by Paty Jager
Alamayda walked through the tunnel and left the lantern as far back as she could and still see a bit of light from the cave entrance.
When she emerged out of the darkness, White Hawk stared at her intently.
“What did you want?” she asked, walking by him and studying the cave to see if he had disturbed anything. Everything looked in its place.
“Bear Walker kill deer. Come take you want.” White Hawk motioned to the sunshine on the ledge outside the entrance.
Alamayda stepped out into the bright light and blinked. She’d been in the darkness of the tunnel and even with the lantern’s light, the sun’s rays seemed unusually bright. On the right side of the ledge, Bear Walker stood over a large buck deer. The antlers were wide and had four points.
“This is a large buck. You’re a good hunter,” she said, making over the deer and Bear Walker for his hunting skills. She could tell by the way his eyes lighted and his back straightened he enjoyed her words.
White Hawk motioned to the animal. “Take for you.” He held out a large, shiny knife.
Staring at the knife, she realized the men wanted her to gut and skin the animal. She’d known when she left the farm that someday she would have to clean a deer again for food, she just hadn’t planned on it being so soon.
“Hang it up in a tree near the water,” she said, taking the knife from White Hawk.
The two warriors picked up the large buck and carried it toward the stream.
Not knowing how long it would take Isaac to pull the box out and not wanting the men to realize what they had found, she followed the warriors.
Chapter Thirty-two
Sweat clung to Isaac’s forehead and trickled down his back as he worked inch by inch to pull the box back through the tunnel. He’d never seen such a small box weigh so much. When Allie said she couldn’t budge it, he’d just figured she didn’t have any arm strength. Pulling this box around rocks and across the rough ground was like wrestling with a steer on a rope.
When the light of the lantern finally came into view, he concentrated on the glow instead of wondering why Allie hadn’t come back to help him. It had to be over an hour since she’d left him.
Isaac had the rope slung over his shoulder and the box only a few feet behind him as he trudged up to the lantern. He picked it up and continued toward the light filtering into the cave from the entrance.
Entering the area they now called camp, Isaac dropped the rope when Allie appeared at the cave entrance followed by the warriors.
“There you are,” she said, holding up a large chunk of meat. “I just butchered a deer Bear Walker brought back for us.” She walked closer, smelling of game and blood. “I think I’ll stoke the fire and put it on to cook.”
The lantern he held lit up her face. Her gaze flit downward to the rope at his feet. Her eyes widened and she took a step back.
“White Hawk and Bear Walker, I’ll put this on to cook, and we can cut the rest of the meat up outside.” She walked over to the boxes and pulled out the cast iron pot she used to bake the biscuits.
Isaac turned off his lantern and followed the warriors outside. He figured Allie wanted to look inside that box as badly as he did, but they had to figure out a way to do it without the warriors around.
“Show me the buck you killed,” Isaac said to Bear Walker when they all stood on the ledge.
The warriors led him to the stream. Hanging from the tree was the naked carcass of a large deer. Without getting close he could tell Allie had cleaned the animal better than any hunter he’d known.
The warriors grinned and nodded their heads.
“She did a good job,” Isaac commented.
“Your wife much good. She can make you clothing from hide.” White Hawk said.
His wife. Isaac liked the sound of that. However, he realized it would take some time to get Allie thinking the same way. “She may not have time,” he said, knowing she wouldn’t stop until she had the gold she thought would make her life better. But given what he knew of her childhood, he wasn’t surprised she’d known how to clean a dead animal and she quite possibly knew how to tan a hide.
Allie wandered down to the stream with a large knife and one of the food boxes lined with a cloth. “If we all work together we can get this meat cleaned off the bones and start drying some.”
The warriors backed up. “Not warrior work,” Bear Walker said.
Allie’s hands fisted on her hips and her cheeks darkened.
Isaac pulled his knife from his boot sheath and walked up to the carcass. “I don’t mind helping.”
