by Ivy McAdams
“Clay,” a man’s voice boomed across the camp.
The three of them turned. Ace stood outside the flap of his tent, neatly trimmed chin lifted in the air and eyes locked on them.
“Excuse me, ladies,” Clay murmured. He paused after a couple steps, turning back with a finger in the air and a furrow in his brow as he glanced between the two.
“She’s fine here, Clay,” Clara cut in with a grin. “I’ll put her to work.”
His eyes moved to Sadie―the dark ones that drew her in so deep she feared she’d say something stupid again―and her breath caught in her chest. He regarded her silently for a breath, gaze roaming her face and neck, then he nodded.
“I’ll be back.”
Sadie watched him march off, and a cool shiver snaked its way up her spine. As much as she’d wanted to flee just an hour ago, she found herself wishing she could go with him now.
He was just the one she knew best there, she told herself. She was in a camp full of strangers. Of course she’d rather stay with Clay. For now. Until she could get away.
“Hunting again?” Clara snickered.
Sadie snapped to attention. “What’s that?”
“You seemed to be on the prowl. Combing over the camp with your eyes. Looking for something delectable,” Clara said, bouncing her chin in Clay’s direction.
Sadie’s cheeks flushed, and she fanned at the warm air crowding her neck. “I was doing nothing of the sort. I was curious as to what Ace wanted.”
Clara lifted a shoulder with a grin. “Nothing wrong with having a look.”
Even just looking had stirred odd and unwelcome feelings in her earlier that morning. It was not something to be played with. “I would say there was,” she said. “I am engaged and do not wish to participate in such silly games.”
The blonde shrugged again as she led the way to her tent. “I’m not judging. I was just describing what I saw. Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“That’s right. Especially if nothing was happening.”
A row over from the tent she’d stayed in the night before sat a cluster of four other lean-to dwellings. The nearest one was dressed with a ram’s head hanging from the center post. A barrel and crate sat outside the white blanket tent flap. A sheet of paper and a pen sat on the crate, a make-shift table.
Clara disappeared inside the tent. Sadie stepped up to the corner of the structure and waited, gazing down at the paper. She’d expected words to be scrawled there, but instead found a sketch of a landscape. Rolling hills and trees. The detail was grand, and she leaned over for a better look.
“I don’t blame you a bit,” Clara said as she emerged from the tent, the butt end of a bread loaf in one hand and a canvas bag in the other. “Those Pearson boys are something to look at it.”
Sadie frowned. “Tom looks at me like he might rip my throat out. There’s nothing handsome about him.” Although he did have the same strong build and chiseled jaw as Clay. She’d been too busy trying not to make eye contact with Tom that she’d barely noticed.
“It’s a dark kind of handsome. Like Ace.” She let out a low whistle as she handed over the bread. “That man has the best looking concentration face I’ve seen on this side of the Mississippi.”
Sadie’s nose wrinkled. “Concentration face?”
“Girl, wait until you see him hard at work.” Clara shifted her feet to pop out a hip and fan at her neck. “I sit in on those boring progress meetings just to watch him read over his papers and point at the map.”
She snickered, but Sadie scratched at the sun-kissed hair swirling loose behind her ear.
“But he’s a bad man.”
“Not to me. He gave me food and a place to sleep. I have a job here now, and I’m thankful.”
Clara led the way back to the deer, and Sadie hurried to keep up.
“Why are you out here anyway? I thought all the women out here were―” She stopped, an uneasy feeling weighing on her stomach.
Clara paused as she reached inside the bag. “Painted ladies?”
Sadie flinched. Her voice barely squeaked above a whisper. “Maybe.”
The edge of Clara’s lip turned up. “It’s ok. I thought that too. Before I joined them, that is.” She pulled out a cluster of onions and carrots and stuffed them into Sadie’s arms.
