Bride of the Wild (14 page)

“We should.” Micah pressed into his horse’s flanks. “Gah!”

Silas fell in behind him, his coat billowing in the wind. I glanced at pa, who slapped Bonnie with the lines. “Come on, girl. Put your best foot forward.”

“I feel better now.”

“You should. How many women can say they have two men at their beck and call, eh?” He grinned, flashing slightly crooked teeth.

“Pa!” I crossed my arms over my chest, but I wasn’t truly angry. Seeing Silas had relieved me greatly. He knew he had been in the wrong, and he had come to redeem himself.

Chapter Fifteen

Light shone from the windows of our house, and before the wagon had come to a halt, I jumped to the ground, running towards the steps. I heard laughter before I reached the door, knowing that one of the voices belonged to my sister.

“Oh, thank God!” I found her in the kitchen with Micah and Silas, both of whom had taken a seat at the table. They appeared quite gay, having made some joke or another, because Amelia laughed heartily. “What’s happened?” I asked, slightly breathless. “Is everything all right?”

“Your sister’s just fine,” said Silas. “As you can see for yourself.”

“Yes, thank goodness.” I placed my hands on my hips. “But there’s another feral bear. None of us are truly safe.” My brother was absent. “Where’s Tom?”

“He’s reading in his room,” said Amelia.

Pa came in behind me. “I’m glad to see you well, Amelia. How’s Tom?”

“Everything’s just fine, Pa. There’s no cause for worry.”

Micah got to his feet. “We’ve work to do to secure the house.”

“Being dark already, we’re at a disadvantage,” said pa. “If we go out now to board the windows, we risk an attack. I don’t have enough wood for the windows on the second floor. The bear came in that way before.”

“We might have to spend the night in the cellar,” I said. “It’s dreadful down there, but what other choice do we have?”

Pa nodded. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“No,” muttered my sister. “I hate the cellar. It smells, and it’s filled with spiders and dust and things. Why must we go down there? Isn’t there another room in the house we could barricade ourselves into? What about the small bedroom at the end of the hall without a window or what about the attic?”

“You’ve hit on a workable idea,” said pa, smiling. “We could nail ourselves into that little room for the night. There are no windows. That would do rather well.”

“That’s better than the cellar,” I said. “We can use mattresses and blankets and things and be reasonably comfortable.”

“Show me where the hammer and nails are,” said Micah. “Let’s get ourselves secured.”

Silas seemed to hesitate, glancing at my father and then me. “I should go, my dear. It’ll be crowded, and you’re all safe now.”

“But you can’t leave, Silas.” I reached for his arm, grasping him firmly. “If you go, you’ll be attacked on the road. You might die there.”

“My horse can outrun a bear, my dear.” He drew me into his arms, his lips brushing my forehead. “Don’t make yourself uneasy. You’re going to be fine. Your sister and brother are well, and your pa’s got a plan to get you through the night.”

“I just wish you could stay.”

“It’s a small room,” said Amelia. “We’ll already be on top of one another, but he’s welcome to join us.”

“You decide for yourself what you want to do,” said pa. “Micah and I will move the mattresses. If you have to use the privy, do it now, but be mindful.”

“I’ll bring the rifle,” said Amelia, reaching for the weapon on the wall.

“Please don’t go,” I begged, glancing into Silas’s pale blue eyes. “I wish you could stay. We’ve had such rotten luck lately. We couldn’t even enjoy our evening tonight.”

“I’ll make it up to you, my darling.” He smiled warmly. “I needed to know you’re well, and you are. Your father and Mr. Blaylock will take excellent care of you.”

“But you risk being killed on the road.”

“I’ll gallop all the way to town. I’m not worried in the least.” He drew away from me, inching towards the doorway. “I’ll see you in the morning. I have a feeling the mayor is going to make an announcement then regarding this pest. It can’t go on.”

“What sort of announcement?”

“A hunting party will be arranged. This has to stop once and for all. A small group of people will follow its trail and kill it. It’s no use trying to bait the creature, because that failed rather spectacularly.”

“I want to be a part of that.”

“Women won’t be invited, my dear. It’s not safe.”

I lifted my chin fractionally. “We shall see. I’m as good a shot as any. I’m heartier than I look. They killed Lucy and Deer Runner and Megan. I have my reasons for wanting to seek vengeance.”

