On the Mountain

by Peggy Ann Craig

  Across the road, she noticed the constable as he walked leisurely along the opposite boardwalk watching her closely. His steely gaze not wavering in the least. She found herself hurrying faster and nearly knocked over an older lady exiting the mercantile.

  The woman mumbled something about careless teenage boys, but Anna ignored her and headed straight for Wade who was already in the shop. He looked up from the item he was pursuing, then down into her face.

  “You all right?”

  She nodded, but stayed close to him nevertheless.

  Wade had other ideas. “Where’s the list? If I read it to you, do you think you can remember?”

  She gave a short nod.

  “Perfect. Take your time.” He paused to study her briefly before quickly looking away. “I’m going to head over to the saloon.”

  The mention of the saloon left her gut feeling raw, however, it was the unexpected and overwhelming need to stay near him that took precedence. Alarm lit her eyes and she tried desperately to calm herself, realizing how ridiculous this unwarranted anxiety was. She ran a shaky hand along the back of her neck. Wade frowned.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She drew in her bottom lip and suddenly felt very nervous. Lord, she had to get control of herself.

  “Right then.” He stepped away from her and left the shop.

  Anna tried to remain put as long as she could, but this sudden panic attack was having the best of her. She turned and quickly left the shop. Outside on the boardwalk, she saw Wade heading back up town toward the saloon. Her mind raced trying desperately to think of a reason to call him back. The practical portion of her brain told her how foolish she was behaving and to go back inside the store, but it was the other half that was watching as his form grew further and further away. Without hesitation, she ran after him.

  Wade spun around, startled at her unexpected appearance. “What is it Anna?”

  As soon as her name slipped past his tongue, he realized his mistake and quickly looked around to make sure no one overheard. “What are you doing?”

  She had no words to offer.

  His eyes bore into her face, making her feel even more foolish. Cursing, he snatched her arm in a tight grip and marched her up toward the saloon. “This is your own bloody fault.”

  Inside, he deposited her on a stool before taking the one next to hers. “If Kathleen got wind I took you to a saloon, I’d never hear the end of it. Not a bloody word of this to her, understood?”

  She nodded and he studied her with angry eyes before running a frustrated hand through his hair. “Two bourbons, Vern.”

  Anna shuffled in her stool uncomfortably, shaking her head. She didn’t care for the drink and certainly didn’t want it.

  “Don’t worry.” He seemed to read her mind. “They’re for me. Wouldn’t do to bring you back drunk.”

  He nodded at the bartender who placed the two glasses in front of him. In one swift gulp, he polished off the first glass, smacked his lips, and then downed the second one. “Listen, kid, I don’t want any repeats of last time. Keep your scrawny ass planted on that there stool until I return. And just to be sure, I’ll be locking the door.”

  Anna looked up the flight of stairs and knew exactly what Wade was referring to, and she felt an anger heat the pit of her stomach.

  He heaved a large sigh and pushed himself off his stool. “Don’t go all righteous on me now, after all, I was to have you wait at the mercantile.”

  Her eyes flashed angrily at him before she could stop herself. Thankfully, however, his attention was not on her, but the second floor instead.

  “Stay put, kid.”

  Anna was fuming. She had an overwhelming urge to hit him, to lash out and hurt him as he was hurting her. Turning away from his departing figure, she bit her bottom lip hard and fought the urge to cry. She would not let his lewd act bring her to tears. Squeezing her lids shut, she attempted to erase the image that came to mind. Hard as she tried she could not forget that horrific scene she had barged into when they were last at the saloon.

  Distant voices drifted over to her still form and an unexpected dark chill ran down her spine. Her eyes flew open and she spun around on the stool. There were a few patrons in the back of the bar, but it was far too dim to see any faces. A door that served as a back entrance opened and a man wearing a leather coat with fur trim and white cowboy hat stepped inside the dimly lit room. However, Anna didn’t need any light to recognize the constable.

