Lars lifted Micah with one arm and draped the other around his wife’s shoulders. “This is some mighty pretty land you found, Sven.”
“It is. There’s plenty of fresh water, fish to catch, game in the forest. We can build a corral and plant crops.”
Lars gave Ellie a squeeze. “This is Ellie Nielson now. She’s in the family way. Happened on the honeymoon.” His chest puffed out. He looked like a rooster with a harem of hens.
Caroline shook her head but gave a little chuckle just the same. “Bring your bride in the house, Lars. She must be hungry and tired. You’ve come to your journey’s end.”
Lars and Sven stared at her, and then stared at each other. Lightning flashed from one set of ice blue eyes to the other.
“That’s it, Caroline,” Sven exclaimed.
“What’s it?” Her voice carried question and confusion.
“Journey’s End. That’s the name of our place. We’re here; we’re staying.” Sven swept his arm in a long arc that encompassed the house and the surrounding fields.
“Welcome to Journey’s End,” he pronounced.
“Journey’s End,” Lars repeated. “It’s perfect.”
“Perfect,” Ellie agreed.
The sun lowered over the horizon and bathed the grass in golden fire. Struck by the blessing of that moment, the family stopped and watched the rays turn to deep purple before the sun said its final farewell for the day.
“Journey’s End, Ellie girl,” Lars whispered into his wife’s ear. “We’re home.”
Chapter 15
Her husband’s lips claimed her own and brought her to sleepy awareness.
“Good morning, Lars,” she murmured.
“Good morning, Ellie girl. How are you feeling?” Lars brushed strands of long, red hair from her face.
“Better. I haven’t been sick in the mornings for a while.” She flopped to her back and yawned. “Caroline said it would pass, and she was right.”
“You go ahead and sleep a little more. Sven and I are going out to work on the corral. When we finish, we’re heading out to ride the fence line. It needs some repair.” Lars kissed her on the mouth. “I’d like to stay in bed with you, but the sooner the corral and fence are ready, the sooner we can buy some horses and cattle.”
“I’ll get up. Caroline could use some help with the children.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat still waiting to be sure there would be no nausea. She gave her head a happy nod and rose to her feet. “You go on, Lars. We’ll be fine.”
“All right.” He laid a protective hand on his wife’s abdomen. “You and our little cowboy have a good morning.”
“Or cowgirl,” she called to his retreating back.
Ellie pulled her nightgown over her head and hung it on a little peg in the wall. She needed to be tidy in the small space she shared with her husband. Until Lars and Sven built a second house, both families shared the two-bedroom cabin that came with the land. The men wouldn’t turn their efforts that way until the farm and small ranch was established. It was cramped, but they were happy together. Ellie loved having a family. She missed her own brother, Mitch, like an aching tooth.
She buttoned her blouse and pulled a blue flowered skirt over her hips and secured the button. The baby wasn’t showing yet, and Caroline had clothes she could borrow when the time came. “Good morning, baby,” she whispered.
Ellie entered the large room that was the kitchen, eating area and living room combined. A fireplace graced one entire wall and a blaze was crackling and snapping. Caroline nursed baby Mary in the rocking chair while Micah managed to get most of his oatmeal from the bowl to his mouth.
Ellie ruffled his hair as she walked by. “How are you today, Micah?”
“Good,” he spluttered as another spoonful of mush disappeared.
“How about you, Caroline? Did the baby sleep?” Ellie frowned at her sister-in-law’s bruised eyes.
“Not very well, I’m afraid. I rocked her most of the night so Sven could sleep. I don’t want him working with a saw and hammer when he’s tired,” Caroline disengaged a nipple from the baby’s mouth with a gentle pop and arranged her on the other side.
Ellie looked in the big pot on the stove. “There’s more oatmeal. I’ll fix two bowls, and we can have breakfast. Then,” she tickled Micah’s tummy, “you and Mary can rest while Micah and I work outside in our garden.”
“Thank you, Ellie, if I can sleep for a few hours, I’ll be right as rain.” Caroline frowned. “But I’m almost out of diapers. With both children still using them…” her sentence faded to exhaustion. “I hope Micah is out of them before your little one gets here.”
