by Dana Alden
Amanda’s arms were loose around his sides and she brushed against him with the rhythm of the horse. He kept his left arm tight over hers; he didn’t want her to fall off again and smiled at the thought.
“How’s your side?” He felt the momentary clutch of her hands. “Did I wake you? I’m sorry.”
“No, I was in my own head, is all.”
“What was happening in there?”
He heard her chuckle. “You might think not much,” she said, “but my head won’t turn off right now.”
There was a pause. He waited, wondering if she’d like to tell him. He found that he wanted to know.
After a few minutes of the gentle bump-bump of the horse’s steady gait, Amanda spoke. “I was wondering about you, right when you spoke to me.”
“Wondering what?”
“I was wondering how you became a mountain man. Were you a mountain baby with a mountain mama? I mean, there haven’t been too many white folks out here for too long. At least, that’s what I heard.”
Cal laughed out loud. He had a vision of a baby suckling on a big grizzly bear sow. The way this gal thought, it just caused him no end of good humor.
He felt her arms relax when he laughed and knew she’d been hesitant to ask such a personal question. It was funny how riding along, back to front, with no eye contact, emboldened them each to ask and answer questions they might have avoided in a more proper setting. Well, he didn’t mind her interest.
“I was born back East, in Missouri. My pa had a big farm with acres planned for all his sons. But my mother’s brother, he came out here in 1855 on a fur trade expedition. He was hoping to establish a trading post for his company. It didn’t pan out.”
“Why not?”
“The fur trade was already dwindling then. Anyway, when the expedition was over I didn’t want to go back.” Cal paused for a moment, thinking back to his early days of adventure. “My older brothers… they married in their early twenties, took over their acreage, and started their families. That was not the life I was looking for.”
He would have continued, but his horse raised her head and her ears stood at attention. He heard the horse behind him rustle in his nervousness.
“Whaa—?”
“Shhh,” he whispered. He pulled Miss Molly to a halt, scanning around for the source of the animals’ concern.
“What—?”
“Shhh,” he whispered again, but too loudly.
After a few moments, the horses relaxed, trying instead to reach grass to munch.
Cal turned in the saddle to look directly at Amanda. “When I say, shhh, you shhh.”
“I’m sorry. I only wanted to know what was going on,” she said defensively.
Cal felt that angry frustration building up again. “What’s going on,” he said, “is that I told you to shhh and you didn’t. Don’t you have an ounce of self-preservation? You don’t know how to survive in the wilds.”
Amanda drew back, at least as far as she could when they were sharing a horse, and glared at him. “I’m not planning to live in the wilds. I’m planning to live in Virginia City.”
Cal glared back. “You don’t have a plan, Miss! You came out here on a whim. What if your stepbrother won’t take you in? What do you do then, big city lady?”
“Then I’ll find a job elsewhere and go live at the Women’s Boarding House.” She gave him a smirk. “There’s one in Virginia City.”
Cal was so startled by Amanda’s response that for a moment he didn’t know what to say. And then, he started laughing. Hard. Amanda drew her brows down.
“What’s so funny? That’s a perfectly reasonable plan.”
“No. No, it’s not,” he gasped through his laughs. Finally, he calmed down enough to say, “You see, that’s not an actual boarding house. It’s a whorehouse.”
Amanda’s face flamed red.
Cal pressed his knees and calves to get Miss Molly moving again and called out a low whistle to his packhorse. He was glad to be facing forward away from Amanda. She couldn’t see that the smile had dropped from his face. He had allowed them to make too much noise with their arguing; he had forgotten, even if just for a moment, that she might be a hunted woman.
Chapter 9
The sun was well past midday when Calvin halted the horses. He held Amanda’s arm as she slid off the horse onto shaky legs. When he released her, she tilted sideways and stumbled. How embarrassing!
After Cal dismounted he tied up the horses. He led Amanda off the trail a short way. She watched him as he observed everything around them. She was just wondering if there was a danger nearby when he turned back to the trail saying, “I’ll leave you to your business.”
