River Lady

by Jude Deveraux

  He chuckled. “As soon as you absolutely had to, no doubt. In the morning make me a list and I’ll get everything. Maybe you ought to double whatever you think we’ll need. Now let’s get back before we’re missed.”

  Leah hesitated. “Wesley,” she whispered. “I don’t know how to write. How can I make a list?”

  He turned and looked at her, and his look made her blush. Once she would have run into his arms. She wished she could forget how she’d once loved him.

  “I guess you’ll have to go with me,” he said, so softly she barely heard him.

  Together they went back to their own camp. Wesley walked Leah to where her bedroll lay and when they stopped, he smiled at her in conspiracy, gave her a wink, then turned toward his own bed on the far side of the camp.

  Leah fell asleep with a smile on her face.

  In the morning Leah didn’t want to look at Wesley because she was afraid she’d see hatred in his eyes and that the night before would turn out to be a dream.

  “You’re sure you don’t mind us traveling with you?’ Mrs. Greenwood asked for the hundredth time.

  Turning, Leah smiled at her. “Of course not. I’m looking forward to spending time with your children. Until this trip, I’ve always been surrounded by children, and I miss them.”

  Sadie Greenwood laughed. “You may get more of them than you want. My three are a handful.”

  At that moment the baby began to cry. “Let me,” Leah said, running toward the toddler, Asa, who’d just fallen. The boy was used to strangers; he clung to Leah and as she held him hot tears came to her eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Wesley asked from behind her it was as if he’d been watching her and came when she needed him.

  “My child would have been nearly his age,” Leah choked out, hugging the boy who was no longer crying. She turned back to the wagons.

  “Our child,” Wes murmured, but she didn’t hear him.

  The next few days were very pleasant. Leah rode with Mrs. Greenwood and they swapped recipes, Sadie’s of food, Leah’s of how to concoct beauty creams, and talked endlessly about children.

  “And which one of those men are you going to choose?” Sadie asked.

  Leah kept her eyes on the horses. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Sadie chuckled. “At first I thought it was Justin, since he’s always hovering over you, but then that good-looking Wesley could never take his eyes off you, so I asked him how closely you were related.”

  “You asked him?” Leah said with a gasp.

  “Years ago I quit trying to cure myself of nosiness—and so did Hank. Or maybe he just gave up on me. It’s an absolute curse on me. I always want to know everybody’s business.”

  “What did Wesley say about our relationship?” Leah asked softly.

  Sadie gave her a quick look from the corner of her eye. “He said you were cousins by marriage and not blood relatives at all.”

  Leah laughed at that. “That’s certainly true,” she said, and to change the subject she asked Sadie something about the children.

  That night Sadie had her first run-in with Kimberly. It had started quite innocently. Sadie was used to taking charge, used to organizing people to get things done. Leah, Wes, Justin, and Hank were seeing to the livestock while Sadie was starting supper and managing the children, who were restless after riding all day. She began giving Kimberly things to do. At first cooperative, Kim obeyed Sadie, but after being given five tasks in a row Kim set the pan down, murmured, “I have to go into the woods,” and didn’t return until everyone was sitting down to eat.

  Sadie was silent all through the meal, but twice, when Kim asked Wes to fetch something for her, Sadie gave Kim hard looks. After dinner, Leah began clearing the dishes when Sadie stood.

  “I think Miss Kimberly should clean up since she didn’t bother to help make camp or cook the meal,’ Sadie said loudly.

  Her husband looked as if he wanted to crawl under a rock. “Now Sadie,” he began, “I’ll help clear.”

  Kimberly was already on the outskirts of the camp, obviously preparing to escape.

  Leah looked at Wes, but he was studying his empty plate. Justin was watching Sadie with interest.

  Sadie stood firm. “She didn’t help this morning or at moon. She didn’t help with the animals or tonight’s meal. She won’t drive a team nor does she help load or unload. I’ll not be anybody’s servant, Hank Greenwood. I’m a free American.”

  Kimberly was obviously too astonished to speak, but now she looked pleadingly at Wes.

