Jamie

by Caroline Clemmons

  “What did he want?”

  “I don’t understand why, but he wanted to upset your papa because he knows Papa doesn’t want that man around us.”

  Cat gasped. “That was mean of him, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, he was mean. So, when you see him again, just be polite, but don’t ask him to sit with you. Okay?”

  “But I really am beautiful like my mother, aren’t I?”

  “I didn’t know your mother, dear. All I know is that you are my beautiful daughter and I love you and I’m proud of you for being a good girl. Now, let’s read your story and say your prayers.”

  “You love me?”

  “Of course I do. I’ve always wanted a daughter just like you and a son just like Jake. Now I have two wonderful children.”

  “I love you, too, ‘Livia.”

  Olivia thought her heart would burst with joy. She hugged Cat. When she looked up, Jamie and Jake stood in the doorway.

  Jake climbed beside her. “We came for a story. Can you read some more about the pirates and that boy who got mixed up with them?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Later in their bedroom, Jamie laid another log on the fire.

  She watched him, wondering if he was still angry. “I love Sundays when all the family is together.”

  He frowned at her. “You don’t like being here during the week?”

  What an annoying man he could be. “Don’t twist my words. I love my life here. I thought about what you said about our children playing with their cousins and visiting back and forth. That paints a lovely picture of the future.”

  He disrobed, and climbed in bed. Tonight he didn’t turn to face the wall, but leaned against the headboard and watched her preparations.

  As she brushed her hair, Olivia’s thoughts turned to her parents’ home. She’d loved the time with everyone, at least until they all started pitying her for being unwed and unwanted. If only they’d kept their sympathy to themselves instead of reminding her at each get-together that she was the only one who hadn’t married and what a shame that was.

  And then, when she’d been passed over by the man who’d courted her for three years, their pity increased. Not only that, but she also faced the same sad looks or malicious grins from others in town. With a deep sigh, she remembered why she’d had to leave her hometown. Why she’d wanted to.

  She climbed into bed and sat with her back propped against the mahogany headboard while she waited for Jamie to say something.

  He cleared his throat. “I may have been unreasonable last night.”

  She crossed her arms. “Huh, is that your idea of an apology?”

  He offered a grin that carried a hint of embarrassment. “Probably as close as I come, but yes. Yancey Quinton and I have been enemies since we were six. No matter what I have, he wants it.”

  She nodded and uncrossed her arms, folding her hands in her lap. “I see. And that extends to your child and your wife?”

  Instead of looking at her, he looked straight ahead. “Did. I don’t like to remember it, but that fight with Lucy I mentioned, his name came up in her tirade. She said she was leaving me and I told her she’d have to go without the children. She said that Cat wasn’t mine.”

  Olivia gasped. “Of course she is. She looks just like your mother.”

  He waved away her protest. “I know that, but Lucy had me wondering, which is what she intended. She said Cat was fathered by Yancey.” He laid his head against the bed. “I can’t tell you how much vitriol we packed into that last shouting match. She said she was leaving and I told her not to, that the pass wasn’t open and it was too dangerous to try.”

  “But she did?”

  His expression was grim. “Yes, and she and the horse she was riding were killed by an avalanche. We couldn’t find her for three days.”

  With a gasp of horror, she turned to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, Jamie. Please don’t blame me for Lucy’s faults. I would never cheat on you. I plan to remain here with you and our children until I die. I don’t give promises lightly, and I made that vow in front of God and witnesses.”

  He shook his head slowly. “But, I’m not sure I’ll trust any woman ever again. Even my own mother is duplicitous.”

  Twisting the sheet in her fingers, she confessed, “I was deceived by a man in my hometown yet I don’t hold you and other men responsible.”

  He stared at her with speculative interest. “I know you were a virgin when we married, so what happened?”

