The quaky one stepped down right in front of him, and before he could veer around her, her knees gave out.
Justin caught her and swept her up into his arms. She was so light he knew there wasn’t near enough of her. The second woman hurried down with two young children rushing after her, crying and clinging to her skirts. The baby in her arms started wailing, as well.
“She’s near starved to death, I think,” the second woman said, her eyes filled with tears. “She gave me and my children money to eat. I didn’t know, but it must’ve been the last she had.”
“When was this?”
“Three days ago.”
“She hasn’t eaten in three days?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I’m afraid maybe she hasn’t. I wasn’t paying attention. I did this to her.”
“You boarded the train without money for food?”
“We didn’t realize how much it would cost. My husband sent me train fare to California, but all the restaurant eating . . .” The woman paused, shook her head, and threw in with her children, crying like the dickens. “I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t have taken her last dime if I’d known.”
“She walked off the train. I reckon she’ll be all right.”
“I don’t know . . .” The woman’s voice broke again, and if this hadn’t been so serious, Justin would have been annoyed by all the crying.
“She went to sleep early last night. Then when they called out Skull Gulch, which I knew was her stop, she didn’t stir. I had a hard time waking her. I’m not sure when she had even a drink of water. She was too weak to get it herself, and I was too selfish to help.”
Justin looked at the woman who was trying to shepherd three children and couldn’t describe it as selfish. “I’ll get her to a doctor, ma’am. You say she’s headed to Skull Gulch. Do you know why? Does she have family here?”
Shaking her head, the woman sobbed, “We spent too much time talking about the children. After such generosity I don’t know a thing about her. Angelique. Her name is Angelique.”
Justin didn’t figure that would help much. “Alonzo!”
The men were busy unloading the train car just like he’d asked. Alonzo left off his work and came over.
“You got any money?”
“Yep. You just paid us yesterday.” Alonzo looked about as confused as Justin felt.
“Let’s see it.”
Alonzo shrugged and pulled a fistful of coins from his pocket. It looked as though the cowpoke had brought every cent of his earnings to town.
“Give it to her. If you had spending plans, find me later and I’ll repay you. But first I have to get Angelique here to the doctor.”
“You don’t need to do that.” The woman’s eyes went wide, partly with shame, but more with hunger and longing for that money.
“Get this woman and her children to the station diner and tell Willie I’ll pick up their meal—and tell him to pack them a big lunch. Then she can use that money you’re giving her for the rest of the trip.” Pa paid his men well. There should be enough money in Alonzo’s hands for the woman and her children to get fat during the rest of their trip.
She kept protesting, but Justin strode away, figuring Alonzo would handle things. He glanced back and saw his hired man slipping a ten-dollar gold piece back in his pocket. Something twisted inside Justin. He’d notice if Alonzo asked for his full salary later.
He headed for the doc with his arms full of woman. John crossed his path. Justin didn’t see how John could help noticing the woman in his arms, so he explained what little he knew and told his foreman to make sure the other woman had plenty of money for herself and her children. Justin hurried on. He’d only gone a few steps when Angelique’s eyes fluttered open. He stopped, stunned by the beauty of her huge blue eyes, surrounded by dark lashes.
Her face was sooty with smoke from the train’s engine. Her hair straggled out from under her tightly fastened bonnet. There was nothing, though, to distract him from those eyes.
He was a moment in thinking to ask, “Are you all right, miss?”
“Aunt M-Margaret . . .” It was all she could manage to say. She sounded as if her throat were bone dry, and if that other woman was right, her stomach had to be so empty it echoed.
“Margaret?” He only knew one Margaret in Skull Gulch and he reckoned he knew about everybody. “Did you say Margaret?”
He only got a nod, and a weak one at that.
“I know Sister Margaret. Are you here to visit her?”
“Yes.” She nodded again. “So sorry . . . Nuisance.”
He saw her swallow and wince in pain.
“You’re not a nuisance at all.” Which was not even close to the truth. On the other hand, Justin didn’t mind carrying a pretty woman around for a while. “What’s your full name?”
She answered, “Websters, the children . . . need help.”
He figured she meant the woman who’d been so worried about her. “They’re fine. I made sure they had enough money to eat until they get to California.”
It seemed that she’d gathered every ounce of her strength to ensure the care of those children, because she went limp in his arms after that. Then she fell asleep maybe, though he doubted it. Women didn’t nod off while being carried around in strange towns by strange men. Passed out was more likely. The orphanage was closer than the doctor’s office so he headed there. She needed to get inside, out of the chilly wind.
Children’s voices sounded from behind the classroom door.
“Sister Margaret, come quick!” Justin called loud enough to shake dust down from the rafters. It flitted through Justin’s head that he’d been in a big hurry to get home. And he’d been driven by the thought of working hard alongside his men. Now helping this little filly was the only thing that seemed to matter.
Well, he couldn’t just leave her collapsed on the station platform, now, could he?
Sister Margaret, the sweet old lady who’d stolen Sadie from the ranch, hurried out into the hall. Her worry about the yelling was gone the minute she saw he carried a woman.