He chuckled, “You wild mountain woman. Listen to you. I’d not want to encounter you in the forest after dark. You’re liable to shoot me.”

“Only if you look like a bear.”

“Do as your father says. Keep yourself indoors until dawn. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Fine.” I sounded rather grumpy, but I had wished he would stay with us.

“I owe you a music review and a dinner or two. I’ll make it up to you.”

“I hope so.” I tried not to pout, but failed.

He smiled kindly. “Poor thing. I’m sorry our evening was ruined.”

“I’ll be glad when this is over, so we can live our lives in peace.”

“It shall be resolved soon enough. Have a good night, Saffron. Sleep well.”

“Do be careful on your way home. I fear having you out there, knowing another bear’s on the loose.”

“I’ll be fine.”

I walked him to the door, watching as he untied his horse, mounting the mare. Pa and Micah scavenged in the barn, emerging with planks of wood in their arms. I cast a nervous glance around the yard, worried the bear might present itself and attack, but nothing happened.

“Yaw!” shouted Silas, whose horse sprang forward, kicking up crescent shapes of dirt. He disappeared into the night a moment later.

“He’s not stayin’ then?” asked pa, who approached with an armful of wood.

“No.”

“Why don’t you and Amelia get yourselves ready for bed. It’s time to hunker down for the night.”

Micah approached carrying wood. “Mr. Hefferman left?” This seemed to surprise him.

“He did.” I scowled. “All right, I’ll get ready for bed.” Once this bear business was over, I wanted to resume my courtship with Silas, because I had already forgiven him for what had happened earlier.

An hour later, after we had gone to the privy together, brandishing weapons and several lanterns, we settled into the bedroom, barricading ourselves by hammering planks of wood over the door. The five of us were trapped within the room until morning, sleeping on several mattresses. I wore a long-sleeved nightdress that ended nearly at my chin. I shared a mattress with Amelia, while pa and Micah took the other and Tom slept alone on his own.

Little was spoken after we had made ourselves comfortable, and I found myself across from Micah, with a foot or so of separation. I turned to look at him, finding his eyes on me, while Amelia lay on my other side. It would have been far too crowded with Silas here, but we could have made it work. The conversation Micah and I had earlier drifted through my mind. He had made his intentions known, all but asking to court me, and I had been flattered, but I had firmly set my cap on Silas. He had atoned for treating me poorly earlier, and I had forgiven him.

We spent the night in this manner, and I slept on and off, thinking at one point I might have heard something, but all remained calm. Pa snored annoyingly, and Amelia tossed and turned. I struggled to sleep, as did Micah, who lay on his side facing me most of the night. At some point, our fingers met, and he grasped my hand gently. In the morning, I stirred, finding us still joined.

A little after dawn, pa pried the wood from the doorway, leaving holes where the nails had been. We would have to putty the blemishes and order new wallpaper as soon as we were able to go to town and visit the mercantile.

I sat up, yawning, while Amelia scrambled to her feet. “I’ll make coffee.”

“Thank you.” I glanced at Micah, finding him asleep. I admired the softness of his face and the way his hair fell upon his forehead. I did not linger long, wanting to change my clothes and help with breakfast. Joining Amelia in the kitchen, we set about making eggs and bacon and griddlecakes. A knock on the door startled me. “I wonder if that’s Silas?” I tossed a cloth on the table, hurrying from the room. Opening the door, Butch Cashman stood before me. Pa knew him from town. “Hello.”

“Is Eli here? I gotta talk to him.”

Micah came up behind me, with bleary eyes and messy hair. “Good morning. What’s the news?”

“It’s best if I talk to Eli first.”

Mr. Cashman failed to smile, which worried me. “Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Is that you, Butch?” asked pa, coming up behind him. He had been in the barn, because wayward strands of hay clung to his trousers. “I was gettin’ ready to go to town. Is Silas all right? He left here last night.”

Goodness, I hadn’t even thought about that. “Did anything happen?”

“Mr. Hefferman’s fine. His family is fine, but a miner by the name of John Nash is missing. Parts of him were discovered near Gordon Ridge. Whatever got him, dragged him for a good while.”

Amelia had heard that, having come to the door. “Gracious be!”

