He would have to find a way, but that battle could be waged another time. He forced his focus back to these men.
Hugh sent his younger brother a weighty look. Louis barely spared him a glance before turning earnest eyes on Colette. "We don't blame you, Colette. In fact, I'm sorry we didn't step in sooner. I didn't realize how bad he'd gotten until I came that day. I'm sorry. I should've seen it before."
Colette stood motionless, her eyes rounding as she stared at the man. French knew exactly how she felt. Were these men serious about not blaming her? Then why had they come such a long distance?
She shook her head as though trying to shake away her shock, and her voice trembled when she spoke. “It's not your fault. We are each responsible for our own actions." That was the closest French had heard her come to condemning the man.
But she was right. This half-grown boy wasn't responsible for his elder brother’s actions. Neither of his brothers were.
Hugh straightened—as much as he could while still tied to the tree. "When Louis told me what you said…about the…babe." He dipped his head toward Colette's midsection, and his cheeks turned ruddier. It seemed odd to watch this rough frontiersman befuddled by a woman.
French glanced around the group at the braves to see if they’d caught the word and understood. Their stoic faces were impossible to read, so he returned his focus to Hugh as the man spoke again.
His earnest gaze locked on Colette's face. "We didn't mean for you to leave on your own. We came after you to tell you we want to take care of you and the little one.”
His words slammed into French's belly like a punch, knocking him off balance. These two wanted to care for Colette?
The fellow was already speaking again. "When you kept running, we got worried. We figured there might be something else wrong.” He sent the group of braves a scowl. “We only meant to help. Didn't expect to be scalped."
French struggled to take in the full import of his words. Like puzzle pieces, they fit in place, yet they changed the entire picture.
A sob slipped from the woman beside him, pulling his focus to her. She pressed a hand to her chest and another over her mouth, probably to hold in more sobs.
French stepped nearer and rested a hand on her back. Seeing her pain brought out every one of his protective instincts.
She glanced his way, and her eyes spoke a tumult of words. What she’d thought would end so badly had turned out to be so good.
He slipped his hand farther around her waist and tugged her to his side. If all these people hadn't been watching, he would have pressed a kiss to her hair. Once again, the Lord had led them to the best outcome possible.
She turned back to the braves. "Please. Let them go free."
Left Standing shifted, drawing her focus to him. "You are sure?" Ever the protective brother.
French had liked him from the first few times they met, and even more so now.
Colette nodded, her chin rising again as determination settled over her features. "I was married to their brother. I killed him by accident and thought they were coming to make me pay for that act. But I had to face what I’d done. I can't run from hard things any longer."
The man nodded, then turned and moved to Louis, using his hunting knife to cut the leather straps binding him to the tree. Hawk Wing did the same with Hugh.
As the brothers stepped away from their trees, Louis shook out his arms and twisted his shoulders. Hugh was much more reserved, standing with his feet spread, glaring around the group. He looked ready to take on any man who came at him.
Colette must have seen it too, for she stepped toward the man, motioning around the group of Indians. "These men have become good friends. They gave me protection and taught me how to trap and provide for myself. Without them I wouldn't be here today."
French sent a glance to Young Bear and almost smiled at the twinkle of pride in his gaze. Maybe for what Colette was saying about his people, or maybe simply because of Colette and the strength she now showed.
Silence settled over them all. No one seemed to know quite what to do next. Hugh still looked ready to take on any of them, maybe all at once. Louis wore a nervous smile. The Indians simply watched, ready for when they might need to step in again.
Maybe this was French’s turn. He swept his gaze around to include all. "Anyone hungry? It's been almost a full day since I had a bite, and my belly is complaining."
That eased the tension in the air like a needle bursting an abscess. Colette turned her face up to him with a smile that warmed him all the way through.
Chapter 27
Colette sank into the moment as they sat around the campfire, early dusk tinting the light. Jean-Jacques had worked his usual magic to throw together a meal, and the group now gathered around the fire in the camp beside the cliff wall.
The men sat in their usual places, with Jean-Jacques on one side of her and Young Bear on the other. Louis and Hugh sat on Young Bear’s right, still looking a bit concerned about the tawny-skinned men surrounding them.
She couldn't blame them. Sitting in a group of Blackfoot braves had to be unnerving, especially since all had left their weapons with their packs around the outer edge of the camp. After all, the braves’ initial introduction had been to string these two brothers up to the nearest stout trees.
But Young Bear had made an effort to extend an olive branch to them, asking about the town they haled from and their work there. He also had his pipe nestled beside him. She had a feeling that, after the meal concluded, he would light the tobacco and maybe offer the two a smoke. A true peace offering.
They ate with few words, mostly because all seemed ravenous. She certainly was, even though she'd been nibbling on meat most of the day. The babe seemed desperate for food of late, and perhaps that was why her belly had expanded more each time she looked down.
When the cups of food had been emptied and set aside, Young Bear did light his pipe. As she suspected, he offered it to Hugh and Louis, and eventually they passed the implement around the circle.
