Santa Fe Woman

by Laura Stapleton

  “Sure you have enough provisions?” Miss Ellie asked, barely tall enough to peer into the back of the wagon.

  “I’ll hunt and fish on the way there,” he said while climbing onto the wagon’s seat.

  Rachel nodded and let him pull her up beside him. “Plus there are hotels along the way. Not that we’ll stop often, but between them and the trading posts we should be fine.”

  After a hmph, Miss Ellie walked to the front of the wagon. “I suppose you know what you’re doing. Just don’t spend all your money by the time you get to Fort Larned. I don’t want to have to ride a stagecoach out there to tan your hides.”

  Rachel laughed at the idea, but could imagine the woman making good on her promise. “We won’t. I have a budget, plus a little nest egg I don’t plan on using.”

  Miss Ellie grinned, her hands on her hips. “Good. You two write when you get to Santa Fe. Let me know you made it there safe.”

  “Will do, and thank you, ma’am.” Isaac rubbed his nose and sniffed. “We consider you family.”

  “In that case, don’t ma’am me and get going already or we’ll all be crying.” She wiped her eyes. “I have a business to run. No time for tears.”

  He snapped the reins and Bossy began pulling them out of the small stable-yard. Rachel turned and waved until she couldn’t see Miss Ellie anymore. She faced the front with a little shiver. The morning sun’s light and warmth didn’t reach the street just yet. The chilly air held a hint of frost. “Do you think we’re starting too late in the year?”

  “I wondered about that, too.” He moved the reins to one hand and scratched his chin for a moment. “Two months isn’t a long time. It’ll be over before we know it.”

  Rachel sat and watched the closed doors pass by them, the streets just starting to stir with people. She tried and failed to suppress the urge to ask, “And your friend will hire you?”

  “Yes.” Isaac nudged her shoulder with his. “And before you ask again, remember the letter from last week?”

  She knew he was right, but still. Nothing ever remained the same over time. Otherwise, they’d be on the Stewart family farm with their parents. “All right. I won’t worry.”

  They rolled along for a few minutes before he added, “I don’t blame you for fretting. This is the furthest you’ve been from home. I was scared, too.”

  She wanted to deny being nervous, but he was right. She was. So many what-ifs loomed large in her mind. Indian attacks, getting lost out in the middle of the plains, their old wagon falling apart were all possible before they even reached their first campsite. She had a guidebook and hoped the information was still accurate despite the publication date.

  They rolled past farms with new buildings and crops harvested or ready to harvest. The leaves hadn’t begun turning despite the crisp air. Fog lingered in the lower-lying areas, pools of water from a recent rain under them.

  By the time they reached the ferry crossing for the Missouri River, she had realized neither had said a word in the few miles between here and Weston. Fort Leavenworth lay across the water, some of the buildings newer than others. The fort reminded her of how Patrick had mentioned leaving early in the morning.

  Rachel bit her lip. A soldier’s idea of early might be different from hers. She should have told him they’d be going in the same direction. He wouldn’t have stalled on her account. Still, she’d like to see if he found excuses to find her along the way.

  “My bet is Captain Sinclair is already gone, if you’re wondering,” Isaac said.

  She cut her eyes to him. He always had a way of knowing what was on her mind. “I wasn’t thinking about him.”

  “Uh-huh. He’s probably a West Point graduate. Most officers are.”

  Certain she had already lost the denial argument, Rachel answered, “I didn’t even consider his history.”

  “Sure you didn’t. No woman would give a second thought about a pretty boy army officer.”

  He had her there. Any woman with eyes would be swooning over Captain Sinclair, in Rachel’s opinion. She didn’t want to go over her attraction for him with anyone, especially Isaac, so she countered with, “You sound horribly jealous right now. Are you fishing for compliments or just grumpy this morning?”

  He chuckled. “Maybe a little of both. I saw guys like him have it easy during the war. We did all the work and officers got all the glory.” Isaac gave her a side glance. “The ladies liked them a little more, too.”

