Joelle's Secret

by Gilbert, Morris

  “Lily.” He waited until her eyes came to his lips and then said, “Have you ever thought of me as a man you might marry?”

  Lily missed a step and suddenly stood still. She had known troubles, and they hadn’t soured her, and now she spoke the truth simply. “Yes, Harry, I have.”

  His face lighted up, and he said, “You hang on to that thought! When we get to Sacramento, and I get all settled, we’ll talk about this some more.”

  “All right, Harry, if you say so.”

  * * *

  THE LAST DANCE WAS over, and Chad was walking with Joelle toward the wagon. Both of them were laughing, for Chad had a way of making a woman laugh. As they stepped close to the wagon, they saw Owen sitting in front of the fire. “You missed a good dance there, Owen.”

  “I guess I did.”

  Chad started to speak but saw that Owen was not in a good mood. “Thanks for the dance, Joelle,” he said. “I’ll see you in the morning. When we get to Sacramento, we’ll have some fine times.”

  “Thank you, Chad. I’ll look forward to it.”

  She watched him as he disappeared into the darkness. She was about to get ready for bed, but she hesitated. “I’m sorry I was so mean to you, Owen. I didn’t mean all those things I said.”

  Owen got to his feet and said quietly, “I shouldn’t have meddled with your affairs.”

  Joelle saw that she had hurt him and was surprised. “I won’t wear a dress like that again.”

  Owen Majors was caught off-guard. He had seen the adamant side of this young woman, and now he saw the soft and gentle side that he had already learned to love. “It’s just—well, I feel responsible for you, Joelle. I don’t want anything to happen to you except something good.”

  Joelle felt a warm glow of happiness. He cares for me. It’s good to know somebody cares what happens to me.

  Something passed between the two, and Owen stepped forward. He put his hands on Joelle’s shoulders and pulled her slightly forward. She knew he was going to kiss her. She knew little about men, but that was apparent. She lifted her head, but he released her abruptly.

  “Good night, Joelle.” He turned and moved away. Joelle watched him. Why didn’t he kiss me? she wondered. He wants something I don’t have, I guess, and I’ll never have. All the happiness that had come with the dance was gone, and after she went to bed, she lay for a long time, thinking of the look on his face and wondering why he had not kissed her.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “IS THAT A FORT, Owen?”

  Joelle was riding alongside Owen at the head of the train as they approached what appeared to be a settlement. As they drew closer, it became obvious that all the buildings were constructed of roughly hewn logs with mud daubing. There was no attempt at stockade walls, and it didn’t have the military appearance of other forts Joelle had seen.

  “It’s the worst looking settlement I’ve ever seen.”

  “That’s Fort Ruby. Probably the worst fort in the West.”

  “What’s it for, way out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  “Nobody knows why some politicians in Washington decided to stick a fort out here. There are few settlers, and the Paiute raiders are pretty bad. But it looks like a pretty poor doings to me.” He glanced backward and said, “I’d better get with Ralph, and we’ll go see how the Indian situation is for the rest of the trip.”

  “All right, Owen.” She turned, caught his eye, and for a moment the two of them were silent. Joelle was remembering that moment when he had placed his hands on her shoulders and had pulled her forward. She had thought about it inces santly and wondered what made him draw back from her. Am I not pretty enough? Am I not the kind of woman he wants? She saw something in Owen’s face that she couldn’t identify. He was handsome in a rough, masculine way. He had long firm lips, and the rest of his features were smooth. Aware that she was staring at him, she turned away.

  “I’ll see if I can find a store. We need a few supplies.”

  “All right.” Owen’s voice was more curt and short than he had intended. He saw her downcast expression and regretted his sharp tone. He tried to think of some way to tell her what he was feeling, but because he didn’t know himself, that was difficult. He turned his horse and rode quickly to where Ralph Ogden was plodding alongside his oxen.

