by Kit Morgan
He couldn’t understand what her problem was. Jack Carlson was a fine man from what he knew of him. Perhaps he and his sister’d had a falling out the last time they spoke. Maybe she wasn’t the forgiving kind and held something against him. Whatever it was, she would have to get over it and fast. As soon as her ankle healed, he planned to be on his way to Cutter’s Creek with her in tow.
He shook his head as he let his eyes wander over the barnyard. What a foolish girl. Didn’t she realize her brother missed her and only wanted the best for her? What could have possibly happened between them? Maybe he should just ask her – that’d be the easy thing to do. Then he’d have a better idea of what he was dealing with. He chewed his bottom lip in thought.
“Mr. Judrow?”
Lucius looked up to see Mrs. White standing next to his chair. Good grief, how had the woman snuck up on him? “Yes?”
“I just spoke with Oscar.”
Lucius let his chair fall forward with a loud clunk. “Regarding Miss Carlson?”
“That her real name?”
Well, there it was. “Yes, ma’am – Miss Emma Carlson. And I plan to take her back to her brother in Montana Territory just as soon as that ankle of hers is healed.”
Mrs. White shook her head. “Poor girl. What coulda made her come this far west?”
Lucius shrugged. “To tell you the truth, ma’am, I’m not even sure she knew her brother was alive.” He’d leave out her running from him in the first place, or so he suspected. It was the only explanation.
“But why a differ’nt name?” Mrs. White went on. “Makes no sense to me. ‘Less she didn’t want no one to know who she really was.”
Lucius looked up at her. The good side of her face held a bemused expression. “I have no idea. All I know is that I’ve been paid to do a job, and I’m going to see it done.”
Mrs. White studied him with her good eye. “Just what kind o’man are ya, Mr. Judrow?”
“I’m a bounty hunter, ma’am. I get paid to find missing people. There’s a lot of them due to the war.”
“No doubt ‘bout that,” she agreed. “But I dunno if I can let ya take this girl outta my house in all good conscience.”
Lucius tried not to groan. “Mrs. White, I can understand your concern. But this girl’s brother has paid good money to find her and bring her back. The rest is up to them.”
“What if she don’t wanna go?” Mrs. White asked, half of her eyebrow raised in question.
“I don’t see where she has a choice.”
“She does. Far as I figger, she don’t hafta go nowhere she don’t wanna.”
“It doesn’t work that way,” he argued, hoping she’d see reason. The last thing he needed was the Whites taking Miss Carlson’s side.
“’Course she does. She’s a grown woman, she can do what she wants. Fer all ya know, her brother’s a varmint. Why else’d she not wanna go?”
He stood. “You’ve spoken with her?”
“Nope, but Oscar told me ya have. Anyone just discovered their brother’s alive should be jumpin’ up ‘n down shoutin’ fer joy. But I ain’t heard a peep from her room. Make ya think, don’t it?”
Lucius took a deep breath. She had a good point. “Ma’am, I don’t mean to interfere with the daily running of your stage stop. And I don’t mean to deprive you of one of your employees. But the fact is, I have to. It’s my job.”
“No ‘ffense, Mr. Judrow, but ain’t my problem. Ya’ll do nothin’ o’the kind ‘less I say so. I don’t care if her name’s Mary Todd Lincoln, she’s under my roof and in my employ. If she don’t wanna go, she don’t hafta.”
“You don’t realize the powers you’re fighting, ma’am. It’s more than just her brother behind this.” Lucius hoped his next words would carry some weight.
“Oh? Who else?”
Lucius straightened to his full height for added effect. “The Honorable James Dixon of the United States Senate.”
7
“A senator!” Mrs. White said in shock. “What’s a senator want with Taloa?”
“Emma,” Lucius corrected.
“Wha’ever,” Mrs. White said with a wave of her hand. “What’s someone like that want with her?”
“To help.”
“Help?”
“I’ve worked for Senator Dixon before, ma’am. A friend of Emma’s brother contacted him and told him Mr. Carlson was desperately looking for his sister and couldn’t find her.”
