Jake (13 page)

Becky wasn’t ignorant of what went on between men and women. She’d spent enough time in whorehouses over the years to realize exactly what happened. That didn’t mean she wasn’t scared, but the feelings in her body overrode her fear.

Jake pushed into her, slowly, in and out until he reached a barrier. He gently pushed forward, she sucked in a breath.

“I’m sorry for any pain I may cause you,” he said, sweat trickling in tiny rivulets down his forehead. He pulled out almost all the way and then slammed into her and through the barrier that she knew was her maidenhead. He pushed until he could go no further and then he stilled.

She cried out, the pain sharp and intense. Clinching her muscles she bucked trying to dislodge him from her,

“Shh, hold still. It will be all right, just don’t move for a moment. Let your body get used to me and you’ll never hurt again, I promise.”

She shoved at his shoulders, “Get off me you big lug.”

“No, Becky, hold still.”

She stopped moving, stilled her struggles and trusted him. She knew he didn’t realize how important that was. Because she didn’t trust often and never trusted men, it amazed her that she trusted Jake. But she did and he was right. The pain subsided replaced by a pleasant feeling of fullness.

He wiped away the tears that managed to escape and kissed her gently, soothing her. She wanted to move and raised her hips a little. His kiss took on a new urgency.

“Careful. I don’t want to hurt you,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You’re not hurting me.” She moved some more. “See. No pain. I know there’s more to this. I want you to move.”

“Ah, darlin’, I’ve never heard sweeter words. Wrap your legs around me.”

She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips. The movement pushed him even further into her, something she thought couldn’t happen. “Yes,” she panted, fisting her hands in the blanket.

Jake moved slow, gently in and out of her.

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, finding her rhythm. As he pumped into her, she matched him thrust for thrust.

Suddenly he was slamming into her, and then he shouted and collapsed on her burying her face in her neck, kissing her. They lay there for a moment and she relished the weight of him on her. He rolled over, took her with him, tucked her into his side.

Though it was cold in the tent, their skin shone with sweat.

“That was amazing. I think I understand the whores at
The Gem
better. They probably like their job, if it’s anything like what we just did.”

“No. They don’t.” He rose over her until he was almost nose to nose with her. “Being with your husband, me, is nothing like what those women live through every day. Don’t ever compare what we have with what they do.”

Becky instinctively stroked his chest. “I’ll never mention it again. All right?”

“Good,” he grunted and squeezed her tight.

The next thing she knew he was snoring. She was ready to talk about the amazing thing they’d just done, the experience they’d shared and he went to sleep. She was tempted to pinch him and wake him up; instead she turned on her side, fitted her body next to his and fell asleep, his arm over her, holding her. Her last thought was, safe. She was finally safe.

CHAPTER 10

Jake was at his brother’s camp setting up to work on the ropes and mine the cliff face. The gold they got out of the river had to come from somewhere and they all figured the cliff was the most obvious location.

Becky hated when they worked on the ropes. Hanging down the side of the cliff with a pickaxe and a bucket, the only safety being the rope around your waist with a loop for your toe, held at the top by your brother. None of them could work that way very long. They filled a bucket with chipped rock, sent it up on the second rope and got another one sent down. The work went on this way for three to four buckets and then they went topside to rest and another of the brothers went down.

She wanted to take her turn on the ropes like they originally planned when deciding to mine the cliff. But Jake didn’t want her to. And now that they were married, somehow circumstance always played in his favor. To be honest she preferred working the river. She didn’t want to hang off the mountain, dangling by a rope. The thought of it scared her to death, but she would have overcome that fear in order to be rid of Billy. She didn’t have to do that now, thanks to Jake.

Since they were married, she could work either of the claims and she liked to pan the creek nearest the Anderson camp whenever Jake was on the cliff. She could at least watch him that way.

Hannah and David accepted Becky right away. They seemed to be glad to have someone other than their father and uncles to talk to, play with. Hannah was especially taken with Becky. She’d come with her doll and play by the riverside whenever Becky was working the bed.

“Becky,” said a sweet little voice.

“Yes, Hannah,” she answered while she sat and tugged on her waders.

“Are you my ant now? David says you are but I ain’t never had no ant before. ’Sides you don’t look like an ant!” She squeezed her dolly close to her chest and popped her thumb into her mouth.

Becky laughed, realizing Hannah was talking about the bug. “Come here, sweetie.” She patted her lap.

Hannah walked over to her and Becky pulled the child up onto her lap. She gently pulled Hannah’s thumb out of her mouth. “First, tell me what you’re not supposed to do that you just did?”

The little girl clutched her doll and looked down at her toes. “I not supposed to suck my thumb.”

“That’s right and do you know why?”

“’Cause Daddy says not to.”

Becky had to bite her tongue not to chuckle. “Well, that’s true, but your daddy doesn’t want you to suck your thumb because you are a big girl now, not a baby and big girls don’t suck their thumbs. Do you ever see me sucking my thumb?”

Hannah shook her head, her dark curls bouncing.

“That’s right ’cause I’m a big girl and now you are, too.”

“Was my mommy a big girl?” the child whispered.

Becky’s heart broke. Jake had told her all about Hannah’s mother. The little girl didn’t remember her. Hannah was barely three when her mother, Mary, died.

Jake said Liam and Mary were childhood sweethearts and married before the damn War of Northern Aggression because Liam had been called up. His various deployments meant they didn’t see each other for years and only their letters carried on their love affair. Finally when the war was over Liam came home and David was born nine months later. When no children followed for years, they thought David would be their only child but then Mary got pregnant with Hannah. Their miracle baby.