  For a moment the thought crossed Owen’s mind that the leader of the train was not unlike one of the oxen. He was massively built—the strongest man in the train, a good man who knew his limitations.

  Pulling up, Owen said, “Ralph, let’s go talk to the commanding officer and see how the Indian situation is from here on into Sacramento.”

  “That’s a good idea, Owen.” He spoke to the oxen and turned to his wife. “I guess we’ll camp out here tonight, Cleo. You and Lily can cook up a good supper. If they’ve got any supplies, we probably need to get them for the rest of the trip.”

  “All right, Ralph.”

  The two men rode ahead and were met by a tall, skinny lieutenant whose uniform seemed to have been made for a bigger man. His pale skin was blistered, and his eyelids were red with irritation.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he said in a high-pitched, raspy voice. “Just coming in, I see.”

  “Yes, lieutenant. We thought we’d like to find out about the Indian situation. Who’s the commanding officer?”

  “I’m Lieutenant Rankin, but I’m afraid Major Stewart won’t be able to see you.”

  “What’s the matter? It doesn’t look like there’s a great deal to do out here.”

  Rankin smiled thinly. “You’re right about that. What’s your name?”

  “I’m Owen Majors, and this is the wagon master of our train, Ralph Ogden. We’re headed for Sacramento.”

  “Yeah, another train went through headed that way just two days ago. You might catch up with them.”

  Owen looked around the shabby fort and saw a group of soldiers drilling. They seemed to be half-asleep, and the sergeant in charge of them was leaning against a post, calling out the orders in a bored voice. “Looks pretty calm. Don’t guess you’ve got a lot of action here.”

  “More than you might think,” Rankin said. “The Paiutes lately.”

  “Have the Indians been acting up?” Owen asked.

  “Yes, they have. One of their chiefs, Walking Bear, got them stirred up on the warpath. They’ve hit several settlers.”

  “Why don’t you go out and get them, lieutenant?” Ogden inquired. “Isn’t that what you’re here for?”

  “Trying to catch an Indian is like trying to catch the wind. We know they’re out there, but when we take a troop out and get close to them, they all separate, so you got fifteen to twenty trails to follow instead of one. What are you going to do—send one trooper to get one Indian?” He shook his head. “There’s no way to fight like these redskins.”

  “What about your commanding officer? He a fighting man?”

  “He was once before he got sent out here. There’s something about this place that draws a man down.” Suddenly Rankin straightened his shoulders. “Didn’t mean to complain. A soldier serves where he’s put, but it’s a bad fort. There’s no question about it.” He looked around the bleak, inhospitable place and shook his head. “No lumber to build anything more grand than log cabins. To make matters worse, they built a distillery not too far away. They make a liquor called Old Commissary. Of course, the men get at it. Can’t help it. We can’t watch them all the time.”

  Because Lieutenant Rankin looked as if he had been drinking himself, Owen didn’t answer. He quickly surmised that the commanding officer was a drinking man too. “Well, we’re going to stock up and head out tomorrow morning. Any advice?”

  “Nothing you don’t know of probably. Camp early and get your wagons boarded up. Keep watch at night. Some fools say the Indians won’t attack at night, but these Paiutes will. They pick you off one at a time. Most of all, never let anybody leave the train alone or in a small group. The Paiutes are waiting to pick of
f anybody like that. It’s happened before.”

  “Where can we buy some supplies?”

  “Such as we’ve got is over there at that painted building.” He waved listlessly toward the only painted structure. Most of the buildings were a leprous gray, weathered, and seemingly left over from the antediluvian age. “You can get some basics there. Nothing fancy.”

  “Thank you, lieutenant, for your help.”The two men turned and walked away. “Doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, the last leg of this journey, Owen.”

  “We’ll make it. You go back and tell the womenfolk to stock up on supplies. I think this is the last chance before we hit Sacramento. I’m going to see if I can get my horse shod.”