How embarrassing, again! But, she realized, better than being overseen, like the last time and she appreciated a little space after their argument earlier. She completed her business, as Calvin had called it, and headed back to the main trail. Between the bear sighting and the fear of men chasing them down, she realized even this short separation from Cal bothered her. She hurried through the trees back to where she’d find him.
When she returned, the horses were still tied where they’d been left, but Cal was not there. She felt her pulse quicken and tried not to panic. Then, she heard his voice calling from the trees on the other side of the trail.
“Amanda! Over here.”
She worked her way through some branches and brush, pulling at her skirt to find Cal standing in a patch of sun amidst low bushes that topped off just over his ankles. He reached over and took her hand. His own hand was warm. He turned hers and placed a dark blue berry in it; it looked like a large blueberry.
“Huckleberry. Try it.”
It was a lot like a blueberry, just as he’d said earlier. It tasted sweet and with a hint of tartness. On the trail there had been fresh game and fish, dried fruits and canned goods, but very little when it came to fresh fruits or vegetables. She closed her eyes and savored it on her tongue. She opened her eyes to find Cal staring at her intently. She choked, swallowing the huckleberry by accident. He pounded her back as she coughed.
Amanda could feel the heat pouring off her face. “Um, delicious,” she rasped out as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Cal was still watching her, but now with a combination of concern and amusement. His look before, well, she wasn’t sure about that look, but it wasn’t one she was used to. It made her feel nervous and excited, all at once.
“There’s a spot near here where I usually lay a trap line in winter. I want to check out the animal activity while we’re in the area. Perhaps you’d like to collect berries for tonight’s supper while I do that?”
So, here she was, picking and eating firm, ripe huckleberries. She added some of them to a leather pouch Cal had given her. Standing in the dappled sun that reached down through the tall lodgepole pine trees, Amanda felt at peace for the first time since she’d realized her position at the mill would be lost if she didn’t placate the foreman. She’d known she wouldn’t do that, so she’d tried to find a job at a different mill… and soon learned she’d been blackballed at them all.
She’d been on the move a few months now, trying to get to Montana Territory. Since she hadn’t the funds or the skills to travel alone, she’d found a position to work her way across the country. It hadn’t been easy caring for the sickly and cranky Geraldine in a covered wagon while her unsettling husband hovered nearby.
Even after the death of Geraldine and her babies, Amanda had her plan to stick to, and her dream to lean on. With Smitty’s help, she’d reach Virginia City and Samuel would welcome her with open arms. He’d give her a job and help her find a home. If not with him, then at a nice boarding house, or even find her a family with an extra room. Now, she was so close to all that but the recent events had made her question her expectations. At the very least, she doubted there even were many families with extra rooms. The nice women’s boarding house might not exist either.
And, more importantly, if Samuel was in some kind of troubl
e, what could she do? She wasn’t sure she could help herself. And even if he wasn’t, she couldn’t help but admit to herself that he might not welcome her warmly.
So, she wasn’t in as much of a hurry to get there. She admitted to herself that it wouldn’t change what was going to happen anyway. But this moment, given to her by Cal, was quiet and serene. She was going to savor it.
Amanda sighed and ate another berry. There was no point in gathering more; there was nowhere to store them all without too much mess, and no point in drawing the attention of the bears.
She whipped her head around. Something was coming up the path, something big pushing against the bushes and tree branches. She started to back out of the berry patch. How far away from the trail could she go—should she go—to avoid a wild animal and still find her way back to the trail later?
Her skirt caught. She ripped it free from a branch but stopped moving. Cal was due back anytime and she couldn’t just leave him to run into a feeding bear.
Amanda looked around desperately. Noise! Smitty had said the bears would avoid her if she made noise. She found a stick as thick as her arm and started whacking the ground. Then she turned to a young evergreen and whacked at its trunk, over and over. With each thwack, she yelled louder and louder, “Go away, bear! Go away, bear!” It was part prayer.
