A Journey of the Heart Collection

by Colleen Coble

  “I’m very pleased to meet you,” she said softly. Her silky hand lingered on his.

  Rand was aware he was staring, but he couldn’t seem to stop. He told the private driving the ambulance to take Ranger and he would drive the ladies into the fort. All the while he was conscious of Jessica’s blue eyes fastened on him. Sarah might not have wanted to be with him, but that didn’t mean other women weren’t interested.

  Ben Croftner’s wounds had healed from the beating he’d taken at Rand Campbell’s hands, but his rage still simmered. He propped his boots on the gleaming surface of his new walnut coffee table and stared across the room at his brother.

  “I saw Wade Montgomery at the feed store today, Labe.”

  Labe looked down at his hands. “That so?”

  His brother’s cautious tone told him that Labe still feared Rand. “Campbell is long gone. He won’t stop my plans again.”

  “You need to give up that obsession with Sarah.” Labe’s hands twisted in his lap, and he didn’t look at Ben, as if fearing his response.

  As well he should. Ben gritted his teeth but didn’t waste the time to chide him. “Wade is still in favor of a marriage between Sarah and me. He’s going to do all in his power to make it happen.”

  “She won’t have none of it. Not after what you did.”

  “She took my ring. I had rights.”

  Labe just ducked his head again. “Has he told Sarah?”

  “No, but he’s going to. His father isn’t long for this world. Once he’s gone, Sarah won’t have anyone encouraging her in her crazy ideas. She’ll be with me yet.”

  TWO

  Sarah glanced out the kitchen window at the big elm tree, brilliant with October color. Wade would be home soon for dinner, and she wanted to get the meal over with so she could escape to her room and finish her book. Reading was the only thing that kept her thoughts from yearning for what she could never have. Her fingers went to the love token hanging from a chain around her neck.

  A sound made her whirl around. “Papa, you startled me.” She looked at him with new eyes, seeing his frailty and the yellow tinge of his skin.

  He wheezed as he lowered himself into the chair she pulled out for him at the table. She sat beside him and began to peel potatoes.

  Her father leaned back in his chair and sighed. “You should have gone with Rand, you know.”

  Sarah nicked her finger with the knife. “I couldn’t leave you!”

  “You’re not a little girl anymore. And there comes a time in every person’s life when he has to step out and stand on his own feet. Rand was ready, and I think you are too. We both know I won’t be around much longer.”

  Her heart squeezed at the certainty in his eyes. “No, Papa.”

  He held up a hand at her protest. “You just don’t want to admit it, my dear girl. I would rest easier if I knew you were settled and happy. I never expected you to give up without a fight. You had to fight to get him in the first place. Remember all the tears until I let you put your hair up and wear your mother’s green satin dress for Christmas dinner with the Campbells the year you turned sixteen?”

  Sarah smiled at the memory. “It worked too. That was the first time he saw me as anything but a pesky younger sister. But he’s five states away now. What can I do?” Tears started into her eyes, and she brushed them away angrily.

  Her father stood. “I don’t know the answer, but I’m sure God will tell you if you’ll listen.” He patted the top of her head and turned to leave the kitchen.

  She rose to run water over the potatoes and heard a sound behind her. A thump and a groan. Her heart in her throat, she whirled to see her father lying on the floor. Sarah flung herself down beside him and took his hand.

  “Papa, it’s me,” she whispered. “Don’t die, please don’t die. Just hold on.” She screamed Joel’s name, then Rachel’s.

  At her voice, his pale lids fluttered and his cold fingers moved under hers. She leaned closer. “Don’t try to talk. I’m here with you.”

  Her eight-year-old brother, Joel, came rushing down the steps. His face went ashen when he saw their father on the floor. “Get the doctor,” she told him before bending back to Papa. Wade’s wife, eight months pregnant, waddled into the hall from the parlor. She stopped and sank to her knees on the other side of Papa.

