High Stakes Bride, Men of Stone Mountain Book 2

by Clemmons, Caroline

  He nodded. “You’re bound to be hungry, but I’m afraid to cook or brew coffee with them so close. It’s a smell that carries a long way and we don’t want to advertise we’re here. Can you make do with jerky and water?”

  “All I need is water. My throat’s parched dry as a desert.” She coughed and pressed a handful of the scarf to her mouth to muffle the sound. She’d already drunk all the water she had with her.

  He fetched her his canteen. “You’re sick from being so cold and wet day before yesterday. I’ve got nothing to give you to help your cough or ailing.”

  “There’re herbs and the like in my bag. When we camp again, I’ll brew me up some tea.” She tipped the container up and drank, then realized she’d emptied it.

  “Sorry.” She shook it and handed it back to him. The liquid had helped, but her throat still ached and her chest felt like an anvil weighted it.

  “There’s a seep back further. I’ll refill our canteens before we head out. How’s your arm this morning?”

  “Better.” She wriggled her fingers to show him she could and hid the wince of pain.

  “If you’re sure you’re steady on your feet, I’ll ready the animals while you make preparations.”

  She figured he meant user the latrine, so she took advantage of the opportunity. Even though her arm hurt less, the sling cradled it to her body and kept it useless. It took several tries, but she rolled up the fancy bedroll and Mama’s quilt and stacked them on her carpetbag. She laid her damp clothes from yesterday on top. Wasting no energy, Zach returned and scooped up the stack with apparent ease.

  His crooked smile brightened her spirits. Maybe things would work out. His confidence spread hope that lessened her worries. After all, he’d been right about the cave being safe. With him to help her, maybe she’d escape from Rusty and Frank for good. At least with Zach’s help she wouldn’t wander around lost.

  She followed him and passed through a natural portal into another part of the cavern. This room was larger than where they’d slept. A makeshift stall showed where he’d stabled the animals. At the corral’s edge, protected by wooden crossrails, the hard floor ended. That corner of the room sloped off and a pile of dried dung let her know he’d been here many times. The trickle of water somewhere further into the cave’s black yaw sounded ominous rather than calming.

  “You’ll have to ride carefully. I’ll lead out and take charge of the mules. They’re going to balk at the trail.”

  She remembered the times on their way here when she could see only emptiness. Surely the way out would be better than their ride here.

  “Is it scary-like?”

  He helped her mount the mare. “That’s as good a description as any, though some of it’s kind of pretty. Just stay close and keep the mules moving in front of Daisy.” With the mules’ lead wrapped around his saddle pommel and holding the lantern high, he led out.

  They passed through the cavern’s second room and where a seep sent a shallow stream of water across the cave floor to disappear beyond the stable. With only the one lantern against the vastness, the sight sent new shivers down her spine.

  Everywhere she looked, she spotted weird shapes such as she had never before seen. Eerie formations hung from the ceiling and others rose from the floor, some even met midway to form odd columns of varying colors. Shadows danced with the lantern. Unseen seeps sent rivulets of water through the formations and a trail of sorts wove among them.

  “You must come here often,” she said, her voice echoing. She hadn’t realized it would sound so loud in the cavernous space.

  Over his shoulder, he threw her a glance and touched a finger to his lips. She held her questions for later, but intended to find out how he knew about this place and why he used it. Though he acted nice now and said he was a rancher, what did she know about him? After all, Pa always told people he was a rancher. She hoped she hadn’t thrown in with a robber--or worse. Good or bad, he had saved her bacon so far.

  Chapter Eight

  Zach moved ahead and glanced over his shoulder to make sure the mules followed. With all her stuff packed on them, he figured Miss Price would keep them in sight. Her fever and cough worried him, and he wanted to deliver her to a warm place where she could safely wait to catch the stage and maybe even see a doctor.

  He’d sure enough been saddled with a woman in spite of his best intentions. She seemed nice enough. At least she wasn’t a whiner who expected him to remedy the weather and her discomfort. He snorted at the thought of what his first ex-fiancée would have done in this situation.