Allie’s attention turned to him, and Isaac spotted the two warriors ducking into the trees.
“Thank you.” She scanned the area and leaned toward him. “I couldn’t believe it when they didn’t help me a lick while I skinned and gutted this.”
“Warriors don’t take care of the meat. They kill the animal and the women take the animal from there.” He sliced off large chunks of meat as he talked.
Allie stepped up to the other side of the carcass. “Did you open the box?” she asked in a whisper.
“No. I figured we should do it together.” He locked gazes with her.
She nodded. “Let’s get this meat cut off.”
Within minutes, with both of them slicing the largest pieces of meat off, the box was full. Isaac picked up the box and headed back to the cave. Allie was right on his heels.
“What do you want to do with this?” he asked, standing in the cave with the box.
“Put it down and let’s go look in the box we found.” She placed the knife she’d used to cut the meat on the top of the box and headed into the cave’s darkness.
Isaac shook his head. She didn’t even light a lantern to see. He did and followed her to where he’d left the strong box.
Allie knelt in front of the box. Her hands ran across the top, her fingers gripping the round ring that pulled the top open. She gave a tug and nothing happened. She glanced up at him while tapping the keyhole with her finger. “It’s locked.”
“I’ll be back.” Isaac left the lantern with Allie and strode back to the stack of their supplies and grabbed a pick.
When Allie saw what was in his hands, she shoved away from the box.
Isaac didn’t take a swing at the box. Instead he shoved the tip of the pick between the lid and the box and pried. He readjusted and pried some more. He’d decided that wouldn’t work when the lock popped loose.
Allie moved back to the box, and Isaac dropped to his knees beside her. Together they tipped the lid back. Light from the lantern glistened off shiny gold bricks.
Alamayda sucked in air. She’d never seen anything so shiny.
Isaac picked up one of the bricks. She reached into the box to do the same and spotted a piece of paper tucked between the bricks. Alamayda plucked the paper from between the gold and held it up to the light to read.
“These are gold bullion,” Isaac said. “They’re stamped with numbers and the word Helena.”
Alamayda peered up into Isaac’s eyes. “Do you think my father stole this?” Even though she’d never thought much of her father for leaving his family, this was an even harder fact to face. Her father was a thief.
“We don’t know he stole this or put it here.” Isaac said, placing the brick back into the box and closing the lid. “It’s best we keep this hidden until we read through that paper and decide what to do.”
“There is no decision to make. We have to take this back to Helena.” Alamayda rose to her feet, holding the paper out to Isaac. “We can’t keep this. It’s stolen.”
“Shhh. I agree. But we also need to figure out the best way to get it there. We know there are men out there watching us. They think we’re looking for gold.”
“We found gold. The wrong kind.” Alamayda’s chest squeezed in panic. Finding the gold bars and realizing her father lied to her and seeing the dream of an easy future ripped from her, she didn’t know whether to cry, scream, or laugh. I shoul
d have known I’d never have an easy life.
“We’ll get an idea.” Isaac stepped to Alamayda and folded his arms around her. “It’s been hidden for seven years, a few more days thinkin’ on the best way to return it won’t matter.”
She nodded against his chest and closed her eyes. What am I going to do now? The gold mine was a lie.
Alamayda pushed away from Isaac. “Should we hide this back in the tunnel?” It was better to think about the present than sulk about her future.
“I’ll shove it against the wall. As long as we’re livin’ in the cave, no one else should get back here.” Isaac dropped to his knees and shoved on the box until it was against the rock wall and slightly hidden behind a small pile of rocks.
Reaching for the lantern, Alamayda waited for Isaac to stand before heading back to where they were living. The two warriors sat at the entrance of the cave.
She spun around to face Isaac. “What are we going to tell them?” she asked. “They have seen us coming from the back of the cave several times.”
“They may be how we get the gold out of here so no one suspects anything.” He grasped her arm, turning Alamayda back to the cave entrance.
“We take deer far from here. Keep bears away,” White Hawk said.