  * * *

  Wade moaned with pleasure. This was going to be good. He plunged his hands into Marion’s voluptuous red hair as she slowly make her way down his chest. His body stirred as he felt her long painted nails run across the front of his shirt and slip inside to his bare skin. Hell, he was eager today. He grasped the back of her head and drew her closer. She chuckled into his shirt.

  “Slow down, lover, you don’t pay me for a quickie.”

  She lifted her chin and looked up at him beneath long fake lashes. Wade looked down at her upturned face and recalled a certain set of chocolate brown eyes. Eyes which had the uncanny ability to speak volumes of words. He thrust the image aside with an angry growl and pushed Marion’s head further down his body.

  “What’s got into you, tiger?” She bit into his skin and Wade felt himself grow large once again. “You acting like ya ain’t seen a girl for months.”

  Unfortunately, Marion was wrong on that account. One girl in particular forced her way into his head. A girl with skin as pale and soft as the morning dew and a smile so sweet he couldn’t recall ever seeing one so pretty. He groaned, frustrated and felt himself lose his momentum once again. Marion looked up, oblivious to his state and gave him a seductive grin. Wade took the opportunity to undo his belt.

  She chuckled again and the vibrations tickled his belly button. “My, aren’t we acting like a horny teenage boy.”

  Christ that was the last thing she should have said. He was only reminded of a boy who no longer existed. Instead, a young woman took his place. A woman who was waiting downstairs. Wade growled and pushed Marion away.

  “What the hell!” She gasped, her tousled hair falling in unruly cascades down her half naked torso.

  “I’ve got to go.” He quickly buttoned his shirt and pulled up his suspenders.

  “For Christ’s sake, Wade.” She glared at him. “What the hell is going on with you?”

  “Some other time, Marion.” He retrieved his wool coat and hat off the dresser, unbolted the door and swung it open.

  “You ain’t got yourself another girl, have ya?” Marion followed him out of the room. “Cause you know there ain’t any better than me for miles around. You brush me off and you’re going to have to come crawling back when you discover I’m right.”

  Wade ignored her and headed for the landing. Automatically, he looked over the railing to the stool he left Anna sitting on. It was empty. He swore and moved swiftly down the steps, certain she would show up on another stool or taken a table. However, as he reached the bottom floor she was nowhere to be seen. He stepped up to the bar.

  “Vern, where did the boy go who was with me?”

  He shrugged as he wiped a glass clean. “Don’t know. Flew out of here pretty damn quick. Wouldn’t even stop when Stanford called him back.”

  Wade felt a finger of apprehension creep down his spine. Then anger. He thanked the bartender then ran out of the swinging doors of the saloon and looked up the main street. There was no sign of Anna. He cursed, thinking, not again.

  Taking two long strides, he leaped off the boardwalk and started off across the road to where he had parked the wagon. There was a sound of shuffling behind him and he spun around to see her crawl out from under the boardwalk. A flood of relief filled him and without thinking he went to her and grabbed her close by the shoulders. Those remarkable eyes of hers were dark with fear. He cursed his own stupidity for leaving her alone.

  “Where’s Stanford?”

  She pointed down
the boardwalk in the opposite direction.

  “Did he speak to you?”

  She shook her head.

  “He didn’t touch you, did he?” He knew he was looking angry, but he didn’t care at this point. The constable was becoming a burden he could live without.

  She shook her head.

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. She stood there looking up at him with such trust and Wade suddenly felt inadequate. He looked away and thought to ask, “Did you get my sister’s supplies?”

  She indicated that she hadn’t. He nodded, then pulled her toward the wagon, hastily hoisting her up before joining her on the bench. With the reins he steered Sty away from his post and turned him instead toward the store. As they drew closer, the lawman exited the store. Next to him, he sensed Anna go tense.

  The constable raised his hand and grasped Sty’s halter as Wade drew him to a halt in front of the mercantile. “Afternoon, Haddock.”