  How it hurt to admit how gullible she’d been. “For over three years, Frederick and I ‘stepped out’ together. Although he didn’t get down on one knee and propose, he talked of marrying me once his law practice was making sufficient money. I was naïve enough to believe him. Then a new family with a beautiful daughter moved to town. Within two months, she and Frederick were married.”

  “Must have been a blow to your pride. Were you also heartbroken?”

  She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t stop her fingers from pleating the sheet. “I didn’t love him, but I was crushed and humiliated. Everyone looked at me as if they pitied me or were laughing at me. Even my own family wouldn’t stop talking about it and feeling sorry for me. I had to leave. Your letter…your mother’s letter was the perfect answer for what little dignity I had left.”

  “So, neither of us has reason to trust the other.”

  Now she faced him and captured his gaze. “Not true. Although relying on and confiding in any man is hard for me, I believe you’re basically a man of your word. I have as much confidence in you as I do for any man. No, I take that back. I probably have more faith in Gideon.”

  He nodded. “Gideon is the best man I know. None of us was surprised when he decided to become a preacher.”

  “Jamie, you know I did nothing to encourage the attention of Yancey Quinton. Are you still angry with me?”

  With a shrug, he avoided a direct answer. “I know Yancey used you and Cat to get under my skin. Makes me want to kick myself for letting him succeed.”

  “If that ever happens again, rest assured I’ll be happy to kick you. Hard.”

  He grinned and extended his arm toward her. “Better would be if you take off that nightgown and come here.”

  Monday morning snow fell in huge flakes. Jamie took Spunky and a new hand named Rowdy and went one way while Ethan, Pete, and Old Monty went the other to check on the cattle. They’d heard wolves during the night and the men worried that cattle had been attacked.

  Olivia hurried through her chores and went to summon Jake for his lessons. He sat in his room playing with his fort and soldiers and the outbuildings he’d created from kitchen cast offs, paper, and paste.

  “Jake, it’s time for your lessons.”

  He didn’t look up. “I want to finish the tents. Look how many I’ve made.”

  “They’ll be waiting after your school work.”

  He turned and angry gaze on her. “No. I don’t want to do school stuff today. I’m gonna stay here and play.”

  “Jake, you have to have lessons every weekday morning. You know that. Now come on so we can get started. I need to finish before dinnertime.”

  He threw a soldier at her. “No, I won’t. You can’t tell me what to do.”

  Using her apron as a bag, she gathered up the soldiers and tents in her apron and picked up the fort. “All right, Jake, you won’t get these back for three days as punishment for being rude and disobedient.”

  “You can’t take those, they’re mine.”

  “I am taking them for three days. Now come on for your lessons before you’re in more trouble.”

  “I won’t and I’ll tell Papa on you.” He rushed past her and down the stairs.

  Olivia put the toys in a corner of the master bedroom and then went downstairs but she couldn’t find him. She donned her coat, hat, scarf and gloves and went to the barn.

  She met Sam. “Have you seen Jake?”

  “Not today.”

  Olivia went back to th
e house. “Milly, have you seen Jake?”

  “He ran past here putting on his coat. Said he was going to see his papa. I told Fiona he ran out and she’s looking for you.”

  Mama Fraser hurried in. “Oh, there you are, Olivia. Jake’s headed out in the snow and he’s going the wrong way to find Jamie. He’ll get lost and freeze for sure.”

  Olivia took a napkin and gathered bread and cheese. “Is there a canteen here in the house?”

  “You’re not going after him alone?”

  “I have to. The snow is falling so fast his trail will be covered in no time. Milly, would you get me a blanket while I gather some supplies?”

  In addition to food and water, she assembled matches, a rope, a lantern, and a knife.

  Mama Fraser opened a cupboard and took out a large tin. “I keep this for emergencies.” She loaded a Colt .45 and handed the firearm to Olivia.

  “Mama, I don’t know how to shoot one of those.”

  “You take it anyway. Those wolves would think Jake was a tasty treat. You, too.”

  “If it makes you feel better.”

