“You’re not afraid of the camels?” Private Willis sat on the table and swung one leg. “According to Miss Herald, they’ll bite your feet clean off.”
Her father’s mouth tightened. “Ambrosia, I told you I didn’t need your help. You can take the train home without me.”
There was no way she was letting him make this journey with only a conceited cavalryman to help.
“According to Miss Herald, the camels also like to throw their riders,” Willis said.
“I—I just assumed . . .” she stammered.
“And what’s worse, riding the camels can hurt your ability to . . . what did you say, Miss Herald?”
Amber sputtered in surprise. He wouldn’t dare. Not in front of her father.
With a wink, Private Willis said, “Hurt your ability to sleep at night. I think that’s what she claimed.” His teeth gleamed like a wolf’s.
She let out a shaky breath. He hadn’t totally humiliated her, but he’d let her know that he could. Ambrosia didn’t appreciate the warning. Until now, her father had been patient with her objections, but from the set of his jaw, that patience was running out, and she had Private Willis to thank.
“For some reason, my daughter has made it her goal to terrify every man I’ve requested help from. Cheers to you, Willis, for calling her bluff. If you can convince her to take the train home, I’m more than happy to arrange it. Listen to him, Ambrosia,” her father said as he walked out of the barn to measure the camels for their saddles.
“Ambrosia,” Willis said.
“Are you trying to get me into trouble?” she said.
“Why would I do that? I just wanted to verify the information you gave me.”
“You’re nothing but a . . . a . . . tattletale.”
He grinned. “Usually it’s me who’s getting tattled on. I must be doing something right.” He hopped off the table and picked up the mallet lying next to her. “So why are you trying to run everyone away? You need help, you know. You don’t want to do this on your own.”
She took the mallet from his hand. “It’s none of your business.”
He dipped his head to the side. “Actually, seeing how I’m assigned to accompany you on this journey, it is my business.”
“I’m staying with my father, and that’s that. I suggest you find another way to employ yourself.”
His mouth twitched. “I’m not your father, ma’am. It doesn’t matter a whit to me if you get riled up, if you pout, or if you threaten to run away from home. I specialize in reckless, dramatic gestures, and I doubt any of yours would impress me.”
“I am not a child.” Amber never yelled, but she could speak very emphatically. “You are attributing immaturity to me that I have not displayed.” Because she was trying very, very hard not to act her age.
And the shrewd trooper seemed to know it. “All that’s missing is for you to pack your bag and stomp off down the road.”
Stomping away was her first impulse, and she fought it valiantly.
He leaned close enough that she could see a dusting of blond on his jaw. “What has he done to make you want to ruin his plans? Is he that awful to you?”
Amber slammed the mallet onto the table. The trooper’s conclusion was unfair. She had a noble objective, even if her methods were questionable.
“If you want to question my loyalty to my family, then test me,” she said. “Try to send me away from my father and watch how I fight you.” She’d never spoken to a stranger like this before, and it felt invigorating. Her pulse thrummed; her muscles ached to give action to her words. He’d never try to restrain her physically, but the thought made her want the battle.
Something flickered in his eyes. His voice lowered. “I’m not your enemy.”
“If your aim is to separate me from my father, then you are.”
“The heat will be unbearable. Water limited. Sickness possible. Will your determination last?”
“The train ride here wasn’t much better.”
He shook his head. “But this will be slow, and in the sun. And the danger . . . I don’t want to scare you needlessly, but there are bad men in Indian Territory—lawless men of every nation. Right now the tribes are at peace, but you never know when tempers will flare.”
“Let me guess, the Indians will bite my feet off?”
“I’m not telling stories, ma’am. Your father is a military man. He’s faced danger before. You, on the other hand . . .”
“If you can convince him to abandon this endeavor, then do it.” The only reason she was still talking to the trooper was that he seemed like he might be listening, after all. That and the bottom lip. It warranted more studying. “Then you’ll have an excuse for your commander for why you can’t take this assignment.”