  “Stanford.”

  The constable’s intense stare was on the girl. “Your boy there was in quite the rush to get out of the saloon.”

  Wade didn’t respond immediately, leaping off the wagon and waited for Anna to follow suit. She was slower than he would have liked.

  “Don’t believe that’s a crime.”

  “No need to get defensive.” The lawman stated, holding up gloved hands in mock protest. “It wasn’t an accusation, I was simply making an observation.”

  As soon as she was within reach, Wade grabbed her arm and propelled her toward the store, his only reply to the constable was a tip of his hat in farewell.

  “Hurry up and get Kathleen’s items.” He shoved his hands deep inside the pockets of his winter coat, then turned to look out the window to watch the lawman leaning against a pillar supporting the second floor. Something about him put Wade on guard. He didn’t like him or his unorthodox manner in which he handled his business. He had only been constable of Lantern for the past two years and up to that point Wade had no qualms with the man. Granted, he hadn’t much dealings with the law. Matters at the Circle H generally were not in the corrupt nature. The ranch was usually a quiet and monotonous place. Until Anna’s arrival.

  His eyes shifted from the constable to the girl as she moved quickly picking out the items from Kathleen’s list. She didn’t like the lawman much, either. There was something about him that frightened her. Perhaps it was his way of interrogating. Even if one wasn’t guilty of a crime, he certainly made you feel like you were.

  Pushing away from the window, Wade sighed and decided he didn’t care what the reason for their distrust in the constable. All he knew for certain was that it was best to keep the two of them as far apart as possible.

  Chapter 14

  Anna gathered the items off the list as swiftly as she could, however was on her guard to the constable’s presence waiting patiently outside the shop. There was something in the way he looked at her. A trickle of fear toyed with her conscience that perhaps he knew of her true identity. From that first meeting, she felt his beady stare looking straight through her.

  She gathered a stack of paper and envelopes from an art display shelf, and paused when something caught her eye. The stationary was next to a tree-like display, which held beautifully painted images on cards with lettering spelling out words she had yet to learn. It wasn’t the words that caught her attention, it was the images. They were spectacular oil paintings of the countryside throughout the seasons. One in particular caught her attention.

  It was a realistic image of a mountain at sunrise as the morning’s pink glow covered the western peak. A wintry haze hovered gently over its summit. Beneath, a sheet of undisturbed snow, spotted occasionally with a few sprouts of greenery, cloaked the still earth. It reminded her of the glacier peaks that sat north of Mount Louis. Many mornings she would rise early just to walk the two mile hike east of the village to the clearing that overlooked the northern range just so that she could watch that first glimpse of the sun as it slowly touched the face of the mountain.

  Tucking the card under the bundle of paper Kathleen requested, she made her way to the storekeeper.

  “All set, young man?” The man’s plump cheeks shined as he smiled down at her.

  “Put it all on my account, Phil.” Wade told him.

  “Of course.”

  Anna liked the ways his eyes squinted when he smiled. She smiled in return.

  Wade moved back to the window and Anna slid the card out from under the paper and placed it on the counter top. From her pocket she removed a few coins that she had been saving from the small earnings she received while working at the ranch.

  “Did you want that on the Circle H’s account?” the storekeeper asked, but she shook her head and slid the coins toward him.

  He nodded and deposited the change into the cash register.

  Anna slid the card into the waistline of her pants, pulling out the tails of her shirt in order to conceal it.

  “Just about ready?” Wade returned to her side and lifted the crate the storekeeper had stored Kathleen’s items within.

  Anna followed Wade dutifully out of the shop. Outside, the constable was still leaning against the same post and simply slid a look over at them beneath the brim of his hat. As they secured Kathleen’s belongings and climbed back on the wagon, his hard gaze remained. Wade exchanged no other words with him, polite or not, and Anna was only too happy. The constable made her uneasy. As they drew away, however, she couldn’t help but steal a look at his watchful gaze. As if expecting it, he raised a hand and pointed a gloved finger at her.

