by Lynn Landes
“Is it hard being away from your family?” she asks nibbling on her dry biscuit.
Harris grins at the shudder that runs through her body when she tastes it. He walks to his saddle while he answers her.
“Yes, and No. I love my job, but it gets lonely.” Digging around he smiles in success and returns with a rolled up small leather bag. “Try this,” he sits next to her, sharing his heat and blocking her from the cold wind and unrolls the package. “Jerky, from our cows.”
Vanessa glances at him in surprise, as he hands her a ripped off piece. “You made this?”
He laughs softly, “No, there are perks to living on a ranch.” He rips off a piece and puts it between two hard tac biscuits.
“Mmm, much better. I’ll be sure to catch some fish for dinner.” Crumbs fall, and she ignores them, tearing into her food. “I’m starved.”
“I can provide for you, Kimani,” he snaps, “you don’t have to fish.”
“If you fish as well as you shoot moose, I’ll starve,” she laughs when he throws his biscuit at her. “It’s a good thing you’re an amazing doctor.”
Her compliment eases the sting. “Thank you.”
“What made you want to be a doctor?” she asks.
“Gramps got sick. You remember?” she nods, and he continues. “I felt so helpless; we all did. I wanted to help, and I couldn’t. Then one day my sixteenth year, Dad found Yuma in the grazing field, injured.”
“What?” she gasps.
“He was ten,” he frowns and runs a hand over his beard to knock the crumbs from it. “I think he tried to take down a buffalo on his own. It charged, and he was hurt. Luckily for him, I knew how to set a bone. It was a small break, but it could have been really bad if it wasn’t treated. I left the following spring. I told my parents I wanted to be a Doctor. Nan gave me the money for the train ticket. You know the rest.”
“I remember him being hurt, but not the how. Thank you,” she whispers.
“He was my brother, too,” Harris murmurs and glances across the fields at the mountains beyond remembering the boy trying to be a man.
Tears threaten, clogging her throat and she sips her coffee. With a trembling breath, she thinks of his words. After a few minutes of silence, she stands up and gingerly walks. “It feels good to walk,” she whispers and paces while he watches her skirt swish back and forth.
“Tell me about the attack, Kimani.”
She stops walking.
“It was like this, that last few minutes before the sun rose, filling the land with its golden touch.” She smiles softly remembering, “Ahote and I rowed across the river, to find our two tribes facing off.” Harris stands slowly and stretches his legs.
“Why were you across the river?” he asks.
Kimani blushes and glances at him, “We needed time alone.” Harris isn’t sure what to think about Ahote touching her. He frowns and nods at her.
“We came back to angry words, and Ahbe’,” her body jerks as if feeling the bullets strike her body. Her hand flies to her mouth, green eyes wide with shock as she remembers the taste of her Father’s blood. “It happened so fast, Harris. The bullets rained on us and Ahbe’ threw himself on top of me to protect me, then chaos.”
“You don’t have to say anymore,” Harris gently pulls her towards him. Her hand rests over his heart, the calming rhythm soothes her.
“Ahote grabbed me by my arm and shoved me to the river, pushing me in. Run, butterfly, he shouted!” Tears streaming, she doesn’t realize her hands are balled into fists on his chest.
“Kimani,” he covers her hands with his, “enough.”
“Then he was gone. So many people,” her voice grows louder, “Everyone was running into the river, and… bodies, falling.” She tells him of the little girl and the boat. Harris listens with a growing horror.
“They pushed you away,” he asks hoarsely?
“Yes, and the bullets started again, so fast, there was no way to outrun it.”
“It was a Gatling gun, Barclay loves to use them,” Harris says.
Kimani’s eyes jump to his. “He said they had two of them. I’m not making sense,” she murmurs at his look on confusion and releases her grip on his shirt. “My leg, the bullet struck me, and I fell in the water. It was moving faster in that section, and it took me with it. When I looked up saw her.”
“Who?”