“Guess he didn’t look real hard,” Mrs. White pointed out.
“It is rather difficult for a blind man to go looking for someone.” Let’s see what she does with that bit of information, he thought.
“Blind?”
“Completely. Gunpowder in his eyes during a battle in Virginia, a few days before war’s end.” He winced a bit. He’d been on the other side of the war, tracking down a Union sympathizer in the North Carolina mountains at the time. But for a twist of fate or two, he could have been the one firing the near-miss that blinded Jack Carlson. Thank God and all His hosts the war was over …
“Oh my.” Mrs. White took a chair and sat. “Does Taloa … er, Emma know?”
“I haven’t told her that part yet. Or that she’s all the family he has left. Both their parents are dead.”
“But how can he take care o’Tal … Emma? Does he want her back so she can look after him?”
“No, he’s married – and Mrs. Carlson is a fine woman, if I say so myself. I’ve met them.”
“Good people, hm?”
“Very, from what I’ve seen. Right now they live with his cousin and his wife. He’s the town preacher, and Mr. Carlson helps him.”
“Who helps Mr. Carlson?” she inquired, half her eyebrow raised.
“His wife has helped him adjust quite admirably. Even taught him how to read Braille.” Sensing her confusion, he added, “Braille is writing for the blind – they can feel it with their fingers.”
Mrs. White nodded and sighed. “Whatta ya know? Maybe ya oughta tell her,” she said with a toss of her head at the porch ceiling. “She’s been awful quiet last hour or so. Only gets like that when she’s mad.”
Lucius chuckled. “Is that so?”
“Hafta admit, this sheds some light on the matter, Mr. Judrow. But I still think Emma should have a choice. Ya cain’t just hogtie her ‘n toss her on a horse. She should have the say-so.”
“If I found her married, I’d have no problem with any of this. But she’s not, and there is nothing legally keeping her here. I think it’s only right she comes with me.”
“What if she had a beau? Ya’d still throw her in a sack ‘n carry her off to Montana?”
“No. In fact, I thought she might have her cap set for Oscar, but he assured me that wasn’t the case.”
“Oh, that’s what got Oscar so worked up.” She laughed. “Yeah, she ain’t right for my Oscar, but he’s still protective of her.”
“Henry too?” Lucius asked.
“Henry’s worse,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But ya know he ain’t quite right. Maybe Anson’d suit in a few years, but …” She shook her head.
“Then you’ll agree she needs her family. And her brother is all that’s left – but he only wants the best for her. Isn’t that what you want too?”
Mrs. White thought a moment, then slowly nodded. “Be lyin’ if I toldja I ain’t grown ‘tached to her. But yeah, it ain’t right to keep her from her kin. I just wanna know why she don’t wanna go.”
“Maybe she’s in shock,” he suggested.
“Maybe we oughta ask her.”
“I agree. I’m not about to take a woman back to a dangerous situation, though I don’t think that’s the case here.”
Mrs. White studied him a moment. “Yer an honest man, Mr. Judrow. I can at least tell that much about ya.”
“Can you?”
“I may not look it, but I can read people purty fair. Ya askin’ Oscar if he was sweet on her tole me a lot. I think it’s safe to say we both want th
e best fer the sitchiation and all involved.”
“That’s all I’m looking for,” he said. Well, that and getting paid, but that was a lesser consideration. Something else was going on here, and he needed to find out what. Jack and his new wife Willow gave every indication that they wanted only the best for Emma, but still … there were always at least two sides to a story. “Speak with her, Mrs. White and find out what’s troubling her. That is, if she truly is troubled.”
“I think she is. Fact, I oughta go upstairs and make sure she’s still there. Fer all we know, while we been out here flabblin’, she’s tied the bedsheets t‘gether and ‘scaped out the window.”
“With that ankle? I doubt it.”
Mrs. White laughed. “Then ya don’t know her real well, Mr. Judrow.” Before Lucius could comment, she got up and went into the house.