Between the noises she was making and the blood rushing through her ears, Amanda didn’t know if the bear was still coming or if she’d scared it off. She craned her neck around, trying to see if the bear was within sight. Keep noise-making?
Should she cut and run? Her heart pounded. She realized she hadn’t dropped the leather pouch and instead, by gripping through it to the stick, had squashed all the berries. The red juice ran across her hands.
She shrieked when the bushes across the clearing rustled and spread open for a giant furry bear.
Only—it wasn’t one.
A man halted, an amused smile barely visible through his bushy beard. He wore furs and skins, with a dirty canvas pack on his back. No wonder she’d thought he was a bear. This was a mountain man of the novels, but much bigger and way dirtier.
Amanda felt cross. It wasn’t his fault she’d imagined a bear, but his sly smile told her he thought her panic was something to laugh at. She was scared and angry.
“You could have called out,” she admonished the stranger.
He nodded, unabashed. “Didn’t think you’d hear me for all the racket you was making.”
That deflated Amanda a little. “Maybe so.” She still didn’t like the amused way he was looking at her. She didn’t like how he looked at her at all. Where was Cal? She tried to look unconcerned.
“Here for the berries?” she asked. “I’ve got enough for us,” she tried to emphasize the us. “So you can take what you need.”
She ignored his skeptical look as he eyed the sodden berry bag. She headed toward the trail. “Good day to you.”
“No, ma’am. I’m not here for the berries. I’m looking for a woman and I think you might be her.”
Amanda’s blood froze in her veins and buzzed in her ears. There was no call for anyone to be looking for her out here. Did he mean her as in, Amanda, or as in any woman? It didn’t look good for her in either case. She realized she’d stopped in place when the furry man had spoken. She was glad she still had her stick in hand, but what she really needed was Calvin. Stall, she told herself.
“How might that be?” She faced him squarely, hoping her face showed her confusion rather than her growing uneasiness.
“I’m looking for a pretty brown-haired gal. About your height and build, I was told. Samuel Emerson’s sister. Aren’t you his sister?”
“What?” She fumbled for a smooth response. “I’m afraid I don’t know that gentleman. Has he sent you to find his sister?” If this man was there at her brother’s bequest, she didn’t want to lie to him, but her gut told her something was off. The man’s response confirmed it.
“Ha! He isn’t in a position to send anyone, anywhere.”
Just then, more rustling in the wood, this time from the other direction. Amanda’s heart took off racing again until she saw Cal striding toward her. He came right up and stood in front of her, his back to her and his front to the bear man. She reached forward to rest one hand upon the center of his back.
Just that touch and his presence made her feel safer.
“Can I help you?” Cal said to the man, in a tone that wouldn’t have encouraged Amanda to say yes.
She peeked over Cal’s shoulder. The bear man bristled, looking like he was trying to appear even bigger. “I recognize you, Ayers. I’m looking for Samuel Emerson’s little sister. I’m looking on behalf of Ned Bart.” This last was said with some implied menace, but it didn’t mean anything to Amanda.
Cal visibly relaxed. He reached back as he spoke and took Amanda’s hand. “Oh, then, you’ve got the wrong gal. This is my fiancée, fresh from Missouri.”
Amanda tried not to look surprised. She held his hand and leaned up against his side as she imagined a frightened fiancée might do. As she wanted to do, as well.
Bear man stared at the two of them for a moment, then gave a nod. “I heard you left word at Gallatin Ferry that your gal might be arriving soon.”
Amanda felt Cal stiffen slightly and suspected he was surprised this man knew this information. She was surprised, too, and surprised to find herself disappointed to learn of this gal, even at this tense moment.
Bear man turned his head a little, eyeing Amanda again. “You didn’t come by way of the Missouri River, though.” He let the sentence linger, implying something was wrong without accusing it. For all he looked like a big bear, this was no dummy.