“Nashca. Her eyes were open, in a silent scream,” Harris grips her face gently, and her hand clasps his. “They roped her and pulled, like an animal, Harris, I couldn’t let them… and I grabbed her,” sobbing now, Kimani continues. “They pulled us from the river…” she stops for a second and pushes away. “Barclay said that our tribe had stolen guns and attacked his soldiers.”
Harris watches the way her body trembles and shakes with emotion and grabs a blanket to wrap around her shoulders, gently guiding her back to the log to sit on. “The soldier, Simon who helped you said they knew there were no guns.” Kimani’s drops her face into her hands, remembering Ahote’s words. ‘I’m sorry I brought this to your family.’
“I’m so confused,” she says.
“I’m sorry to make you relive it,” Harris scoots closer and wraps an arm around her, pulling her into his heat. His size was always amazing to her. Tall, and broad muscles and he smelled like earth, and campfire.
Leaning into him is natural, “You don’t understand.” She takes a deep breath. “Right before Ahote died he said, “I’m sorry I brought this to your family.”
Harris’s eyes widen, and he looks at her. “What does that mean?”
Pushing out of his arms she jumps up and begins to pace. “I hadn’t seen him in a few seasons, he said that he was earning enough to offer for me. There were rumors of attacks on wagon trains. I prayed that he wasn’t involved.”
“What does your heart tell you?” Harris asks being careful of his words.
A tear rolls down her cheek as she remembers the look on Ahote’s face, “I think it’s possible, Harris. How could he have earned enough to offer for my hand and why else would he say that?”
“The soldiers and the Indians trade turns attacking each other. It’s insane. I’ve treated both Indians and white men, and always the hate is the same. I don’t understand it. We should be able to share the land.”
“Your family showed that it was possible,” she proclaims. Staring at him, she wonders at him. “You have a beautiful heart, Harris. Always trying to heal the broken, but even this is too much for you and my father knew it.”
Memories, images, screams, and flashes of death fill her mind, and she squeezes her hands over her ears. Harris moves swiftly to her and pulls her close. Kimani leans in and turns into his neck, smelling him. The sounds fade, and she whispers. “Some people are too broken to ever be healed, Harris.”
“That’s not true.” He lifts her chin with a finger to look in her eyes. “Once we get home, I will make it my mission to fill your days with laughter and your nights with passion.” Kimani glances up at him in shock.
Harris seizes the confused, dazed, look and leans forward, touching his lips to hers. His breath mingles with hers, and the hairs on his beard tease her before his tongue sweeps inside teasing and tasting her. He feels exactly like she dreamed, gentle, yet demanding.
Kimani rips her mouth from his and jumps up, backing away from him stammering, “I… we... you can’t say things like that, Harris.”
“Yes, I can,” his grin is so cocky that she’s tempted to slap him or kiss and knock his self-assured attitude off kilter.
“Kuhmaputsi,” she snaps and strides away from him. Harris watches the guilt, confusion, and passion flicker across her beautiful face.
“That’s a new word for me. What did you just call me?”
“Rooster, with your attitude. You’ve always been so…” she paces, and her hands fly around as she talks.
“Handsome,” he teases with a grin.
She skids to a stop and turns on him with narrowed eyes and fury, but wh
en she looks at his teasing eyes, all she can think is that how she wishes he would kiss her again. Laughter bubbles out, and he joins her.
Laughter is a gift, and she stares at him with the bud of hope beginning to bloom in her heart. Hope for a future and possibilities.
“Can you travel?” he asks.
“A few more hours at most,” she replies. “This is harder than I thought.”
“We will take our time; your health is the most important thing right now.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Chapter 20
His patience was rewarded yesterday. Pretty, little, Beverly was happy to talk for some extra coin. Sutton comes to town every five days for a visit to the brothel, although he calls it “getting supplies.”
Craig glances to his right, where Evan usually rides. “You’re right Aiden, it’s been forever since we had a woman…” Craig laughs out loud, “You shouldn’t have roughed her up so much, brother, but I did warn her she would earn those coins.” Craig left her bruised, battered body with two extra coins and rode the fifteen miles to the homestead last night.