  With an effort, Papa opened his eyes again and tried to smile. “Don’t cry, my dear girl. The Lord is waiting for me, and I’m going to be with your mama at last.” He blinked a few times, then focused on her face. “Just be happy, Sarah. You fight for your Rand, if you must, and don’t let Wade bully you into anything.” He coughed weakly. “But don’t leave Joel with Wade. Promise me.” His voice grew stronger and he raised his head slightly. “Promise!”

  “I promise,” Sarah whispered as she felt his icy fingers loosen. The breath eased from his mouth. His chest didn’t rise again. “Papa!” Sarah stared at him. This couldn’t be real. He’d just been talking with her. She clutched his hand tighter. “Don’t leave me, Papa!” She kissed his cheek and gathered his head into her lap. “Dear God, no,” she sobbed. “Don’t take him. This can’t be happening.” She looked over at Rachel kneeling and weeping on the other side of Papa’s body. “He’s just unconscious, Rachel. He can’t be dead.”

  Rachel just shook her head and cried hard. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. We all loved him. He was a good man.” She scooted around and put her arm around Sarah’s shaking shoulders. “He never got over missing your mama. Just be happy he’s finally with her again.”

  “But I still need him.” Sarah’s voice was bewildered as she stared down into her father’s peaceful face. “He

  can’t leave me now.” She touched his grizzled cheek, already cooling.

  They both turned as Wade and Doc Seth rushed in the door with Joel on their heels. “Help him, Doc,” Sarah pleaded as the doctor knelt beside his friend of nearly forty years and put the stethoscope to her father’s chest.

  There was a long pause, then the doctor straightened. “I’m sorry, Sarah. William’s gone.” His voice was hoarse and moisture glistened in his eyes.

  The words hammered into Sarah’s brain. She reached for Joel, who had begun to cry. He was hers now. She had to keep her little brother safe and the family from splintering apart.

  Amelia looked radiant as she turned to let Sarah button up her wedding dress. Sarah’s heart filled at the joy on her face. At least there was some good in these dark days since her father’s funeral. “You look beautiful. Jacob will be tongue-tied.”

  “I hope so.” Amelia faced her. “I’m so glad you came. I wasn’t sure you’d be up to it.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.” Through the open window, Sarah heard the sounds of buckboards and buggies as the guests began to arrive for the ceremony. “Papa said something before he died. He told me to fight for Rand. I can’t do that from here. I want to go with you and Jacob when you leave for Fort Laramie.”

  Amelia’s eyes went wide. “I would love that! I’ve been so fearful of being alone when Jacob is out on patrol. Having you there would make it all bearable.”

  Sarah’s fingers went to the token at her neck. “Will Jacob agree?”

  “I’m sure he will. I’ll talk to him tonight.” Amelia hugged her tight. “I can’t tell you how pleased I am. Now let’s go get me hitched.” Her smile beamed out. “We’re leaving in two days. Can you be ready by then?”

  “Of course.” Her thoughts raced as she tried to think of all she should bring. “What about Joel? I can’t leave him behind. He belongs with me.”

  Amelia’s smile seemed less certain, but she nodded. “You can’t leave Wade to raise Joel.”

/>   As soon as the wedding was over, Sarah rushed home to pack. She had to tell Joel they were leaving too. She found him in the barn forking hay into the horse stalls. He paused to wipe his face, and she realized he was crying.

  Dust motes danced in the air, and she sneezed at the hay. Joel dropped the pitchfork and rushed into her arms. She held him close, not minding that he smelled of horse manure and barn dirt. “We’re going to be okay, Joel. Has Wade been hard on you?” Though he was still half boy, she was beginning to catch a glimpse of the man he would be with the right influences. Being away from Wade would be better for him.

  He pulled away and shrugged. “Not any more than usual.”

  “I have something to tell you.” She could barely keep her voice at a whisper. “We’re leaving with Amelia and Jacob when they go to Fort Laramie.”

  His green eyes, so like her own, widened, and a smile lifted the corners of his lips. “For real?”

  She nodded. “I need you to pack what you’ll need in one suitcase. We’ll have to travel as light as we can.”

