To Dream Anew (39 page)

Cole nodded. “Koko told me you would be a great asset to us in wrangling.” His tone was serious, and George couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong. For days Cole had seemed very burdened—almost troubled.

Cole took up the halter and approached the skittish white. “Easy, boy. Easy.” His voice was low and soft as he tried to sooth the animal.

George continued watching as Cole rubbed the horse ever so gently with the halter and with his hand. The horse seemed to calm.

“He knows you,” George commented.

Cole said nothing until after managing to slip the halter over the white’s head. “We’ve been working for a while on this.” After he secured the halter, Cole pulled the strap gently to the right. The white followed. Cole walked in circles around the corral while George watched.

“He nearly kicked my head off the first time we worked together,” Cole said as he rounded the pen. “Didn’t want any part of this.”

George leaned against the pole pen. “I can see he is spirited.”

“And mean,” Cole replied. “Not the kind of thing a coward would want to deal with.” His tone sounded bitter.

“What are you talking about?”

Cole continued walking the horse. “Oh, it’s just something Dianne said. She thinks I’m a coward because I won’t hunt down the Lawrences and deal with them at the end of a gun.”

George laughed softly. “My nephew thinks I’m a coward because I won’t take on the entire army and force justice for the Blackfoot people.”

Cole looked up and smiled. “Guess we’re in good company.”

“Not bad for cowards.”

Cole stopped what he was doing and shook his head. “She has no idea how I have to fight myself to keep from doing exactly what she thinks should be done. She doesn’t realize that I could probably kill Lawrence’s sons for what they did to Whit and Maggie.”

“Just like Jamie doesn’t realize that I would gladly kill the soldiers if it meant freedom for my people. He thinks that by living as white, I’ve given up my dreams and hopes that the Blackfoot might one day be allowed to come and go at will.”

“I want peace. I know you do too.”

George shrugged. “Sometimes I think we’re the only ones.”

“Mara! What brings you here?” Dianne questioned after opening the front door. Mara Lawrence stood before her, looking frazzled.

“I had to come. There’s going to be trouble this afternoon, and I’m hoping you can stop it.”

Dianne ushered the girl inside. “Why don’t you come have something to drink while you tell me what’s going on.”

“Thank you. I’m quite parched.”

Mara and Dianne made their way into the kitchen. Dianne was grateful that no one else was around. She took down a glass from the cupboard and poured some chilled cider she’d just brought up from the cold cellar.

“My aunt made this from apples. I think you’ll find it very pleasant and refreshing,” Dianne said as she placed the glass in front of Mara.

Mara took a long drink. “It’s wonderful. Thank you.” She glanced around. “Is your husband here? There’s going to be trouble and you’ll need him. Probably need all of your men.”

Dianne frowned. “He’s down at the corral. I could send for him.”

“Would you, please? There’s going to be an attack on one of the ranches.”

“Whose?”

“The Vandercamps.”

Dianne felt her breath catch. G. W. and Hilda had worked hard to stake their claim on the land. G. W. and Cole were good friends and often shared equipment and breeding stock. To imagine their suffering the same fate as Whit and Maggie was almost more than Dianne could bear.

“I’ll send for Cole. Wait here.”

She hurried into the hall and found Luke coming down the stairs. “Luke. I need you to fetch your papa. He’s down at the corral training one of the horses.”

“Can I ride there?” Luke asked, excited at the prospect.

“No. He’s not that far. Just run,” Dianne said. “Tell him to come to the house quickly. Tell him it’s important.”

Luke fairly flew out the front door. Dianne wondered if Cole would refuse because of his anger toward her. She hoped he could put aside their differences and realize that this was gravely important.

Returning to the kitchen, Dianne noted that Mara was working feverishly to put her hair back in place. She smiled at the young woman. “You must have ridden very hard.”

“Well, I had to,” Mara admitted. “When I heard them talking about their plans for the Vandercamps, I knew I had to tell someone. I hope we won’t be too late.”

