The town of Helena was much bigger than Mandy had expected, but still only a fraction of the size of Denver. The land office was right next door to the stage station and still open for the day, although the sun was low in the sky. After a quick talk with the station manager, they left their box, trunk, and satchels behind under his watchful eyes and hurried to the land office.
Homesteading wasn’t difficult—at least the part where they claimed the land. The closest they could get to town was over twenty miles, but there was water on the claim, or so the land agent said, and trees to build a cabin. More woodland than pasture land, they were told.
Mandy looked at Sidney. “We can’t live there. You won’t be able to get into town to work.” If they pushed hard they could hopefully make it in two days with all their things to carry.
She thought of her few precious dollars from her ma and knew they wouldn’t last long if they had to rent a room in Helena.
“This is fine. I can take a twenty-mile ride twice a day on a good horse.” Sidney signed the homesteading agreement with a flourish.
Mandy didn’t contradict him in front of the agent, thinking to his manly feelings. But once they’d taken the careful directions and stepped outside, Mandy whispered, “Sidney, we don’t have a horse.”
Sidney smiled at her, that cheerful, confident smile that had first drawn her to him. “We’ll get one before long.”
“How?” Mandy thought of her money.
“I’m planning to find gold.” Sidney smiled then marched to the stage station. He stumbled to a stop when he reached the heavy box and trunk they needed to cart twenty miles. “Why did your parents send all this junk along? Let’s just leave it here.”
“I can rent a handcart for two bits.” Mandy pointed to a sign.
Sidney frowned as if it was just occurring to him how far twenty miles was.
Mandy arranged for the cart and they loaded their belongings into it and headed southwest. Each of them grabbed a handle on the cart, and Mandy enjoyed the sense of their working together. Life could be good if they built a tight cabin and the hunting was easy.
“We’ll get out of town and find a sheltered spot to camp for the night,” Mandy said as they left Helena behind. “Then we’ll get an early start tomorrow.”
Sidney turned to her with a light in his eyes. “So we’ll finally have us a wedding night.”
Trust her husband to focus on the frivolous. Mandy wondered how long it would take Sidney to realize they didn’t have any food for supper. It had been a long day on the trail. Her muscles were cramped and battered. Sidney hadn’t shaved since they’d left Mosqueros, and neither of them smelled any too good. Mandy felt a headache coming on but didn’t mention it.
As they began to put space behind them from bustling Helena, the light left the sky. It was then Mandy saw a fire flickering ahead. She heard the deep lowing of cattle from behind an outcropping of rock on the rugged land and knew what they’d come upon. Someone was holding a herd of cattle just outside of town. No doubt to sell it. Mandy had eaten many a meal around a campfire in her life and her stomach growled at the thought of piping hot coffee and tough, savory beef.
“Hold up, Sidney.” She set her side of the cart down. Sidney’s forehead was soaked with sweat and he was breathing hard. Mandy was more used to the rugged life, but she was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the long walk ahead and the brutally hard work they faced to be ready for winter.
Sidney gladly set his side of the cart down. “Time to stop for the night?”
Mandy pointed at the flickering fire. “It’s a campsite. Let’s go in and see if we can sleep near their fire.”
“What about the two of us being alone?” Sidney’s impatience was clear.
They heard a voice yell, “Come and get it!”
Sidney’s impatience was overridden by hunger. “It’s proper for a camp like that to welcome strangers, isn’t it? I’ve heard that.”
“I reckon they’ll share a meal with us.” Mandy smiled and Sidney smiled back. Good, the man had some common sense after all.
“Let’s go say howdy.” Sidney’s smile widened, and Mandy remembered why she loved him.
Which wasn’t to say she’d forgotten. She’d just been really tired ever since she’d said, “I do.”
They headed for the fire towing their cart. When they were within hailing distance, she put out her hand to stop Sidney.
“What is it?” He sounded eager to be on his way to dinner.