“He’ll be three. I bet he’ll be on his own by then.” She set two bowls on the table. “I’ll put the big laundry pot on to heat water and get the diapers soaking. After your nap, we can do them.”
The women ate their meal in companionable silence. Caroline held the baby in one arm and ate with the other. Micah sat on the floor in serious conversation with Loki.
Ellie loved Journey’s End and Sven’s family. She adored her husband, but Lordy, Lordy, there was always so much work. She gave her head a rueful shake before carrying their bowls to the sink.
“Ready to go outside, Micah?” Ellie asked.
“No, Micah wet,” he declared.
“Caroline, go with the baby and take a nap. I’ll see to Micah.” She made a shooing motion with her hand as if her friend were a chicken needing to roost.
With a clean Micah by the hand and Loki on their heels, Ellie stepped out of the cabin and walked around to the back. She and Caroline had big plans for this garden come spring. For now, she could prepare the soil and plant the potato eyes she had ready to go.
Ellie handed Micah a big spoon. “If you could dig up this soil, it would be a mighty big help.” Micah plopped onto his bottom and began throwing dirt right and left and into the air. Loki joined in the effort and commenced a furious dig.
With the boy and dog settled to their task, Ellie placed her foot on the back of the shovel and pushed. Turned over the soil, pushed again, and turned over more soil.
When she had a good plot of rich dirt ready, she called to Micah. “Come help me plant potatoes, little man.” He dropped his spoon and came to her side. “I’ll dig a little hole, and you drop one of the potato eyes in. Put it in so this little eye is on the top. Then we’ll cover it up.”
They worked their way down one row and up another. Micah’s face scrunched in concentration as he placed each little potato piece. Loki patted each spot with his big paw in canine blessing.
Ellie stood, placed a hand at the small of her back and stretched. She and Micah had done a good morning’s work. She hoped the potatoes would grow. She’d been raised in a hotel where food arrived already grown at the back door, but Lars had reassured her this would work.
“Come on, Loki,” Ellie called. “We’re going in.”
After Micah was clean and dry once more, she gave him a thick slice of bread with butter and a glass of milk. “Time for your nap. You can sleep with your mama and sister, but you need to be very quiet. Don’t wake them up.”
He nodded his head. “Mama tired. Loki tired.” he announced.
Ellie ran her hand over the blond hair so much like his father’s and uncle’s. “That’s right. Mama’s tired. Loki can take a nap, too.”
She led him into the bedroom, removed his shoes and lifted him to the mattress. Caroline snored gently, and baby Mary sucked on her fist. Ellie laid a finger to her lips to caution for quiet. When Loki settled at the foot of the bed, she tiptoed from the room. She cut another slice of bread and took a big bite. Once the nausea stopped, she’d become hungry. No, hungry didn’t cover it. She was ravenous, famished. That must be where the eating for two came in. She slathered the rest of her bread with butter and took another bite.
At the stove, Ellie checked the big pot where the diapers soaked. Damn, she whispered. She’d be in trouble with Lars if he heard
her swear, but, damn, the water was barely warm. The fire flickered an anemic blaze, and the wood box held only a few sticks.
Ellie took a seat at the table to think this through, but, really, what was there to think about? If they were going to have clean diapers, they needed more wood.
But Lars had forbidden her from hauling wood. She snorted. He said that was ‘man’s work’. If he was around the cabin during the day he’d see they kneaded dough, lifted Micah, scrubbed the laundry before they wrung it dry and carted wet, heavy sheets, pants and shirts to be hung on the line.
She could haul wood. If she could do heavy chores in the house and plant a field of potato eyes, she could haul wood.
But he had that spoon. Kept it under the mattress on his side of the bed. He’d only used it once, but that encounter had been memorable. The implement was small, but it carried a mighty sting. She shrugged. They needed more diapers.
