He felt a surge of sympathy for his friend, and for Fiona. It was obvious the young woman was having trouble getting past what had happened, and that was completely understandable. Brandon was just as obviously struggling to help her, and probably feeling helpless about his inability to do so.
Well, Tom had seen a lot of that same helpless frustration and pain in Bob. He wasn't sure there was any good answer, any advice he could give that could help, other than to keep being there for Fiona and supporting her. Give her someone she could trust and lean on as her shattered world gradually healed.
He rested a hand on the young man's shoulder. “Maybe you can talk to Bob, when you come up to work on the barn. I'd be happy to sit in, although I'm afraid I can't offer much beyond moral support.” At Brandon's crestfallen look he continued quickly. “And you're welcome to bring Fiona up with you. It might do her some good to spend time with Kristy and Vicky, and I'm sure they'd love the company as well.”
His friend sighed. “There's no quick cure for the hell of Newpost, is there?” he asked quietly. “I thought things would get better for her after this much time has passed. That what happened would fade, and it would settle in that she's finally safe and the ordeal is over.” He stared glumly at the fence rail his arms rested on. “I want to help her so much, more than anything, but I just don't know how, or even if there's anything I can do. I'm guessing there's no easy answer to this, is there?”
The question seemed to answer itself, or at least Tom couldn't think of a good one. So he didn't respond, just shaking his head and letting his hand drop back onto the fence.
They stood there side by side for a while, staring out at the mountains as the peaceful sounds of the Knudsen family working their farms drifted to them from all directions. Finally, Brandon spoke up again, almost too quiet to be heard. “I sometimes dream I'm back in that cage.” His voice was haunted. “I hurl myself against the door, against the chain links, but I can't get out. I just have to stay trapped, listening helplessly to her screaming as those animals hurt her, seeing-”
He cut off with a violent shudder, clenching his fists against the dry, cracked wood of the rail. “I hate myself for not fighting the way Mr. Hendrickson did. He forced those monsters to beat him unconscious when they came for Mrs. Hendrickson, willing to do anything to protect her. I just let them hold me still when they took Fiona.” His head sagged until it was almost touching his arms, and when he continued his voice was broken. “I wish I'd fought. Sometimes I-I even wish they'd killed me.”
Tom's vision blurred, and he felt his own sense of helplessness. How did you comfort someone suffering this kind of pain? How much more helpless must Bob and Brandon feel, trying to do the same for Vicky and Fiona?
Kristy was right, he really had been selfish in refusing to offer Vicky what help they could. He'd tried to be reasonable about the situation, although that might just be justification, but he should've been more empathetic.
He wished he could take it back now. Change how he'd acted. But that was settled, for better or worse. Nothing for it but to keep moving forward.
He silently put an arm around Brandon's shoulders, trying not to pay attention to the way they began to shake as the young man dropped his head onto his arms, silently letting out his grief and pain in shuddering sobs.
After a few incredibly awkward minutes his friend sucked in a sharp breath and surreptitiously wiped his eyes across his sleeve. Then he straightened, unable to quite meet Tom's gaze with his red-rimmed eyes. “Thanks,” he said quietly.
Tom nodded, wondering just what help he'd been. “If there's anything I can do,” he said lamely, but with full sincerity. “Anything at all.”
“I know.” Brandon clapped him on the arm, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “I'll see you in a couple days, huh?” He slipped past him, headed for the small lean-to he'd pointed out as the one he shared with Logan.
Tom noticed that the Knudsen men had gone back to work, respecting their privacy. He also saw that Skyler was standing nearby, looking between him and Brandon's retreating back with a confused, concerned expression. Tom motioned to him and started for the wagon.
“What's going on?” the kid asked, hurrying to catch up.
“Never mind,” Tom told him, climbing up onto the wagon seat.
Skyler seemed to accept that, not saying anything else as he climbed up on the other side and Tom released the brake and got the horses moving for town. But once the Knudsen farms were well behind them he spoke up suddenly. “That was about Newpost, wasn't it?”