“There’s a proper way to approach a cow camp. This close to town I doubt they’re apt to suspect us of mischief, but a cattle drive crew is always ready for trouble. We want to make sure they don’t think we qualify.” Mandy felt her nerves steady and her blood cool, but not overly.
Sidney swallowed and looked lost.
“Let me do it.” Mandy waited until Sidney nodded. She shouted, “Hello, the camp.”
Her female voice was probably a good idea. A bunch of cowpokes weren’t likely to start shooting at a woman. Not unless they were severely provoked. Mandy heard about ten guns being cocked. It didn’t scare her. She could see the makings of a wellrun cow camp, and she respected the tough life on a cattle drive. Having a fire iron drawn and cocked was just good sense.
“Come on in slow,” another woman answered.
The female voice surprised Mandy. She was also surprised by her urge to cry. A woman, out here, with the cattle drive. All of the loneliness for her family hit her like a closed fist. Mandy had her hands full not just breaking straight into tears and howling her head off.
“Let’s go.” She didn’t look at Sidney because she didn’t want him to see the tears she felt brimming in her eyes. To stop the nonsense, she hollered as she walked forward, “We’re homesteading about twenty miles from town. We’re just looking for a place to sleep for the night. Then we’ll be on our way.” Mandy walked and talked, her cart between her and Sidney.
As she got close in the settling dusk, she saw several women. The one who’d called out stood to the front, her rifle out but pointed to the ground. Even in the dim light, Mandy noticed the woman’s deep tan. She looked like she might be Indian. But as Mandy got closer, she saw the woman had hazel eyes and that didn’t fit.
The woman wore a fringed buckskin jacket with some of the fringe missing. That meant she was a working cowpoke, because the point of having the fringe was to have a piggin’ string handy. And just from the look of the setup, it appeared the woman was in charge.
Mandy’s heart pounded harder as she recognized the strength, the command. It was a look Mandy had seen in her own mother’s eyes many times.
The woman had on a split riding skirt made of softly tanned doeskin, worn and dirty and obviously the clothes of a rancher.
Mandy was every bit as dirty, but it wasn’t the honest dirt of hard work.
“You’re welcome at our fire.” The woman set her gun aside, but Mandy noticed none of the others did.
“I’m Mandy, and this is my husband, Sidney Gray. We’re new to Montana.”
“I’m Belle Harden and this is my family and my cowhands. C’mon in and rest yourselves.”
Mandy looked around and saw more women. No, not women, girls. The oldest two might be a bit younger than Mandy, but full grown. The older ones had white-blond hair, one was a fiery redhead younger than Laurie, another just a toddler, so dark she really might be Indian.
“These are my girls, Lindsay and Emma.” Belle pointed to the blonds. “Sarah’s toting my son, Tanner.” The redhead had a baby strapped on her back.
“And the little one running around is Betsy.” Belle pointed fondly at the three-year-old who waved and yelled, “Hi.”
“Betsy?” Mandy felt as if her throat was swelling shut. “As in Elizabeth?”
“Yep.” Belle came up close to Mandy, taking note of her rifle.
“I’ve got a sister named Elizabeth. We call her Beth.” Mandy shook her head to fight off a sudden urge to cry. She noticed lots of me
n. It was a strong crew driving a few hundred head of cattle. Mandy did a quick estimate with her experienced eye and guessed three or four hundred head. This reminded her so much of the times she and her sisters and Ma had horned in on a roundup, Mandy couldn’t help herself.
Despite the years of her father’s scolding and pleading, despite Sidney’s moody way of punishing her, despite her own common sense … Mandy burst into tears.
The woman’s forehead wrinkled briefly. Then she strode forward and pulled Mandy into her arms.
Twenty
It’s a girl!” Beth lifted the messy, wriggling newborn up so her mother could see.
“My girl. I got my girl. Oh, I wanted her so badly.” Mrs. Stoddard burst into tears of joy.
