ground.

Sky was on his feet instantly and waited until Stedman was up, then hurled himself at the man, smashing him in the soft flesh under the ear. Stedmen fell to the ground, with his mouth wide open, sucking in air.

Sky knew the man would not give up that easily. He waited until Stedman came up with a howl of rage, clawing to get at his enemy, then stepped aside and lifted a knee, driving it into the man’s groin. As the huge arms dropped, he broke Stedman’s nose with one head-on blow. Stedman cried out and covered his face, then recovered quickly and, with a spiderlike jump, tried to carry Sky down with him. Sky bent and caught Stedman on the hip, clamping the man’s thick neck in the crook of his forearm. He swayed until he felt the cartilage of Stedman’s neck grind, then flipped him like a doll, pushing him backward and landing on top of the man with his knees, hearing the snap of breaking ribs.

A low moaning escaped Stedman’s lips, and Sky got to his feet, breathing heavily. He stood there, looking down at the man who would have gouged his leader’s eyes out. There was
a savagery in Sky’s face and a wildness in his eyes that none of the crowd had ever seen.

“Better crawl over to see the Doc, Jack,” he growled. “And you’d best be ready to drive that team when we leave here—or I’ll leave you for the buzzards.” Then he looked around and stared at the crowd. “I should have stuck to the rule—it seems that I was right the first time. But there’ll be no more of this. Until we get to Oregon City, what I gave Stedman is just a sample of what the man will get who says one easy word to a woman. No exceptions. You’ve just had your last frolic on this trip.”

Dave stared at him with displeasure, but he said nothing. The silence of the crowd was sullen as they began to clean up the dishes, but no one dared to question Winslow. His treatment of Stedman had been brutal and harsh enough to put fear into them.

“Be glad when we get to Oregon City,” Dave said to Tom later as they got ready for bed. “The fun’s out of this trip.”

Lake settled into his bedroll and said slowly, “I thought Sky was going to kill Stedman.”