“I have too much riding on this to back down. Too much to fail.”
“Well, so do I.”
Their eyes held as each tried to judge the sincerity of the other. Ambrosia didn’t know if she was more likely to laugh or cry, but her emotions were roiling.
“Then let’s strike a bargain.” He extended his hand.
Maybe she was acting like a spoiled child, after all. If he was willing to acquiesce . . . She offered her hand, and he took it in a warm grasp. All the sparks from her anger flared up into something new.
His throat jogged as he studied their linked hands. “I’m going to see that the captain arrives safely home with his camels. You’re going to do everything you can to stop me.”
“Why are we shaking hands, then?” she asked. “We haven’t agreed on anything.”
“We’re agreeing that we’ll behave ourselves like honest opponents and not take it personally.”
“I haven’t agreed to anything,” she protested. “And I take it personally. Very personally.” In fact, she was taking this handshake too personally, already. With a huff, she yanked her hand free. “If you’re going to oppose me, I don’t see how we can be friends.”
“That’s a pity,” he said. “I’d very much like to have a friend like you.”
She marched away, but with a tinge of regret. What if she’d treated him honestly upon first meeting him, instead of setting up this rivalry? She was beginning to see that there was more to Private Willis than a quick wit and nervy attitude. There was something strong and determined. Something that made Ambrosia fear she might have met her match.
Chapter
4
Camels had to be the most awkward creatures on God’s earth. Instead of sleek lines like a horse, there were bumps sticking out where bumps shouldn’t be. Their heads bobbed and swayed like a snake’s. Their lips split right down the middle and flopped easily, usually with a long tongue hanging down the side. They might be able to carry more weight than a horse, but they lacked the dignity.
Bradley had yet to sit on one, but the tall saddles didn’t look promising. Balancing on the hump looked like the worst place to direct the animal from. And the saddle wasn’t fitted to the hump. Instead it was peaked in the middle to accommodate the awkward shape. Bradley couldn’t help but wonder what riding tricks he could devise, but standing on the saddle wouldn’t be one of them.
The bull named Omar didn’t cotton to Bradley. Earlier that morning, when Bradley had helped saddle him, the camel had drawn out those lips like pinchers and pulled Bradley’s hat plumb off his head. Maybe Ambrosia wasn’t lying about them being dangerous, after all. He walked a wide path around the bull to the smaller female that seemed the friendliest.
“Ruby likes you.” Captain Herald tightened the cinch on the belly of the old cow. “But since she’s the calmest, Ambrosia will ride her.”
Ambrosia stood off to the side with her parasol perched overhead. Her large blue hat completely hid her dark hair, and her split skirt billowed big and loose. It’d still be a trick for her to balance on that saddle, but he figured she was prepared.
He wasn’t. Ambrosia had caught him completely off guard. Bradley was used to being the reckless one, footloose and prime
d to fire, but Ambrosia changed things. He was responsible for her—responsible in a way he’d never been before. His fellow troopers could take care of themselves, but Miss Herald didn’t understand what lay ahead. She was a delightful mess, but beneath the sass was a young lady who bore looking after.
Bradley watched as Captain Herald strapped their packs onto his framework contraptions. Atop the two pack camels, the mounds of barrels, gunny sacks, and a bundled-up feather tick looked top-heavy, but finally the last of the gear was in place, their canteens were full, and they were ready to go.
Bradley’s canteen still held water despite the ding it had taken from the Gunther gang’s guns. He’d decided to keep it as a souvenir to remind himself that the Gunthers were still out there somewhere, and they’d be looking for him.
“Are you sure all the animals are sound, Father?” Ambrosia called. “If any of them go lame out there, we’ll have to leave them behind.”
“We aren’t leaving anyone behind,” Captain Herald responded. “Stop your lollygagging, Amber. Let’s go.”
With a long riding crop, Captain Herald tapped each animal on the shoulder. One by one, they knelt clumsily, their long knobby legs tucking beneath them.