“Would she?” he muttered to himself. “No. She wouldn’t. She couldn’t …” He had a sudden vision of Emma Carlson in the tree the day before. “Land sakes, she certainly might!” He hurried into the house after Mrs. White.
As it turned out, Emma had not escaped out her window. They found her napping in her room, a picture of pure innocence. Mrs. White slowly closed the bedroom door and took a few steps back. Lucius was right behind her, matching her movements. “Maybe she changed her mind,” Mrs. White said.
“Maybe she’s not over the shock yet,” he suggested. “She wasn’t exactly happy to find out why I was here.”
“Poor thing musta cried herself to sleep,” Mrs. White said sadly.
His gut twisted at her words. “She’ll see reason eventually. My only immediate concern is her ankle.”
“That’s not all ya should be concerned ‘bout, Mr. Judrow,” Mrs. White retorted as she headed down the hall.
“What do you mean? As soon as her ankle is healed, she’ll be able to ride. I’m sure you have a horse you won’t mind parting with for the right price.”
“That’s not what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.”
Lucius followed her to the top of the stairs. “Then what are you talking about?”
She spun on him. “Propriety, that’s what.”
“Propriety?” he said, taken aback. Then it hit him. “Oh,” he said flatly.
“Yeah, oh,” she mimicked. “Even if she do decide to go with ya, yer talkin’ ‘bout bein’ on the trail fer a long time’s I see it. Where’d ya say her brother was again – Montana Territory?”
He swallowed hard, knowing what she was getting at. “Yes, ma’am.”
“And ya ‘spect to travel all that way alone wi’this gal, that right?”
He sighed in resignation. “That was the plan, yes.”
“Then what’s her brother gonna think ‘bout his sister trav’lin’ alone with a man fer weeks on end?”
Lucius frowned. “He didn’t say anything about it when I left, Mrs. White. To tell you the truth, I haven’t thought much about it myself until now. But you needn’t worry. Senator Dixon would not have sent me on this assignment if he didn’t trust me.”
“I don’t care if the man’s a senator – decent’s decent. And ya trav’lin’ fer weeks with a young lady alone ain’t decent. Ain’t a man or woman alive who’s gonna think otherwise.”
“Mrs. White, please calm down,” he asked as nicely as he could.
“I will not! Yer riskin’ that girl’s rep’tation! What was her brother thinkin’?”
“About the life he can give her,” he said as his eyes wandered their surroundings. “With all respect, a much better one than she has here.”
“A better life?” Mrs. White huffed. “If he’s thinkin’ he can marry her off after she’s been on the trail with ya, he don’t know how the world works. Don’t matter how honor’ble ya are, Mr. Judrow – what man’s gonna want her knowin’ how far the two o’ya trav’led together unchap’roned?”
Lucius felt his hands ball into fists. He was losing his patience, but at the same time realized there was a lot of truth in what she was saying. Still, everyone at his destination knew Mr. Carlson had sent him after her. “I’m sure the good folks of Cutter’s Creek are already aware that the two of us will be traveling alone.”
“Maybe so. Still don’t mean folks ain’t gonna whisper behind that poor girl’s back. ‘Sides, and ya guarantee ya ain’t gonna stray?”
“Stray? How dare you, woman!” he said indignantly. “Mrs. White. I’m a professional!”
She put her hands on her hips and stared him down with her good eye. “Yer also a man. And with all respect, men do get tempted. Or are ya immune to temptation?”
He rubbed a hand over his face a few times. He was getting nowhere with this. If he’d been smart, he’d have kept his mouth shut. But … “Then what do you suggest?”
She smiled. “Preacha Dan’s out fishin’ with Anson ‘n Henry. We’ll ask him when he returns.”
“Ask him what?” Lucius said in puzzlement.
“If he can marry the two o’ya, o’course. What else?”
“Marry us?!” Emma, her ear pressed against the door to listen, heard Mr. Judrow say in exasperation. “Madam, have you gone around the bend?”
She shifted position, hoping to hear them better. She could only pick up bits and pieces of their conversation and wanted to hear more, but their voices were fading. They must have gone downstairs. She stepped away from the door, her heart in her throat. “Marry?” she whispered as she limped to the bed and sat. “Marry Mr. Judrow?” Her voice cracked on his name. “Mrs. White is out of her mind.”