Now, he watches as the men ride away to tend the herd and makes his move. He rides into the homestead and removes his hat as he’s greeted by a woman holding a rifle and her son.
“Good Morning,” he greets them. “I’m looking for my brother, Harris Rivers. I was told I could find him here?”
“Oh,” Melody gasps and lowers the rifle. “I’m so sorry, he’s not here.”
Billy stares at the man and glances at his mother.
Craig removes his hat and smiles down at them. “That’s a shame. He wired me to meet him, but I missed him at Riverton. Any chance you know where he’s headed?”
“He didn’t tell us about you,” Billy says and steps in front of his mother with a frown.
“I understand, son. I’m sure you can understand that I’m worried about him. Is he traveling with a woman?” Craig asks, and his smiles fades.
“Of course. Yes, Vanessa is with him. He mentioned going to Fort Steele a few days ride from here. If you’d like some breakfast, we can discuss it, Mr. Rivers.”
“That’s mighty kind of you, but I’m anxious to meet up with him. When did they leave?”
“Three days ago,” Billy answers.
“Thank you for taking care of them,” Craig turns before they can say anything else and thunders out of the homestead. “Got them, brother,” he grins as he pushes his horse hard. If she’s in as bad a condition as he remembers, they will travel slowly, and he can catch up to them in a day or two. He’s been to Fort Steele many times, especially with the recent shipments of weapons.
Killing the doctor should be easy enough. The girl will be a challenge, one that he looks forward to. “Brother, should I roast her alive, or leave her with a belly full of shot like she did you?” Listening intently, he laughs. “Of course, both!”
Chapter 21
They camp that night, and Vanessa doesn’t argue when they stop. Harris creates a bed next to a small fire, and she crawls inside and sleeps soundly. She doesn’t even move when he places his bedroll next to her to share body heat.
When she grows restless in the middle of the night, she calms when he rolls to her and pulls her close. He presses a kiss to her forehead, and they sleep soundly for the night.
The second day they ride across the plains for a few hours until Vanessa pleads with him to stop. They can see a small river running down through the plains and a large group of trees that will provide shelter.
Harris helps her down and watches as she paces, rubbing her back. He moves to tie up the horses, while she begins to build a small fire. “I could catch some fish for us?” Kimani offers when he hears the first call. The grunt and growl of a large animal followed by the rumbling ground. They look at each other wide-eyed for a second before quickly running for the horses.
“Buffalo,” she mutters. “Harris!”
“I know! We have to go.” Neither one bothers to speak. Early afternoon on the prairie and large game means Indians could be near.
“Stay close, we’ll make for the hills,” he points to the other side of the field. They break through the trees and race away from the sound. A few stray buffalo turn to watch them and determine if they are a threat. The sun is bright and at the speed they ride, birds to fly up into the sky, startled by their passage. Mud flies up as they race for the shelter of the rolling hills.
Just as they drop on the other side of the hills, the call of the Cherokee sounds out behind the buffalo. An answering call followed by the thundering of horses. “Harris,” she whispers and hisses in shock when he leaps from his horse and snaps a command. His horse lays down, dropping its head to the ground behind the hill. She dismounts, and he grabs her reins and pulls her horse down as well, drawing his pistol.
Thankfully, they are shielded by the sun behind them. “Cherokee,” he whispers. Kimani nods in agreement. Together they lay flat on the hill, each laying over the neck of their horses, breathing hard.
Neither dares to look up. They can’t risk being seen. Harris stares into her fear filled eyes and curses his stupidity. He can’t risk crawling to her as they listen to the hunt below. A large herd of buffalo starts running flanked on both sides by Cherokee warriors. They race away from them; the hunt is on. The ground rumbles, even from this distance. Harris holds still for a few more minutes until the birds return to the morning song.
“I’d like to hear your plan now,” she whispers and tries to quiet her pounding heart.