  Milly hurried back in with a blanket. “I folded a ground cloth in there. It’ll keep the snow off and you can use it for a lean-to or to keep dry if you have to sit on the snow.”

  “Thank you, Milly. Now please go to the barn and tell Sam to find Jamie and bring him after me. My legs are longer than Jake’s so I hope I’ll catch up to him quickly. I’ll build a fire and stay put until Jamie comes.”

  Milly grabbed her coat and was out the door.

  Olivia bundled everything except the lantern into a pack she could carry and secured it with the rope.

  “Shouldn’t you take a horse? You could cover so much more ground.”

  “I don’t ride well enough to stay on a horse. If falling injured me, I couldn’t help Jake and then we’d both freeze. No, I’ll be better off walking.”

  Mama hugged Olivia. “Please take care of yourself and Jake.”

  Following Jake’s footprints, Olivia noted they were already filling with snow. She prayed she’d find Jake before any sign of him disappeared.

  Everything around her turned white. She concentrated on the small boot prints. They led in a zig-zag course and she knew Jake was lost. He must be so scared. She moved as quickly as she could but the snow blinded her.

  Finally, she spotted a dark shape. “Jake! Jake!”

  The shape turned and ran toward her, frozen tears on his cheeks. “Olivia, I’m sorry.”

  Looking behind her, she recognized nothing. In every direction, the landscape appeared the same, vast and white. “Let’s find someplace to build a fire.”

  “Aren’t you going to take me home?”

  No point lying. “I don’t know which way that is, son. I followed your footprints, and am not familiar with the land. Your father will come for us, but we have to find a place to get warm.”

  She gave him the lantern to carry and took his other hand in hers. “Let’s keep a sharp look out for a cave or a depression or a group of trees. Can you help me do that?”

  Slowly now, she walked in a straight line. Which direction she headed, she had no idea. After what seemed days but probably was no more than half an hour, they bumped against a wall of rock.

  “Good, we’ve found a cliff. Now let’s look for a depression or a cave.”

  “I’m scared. What if there’s a wolf or a lion in the cave.”

  “Then we won’t stop there, will we?” She edged along the cliff’s face as the ground moved slowly uphill.

  Surely there would be an overhang or depression where they could huddle and build a fire. They had to step over and around piles of tumbled stones. After one particularly large group of boulders, she found the sheltered overhang she hoped for. Thank Heavens, she spotted the dark shape of pines nearby.

  “Jake, here’s a perfect place. We can get out of the snow and build a fire. Now you can play pirates or Indians.”

  He peered up at her as if she were insane. “I don’t much want to play, Olivia. I’m cold.”

  “We’ll fix that in a minute. Go to the edge of the shelter and pee. Once we get you bundled in this blanket, it will be hard to move.”

  He stared at her. “Pee with you watching?”

  “I’ll turn my head.”

  He grumbled quietly. The sound of him relieving himself was followed by him moving back under the overhang.

  “Let’s get you wrapped up in this blanket after I spread this ground sheet for us to sit on, okay?” Olivia fought to keep her voice calm and matter-of-fact. All the while, her insides knotted and tightened. Her breath came in bursts and her lungs felt raw.

  She laid out the oiled-cloth ground cover at the back of the small shelter and pointed to the center. “Jake, stand right here. Now I’ll use the blanket to wrap you like a mummy and you can sit here where the snow won’t fall on you.”

  He did as she asked. “You told Cat about a mummy and she told me.”

  She wrapped him in the blanket, covering him from head to toe except for his eyes. “I’ll tell you more about them once we’re settled in front of a fire.”

  Leaving the pack of food and matches, she took only her knife and the gun. She couldn’t go far, but she foraged under the pines for broken branches. After gathering an armload of fuel, she retraced her steps. When she had a fire going, she brought out the food.

  “You’ll have to eat only a little now. We don’t know how long we’ll be here before your father finds us.”

