Northwoods Nightmare (7 page)

“No.”

Fargo was willing to bet every dollar in his poke she was lying. ““He's lived in Fraser Canyon the past few years, working a gold claim.”

“We do not go into the canyon often,” Teit told him.

Now Fargo was doubly certain. Fraser Canyon was at the heart of Knife territory. Only small parts of it were under white control. The rest were roamed by the Knifes. “So you've never been to Boston Bar or Lytton?”

“A few times,” she admitted.

Fargo let it drop, for now. He went to the Ovaro, groped in a saddlebag, and brought out a bundle of pemmican wrapped in a square of rabbit fur. He opened the hide and offered some to them.

“You are very kind,” Teit said as she picked a piece for her grandfather and another for herself.

“You're welcome to more if you want.”

Tentatively, almost shyly, Teit selected two more. She avoided looking at him. Sitting next to her grandfather, she slowly chewed. “Thank you. This is. . . . how do you say?. . . . delicious?”

“I think so, too.” Fargo liked pemmican a lot better than jerky. It consisted of berries mixed with meat and fat. He wrapped the bundle and replaced it in his saddlebag.

They ate in silence. Several times Teit glanced at Fargo as if she was going to say something. Chelahit finished his pemmican and carefully eased to the ground with his back to the boulder. He said something to Teit.

“My grandfather says he is sleepy. He will rest while we wait for your friends,” she translated.

Fargo moved a few yards down the slope and leaned against a fir, his arm crossed over his chest. The panorama of uplands spread before him to the far horizon. Several peaks were capped with ivory even at that time of year. Below the snow, phalanxes of evergreens grew in their many diversities. A pair of ravens cawed and flapped, the throb of their wings like the beat of a pulse in the rarefied air.

“Beautiful, is it not?” Teit asked as she sat next to him.

“The only thing more beautiful is a woman's naked body.” Fargo smiled as he said it but she still blinked.

“Are you always this forward?”

“A popular question of late,” Fargo admitted. “But you should be used to it, as pretty as you are.”

“Used to what? Most men I know do not talk about female bodies, naked or otherwise.”

Fargo thought she had risen to the bait but she immediately changed the subject.

“This Kenneth Havard. His family is sure he was in Fraser Canyon?”

“They got regular letters from him and then the letters stopped. His claim was near Boston Bar.”

“I see.” Teit hesitated. “It could be they have come all this way for nothing. It could be he is dead.”

“Do you know something I don't?”

“No. I was just saying. Many of the whites who came to our country found only death.” Teit put a hand on his arm. “It is worth keeping in mind. You have been kind to us, and I would not want you to be one of them.”

Was that a warning or a threat? Fargo wondered.

Fargo figured someone would object. He didn't figure on the entire Havard family, and Cosmo, coming up to him with spite in their eyes. Edith fired the first shot.

“What is this nonsense about you wanting that old Indian and that squaw to join us?”

“Only as far as Fraser Canyon.”

“Why would you even want to do such a thing?” Theodore demanded. “They're Indians, after all.”

Fargo had three reasons. He wanted to help Teit and her grandfather get back safely. He wanted to do it because he was convinced Teit knew something about Kenneth Havard. And he wanted to do it because he wanted to get up her dress. He mentioned only the first reason.

Theodore harrumped. “Are you sane? These are red savages we're talking about. We will need protection from
them
.”

“From a blind man and his grandaughter?”

Edith thrust a finger at him. “They're heathens, and I for one do not associate with heathens.”

Allen had been quiet but now he said in his most condescending tone, “Why all this bickering? It's not as if our guide has a choice. He works for us. He'll do what we want him to do. That's all there is to it.”

“I work for your father,” Fargo set him straight. “I'll hash this out with him. Keep your braying to yourself.”

The allusion to a jackass caused red to creep from Allen's pale throat to his pale forehead.

“That will be quite enough,” Theodore interceded. “We're serious, Fargo. I will not have savages in my party, and that's final.”