  * * *

  THE TRAIN PULLED OUT shortly after daylight the next day. The women had cooked the breakfast and fixed enough food for nooning. All were anxious to be on their way. Ralph had called a meeting and explained the situation. They all listened as he said soberly, “We’re all right so far, but the officer here says that the Paiutes are on the warpath.” He went on to explain how they had to be extra careful on watch at night. “We’ll all sleep in our clothes with our guns at hand, and we’ll have double the guard out. Most of all, nobody leaves the train except Majors.”

  “What makes him so special? I can take care of myself as well as he can.” Lyman Riker had been soured by the beating Owen had administered to Sid. He cast a malevolent look at Owen now, saying, “He can get scalped as quick as anybody else.”

  “He’s had experience none of us have, except Chad there. These two will go on ahead and do what scouting has to be done. Anything to add to that, Owen?”

  Owen was leaning against a wagon, taking no part in the meeting. Now he looked up and met Lyman’s gaze and said quietly, “I doubt if they’ll mount a full-scale attack. They’re usually in small bands if it’s a war party. They hang around the edges, and when anybody wanders off, especially you women going down to the creek or somewhere, they can get you, and you’ll be dead before you know it.”

  “I guess I’m a grown-up man,” Riker growled. “I can take care of myself.” He snorted and stalked away.

  Edith watched her husband and said to Artie, standing beside her, “He’s like a spoiled child in some ways, Artie. You tell him not to do something, but he’ll do it or die.”

  “He might die if he doesn’t pay attention to what Majors says.”

  “He thinks nothing can get the best of him. He’s mad through and through at Owen for whipping Sid like he did.”

  “Well, you heard what he said, Ma. Don’t you be running off. Anytime you want to go anywhere, I’ll go with you.” He smiled at her and said, “We’ll be in Sacramento pretty soon. Me and you’ll go in the fanciest restaurant there and eat until we can’t get up.”

  Edith smiled. “That’ll be something to look forward to.”

  * * *

  FOR THE NEXT TWO days, the travelers all had strained nerves. The warning about the Indians had sobered them.

  On the very first day out, Chad had come to the campfire where Joelle was cooking supper. “You’re always around when there’s food cooking, Chad.”

  “My mama didn’t raise no foolish boys,” Chad grinned. “I know who’s the best cook on this train.”

  “You’re not going to talk me out of anything.”

  “Why, I can charm the birds out of the trees, Joelle. You ain’t never seen me when I had my charm at full pitch. Why, they say that Davy Crockett could just grin a squirrel out of a tree at a hundred yards.”

  “And you think you can do the same to women?”

  “Some women,” Chad said.

  He was sitting on a small box, watching her cook, and Joelle was conscious, as always, of his strength. He seemed to have springs of power, and the muscles lay banded across his arms and shoulders like woven wire. He wore a battered hat, and his face was bronzed by the sun. No furrows or wrinkles marked his features. His chin was cleft, and his mouth wide. Joelle liked his bantering talk. She knew little about his background, but she was aware he was interested in her. Other men had showed interest, but Chad’s interest wasn’t troublesome, which wasn’t true of the interest shown by other men in the train. He had a quick intelligence and wit, and a hint of temper showed between his brows.

  Relaxed and smiling, he told her tales of his days in the mountains, and finally he said, “I’ve got an inclination. Those things can be bad for a fellow sometimes, but I don’t think this one is.”

  “An inclination to do what?”

  “Why, to come courting you, Joelle.”

  She glanced at him and shook her head. “Don’t be foolish, Chad. You don’t even know me.”

  “Well, that’ll be half the fun, getting to know you. See, I’ve decided that you need a good man, and I’m nominating myself for the position.”

  “You’re a fool, Chad.”

  “Why, I reckon I am foolish about you. I don’t like to come at a woman from the sidelines and sneak up on her, so I’m just telling you plain that I’m a candidate.” He got to his feet in one swift, easy motion and looked down at her. He was very tall, somewhat taller than Majors, she saw. Although there was laziness in his manner, his eyes were dancing. “I reckon you’re about the most appealing woman I’ve ever seen.”