  Jake pulled the blanket from his face and ate a bite of cheese. “What if he can’t find us?”

  “You can depend on one thing. Your father will not stop until he finds you and has you safely back at home.”

  Obviously unconvinced, he asked, “But what if it takes him a long time?”

  “Then we’ll be like the mountain men and live off the land.”

  Dear Lord, don’t let them take long to find us.

  A frown crinkled his forehead. “We don’t know how to do that?”

  She hoped her smile appeared genuine. “I do. You see, the first year I taught school a little boy in my class got lost on his way home and froze to death. He was less than a half mile from his home, but he must have been turned around.”

  His eyes widened. “Gosh, that could have happened to me.”

  “I’m glad you realize that. Anyway, I decided right then that I would teach my students what to do if they were lost in the snow or in a forest or anywhere.”

  “What do they do?"

  “First, just what we’ve done. Find a safe place and camp. Stay in one place so that searchers can find you. Then we learned how to find food.”

  “How did you know all that?”

  “Oh, I didn’t. But I read a lot of books and talked to a lot of old timers and found out everything I could about living off the land. That’s a lot easier in summer, but is also possible in winter. You’ll be surprised.”

  She ate only one bite of bread and cheese. She couldn’t forage in this weather. How long would it snow?

  “Why don’t we tell stories to pass the time?”

  “Okay, do you know some I haven’t heard?”

  “I believe I might. And we can always make up our own about a boy named Jake who conquered the West.”

  “Yeah, let’s do that.”

  Grateful her coat was long enough to pull over her curled legs, Olivia talked until Jake drifted asleep. Dark had fallen early due to the storm. She fed sticks into the fire slowly to keep them as warm as possible but she was shivering.

  She smiled at the sleeping boy. He did resemble a mummy with only his closed eyes showing from his blanket cocoon. Sitting with one arm around Jake, she snuggled him to her for shared warmth.

  Hurry, Jamie, hurry.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jamie was frantic. His son and wife were alone in this storm. Mama had shown him which way Olivia headed, but there were no tracks left to follow. Sam, Spunky, and the new hand named Rowdy r
ode with him. In addition to an extra horse, they’d brought a tent and extra blankets plus their own sleeping bags. At least they’d have something warm to wrap Olivia and Jake in when they found them.

  Sam said, “Gettin’ dark. Reckon we ought to set up camp?”

  “Not yet.” Jamie rode forward, determined to find the two today.

  His horse Thunder nickered and shied. Jamie dismounted to determine the problem. His heart hit his boots. He’d almost forced Thunder over a precipice.

  “Damn, guess you’re right, Sam. Thought I knew this land like the back of my hand but this storm must have confused me. We could have died because I can’t see a foot in front of me.”

  Spunky said, “You won’t help them if we get into trouble, boss. Reckon I’m a mite turned around myself.”

  Jamie kicked at the snow. “Damn, damn, damn. What if Olivia and Jake are freezing while we stop?”

  Sam clapped him on the shoulder. “Miss Olivia’s a smart woman and she won’t let anything happen to the boy. You have to trust her to find shelter.”

  “I pray you’re right.” But he hurt all the way to his core. He’d told her he didn’t trust her but he did. He had to find her in time to make things right.

  They set up the tent and made a cold camp. They’d brought supplies to cook a meal, but had no wood. In this storm, gathering fuel was too dangerous, if there was any nearby to find.

  Jamie climbed into his bedroll but sleep was impossible. Even in the storm, they heard the cry of wolves. He wanted to pound the ground and let out a primal scream. Instead, he lay quietly and waited for the first rays of daylight.

  ***

  Olivia had been huddled beside Jake but she stood to get the blood flowing in her limbs. They needed more wood for the fire. She took the bag in which she’d brought their food. Pine cones would supplement their diet.

  Although she hated to leave Jake alone, she had to go now. She laid the last two branches on the fire and strode toward the trees. Large pine cones lay among the needles and broken branches.