A Man for Temperance (Wagon Wheel)

by Gilbert, Morris

  “I never did look very good.”

  “You looked a lot better than you do now. What’s this I hear about you taking Miss Temperance and these kids back East?”

  Thad shifted his feet and shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. “Something I had to do,” he muttered.

  “Well, I’ve got good news for you.”

  “I can stand some.”

  Quaid turned then and faced Temperance and Belle. They were both watching him carefully. Quaid looked fresh. His skin glowed with a recent shave, and his eyes were bright. “I’m headed back East myself. I thought I might join you if you wouldn’t mind the company.”

  “Why, I think that would be nice, Quaid,” Temperance said with a smile.

  “That’s right,” Belle said. “When the Indians attack, you can help Thad fight them off.”

  Thad shifted his feet and put his eyes on Quaid critically. “We’re going to be moving pretty slow, Quaid. You won’t want to dawdle around with us.”

  “Oh, I got plenty of time,” Quaid said cheerfully. “I can be of some help to you. Now, ladies, please introduce me to these fine young folks here.”

  Temperance said at once, “This is Timmy. This is Bent and Rena Overmeyer. That’s their little sister, Bess. This is Rose Abbott, my right-hand helper, and her brother, Billy.”

  Quaid smiled at each of them and winked at Rena. “You better watch out, Miss Rena. A pretty girl like you, there’ll be lots of no-good, worthless, trifling, young fellows lining up to get you to go to the dance with them.”

  Rena suddenly smiled. “They haven’t been lined up so far.”

  “Why, Miss Rena, you’re standing in the doorway of opportunity. There, right before you, a whole vista of wonderful times. But I’m going to take you in hand and warn you about all the tricks these young scoundrels use. Yes sir, I think the world has appointed me as a guardian for the morals of the young folks.”

  “I never noticed you broke out with many morals yourself,” Thad said grumpily.

  “Well, like I said, I changed.”

  “Did you really get rich in California, Quaid?” Belle asked.

  “I’m ashamed to admit it, but I did. Nearly every venture I tried previously went bust.” He winked at Thad, saying, “Me and Thad, though, went broke hunting beavers. We had enough to make us rich, and then the stinking Blackfeet came along and nearly got our scalps. They did get our furs, didn’t they, Thad?”

  “Yeah, they did. Look, I can’t stand around here. We got to get on the road.”

  “Why sure. Miss Temperance, you just let me know anything that I can do.”

  “Could I ride that extra horse of yours?” Belle said boldly.

  “You sure can. She’s a real lady. Her name’s Cherry.”

  “Named after an old girlfriend of yours?”

  “Now, ma’am, it would be unseemly for me to talk about my past. That’s all behind me now. I’m on the straight and narrow.”

  Thad gave a snort of disgust and said, “Well, if you got to go, it’ll be all right, I guess.”

  “What’s the matter with Thad?” Rena asked Belle. “He doesn’t seem to like Quaid much.”

  “Well, in the first place he’s got a bad hangover. Second place, it looks like his old partner has made it. Struck it big out in California somehow, and Thad’s a little bit jealous, I think.” She smiled and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Be interesting to have a good-looking man like that in camp, won’t it?”

  * * *

  THE FIRST DAY OUT was interesting for everyone except Thad. Quaid Mitchell was in high spirits. He and Belle, who rode astraddle the horse, letting her skirt divide as it would with her calves showing, trotted ahead of the others, and he took her on side trips, showing her different sights. When they came back for the noonday break, he sat down and ate the meal that Temperance and Belle had prepared and entertained everyone with stories of his past life. “How’d you get rich in California, Mitchell?” Bent asked.

  “Why, it was easy as falling off a log. Easiest thing I ever done.” He winked at Thad, who was eating his first real meal of the day. “Why, you should have been there, Thad. I heard about that gold rush, so I rushed. I got out there just in time to find me a claim, and wouldn’t you know it, after failing at ranching and soldiering and fur trapping and half a dozen other things, I hit pay dirt the second day I was there. I dug out enough to find out for sure the claim was good. I let word get around so I sold out. Made a killing too.”