“Thank you. I was worried about having the carcass near the cave,” Isaac said, turning off the lantern and walking to the cave entrance.
Alamayda felt the paper in her hand. She walked over to her knapsack and put the paper with her sketch book. They could read it thoroughly tonight. The aroma of the deer roast filled the cave. She picked up a towel and pulled the cast iron bake oven out of the fire. Lifting the lid released even more aromas. Alamayda raised the lid on the food supply box, sprinkling salt and pepper on the meat. She replaced the lid and slipped the bake oven back into the coals of the fire.
Isaac sauntered toward her. “I could use a bath after tugging on that box. White Hawk and Bear Walker will keep guard on the cave tonight, and we can slip out after dark and go to the waterfall hot spring we found.”
Her heart thumped fast against her ribs. She’d never swam with a male other than her brother. But the thought of enjoying the water and having privacy, knowing the warriors were here at the cave made it easy for her to agree.
“That sounds wonderful.” Alamayda pointed to the cooking roast. “This will be ready in another hour.” She lowered her voice. “Do we dare read the paper we found?”
Isaac nodded. “Those two don’t care a whit about the gold or the paper. I honestly think they are using you as a way to not go back to the reservation.”
Alamayda stared at Isaac. “Not go back? But what about their families?”
“They are warriors, not farmers. The people at the reservation make them do work they feel is women’s work. Out hunting they feel like men.” Isaac shrugged.
Her heart saddened that the two men would remain away from their families just so they could feel good about themselves. Her heart squeezed. Isn’t that what you are doing?
“Get the paper and I’ll relight the lantern so we can see to read it.” Isaac picked up the lantern.
Trying to forget her last thought, Alamayda returned to her knap sack and pulled the paper out. The fancy writing at the top was large enough to read without the lantern. U.S. Assay Office, Helena, Montana Territory.
Isaac put an arm around her shoulders and drew them both down to sit on a boulder along the wall. He held the lantern while they both read the paper.
“This was being delivered for someone to start up a new bank.” She didn’t know many of the towns in Montana and hadn’t heard of Three Forks but it appeared the gold had been sent to that town to encourage a company to build a railroad through that area.
“I’ve never heard of this town.” Isaac scratched his head. “I bet with the money never arriving, the town couldn’t make it.”
The though her father stopped someone’s dream saddened Alamayda even more than knowing he’d stolen gold that didn’t belong to him.
“We need to return this to the assay office in Helena,” Alamayda said.
“It looks like we do. But we’ll need to figure out how. That box of gold is all the mule will be able to carry. Stacking it up on the packsaddle will make us easy pickin’s for any scoundrel we come across on our way there.” Isaac stood and paced. “We’re goin’ to have to sit tight a couple days and think this through.”
Alamayda understood his reluctance about allowing anyone to know about the gold. It was the equivalent of a lot of money. Many people she knew wouldn’t have any qualms about using it for their own benefit rather than returning it to the Helena assay office. She studied Isaac. He’d not once said anything about keeping it. Her heart soared. He was honest. She’d known that from their first conversation, but seeing it in action, her heart tumbled completely for the man.
Her mind was free of worry. He’d take care of them. Just like he had from the moment she said she was traveling to Morgan’s Crossing with or without him. She smiled remembering that conversation. She’d been as prickly as a buckthorn bush. And yet, he’d hauled her to Morgan’s Crossing and was helping her get gold her father stole back to the owner.
“Thinking on how to get this moved and a trip to the hot spring are both good ideas.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Alamayda cleaned up after the meal and placed a bar of soap, clean clothes for her, and a clean union suit for Isaac, along with two towels into her knapsack.
Isaac lit the lantern, placing it on a ledge on the side of the tunnel farthest from the cave entrance. They sat by the fire drinking coffee and talking as they waited for darkness to completely descend.
The call of an owl echoed into the cave.
