by Carré White
“What does that mean?” I glanced at Pastor Bailey. “Why are you here, sir?”
“I’m going to help Nathan find her.”
This was a surprise. “You needn’t do that. It’s not your responsibility.”
“She’s one of my parishioners, and she’s your daughter. I have every intension of helping.”
I hadn’t been expecting that. Hannah came to stand beside me. “What will you do?”
“We’re packing some food and headin’ out,” said Nathan. “She’s probably not gone far, but we gotta hit the trail before she finds herself in trouble.”
“I’m coming too.” Hannah glanced at me; her look was stark. “I can ride. I’ll be fine.”
“That’s really not necessary, Mrs. Hatch…er…” Pastor Bailey caught the look upon my face…“Miss Hoffman. We’ve got this under control. We’ll have her by supper time.”
“No. I’m coming.” I hurried for the house. “I’ll be right back! Saddle up a horse for me.” I encountered mother in the hallway, as she had followed me in. “Can you get the children from school later? You’ll have to leave here by three.”
“My dear, why are you doing this? Let the men find her. You needn’t go with them.”
“I am. I’ll be back.” I hurried up the stairs, flinging open the bedroom door. I quickly changed into a riding habit and half boots. When I returned to the stairs, mother was waiting.
“This might take more than a night, my dear. There’s no reason for you to go. Let the men handle it. You don’t want to be stuck out in the bush.”
“I have to. She’s my responsibility, and I’ve already proven a failure where she’s concerned.”
“Oh, that girl’s a mess from start to finish. I hope she learns her lesson this time. The dramatics need to end before someone gets hurt.”
“I couldn’t agree more, but we have to find her before it’s too late.” I hugged mother. “Wish me luck. I fully expect to be home by sundown, if not sooner.” She followed me to the porch, where father had come to see what all the commotion was about.
“It’s always something,” he said, shaking his head. “Shall I alert your sisters about this latest disaster?”
“That’s not necessary,” said Nathan. “We’ll be back soon enough.”
“Be careful, Mr. Weaver,” said Maria. “You too, Mrs. Hatch.”
I cringed, hating to be addressed by that name. “Thank you, Maria.”
A horse waited, a brown and white mare, with a sidesaddle. Father assisted me, holding my arm, although I didn’t need his help. Grasping the reins in my gloved hands, I glanced at my traveling companions, who seemed amused that I would be joining them.
“Well, shouldn’t we go?”
“I suppose we should.” A playful light flashed in Nathan’s eyes.
Why he found my presence humorous was beyond me. “Well then, let’s go, gentlemen. The sooner we find Jane, the sooner her punishment can begin.”
“Please be careful for your safety, my dear,” said mother. “Do you have a weapon?”
“I’ve got it covered,” said Nathan. He’d turned his horse around, the stallion snorting, ready to trot forward. “Onward, folks. Enough time’s been wasted.”
“After you.” Pastor Bailey waited for me to go before him.
“Thank you.” It was astounding that he had come all this way to join us. There was no denying the thrill I felt knowing he was behind me. As we began down the road, I glanced over my shoulder, fighting a smile.
“The Hunt’s saw her a couple of hours ago,” said Nathan. “That’s the direction we’ll go in, until we can figure out where she went.”
The preacher had come up alongside me, and I glanced at him. “I’m sure we’ll find her. Wagons are horribly slow. I should know. I was in one for two months.”
“Let’s just hope she hasn’t gotten into trouble.”
“What sort of trouble?”
He shrugged. “Out here? Indian trouble.”
That sent a chill down my backbone.
Chapter Eleven
Traveling on horseback was substantially faster than wagon, although we slowed often to follow the rut a wheel had made in the dirt. The trail had worn down, narrowing nearly to the point of disappearing altogether. With the late afternoon sun having traveled westward, where it would eventually lower towards the mountains and disappear, we continued, the horses plodding on.
“How do you know she came this way?”
“The freshly dug ruts,” said Nathan. He chewed on a toothpick. “I suspect we’ll find her towards the foothills. I’m not sure what possessed her to take off in that direction, seeing that the trail to California is south, but who the blazes knows what’s goin’ on in her head.”
I glanced at Pastor Bailey. “She was with you for several weeks. What do you know of her character, sir? Is there anything you’ve seen that could help us figure out why she would do something this foolish?”
“Besides losing her parents and her uncle and being passed along to strangers? No.”
“It’s not my fault that tragedy has struck. It happens to the best families.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
There was tension suddenly, which I found irritating. “I’ve done everything I possibly can to encourage Jane to bond with me. Mary’s come around, but…not her. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do. Maybe if she married and had her own family that would help.”
“She’s not mature enough for that.”
“I disagree. She fancies you, sir.” That had bothered him, his expression hardening.
“I’ve not encouraged it, Fanny. It’s purely one-sided, I swear.”
“What is your first name? Might I call you something other than Pastor Bailey?”
“Jack.”
For some bizarre reason, hearing his name pleased me ridiculously. “I like that.”
“What?”
“Your name.”
“It was my father’s.”