Captain Herald rushed around, as excited as a bee at a hive, pointing with his prod. “Look at that. Do you see how they sit? Their legs fold and hold them up off the ground. In the desert, that keeps them off the hot sand and lets air get beneath them. It’s just one way they are remarkable. No one but God could create such a perfect vehicle for traveling across the desert.”
To be honest, Bradley didn’t ever want to be in a land so hot that the dirt burned you.
Herald beamed. “Time to start the journey.”
Esmeralda was the name of Bradley’s animal. Her loose, flexible lips puckered at him like she was trying to kiss him from afar. Or spit at him, which was more likely. He angled his hat against the sun and pulled his gloves from where they were tucked into his belt.
“Hop on up and hold on.” Captain Herald pointed to the stirrup, and Bradley settled himself into the saddle.
Perched so high, he felt horribly unbalanced, and the camel hadn’t even stood up yet. Captain Herald turned to take Ambrosia’s hand. Bradley didn’t miss the determined jut of her chin as she approached Ruby. Her hand trembled as she closed her parasol and tucked it into the padded roll on the back of the saddle. Slipping her girly boot into the stirrup, she stretched up on her toes and grabbed the horn of the saddle. He hoped she didn’t mind him watching, but someone needed to keep an eye on her.
The camels made some strange noises to each other that sounded like they were gargling soup. Esmeralda shook beneath him as she answered. The captain climbed aboard Omar, then with a whoop, the whole world moved.
With a mighty jump, Esmeralda lurched up to her knees. Just as Bradley caught his balance and kept from rolling off the back, she shoved forward and straightened her back legs. Now Bradley fell forward. Only by bracing himself with locked arms did he keep his nose from smashing into the camel’s neck. Before he could get his balance, she rocked her front legs beneath her and stood at her full height.
Bradley felt like he’d just ridden a bucking bronco. He hadn’t expected it to be that rough.
“Did you see that?” he asked Ambrosia. “Better hold on tight.”
She leaned forward, nearly pressing the horn of the saddle into her chest. When Ruby bounced to her feet, Ambrosia fought to stay as close to her neck as possible, even bumping into the camel, but she didn’t fall. Once upright, she tentatively settled into the saddle, her back as straight as the camel’s was humped.
“Thanks for the warning,” she said.
The captain’s camel rose quickly, and he hooted and hollered his excitement. He turned the camel and circled back to Bradley and Ambrosia. “It’s been an age since I’ve been on the back of such a magnificent animal!” Omar peered at Bradley through his impossibly long eyelashes, as if daring him to contradict the judgment. “Thank you, Amber, for understanding. I really do have to do this,” he said.
Do what? Get the camels to Texas? Why was it so important to him?
Sitting in the oversized saddle, Ambrosia looked tiny. Bradley looked down, and his feet were a mile from the ground. He wasn’t anxious to try any stunts up here. Not yet, anyway.
“Let’s go,” Herald said. “We’ve got ten days ahead of us.”
Ten days. Not sure what to do, Bradley bumped his heels into Esmeralda’s sides. She easily fell into step behind the captain, and Ruby walked alongside her. Bradley turned to look over his shoulder. The two younger camels loaded with supplies were tied in a train behind him. The lines stretched out as they left the barnyard. The farmer and his wife stood on the porch and waved good-bye to their old friends. The black-and-white sheepdog yapped at their big, floppy feet, but the caravan continued.
“He ignores the dog, but takes a bite out of my hat,” Bradley said.
“Omar dislikes you,” Ambrosia replied. “I think he feels threatened. He’s used to being the boss around here.”
“He doesn’t have to worry about me. I’m just a lowly private. I’m not the boss of anyone.”
“Oh really?” Was that a snort from the proper Miss Herald? “You don’t take kindly to others telling you what to do.”
“Haven’t I done everything your pa has asked?”
“Calm down, trooper. I’m taking your measure, not judging your performance.” After a long look at him, she said, “I’m right, aren’t I? You have trouble with authority.”