“Did you hear that owl?” Alamayda asked. “It sounds close. Do you think it will come in here to roost?”
Isaac’s face was hidden under the shadow of his hat. He chuckled and said, “That’s our signal to head out.” He stood and held out his hand. “Come on. We’re goin’ for a bath.”
Excitement raced up Alamayda’s spine and her lips twitched into a smile. “That was one of the warriors?” she asked, standing and placing her hand in Isaac’s.
“Yep. That was our signal it’s dark enough to slip out without being seen.” Isaac led her to the entrance and slipped out the side closest to trees.
Once inside the woods, they headed downhill.
Isaac stopped and pulled her close. “Try not to make a sound. This night is so dark and quiet the sound will carry,” he whispered against her ear.
Alamayda nodded and took more care placing her feet. A thought hit her and she stopped, pulling Isaac to her. He leaned close. “How will we find the hot spring,” she whispered into his ear.
“Listen for the waterfall.” He started through the trees.
Within minutes, she heard the faint splashing of the waterfall. Isaac veered to their right and the sound grew.
At the cliff edge above the spring they stopped. The minimal moonlight reflected off the water spilling over the higher cliff and the pool below.
“Go slow down this bluff,” Isaac whispered, grasping her hand tighter and stepping over the edge.
Alamayda wanted to release his hand to better steady herself, but at the same time she didn’t want to lose contact with Isaac. The descent of the cliff was slow. She batted at the bugs that swarmed around her and eventually stood on the ground not far from the spring.
Isaac led her to the edge of the water. “Get in so the bugs can’t sting you,” he said quietly as he unbuckled the holster at his hips and shucked out of his clothes, down to his union suit. He tossed his clothes in a pile next to his boots and put the holster on the ground next to the spring. “Hurry up,” he said and walked into the spring.
If anyone had ever asked her, she’d have said there wasn’t a shy bone in her body. But standing on the edge of the spring, slapping at biting bugs, she was having an attack of shyness. The union suit she had on wou
ld cover her body and he wouldn’t see a thing. And he had seen her in just her union suit before. The last time they were at this spring.
Isaac ducked under the water and came up shaking his head and spraying drops of water across the surface of the spring. He smiled and waved her to come in.
Alamayda heaved a large sigh and sat on the ground, tugging at her boots. They came off easier than usual. She slid out of the trousers and then the shirt. Placing her clothing and the knapsack next to Isaac’s clothing, she walked into the spring, willing her heart to stop fluttering so.
Isaac stood in the middle with his back to her, splashing water on his face. Alamayda’s heart stuttered and opened even more to the man. He must have realized how hard it was for her to undress in front of him. With his back to her, she felt bold. When the water lapped around her waist, Alamayda pushed off with her feet and glided through the water toward Isaac.
Reaching out, her fingers skimmed his back.
He spun around and captured her in his arms. “I was beginnin’ to think I’d be the only one bathin’.”
Their wet union suits pressed together. For the first time, she didn’t have to imagine his solid muscles. His hard thighs, tight belly, and firm chest were easily discernible against her body.
She pushed her hands on his firm chest to put space between them. His hands slid down her back resting just above her backside. Heat swirled, her hands went limp, and her gaze became hazy.
“I won’t hurt you,” Isaac whispered before kissing her neck right below her ear.
The spiraling sensation heating her body and shooting sparks in her head, weakened her knees. Lucky for her, Isaac had a firm grasp on her, keeping her from slipping into the water and drowning.
His arms released, and she did slip.
Water covered her face, entered her mouth and nose. She sputtered to her feet, glaring around the springs. Isaac stood directly under the cold water falling over the cliff side.
Why would he stand under the cold water? Alamayda headed toward him to ask, but he ducked under the water and she couldn’t see him. Why is he playing hide and seek? The grown-up side of her wanted to be angry, but it had been a long time since she could spare time to play. Taking his actions as playfulness, she ducked under the waterfall, standing behind the falling water and peering out at the blurry world beyond.