He didn't want to betray Brandon's confidence, but that was an easy enough guess to make so he nodded.
The boy mulled that over for a while, expression bitter. “Are they ever going to pay for what they did?” he finally asked.
Tom honestly wasn't sure. Who out there had the ability to stand up to bandits with military weapons, vehicles, and a vicious hatred for those they considered to be the enemy who nuked their country during the Ultimatum? Who out there could make them face justice for the atrocities they'd committed?
“I think so,” he finally said. “People like that, who do the things they do, never come to a good end.”
Skyler clenched his hands into fists. “When I'm old enough, I want to fight them,” he said fiercely.
Normally Tom might've smiled at that, but he knew Skyler was deadly serious. And he also knew that the last thing he wanted for the boy, who might very well soon be his adopted son and who he was certainly coming to care for as if he was, was to see him go off and fight an enemy like that.
“Let's hope it never comes to that. That they never come here. We have a chance for a new start, to build a good future for ourselves, and going off picking a fight would just complicate that.”
“They're the ones picking a fight,” Skyler muttered. But he let the issue drop.
It was only a short drive into town, and soon enough Tom was parking the wagon in a small lot near Brady's trading post. He noticed Skyler giving him a surreptitious hopeful look, and bit back a smile. “If you happen to find some sort of candy or sweets in there, we can buy enough for everyone back home to share.”
“Okay!” the boy said eagerly.
They made their way into the trading post, the familiar bell above the door ringing their entry. True to form for this time of day, Brady took a minute or so to appear through the door leading to the backroom. “Tom!” he called jovially. “No mishaps on your trip to Utah Valley?”
Tom thought of the relationship roller coaster he and Kristy had endured over the last few weeks. “Nope, just your usual there and back again.”
“Good to hear.” The trader settled behind the counter, expression becoming businesslike. “Bring anything back to trade, and have you got that empty wagon for me to sell? I might've lined up a buyer.”
“Nothing to trade, but the wagon's all yours.” Tom joined him at the counter, while behind him Skyler began browsing in his search for a treat. “Thought I'd pick up some supplies for the winter, what with the extra mouths to feed. Especially since I get the impression they might get sick of preserved meat.” He paused. “And speaking of winter, I was wondering if you've managed to track down a wood-burning stove.”
Brady gaped at him. “Wait, you were serious about that? I thought it was just wishful thinking!”
He shrugged sheepishly. “I might've downplayed how successful I was with this last trip. I talked finances over with Kristy, and we agreed we might have enough to spare for some big purchases like this.” He hadn't specifically told her he was planning to get a stove, though; he wanted that to be a surprise.
“Well, a reclusive old coot you might be, but I'm glad you've got the sense to discuss purchases like that with your better half.” The trader eyed him speculatively. “So you and Mrs. Graham are actually headed somewhere, huh? Miracles never cease.”
Tom snorted. “If you're angling for a wedding invitation, that's a bad way to go about it.” He immediately regretted the
flippant remark, since he hadn't officially proposed to Kristy and didn't want to start speculation in town. And he doubly cursed his big mouth when he noticed Skyler gaping at him out of the corner of his eye. “Not that a wedding's in the offing,” he hastily added.
Although a proposal really did seem like something he should be considering sooner, rather than later.
Brady grinned at him. “Don't worry, I'm not the sort to flap my gums short of the official word.” He straightened. “So, a stove? I might know someone willing to sell for the right price. Pity you didn't talk to me before your trip to Utah Valley, or you could've purchased it and brought it home yourself.”
Tom's expression soured. He supposed he could make another trip up to the valley before the snows fell if need be, although the prospect didn't appeal. Although it might be an opportunity to pick up the rest of Miles's cache, what he'd been forced to leave behind.
The trader noticed his reaction. “I can find someone who's headed up there who can make inquiries. Get word back down to you about the price.”