Louis turned to her with an earnest expression, more like the younger brother she'd known. "How are you? And…the little one?" His gaze dipped to her belly for a heartbeat before surging back up to meet her eyes.
She smiled and stopped herself just before moving a hand to her belly. Maybe that wouldn't be proper among all these men. "We are well, both of us. I didn't think you'd heard me when I spoke of the baby…that night. I'm sorry I gave you so much worry and brought you so far into the wilderness." She still couldn't fathom that they'd traveled all these weeks just to make sure she was taken care of. These men were so much better than she'd given them credit for.
Hugh leaned forward so he could see her better around those sitting between them. His gaze flicked from her to Jean-Jacques. "I take it you two have known each other a while?"
The smile seeped off her face. She'd wondered, back in the clearing when Jean-Jacques put his arm around her, what Raphael's brothers would think. Now was her chance to make it clear.
She met his gaze. “Jean-Jacques and I grew up together. The last time I'd seen him was when my family moved when I was thirteen. We happened to pass him on the trail a few weeks ago." Hopefully she’d made it clear she’d been faithful to Raphael. Now she needed to be equally clear with this next part. "He's asked me to marry him, and I've agreed.”
Though Hugh’s gaze flickered wide for a heartbeat, she couldn’t read any thoughts beyond surprise on his face or Louis’s. What would they think of her even considering an offer of marriage so soon after Raphael passed? There wasn’t anything typical about this situation, and she certainly hadn't been wearing mourning gowns. Mama must be turning over in her grave. But this was the way things were.
Beside her, Jean-Jacques leaned forward, matching Hugh’s posture, though not his accusatory tone. "I've been looking for Colette since her family moved eleven years ago. I'd almost given up ever finding her again until we crossed paths a few weeks back."
She held her breath, tensing with every word. Would he speak of his love for her? As much as those words stirred her insides, her deceased husband’s elder brother might not appreciate hearing them.
When Jean-Jacques spoke again, his voice deepened. "It will be my honor to care for and provide for Colette and the babe. I'll do my best to be the father the little one needs—and help him appreciate the man who gave life to him."
A burn crept up her throat and stung her eyes. Jean-Jacques couldn't have said it better. Did he really mean those words? She'd seen his earlier battle when she spoke a little about what her life had been like those last months. Had he truly forgiven Raphael?
Jean-Jacques was every bit the man she'd always thought him. So much more. Lord, you've blessed me abundantly.
As much as she would love to stay in that place of joy, she glanced at Hugh and Louis to gauge their response to Jean-Jacques's words.
A look passed between the brothers, and she couldn't begin to decipher its meaning.
Then Hugh turned to her. "So you two are planning to marry? Where will you live?" He didn't seem angered, but his questions were…a bit nosy. She didn't mind answering them though.
She glanced at Jean-Jacques to see if he wanted to reply.
He must've taken her look as request to speak for them both. "We're planning west, at least for now. The group I've been traveling with for the past couple years will be summering in a Nez Perce village across the mountains. One of my friends is a reverend who can marry us. We’ll stay there, at least until the baby is born, then decide where we’d like to settle."
Colette cast a look around the group at their Blackfoot friends as Jean-Jacques spoke. Would they think she was abandoning them now that she no longer needed their help? Would they be upset about her going to the Nez Perce village? She'd heard the two tribes didn't always get along.
Young Bear met her gaze, and the corners of his mouth curved in the hint of a smile, no doubt meant to set her at ease. She did her best to send him a thank-you with her gaze. She would make sure to say those words aloud to all of them before she and Jean-Jacques headed out.
Again, Hugh and Louis looked at each other, a message passing between their gazes. This time the look seemed to be agreement. Hugh turned back to her, clearly the spokesman between them. "We'd like to travel along with you and stay nearby, at least until the baby is born."
He sent a look to Jean-Jacques that might be almost respectful. "Not that we don't appreciate what you intend to do, but we want to help if there's any way we can. And we'd like to meet the baby."
Louis finally spoke up. "This might be the only niece or nephew I ever have." He sent a teasing sideways glance to his brother.
Another round of emotion clogged her throat, but she smiled through the tears stinging her eyes. These two… How far she'd misjudged them.
But before she could speak, Hugh’s gaze intensified. "If we'd paid more attention before, we might not be in this situation. But we’d like to do everything we can to make up for it and to see you well settled." His gaze flicked to Jean-Jacques, then back to her as he gave a final nod.
Jean-Jacques’s hand found hers on the ground between them, and he gave her a little squeeze.
The support was what she needed to bolster her emotions. She sent him a grateful glance, checking to make sure his face didn't hold concern. He gave her a nod that bespoke so much trust that she didn't want to look away. He was giving her the freedom to choose whether to accept the offer or not.
Hugh wasn't presenting it as an offer exactly, but she knew beyond a doubt that if she declined, Jean-Jacques would support her decision and send the men packing. As would the braves around them. And she also had a feeling that these two brothers wouldn't force their presence if she asked them to return north. Was that what she wanted?
