Jodi's Journey (19 page)

Hunt was sure he had four good men and felt
better about the road ahead. He knew there would be troubles, but
at least he had more help. His only concern now was Jodi.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

By noon the next day, they had caught up to
the herd. Concho and the men had been busy crossing the Trinity.
Like all the ones before it, it had swelled its banks, and they had
done as before, leading with the ox and waiting till noon.

Hunt smiled to himself at how the men had
remembered everything so well and had taken care of the herd. He
even had his thirty cows back, too, which pleased him
immeasurably.

Everyone was glad to see Jodi was all right.
Everyone gathered around her and smiled.

“I knew the boss, he would find you,” Concho
said, a glint of confidence flitting across his face.

Jodi smiled as she began preparing the next
meal. Despite the fact that the herd was intact and there had been
no trouble, all the hands had been in the saddle since her capture,
and everyone looked bone tired. No one complained, not one.

Hunt was aware of their condition, too.
“Let's bed them down and make camp for the day, boys. Word is that
there are three more herds behind us. That means we'll have a wait
at the Red, but I'm sure you fellas can use a little rest
yourselves. All of you know that the Red is our biggest obstacle,
aside from a few ornery Comanches. But the Indians are easier to
deal with than you think, especially since the government set them
up on the reservations. Even if we were to lose cattle, we would be
paid by the government for our losses, so remember that.”

He kept stressing that fact all along so no
one would get trigger happy when they had to deal with them. One
bullet could cause them to lose the entire herd.

“Yeah and horses,” Sparky added.

“Even so”—Hunt eyed Sparky with a nod— “I'd
rather give them a few head than have to fight an army of
Comanches. They'll be asking for tobacco, horses, and food. We give
them to them, we won't have a lot of trouble. We can't let them
think we'll give them all to them, but we can afford to be a little
generous. After all, we've picked up quite a few head since we left
Round Rock area. We'll cull out the tender footed cattle to them
first.”

Hunt watched a few grunts go around, but they
seemed to take his orders about the Indians with mixed feelings. He
understood; after all, some of these men had probably lost loved
ones to Indian raids. It made it doubly hard to be impartial about
it, too. That was why it was so important to stress the point about
the Indians at every chance. It was like the war, they had to
forget and go on.

“Now all of you know for certain that if the
government would keep their promises, we probably wouldn't have to
fight the Comanche, Osage and Kiowas like we do. They got a pretty
rotten deal in the end and that should help you realize that it
actually made things more even for us. Not that I feel for them, I
don't. They are savages. When they make war, its war, and that's
the way it is. But now the war can be over if we let it. Even with
the Indians. Some of you were in the big war, fighting your own
kin, maybe even killing some of them. It wasn't a pleasant thing to
have to do. But then war isn't a pleasant thing.

“We will defend the herd, no matter what. All
I am saying to you is, don't start anything on your own with the
Indians. You got a grudge, keep it to yourself and wait till we are
done with the drive. Then, if you want to come back to the
Territory and fight them, that's your problem. We'll have more
stampedes as the weather begins to close in on us. We've been lucky
so far. It hasn't frozen and we only have to put up with rising
waters and too much rain. Jodi got supplies in Ft. Worth. Anyone
without a slicker can see her about it. We'll stay in our Union
suits when we swim the cattle across the Red. I can't imagine not
having to swim them over. Jodi bought some new drawers, too.
Obviously, she isn't as good at turning her head away as we are.”
Hunt winked.

Jodi blushed, but smiled.

“Just like at the Brazos, we'll ferry the
wagon with Jodi and Jose over. Any of you new fellas don't know how
to swim?” Hunt asked. “Speak up.”

“I can, but my horse, he don't take to the
water good. I've had trouble every time,” Joe quickly admitted.

Hunt nodded. “Then we'll all keep an eye on
Joe and his horse. Put your valuables on you. I don't want to have
to chase a horse down river with a saddle bag full of good stuff on
it. If we get a herd mixed in, then we'll take the time to cull
them out. If a neighbor needs help, we'll help them. If you see
someone going under, stop what you're doing and help out. I don't
want to add no more crosses at the river. Cowboys don't get credit
for such, but I reckon in the hereafter we might get a raise.”