“Jack Bailey.” I glanced at nothing in particular, seeing the greenness of the prairie that spanned the line of the horizon, until it greeted a cobalt sky. Sensing his attention, I met his gaze, smiling. He blinked.
Nathan grinned, tossing the toothpick to the ground. “Hold up.” He slowed to a stop, the horse bending to graze. “She left the path.” He swung his leg over, dismounting.
“How can you tell?”
“There are no wheel marks, Fanny.”
“Oh, dear.”
“She’s gone this way.” Nathan stared at the horizon. “You see anything? Anything moving?”
“No.” Jack squinted, lifting his neck. “My eyesight isn’t all that reliable anymore.”
I fully expected to find Jane within the hour. Feeling a heightened level of optimism I said, “We should go there then. She’s more than likely behind that hill.”
“Possibly.” Nathan chewed his lip. “Or she’s made better time than I expected. She took our wagon. It’s lighter than most. It wasn’t outfitted with a lot of iron. It belonged to Laura’s parents.” They had perished from cholera on the Oregon Trail. “Dang it.”
“Is that a problem?”
“She’s got a head start. Let’s go. Follow me.”
Jack waited until I spurred the horse forward, following closely. “Can you see the tracks now?”
“I got ‘em. I just hope the grass don’t hide ‘em. But, she went this way. I know it. Keep an eye out for anything unusual.”
“Like what?” I asked.
“Anything that might’ve fallen off like a handkerchief or hat or somethin’.”
We weren’t on the trail long before an abandoned wagon came into view. I glanced at Nathan, who grimaced. “What’s wrong?”
“She left the wagon. She’s on horseback.” He shook his head.
“That’s a problem, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. She could be anywhere now.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh, don’t say that. She has to be
nearby. Jane!”
“I’d not do that,” said Jack.
“Why not?”
“Let’s just quietly continue on,” said Nathan. “We gotta pick up the pace, though. She’s lightened the load considerably.”
“Does this mean we won’t be home in time for supper?”
“You should’ve stayed at the house, Fanny.”
I hated the grim look in his eyes. “Why?”
“We don’t know where she is or what’s happened to her. You have to prepare yourself for what you might see. It may not be pretty.”
Anger, regret, and fear gripped my heart in an icy vice. “I don’t care what I see. I just want to find Jane and bring her back.”
“Then we best get going,” said Jack. “We’ve wasted enough time as it is.”
I maneuvered my animal before him, pressing into the horse’s flanks. No one spoke again for a long time, Nathan carefully scanning the path, while Jack did the same. It was another hour before we stopped, Nathan dismounting.
“I gotta take a privy break. You might want to get down and stretch your legs.”
My back had begun to ache from sitting straight in the saddle. “Fine.” Jack had already dismounted, his horse seizing a mouthful of grass. He reached for me, his hands around my waist. I landed at his feet. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You didn’t have to come with us.”
“I know.”
I met his gaze. “Then why did you?”
“It was the right thing to do.”
“Are you worried I’ll yell at you again?” I couldn’t help smiling.
“It’s not every day a pretty lady hollers at me. There are worse things, I suppose.”
That was the first time he had ever offered such a compliment. Although we had a rocky start, I now felt at ease around him. It would be lovely to get to know him better, but would that opportunity ever materialize? He appraised me, his eyes lowering to my booted feet briefly, before lifting, moving over my hips, following the line of my torso to my neck and face. When our eyes met, I took a breath, feeling a burst of awareness, which both pleased and amazed me. He had sensed it too, because his attention was now on my mouth.
“All right, folks,” said Nathan, who appeared, having done his business behind the bushes. “We gotta have a talk. I don’t think this is gonna be as easy as I hoped. The only way we’re gonna find her is if we get a leg up.” He seemed concerned. “We might be out here all night. I’ve got a small lamp, but it’s not all that helpful.”
I hadn’t thought this over properly. There was a strong possibility that I would be forced to sleep amongst them. My reputation might never recover, were anyone to find out I had done such a thing. Nathan sensed my thoughts.
“Only the three of us know about the rescue. I wouldn’t worry about it. You’re with a man of God, although I suspect he’s sweet on you. Maybe you’re not safe after all.” He chuckled to himself.
“I can promise you that’s not the case,” said Pastor Bailey stiffly.
This situation was awkward. “Well, I’m sure we’ll find her soon.” I grasped the saddle, preparing to lift myself to the seat. Hands were around my waist, helping me up. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” said Jack.
“We got a few hours till sundown. Let’s get a wiggle on and find that little scamp.”
Our horses followed Nathan’s, the trail leading through a flattened expanse of grass, with flowering, purple weeds and the occasional prickly cactus. The words he had uttered reverberated in my mind, leaving me oddly exhilarated. Could it be true? Was Pastor Bailey sweet on me?
We continued on long after the sun went down, sometimes stopping to walk, as Nathan examined the branches on trees and bushes for signs that someone had been through this area. A set of footprints had given us hope, as we plodded on, but this had yielded nothing. Long after it was dark, we came upon a sheltered spot, a patch of grass surrounded by bushes. Nathan made a fire, while Jack disappeared into the brush, returning a few minutes later. I washed my face with a small amount of water, wishing I had more, but Nathan carried only a few pouches of the precious fluid.