  He and Miss Price had plodded along for half an hour before they reached the part that concerned him. Solomon had come this way many times, but he wondered about the other animals’ reaction. The cavern floor dropped away into nothingness, leaving only a narrow ledge at one side for their trail. He unwrapped the mules’ tether from his pommel and held it in his hand, ready to drop it if the big mule took a notion to bolt over the edge.

  Solomon slowed and shook his head. Smart horse, he hated this part. Zach kneed his mount forward and Solomon obeyed. The mules moved forward until the one in lead realized the danger and balked.

  Zach tugged, but the mule didn’t move. With a lantern in one hand, Zach’s movement was limited on the narrow ledge. He tugged harder, but the mule only dug in its heels and refused to budge.

  Zach turned in the saddle. “Wait where you are while I take Solomon over, then I’ll walk back for the mules so you can pass.”

  “You’re sure?”

  Wrapped in that blue wool scarf he’d brought as a gift for his intended, her face showed as a white oval. He couldn’t see her features clearly, but panic tinged her voice.

  “Miss Price, I’ll come back for you. There’s a large room ahead where I can leave my horse. Then I’ll walk back and make these blasted mules move with me.”

  She picked a rock out of the wall and threw it at the lead mule’s rump. The animal stepped in place but didn’t move forward from his spot.

  Zach sought to reassure her. “I don’t know what else to do. There’s a bag of oats on the mule, but there’s no room for me to dismount to reach it.”

  “I-I’ll wait for you. Reckon I have no other choice, but please hurry.” She cradled her injured arm with the other.

  Zach dropped the mule’s lead and eased Solomon across the ledge. Actually no worse than a couple of the places they’d passed coming up the mountain, the inky cave and the spooky sensation created goosebumps even after all the times he’d been here. When he reached a room similar to the one in which they’d spent the night, he dismounted and dropped the reins.

  He kept the lantern high as he walked back. Damn thing ran low on oil. He hoped it lasted until he led those blasted mules and blasted woman across the ledge.

  Left alone in this eerie place, Alice fought her fear. Never had she experienced a total lack of light.

  Complete, absolute darkness.

  Zach’s lantern had long since faded from sight. She wiggled her hand near her face, but couldn’t see the movement. No sound greeted her except the creak of her tack and the twitching of the animals.

  Daisy shifted nervously, and the mules made fidgety rustling sounds. She hoped they wouldn’t panic and charge over the ledge. As much as she would hate their loss, she would miss her things—and her money—much more. Without her treasure, how would she start her new life?

  Seconds dragged by. Every tone magnified. The distant drip of water tortured her. What if Zach left her here? What would she do? She’d have to dismount and feel her way across the ledge or back through the cavern. Would she be able to find the trail through those monstrous shapes in the dark?

  Brownie whimpered and Blue echoed. Unless Zach returned soon, the mules would move on their own though it sent them to their deaths. Even Daisy acted ready to bolt. Alice didn’t know what to do, but she’d better think of something.

  And fast.

  Softly, she crooned a lullaby Mama sang to her long a
go, one Alice repeated to her dolls as a child. Daisy stilled and Alice patted her neck hoping the mules also quieted. She sang every song she knew—hymns, lullabies, folk melodies, patriotic tunes, and even the bawdy rhymes she’d heard Rusty and Frank sing—and started over again.

  Feeling along the saddle, she retrieved her canteen for sips between verses. Her parched throat ached and her lyrics came as hoarse whispers punctuated by smothered coughs lest she startle the animals. She’d lost all sense of time but surely Zach would return soon—if he came at all.

  Finally, she spotted a small glow far ahead. Thank heaven, he hadn’t abandoned her. She almost wept with gratitude. The bobbing light grew closer until she saw Zach Stone.

  “I hurried, but it’s near a half mile to the next room.” He set the lantern by Brownie’s head and eased back to untie a sack and two feed bags.

  Alice confessed, “I was afraid they’d dart over the side in their fright.” She didn’t mention she’d feared he would abandon her.

  He edged his way in front of the mule. “Heard you singing to them. Smart thinking.”