“I don’t know that I’d say that, exactly. I just like to think for myself.”
“And not have a woman doing your thinking for you?”
“Not have anyone do my thinking for me.” Bradley tried to keep the thinking to a minimum, actually. Too much worry, and you could talk yourself out of what needed doing.
Esmeralda and Ruby stretched their necks out long, enjoying walking in tandem. Bradley was enjoying it, too.
“I’m sorry for not being friendly earlier.” Ambrosia shooed away a horsefly. “If we must go, then I suppose it might as well be with you.”
He grinned. Sure enough, Ambrosia wasn’t as hard-bitten as she wanted him to think. “You’re in good hands, Miss Herald. And if you don’t watch it, you might end up enjoying yourself.”
She tilted her head up so that the sun bathed all the adorable curves and dimples of her face in light. “And yet, just consider what this is going to do to my complexion. Are you willing to jeopardize my looks in this dangerous endeavor?”
While he could spend many happy hours ruminating over her complexion, he wouldn’t admit it. “You and your complexion could have taken the train home. I would’ve looked after your pa.”
She rotated the parasol to block his view again, but this time he caught sight of a charming smile before she could hide it. Seemed he wasn’t the only one who found orneriness an appealing trait.
Ten days on this journey? It wasn’t nearly long enough.
This trip was nothing like Ambrosia had expected. The flat prairie was denuded of trees. The hot wind drove sharp bits of dirt into her eyes, which already stung from sweat. She should have brought a scarf or veil. Her wide bonnet and parasol weren’t much protection from the wind.
Another thing she hadn’t expected was a guide like Private Willis. She’d grown up at western forts, living in the officers’ quarters. She was used to handsome soldiers, but this one seemed unaware that he was at the bottom rung of the ladder. In fact, she wondered if he was aware that there was a ladder at all.
Amber could sit a horse, but the camel’s canter felt off. Grabbing the saddle, she readjusted, looking for a more comfortable position.
“Sir,” Private Willis said, “we might want to slow down. Miss Herald is falling behind.”
She wasn’t falling behind, but she was tired. How was it that she couldn’t keep up with her sick father?
“Amber, are you all right?” Her father lea
ned forward to scrub on Ruby’s neck. “Once you two get better acquainted, we’ll have to turn you loose and see what you can do together.”
“What?” Her heart skipped a beat. Why would he make such a suggestive comment? “I have no intention of becoming better acquainted with Private Willis or being turned loose with him.”
Private Willis coughed into his fist as a gust of scorching air assaulted them. Once the howling wind died down, he found his voice. “I’m sorry, Miss Herald, but I think Captain Herald meant that we should get better acquainted with Ruby and Melda. That’s all.”
Her father’s thick brows pushed together in confusion. “Whyever would you think . . . ?” He shook his head. “She’s usually very astute. I don’t know what gave her such an inappropriate idea.”
“It’s probably the sun,” Private Willis said.
“It’s not the sun. It’s . . .” She shrugged. “It’s the sun.”
Her smiling father, so unlike the desolate man who’d sat in his garden all spring, tapped Omar with his riding crop and jogged ahead, leaving her and Private Willis with the pack camels.
“Ambrosia is an unusual name,” Private Willis said. “How’d you come by it?”
“Ambrosia is the food of the gods.” She lifted her chin and tried to look sophisticated. “The food was only shared with certain men to whom the gods wanted to convey immortality.”
He whistled. “Lucky dogs. I guess a mere mortal like me wouldn’t have a chance.”
“Absolutely not.”
But he didn’t look disappointed. “I like steak and taters, personally. No highfalutin fare like that.”
“Sour grapes,” she said. “Pretending you don’t want something because you can’t have it.”
“Guilty to the pretending, but not convinced on the second part.” With a rocking of his saddle, he urged Esmeralda forward.
Amber’s jaw dropped. How could she not be impressed by his impudence?
Bound and Determined Page 3