Plains of Promise (Wyoming Series Book 2)

by Colleen Coble

  §

  Isaac woke the next morning with a heavy heart as he remembered the events of the night before. I’m not going to worry about it, he told himself as he pulled on his boots and strapped his saber to his belt. Reveille was already sounding as he strode toward the stables after bolting down some hardtack in the mess hall. He saddled Buck, his buckskin gelding, and made it to the parade ground just in time for boots and saddles. He was on guard duty for the wood detail. He caught a glimpse of Rand ahead, with Jake trailing behind several other soldiers. If the Lord put the right circumstances in his way, perhaps he would get a chance to talk to Jake.

  There had been so many skirmishes with the Sioux lately that the guard detail numbered near ninety men to protect the wood detail. The detail followed the river, then veered off on the trail to the Pinery cutting area. They had gone only a hundred yards or so when he heard a man in front of him yell as an arrow whistled by his ear. Rand shouted for the men to form the corral formation, and Isaac raced to form a protective circle with the other soldiers. He saw Indians massed on the hills all around and sighed in relief as he heard the picket on Pilot Hill blow the signal that told the fort there were many Indians. Relief would come from the fort soon. They just had to hold on.

  §

  Emmie heard the signal from Pilot Hill and then the sound of the bugle calling men together, but she tried not to worry. It was an almost everyday occurrence lately. A few minutes later she heard the boom of the mountain howitzer. Joel looked up at the sound, but it, too, was almost commonplace these days. The Sioux feared the “gun that shoots twice” and almost always scattered after its use. She washed and dried the dishes while Sarah dusted and made the beds. Joel carried in wood for the fire, then ran off to play with Jimmy Carrington.

  Emmie was deep in her thoughts when a knock at the door startled her. “I’ll get it,” she called to Sarah. Morning Song had gone to care for Baby Gabrielle first thing this morning, and she wouldn’t knock anyway, so Emmie wondered who could be out this morning as she hurried to the door.

  Frances Grummond’s tear-stained face peered out of a fur bonnet. “Oh, Emmie, I’m so frightened,” she sobbed as Emmie pulled her inside and Sarah hovered consolingly. “George volunteered to go to the rescue of the wood detail and I have such an uncanny dread on my soul. He was almost killed two weeks ago. Would you go with me to Mrs. Wands’? The other ladies are gathered there, too.”

  “Of course we will,” Emmie said, her heart sinking. Isaac, Rand, and Jake were all with the wood detail, she knew. “Would you like some tea first?”

  “No, no. I just need to be with someone. Could we go now?” Frances’ voice broke as she wrung her hands.

  Sarah and Emmie grabbed their cloaks and bonnets and followed Frances outside. The wind still whistled, but a weak, watery sunshine brightened the day. Frances’ baby was due in just a few weeks and Emmie worried that the strain would bring on her friend’s labor. She sent up a quick prayer for Frances.

  The assembled ladies looked up when Emmie, Sarah, and Frances entered the Wands’ parlor. Mrs. Carrington hurried to take Frances in her arms. “My dear, don’t fret so. There is no more cause for concern than usual. We both heard my husband tell George not to cross Lodge Trail Ridge, where the Indians are likely to lie in ambush. Your husband will be all right.”

  “I have such a strange foreboding,” Frances sobbed as she let Mrs. Carrington lead her to a chair. Sarah and Emmie followed and sat on the sofa beside her. They all soon had a steaming cup of tea and Frances began to calm down.

  The door pounded again and Mrs. Wands hurried to answer it. A sergeant stood nervously twisting his cap in his hands. “Colonel Carrington sent me to tell you ladies that a man has come in to tell us that the wood detail has broken corral and reached the Pinery safely. But Fetterman’s detail went beyond Lodge Trail Ridge.”

  Frances cried out at the news of the detail’s disobedience of orders, and Mrs. Carrington patted her hand. “George will be all right.” Frances relaxed a bit, but she still sat on the edge of her seat. Emmie could tell she was listening to the sounds outside.