  He dropped a handful of oats into one feed bag and jiggled it in front of Brownie. The balky old mule reached her neck toward the food and took a step onto the ledge. Zach picked up the lantern and backed while he held the feed bag as bait. Brownie took another hesitant step forward, craning to reach the feed.

  “Appears to be working. Will you try leading the other mule behind this one?”

  Alice dismounted and picked up Blue’s lead and tugged. “What about Daisy?”

  “She may follow. If not, I’ll come back for her. Don’t wrap that lead around your arm. If the mule slips, stay out of her way so she doesn’t drag you over with her.”

  “As if I weren’t already frightened enough in this ghostly place.” She shivered with dread.

  “Just be grateful the bats have left for the winter. This is the part of the cavern where they roost.”

  “I’m happy to miss that sight.” She grew weak at the thought of a cave filled with flying bats. That experience would probably have sent her over the edge into the abyss.

  She tugged the mule’s lead. “Come on, Blue baby. You can do it, girl.” Alice looked down into nothing and gasped. She quickly focused on the mule.

  Blue’s eyes rolled in fear, but the mule responded to Alice’s coaxing and trod onto the ledge. Apparently unwilling to be left behind, Daisy followed.

  Careful not to back into Brownie, Alice led Blue for what seemed miles. Step by step, she focused on the mule, her own feet, and the wall to her left. When she thought her nerves and stamina could withstand no more, they reached the solid floor of the next cave room.

  Alice’s knees gave way and she clung to Zach. “I thought we would never reach the end.”

  He held her, reassuringly patting her back. Didn’t that bit of pampering comfort her? Oh, but she mustn’t cause him to think she was inviting him to take liberties or that she was a whining weakling.

  Instead, she sank to the ground and leaned against the rock. A cough racked her body and echoed around them.

  He stepped away and busied himself with the animals. “Thought this mule would go over the edge back there when she panicked.” Zach fastened a feed bag on each mule as reward, then plopped down beside Alice.

  Daisy nudged him as if to ask where her feedbag of oats had gone. He gave the horse a pat on the nose and rose to search out some oats for Daisy and Solomon. Zach gave Alice the canteen.

  She saw the worry on his face. He must be wondering how he got saddled with a sick woman. Not sick, no. She couldn’t be sick now. When she got safely away, maybe then when she could recover in safety. But not here—wherever this was--with Frank and Rusty still after her.

  After they’d rested a few minutes, Zach said, “Just outside here is a nice little high valley. There’s a deserted cabin a few hundred feet from the cave’s mouth. Has a shed for the animals, and good water. Probably not too clean, but it’s snug. We can build a fire in the fireplace and get warm. Think you can make it?”

  No, she didn’t think she could move, but the promise of heat nudged her lagging body. With a weary sigh, she struggled up. Aching muscles and searing lungs protested the movement while cold numbed her body. “For a warm fire in a real cabin, I could even cross that ledge again.”

  They reached the cavern entrance, and a world of white awaited them. Nothing within sight moved except the large snowflakes drifting across the valley. In the distance, she saw the deserted structure.

  Deserted?

  She pointed. “Thought you said it was empty. There’s smoke from the chimney.”

  “I’ll be damned. Not much of a fire from the looks of it, but someone’s sure as heck in there.”

  As they rode up to the cabin, Zach stopped by a stand of cedars and touched her arm. “Don’t know who could be inside. Shutters are open, though, so whoever it is can see us coming. Better let me go to the door and you stay back ready to run.”

  He gave her the lead rope and pointed to the end of the valley. “If you have to leave in a hurry, make for that pass behind the cabin and don’t stop for me. Keep going straight and you’ll reach the stage road.”

  “No, I figure I’d be lost to die in the snow without you, but I’ll wait while you ride up.” She cradled her sore arm while she hunched against the bitter cold and choked back a cough. “Hurry, or I’m likely to freeze to this saddle.”

  Zach wondered who’d moved into his old cabin. He dismounted and threw his horse’s reins over the hitching rail then drew his pistol in preparation for trouble.