“I don't have much, folks. Some dried jerky and a coupla apples. I’ve tins of beans and some flour for the mornin’.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll just have the jerky.”
Jack tossed a bedroll onto the ground, scanning the surroundings. “I’m worried now. We should have found her already.”
“She had a bigger lead than I thought.” Nathan untied his bedding, rolling out the flattened assemblage of blankets and pillow. “If it had been a few more hours, I’d say she was a goner. I’m sure we’ll find her in the mornin’.” He patted the pillow, fluffing it up. “Who knows? One night out here might just set her straight. If nothin’ else, it’ll be character-building.”
“I hope you’re right. I can’t imagine what she’s going through now. She must be terrified.” I gazed between them, knowing I hadn’t brought anything to sleep on. Nathan got to his feet, walking to his horse. When he returned, he tossed a rolled parcel my way. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I’m gonna heat up some of these beans.”
Pastor Bailey sat on the bedding, his expression thoughtful. He didn’t seem to want to add anything to the conversation.
I needed to relieve myself. “I’ll be back.”
“Just don’t go too far, darlin’. It’s dark as hell out there.”
“I won’t.”
I took the lamp, holding it before me, suddenly terrified to be alone. What must poor Jane be suffering at this moment? Well, it serves her right for running away. I did my business behind a tree, not wanting to go any further. The men were talking, and I followed their voices, my skirts snagging on bushes. The flames of the fire flickered at a distance.
“I didn’t mean to cause you trouble, Jack. I speak my mind pretty bluntly most of the time.”
“I’m just not sure whatever gave you that idea.”
My feet halted, while I stood behind a tree, wondering what they were discussing.
“You can admit it, if you want. She’s a handsome woman. She’s not married. It’s not a crime to find someone attractive.”
“I just…prefer not to speak of such things.”
“Well, if you can’t talk about ‘em, you sure can’t do ‘em.”
“What exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“Do I really have to spell it out? If you want her, you best hop to it. She’s liable to marry a granger, if you’re not careful. A missed opportunity is not a win, Pastor. It’s a loss.”
“I…oh, never mind.”
“Are you promised to someone back east? Is that it?”
“No.”
“You got a girl here?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“There isn’t a problem. You’re making something out of nothing.”
“Ain’t that how some of the best inventions happened?”
“I doubt it. Necessity is the mother of invention.”
“Well, I stand by my earlier assessment. I say you’re sweet on that woman. My advice would be to snap her up. Is it the kids? Are there too many?”
“I don’t mind children. I…haven’t really given any of this all that much thought.”
“You haven’t? My mind started spinnin’ the moment I met Hannah, but she was married to Frank then. The first time I saw her, I’d been thrown out of the saloon. Those were my younger, rowdier days. I landed at her feet in the middle of the boardwalk. She looked at me with those pretty eyes and that peaches and cream complexion, and I knew I was done for. And that’s a fact. You ever meet anybody, and just know that’s it?”
“I’ve had relationships before, Nathan. I’m not green.”
“But more green than worldly, I’d imagine.”
“I’ve had my fair share of experiences.”
“Well, that’s a relief
. Don’t you want to set a good example for the vagabonds of Denver City? Gettin’ married would show those rascals that there’s a better way than drink and whores. Lord knows…I’ve had my fill of both.”
“I commend you on settling down and taking care of Hannah. You do seem to get on rather well.”
“It’s easy. I love that woman. I’d walk through fire for her. I’d throw myself before a train, if I had to, if it meant her safety.”
In that moment, after having overheard most of this conversation, I felt a twinge of jealousy, wishing someone would feel that way about me. My sister was a lucky woman. What I wouldn’t give to have a man who was as smitten and devoted.
Chapter Twelve
I waited, holding my breath, wondering if Jack would say anything, but when silence reigned, I stepped into camp.
“The beans are almost done,” said Nathan. “You sure I can’t entice you to a few spoonfuls?”
“No. I’m fine.” I sat on the bedroll, reaching for my hair and pulling out pins. I couldn’t sleep with them in because they dug into my scalp. This movement did not go unnoticed, as Pastor Bailey eyed me, watching as the hair came tumbling down over my shoulders. “It’s lovely out here. At least I won’t have to worry about anyone freezing to death.” Grasping the bottom of my boot, I pulled it free. “Doesn’t this remind you of being on the trail? I can hardly believe I spent two months sleeping in a wagon. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it was only two weeks. And here I am again.” For some reason, Jack continued to stare at me; his expression was peculiar. His regard sent little tingles down my backbone.
“It’s a hell of a trip. No two ways about that.”
“What’s a granger?” I glanced at Nathan. Then I realized my mistake. I had spoken without thinking.
“Listenin’ to our conversation, eh?” He grinned. “It’s a farmer.”
“Oh.” Jack’s look was questioning, and I found it amusing that he now knew I had overheard what they had said. “I was going to attend a social in town. Sally Higgins had invited me, but I declined. I asked Jane, if she wanted to come. Don’t you think she should share in all the amusements of town? She’s old enough to marry, or at least be engaged. No one would think twice about a year-long engagement.”