“The Lord has blessed your journey to Independence Rock. We need to give Him thanks for bringing you to this rock today. There are many who are missing today. Many have died on this journey thus far — from illness, childbirth, injury, drowning, or Indians. You’re the blessed people. Let’s have a moment of silence to remember those who have passed on to meet the Lord.” Everyone solemnly bowed their heads, quietly remembering fellow pioneers.
“Today is the anniversary of the birth of our Nation — Independence Day. It also marks the day all travelers going west are to meet at this rock. You’re at the halfway mark. Now, some of you have decided to go back home, and there ain’t any shame in knowing what you and your family can handle. If you’re going back East today, we ask the Lord to bless you and keep you safe on your journey back.”
The crowd murmured their support. Men were seen patting fellow pioneers on the back. Angus shook the hand of a gentleman next to him, wishing him good luck.
Then everyone returned their attention to the preacher. “As a warning before we let you all sign Independence Rock, your journey is typically safe from attack by the Shoshone Indians up to Soda Springs. After that, there have been some pretty gruesome stories of things done to pioneers. Keep close to your wagons and we highly recommend that there be several wagons traveling together. There’s safety in numbers. Do not get separated from the pack. It may cost you and your family their lives. Make sure you caution your children to stay close to their parents.”
Angus jiggled Rose in his arms to get her attention while he tipped Nelly’s chin up with his forefinger, whispering, “Did ya hear the preacher? You two need to stay close to the wagon and your ma or me. You don’t leave our sight, or go anywhere without holding one of our hands, you hear?” His voice had a stern edge to it that the girls weren’t used to hearing from him — at least not directed toward them.
“Yes, Sir,” they both mumbled, their large, doe eyes betraying their trepidation at the uncompromising tone in his voice.
“You see that you do. If you don’t, there’ll be consequences. Do I need to tell you what those consequences might be?”
Nelly, being the oldest, responded for both of them. “No, Sir. We don’t like consequences, and I reckon we don’t want to talk about them neither.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up a little. “See that it stays that way, or we’ll be talking for sure.” He then turned his gaze to Clara. “And all of the things I just said, they go for you too, girl. Understand?”
“Oh, criminy! I don’t need to be scolded like a child, Angus. I know how to stay safe. Why would you even say such a thing to me? Good Lord!” How dare he threaten her in front of her children? She was a grown woman in charge of keeping her own children safe. Why in the world would she wonder off like an aimless fool?
Angus stepped closer, almost nose-to-nose with her. “Because I care about you and your children, and because I want you to remember the switchin’ I gave you before.” He paused for a second, and she knew she must have looked just as doe-eyed as her own girls had. He could be so firm. “Because, if you wander off alone, even to relieve yourself, you’ll be feeling that switch on your bare backside again. Does that answer your question, girl?”
“Yes, Sir.” She naturally fell into submitting to him when he took that tone of voice with her. She didn’t dare question him, or balk any further.
“And one more thing. Don’t take that tone with me. I don’t take kindly to it.” His eyebrow shot up and her stomach immediately did a flip. She put her hand to her belly, hoping to settle the uneasiness.
“Sorry.”
He nodded at her, turning attention back to the preacher who addressed the crowd.
“...Let us pray. Lord, please bless these people on their travels West. We pray for your protection from pestilence and illness. We ask the Lord to bless all the wagons from mishap, and keep the livestock shoed, watered and fed to bring these good people to their new homes. We ask for protection from death as well. Please send your angels to protect them as they travel from any attacks by Indians. We ask the Lord to bless you and keep you; may He make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.”
“Amen,” the crowd murmured.
“You all have a blessed journey, and don’t forget to sign your names on the Rock before you go!” At that declaration, the children broke free from the ranks and ran to sign their names. Rose struggled in Angus’ arms to run after her sister.