But neither was Cal. He spoke bluntly. “This lady is mine. No business of yours how she arrived. You go find your lady someplace else.” He pushed Amanda behind him again and spread his feet as if he was preparing for battle.
A little thrill ran through Amanda. It was ridiculously primitive, but Cal’s words and tone made her feel protected and… special.
The possessive tone worked. Bear man laughed. “I’ll keep looking for my pretty. You can keep yours.” He turned to head back the way he came.
“Hold on,” said Cal. “You’ve got me curious.” He placed his arm around Amanda and guided her to the narrow path from which he’d come. “The horses are along there, Sweetheart. I’ll be along.” He gave her a gentle shove and Amanda knew it was her chance to get away from the bear man.
She looked Cal in the eyes. What message was she trying to convey? Be careful? Thank you? Don’t shove me? She truly didn’t know.
Chapter 10
Cal avoided filling Amanda in on what he’d learned from the man dressed in bearskins, Ollie Linquist. Cal had suspected who the man was by his reputation and outfit, and it had been confirmed by his not-so-subtle threat mentioning Ned Bart.
It was rumored that Bart had been part of the Innocents, a group of road agents who’d stolen from and even murdered a number of miners the year before. Bart had associated with some of the men who’d been hung by the Vigilantes, but had managed to avoid being named as part of the group. More recent rumors had him starting up again in the Gallatin Valley, just far enough from Virginia City to avoid notice.
Amanda’s stepbrother was clearly in deep and, by association, so was Amanda. Cal hadn’t been able to find out what Emerson had done; he hadn’t wanted to appear too interested. But he’d learned that Ned Bart had this brother—and sister—in his crosshairs. It was time he learned more about Amanda’s stepbrother. He didn’t think she would be part of some unsavory business on purpose, but how was he to know the depth of her character from such a short acquaintance?
At first, when Amanda tried to question him, he told her he wanted to get away from Lindquist as quickly and quietly as possible. They rode on for several hours in silence, Cal wanting to get to Bozeman soon. It had been over a month since he’d been to a town, and the last visit had been brief at best.
He knew of Ned Bart, but it seemed like that guy had stepped it up a notch.
Amanda rode behind him as usual. Though her arms still rested around his body, Cal did not feel the same intimacy of the night before; it was clear she was wrapped up in thoughts and was far away from him. He missed that feeling.
“Cal,” said Amanda, breaking the silence. “He said my brother wasn’t in a position to send anyone to look for his sister. What does that mean? Do you think he’s dead?”
Cal could hear the anxiety in her voice.
“No. At least, that fellow didn’t think so. Sounds like your stepbrother is in hiding.”
“Oh,” she said. After a long pause, she added, “Why?”
Cal didn’t have a good answer for that. Instead, he said, “Amanda, tell me about your stepbrother.”
“Well, I… He…” Cal thought she seemed to struggle momentarily, to summarize a brother she was suddenly confused about—or to make up a story? Cal wasn’t sure which it was. But she spoke anyway.
“He’s five years older than I am. My father married Samuel’s mother when I was ten. Samuel’s my stepbrother, you see? He only lived on the farm about two years, then he apprenticed out to a storekeeper in the next town over and lived with the storekeeper’s family. My mother’s sister’s husband’s brother, that is.” She paused as though waiting for Cal to process the family connection. He nodded.
“And he lived and worked there until he was twenty-three,” she finished off.
“You were close?”
“No, not terribly. He came home for holidays, and some days off, but I didn’t see him too much. But it was almost always great fun when he did come, bringing penny candy or ribbons to give out. He told the funniest stories about the customers he served.”
Even though Amanda was behind him, Cal could imagine the smile on her face as she reminisced. She seemed to have a fondness for her stepbrother.
“Almost always fun?”
“Well, yes. A few times, when he came home, he was upset with the storekeeper. He would expect our parents to take his side, and his mother did. But my father would remind Samuel he was an apprentice and ought to be quiet and learn. Samuel didn’t like that.”