“Then you don't have me, either.”

Allen quickly said, “We don't need him, Father. We're only a day out of Fraser Canyon. We can find Boston Bar by ourselves.”

“Be my guest,” Fargo said.

At that juncture Cosmo cleared his throat. “Permit me, Theodore, to add my thoughts.”

“Of course.”

“It's true we are near enough to the canyon that we can probably find it on our own, and thus true that we don't need Mr. Fargo's services as a guide, per se. But we
do
need his experience. Remember those four men who were out to kill and rob us?”

“As always, you make an excellent point,” Theodore praised him.

“There's more to consider.” Cosmo looked at each of the Havards. “It's my understanding Indians are often grateful for a kindness rendered. By helping this girl and her grandfather, we show her people that we are friendly. And surely it's to our benefit to be in the good graces of the Knife Indians, given the trouble they have caused in the past.”

“Another excellent point,” Theodore agreed.

“I don't agree,” Edith said bitterly.

“But, my dear, they are less likely to attack if we've done them a favor. By helping these two, we reap goodwill.”

“Exactly my point,” Cosmo said.

Fargo had to hand it him; the man didn't miss much. He noticed that Angeline was not taking part and smiled at her. She smiled back.

“I still think it's a mistake,” Edith stubbornly insisted.

“I'm with mother,” Allen declared.

McKern and several others were listening, and McKern chose that moment to clear his throat. “Have you ever fought redskins, Mrs. Havard?”

“Of course not. I've spent my entire life in cities in cultured, mannered society.
White
society.”

“That's nice. But out here culture doesn't count for much. If we get the Knifes mad at us, we could have a rain of arrows come out of nowhere. Or maybe they'll sneak into our camp some night and slit a few of our throats from ear to ear. They've done it before.”

Theodore rubbed his chin. “Very well. It's worth it to get into the good graces of the savages. The woman and her grandfather may stay.” He turned to Fargo. “But make them understand they are not to bother us. They're not to beg for food or money or any of that. We'll show them whites can be as kind as anyone, within certain limits.”

And that was that.

Teit thanked Fargo when he brought the news. He took them to near the rear of the line, just ahead of Rohan and the pack animals. Rohan was picking lice from his clothes.

“Mind? Why would I mind? I've got nothing against Injuns. Down to Texas I had a friend name of Blue Dog. He was half Comanch, but him and me got along just fine.”

Fargo's estimation of the Texan rose a notch. “Keep an eye on them and let me know if anyone gives them trouble. Mrs. Havard and Allen don't like the idea.”

“Now there's a pair. A shrew and a weasel,” Rohan scoffed. “The airs that Allen puts on, I'd love to take a hatchet to his head. Anything that gets him mad, I'm for.”

Fargo led them through the pass and down the other side. Mostly bare slopes made their going easy the first mile. Then they came to the thick timber.

Fargo called a halt at the tree line.

As usual, Cosmo took charge. The tents were put up. Wood was chopped. Fires were kindled. Rohan saw to the horses.

His Henry in hand, Fargo went to where the maiden and her grandfather were sat quietly by themselves. “I'll see to it you get some food, and later we can talk if you want.”

“About what?” Teit asked.

“Your people. I like to learn about tribes I've never met.” Fargo hoped in the bargain to learn about Kenneth Havard.

Teit gazed out over the vast expanse of peaks and darkening woods. “This land is our land. We have lived here for more winters than anyone can count. We do not like that the whites have come. We especially do not like that the whites act as if the land is theirs.”

“Not all whites. You mentioned a priest you liked.”

“One of only a few white men with good hearts. If more were like Father Fouquet and K—” Teit caught herself and stopped.

Fargo would swear she was about to say “Kenneth” but he pretended not to notice. “Maybe before long you'll add me to that list.”

Teit smiled. “I would like to.”