The men smiled.

“I guess I haven't told you how I'm proud of
the way you got this herd back on course. There will be extra money
for all the strays we've accumulated. This money will be split
between us all. A lot of thanks goes to Dutch and Brady for picking
up as many strays as they could muster, and for taking the dust
like they do every day.

“After we cross the Red, we won't be seeing
many of our own people, mostly Indians. Just remember, they are
people too, and if we give respect, we just might get it back. Not
that we shouldn't be prepared. Sometimes we can't give them enough
of what they want and they'll stampede the herd. So keep them calm.
After the Red we'll slow down a bit. So they can fatten up. We'll
be some of the first getting through, and we should get the going
price. We may have to winter the herd before we sell. Not something
I want to do. Kansas is just too cold in the early spring. If we
do, then the ones who want to stay can let me know. If not, your
trip back will be paid. You can ride the rails, or your pony.
You've all been good men. I appreciate being able to count on you.
Something a man feels good about. Now, enough of this kind of talk,
let's help Jodi and Matt get some grub together. I don't know about
the rest of you, but I’m starved.” He chuckled.

When Jodi served up cornbread, Hunt was
surprised. “I thought you couldn't make cornbread.”

“The lady at the general store gave me a
recipe for it. It wasn't hard.” She smiled. “I've been meaning to
learn.”

“Well, it looks great.” Hunt laughed as he
took his plate and went to find a place to sit down and eat.

“Did you have to kill the hombres, Señor?”
Concho asked as he and Jose joined him.

“Nope, didn't kill nary a one,” Hunt
chuckled. “Just left them to walk to town with no boots. Thought it
might give them time to sober up and do a little thinking.”

Concho smiled. “Those kind don't use their
heads much. Did they hurt the Señora?”

“Nope, they didn't get around to it. Too
drunk.” Hunt laughed again.

“I tell her, you are no coward, Señor,”
Concho added after a long silence, and the others moved away.

Hunt smiled at Concho. “Well thank you,
Concho, but she didn't quite believe it, did she?”

“Si….but she no understand war, boss. She
knows nothing of how men have to do. She only knows what some
people say. I think she is beginning to understand you some, but
maybe she needs a little time or a little help.”

Hunt sighed, put his clean plate down on the
ground, and gazed at Jodi with open admiration. “And I think she's
going to have to come around on her own, Concho. You can't force
someone to understand circumstances.”

“You no like to talk about it, do you?”
Concho asked, his face suddenly very serious.

“Concho, what happened in the war, well, it's
best forgotten. I can't change it. I condemned myself, so I
certainly can't blame others if they blame me for leaving.”

“But sometimes, well, sometimes there is a
reason, no?”

“Yeah…sometimes there is a reason,” Hunt
admitted lowly.

With that, Hunt got up and went to put his
plate up. Jodi was washing them already. He stared down into her
face with unasked questions between them.

“The cornbread was great.”

“Thanks.” She managed a weak smile.

“You looked a little peaked when you caught
up with me,” he said as he watched the strange display of emotions
crossing her face.

“I guess I was a little tired,” she admitted.
“You got to admit, we rode those horses to near death before we got
there.”

“More than a little, I'd say.” But after a
short silence, he asked, “So, did anything happen in town?”

“No…of course not. Not on my end, at least,
how about you?” she said too quickly.

“We had a little excitement when the saloon
caught on fire, but other than that, no, I guess not.”

“Saloon caught on fire? How did that happen?”
Jodi frowned.

“Someone hit the chandelier. That's about all
it took,” he laughed.

“I'm glad you found some more men,” she said,
her voice lowering.

“You know, one of these days, we need to sit
down and have a little talk,” Hunt insisted, handing her his
plate.

“About…?”

“A lot of things. Come on Jodi, we are
married, and yet, we are still strangers in a lot of ways.” He
winked.