Ellie swallowed the last bite of bread, brushed her hands together, squared her shoulders and stood. Lars might not even know she’d ventured to the outbuilding. She’d take the risk. Heck, she’d probably tell him herself. Secrets being one of the devil’s playgrounds as far as her husband was concerned.
She crossed the dirt yard and peeked inside the empty barn. The men had Tiny and Missy with them, and they’d sold the oxen. But the vacant expanse had been cleaned, stalls repaired, and roof reinforced in anticipation of horses to come. My, oh, my, how those men worked. From sunup to sundown they labored to make the dream of Journey’s End a reality.
Giving herself a shake, she put a stop to her daydreaming. Those men would come back with bellies aching, and she needed to get the diapers laundered and turn her efforts toward supper.
The woodshed was forty yards past the barn, and Ellie hurried toward the shed. A large tree stump stood at the door of the building with an axe embedded in the surface. A few pieces of wood lay on the ground, and she picked them up as she passed. Inside Lars and Sven had stacked wood against three walls in a neat crisscross pattern. The ringing of the axe splitting wood was near constant if the men were home. They were determined to have enough to last the chilly winter. They had some ready cash left, but they would balk at using it to buy wood.
She lifted a piece from the pile and added it to her load. She could carry eight pieces, and that would do the job.
The sixth piece was added to the burden when she heard the soft rustle of a boot shuffling in the dirt. She began to turn but an arm clamped around her ribs and held her helpless. Her heart beat fit to burst as she clawed at the imprisoning hand.
“Now, Ellie, is that any way to greet me? You’ve put me to a lot of trouble, girl, a lot of trouble,” a voice hissed.
“Simon?” Ellie’s voice quivered. “Is that you?”
“Of course it’s me. You didn’t really think I’d give up, did you?” he snarled.
“What do you want?” She strove for calm, but they both heard the squeak of panic.
“You, of course. I always get what I want. You were foolish to run.” He clicked his tongue. “Naughty. You were naughty. But I know what to do with naughty girls. You’ll learn to behave before I send you away.”
She wiggled, but his grip was fierce. “How did you find me? Your grandfather said he would take care of you and your… your…” She had no word to describe his room and his actions.
“Hobby?” he offered.
“Yes,” she replied. Knitting was a hobby. Whittling was a hobby. Kidnapping young women was not a hobby. It was a crime, but she needed to keep him talking. Buy herself a little time. If he got her away from Journey’s End, Lars might not be able to find her. He’d try, she knew, but the chances of rescue would diminish.
“Well, the old man did come to town. He scolded my pa for extorting the local businesses, but he was really angry about my room. He has political ambitions, and my hobby would be an embarrassment.” Simon scoffed and dragged Ellie closer.
“Yes, he said as much,” Ellie added.
“But, I am his grandson, so he wouldn’t turn me over to the law. He had another plan. I was to sail to Shanghai and manage his business interests in the Orient. It was a ploy plain and simple. He wanted rid of me. Then his political future could remain rosy.” Simon bent to bite her neck.
“Ouch, Simon. That hurts,” Ellie complained.
“That’s nothing compared to what you got coming. You aren’t fresh anymore, and I like my girls untried. I’ll need a special punishment for that, Ellie,” her captor sneered.
Ellie choked back a sob. She was a good way from the cabin. Caroline and the children were sleeping. Loki was locked in the cabin with them. The men were out working. After all the struggle, was Simon going to get her? She fought for calm taking one deep breath and then another.
“Why didn’t you go?” she asked.
“And leave you behind?” he snorted. “I did get on the ship. But after my grandfather went ashore, I got off again. That captain and I had been doing business for years. He sells the girls I brought him to a brothel in Shanghai and keeps the money. It was an arrangement he didn’t want to lose.” Simon paused. “But old Grandpa did tell me about your visit. Yours and Lars, is it?”
She nodded.
“He said you’d dropped by. Mentioned you were headed to Oregon to join his brother. Didn’t take my men long to follow the trail.”
“Lars will be back any minute, Simon. You better leave.” Ellie tried a new, desperate ruse.
“Don’t make it worse by lying. I do so hate a liar.” He gave a brutal squeeze, and the air rushed from her lungs. “Lars and his brother are out fixing fence. He won’t save you.”