“Okay, Rose, hold on a minute before you fall out of my arms.” He put her to the ground, laughing when she scrambled away. “Children have a zest for life that we lose as adults. The excitement of writing our names on a rock doesn’t thrill us the same way anymore.”
“We have other things to worry about. Like where we’re going to live or where the next meal is coming from. It’s all necessary as you know, Angus.” She smiled up at him. Marveling again at how dark his hair and eyes were. He had a scruff on his face from not shaving this morning, and she had to admit it made him more attractive to her. His eyes were so black you couldn’t see his pupils, but the laugh lines in his weathered skin gave away the fact that he smiled more than he frowned. He made her feel less lonely — not quite a husband, but more than a friend.
He tucked her under his arm. “I guess you’re right, Clara. But let’s pretend we’re kids for now and scratch our names into this rock too. Whatcha gotta say?”
He made her feel young again. Well, technically, she was still young — but she felt old. Except for today. Today, she’d laugh and play — even if only for a little while.
“Yes. I’ll race ya!” She picked up her skirts and started to run with him yelling behind her.
“No fair! You didn’t start the race right. Hell, you didn’t even tell me we was gonna race, girl! You better hope I don’t catch you.” He had a deep, rolling belly laugh and she giggled just hearing it.
Yes, if she couldn’t be happy in the long run, she’d be happy playing with Angus — at least for today.
Chapter Four
Angus had the women gather outside the Widow Wagon, just as the other wagon masters did with their own charges. “You women need to stay close to this wagon. If you need to relieve yourselves or take care of lady business, you need to tell me first that you are leaving — and you never go by yourselves. You go in pairs, or a group. But I need to know first.”
He walked up and down the line of women, keeping his expression serious and his voice stern. He hoped both would frighten each woman into remembering his words and heeding them. If the looks on their faces were any indication — large eyes blinking at him, hands fiddling nervously with skirts — they appeared to be taking him quite seriously indeed.
“You gals don’t want to push me on this. I’m serious. This is life and death. I take my responsibility seriously, and I will not tolerate any defiance. I have a nice, sturdy paddle.” He reached under the driver’s bench seat of the wagon, retrieving a large, wooden paddle. It wasn’t long and narrow, but rather round and thick, large enough to address the whole of a woman’s bottom quite well. Truthfully, if the sight of the fearsome implement didn’t make everyone behave, nothing would. “I haven’t had to use it yet. But it’ll be waiting for anyone who tries me on this. Questions?” He twirled it in his hand making sure that everyone got to see it up close as he walked by.
He thought the women would just nod mutely, but Minnie cleared her throat and tipped her chin up. Never a good sign.
“So you’re saying I can’t... do my private business on my own? I have to have one of these people watch me?”
God, women can be so difficult sometimes.
“Well, I never require that they watch you. What I said — which you’d know, if you’d been listening — is that you are to bring another woman with you or go as a group — after you tell me. They can stand at a close distance, but I want you women together so someone can watch for danger. A woman
alone out here is in great danger.” He walked closer to her. “After you ask permission from me, I’ll stand close by so your lookout can yell to me if something isn’t right.”
“Oh, hell! I’m not going to do that. I’m not doing my necessary with a woman nearby, and I most certainly won’t do it with you nearby! I’d rather get taken by Indians, thank you very much.” By the time she’d finished her sentence, Angus was standing toe-to-toe with the sassy woman.
“If you don’t get taken by Indians or renegades, I’ll be painting your bare backside a nice shade of deep red with this paddle.” He raised the paddle, holding it up before her, then reached around and swatted her bottom, hard. “You thinking you need some painting done soon, Miss Minnie?”
Minnie grabbed her behind with both hands, then realizing her error, quickly released her bottom, letting her hands hang by her side. She glancing out of the corner of her eyes at the other women, then stared at the dry, dusty ground in front of her. “No, Sir. I just... I don’t—”
“Nope. I ain’t discussin’ this further. Them’s the rules. If you don’t follow them, you’ll have a meetin’ with this paddle. That’s it. Nothing to discuss.” He slapped the paddle on his hand, the sound cracking through the quiet prairie making the watching women jump. “Let’s move out!”