Would it be wise to let them come with us, Lord? She’d learned her lesson about charging ahead without seeking God's will. The idea of having these two travel along, though it had seemed so foreign at first, now settled like a comfortable blanket. This would be good, this time to get to know her brothers-in-law better.
And though she and Jean-Jacques would certainly wait until marriage vows had been spoken before anything intimate passed between them, having a couple of chaperones along the trail would keep things very proper.
She nearly laughed at the thought. Mama would not think traveling with three unmarried men proper, no matter how she presented the plan. But having her deceased husband's brothers along would certainly keep her and Jean-Jacques from crossing any lines they shouldn't.
She met Hugh's gaze, then looked to Louis. "We would be honored to have you come along. Are you sure you can be spared from your work that long?” Hugh had been traveling with a group of trappers for several years now, and Louis worked in the livery back at Fort Pike.
Hugh nodded. "I live off the land. I imagine I can do that as well from a Nimiipuu camp as anywhere." He looked to his brother, and she did also.
Louis shrugged. “I told McMahon I would be gone for a while. As busy as we were, I suspect he's already hired a man or two to replace me. I might start trapping like Hugh does after this."
Though Louis’s boyish tendencies made her smile, she couldn't help the pain that pressed her chest. Hugh had lived a hard life in his line of work. Jean-Jacques probably had too, though he didn't wear the scars of it the way Hugh did. The idea of Louis also taking up that occupation didn't settle well. Maybe she could share her concerns with the lad over the next few months.
"All right then." Jean-Jacques’s voice beside her sent a shiver through her. Just having him near made her love him a little more each day. She could only imagine how she would feel years from now.
She wasn't naïve enough to think life would always be comfortable, that trials wouldn't come to test them. She'd ridden that path before, but she'd learned through every hard time. She would be a better wife to Jean-Jacques than she’d been to Raphael. With God's help, she would be his partner, his helpmate. They would take each challenge as it came—together.
Colette swallowed down a lump as she stared at the line of braves before her. How could she express to them what they’d meant these past weeks? God had brought them into her life at one of her most vulnerable times. They'd taken her in—a weak white woman—taught her, fed her, and protected her.
But now the time had come to leave.
She stepped to Young Bear first. Did Indians shake hands? The older man answered the question for her, extending both hands to her. She placed hers in his, and he clasped them in his large calloused palms. She met his gaze but had to blink to clear her vision. "Thank you. For everything. You took me in when I had no one else. I’m so grateful."
He squeezed her hands. "You are strong, my daughter. You will do many great things and raise a strong son."
She raised her brows. “A boy, you think?” She'd taken to calling the babe he as well. But she really had no idea.
The older man merely smiled and gave her hands a final squeeze before releasing them.
She moved to Left Standing and took his hands as she had Young Bear’s. "Thank you for all your help translating and teaching me your language. And teaching me to set my traps." And so much more, but her voice was threatening to crack.
He seemed to understand, for he released her hands and placed a palm on her shoulder. Just like a brother.
She turned to Cross the River next and clasped his hands as she had the others. “And you taught me how to skin my catch without damaging the hide. I would have made a mess of my pelts if you hadn't stepped in to help me."
His eyes twinkled as his mouth curved. "The cut hide is good only to braid rope. We would have had enough rope to fence these mountains."
She managed a laugh even as she sniffed away emotion. Then she moved to Hawk Wing. "Thank you for teaching me the way of the beaver and how to read their sign. I should have told you before, but a predator was stealing the catch from my traps too. I just couldn't im
agine riding another day in the saddle."
A swirl of reactions crossed his face, his emotions flicking from one to the next. Then he gripped her hands tight and raised them, as though in victory. "I am glad you did not tell me. Better I lose half my catch then cause you harm, my sister."
A new rush of emotion surged up to sting her eyes. Finally, she turned to Elk Runs. He took her hands as the others had, and the calming wisdom in his gaze soothed her like she hadn't allowed it to before. "I might still be hiding in that tiny cave on the mountain if it wasn't for you. Thank you for coming after me. For using your great skill to bring back my wayward self." She managed a smile, even through her tears. "I won’t run anymore."
He released one of her hands and reached up to cup her cheek, the gesture almost fatherly. "If you ever need us, send word with the raven. We will find you."
These men… God had blessed her abundantly beyond what she deserved. Nodding her thanks, she stepped back.
"Or send word by the hawk." Hawk Wing’s voice brought a smile, even as she turned away.
When they’d mounted—all four of them—they turned for a final farewell wave. The braves still stood as they had before, a line of bravery. Of refuge. She'd needed it for a time—needed them. But she'd grown so much in her weeks with them.
With God before her, and Jean-Jacques at her side—not to mention Hugh and Louis guarding their flank—she was ready to face a new adventure.
Epilogue
Anticipation surged through French as the Nimiipuu village appeared ahead. After three weeks riding through the mountains, he was more than ready to rejoin his friends. They’d been taking it slower than he was accustomed to because of Colette's condition, but she still seemed exhausted each day by an hour or two after noon. She'd insisted they keep riding though. Maybe she wanted to finally reach a place where they could be settled.
Faith in the Mountain Valley Page 20