“But I will,” announced a deep voice.
Simon spun to face the intruder, and Ellie’s feet flew off the ground. Simon kept his grip tight. Her feet dangled in the air.
“Remember me, Simon? Still picking on people half your size, I see. You’ve always been a bully.” The man who entered the woodshed was not tall, but he was broad and muscular. His thighs strained the denim of his pants and the sleeves of his shirt bulged. His hair was the brilliant red of an autumn leaf.
“Mitch,” Ellie sobbed.
“Let her go, Simon,” Mitch growled.
“Why would I do that? I got her right where I want her.” Simon pulled a gun from his holster and pressed the muzzle to the side of Ellie’s head. “Drop your gun and back out of here. If you don’t, I’ll shoot her.” Simon tapped Ellie’s temple with the barrel of the gun. “Tell you what. I won’t send her to Shanghai when I’ve finished with her. You can have what’s left. A little gift in remembrance of all the good times we shared as boys.”
Simon lifted his hand to push his hat back on his head. The gun no longer pressed into her skull, but it would return. She threw her head back as hard and as fast as she could. She felt Simon’s nose crack and warm blood spurted down the front of her dress. He released her with a pained gasp. Ellie dropped to her hands and knees.
Two shots exploded in the air above her head. Two bullets raced towards their targets. Two deadly missiles whose goal was death.
Ellie buried her head in her arms.
“Please, God, don’t let it be Mitch,” she muttered a desperate prayer.
A tingling began in her fingers and toes and worked up her arms and legs. Her vision became a diminishing tunnel. I will not faint. She scolded herself. Ellie McBride Nielson was made of sterner stuff. I will not faint.
The world went black.
Chapter 16
Lars swallowed the last of his biscuit and cheese sandwich. He opened his canteen and took a long, deep drink of cool creek water. Life was so damn good it scared him. There were so many what ifs. What if someone became ill? What if all their plans failed? What if Ellie and the baby… no, he couldn’t even let himself think it.
He patted the corral fence. “It’s finished, Sven. We can catch a few wild ponies, and I’ll gentle and train them. It will be a good profit. We can raise a good bit of our own food
and run a few cattle. Before we build a second house, I think we should build a wood shop for you. We can worry about…”
Sven and Lars turned as the sound of two shots, one right after the other, ripped through the still afternoon.
“What the hell?” Lars was swinging into his saddle before the noise had faded. Sven followed.
The two men leaned low over the necks of their mounts and urged them faster, faster.
Caroline emerged from the cabin. She held Micah by one hand and cradled the baby in the other. Her hair needed a comb; her eyes were unfocused from sleep.
Sven jumped from his horse and gathered his wife into his arms. “What happened? Where’s Ellie?”
“I don’t know,” Caroline stammered. “The children and I were napping, and I heard shots.”
Lars searched the yard with desperate eyes. Two strange horses stood, saddled, outside the woodshed. He nudged his own horse into another run and hit the ground before Tiny skidded to a stop.
Boots pounding dirt, he flew into the shed. Ellie lay on the ground. Her dress covered in blood.
Lars fell to his knees and gathered his wife into his arms.
“Ellie. Ellie. Can you hear me? Ellie, wake up,” he begged. He held her against his chest with one hand and searched for injury with the other.
“Don’t worry. It’s not her blood,” a man with brilliant red hair stated.
“Mitch?” Lars asked.
The man nodded agreement.
“Ellie’s brother. The hair tells the story.” He pointed at the body lying motionless on the floor. “Simon?”
“Yes, it’s Simon,” Mitch spat the name through clenched teeth.
Ellie’s eyes drifted open, closed and opened again.
“Damn. I fainted,” she groaned.
“Don’t swear.” Lars grinned and took the sting from his words.
Ellie seized her husband’s arm. “Lars, Simon was here. He came to get me. I was so scared.” She trembled and buried her face in the wide warmth of her husband’s chest.
Here Comes McBride (Journey's End Book 1) Page 14