  Slowly, Wes stood. “Come on, Kim,” he said softly. “I’ll help you clear the dishes.”

  The group broke apart immediately. Hank grabbed Sadie’s arm. “Are you happy now that you’ve made a scene? It’s their business who does what around the camp.” He led her away into the shadows.

  Kim started crying. “How could you let her say those things about me?” she wailed, falling into Wesley’s arms. “You know I’m not strong like the rest of you. I wish I could be like Leah but I just can’t. And no one seems to care about how much Steven’s death upset me. It’s so difficult for me to adjust to his being gone. Oh Wesley, please don’t leave me. I need you so much. I just couldn’t live without you.”

  Leah stood rooted to where she was, watching Wes comfort Kimberly.

  “Walk with me?” Justin said, pulling Leah by the arm, leading her into the darkness. “Sadie said what I’ve wanted to for a long time. What amazes me is how Wes can put up with her.”

  Leah jerked away from him. “I’m getting tired of hearing about how bad everyone thinks Kim is. Maybe she senses how much you dislike her and that’s why she refuses to help.” She stopped. “I’m sorry. Maybe I’m just tired in general. I think I’ll go back.” Quickly she turned and ran back to the camp.

  Wesley was just pouring hot water into a pan to wash dishes while Kim, looking sulky, was prepared to dry them.

  “Go away,” Leah told Wes gently. “Kim and I’ll do the dishes.” She barely glanced at him but he left the women alone.

  “I didn’t mean—,” Kim began. “That woman is so awful. Does she know my brother just died?”

  Leah started washing dishes. “I think she believes that even grief is no excuse to get out of work. Tomorrow morning why don’t you stay by me and I’ll help you stay busy?”

  “But, Leah, I do stay busy. I always have so much to do. I have to look nice for Wesley and my hair takes so much time. Sometimes I wish I were like you and didn’t worry when I get grease stains on my clothes or soot smudges on my nose. Justin likes you as you are, but Wesley wants me to be beautiful and I have to be. Doesn’t anyone understand that?”

  Leah rubbed her cheek on her shoulder and glanced down at her dress. It was indeed stained.

  Kim moved closer to Leah and began to whisper. “I’m beginning to worry about Wesley. He doesn’t kiss me as often anymore. He used to always be clutching at me, but now he just looks at me.”

  “Kim,” Leah said in exasperation. “Why are you telling me this? How can I help you?”

  “I just thought you might know some enticements because you’re a…well, because you’re not a virgin and I thought maybe your sister might have given you some hints.” She stopped at Leah’s look. “I didn’t mean to offend you,” she said as if wounded. “I just thought you might know some things.”

  “Kimberly,” Leah said evenly. “You wash the dishes.” With that she turned away.

  That night Leah was awakened by a touch on her shoulder and looked up to see Wesley leaning over her.

  He put his finger to his lips and motioned her to follow him. She slipped her dress over her head and went into the woods behind him. When they were far enough away, he turned to her.

  “About a mile down the road is a family that needs help. I made up a package of goods and thought maybe you’d like to go with me to deliver it. Unless you’re too tired.”

  He sounded like a little boy, afraid she’d turn him down. “I
’d love to,” she answered.

  They walked for a while, not speaking.

  “Pretty night, isn’t it?” Wes asked.

  “Very.”

  “You and Justin have a fight?” he asked bluntly.

  She shot him a look of challenge. “You and Kimberly have a fight?”

  He grinned at her, and she grinned back.

  “You like him, don’t you?” Wes persisted.

  “He’s one of my kind. We both grew up poor.”

  “Oh,” Wes said. “I always had money but I also always had Travis. I’m not sure if I wouldn’t give up the money if I could have grown up without Travis.”

  “Only a rich man would say such a thing. No brother is worse than poverty.”

  “At least you were free to think your own thoughts. Travis always told me what to think and how to think it. That’s why Kim—.” He stopped.

  “Why Kim what?” Leah asked quietly.

  “Kim needs me,” he said, stubbornness in his voice.