He pursed his lips. The negotiator in him cringed at what he was about to do, but he didn't want to have to go through several back and forths to get his stove just to save a few ounces in silver. “What if I were to give whoever you sent the go-ahead to just buy the stove, assuming the price isn't ridiculous?”
Brady once again stared. “There's successful and then there's successful,” he muttered. “You strike gold out there on the trail or something?”
That hit uncomfortably close to the truth; Tom could've done without that sort of speculation. “Let your errand boy know that if he can talk his way into a good price for the stove, I'll give him half of whatever he saves.”
The trader sighed. “I'll need to find someone trustworthy, then.” He shook his head. “One thing I can say for you, Tom, your visits to the store have been a lot more interesting lately.”
They spent some time arranging details for the stove, and Tom bought the supplies he needed, not just for everyone in the valley but also for everyone coming up to help with the barn. Skyler produced a foil-wrapped tray of cookies Brady's wife had baked that cost an arm and a leg, but Tom still purchased them without hesitation, further mystifying the trader.
“Give my best to Mrs. Graham and the Hendricksons!” the man called as they headed for the exit. “I'll send word as soon as I hear about the stove!”
Outside, Tom paused to give Skyler a firm look. “Listen, think you can keep everything me and Mr. Everett talked about in there to yourself?”
The boy made a sour face. “About you and Mom maybe getting married?”
He winced. He hadn't really had a chance to talk to Skyler about this, about them potentially all becoming a family, aside from their brief discussion while digging up Miles's cache. He'd sort of hoped Kristy would talk it over with her son after he mentioned that talk to her, and maybe she had.
Still, he wanted to have a proper heart to heart with the boy, make sure Skyler was really okay with how things stood. Hanging around outside the trading post in the middle of Emery wasn't really the right place for it, though. “That too,” he said sheepishly. “Although I was thinking more about the stove. I wanted to surprise your mom with it.”
“Oh, okay.” The kid shot him a mischievous look. “I bet I'd forget all about it if you let me have a cookie right now.”
Tom couldn't help but laugh, freeing a hand from the bundle he was holding to ruffle the boy's hair. “I suppose you've earned it after your hard work today.”
Epilogue
First Snow
Days passed, then weeks, then months. September moved on to October, and finally November. The air in the valley grew more and more chilly, especially in the morning and evening, until they were all looking up at the sky whenever it grew cloudy, wondering when rain would give way to snow.
Although those gazes weren't worried, or at least not really; Kristy certainly felt confident about their situation. The barn was long since finished, the animals snugly housed in the spacious structure with plenty of fodder. The winter lodge and Hendrickson cabin were well prepared for the cold and comfortably furnished, with a firewood pile big enough to see both through the winter twice over. They'd also constructed two sheds for food storage, well secured against thieves and wild animals and stocked with enough food to easily last them to spring.
All the furs from the animals Tom and Skyler had hunted and snared were being painstakingly made into rugs, blankets, insulating wall hangings, and warm clothing by Kristy, Vicky, and Lisa, with Tom showing them how to do some things they hadn't tried before. It made a good pastime as the increasing cold chased them indoors, and an opportunity to keep their hands busy as they socialized.
Vicky hadn't seemed interested in traveling, not surprising considering her condition and the circumstances surrounding it, but on a visit to town in October, Kristy had taken Leanne Knudsen up on her invitation to drop by. They'd had an enjoyable time, and Kristy left feeling a bit sad that more such visits would be necessarily infrequent, since she lived half a day away.
She loved the valley and looked forward with excitement to building the ranch with Tom, but she had to admit she wouldn't have minded being closer to Emery with more chances to socialize.
Speaking of the mountain man, it was getting harder and harder to behave with him as they grew closer and closer. Kristy firmly considered their relationship rock solid, and was more than ready for him to ask a certain question and let them get a wedding done with so they could finally be together.