  “Hmm.” Rachel’s stomach twisted. She was hungry. Had to be, because the thought of Patrick with anyone else didn’t bother her at all. She barely knew the man. He seemed nice and all. She had no reason to care about his past loves while at war. “I can’t imagine why. Every man is different, yet they’re all the same.”

  Isaac laughed and shook his head. “Maybe, but some are thought of as better than others, and nothing we think is going to change that.”

  “Still. I like Captain Sinclair because he pays well for services,” she began, and frowned when her brother snorted a laugh. “Don’t be rude. And he knows how to behave, unlike you.”

  “True. I have no idea how to behave in polite society.” He hopped down and walked up to the ferryman to pay the fee. “I’ll be right back.” Isaac settled up with the man then got back on the wagon. “Expensive, but worth it.”

  She nodded. They didn’t own much between them, and she wanted to keep what little they had. Isaac guided the wagon onto the ferry. Before long, they took off across the wide river. “I remember we crossed here before the war.”

  “Mm-hm. Pa wanted to go just to show us the other side. He always wanted to explore.”

  The river stretched out on either side of them, a broad blue ribbon. Crossing now seemed a lot longer over a smaller body of water. She sighed into the crisp mid-morning breeze. Even mountains changed given enough time. The war had taken so much from everyone. No one could be the same now. Isaac came back different—harder, sadder—and had lost his boyish sense of fun.

  He caught her looking at him and grinned. “What happens when Santa Fe isn’t far enough west for us?”

  She laughed. “Then we learn to dig for gold in California.”

  Isaac tipped his hat at the ferryman. He clicked at Bossy, and their wagon lumbered over the wooden slats. The wheels hit the ground with a bump. “Better get used to rough roads. I have a feeling we’re in the most civilized part.”

  “We could stay at a fort if something bad happens,” she offered, and frowned when her brother laughed.

  “I figured we could if a certain captain invited us… I mean, invited you.”

  She held on to the seat as Bossy climbed out of the river valley. “You know I wouldn’t go somewhere safe without you and, besides, I don’t know anyone who might ask me to stay.”

  They crested the top, and he nudged her shoulder. “No? Then who’s that?”

  Chapter Four

  Rachel looked where Isaac pointed. A group of soldiers rode up to their right, with several wagons trailing behind them. Captain Sinclair grabbed her attention in an instant. He was wearing his full uniform and rode a bay horse. Her palms grew a little sweaty.

  “I’ll wait until they ride on and we’ll follow since I’m sure we’re slower. You’re catching flies.”

  She closed her mouth with a snap but didn’t stop staring. “I haven’t seen so many soldiers at one time since the night we lost the farm.”

  “Lucky you.”

  “I know.” Rachel watched as Captain Sinclair, she couldn’t think of him as Patrick, rode past the troops as if inspecting them. “I suppose this won’t be the last time we see the military. Especially around the forts.”

  “I almost hope we’re swimming in them.” He shrugged when she glanced at him. “We’ll be riding through dangerous territory. The natives attack sometimes, and I’d rather someone else take the arrow instead of us.”

  She looked at Captain Sinclair again. He’d been through the war. Indians wouldn’t dare attack him. �
��I’d rather no one is killed.”

  After a pause, Isaac said, “Me too.”

  Watching the captain work, Rachel smiled. No matter what her brother groused about, she loved watching the handsome man in his element. He rode as if born on a horse, his pants a sun-bleached shade of blue lighter than his jacket. He had on a white shirt, and she’d bet it wasn’t the same one he’d worn into the shop last evening.

  He glanced at her and Rachel’s heart skipped a beat. Then he looked at her again with a smile. She couldn’t help but grin back at him, and kept her hands clasped in her lap to keep from waving. He turned to another soldier next to him. When the man gave the nod, Captain Sinclair nudged his horse into a trot towards them.

  He tipped his hat. “What a pleasant surprise. Are you two here to say goodbye to me and the men?”

  Isaac snorted, and Rachel ignored her brother. She smiled at Patrick. “Not quite. This is just a happy accident. We’re moving to Santa Fe.”

  His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Because you’ll be closer to me at Fort Dodge?”