  The six women chatted and talked about babies and recipes and anything else they could think of. They had a lunch of small sandwiches and stew, but tension still filled the room. They jumped when they heard a shout and a horse go thundering past outside, and they all grabbed their cloaks and went out to the porch. Colonel Carrington dashed down from the lookout and ordered for a howitzer to be readied and gave the order for a general alarm. Men ran in all directions as every man in the garrison reported to the position assigned to him in an extreme emergency.

  “What does it mean?” Frances cried out.

  “Probably the Indians have been repulsed,” Mrs. Carrington said soothingly.

  Rooster came scurrying up the steps to the ladies clustered on the porch. “No need to fret, ladies,” he said. “Them Sioux bucks won’t get ya, I promise.”

  Then one of the men shouted to open the gate and the colonel’s orderly came thundering through on one of the commander’s horses. “Reno Valley is full of Indians!” he shouted. “There are several hundred on the road and to the west of it. It was a trap!”

  Emmie was standing beside Frances and caught her as she sagged to the ground. “Help me!” she cried to Sarah. The rest of the women clustered around and they got Frances inside and on Mrs. Wands’ bed. Mrs. Carrington put a cold cloth to Frances’ forehead and she soon came around.

  She sat up with a start and burst into tears. “He’s dead, I know it,” she sobbed.

  “Have faith,” Mrs. Carrington urged. “Henry sent Captain Ten Eyck out with every man who could be spared. They’ll get there in time.”

  They all went back to the porch. The silence was so intense it was almost painful, then suddenly several shots rang out. They listened as the shots increased to a frantic pitch, followed by a few rapid volleys, then scattering shots, and finally a dead silence.

  “Captain Ten Eyck has repulsed the Indians,” Mrs. Carrington said.

  Colonel Carrington dashed down from the lookout. Emmie shuddered at the look of dread on his face. She looked at Sarah and saw the same dread reflected on her face. What was happening to their men?

  §

  Isaac lay behind an outcropping of rock. They had made it safely to the Pinery, but without reinforcements they would never make it back to the fort. Rand lay a dozen feet away behind his own rock and Jake several yards beyond his brother behind a tree. Dozens of Indians hid just beyond the rise to the west. They were too well hidden to waste his precious ammunition on. He kept a close eye on the slope as he prayed for reinforcements to be quick. He wasn’t quite sure what the Sioux were waiting on. Were they playing a game? It would be dark soon and Indians didn’t make war at night.

  A volley of shots in the distance rang out. They increased in ferocity for several frantic minutes, then tapered off to an occasional shot before silence descended. Isaac knew that a horrific battle had just taken place, but which side had won? He lifted his head cautiously, then ducked as an arrow sailed by overhead. The arrow was followed by fierce war cries as a band of Sioux rushed toward them.

  Rand cried, “Hold your fire until my signal!” Several moments passed. As the band came closer, he gasped, then yelled, “Wolverine!”

  The lead Sioux faltered, then pulled his pony to a stop. He shouted something at the rest of the Sioux, and they stopped behind him. He gazed at the rock where Rand lay.

  Isaac saw Rand slowly get to his feet. “No, Rand, don’t,” he whispered.

  Rand raised a hand. “Greetings, old friend. I did not think to see you again.”

  The Sioux dismounted and approached Rand.

  “Hold your fire,” Rand said again to his fellow soldiers. He stepped forward with his hand outstretched as the young warrior came closer.

  Isaac noticed a livid scar running down the cheek of the Sioux as he stopped in front of Rand. This must be the young brave who rescued Sarah when
she was lost in the wilderness after Ben Croftner abducted her, he thought. He’d heard Sarah talk about Wolverine and White Beaver, the young woman he was pledged to marry. Rand had spared Wolverine’s life during a battle once and the two became blood brothers after that.

  “I, too, did not think to see my friend again,” Wolverine said. The two men gazed at one another for a long moment. “I think many times of my friend with the blue coat and my vow. I watch always in battle to make sure I honor my vow never to fight with my friend.”

  Rand nodded. “I also watch for my warrior friend. It is good to see you.”

  The brave grunted. “You in much danger. We will drive the blue coats from the fort by the river. Already many dead beyond the hills.” He gestured toward Lodge Trail Ridge.

  Isaac looked over at Jake and saw the same alarm on his face. Many killed? Was the relief party dead? What about the fort? Was Emmie safe?