  “Hello,” he called when he neared the door. “Friends coming to call.”

  No sound issued from the cabin. He stepped forward and pounded on the door, making sure to stay to the side. “We’re mighty cold and need shelter.”

  “Go ‘way,” a faint voice called from inside and a dog whined.

  “Listen, my friend is sick and needs to get out of this weather. Open up and let us in.”

  The door opened a crack and a rifle barrel appeared. A loud blast split the morning, the sound reverberating in the cold air. Zach kicked the door open and entered the tiny log building.

  He grabbed the rifle from a young boy who had fallen, probably from the gun’s kickback. A man lay on the floor by the bed. From the corner, a dog lay whimpering on a filthy blanket. The place smelled worse than an outhouse. The pitiful fire lent scant warmth to the room.

  The child’s frame strained against tattered clothing several sizes too small and he sprang to his feet. Bruises showed through the grime on his face and arms. The kid looked like soap and water were strangers to his thin body and sandy hair. He stood in front of the dog and held his ground with fists raised.

  “Mister, you better watch out. If I hadn’t been so tired from fighting off Injuns, you never could have got my gun away from me.”

  Even though the kid lied, Zach admired his bravado. “Lucky for me I caught you with your guard down.” Zach touched the scar on his cheek. “I know I look fearsome, but I won’t hurt you. Told you we were friendly."

  The boy kept his chin up and his brown eyes narrowed. “Sayin’ it don’t make it so, mister.”

  “That’s right, but this time it’s the truth. My friend is sick and cold and needs a place to get warm.”

  Zach looked at the man on the floor.

  Damn, dead as a rock.

  That explained part of the smell. Didn’t look like cholera or pox, though, so he’d deal with that unpleasant chore later. Stepping to the door, he called, “All right, Miss Price.”

  “Your friend’s a lady?” The boy dropped his fists in surprise.

  Zach thought calling that particular woman a lady stretched the facts as much as the kid had earlier, but he kept that to himself. “Yes, and like I said, she’s sick.”

  She came in and closed the door behind her, coughing again with the effort.

  “This is Miss Price and my name’s Zach Stone.”


  Alice looked around her. The whole cabin was only ten or twelve feet each way, so they and the sparse furniture filled the room. The cedar logs were chinked tight, though, and with a good fire going it would be a warm place. She bit her lip to stop a gasp when she spotted the fresh bruises on the boy.

  He averted his eyes. “I’m Seth. That there’s my dog, Harry.” Seth bent to pet the dog that whined but stayed on the blanket. “He’s a champion watch dog, so be careful you don’t make any sudden moves at me.”

  Zach took off his hat and knelt in front of Seth. “That your Pa?”

  That’s when Alice noticed the dead man. He lay on the floor near the bed, his face a greenish gray. Dressed in flannel shirt and denim britches, the huge, brutish looking fellow appeared to be in his thirties.

  “Yep,” Seth answered. “Reckon he overdid it workin’ on the place here then fightin’ off Injuns. I helped him build this cabin and he said he couldn’t a done it without me. We planned to live here from now on. Our cattle was run off by them no good Injuns, but we woulda gone after them if Pa hadn’t of took sick.”

  Zach scrubbed his hand across his face with more patience than Alice had seen anyone display since her mama passed on. “Seth, think hard about when your pa died. Then I need you to tell me exactly how it happened. Okay?”

  Seth nodded but didn’t look at the body. Tears slid down his cheek and left fresh trails through the grime.

  “Pa got awful mad at me ‘cause I couldn’t find nothing for us to eat. He kicked Harry real hard and said he’d eat him. When he made to kick him again, I tried to stop him.” The boy gulped back a giant sob. “He got so mad I thought he was going to eat me too. Then he grabbed his chest and fell down. Didn’t never get up.”

  Zach asked, “When was that?”

  More tears followed and Seth brushed them away. “Yesterday morning. Harry and me was hurt bad, so we hunkered down in the corner waitin’ for Pa to get up. Later, I tried to help him, but he was all stiff like and I couldn’t wake him up.”