  She chuckled and tried to not bat her eyelashes at him. “Sorry to say, no. I’d need more than one night to consider chucking everything to follow a man west.”

  “Ah, well, I’d hoped you might be smitten with my charm.” He gave her a rakish grin. “My mistake.”

  “Why do I think there’s another army of women who’ve done just that?” His puzzled expression led her to add, “Leaving everything behind to follow you anywhere, I mean.”

  He grinned at her. “I’ve never noticed anyone who has. You’ll let me know if a band of women is following me, won’t you? I wouldn’t want to neglect any lovely ladies susceptible to my charms.”

  “Certainly. I’ll be first in line to tell you all about them,” she said while shaking her head no.

  Patrick chuckled. “Good. I’ll always enjoy your chatting with me.” He tipped his hat. “Miss, sir. I look forward to seeing more of you both in the weeks ahead.”

  “As do we, I, yes.” Rachel cleared her throat. “Likewise, sir.”

  Heat flared in his expression before he nodded. “Till then.”

  As he rode away, she watched, entranced by his air of command. He seemed so sure of himself. Everything about him was like a dessert she couldn’t get enough of. Rachel sighed. The man was adorable.

  “So, are we ready to continue on our way? I’d like to get somewhere today.”

  She glared at her brother. “Don’t even begin to blame me for chatting with Captain Sinclair.”

  He chuckled and clicked at Bossy as the last of the army wagons rolled on past them. “He seemed pretty happy to be chatting with you, too. Thus, I blame him for the delay.”

  The captain did seem pleased to see her. The second glance he gave when recognizing her warmed Rachel’s heart, too. Her toes curled in her shoes. “Do you think so? Or was he just being polite?”

  “Polite is a nod and a tip of the hat before refocusing on the task. Happy is trotting over to you for a howdy-do.”

  “To both of us.”

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he was coming over here for you, darlin’. I’m good-looking, but you’re pretty.” He glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. “The man is as interested in you as you are him.” Isaac shook his head. “I’ll have to keep the shotgun loaded.”

  The idea of both men creeping around, one to visit her the other to shoot him, amused her and she laughed. “We’ll see. My vanity wants to believe you, but we’ll see.”

  Wanting to direct him away from her interests, Rachel pointed ahead. “Can you see through the trees? It looks like there’s a large valley ahead. Maybe it’s the beginning of the plains.”

  “Possibly. Seems a bit too soon, though.”

  They wound around a hill, the wide field falling to their side. A farmhouse and barn stood in the middle. Cows milled around, grazing. Rachel missed the life she would have had and turned her sights to the future. Santa Fe had to be better.

  The day wore on. Neither talked much. Rachel had spent most of her days in the past couple of years at a sewing machine, so she was used to being quiet. The wheels rolling along the busted-up clay ground made a soothing rhythm. Being too excited to sleep last night left her drowsy now. “Did we want to stop for a noon meal or push on through to supper?”

  “I’d like to see how far we get today.” He glanced at her. “Even if it means we play tag with the army up ahead.”

  She nodded, liking the idea of loitering around the country with Captain Sinclair. Even better was the protection he and his men offered to them, even if only by their proximity. “I have a jar we could use for water and could eat a couple of biscuits.”

  “Good. We’ll stop at the next creek.”

  “Upstream from the soldiers, I hope. Some of them seemed to smell a bit, and I’m not drinking their bathwater.”

  Isaac laughed. “Yes. We’ll hurry past the next time they stop just for you.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “But not too fast, because I know you’ll want to gawk at Captain Handsome.”

  Rachel’s face burned at his teasing. He wasn’t wrong, though. She sighed. The man was easy on the eyes. “He seems to be Captain Charming, too. I’ll bet he wouldn’t have let the other soldiers use our chickens for target practice.”

  Isaac stayed quiet. She knew he wanted to rebut. Previously, he’d argue about most soldiers being wrong no matter what side they’d been on. Unwilling to dwell on the past, she tried to ignore the army group parked where the creek meandered closer to the road. Rachel stared ahead as she and Isaac passed them.

