Untamed Journey (22 page)

“Yes,” Sue replied, eyes lighting up. “I got
the idea a few years back when the army was visiting. It had been a
particularly long winter, and the camp had run dangerously low on
horse feed that year. The Captain was complaining that they’d had
to trade whiskey for horse feed from one of the local tribes. It
got me thinking this might be a long-standing problem, as we’re
still pretty isolated out here–especially in winter, when the roads
are all but unusable.”

Sue handed Ruth the dress she had brought.
“Catherine – she’s our school teacher – sent some clothing over. I
wasn’t sure how long you two had been on the trail, but figured you
might be in need of something clean to wear. Catherine seems a
close fit to your size, so I sent one of the kids over before
breakfast to borrow some things.”

Ruth took the offered clothing with a smile.
“I can’t thank you enough. I only have a few dresses with me, and
they are all in need of a good scrubbing.”

She wanted to ask where, and more
importantly, how, she’d gotten dressed last night in a man’s
nightshirt. But she was too embarrassed to ask Sue, fearing the
answer might involve Jackson.

“Give yourself the day to settle in, and I’ll
show you where you can do your wash. We’re all pretty
self-sufficient out here, but I don’t mind feeding one more.”

“I’m happy to help cook,” Ruth quickly
offered, sensing she was about to start off with a bad impression.
“I did all of it for the past several years, for my aunt. And
before that, my mother was ill quite often for the last years of
the War. I kept a garden, too, and a few pigs we could hide in the
woods from the soldiers. I don’t imagine I’ll be staying long, but
I’m happy to help out wherever it’s needed.”

“The men care for the pigs here, don’t
worry,” Sue explained. “But I can always use some help with my
business. My crop was better than expected this year, so I need to
start a better inventory, and might need to find some more buyers,
too. Don’t want Colonel Roe to be my only bidder. He’s known to be
a cheap bastard.” Sue cracked a smile.

Ruth smiled in return, sensing a kindred
spirit. She’d had to bargain for every scrap of food near the end
of the War, when things were at their worst, and her mother was
ill. “A good price is better for all involved. If you get fair
market value, you’ll be able to grow even more next year, and this
Colonel Roe should benefit from a reliable supply.”

Sue smiled fully at that logic. “I like you
Miss Ruth. You’ll fit right in here.”

Ruth’s own smile wavered a bit at that
thought. “I’m just here temporarily, I’m afraid. Jackson explained
that it was too dangerous to travel this close to winter.”

She wasn’t sure why she blurted this out, but
she wanted to be honest in this, since she couldn’t offer the whole
truth. She already regretted not being able to befriend this woman
as if they would be neighbors for life.

“Spring’s a long way off, Miss, especially
here in Colorado. Catherine and I figure you’ll have at least two
or three proposals to consider long before the first thaw.” Sue
added mischievously, “We have a bet on the numbers, Catherine and
I. But I’m sworn to secrecy on the count. Catherine says I have an
unfair advantage since you’ll be staying here with me.”

Ruth couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Her
life had taken one bizarre turn after another since the day she
stepped foot on that train. She was hardly shocked any more at the
plain-spoken nature of the people out West.

“I’ll share a small secret with you,” Ruth
said. “I’ve already had one. A gentleman—well, a man named
O’Malley, who came by Montgomery’s trading post.”

Sue scoffed in response, “That old coot!
Thinking he could catch a fine lady such as yourself. Imagine. You
should set your sights on someone like our Jackson. He’s a bright
boy and as loyal as they come. And he’s not too ugly by most
standards.”

Ruth caught herself before blurting out how
handsome she thought Jackson was. But her blush gave her away.

“Not too ugly indeed,” Sue laughed. “It’ll be
a real long winter, for sure, this year. You wait and see. Now, let
me give you a tour of the house and my growing business. Don’t be
shy about asking questions. You could gain a great deal of
independence here, if you wanted to help me out or start your own
homestead. And while we’re at it, I’ll run down the available men
in the area. I bet high, you know–so the more proposals you get,
the better.”