Beth spared the baby her first spanking when the tiny darling started squalling the cry of a healthy, lively infant. Beth couldn’t quit smiling as she quickly washed up the baby. It was just the two of them. Oops. Beth grinned as she wrapped the little one in a soft blanket. Three not two.
Alex had gone out of the room to sit with the expectant father. The older children, three active, handsome sons, all school-aged, had long ago gone to bed.
Beth and Mrs. Stoddard had done this peacefully by themselves. Mrs. Stoddard had even protested that her husband had sent for the doctor. She’d given birth to all three of her older boys without help. But her husband went all nervous on her and snuck away for help. Mrs. Stoddard had been a good sport about it, on the condition that only Beth stay with her.
Alex had agreed with the woman’s request for privacy. He had left, assuring Mr. Stoddard he’d stay close in the event of need, and he went to rock by the fire with the anxious father.
Beth crooned at the baby as she settled her into her mother’s arms then went to invite Mr. Stoddard in to meet his daughter.
The man almost ran over Beth in his haste to reach his wife’s side.
Beth could see that Alex’s eyes were heavy with sleep. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face when she scolded. “You’ve been napping while I’ve been hard at work.”
Alex didn’t deny it. He walked by her side to the buckboard and lent a hand to boost her up. They drove out of the Stoddards’ yard on the long trail for Mosqueros.
Slipping his arm around Beth’s waist, he said, “Lean on me. Try and sleep.”
“I can’t. I’m wide awake. I love delivering babies.” Beth did lay her head on his strong shoulder. But her blood was coursing through her veins, as it always did after a birth.
“You get all the good jobs.” Alex’s supporting arm tightened and Beth enjoyed the feeling.
“Can you believe how hectic it’s been since we opened the doctor’s office?”
“It was bad enough without the measles outbreak.” Alex shook his head.
Beth knew he was every bit as tired as she was.
They’d had a steady flow of folks asking for a doctor. They’d delivered three babies, including the parson’s wife’s that first night. And there’d been someone staying in their makeshift hospital almost every night, thanks to a couple of broken bones and a cowpoke who tangled with a cantankerous longhorn, besides the measles. Everyone recovered well, but Alex and Beth had been running ever since they’d started doctoring.
Until now. Unless some sick or injured person lay in wait for them back in town, their hospital was empty and their town was healthy.
“I guess they really needed us, didn’t they?” Alex took his eyes off the trail, which was fine. The way was straight and the horses were placid and calm and interested in going home. “We’ve helped a lot of people.”
Beth saw the hope in Alex’s eyes. They prayed together every day, and Alex seemed to bloom during their times of closeness to God. He still insisted she be at his side while he doctored, but Beth hoped he was remembering why he’d loved healing. She prayed that he’d keep getting stronger, steadier, until the day she didn’t have to be by his side every minute. Not that she minded being here.
“You’re a really good doctor, Alex.” Beth hesitated but she went ahead. “I think you’re replacing all the bad memories with good ones. Most of doctoring is a blessing. Getting to help people mend, using our God-given talents matched with training to heal. Are you feeling better these days?”
“I still want you by my side.”
Beth felt his fingers dig into her waist a bit too hard. She knew she’d trod on dangerous ground by bringing this up. “I plan to be.”
The fingers relaxed before they caused pain. Which was lucky for Alex because Beth wouldn’t have put up with that graciously.
“But yes, I am feeling better. I’m not ready to test doctoring on my own. And it works, the two of us together, doesn’t it?” He turned to look in her eyes.
She felt that connection that they’d had from the very beginning. It was substantial, almost solid, like they were locked together somehow. A team hitched into the same yoke, pulling together. Stronger together than apart.
Alex was obsessed with needing her, but Beth knew that connection went two ways. She needed him, too.
“Yes, it works.” There was no reason for her to whisper. There was certainly no one out and about this evening to be disturbed by their voices.
Alex leaned closer, watching her. Supporting her. His eyes flickered to her lips, which suddenly felt dry. She licked them and he noticed.