  “Why’d you leave, Quaid?” Thad muttered. “I would have stayed there and dug gold out until there wasn’t no more.”

  “Life’s too short, friend, to do a thing like that. No sir, I’m headed back to civilization. Going to buy me a plantation, marry a fine-looking woman, sit out on the front porch, drink mint juleps, watch the hands raise cotton, and get even richer.”

  “Sounds like a good kind of life,” Belle grinned.

  “Just what I’ve always wanted. Always talked about that, didn’t I, Thad?” He waited, but Thad, without a word, got up and stalked off, muttering something under his breath. “Thad don’t seem happy,” he said.

  “He’s not. You saw how he acted at the meeting. He’s running from God,” Temperance explained.

  “He was a mighty good friend to me back in our trapping days. We got snowed in one winter. When you do that, you’d better like the fella you’re snowed in with or you’ll wind up cutting his throat, or he’ll cut yours.” Quaid smiled crookedly. There was a brash attractiveness about the man that charmed the rest of them.

  “Tell us some more about the gold,” Belle said. “I like to hear about money. I don’t have any myself, but I like to be around people who do.”

  “Why, we’ve got all the way back to Independence to talk about anything you want to, Miss Belle,” Quaid grinned. “You just name the subject.”

  Temperance noticed that Thad stayed away most of the day. She couldn’t understand it. The two had been good friends, but she finally figured out that Thad was ashamed of his poor condition, and the sight of Quaid Mitchell dressed in his finery with bags full of money was more than he could take.

  That night after supper Quaid entertained them with tales about the time he and Thad were partners. He kept them awake until late, telling stories, his eyes bright and his hands constantly in motion as he illustrated with wild gestures.

  It was later that night, just before Temperance went to bed, that Thad, who had not spoken one word, approached her and said, “I’ve got to warn you about something, Peabody.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You better watch out for Quaid.”

  “Why would you say a thing like that?”

  “Because he’s a ladies’ man. I hate to say it about a friend, but young ladies ain’t safe around him.”

  Suddenly the situation amused Temperance. She looked up at Thad and saw his face set with displeasure. “Well, Thaddeus, you’ve already warned me that no man would want me, so I don’t have to be careful around your friend, do I?”

  Thad glared at her and tried to find an answer. Finally he nodded shortly and said, “You watch what I tell you now. He’s a dangerous man where women are concerned.”

  Belle had been close enough to overhear the conversation. She came over and smiled. “Well, you’ve been warned. Quaid’s a danger to women. Are you afraid?”

  “No, he’s a Christian now.”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that before too,” Belle said cynically. “You know what’s wrong with Thad? He’s just jealous, that’s all.”

  “Jealous? Of who?”

  “Of Quaid. Why, it might be because of you.”

  “Of me! Are you crazy, Belle? We haven’t done anything but fight since we left Walla Walla.”

  “I know that, but he’s got a funny way of looking at you when you’re not watching. I think he likes you.”

  “He’s already made it plain he doesn’t, Belle. Now don’t talk foolishness.”

  * * *

 
AS THEY MADE THEIR way through the Platte Valley, Quaid gave a running commentary. “All the Pawnee are up to the north and the Cheyenne to the south, but they won’t be attacking this close to Fort Kearny. At least I don’t think so. Never can tell what an injun will do though.”

  They had stopped for noon, and Temperance had fried antelope steaks. They weren’t very good, being tough, but at least they were fresh. She suddenly waved at furniture that had been piled to one side—a cherry chifforobe and a desk. “I’m surprised people leave things on the trail. We’ve passed more things like that. People just throw their things away.”

  “Well, they got big ideas when they leave Missouri. They pile everything on the wagons and the animals start playing out, and they have to set it aside.”

  “I’d like to ride your extra horse, Quaid.”