  “Kim needs something,” Leah answered. “But I wonder if anyone knows what it is. Is that the camp?”

  “No, it’s farther away. For some reason they camped in a little canyon. If a rain came they’d never get out fast enough. You don’t mind a bit of a climb in the dark, do you?”

  Leah shook her head, but later she wished she’d questioned his idea of a “bit of a climb.” They seemed almost to scale a rock wall in order to reach the bottom of the canyon. Wesley went first, then as Leah came down above, he took her ankles, moved his hands—quite unnecessarily, Leah thought—up her legs to her hips, then plucked her off the wall and set her on the ground. She meant to speak to him about his conduct, but he was grinning so winningly she laughed with him. He grabbed her hand and started down the canyon.

  “There it is.” He pointed. “You stay here while I deliver the package, then we’re off again.”

  Leah crouched down behind a rock and watched as Wes made his way toward the sleeping travelers. She almost felt like a thief, as if they were doing something wrong, skulking about in the middle of the night, intruding on sleeping people.

  Wesley was just entering the camp when Leah saw a man coming from the opposite direction, a long-barreled fowling gun slung across his arm, a big dog at his feet. Instantly she knew there was going to be trouble.

  She stood just as Wes saw the man and dog. Wes raised his hand to give greeting, but the dog set up a howl and ran toward Wes in attack and the man raised his gun. Wesley sensibly dropped his bundle, turned, and started running back toward Leah.

  “Go!” he shouted over the growing din of voices and barking dogs.

  “Come back here, you thievin’ varmint!” someone shouted, close behind Wes.

  Leah grabbed her skirts and took off at a dead run, inches in front of Wesley.

  The gun went off and the air exploded with bits of shot. Behind her Wes grunted, but when Leah looked back he shoved her shoulder. “Up the damned wall!” he said with a growl, and the next thing Leah knew she was grabbed by a big hand on her seat and shoved upwards, her cheek grazing rock.

  She scrambled up the side of that rock like a fly, heaving herself over the top and crawling on her hands and knees before running with all her might.

  Wesley tackled her, slamming her into the ground just as more of the fiery shot whizzed over them.

  “What is that?” She gasped from under him.

  “Quiet!” he hissed, covering her head with his hands, protecting her slight body with his own.

  Leah couldn’t breathe, but she was much too frightened to need to breathe.

  “They got away!” came a voice from below them. “Leastways I ain’t goin’ up that rock to look for ’em. I reckon they’ll think twice before they try stealin’ again.”

  For a long while they lay quietly.

  “Wesley,” Leah managed to say. “I can’t breathe.”

  He rolled off her, stood, and grabbed her hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

  He pulled her along behind him at a galloping pace until he stopped and leaned against a tree, his chest heaving. Leah did the same.

  When they’d caught their breath, they looked at each other.

  Wesley was the first to grin. “So much for our Good Samaritan acts.”

  Leah gave a little laugh. “We could have been killed.”

  Wes grinned wider. “Wonder what he’ll think when he finds the bag of food?”

  Leah couldn’t refrain from laughing any longer. “I hope his dog doesn’t get it sooner. Oh Wesley, I never went up a rock faster in my whole life! I thought you were going to throw me over the top.”

  “I tried to. That dog was so close I could smell its breath.” He laughed. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

  “A few scrapes and bruises, that’s all. I’ll be sore tomorrow. What about you?”

  He was still laughing. “A bloody side, but not bad.”

  That sobered her. “Where?” she demanded, moving in front of him and grabbing the buttons of his shirt.

  “You sure are eager to get my clothes off, woman.” He grinned down at her.

  “Shut up, Wesley,” she said conversationally, unbuttoning his shirt. In the moonlight she could see two long, deep scratches. “They don’t look bad, but they ought to be washed. Let’s get to the water.”

  “Yes ma’am,” he said happily, following her as she walked through the woods to the nearby stream.

  Wesley removed his shirt while Leah tore part of her petticoat away to wash the cuts. “What would men do without women’s petticoats?” Wes murmured. “You are a very pretty young woman, Leah,” he whispered, then touched her chin so she looked at him.