He put the paddle under his seat and hopped up onto his bench, urging the oxen to move forward. It had been a good morning, everyone needed the celebration of making it halfway and commemorating it with their signing of Independence Rock. It meant that they left later than normal, but they’d stop at the trading post at Devil’s Gate and spend the night there.
They’d be able to water the oxen, and enjoy the camaraderie of the trading post… before they had to cross rivers, and find more difficult times.
* * *
Minnie had been bitching endlessly about the new rule set forth by Angus. And by the eye-rolling and sighs Clara heard from the other women, they were all a little tired of the complaining.
“Minnie, for crying out loud, you’re wearin’ us out with your whining! Women do their business in groups anyway. Most of the time we all wander off together to the weeds. What rankles you about this? The fact that he’s made it a rule?” Clara knew her exasperation clearly had been evident in her tone, but she didn’t care anymore. They’d just gotten rid of Daisy’s troublemaking, whining ways, and they didn’t need another young lady rising up to take her place.
“I don’t like the fact that he thinks one of you silly women would be able to protect me from one of them Indians anyhow.”
Clara sighed along with the rest of the women. “Angus said that he’d be close by, so if we see something suspicious, we just signal him and he would take care of it. He’s the one with the gun. He’s just trying to keep us safe.”
Minnie stopped walking, tilting her head to the side as if confused. “Wait. Are you and Angus… courting now?”
“What? No! Why would you say that?” Clara’s heart began to race. If the women started to attack her over this, it would be a very long trip to the Oregon Territory.
“I think you might be. I saw him taking you to dinner last night. And this morning he stood next to you, holding Rose.” Minnie looked to the other women, trying to garner some support for her claims. “If my memory serves me, I think he signed his name near yours too. I think you both may have decided to court — and now we’ll be treated like second-class citizens next to you. You’ll get favored all the time. Bet he won’t paddle or switch your ass!”
“You need to take that back! You’re just trying to cause trouble, and I ain’t havin’ it. Daisy tried causing the same trouble with me, and I’m not going to fall into your trap either, Minnie.” She stalked off to get away from the women. It would be easier to walk alone than to deal with her trying to rally the others against her.
Caught up in her anger and thoughts, she hadn’t noticed that Angus had stopped the wagon and jumped down from the driver’s seat. He grabbed her arm, startling her. “What’s goin’ on here? I can hear yelling, in particular I heard you raisin’ your voice — which you don’t normally do. So what’s happening?”
“Nothing. Just women being women. We’re fine.” She looked up at him to see if he believed her. The narrowing of his eyes told he wasn’t buying any of it. “I saw a bee and yelled. That’s all.”
“Girl, I don’t condone lying. I believe that’s been discussed on this ride yet. So how about we walk back to the women, and you tell me what’s going on?”
“Angus, really it’s not necessary. I’m fine. Things are just… fine.”
“When women say ‘fine,’ it’s not usually fine at all. Something is going on, enough that you’re deciding to not tell me about it — and lie. We’re taking care of this right now.” He held her by the elbow reluctantly dragging her with him.
When he rounded the back of the wagon, the pale faces turned to him, backs stiffening in alarm.
“Hi, Angus, why are we not moving?” Minnie looked a little too self-satisfied for his liking right about then.
“Since you’re the first one brave enough to speak, how about you tell me. Seems like Miss Clara is upset — and she ain’t speaking. So I dragged her back here to get some answers.”
Minnie’s eyes widened infinitesimally for a brief moment. “I’m not sure. We were just talkin’, and then she walked away.” She turned to look at the other women, batting her eyelashes. “Do any of you recall what we were talking about?”
Angus didn’t fall for it; her performance told him that Minnie had been the instigator. The other women dropped their heads, apparently afraid to say anything more.