Then again … she tapped her fingers against the mattress. It would serve Jack right if she came back married. At least then he couldn’t marry her off to anyone else. And Mr. Judrow was a handsome, if infuriating, man. Hmm … the idea had merit. She could always get an annulment once she’d shown her brother she didn’t need him to look after her.
But once she got to wherever they were going, how would she survive alone? No, it was a stupid idea – it would never work. She flopped back onto the mattress and stared at the ceiling. “Why did you have to send someone after me, Jack? When are you going to stop controlling my life?”
Maybe she could marry Oscar … no, no, no. She couldn’t do that to Oscar. She liked him, just as she liked all of the Whites, but that was it. They were good people, and she didn’t want to drag them into this any farther than they already were. It was her problem, not theirs. No, she’d just have to come up with another solution. But what? “Think, Emma, think!” she said to herself.
She pulled her legs onto the bed. If only she hadn’t twisted her ankle, she could get out of this mess, hide in the forest until Mr. Judrow left, then take a stage somewhere. Not Oregon City, of course, now that she knew he’d be looking there. Maybe east to Clear Creek, then … no, he’d already been through there, so they’d know who he was looking for. The nearest real city, somewhere she could truly hide, was what, Sacramento? Any small town, he was sure to find her eventually …
Emma put her arm over her eyes and tried not to cry. This was a pickle, no doubt about it, and she had no idea what to do. At least she had time to think of something – she couldn’t go anywhere with her injured ankle. In the meantime, she’d avoid any conversations with Jack’s henchman! Handsome though he was, and tall … strong … polite … and that voice of his …
“Oh blast!” Figures that she’d be attracted to him!
She rolled over onto her stomach, careful not to stress her ankle. What would it be like to be out on the trail with a man like that for days on end? Good heavens, how on earth would she be able to stand it? But he probably wouldn’t give her a second thought, except as cargo – or maybe livestock. That would make it easier.
With a sigh, she lay down again, closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep.
An hour later she awoke to a knock on the door. “Yes?” she said sleepily.
Mrs. White entered the room. “Land sakes, child, ya plannin’ to sleep through the day? How’s yer ankle?”
�
�It hurts. But not like before.”
“That’s good news. Can ya stand on it?”
“No, it won’t support my weight yet, I’m afraid.” She sat up and rubbed her arms with her hands as a chill went up her spine.
“Ya oughta nap with a quilt over ya.”
“I didn’t think I’d fall asleep.”
“No help for it, I guess, considerin’ what ya been through. Think ya can come downstairs and join us fer supper?”
“Not without help.”
“I’ll have Oscar come fetch ya when it’s time.”
Emma nodded. Better Oscar than Mr. Judrow. “That would be fine, Mrs. White. Thank you.”
Mrs. White hovered in the doorway. “Had an interestin’ conversation with our guest earlier.”
Emma closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can only imagine.”
Mrs. White walked over and sat on the bed next to her. “Child, why didn’t ya tell me who ya really were? Ain’t no shame in it, is there?”
Emma let her hand drop into her lap. “I didn’t want anyone to know because I worried that eventually someone might come looking for me.”
The older woman put an arm around her. “Well, I’m glad ya ain’t denyin it. Did somethin’ happen ‘tween you and yer brother that made ya not wanna be with him?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Ya don’t hafta go ‘less ya wanna.”
Emma looked at her in surprise. “Really?”
“But to be honest, I think ya should.”
“Why? You just said …”
“I know what I said, but I also know what’s right. And there’s some things ‘bout yer brother ya oughta know. Might change yer mind.”
“How would you know anything about my brother?”
“By talkin’ with the man sent to bring ya to him. Yer brother’s not the same man he was when ya left.”
Emma sighed heavily. “I find that hard to believe.”
“War can change a man, Taloa. Ya don’t mind if I still call ya that, do ya?”
Emma smiled. “No. I rather like it.”