  The air was filled with the charges between them, dancing lights of the moon on the water drawing them together.

  Leah’s fingers moved from the cuts on Wes’s side to his dark, warm skin, upward to the dark mass of curling hair on his chest. She couldn’t move away when his lips came near hers.

  “We are still married, you know,” he murmured.

  Leah awoke from her trance. “If you’re trying to seduce me, Wesley Stanford, you have just failed. Here! Clean your own wounds.” She jumped up and started back to the camp.

  Wes grabbed his shirt and ran after her. “I didn’t mean anything, Leah, honest,” he pleaded. “I just thought—.”

  She whirled on him. “You thought that I was an easy woman and available so you’d take what you could get, didn’t you? Why didn’t you ask your virginal Kimberly out tonight and try to seduce her? Because she’s good and I’m bad, right? It’s all right to try what you can with a Simmons but not with a lady like Miss Shaw. Well, you were wrong! I gave myself once to you because I wanted to, and the next time I’ll choose the man and he won’t be one who tricks me.”

  “You mean Justin,” Wes said angrily, then changed his tone. “Leah, I didn’t mean to trick you. Everything just sort of happened. I wasn’t trying to seduce you because you’re experienced, but you’re a pretty girl and—.”

  “And any pretty, experienced girl will do, is that it?”

  His face changed, his pride took over. “I’m not Justin and you’re not Kimberly, so we’re even.” He brushed past her to return to the camp.

  Instantly Leah’s anger drained away and she knew she’d been wrong. Wesley was right. What had happened had not been planned and she’d been wrong to ruin the moment.

  She started to call out to him but stopped herself. It was better this way. Lately they’d been becoming too friendly. When it came time for their separation and his marriage to Kimberly, she didn’t want to be in love with him. Yes, it was better to stay away from Wesley and concentrate on Justin. Perhaps Justin could make her forget all the feelings she’d ever had for Wes.

  Chapter 11

  Leah found it quite easy to concentrate on Justin. He always seemed to be just a few feet away from her, always ready to help with any chore. He smiled at her a great deal and gave her flowers.

  One ev
ening as Leah was standing by the wagon holding a handful of wildflowers Justin had given her, Sadie approached. “So you’re thinkin’ of choosin’ the little one,” Sadie said.

  “I’d hardly call Justin small,” Leah answered, not pretending to misunderstand. “Besides, there’s never been any choice in the matter. Wesley Stanford is engaged to Kimberly and he’s very much in love with her.”

  Sadie snorted. “He may have been at one time, but that was before he had to spend twenty-four hours a day in her company.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t act innocent with me, young lady,” Sadie chided. “I know very well that you can sense what’s going on between them.”

  “I haven’t seen anything,” Leah said. “And besides, it doesn’t matter to me what Wesley does. I think I may be falling in love with Justin.”

  Sadie only grunted as she went into the woods to empty a pan of dirty water.

  Two nights later they camped near three families, one of which played fiddles, and they invited everyone to an impromptu dance.

  Leah spent a long time choosing her dress and in washing and brushing her hair until it shone and sparkled like melted rubies. Her low-cut dress was deep rose-colored silk that caught the light when she moved. Darker rose ribbons were entangled in her hair and tied under her breasts.

  “You look like a princess,” Sadie’s oldest son said with a gasp when he saw her.

  At the dance were five women and fifteen men. Four of the men were the big, good-looking, energetic sons of one of the women, and they caught the hands of Leah and Kimberly instantly, leading them into romping dances near the cooking fire.

  “I don’t like this,” Kimberly said as she tried to catch her breath between dances.

  Leah didn’t have time to reply as another man pulled her away to dance with him.

  “You seem to be enjoying yourself,” Wesley said later as he pulled her into his arms.

  “I don’t want to fight you,” she said, enjoying the music and the moonlight.

  “You look beautiful, Leah,” Wesley whispered. “You’ve changed since—.”

  He stopped at the sound of Kimberly’s insistent voice from across the camp. “Wesley!” she demanded.