“I hope not too.”

Mara finished pinning her hair and turned to Dianne. “I have something to ask you. I hope you won’t think me too forward.”

“What is it?”

“I wondered if I could come and live with you here and work for you. I’d be happy to be your housekeeper or whatever else you needed. I’m almost seventeen, and I’m a good worker. I know how to cook too.”

Dianne raised a brow. “I have to admit the thought had already come to mind to invite you to stay with us—but not as a maid. I feel sorry for your having to deal with Portia’s nonsense and the other things that are going on. Still, your father would never let you go.”

“He might. If I threatened to tell everyone everything I know, he might let me go. Portia just wants me gone—I don’t think she much cares where I go. Father doesn’t pay me much attention, and frankly, I think he’d be equally glad to be rid of me.”

“I can’t imagine that being true, but maybe he’d be less inclined to cause us harm if you were here.”

Mara shook her head. “No, I’d imagine it to be the opposite. He’s got a mean streak a mile wide.”

“It would be difficult to cross him. He’d no doubt want some sort of revenge for your interference in his plans.”

“That’s why I want to come here. I know he’ll make me miserable if he figures out what I’ve done. He’s been storming and snorting over those papers I took ever since they disappeared. But on the other hand, Portia is making me more miserable than he ever could.”

“Has she threatened you?” Dianne couldn’t help but ask.

“She plans to marry me off to some man in Bozeman who plans to move to Texas. She says he’s wealthy and has shown interest in me.”

Dianne looked out the window to see if she could spot Cole or Luke. There was no one out there, however. “I hope Luke didn’t misunderstand. Sometimes he’s that way. Only hears what he wants to hear.” She turned away from the window and shook her head. “I’m sorry, I really was listening. I don’t understand why Portia would want to marry you off.”

“I think it’s because she wants my father and the ranch all to herself. She got Jerrod and Roy blamed for some accident she had—at least I’m pretty sure she must have had an accident. I don’t think the boys are stupid enough to hurt her. But she was all banged up and miscarried a baby.”

“A baby? Portia? That seems completely out of character for her.”

“She said she and my father were beginning a new life together and this baby was the beginning of an entirely new empire.”

“I can’t imagine Portia wanting to be a mother. Not for any reason.”

“She’s dangerous. I can’t tell you why, but I know it’s true,” Mara said sadly. “I think she actually had something to do with my mother’s death.”

“Truly?”

“Yes. Mother was fine until we went to tea with Portia. After she left the tea, Mother was sick—very sick. By the time we arrived at the ranch, she was almost delirious. It was no more than an hour before she was dead.”

“You think Portia poisoned her?” Dianne asked. She had always been suspicious of Portia’s involvement in Cynthia Lawrence’s death.

“I think it’s very possible. We all drank from the same tea, but that doesn’t mean Portia couldn’t have given her something after Elsa and I left to go shopping. Mother was with her alone for at least ten minutes.”

Dianne couldn’t understand where Cole and Luke were. “Stay here, Mara. I’ll go see where my husband is. We’ll talk more about this—I promise.”

Mara’s worried expression softened a bit. “Thank you. I know you could believe the worst about me—even think I was here to spy on you, but I’m not. I’m afraid. Afraid of the things my father is doing to the people in this valley, and afraid of what Portia might do to me personally.”

Dianne thought of Mara’s words all the way out to the corral. Finding no one there, she looked in the barn. The place seemed deserted. Cole’s horse was gone, as were the dogs. She thought maybe George would be nearby, but a quick search of the grounds proved fruitless.

Then Dianne caught sight of something in the distance. On the hillside to the west, the trees were blazing with orange flames.

Her heart skipped a beat. Fire! It almost seemed unreal. She turned to race back to the house when Cole came riding out of the forested land to the south. George was riding beside him.

“We need to round up everyone. Get all of the wagons hitched and ready to move out. Take whatever we need—only what’s important,” Cole declared, giving Dianne no chance to speak.