  “Why sure.”

  “But I don’t have a riding skirt.”

  “Nobody to see out here except me and Thad, and, of course, we’re both perfect gentlemen.”

  Temperance laughed. The man had an easy, light humor, although she also detected an underlying fiery temper. “I couldn’t do that,” she said.

  “I’ll tell you what. Just take one of your old skirts, split it up the middle, stitch it. Kind of like make two legs out of it. It’ll look just like a riding skirt.”

  “You know, I think I will do that.”

  “You go put it together. You and me will take a ride.”

  Temperance made quick work of the dress. It was easy as Quaid had said, and in the shelter of the wagon she slipped it on. When she stepped out, she called, “Quaid, I’m ready.”

  “That’s right fancy,” Belle said, watching with envy. “If you got another old dress, I’ll make me one.”

  “We’ll find you one, Belle.”

  Thad had been plodding along beside Babe. He stopped and looked down at Temperance’s costume. “That’s a forked dress you got on,” he accused.

  “It’s modest enough. That’s all that counts,” Temperance said. “I’m sorry you don’t like it.”

  “I thought you were so persnickety about dresses and things like that.”

  “Well, as Quaid pointed out, there’s only you and him, and you’re both perfect gentlemen, so I’m sure it’ll be all right,” she said sweetly.

  Quaid brought the mare and helped Temperance into the saddle. He got on the stallion and said, “Come on, let’s let them out a little bit. Hang on now.”

  Thad called out, “You don’t wander too far off. It could be dangerous.”

  Belle edged closer to him and was smiling slightly. “Looks like the holy woman’s found herself a man.”

  “Don’t be foolish, Belle. He ain’t for her. Women like him. I don’t know why.”

  “Why, I can’t understand it either,” Belle said mockingly. “All he’s got is good looks, fine manners, and a ton of money. Can’t understand why a woman would be interested in a man like that.”

  “She don’t need to be going off alone with him.”

  “Don’t be silly. He’s a perfect gentleman.”

  “No, he ain’t. He ain’t respectful to women.”

  “Oh, not like you, Thad?”

  Thad looked at Belle and frowned. He had not been drinking that day, for a change, and his eyes were clear. “I know he looks pretty good, and he’s a good man to have at your side if we get trapped by a bunch of Cheyenne or Blackfeet, but women ain’t got no sense about him. They just seem to—I don’t know—kind of melt.”

  “I know what that’s like,” Belle said. “Some men can just make you do that.”

  “Well, he’s one of them.”

  “I heard you trying to warn Temperance. She didn’t seem to take it too well.”

  “She’s too innocent. She needs to know that not all men are as trustworthy as—” He broke off.

  She laughed. “As trustworthy as you, Thad?”

  Thad stared at her. “I’m going to keep an eye on them,” he said. “She’s like a babe in the woods.”

  * * *

  QUAID AND TEMPERANCE HAD a good hard ride on the two horses. When Quaid pulled up and Temperance brought the mare to the halt, too, she said, “That was such fun.” Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. The wind had freed her hair, and she had a vibrant look.

  “You’re a good rider.”

  “I used to ride a lot. Not so much lately. Mostly in wagons.”

  “How’d you wind up in Oregon?” Quaid asked, leaning over to pat his stallion on the neck. “You’re from back East, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, from the coast in Maine. My parents went to Oregon to start a colony.”

  Quaid listened intently and found himself more interested in this woman than he had been in others of late. She had a wealth of light brown hair with tints of auburn, but she had a blend of qualities that struck him. She had a pride and an honesty and somehow a grace of heart and body that stirred him in a way he could not quite understand. The wind ruffled the edges of her hair, and her smile gently enhanced her appearance. He watched the slight changes of her face, the quickening and loosening of small expressions coming and going, and once, when a private and ridiculous thought seemed to amuse her, he saw the effect dancing in her eyes. When she finished telling her story, he studied her for a moment and then said, “You never married.”

  “No.”