“Ace takes in those that need takin’ in,” she continued. “For whatever reason. I’d been traveling for three days when he and Tom ran across me down by the river. I don’t think I’d have made it another day. I had no food, no horse, no protection.” She shook her head as a subtle shudder rippled through her shoulders. “I thought I was going to die, but Ace brought me to camp, back when it was over back that way near St. Aspen. He gave me my own tent and made sure no one bothered me. I’ve been here ever since.”
Sadie's stomach felt heavy. The very idea of being alone to defend for herself made her queasy. It was bad enough living with Papa so far from town her entire life, but if she had to do it without him? Beneath the stack of vegetables, she pressed a hand to her abdomen in an attempt to calm the writhing within.
Thank goodness she had Robert to go back to. She’d finally be a normal citizen of Emerald Falls.
Clara pulled two sheathed blades from her bag and placed one on the ground next to her. “Here. Cut those for me, will you?”
Sadie shifted the carrots and onions in her arms as she knelt in the grass. Clara got to work skinning the deer, and Sadie’s nostrils flared as she turned a blind eye and set to work on the vegetables. She’d never liked the skinning part of her father’s profession.
“Where were you going?” she asked, separating the onions on the canvas bag and picking up the knife.
“When I was lost?” Clara shook her head. “I was running from the law.”
Sadie stopped and stared. Clara continued without looking up.
“I told him I wasn’t going to take it anymore. I guess he didn’t believe me.”
“Who?”
“My husband.”
Clara wiped her hands on a rag and stood to strip the deer. Sadie watched her with a dumb slack in her jaw.
“He was a miserable man. Nothing made him happy. Not me. Not his mama. It wasn’t long before the whiskey didn’t make him happy either. When he got lost in that rage, he was like a bull. Any movement would set him off. It was best just to stay out of his way. Except I wanted to help.” Clara rolled her eyes and yanked harder on the deer hide. “Stupid me, always trying to find a way to make it better. I can’t tell you how many times he hit me, but it only took a couple weeks before I told him. I said, Lloyd, if you touch me again I’m going to come after you with that repeater your father gave you. He just didn’t believe me.”
She shrugged and rolled the half-skinned deer over. “I don’t lie. He should have listened.”
Sadie’s mouth had turned to cotton. Clara had seemed so normal and sweet. She’d even been thankful Clara was there at the camp to keep her company. And safe. She’d felt much more at ease with Clara around. At least she had before she knew the truth.
“You—you killed him?”
Clara stood and looked down at Sadie, hands resting on her hips with her skinning knife turned out away from her back. “I sure did. That bastard won’t hurt me ever again.”
Sadie’s nostrils flared, and she swallowed back a knot of nerves and the threat of a heave. She’d never met a murderous woman before. Or at least one that freely admitted to it. She was sure all the men she’d come in contact with in camp had killed people. They were outlaws, after all.
Clara had seemed different. Normal.
She’d been so blind.
Clara dropped her knife and wiped her hands as she knelt next to her. Her brow creased, and she set a hand on Sadie’s shoulder. Sadie fought the urge to shudder and lean away.
“He broke my arm, Sadie. Once he pummeled my face until I couldn’t see for two days. The daily bruises and the fear. He was going to kill me. The worst part was he was the one that was
supposed to be protecting me. Who was going to protect me from him? No one, that’s who. So I did.”
Her fingers flexed on Sadie’s shoulder. Sadie stared at the blonde as she let the words sink in. She’d known a battered woman in Emerald Falls. She was a sad sight for years. Quiet and meek. She came running every time her husband barked her name. They all knew what was going on, but no one ever reacted. It was a sad ordeal. She supposed that woman should have been more like Clara.
“I wouldn’t let him ruin me,” Clara murmured. “But you don’t have to be afraid of me, Sadie. I won’t hurt you.”
Despite the small inklings of fear still tickling around the edge of her conscience, Sadie smiled. “I’m glad. I like being around you.”
Clara’s face brightened. “And I you. Let’s get this dinner going.”
She went back to the deer, and Sadie concentrated on the onions again. She glanced Clara’s way a time or two, watching her skill with the knife, but her worries had dissipated.
Once the hide was free, Clara rolled it and set it aside.