They thought their prayers had been answered and for three years they were the perfect military family. Liam, a colonel, was on track to become one of the youngest generals in history. Then influenza struck the post where they were stationed. Mary cared for the sick as she always did, until Hannah came down with the disease. Then Mary had allegedly spent all of her time with her daughter who, thankfully, was strong enough to recover from the sickness.

Mary, however, wore herself out, so much so that when the disease struck her, her body was too weak for the fight. Jake said his sister-in-law died within days of getting the infection.

Her death devastated Liam. He almost went insane, his grief was so deep. His children had saved him. She remembered Jake told her that if Liam hadn’t had the children, he might have taken his own life. He had no use for doctors or God since then. He’d left the army to spend more time with his children, taking a position with the Governor of Missouri as his personal liaison with the military. The job was perfect for him but there were too many memories of Mary. In the house, in the city, their favorite restaurant, the times they spent walking in the park. The memories assaulted him wherever he was until it was all too much and the only way to escape was to sell everything and move. So he did, to Deadwood. A new start for all of them.

She was grateful for his decision. If he hadn’t come to Deadwood and if his brothers hadn’t come with him, then she wouldn’t have met Jake and Billy would have sold her for drinking money. Sooner or later he’d of done it. God that hurt!

Becky put Hannah down and finished putting on her boots. “What are you going to do today?” she asked the little girl.

“Me and Dolly are going to be pirates and make mud pies.”

“You won’t go too near the water, right?” cautioned Becky wondering about the mud.

When she didn’t answer fast enough, Becky repeated, “Right? Hannah?”

“Yes, ma’am. Daddy says to stay away from the water. But how am I ’posed to make mud pies without just a ‘lil water?”

Becky surveyed the camp. “Bring me that bucket and I’ll get you some water for your pies.”

Hannah dutifully got the pail and gave it to Becky.

They walked down to the side of the river. The water was running fast, full from the heavy rains the previous night. Becky bent down and filled the bucket. When she turned around with the full bucket, her heart leapt to her throat. Hannah was standing on a flat stone at the edge of the rushing river. One false move and she’d be in the water. Becky was afraid to say anything for fear of startling the little girl and making her lose her balance.

How could this have happened, her mind screamed. I turned for just a second!

Hannah looked up, smiled and waved. When she waved her doll slipped from her hand into the rushing stream. Just like that Hannah grabbed for it and toppled into the swift water.

Becky screamed, as the water pulled the child away. As fast as she could, she got out of the river and ran down the shore keeping her eye on Hannah. There was no time to wait.

When she had run far enough ahead of Hannah, Becky plunged into the frigid water, swam to the child and hauled her ashore. Hannah wasn’t breathing. So small. So delicate. Becky sat on a large boulder, put Hannah over her knees and hit her sharply on the back several times. She knew from talking to Doc Cochran that the water needed to get out of the girl’s lungs. After several attempts, Hannah started coughing and water spewed from her mouth.

Liam, Zach and Jake raced up to Becky.

“We saw what happened on our way back from the cliff. You saved her,” said Jake when he reached Becky’s side.

“Thank you, thank you,” whispered Liam, taking Hannah and holding her tight to him.

“I’m so sorry,” apologized Becky. “I didn’t realize she was on the rocks. I should have kept a better eye on her.”

“Shh,” said Jake, wiping away tears she didn’t know she shed. “It’s not your fault. She’s been fascinated by the water since we told her not to go near it. It’s just good you were here. Come on now,” he gathered her into his arms. “Let’s get you dry. Zach, please build up that fire so our girls can get warm.”

Jake turned his attention back to Becky who was now shivering. “I’m going to go get you some dry clothes. I want you to stay here by the fire and keep warm.”

She draped her quaking body in a blanket David had produced and nodded, her teeth chattering so much, speech was impossible.

Liam stripped Hannah out of her wet clothes, her little body shook violently. Once he got Hannah in dry clothes, he swathed her back in the blanket and toweled off her hair. Then he gathered her in his arms, sat close to the fire, and murmured soothing words to the daughter he’d almost lost this day.

David stood beside his father, his face white with worry, tears streaming from his eyes. “I’m sorry, Daddy. I should have been watching her.”

“No, son.” Liam wrapped his arm around David and brought him into his embrace with Hannah. “If there is anyone at fault here it’s me. I’m the one who is responsible for Hannah, and you, too, for that matter. I should have listened to your uncles and let them work the cliff without me like they wanted to. None of this would have happened today if I had just listened.”

Becky watched the little family. She
longed
for what they had. True love for each other. She and Jake may be married but there wasn’t love, at least not on his part. Jake married her to save her from Winters and Billy’s machinations. But there was no love. She knew long ago she loved him. Love was the real reason why she agreed to the marriage. She loved him. Yes, it was the easiest and fastest way to prevent Edgar Winters from taking her, but she did have another option. She could have taken her gold and run. Rode Buster to Cheyenne, following the stage or the freight wagons for safety.

Once in Cheyenne, she could stay and find work or get a ticket on the train to San Francisco or Denver. Wherever she went, she’d get a job; she’d never had a problem finding work, and then live out her days as a spinster. She couldn’t imagine being with another man after Jake. Jake, the man who’d swept her off her feet and melted her heart with just a hand shake.

She still remembered that first day and the lightning traveling throughout her body when they’d touched the first time. The feeling was still like that for her. She didn’t know what he felt, if anything. He was polite and caring but the only time he showed any passion was when they made love. She refused to think of it as just sex. For her the act was making love with the man she’d given her heart to.

~*~