  “You’ve seen a lot of women, I suppose.”

  “Oh, one or two, but none like you, Joelle.” He reached out suddenly and put his hand on her cheek. “You got the prettiest hide I ever saw. You’re prettier than a hound dog under a wagon.”

  The comparison amused Joelle. “Well, thank you for that. I guess it’s a compliment.”

  “Now what I wish is that right now it were night, and the stars were out, and that old moon was sailing overhead, and you and I were here all alone. I’d tell you how sweet you are and how pretty you are, and I’d kind of put my arm around you a little bit like this.”

  Joelle stepped back and said, “Don’t you try to hug me, Chad Hardin!”

  “Well, I’m just telling you what it’s going to be like. You got romance in your soul, Joelle. Anybody can see that. Yep, you’re just what a man like me needs, a pretty woman with spirit. Smart too. I need you around when I get old.”

  Joelle stared at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, when I get old and lose my teeth and can’t see too good and can’t get around, I need a young woman to take care of me. Kind of like a squaw, don’t you see?”

  Joelle burst out laughing. “This is what you call courting?”

  “Well, I like to set it all right on the front porch, Joelle. I’m older than you are, so you can take care of me when I get to be an old feller.”

  Joelle said, “Don’t you have anything else to do?”

  “What could I do that would be more fun than courting you? But, yep, I guess I’d better get on the way. I’ll try to bring down a deer or an antelope or something. If I do, I’ll bring you the best part. Then you can cook it for me, and I can eat it.”

  “Get on about your business, Chad.”

  He smiled and turned away. His foolishness pleased Joelle. She didn’t take it seriously, but after she had finished cooking the stew, she grabbed some clothes and went down to the small stream beside which they had camped. She noticed that armed guards were out watching several women who were already washing clothes. She got down beside them, and Edith said, “This may be the last time we have a chance to wash clothes for a while. Don’t know how much water there will be.”

  Rachel said, “I don’t care. What good does all this washing do anyway?”

  Lily laughed. She had caught the words and said, “You don’t want to be a dirty girl. No one will like you.”

  “Yes, they will,” Rachel insisted. “Harry likes me dirty or not.”

  “That man is spoiling you. That’s what he’s doing,” Lily said. “I’m going to have a talk with him.”

  “He likes you, Mama.”

  Lily turned and saw that the other women were smil
ing at her, and she said, “Harry wants me to marry him.”

  “Why, that’s wonderful,” Joelle said at once. “He’s such a good man. You’ll be happy with him.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll marry him or not.”

  “Why not?” Edith asked. “He’s a good man, and you’re a good woman.”

  “It doesn’t seem right to make a man put up with my handicap.”

  “Every woman’s got a handicap,” Edith said. “Harry will have some too. When people get married, they take the bad with the good.” Suddenly what she said brought to mind her own marital situation. She turned away, began soaping the clothes, and said no more.

  Joelle said nothing, but she wondered what would happen to Edith Riker. Will she go back to her husband? I don’t think so. She’s too strong a woman for that, but it’s so hard for a woman alone in this world. Joelle continued washing the clothes and carried on a conversation with Rachel, but her mind was on other things.

  * * *

  WHEN OWEN RETURNED FROM the hunt, he had two antelopes tied across the back of his horse. He brought them to Jump and said, “Harry, wish you’d clean these and kind of divide it up. Give Edith a quarter.”

  “Sure. Something happened.”

  “What is it?” Owen asked.

  “It’s Riker. Him and Clyde went out hunting.”

  “He shouldn’t have done that. I saw some signs when I was out.”

  “Riker wouldn’t know a sign if he saw it. Neither would Clyde. They’re both plum dumb about Indians. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t. I think he’s showing off, trying