“I can help with that later if you’d like,” Sadie offered.
“You can tan hides?”
Sadie gave an exasperated eye-roll with a smile. “I’ve probably tanned a few hundred.”
Clara blinked at her, eyebrows set high. “Really?”
“Yes. My father sold skins. He did the hunting and skinning. I cured the hides.”
“Brilliant. The only skill my father taught me was to stick up for myself. It came in handy, since he married me off to a real jerk.”
Sadie winced. “That’s an ironic twist.”
“Don’t I know it. I don’t trust any daddy arranged marriage.”
Sadie paused, knife halfway through her third onion. She opened her mouth to reply but thought better of it. Clara must have noticed.
“I’m sorry. Is yours an arranged marriage?”
“Well, sort of. The Murphys are a big name in Emerald Falls. I’m lucky I was chosen. They push cattle across five thousand acres.”
Clara nodded with wide eyes. “Impressive. Your fiancé―what did you say his name was? Robert? He owns it?”
“His father does. He’s the oldest of three boys.”
“Do you like him?”
Sadie stiffened at the comment. “Of course I do. We’re to be married.”
Clara snorted as she set aside two cuts of meat. “I’m not sure that really answers the question. I assume you don’t love him, but do you even like him? He’s not one of those spoiled ranchers, is he?”
Sadie scoffed. “Of course not. He’s very respectable. He knows how to treat a lady properly. I’ll certainly be moving up in the world once I join that family. Thank goodness for that, since I’ve been unceremoniously deprived of my father.” She didn’t expect the hitch in her breath at the mention of Papa. Rather than give in to the ache in her chest, she bit the inside of her cheek and forced the emotions back down.
Clara stopped working, and one of her eyebrows quirked up. “Does he know you can handle a rifle?”
Sadie brushed aside leftover onion skins with a snappy wrist. “As a matter of fact, he does. He’s seen me use one. He didn’t care for it, but he saw it. He should thank heavens I can too!”
Clara’s eyes flashed in amusement. “Do tell. Did you shoot someone?”
Sadie paused mid-flick of vegetable parts. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. The last thing she wanted was to admit that her betrothed had rolled over in the face of danger. It was less than becoming of a man. No one had seen it but her, and as his future wife, she should keep the details to herself.
Clara’s eyes bored into her. She was like raccoons in winter, greedy and ready to gobble up any scraps thrown out into the snow.
Sadie couldn’t find it in herself to lie outright. She’d already said it. It was best just to get it over with.
“I didn’t shoot a person, no.”
“What was it? Were you being attacked?”
Sadie pinched the bridge of her nose with a soft sigh. Drat. She’d stepped in it. She lowered her hand and went back to cutting carrots like the story was most uninteresting.
“We were attacked by a wolf on the edge of town. I don’t know what he was doing so close to the people, but he seemed off. Like he was hurt or sick. He was so angry.” She cleared her throat as she chopped. “I had a gun on the wagon, but Robert tried to stop me from getting it. Weapons were unbecoming for a lady, he’d said. But I grabbed it anyway. Thankfully. Because that wolf ran for Robert like he was going to rip him to shreds.” She shuddered. “It was a clean shot, dropped the beast. I don’t know if Robert was more relieved or horrified that I’d saved him. He’s never made mention of the incident again, to me or anyone else.”
“I wouldn’t either,” Clara smirked. “If he was that upset about you just touching a rifle, what’s he going to say when you get back home? Unchaperoned and out shooting deer?”
Sadie grimaced. It was what she kept pushing from her mind. She didn’t want to think about his reaction.
“I suppose he’ll be shocked. Angry. His mother even more so.”
“She a bad one?”
“She’s rather odd.”
Clara perked an eyebrow. “Odd?”
“Uptight. She bosses her sons around a good bit. The only one that talks over her is Mr. Murphy. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, she listens. I wish she’d talk less most of the time.”
Clara cackled. “I’ve known women like that. Can’t say I care for them much.”