  Captain Sinclair caught her eye, but she didn’t turn her head. Even when he tipped his hat, she gave a slight nod but didn’t look at him. She also ignored her brother’s dig into her ribs. “Stop it,” she hissed. “We’re not going to make a fuss every time I see him.”

  “Fine, but you’re taking all of the fun out of running into the man.”

  She couldn’t help but take a peek at the captain. Their eyes met, and he smiled at her before turning to another officer. She faced the front again with a smile of her own. Isaac might be right after all. He might be as smitten with her as she was with him.

  “We’ll go on up a ways. The water should be clearer. You can get a full jar of water before we take off again.”

  “I like your plan,” she replied, and they rolled on for a little while. As soon as he pulled off to the side, Rachel gathered her skirts and hopped down. She followed the path to the creek as Isaac unhitched Bossy for her drink, too.

  The water made soft sounds as it flowed over the rocks. The forests had been giving way to more considerable stretches of prairie grass. Soon, if the guidebook was accurate, there would be nothing but plains stretching in every direction.

  She stepped down to the water’s edge. The bank seemed solid, if a little squishy. Rachel put her foot down, lost her balance, and fell into the water with a scream.

  Chapter Five

  Everyone’s heads, including Patrick’s, turned to the west. Rachel and her brother had rolled on ahead, and that was a woman’s scream. He told Lambert, his first officer, “Let’s go.”

  The officer barked an order to stay as Patrick jumped on his horse. They rode to the Stewarts’ wagon and stopped in time to see a drenched Rachel step out from the water’s tree line. He hopped down and hurried to her. “Ma’am? Are you all right? Where’s Mr. Stewart?”

  “I’m fine. Cold, and now embarrassed over you two seeing me, but fine. Isaac is letting Bossy get a drink.”

  Rachel’s cheeks glowed bright red, and water still dripped from her golden hair. Her blue eyes flashed with anger when he laughed. Patrick felt terrible, but still. She was awfully pretty even soaking wet. “I’m sorry, truly, but all of the worst-case scenarios went through my mind at your scream.”

  “Yes, I suppose I’d laugh at you, too,” she said while wiping water from her face.

  The first officer piped up. “I know I would.”
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  Patrick gave him a glare he knew the man wouldn’t take seriously this time. “You do have something else to do, don’t you?”

  “Yes, sir, I do.” Still grinning, he turned his horse and went back to their group.

  He turned to Rachel. “I’m sure a seamstress has plenty of dry clothes to wear. Would you like help?” Her eyes widened, and he verbally backpedaled. “I mean, maybe I can fetch you a blanket or two?”

  “You know how the cobbler’s children have no shoes?” she asked him while wringing out her apron. “I’ll need to change into my Sunday dress until this one dries.” Rachel looked up at him with a smile. “The creek is rather cold for bathing. I’m spoiled and usually heat my water and use soap.”

  “I don’t blame you. There have been enough cold baths in my life. Too many, in fact.”

  “During the war?”

  He hesitated, unwilling to talk about some of the worst conditions he’d faced. “Exclusively, yes. Now I heat water whenever possible, and sometimes when impossible.” She laughed at his quip and Patrick decided he’d never heard anything so appealing. He’d have to ask Lieutenant Lambert for more jokes later. “You said your brother is around here?”

  She began unwinding her hair and started squeezing out the water. “Yes, close by. Probably at the creek, wondering how I managed to fall in.”

  “Good. I’d rather you not be alone out here.”

  Rachel chuckled and shook her head. “I shouldn’t be, obviously.”

  “Accidents happen.” A curl escaped when she scooped her hair into a loose bun. Patrick wanted nothing more than to undo her actions and comb the strands with his fingers. He cleared his throat, needing to say anything to divert his imagination. “I’ve seen worse. You didn’t twist your ankle or break your wrist.”

  “No, the water broke my fall even if it’s not as soft as one might think.”

  He grinned and crossed his arms to resist the need to hug her. “Let me know whether any part of you aches more than other. We have a doctor with us, so there’s no need for you to suffer.”