Ruth had no idea how to respond to that, so
she took the safer course and started in with questions about how a
woman could support herself in Colorado Territory.

A
fter peppering Sue
with questions for the better part of an hour, Ruth was
unceremoniously handed over to Jackson to finish the tour. Sue beat
a rapid retreat, insisting she had work to do and no time to
chatter.

“Have a seat over here, Miss Ruth,” Jackson
invited, leading her to a flat rock at the edge of the creek where
he’d been working half the morning.

“I’d rather watch you.”

At his raised eyebrows and teasing invitation
to admire his naked chest, she quickly amended, “I’d rather watch
you work. Sue has been teaching me about her business. She said you
designed the irrigation system.”

“I had help,” Jackson offered. “If you really
want to learn how things operate around here, pick up that bucket
of pine tar over there, and I’ll put you to work. I have ten more
lengths of clay pipe to fit together before lunch.”

Ruth picked up the bucket, and Jackson showed
her what to do. He watched her seal three lengths of pipe together
until he was satisfied she understood.

He returned to cutting more lengths of pipe,
working alongside Ruth in companionable silence for the next
hour.

When she finished, Jackson motioned her over
to a shade tree and offered her his canteen.

After she drank her fill, Ruth asked, “How
much pipe are you planning to add? It seems like Sue’s fields have
already been set up.”

“This expansion is for the neighbors,” he
explained, offering Ruth a leftover biscuit from breakfast.
“Everyone has their own well, of course, and there are seasonal
creeks. But the Jones brothers are hand watering two months of the
year. If we can pipe water from this creek, which runs year round,
it’ll save them a lot of time and back-breaking work.”

“I’m impressed.” At Jackson’s questioning
look, she clarified, “That you’re willing to share the water on
your land. Folks back home used to fight over every last scrap of
food and drop of water after the army passed through.”

“If you argue over water with your neighbors,
how can you expect them to come to your aid?” Jackson explained.
“This is still rough country. A man alone won’t last long without
help.”

“Speaking of help,” he continued, “we could
use a larger kitchen garden. I’ve been meaning to find some
different crops that will store better over the winter. Sue’s too
obsessed with feed for horses and cattle to spend much time on our
food supply. You could stay and grow a business out of it, if
that’s what you want. I can help you file a homestead claim.”

“You’ll just give me this land?” Ruth
asked.

“It’s not mine to give,” he explained. “No
one has laid claim yet to that pasture. People are still scarcer
out here than land. There’s still good acreage to be had, if you’re
willing to work your hands to the bone to keep it. But I’d be here
to help you, Ruth. And our neighbors are good people, every last
one. A woman with your intelligence and gumption could do
well.”

“I’ll think about it,” she replied, secretly
wondering how she might ever settle land of her own, with the quiet
fear of a murder charge hanging over her head.

“You do that,” Jackson nodded, satisfied the
seed of an idea had been planted. “In the meantime, come for a swim
with me. You can see clear to the bottom, the water’s so pure. It
might be our last chance before the cold sets in.”

“It’s too cold now,” she said, as memories of
their time in the meadow flooded her body with heat.

“Suit yourself.” He shrugged his shoulders
and started to undo the snap of his pants.

“I’ll turn my back,” she offered.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” Jackson replied. “I
think it’s past time you got used to the sight of me naked.”

“What on earth for?” Ruth blurted out in
genuine bewilderment and a bit of pink-cheeked embarrassment.

“I plan on seducing you so you’ll stay and
marry me,” he offered, never taking his gaze from Ruth’s startled
eyes.

He said it so matter-of-factly that it took a
few deep breaths to sink in. Ruth’s blush deepened along with her
curiosity. Was he serious? She knew from personal experience that
marriage was a purely practical matter in most parts of society,
but especially so out west, where women were scarce. But as far as
Jackson knew, she was promised to someone else. Did things work
that way here?

“But I’m promised to someone else.” Ruth
decided she could be practical and blunt, too, when the occasion
called for it.

Jackson didn’t hesitate to pursue his claim.
“To someone you’ve never met. You told me yourself that your aunt
made that promise. Promise me instead.”