“What happened?”

“Probably lightning,” George said, jumping from the back of his mount.

“It’s burning fast and heading directly for us,” Cole said. “I’ve sent the boys out to round up the horses and cattle and move them north.”

Dianne then remembered what Mara had told her. “Cole, there’s more trouble than just the fire. Mara Lawrence is here. She told me that her father is headed to the Vandercamps’ to force G. W. to sign over the ranch. She says he plans to take it by force if necessary.”

Cole clenched his jaw so hard that the skin turned white around his lips. Dianne saw the rage in his face as his eyes narrowed. She knew saying anything more was useless and unneeded. It was only then that she realized Luke was nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Luke?” she asked the men. “I sent him after you nearly twenty minutes ago. When Mara came.”

Cole shook his head, his anger still evident. “I haven’t seen him. Look, there’s no time for this. Get the children and everyone else alerted. Levi’s already out with some of the men on the north pasture. You’ll need to help Ardith.”

“I’m not going anywhere without Luke,” Dianne declared. “He’s got to be here!”

“He’s probably already gone back to the house,” Cole said, his clipped tone revealing his mood.

“I’ll help you find him,” George said, reaching out to take hold of her arm.

“I’ll look for him as I notify everyone. If I don’t see you again before you leave, head to Madison. We’ll meet at the church.”

“Cole,” Dianne said, pulling away from George. She went to Cole’s side and touched his leg. “Please be careful…. I love you.”

Cole leaned down. “I love you, and I’m sorry things have been so bad. I promise to make it up to you.”

“Me too.” She felt tears come to her eyes and didn’t know if it were purely the smoke or the building emotion in her heart. “Please find Luke. I’ll leave a note tacked to the porch if I find him.”

“Good. Otherwise, I’ll get him out.”

Dianne nodded and let him go. He reined the horse around quickly and headed out across the field.

“Come on,” George encouraged. “There’s no time to waste.”

She turned to George, her heart racing. “He’s just a little boy. He won’t know what to do.”

“You go warn the others. I’ll start looking for him. Can you hitch the wagons by yourself?”

“Yes, the horses are in the corral. We can get them. Just find him, please.”

Dianne felt hopeless as she raced for the house. Already the skies were turning hazy from the smoke. Hurrying to her sister’s cabin, Dianne pounded on the door. “Ardith! Ardith, hurry!”

Ardith came to the door. “What is it?”

Dianne pointed to the west. “Forest fire. It’s serious. Cole’s gone to warn some of the others. You need to gather what’s important and get Winona to the barn. Can you hitch one of the wagons?”

“Of course,” she said, her eyes widened in fear. “Where’s Levi?”

“Up north. He’s safe, but I can’t find Luke. George is helping to look for him—so is Cole.”

“How could he be gone?”

Dianne shook her head. Her thoughts were swirling. “There isn’t time to explain. Just hurry. I’ll meet you with the others at the barn.” She started to leave, then turned back. “You’d better tie the milk cows to the back of the wagons.”

“I’ll do it,” Ardith promised.

Dianne raced for the house. She had no idea how much time they actually had. “Mara! Koko!” She screamed the names as she hurried through the door.

Mara was where she’d left her in the kitchen. “There’s a forest fire. We’re in danger. You should probably ride home and warn the others. Your place is far enough away that they’ll no doubt be fine. I wouldn’t expect the fire to cross that much open land.”

“No, I want to stay and help. What can I do?”

“My little ones—Micah and John—are upstairs. I need to go up and gather some things. If you can help me, that would be great.”

“What’s all the commotion?” Koko asked as she came into the room.

“There’s a fire heading this way.” Her aunt’s jaw dropped. “Luke is missing and George is trying to find him. We need to get the children and load up the wagons with whatever things we can’t live without. Send Jamie to hitch up the other two wagons. Ardith is already taking care of one.”