  “Men in Walla Walla must be fools to let a woman like you get away.”

  Temperance did not know what to say. She was unaccustomed to handling compliments. “I’m not attractive, not like Belle. Men want that.”

  Quaid shook his head suddenly and abruptly. “You’ve got something I admire in women more than good looks, though you’ve got that too. That’s character.”

  Suddenly Temperance smiled. “Thad tells me you’re good with women.”

  “Used to be. Not anymore.”

  “I don’t suppose you’d care to tell me about any of your romances.”

  Quaid smiled briefly and then a sadness touched his face. “Well, just one maybe. I loved a woman and she failed me.”

  Temperance perceived that the woman had brought tragedy to Quaid Mitchell. He was a cheerful man full of vigor and humor, but the woman had scarred him deeply. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly.

  “Well, it’s all over. Funny thing. I found God after she left me. Since then I haven’t been looking for a woman. I guess I wanted to get rich. Now even that doesn’t seem too important.” He moved his horse closer and looked into her face. “It’s a good thing you’re doing, Temperance, taking these children back. I hope you don’t mind my tagging along.”

  “I don’t mind at all, Quaid,” she said quietly. The exchange hinted at a brief moment of intimacy, and she felt something stir within her. “Come on. Let’s try these horses again.”

  * * *

  LATE AFTERNOON WAS DRAWING its shadows across the trail, and Quaid and Temperance had returned from their ride. Quaid was trekking alongside Thad. They talked about the old days trapping, and finally Quaid said, “That time remembers pretty good. I don’t know why. Too much to eat or not enough. Scared half the time that the hostiles would be over the next ridge. Still, it was a good time.”

  “It’s about gone now, Quaid.”

  “I expect so.”

  The two were silent for awhile, and finally Thad said, “Something I got to say to you, partner.”

  “Say on, brother.”

  “You got to understand Temperance Peabody’s not like other women.”

  Quaid shot a quick look at Thad and saw his face was dead earnest. “I guess I figured that out for myself. We used to say of good horses they had bottom. Not a fitting thing to say about a woman, but you know what I mean. She’s a stayer. I admire her more than I can say.”

  “Well, take this right, or take it wrong, Quaid, but I want you to leave her alone.”

  Quaid was somewhat shocked. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve seen you before with women. They fall
for you. You’ve got a way that breaks down their defenses.”

  “You don’t have a thing to worry about. I respect her just as much as you do, maybe more.”

  “I’d hate to have to make this stronger than just a warning, Quaid. I ain’t forgotten that you pulled my bacon out of the fire more than once when we was in the mountains.”

  Quaid did not answer for a time. He was considering Thad and finally he said, “Couldn’t be you care for her yourself, could it?”

  “No, nothing like that. I promised to get her and these kids to where they’re going, and I aim to do it.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll go along and give you a hand, Thad.” Quaid’s voice developed a sharp edge, and he said, “But let me tell you this. I see something in Temperance I’ve never seen in another woman. You’re a fool if you don’t see it yourself.”

  “You remember what I said, Quaid.”

  “I don’t forget.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  JULY HAD ARRIVED. THE hot breath of wind scoured bare earth and stirred up the dust in rising clouds that seemed to rise to meet those in the sky. The plains on each side of the Platte River were covered with short grass. Three miles away on both sides of the river, the land rose in sandstone cliffs, which became less and less broken as the trail moved east.

  Temperance and Quaid had ridden every day, and the interlude had made the trip enjoyable for her. The long hours on the trail still offered plenty of time; except when they were stopped for nooning or camped for the night, there was really nothing to do. But buffalo chips still had to be gathered for the evening fires.

  Temperance was amazed at the wildlife. Antelope and coyotes abounded, and once she even saw a grizzly with two cubs, which delighted her. Another day she saw black bears and, of course, the buffaloes came and went in small herds. The prairie dogs were a source of amazement as well. “I can’t believe there are so many of them,” she said to Quaid as they rode along.