  Anna quickly looked away. A small shiver shook her body and Wade looked over. Reaching out he laid the wool blanket over her lap and she thanked him with her eyes before drawing it closer. There was much more to block than just the chilly temperature.

  They rode silently through the Durand Pass and Anna noticed how bare and naked the woods looked. Soon the snow would come and the earth would be covered in a soft white blanket similar to the one found on the card she purchased. Winter was always a time of both joy and fear. No other season on the mountain was more beautiful or more dangerous.

  Looking high up, she eyed the slope where towering pine trees once concealed a small village of families. This time of year, all winter preparations were completed and the small community settled in for the long and leisurely months ahead. One of Anna’s favorite past-time was storytelling. Her father was wonderful at relaying tales passed down from generation to generation, or, one of Anna’s favorite, created his own.

  She and her siblings would huddle under the cover of a large woolen blanket as he told them of the conquests of great men in history, or the adventures of early explorers. With dreamy eyes, she listened to the tales of great love and great tragedies and wondered, if ever, her heart would yearn for another as in those stories.

  Her eyes naturally shifted to the man at her side. He was big and powerful and emitted authority to all those around him. If ever a hero there was, he was the perfect embodiment. She studied his features, always believing he was not a very attractive man. However, upon closer examination, she thought otherwise. Starting with those magnificent eyes that were a combination of the sky above, and the sparkling lakes lying at the foot of the mountain below. His hair was unruly and worn far too long, but it was thick and dark and Anna’s fingers tingled at the thought of touching it.

  A full and burly beard covered half his face, disguising the majority of his facial features. It occurred to her then that she really had no idea what he looked like, and could hardly wait for spring when he would eventually shave it off. Somehow, she knew, what was hiding beneath would be remarkable. He turned suddenly and caught her studying him. Anna blushed before looking away. Not a word was said and the ride continued all the way back to the ranch in silence.

  When they returned to the barn, Anna helped to unfasten Sty from the wagon and groom him down for the night. While Wade gave his horse a long and relaxing brush down, Anna went
and filled a bucket with grain for Sty’s feed bucket and then topped up his water. They worked silently together in the barn and when finished, walked back to the house side by side, stopping only briefly to pick up the crate full of Kathleen's supplies. A sense of contentment overcame Anna.

  The house was full of commotion unlike most nights, with Kathleen’s children running about and their laughter filling the home. She noticed him make a face and knew he preferred the solitary and quietness of his life, but endured his sister’s brood because of his love for her. Anna unbuttoned her coat and began to shrug out of it when she felt hands on her shoulders. Surprised, she looked over her shoulder and discovered Wade had automatically went to help remove her jacket. Their eyes met and his hands dropped, as if remembering who she was.

  “There you two are.” Kathleen came to greet them with a bright smile, which disappeared upon seeing her brother. “Wade, you promised a cut and trim.”

  He raised his hand to the object of his sister’s disapproval and rubbed his beard. “I must have forgotten.”

  “You won’t look very proper at the Christmas ball.” She pointed out to him, which he only shrugged. Not easily dissuaded, she turned to Anna. “Have you ever shaved a man before?”

  Anna’s eyes grew round, however, it was Wade that barked his protest. “Now wait just one second. This is my face and if I don’t wish to shave this grizzly beard, than it stays.”

  “For heaven’s sakes, Wade.” Kathleen sounded annoyed. “It’s only hair. It will grow back. Anna, would you kindly do the honors?”

  His sister turned and walked away with her crate of supplies before Anna could object. She had only ever shaved her father once, when he had injured his arm in a hunting accident. Her mother, who was in the last trimester of her pregnancy was bedridden and unable to help. Anna frowned, and felt a sickening ache in the pit of her stomach. Up until then, she had been able to remember her family fondly. Somehow, that memory brought an overwhelming sense of sadness.