“What’s going on?” She came close and was confused for a moment, but then Justin saw her eyes widen. “My sweet Angelique.”
Sister Margaret, the mildest woman Justin had ever known, lifted eyes that reminded him of a wounded coyote that had once gone for his throat. “What did you do to her?”
Justin took a step back and tilted his chin down to protect his jugular. “I didn’t hurt her. I found her like this.”
Aunt Margaret? A voice Angelique hadn’t heard for years and a tone that said someone in this world loved her jarred her out of a daze.
“Follow me, Justin. We need to get her to bed right away.”
Angelique felt herself being hauled around like a parcel.
“I’m sorry I spoke so unkindly.” Aunt Margaret’s voice again, such a lovely sound. Angelique would have started crying again if she had a single drop of water to spare in her body. “It was the shock of seeing her hurt. God bless you for bringing her to me. What happened?”
Justin. The man who’d carried her here was named Justin. His hair was too long, he was coated in dust, and yet he was probably so much cleaner than she was it was shameful.
Shameful for her.
“She wasn’t harmed, Sister Margaret. I reckon the ride was too long. A passenger with her said she hasn’t eaten in days. She weighs next to nothing, so I can believe she’s missed a lot of meals. I’ll send Doc over before I leave town.”
Angelique listened to them discuss her as if she were a child. Or more properly, as if she were an unconscious woman. She wanted to tell them it was just exhaustion, hunger, and thirst. No doctor was needed. But she couldn’t muster the energy.
Justin, what a nice name. It sounded like justice, and Angelique could have used some justice back in Omaha. Or maybe what happened was justice. Maybe she deserved it for her own prideful behavior, even though that was only outward. Inwardly she’d been driven by fear.
Soon she was lying on sheets that smelled of fresh air and sunshine. Aunt Margaret was sitting by her on the bed.
“Thank you, Justin. I think a doctor should see her. Come back with him and you can have some of the cobbler we made with the apples and honey you brought in.”
“Sorry, but I can’t stay. I’ve been gone from the ranch long enough.”
A sniff from Aunt Margaret, like she was annoyed by his reply. “I’ll be speaking to your father when he gets back. He’s got a lot to answer for, stealing my Sadie from me.”
Justin wasn’t sure who all knew about Pa’s strange orders given to his children. But Sister Margaret clearly knew at least some of it.
A low chuckle. “You lost my sister, but you gained your niece, and it looks like she used her last ounce of strength to get here. So maybe the good Lord has everything in hand, even if it does mean I’ve got to live with my knothead brother Cole for a year.”
“She gained me, too.” A cheerful new voice entered the conversation.
Justin turned to see his neighbor and good friend. “Mel, you’re working here?”
“Yep, but I reckon I’m fired now.”
“We welcome help anytime it’s offered, Melanie.” Aunt Margaret had a smile in her voice. “Justin, does your father’s foolish new rule prevent you from staying long enough to lift Angelique’s head up so that she can drink?”
“I reckon not.”
“Mel, can you run for some water and pull the broth forward on the stove to heat? Her lips are so cracked, she looks near desperate from thirst. If we could get a drink of water and a bit of broth into her while surrounding her with prayers, it should help restore her.”
Footsteps rushed away.
Water? Angelique almost moaned from thirst. If her throat hadn’t been so dry, she would have.
That strong arm slipped behind her back once more and lifted her to a near sitting position.
A commotion of someone coming back.
“Easy, miss. Take a drink now.” His voice rallied her. A cool glass touched her lips.
“Just a sip, Angelique. Just one small sip.” Aunt Margaret tipped water past her lips.
It nearly soaked into her mouth without enough to wet her throat, let alone get to her stomach. Another sip made her choke and threatened to come up rather than slide past her swollen tongue. Aunt Margaret dabbed at her chin, and Angelique wondered if she had any spit left. What a way to thank someone.
“Ready for another sip, Angelique?”
She nodded.
Another drink went down properly as her insides felt bathed in liquid. Suddenly she was so thirsty she made a compulsive grab for the water. Pulling in a long drink, then another, until the glass was pulled away from her.
“You’ll be sick if you drink too fast, my dear, precious girl. Take your time. There’s plenty. And I’ll skim some broth off the chicken soup. Then if that settles nicely, some bread.”
Aunt Margaret gave her more water, and just as suddenly as her thirst had roared to life, she was so full she thought she might cast her belly.
“Brace her up, Justin, so she’s sitting. I do think it’s mostly exhaustion and hunger. But I sent her money. Why wouldn’t she eat?”
Angelique opened her heavy eyelids. With the worst of her thirst gone, the need for sleep crashed down on her.
Justin answered for her. “It sounded to me like a family with young children needed the money more than her. The mother is traveling without her husband and her money ran out. Your niece gave them money days ago. The mother told me she didn’t realize she’d taken everything. She was going on to California, so I gave them enough to see them through.”
“Thank you, Justin.” Angelique finally managed to speak. She saw Aunt Margaret look up, frowning. She looked like a dream of peace in her black habit, with her head covered and her wire-rimmed glasses. Angelique’s eyes shifted and she saw the rough-looking, long-haired man again. So rugged. So gentle. Her husband had been just the opposite, so dapper and well-groomed, yet so unkind.