On that promising note Fargo went to the fire nearest the tents. The Havards were not out yet. Their nightly ritual included washing up for supper. Edith, in particular, had a fit if so much as a mote of dust besmirched her powdered skin.

Cosmo had put coffee on. Squatting, Fargo filled his tin cup. The aroma of simmering stew made his mouth water. “You should be a cook.” The man was a wizard with pots and pans.

Without looking up from the potatoes he was chopping, Cosmo chuckled. “It is part of my job. I have no passion for it, and a person should always devote him- or herself to something they are passionate about.”

Fargo thought of his love of the wild places, and of women. “I guess I never looked at it that way.”

About to add the potatoes pieces to the pot, Cosmo commented, “That's one of the traits I admire about you.”

“
You
admire
me
?”

“Why do you sound so surprised? I like to think of myself as intelligent, and intelligence appreciates quality, wherever it may be found.”

“You sure like big words.”

Cosmo grinned. “We all have our pretensions.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Surely you have met people who pretend they are something they are not? The put on a show, and the show is their life. I'll use Allen as an example. He pretends to be a loving, devoted son. But the truth is, he's a spoiled brat who can't wait for Theodore and Mrs. Havard to die so he can lay claim to his share of their inheritance.” Cosmo began chopping carrots. “Or let's take a certain young lady you are interested in. She puts on a show of being shy and inhibited. But the truth be known, she has had several, shall we say, dalliances in recent years. She isn't the complete innocent she lets on.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

Cosmo's smile was oil mixed in water. “You asked me about pretensions, remember? Is there anything else you would like to know?”

Fargo was about to say no, but actually there was. “How close are Allen and Kenneth?”

“Not close at all. There's the age difference, for one thing. Kenneth always loved the outdoors. Allen isn't happy unless he has a roof over his head. Kenneth could take care of himself. Allen is a mother's boy. Need I go on?”

“I get the idea.”

Jut then the flap to Angeline's tent parted and out she strolled in a dress more fit for the San Francisco theater than the mountains of British Columbia. It clung to her ripe body in all the right places and was cut scandalously low in front to accent her cleavage. Fargo whistled softly.

Her hands clasped behind her back so that her bosom thrust against her dress, Angeline ignored his whistle and asked Cosmo, “How long until supper is ready?”

“Half an hour, young miss, perhaps a bit longer. Your father mentioned he's famished and I want the food to be just right.”

“Plenty of time.” Angeline swiveled toward Fargo. “I can stand to stretch my legs after being in the saddle all day. Care to go for a walk?”

“I suppose I can force myself.”

Cosmo made a sound that was part chuckle and part cough. “By all means, enjoy yourselves. I will—what is the expression?—oh, yes, I'll give a holler when the meal is ready.”

“You're a card, Cosmo,” Angeline told him.

“So long as it's the queen of hearts. Now you be careful out there. Watch out for insects and snakes and whatever else might bite you.”

Perfume wreathed Fargo like an invisible cloud. He admired how Angeline's dress molded to the sweep of her thighs, and he twitched below his belt.

“I must admit I've been looking forward to this,” Angeline said. “Going for a walk, I mean. But it wouldn't be safe to go alone. That's why I asked you to come.”

Fargo refrained from pointing out that she wasn't all that safe with him along. “You learned your lesson from that bear.”

“I learned my lesson from being female. You have no idea what it's like for a woman. The constant advances. The gropes. The hungry looks.”

They entered the forest. Starlight relieved the black of night, enough for Fargo to see the white of her teeth when she smiled.

“I had my nerve calling you ‘bold and brazen,' didn't I?”

Never one to waste an opportunity, Fargo placed his hands on her hips and stopped. “What did you have in mind?”

“Oh my.” Angeline gave a nervous laugh and glanced at the camp. “We haven't gone far enough for that yet.”

Fargo motioned. “Lead on.”

Angeline wasn't satisfied until the trees screened her from the campfires. In a clear space between a pair of tall spruce trees, she halted and announced, “Right here is nice.”