“Maybe it’s best left that way.” She smiled
shyly up at him.

“Is that how you want it?” he asked, sternly
this time, waiting for a reaction.

“That's how I want it,” she insisted, moving
totally away from him. He stood staring for a long moment. He
wasn't sure that's how he wanted it.

≈≈≈

It was three days later when they reached the
Red. There were two herds going over as they approached. There were
three behind them. It seemed as though the land was filled with
longhorns. As far as the eye could see, longhorns. Like a big, long
carpet of brown.

Hunt went up and down the river for several
hours, talking to the other bosses and scouting the banks.

“The river is up, just like I figured. But it
looks as though we might be here a few days. So let's bed them down
to the south end, keep them tight. Willy, when we start across with
the herd, we'll lead off with the oxen, then half the horses. The
other half can follow behind to help run the herd through. We'll
form a long line of two to three cows at a time, take them slow.
It'll be your job, Willy, to see it's done. Jose, you'll be in
charge of the chuck wagon getting across. Matt and Josh, you come
up the rear as quick as you can. There is also quicksand to worry
about, and I don't want anyone getting bogged down. If it happens,
stop what you're doing and get those cattle across the river. Don't
let them mill. Anyone have any trouble, yell. It'll take a couple
days, but we can manage it. If we pull together, we can do this
without a mishap and that's what I aim to do. In the meantime, bed
them down and let's camp and rest up. We're going to need it.”

Jodi was nowhere to be found. Hunt looked
about, but didn't see her. Josh came up the embankment and pointed.
“I think she's at the river. She…well, she's airing the paunch,
boss.”

Hunt stared at Josh a moment, unaware he was
frowning.

He wasted no time in hunting her up; he went
down the embankment and found Jodi there with her face almost in
the water. Her shoulders were hunched and she looked very pale.
“You want to tell me what's going on?”

“Nope,” she replied in a half breath. Her
face was dripping wet.

“I'm not blind, Jodi. And I am your husband.
I'm responsible for you. So tell me…what's going on with you?”

“You figure it out,” she shouted, and stalked
out of the water.

“When are you due?” he said in a very low
voice as she passed him.

She came back to where he stood. “What did
you say?”

“You heard me. I said, when are you due?”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, her
face red and tears threatening to fall.

“You are with child. I've had a suspicion for
quite a while, but I'm pretty sure I'm right now. When is the baby
due? Let's don't play games, Jodi.” His voice held no room for
nonsense.

“I just ate something that didn't agree with
me, that's all,” she muttered miserably.

“I don't think so. You've been doing this for
some time now. You can't hide it, you know. I guess it isn't really
my business, but you’re my responsibility.” Hunt tired to be
tactful.

“You're so right; it's not your business.”
She walked off. “And I release you from your…responsibilities.”

Hunt followed. “That's where you are wrong.
Anyone sick on this drive is my business. And you obviously are
sick. Now how you got that way is none of my business. But the fact
that you are in a delicate way certainly is.”

“Quit saying that,” she rasped, facing him
again and looking about to see if anyone heard.

His gaze went over her thoroughly. “You'll
ride in the chuck wagon from now on.”

With that, he stalked away.

Jodi cringed. He knew! She ran back to the
river and stayed there so no one would know she was crying. She
didn't know what to do now. As long as no one knew, she had been
safe. Now, the worst had happened. Hunt knew.

It was late when she made her way to the
chuck wagon. She had waited until most everyone had either bedded
down for the night, or had gone back to the herd. She didn't see
Hunt that night or the next few nights. He kept away from her,
purposely.

But the tension inside her was coming to a
head. She needed to get away from here, far away. How was she going
to continue on with Hunt asking questions and delving into her
life? And more importantly, how was she going to rid herself of
this child now?

CHAPTER TWENTY

Unfortunately, the herds in front of them
began mixing and one trail boss seemed upset that they would lose
time cutting out their herd from another. There were words, and two
of them went at it with the guns. One of the bosses was killed. The
men tried to stop it, but to no avail.