But he seemed oddly hesitant about it, and she was becoming convinced it wasn't due to his usual slow, cautious approach to things. It was almost as if he was waiting for something, although for the life of her Kristy couldn't guess what. He acted as fully devoted to her as ever, and with great restraint remained a perfect gentleman during their private moments together, so she didn't think he was having second thoughts.
It might've had something to do with his impatience to get word from town. Brandon had stopped by several times over the months to help out with things, and Tom always ran out to meet him, then looked almost crestfallen by whatever the young man had to tell him.
He'd ran out same as always when Brandon and Fiona arrived unexpectedly around noon for a visit. Except this time, rather than looking disappointed by their news he'd immediately saddled up Horse and Mary and galloped away in the direction of Emery. He'd been in such a hurry he hadn't even paused to kiss Kristy goodbye, let alone give her a hint about what the blazes was going on.
Brandon and Fiona weren't any help, either. They'd apparently come for a purely social visit, which wasn't surprising considering the day was even colder than usual, the sky leaden gray and promising chilly rain or possibly even snow. Although Kristy suspected their real purpose had been to deliver the news that sent her boyfriend rushing to town.
But whatever was going on, the young man and woman remained cheerfully ignorant of it as they crammed into the winter lodge's first room with Kristy, Skyler, and the Hendricksons for lunch. It was pleasant to visit with them in any case, and especially nice to have a chance to see Fiona.
The young woman still seemed so fragile she'd shatter at the drop of a hat, which was understandable considering what she'd suffered. But the months seemed to have brought her some peace and healing; there was more color in her pale cheeks, and she was able to smile and even laugh as they all talked over the meal.
She supposed the same applied to Vicky, too; her friend still had days where she struggled, as evidenced by drawn features and dark circles under her eyes after a sleepless night, and a bit more tenseness in Bob's and Lisa's postures. But deciding to keep the baby seemed to have given the petite woman some measure of peace, and she'd begun talking about her pregnancy with Kristy almost as if it was perfectly normal, and carried no dark specter from the past.
It let her harbor the hope that maybe the baby wouldn't be the strain on her friend's family that she feared.
That maybe they'd be able to get over the trauma of the past and move on to a happy future at the ranch.
Kristy couldn't help but feel a bit glum when Brandon and Fiona announced after lunch that they should probably head home. “I'd like to reach Emery before dark,” Brandon said, glancing at the sky. “And hopefully stay ahead of whatever nastiness the weather's got in store.”
That was reasonable enough, although Kristy still hugged Fiona goodbye for over a minute, tempted to ask them to stay the night in case a storm hit them halfway home. But she knew the two were busier than ever at the moment, helping the Knudsens prepare their farms for winter, and she didn't want them to get in trouble with the family that had so kindly taken them in.
Finally, the young woman pulled away, looking amused. “Thanks for lunch, Mother Kristy,” she said. “I hope I get a chance to see you again before spring.”
“If you see Tom on the way back, tell him to hurry up and get home before this storm hits him!” she called as they started off down the valley. They responded with waves over their shoulders, walking hand in hand in a way that was absolutely adorable.
Kristy wasn't sure how the relationship between the two was going, all things considered. Fiona still had a lot of healing to do, a lot of pain to get over. But she hoped things worked out for them; they deserved a chance to move on, to have happy lives not overshadowed by the specter of Newpost. And she was determined to help them however she could.
In spite of the cold day, made even colder by a chilly breeze that seemed determined to cut right through the fur and leather coat Tom had made for her, Kristy lingered outside after their visitors were out of sight. She knew it was silly, since Tom would probably have to stay the night in Emery and return tomorrow, unless of course he wanted to push through potentially dangerous weather until after midnight.
But she still didn't go back inside. She found herself missing the mountain man, even though he hadn't been gone more than an hour or so, and fell into daydreams of what their life together would be like once he finally got his head out of his rump and proposed.
Mountain Man (Book 2): Homecoming Page 16