Ruth looked into Jackson’s eyes and could see
he meant every word. And nothing had ever tempted her more than
this strong, serious protector offering her the life she’d always
wanted.

He took advantage of her moment of weakness
and pulled her in close for a kiss. He grazed his warm lips over
hers, surrounded her in his strong arms, and settled in for a long
siege. Whatever it took to convince her to stay with him, Jackson
thought, he was willing to do. He could feel her wavering, and
every instinct said she felt something for him.

Ruth closed her eyes and let herself bask in
the dream of what might have been, just for a few moments. She knew
she should stop, but couldn’t pull away from the warmth of his lips
and arms. For the first time in more years than she could count,
she felt nothing inside but comfort and heat – and what she thought
just might be the first stirrings of love. No fear, no worries
about how she was going to feed her mother and herself. It was just
like sinking into a warm bath after a night in the freezing woods,
hiding from soldiers. She wanted nothing more than to bask in
Jackson’s heat for as long as it lasted.

He pulled her even closer, aligning her
curves more closely with his hard body. He trailed his lips across
her cheek and whispered into her ear. “You know nothing about this
person, but you already know that I can and will protect you,
whatever it takes.” He clamped his teeth gently on the lobe of her
ear, smiling to himself as her breath caught in surprise and
wonder. “Stay with me, Ruth. I promise you’ll never regret it.”

The echo of her aunt’s parting words to her
was unintended, but as effective as a fiery sermon on a Sunday
morning. Her aunt had said the same thing about Ruth marrying a
rich man. She’d never regret it. Well, she’d yet to meet her
husband, and had nothing but regret behind her.

And the reminder that she was married, in the
eyes of the law and the church, brought her guilt crashing down.
She pulled away from Jackson.

He was baffled by Ruth’s sudden struggle to
pull away, but instinctively let her go. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, I just can’t. I want to – I do.
But I just can’t. I know you don’t understand, but please trust me
on this. There’s no way out for me. I’m promised.”

She turned away and nearly ran across the
field. Whether to hide her tears of regret from Jackson or to
prevent her from changing her mind, even she wasn’t sure.

“U
p and at ‘em, Miss
Ruth,” a deep voice whispered. “It’s time to feed the chickens and
pigs.”

Ruth snuggled over to her other side,
thinking the dream she’d been having about Jackson was lovely until
he started talking about livestock.

“I’ve got hot black coffee. You can keep
yourself warm in my arms on the ride up, if you’d like.”

Whether it was the sound of Jackson’s voice
or his teasing suggestion that penetrated the fog of sleep, Ruth
finally registered his presence in her room and sat bolt upright in
bed.

“What are you doing in my room? Get out! It’s
not proper.” She demanded in sleepy outrage, tucking her warm
blankets as far under her chin as she could manage. If only she
could cover her blushing cheeks, she thought, glaring at Jackson’s
spreading grin.

“Technically, you’re in my room, Miss
Jameson, but we’ll let that one pass since you haven’t had your
coffee yet. Do you want me to leave, or do you want your coffee in
bed?”

She opened her mouth to order him gone, but
snapped it shut again in defeat when she caught the smell of the
rich, dark brew as Jackson deliberately wafted it under her nose.
The snake, she thought.

Jackson shrugged his shoulders and turned to
leave the room, only to be stopped by Ruth’s outstretched hand
peeking from beneath the tightly clutched covers.

“It’ll be my pleasure to serve you in bed,”
he couldn’t resist adding.

She deliberately ignored him while she
inhaled the rich aroma and sipped herself into some semblance of
wakefulness. Only after half a cup did she realize Jackson’s
heavily muscled thigh was still in her line of sight. She lifted
her gaze and realized the sun had yet to crest the horizon.

“What on earth are you doing here this early?
Sue won’t be serving breakfast for another hour yet,” Ruth
remarked, more curious than annoyed now.

“We have a long ride ahead of us,” he
explained. “I want you to meet Mrs. McCormick.”

“Another woman?” Ruth observed. “For there
being such a shortage in the West, you seem to have your share
nearby.”