Sadie shook her head. “Not when they’re so bossy. It’s a wonder Robert can do anything on his own. She’s always right there over his shoulder. If only she were more like Lilah, Robert’s sister. She barely speaks. It’s so quiet and peaceful.”
“At least you’ll have someone around that won’t drive you nuts.”
Sadie pressed her lips together as a fog of unease settled over her, but she nodded. One person in her new family that wasn’t frightening or ridiculous. Except Lilah was too quiet and horribly dull. Maybe there would be no one she could relate to there.
“You sound like you at least like Robert though. That’s good. Although I’d say he’s not my cup of tea. Not like the good looking fellow you shot this deer for. I’m sure he’d let you protect him any time.”
Sadie’s shoulders squared, and an odd feeling raced through her stomach. “I’m sure he wouldn’t.”
“You could ask him. He’s headed this way.”
Chapter 8
A warm flush stretched up Sadie's neck and into her ears as she looked over her shoulder. Clay's solid form was weaving through the tents in their direction. The late morning sun gleaned off his soft honey-colored hair. His thumbs were tucked into the edges of his belt, and his expression was set in what she'd come to realize was his resting face. Stoic, a small crease in the brow, like he was both thinking of something serious and ready for a challenge. The guise looked good on him.
As he neared, Sadie ducked down low and went back to work prepping vegetables.
“That was a good shot on the deer,” Clara said, bent over her work and giving a short glance to Clay’s boots as he stopped next to her. “Are you sure Sadie made it?”
A deep grunt that sounded almost like a chuckle escaped him. “I was surprised too.”
“Good to know a girl that can shoot like that, huh?”
Sadie looked up at Clara, who wore a titillating grin.
“Not all men are afraid of women with guns,” Clara continued. “I mean, my husband should have been, but I know you’re secure enough to handle it, right, Clay? Unlike Sadie’s fiancé. It makes him sick.”
“Fiancé?” Clay rumbled.
Sadie wasn’t sure if it was the small flash in his hard blue eyes or the way Clara grinned stupidly at his reaction, but Sadie felt her stomach turn over. If she’d been holding anything less lethal than a knife, she’d have chunked it at Clara. She wasn’t even sure why, as she’d only told the
truth, but the way Clay’s body tightened at the word made Sadie’s cheeks burn hot.
Then his eyes were on her, and the blood drained from her face. They captured her. Both lifted her off the ground to float among the clouds and crushed her down into the grass with the soft confused crease in his brow.
“You’re engaged?”
Sadie swallowed.
Yes. She was. To a good man living within the law of society. In a town she wanted to be a part of. His family was well known and loved all along the Absaroka plains. She had a chance to be a part of that, and it was everything she wanted.
So why was it so hard to answer Clay?
Her fingers trembled, and she tucked her knife into its sheath. Something ripped. She gasped and looked down.
The knife had missed the sheath and pierced through the front ruffles of her dress. Its sharp edge had sliced through the top layers, nearly reaching her leg. She dropped the knife on the ground and stood, grabbing at the gaping hole.
Clara leapt to her rescue, blocking Clay’s view of Sadie’s skirts. Sadie managed to bunch the dress enough to hide the hole, but her blush had returned tenfold.
Clay cleared his throat, averting his eyes.
“Did I hear someone say this one is engaged?” Tom asked as he clapped a hand on Clay’s shoulder and came around from behind him.
Sadie gaped at them, shuffling around to hide her front from the men. What horrible timing. And awful luck.
“Yes,” Clay murmured. “She has a fiancé back home.”
Tom looked at Sadie with an interested perk in his eyebrow. He sized her up, and she fought the shudder bunching in her shoulders. Then he looked pointedly at his brother.
Clay regarded him silently. His jaw flexed. When his eyes turned on her, they were dull, uninterested. They hit her in the chest even before his words.
“Think he’d pay more for you than your aunt?”
Sadie’s insides rolled, a cloud swelling in her head like she’d been kicked in the crown. It was the first time Clay’d mentioned the money since she’d arrived, and it cut deep.