“The reason I’ve come is to tell you of a meeting at noon at the hotel. Everyone in town should be there. They’re planning on hunting this thing.”

I glanced at Micah, noting his stony expression. “It’s about time,” he muttered.

“So, I told you.” Butch nodded at pa. “I’ll be seeing you then?”

“Certainly. I’d be happy to help in any way I can. You know we were attacked. Lucy and Deer Runner were killed in this very house. Something needs to be done.”

I could not agree more. “I hope they let women come along, because I’d like to go.”

“You’ll get all the information you need at the meeting.”

“We’re about to have breakfast,” said Amelia. “Would you like some griddlecakes and coffee?”

He grinned. “Well, that sounds mighty nice. Perhaps I’ll stay a while and eat with you fine folks.”

“Excellent.” Pa grinned. “Bring in another chair, Saffron.”

“Yes, Pa.”

A short while later, after Butch Cashman had left, I helped Amelia with the dishes, drying as she washed. “I’m glad someone’s going to do something about the bears.”

“How many more do you think are infected?” She handed me another plate.

“I don’t know, but this has to stop.”

“I’m tired of living in fear.”

“Me too.”

“Are you ready?” asked pa, who breezed into the room. “Bonnie’s waiting. Micah’s gone already. Let’s hit the road, honey.”

“Yes, Pa.” I left the dish in a stack. “We’ll be back soon.”

“Take your time.” Amelia yawned. “I might have a nap. I didn’t sleep well. Tom kept kicking me all night.”

“Then let’s go,” I said, eager to travel to town for the meeting.

Pa and I left the house a moment later, finding the mare and wagon waiting, hitched to a small post out front. I settled on the wooden seat, my face shielded from the sun by a bonnet. I had worn a serviceable calico dress and boots, with a shawl around my shoulders. We took to the road a moment later, ambling along under the warmth of a September sun, its heat radiating through the material I wore. Once we reached town, a sea of carriages, wagons, and horses clogged the street, as everyone within a ten-mile radius had been informed about the meeting. The hotel brimmed with people, men waiting out front under the awning.

“It’s a beehive of activity,” said pa, squinting. “Everybody’s here.”

“They should be. This concerns them greatly.” I craned my neck, hoping to glimpse Silas, but I did not see him or his family. “I haven’t told Amelia about Mrs. Harris yet. I probably shouldn’t anyhow. It’s not my place. Maybe you should tell her.”

“I hope she fared well last night.”

“Do you love her?”

His attention remained on Bonnie, as he guided her to an open space near a hitching post. “More than likely.”

“That’s some answer,” I giggled.

“Well, let’s say things are going well. I didn’t want to tell you about her until I was sure how I felt. I loved your mother, Saffron, Lord knows I did, but life goes on. I’m not dead. I don’t plan on passing on for a good long time. I got a few more things to do in my life before that happens.” His smile revealed determination. “Like killing these bears. Their behavior is a threat to our security.”

“I know.”

He tied the line around the break. “I’m interested to hear what the plan is.”

“Me too.” I slid from the seat, feeling someone touch my shoulder. Turning, I faced Mr. Blaylock, who had bathed, because the hair framing his face looked damp. Pleasurable bubbles burst in my belly, which was unusual. “Micah.”

“Hello, Saffron.” He grinned.

“You look well today.”

“I had a bath.” He wore a sack coat and tie, looking surprisingly dapper.

“You did.”

“Might I escort you in?”

“Yes. We should go before they start without us.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Chapter Sixteen

The dining room filled to capacity with nearly every person in Fern Valley in attendance. Sheriff Palmer and the mayor spoke for only a short while, but the message had been clear. A hunting party would be assembled, and the feral creatures were to be found and shot. I stood with pa and Micah, while Silas worked the room, meeting and greeting everyone.

“Who will be fool enough to go after this thing?” asked Micah.

“Oh, plenty of folks, I bet,” said pa. “Plenty.” He glanced at me. “You’d do it, wouldn’t you?”

“I sure would.” I longed to be a part of the expedition, finding the idea wildly adventurous.

“You would seriously want to go?” Micah’s brows shot up. “You’d traipse across the mountains to risk life and limb?”

“Yes.”

“Sheriff Palmer said it wouldn’t take long to hunt it down. It left quite a trail killin’ that miner.”