  His smile faded. “Wade won’t let us.”

  “He’ll have no choice.” She turned toward the barn door. “I’m going to fix dinner and then pack. Don’t say anything until after I tell Wade.”

  She hurried into the kitchen and found Rachel at the table, cutting carrots. “Any labor pangs?”

  Rachel shook her head. “Not yet.” She rubbed her swollen belly. “I’m so ready.”

  The kitchen door banged open and Wade stomped in. “Supper’s not done yet?” he growled as he hung up his red plaid jacket. He turned and looked at Sarah. “There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

  She didn’t trust his mild tone. He wanted something from her, and she had a sinking feeling she knew what it was. “What about?”

  “Your future.” He stared at her challengingly. “I saw Ben in town the other day, and for some reason he still wants to marry you. I told him I didn’t see any reason why you wouldn’t. That good-for-nothing Campbell went off and left you in the lurch and—”

  “No.” The short, clipped word cut him off just as he was picking up steam.

  “You will do what I say. You’re under age and my ward.” Wade compressed his lips in an effort to keep his temper.

  “I will not marry Ben. Rand and I belong together. Papa’s last words to me were to fight for Rand. I’ll never marry Ben.”

  “Well, that’s just too bad, missy. You’d better get used to the idea because you will do as I say. Campbell has run off to the frontier, and you’ll never see him again anyway.” He shoved her toward the door. “You’ll stay in your room until you agree to abide by my decisions.” He grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs and into her room.

  Sarah stared at the closed door in disbelief as the lock clicked shut behind her brother. His behavior had shocked her so much she hadn’t put up much fight. “You can’t keep me in here, Wade! This isn’t the Middle Ages!” She heard him going down the steps and ran to the door. “Let me out of here. I’ll never marry Ben—never!” She twisted the latch to no avail, then kicked at the solid oak door in a helpless frenzy of rage.

  Pain exploded in her toe, and she hobbled over to sit on the bed and think. Joel would be in the house soon. He’d let her out. But what then? What could she do? She bit her lip and turned to look around her room. She could pack in peace.

  Instead of asking to be let out, Sarah spent the night planning her escape and was bleary-eyed from lack of sleep by the time morning came. She and Joel had whispered through the door until they were both ready to go. She hid her suitcase under the bed just as she heard Wade’s heavy tread outside the door.

  The lock turned and he stepped into the room. She wanted to throw something at him as soon as she saw his smug face. “Ready to be reasonable yet?”

  “Do I have a choice?” She kept her face averted so he couldn’t see her eyes.

  He smiled. “I knew you’d come around. I had Rachel save you some breakfast.”

  The exultation in his voice caused her to clench her hands to keep from screaming at him. “I’m not hungry.”

  He eyed her bent head, then seemed satisfied that he’d broken her spirit and nodded. “Fine. I’ll go talk to Pastor Stevens, and we’ll discuss when the wedding can take place.” He left the door open behind him and tromped back downstairs and out the door.

  Sarah sprang to her feet as soon as the buggy rumbled down the rutted track toward town. Feverishly she pulled her suitcase from under her bed. As she picked it up and turned toward the door, she heard someone in the hall. She froze until she realized it was just Joel.

  His red hair didn’t look as though it had been combed for days, but his eyes held more excitement than she’d seen in ages. “I’ve got my suitcase ready.”

  “Go get it, and I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  “Can I take my rifle?”

  Sarah hesitated as she looked into his pleading face. The less baggage the better, but the rifle had been Papa’s and she didn’t have the heart to make him leave it behind. She nodded, and he slung it over his shoulder and picked up his suitcase. They slipped down the steps and came face-to-face with Rachel.

  She looked from the suitcases to Sarah’s face. “You’re leaving. I knew Wade would never force you to fall in with his plans—but who has ever been able to tell him anything?” She pushed her brown hair back from her forehead and held out her arms.