“I bet,” he laughs softly as he helps her stand up. When she groans, he frowns down at her. “We can stop again as long as we keep to the shelter of the trees.”
“We need to go now,” she urges.
After they stop for the third time in two hours, Kimani snaps, “I’m fine, Harris. I can keep going. We’ll never get to the wherever it is you’re taking me if we keep stopping.”
“I’m only thinking of your health, Vanessa. You’re still recovering.”
“It’s still light out. I’ll let you know when I need to stop again.” She kicks her horse and trots away leaving him no choice but to follow her.
Her nerves are getting to her. The nightmares don’t leave her alone, and last night she woke up in his arms. It would be so easy to stay with him, and the more time she spends getting to know the man, the stronger her feelings become.
“Hard-headed woman!” he grumbles and rides on catching up with her quickly. She is sitting on her horse and looking ahead with a confused look. “What’s that?”
Harris stops beside her, “Wo,” and tugs on the reins. In the distance is a set of train tracks.
“Does this mean we are getting close?” she suggests.
“I suppose so.” He frowns thinking about what this means. “The Fort is abandoned or, so I was told, yet these tracks are clean. Nothing overgrown about them.”
“Strange,” Vanessa glances around.
“Not really, I suppose. Towns are popping up all over Wyoming.” He glances down the track with a worried glance, and they turn and follow the tracks for a few minutes.
With a glance around the terrain ahead of them Harris notices the change. The valley where the buffalo grazed is behind them and ahead of them are the foothills of the mountains. It’s a relief in one regard that means more cover for them, but it will be harder on the horses.
Kimani glances around and points to a hill ahead of them. “Look up there, Harris. That would be ideal for us to stop and make camp.” It’s covered with trees high enough to give a good vantage point in all directions.
“Good eye, we can make camp there.”
They work together quickly to set up camp. Luckily, it has a few large boulders to provide a visual break from the other side. Kimani makes a small fire next to a boulder to reflect the heat, while Harris takes care of the horses. She glares angrily at the skirt she’s forced to wear and wishes desperately for her regular clothes. They were more comfortable and le
ss restricting. Harris grabs the bedrolls and places them close to the fire.
Night will be on them soon, and she grows nervous just thinking about it. Sitting next to the glowing fire, she builds it quickly as she was taught. When she hears a rumble in the distance, she quickly tosses a handful of snow dampening the flame.
“What is it?” She whispers, moving to his side. Harris grabs his binoculars from his bag and moves to the ridgeline overlooking the valley they left behind.
“A train!” He urges, “Get down.” Harris stares at the train and frowns. It’s clearly marked Army on the side of the cars. He slides down and waits for the train to pass.
“I thought the Fort was abandoned?” she whispers.
“So did I,” Harris replies. An active train track indicates something else.
“We must be getting close to the Fort by now?” Kimani asks.
“I’d say another ten miles, maybe. Let’s get some rest and eat. In the morning we can ride further down the tracks and check it out from a distance.”
Kimani doesn’t argue. “I’m exhausted. That sounds like a good idea.”
Harris frowns as she gets up and stretches, wincing at the pain in her back. “If you handle the bedrolls and fire, I’ll water and feed the horses.”
She nods and gets to work without complaining. Harris guides the horses further down the rise, allowing the hill to provide visual protection. When he returns to camp, he is surprised to find her asleep in her bedroll, next to the fire.
Harris walks over and kneels down beside her. The low fire flickers, painting her hair with caramel highlights. She shivers and curls up tightly in an attempt to get warm. Grabbing a blanket from his bedroll, he drops it over her and stares down at her. He’s always felt protective of her, but things have changed, and he can no longer picture his future without her in it. Kimani stands up for her beliefs, fights for what she wants, is smart, funny, and sexy as hell. Before he can plan a future with her, he needs to get her to safety.
Doubts plague him. There’s always the back-up plan, but can she make it to the mountains? He scrubs a hand over his face and rises to make a quick meal.