Her weariness pulled her under.
The feel of that fragile woman was still in his arms. He’d never been that close to any woman, excepting of course his ma and Sadie and Rosita, and he’d never seen one so fragile.
Something roared to life in him when he’d caught her, a need to protect this messy scrap of a woman, although she wasn’t short by any means. In fact, her height was part of the reason that her feathery weight had alarmed him.
“I’ll go fetch Doc Garner.” Justin turned on his bootheel and left the room.
Mel fell into step beside him. “So that’s Sister Margaret’s niece?”
“I reckon it is. When Sister Margaret spoke of a niece who’d been widowed, I expected a middle-aged lady.”
“Sadie worried that the lady coming might be as old as the other teachers and not strong enough to be much help at the orphanage.”
“Well, she ain’t gonna be much help the way she is, that’s for sure.”
“We’ll fatten her up. I’ll stay and help until she’s able-bodied and back to her full health.” Mel sounded like she was as happy with the work as Sadie had been. Justin didn’t see the attraction of caring for a herd of kids.
They seemed like a lot more trouble than cows.
“She can’t be more than her early twenties.” Justin had already given everything about her too much thought. “Or maybe being as light as a child made her only seem younger.”
Whichever it was, she was a very pretty young woman. He didn’t see any point in saying that out loud, however.
“I know Sister Margaret was worried about her.” Mel frowned in a kind way, as if Margaret’s worries were hers, too. “She thought Angelique might be low on money. That’s what made her ask her to come out here and help.”
“For now, she’s gonna be more work than help. I hope she comes around quick.” Justin decided then and there he’d check up on the frail Miss Angelique. It was a French name and it reminded him of his ma. He’d make sure the fragile woman was doing well. It was honestly almost his duty because he’d saved her from falling and then carried her to her aunt.
A responsible man took something like that seriously, and Justin considered himself very responsible. He also felt pretty dad-burned heroic. It fed something in him that had been knocked hard when Pa had been hurt. He should have been there; he should have saved Pa.
Somehow catching a falling woman and carrying her to safety, not to mention helping to feed a woman and her children, gave him back his pride.
Which probably made him a prideful fool.
“I’d better get back.” Mel distracted him from thoughts of pride and heroics and women in distress, and he was grateful for it. “I just wanted to know what you’d heard from your ma and pa.”
Justin had news to share, and he was glad enough to change the subject.
12
“I should have gone to Denver with Ma and Pa,” Sadie muttered as she inched backward, fighting down panic.
“What?” Heath drew her attention up.
“Nothing.” She needed to keep her thoughts to herself. They had a long way to go, and straight down. It was at less than half the pace of going up, and that had been maddeningly slow. And she needed to not distract Heath.
“What possessed me to want to climb a stupid mountain anyway? Stubbornness? A chance to defy my brothers? More time with Heath? A death wish?”
“Did you say something?” Heath hollered.
“Nope, not a thing.” Not a thing that she wanted him to hear. “The gingerbread isn’t gonna be warm anymore, and we didn’t even get to the top.”
“Sadie, did you—?”
“Nothing! I said nothing.” She clamped her mouth shut with a disgusted sigh. She was dangling up here by her fingernails, absolutely literally by her fingernails, and it was because of her own foolishness. Climbing this mesa hadn’t bothered her a bit when she was a youngster. Which probably just proved that back then she didn’t h
ave a lick of common sense.
The sun was high in the sky now. They were in the full light after a morning in shadows. They’d sure as certain missed the midmorning coffee break.
“Your foot is just above the ledge we sat on coming up,” Heath called.
That distracted her more than her own muttering, causing her foot to slip. She fell with a sharp shriek. The rope jerked hard, and she dangled and swayed from her belly. A quick glance up showed Heath braced against toeholds, both hands on the rope. How did he cling to the rock with her weight tugging at him? He had to be the strongest, steadiest man she’d ever known.
As he directed her foot, she took a moment to be glad she wasn’t wearing a skirt, for he never would have seen past her if she’d had one on.
By the time she reached the ledge where they could rest, her hands were shaking with fatigue, her fingertips scraped nearly raw. Her head was flooded with pure panic and there was a long way to go yet.
Heath was only seconds behind her, as sure as a clinging vine against the rock wall. The man hadn’t been boasting when he’d said he was an experienced climber. He sat beside her, and neither spoke for a long time.
Finally she caught her breath and calmed her heart, cleared her fearful brain enough to think straight, and looked to see him staring overhead at the top of the mesa.
“What are you looking for?”
“I’ve decided there’s no one up there, at least not now.”
“How’d you decide that?” She noticed one of his fingernails was torn enough to be bleeding and considered how far they had left to go.
“You screamed and no one came and started shooting at us. That seems like proof enough.” He pulled jerky and biscuits out of his pack and handed her a share, and when their hands touched, regret stole his smile away. “I’ve put you in danger. We’ve got a long way to go and you’re all in.”
He didn’t say it, but she thought he might be all in, too. Except he probably had deep wells of strength and enough grit to go on, even if his strength was spent.
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