  Sarah put down her suitcase and went to Rachel with a sigh. “I’ll miss you, Rachel. But I have to find Rand.” Her words were muffled against Rachel’s shoulder. She drew away and looked into her sister-in-law’s eyes. “Don’t tell Wade I’ve gone.”

  Rachel smiled faintly. “He won’t be back till suppertime. If you hurry, you can catch the afternoon train and be long gone before he knows you’ve left.” She hugged her fiercely, then shoved her toward the door. “Write when you get there. And don’t forget about me and the baby. We love you.”

  Sarah gulped and wiped her eyes. “I know, Rachel. And you’ve been a real sister to me. Make sure you write us when the baby’s born.”

  Rachel nodded, then smiled through her tears and made a shooing motion with her apron. “You’d best get going. You have a lot to get done today.”

  Joel hurried ahead to hitch up the wagon while Sarah took one last look at the home where she’d been born. The sun shone through the bare trees in dappled patterns on the front porch roof. The solid two-story seemed so safe and familiar. She could see the red barn just behind it where she’d played in the haymow as a child. The chicken coop off to the east, the pasture beyond that, and all around the gently rolling hills of Montgomery land. It was all so heartbreakingly beloved.

  She’d never had any plans of leaving her home. At least not any farther than the knoll beyond the pasture. Would she ever see it again? And who would tend Papa’s grave?

  She choked back tears and climbed up beside Joel. This was no time for tears, for second thoughts. Wade had left her no choice. She waved one last good-bye at Rachel, then stared firmly ahead.

  THREE

  Sarah stared out the window of the stagecoach as the barren landscape swept by. The train portion of the trip had been much more pleasant. The stagecoach reeked of dusty leather, hair tonic, horse, and underlying everything else, the unlovely aroma of unwashed bodies. They’d lurched along for ten days already. Occasionally, several of the soldiers traveling with them tried to strike up a conversation, but they soon fell silent under Jacob’s glowering.

  The frozen landscape rolled past all that day and through the night. The next morning was colder, and a hint of moisture was in the blustery wind. The soldier
s predicted a blizzard but not until the next day. They should all be safe and snug in Fort Laramie by then.

  Sarah sighed, and her breath steamed. “I hope I get a chance to bathe before I see Rand. I must look terrible.” She could feel her hair hanging in straggly wisps against her cheeks. The last time she pushed it out of her face, her gloves had come away smeared with dirt. Rand would take one look at her and send her home.

  Jacob shuffled his feet on the other side of Amelia as the driver gave a shout from topside. He grinned at Sarah. “Sounds like we’re there.”

  Sarah moaned and tried to pat the strands of hair back into some semblance of order as she lifted the leather covering and peered out the window at the fort. Surrounded by rocky soil and sagebrush, it sprawled across the Laramie River, and its frame and adobe buildings lined a wide parade ground fortified with mountain howitzers. But it was all so barren. The fort seemed a tiny oasis in a vast plain of frigid wasteland.

  She gave an involuntary gasp when she saw the Indians encamped all around the fort, their teepees gleaming in the sunshine. Hundreds of them. Women squatted around open fires, and children shouted and played in the dust.

  “Has the fort been overrun? Is it safe to disembark?”

  The garrulous old soldier across the aisle chuckled. “Fort Laramie’s the headquarters for the Sioux. There’s always a passel of Sioux ’round here. You’ll git used to it.” He nodded to her. “The name’s Rooster, miss.”

  “But there’s no stockade.” She shuddered. “What if they turn hostile?”

  “There’s always plenty of hostiles around, but they know better than to attack a fort as well garrisoned as this one. You don’t need to worry none, missy. The most them savages ever done was run howling through the pasture to stampede the horses.”

  Several soldiers manned a ferry, and the stagecoach rolled onto the vessel. Out on the river, the wind cut through Sarah’s clothing. The soldiers guided the stagecoach horses off the ferry and onto the road, then stepped back. Sarah’s heart pounded as the horses pulled the stage up the hill and it rolled to a stop. The driver threw open the door and helped the two ladies down before climbing on top and tossing the luggage down to the eager hands waiting below.