“Margie, how about you tell me what happened back here that has Clara so upset.” Angus crossed his arms over his chest, his muscles bunching under the worn, thin white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to expose the brawny, deeply tanned forearms.
“I’m not—” Clara started, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand.
“No, I’m talking to Margie. You’ll have a time to talk too, just not now.” He tucked Minnie under his arm, giving her a squeeze before releasing her. Minnie’s eyes narrowed, her lips thinning.
Angus thought he had his answer.
Margie quickly glanced at the other women before speaking. “We was walking, listening to Minnie complain about the new rules, and Clara had told her to stop and said that the rules were to protect us. And that’s when Minnie decided that you and Clara were courting.” Margie looked at both Clara and Minnie, her expression something he couldn’t quite place. Was she guilty? Seeking forgiveness? Clara smiled weakly at Margie while Minnie furrowed her eyebrows, scowling her way. How had he missed this personality in Minnie?
Margie took a deep breath before continuing. “Clara told Minnie that you two weren’t courtin’, but Minnie just kept needling her. Told her that she’d get favored and that you wouldn’t switch or paddle Clara if she broke a rule.”
Angus stood in front of Minnie with his arms still crossed over his chest, widening his stance, his spurs jangling. “Tell me, Minnie. Who’s in charge of the Widow Wagon?”
Her throat worked as she visibly swallowed, confusion shadowing her features. “Uhm... you are, Sir.”
“Good. Yes, I am. So, do you get to question what I say or do while on this journey?” He leaned forward. “Mmm?”
“I guess not.” She pulled her head back, trying to keep her distance from him.
“You ‘guess not’? You’re having doubts? Let me help you with that. No. The answer is no, you don’t get to question what I do.” He directed his next remarks to all the women then. “That’s not saying you women can’t ask me politely. But I’ll not condone gossip, backbiting, or stirrin’ up trouble when it comes to what I do — or don’t do. If you have a problem, you come talk to me directly. Clear?”
The women murmured, nodding in agreement.
“As for anyone breaking rules and not paying the consequences, I don’t favor anyone in that regard. Your
safety is my responsibility. Period. You put your safety — and my job — at risk, and you’ll end up with a fired-up backside.” He made sure to stare each woman in the eyes as he said it, letting them know he meant business. Angus would not have a woman killed or injured on his watch. He’d been doing this for three years and hadn’t had one incident yet and he intended to keep it that way too.
Minnie spoke up.
Again.
“So are you saying… that you and Clara ain’t courtin’?”
It looked like she was still angling to cause trouble… which would more than likely end with her backside being introduced to his paddle.
He stepped close to her again, towering over her by at least a foot. “Missy, you and I are gonna tangle at this rate. I ain’t answering to you or anyone else about anything unrelated to the wagon, ‘cuz it ain’t none of your business. End of discussion, girl!”
Angus turned on his heel, walking away. He stopped suddenly in his tracks, striding back toward them. “And one more thing. I want all the gossiping to stop. Now. And if you don’t follow the rules — any of ya — you’ll pay the price.”
He marched away, grabbing Clara’s hand and leading her to the front of the wagon. He hated people picking on others, and he meant what he said — he wouldn’t tolerate it. But he knew that what made him fume more than anything was that it involved Clara — and by association — her girls. It had been a while since he’d felt that protective of someone. He knew the feelings were mutual. He just wasn’t quite sure how he’d proceed with this. Until he did decide though, those damn spiteful women weren’t going to wound her any further.
“Angus, I shouldn’t be up here with you. She’ll start talking again.” Clara craned her head around to look back toward the rear of the wagon.
“Don’t you dare kowtow to that wildcat.” He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “I need you to keep me informed if this continues. I meant what I said — I’m not tolerating it. You — or the girls — could be hurt by this.”
Cinch Your Saddle (The Widow Wagon Book 3) Page 4