  Rand put a hand on Wolverine’s shoulder. “What of the fort? Sarah is in the fort.”

  Wolverine shook his head. “We not attack fort yet. But soon. You go back to fort. Other men come soon to bring you back. Then you must leave fort. I not fight with my brother.”

  Rand was silent a moment. “I will not fight my brother. But I cannot leave fort unless my commander tells me to.”

  “Then you must tell him that the Sioux will destroy the fort. We will fight to the last blade and never stop until the blue coats leave our hunting ground.”

  Rand’s hand slid down and gripped Wolverine’s hand. “God keep you safe, my brother.”

  Wolverine gazed into Rand’s eyes. “And you, my brother.” He turned and walked back to his pony. He vaulted onto his pony, then raised a hand before turning and galloping away. The rest of the band followed.

  Isaac got to his feet and he and Jake reached Rand’s side at the same time. “The Lord works in strange ways sometimes,” Rand said with a distant look on his face. “I knew Wolverine was with Red Cloud, and I always have watched for him. I didn’t want to ever break my vow of peace with him.”

  “Do you think he told you the truth about the rescue party? Could they really be dead?” Jake asked.

  The rest of the men were slowly beginning to gather around them. “Don’t say anything,” Rand said quietly.

  A lieutenant slapped Rand on the back. “You must have done some fancy palavering with those savages,” he said. “Congratulations.”

  “I knew him,” Rand said shortly. “God worked it all out.”

  “I don’t know about God. Looks like they hightailed it because of reinforcements.” He nodded toward the hill, and they turned as Captain Ten Eyck and his men thundered up to them.

  Ten Eyck dismounted and ran toward them. “We drove off a band just over the hill. Is everyone all right?”

  “Just fine, thanks to you,” the lieutenant said. He turned and ordered the men to round up the horses.

  “Just be glad you’re getting back in one piece,” Captain Ten Eyck said quietly. “Fetterman’s command wasn’t so lucky.”

  “The relief party?” Rand asked.

  Ten Eyck nodded. “Eighty-one men slaughtered and not one left alive. We drove off some Indians and recovered a few bodies, but there are nearly half still out there. The attack on the wood train was a decoy to draw another force out. Thousands of Sioux were hiding just over Lodge Trail Ridge.”

  The news was so horrific no one responded for several long moments. Eighty-one men! It was almost beyond comprehension. There had never been a slaughter like that in the Indian wars. And thousands of Sioux! Isaac couldn’t imagine such a large force of Indians. Two or three hundred was usually considered a large band.

  “May God have mercy on their souls,” Isaac said finally. “What of the fort?”

  “Safe, but we don’t know for how long,” Captain Ten Eyck said. “Colonel Carrington has readied every mountain howitzer and every available man. But we’ve been operating with a minimal force and you know how low our ammunition is. So we’d better mount up and get back as quick as we can.”

  They all hurried off to mount up and get back to the fort. Isaac just wanted to see Emmie with his own eyes and make sure she was safe, and he knew Rand felt the same about Sarah. He glanced at Jake riding beside him. Did he worry about Emmie at all?

  §

  The ladies sat around the fire in Mrs. Wands’ quarters as night drew on. The evening gun sounded, but the men still weren’t back. The colonel’s orderly, Sample, had come in some time ago with the news that Reno Valley was full of Indians and nothing could be seen of Fetterman. The entire fort knew some terrible disaster had taken place, but no one knew just what it was.

  Emmie wondered what the ladies would do if she suddenly jumped to her feet and shrieked as loud as she could. It was all she could do to hold her terror in check. What if Isaac had been killed? She vaguely wondered how Morning Song was getting along with the baby, but her fear for Isaac’s safety wouldn’t allow her to leave the little knot of ladies clustered together in a camaraderie of fearful waiting.

  The wind whistled outside as the temperature dropped. Rooster had been predicting a blizzard all day, and the weather seemed to be trying to prove him right. Only a few flakes had fallen so far, but the wind was already whipping the existing snow into drifts.