Then he kissed her and she sure as certain noticed that.
In the silent night, broken by the sound of the horses’ hooves and a gentle gusting wind, Beth kissed him back.
He pulled away. Only inches. “We’re married, Beth, honey. You know what that means?”
Beth did indeed. Her mother had not shirked.
Alex leaned in again, and this time not even the sound of the horses could find its way into the world where Alex swept her.
She was a married woman in every way now.
Beth woke in the first light of dawn feeling perfect peace. They had a home and a doctor’s practice and now a true affection. She turned, wanting to study Alex sleeping beside her, holding her close.
He was awake. Watching.
Instantly she felt their connection. Only now it was more solid than ever. Truly there were ties binding them now. A union of the flesh, the possibility of a child.
Those were good things. And she was married to a good man. Beth smiled.
There were no patients knocking at their door, but it was very early. Some would most likely appear. But for now, it was only the two of them.
Alex drew her into his arms. They spent the early hours of the quiet morning deepening those ties.
Alex couldn’t believe they’d been left alone so long. Late in the afternoon, he bandaged the nasty burn on the little boy’s arm while Beth distracted the child with a licorice stick and her sweet voice. When that didn’t work, she and the boy’s mother held him still and dabbed at his tears.
It gave Alex chills to listen to the hurting child cry. But Beth was here, and he was able to go on.
Doctoring was better. Still awful, but so much better. He finished the bandage and sent mother and child on their way, then pulled Beth close. “Having you near has always been wonderful. But now, after last night, it’s even better. Your eyes give me strength, but your arms help even more.”
Beth stayed in his arms, holding him close, her head on his shoulder. So generous.
God had given him a miracle when He’d sent this little spitfire into his life.
Finally she pulled away only far enough to smile. “Let’s go eat at the diner. The sun is setting, and I haven’t had a chance to lay in supplies for the week. Our cupboards are about bare.”
Alex shuddered. He’d eaten Esther’s food before. “Please, not the diner.”
Beth laughed. “I’ll tell you a secret that will get you through.”
“You know a secret that makes Esther’s food better?”
Beth nodded. “No coffee. No dessert. In fact, I recommend just eating her bread. It’s pretty g
ood. Her meat is tough, but it doesn’t taste that bad. It’s not really dangerous.”
“I thought I’d broken a tooth.” Alex tugged at her waist so she stumbled a bit and he grinned, letting her know he did it deliberately to hold her close.
“I meant dangerous like poisonous.” Beth snickered. “You made the mistake of having pie and coffee last time. I tried to warn you.”
“Try harder next time.”
Beth laughed, and they left the doctor’s office arm-in-arm. They’d walked about ten steps down the sidewalk when they saw Esther pulling down the window shade on the diner. Beth turned, her brow furrowed. “How late is it?”
Alex looked at the lowering sun. “Later than I thought. I guess past Esther’s closing time. Or she’s got somewhere special to go.”
Beth shrugged. “Well, we’ll make do with yesterday’s biscuits and honey, I suppose.”
They turned to go home and Alex felt a spring in his step. Home. He had a home and a beautiful wife and he’d remembered how to be a doctor … not alone yet, but that didn’t matter because he didn’t have to do it alone. He had Beth. Life was good.
A tiny flicker of unease broke through his contented haze. He had trouble on his trail, he knew that, but he’d left it far behind.
In the encroaching dusk, a sudden movement to his right made him jump. A man rushing toward them, a dirty, skinny, stump of a man, but healthy looking. Not in need of a doctor.
“I need a doctor. My brother’s hurt.” The man grabbed Alex’s arm and began dragging him.
Alex caught ahold of Beth and brought her.
The frantic man stopped when he saw Beth coming. “No, not her. My brother, he don’t want no womenfolk tending to him. He—he won’t accept help if she’s along.”
Alex’s stomach plunged. “Then I can’t go. I’m sorry, but we work together.”
Sophie's Daughters Trilogy Page 14