  Emmie started to her feet at the sound of a shout outside. She threw her cloak around her and rushed to the door, followed by the rest of the ladies. They all ran toward the gate as doors opened and wagons creaked inside. She saw dead bodies heaped on the wagons and nearly fainted as she searched the mounted men for a glimpse of Isaac’s dear face. She breathed a prayer of thanksgiving when she saw Rand, Jake, and Isaac clustered near the last wagon.

  The ladies were standing near the flagpole, and Captain Ten Eyck stopped just a few feet away from them where Colonel Carrington stood. His salute was a short, tired wave. “Sir, I’m sorry to report that Fetterman’s entire command has been massacred. I brought in all I could, about forty-nine, but there are still more to be claimed.”

  Frances gasped and started to slide to the ground in a near faint as the ladies overheard Captain Ten Eyck’s words. Emmie caught her by the elbow, and she rallied before bursting into tears.

  “I knew it,” she sobbed. “I just knew he was dead.”

  Mrs. Carrington put her arms around Frances. “You’re coming home with me, dear,” she murmured gently as she led her away.

  Sarah tugged Emmie’s arm. “Let’s go home,” she said.

  Emmie gasped when she saw the dark circles under Sarah’s eyes. Her pallor was so pronounced Emmie thought she looked as though she might pass out at any moment. “You’re going right home to bed,” she said firmly. She took Sarah’s arm and steadied her against the wind as they made their way toward their home.

  The fire was out when they finally pushed the door shut against the wind. Emmie hurried to start one while Sarah poked the fire in the kitchen stove to life. “I’m going to put on some water for tea,” Sarah said. “I can’t go to bed until Rand gets home. I couldn’t rest anyway until I know what happened.”

  Joel came in moments later, his young face sober. He silently heaped wood in the fireplace for Emmie, then sat on the floor with his knees drawn up to his chin. The news had quenched even his high spirits.

  By the time the men arrived, warm currents from the fire warmed the room and the aroma of steeping tea filled the kitchen. Emmie cut some thick slabs of bread and spread butter and jam on them. She was suddenly ravenous and knew the men would be, too. Morning Song was still at Jake’s. Emmie knew the weather was much too cold to have the baby out, but she wished for Morning Song’s calming presence. Did she know what had happened?

  The door opened and Rand and Isaac dashed in before slamming it against the howling wind. Sarah uttered a little cry and flew into Rand’s arms. Emmie was right behind her as she ran to Isaac. She buried her face in the rough wool of his coat and burst into tears.

  He put his lips against her
hair and patted her on the back. “It’s okay,” he murmured. “The Lord was looking out for us.”

  Emmie pulled away and looked up at him. “I’m sorry,” she said as she pulled away. What was she thinking of? Unless the Lord intervened, she would be marrying Jake. She had no right to be in Isaac’s arms.

  Isaac held on a moment, then let her go. “It’s not over yet,” he said softly as he saw the defeat in her face. “God’s in control, you know.”

  Emmie nodded. “Want some tea and bread?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Isaac said. “I could eat the whole loaf and not know it.”

  “Me, too,” Rand said as he walked toward the kitchen with his arm around his wife.

  “Where’s Jake?” Sarah asked. “I thought he would come to see that Emmie was all right. After all, he says he wants to marry her.”

  “He wanted to see about Gabrielle,” Rand said.

  Emmie glanced quickly at Isaac. He had come to find her as soon as he could. This was just a taste of what it would be like to be married to a man who didn’t love her. Not that she wanted Jake to love her. She couldn’t imagine dealing with that problem, too.

  Sarah sniffed. “Is he coming over later?”

  “No,” Rand said. “He said he’d see us in the morning. We’re all beat.”

  Sarah’s fierce look softened. “Tell us about it,” she invited.

  They spent the next hour exclaiming over the harrowing adventure as Rand and Isaac related the day’s events.

  “I wish you would have asked Wolverine about White Beaver,” Sarah said. “I would love to see her again.”

  “And what about Red Hawk?” Joel put in eagerly. “Did you see him?”

  Rand shook his head. “I didn’t see Red Hawk and it would have done no good to ask about White Beaver. Even if she were close, you couldn’t see her, sweetheart. It’s too dangerous to set foot outside the fort. You know that. You haven’t been outside the gate since we got here.”

  Sarah nodded in resignation. “I still wish you’d asked.”