by Trumbo, Kari
His parents had always been able to read him well. He was just glad Hugh had decided to stay in Deadwood to find work, because Hugh would go out of his way to make Aiden even more nervous. Even after the evening they’d spent in the barn just before they’d left, he still knew how to rile Aiden. And enjoyed it. The wagon leaned as they started the trail around the hill up to the ranch house. Colin pitched to the side as the wagon tilted. Martha screamed and Aiden reached back and caught him before he fell out. His sore shoulder wrenched painfully, but he wouldn’t say a word. Complaining would do nothing.
Colin laughed. “I managed the whole trip and now that we’re here, I almost hurt myself.”
Aiden could read the pain in his eyes. He’d been so strong before. It had to be hard to be reduced to shuffling around with a cane. Brody navigated the last turn up the hill and the house appeared before them. Aiden chuckled as his parents gasped over the site of the large house. His happiness was short-lived as Brody pulled the wagon to a stop. Aiden heard terrible screams of pain that made the hair on his arms stand on end. They were coming from Beau’s cabin. Ruby ran from the barn toward their home and Aiden jumped from the bed of the wagon, making it to the door before Ruby.
He threw open the door to see Jennie reaching into the fireplace, the arms of her gown were alight and she was screaming. Her eyes were open, but unseeing, as if she were blind.
Aiden ran to the fireplace and yanked her out, smothering her in his arms to put out the flames. He grabbed a blanket from the couch and wrapped it around her, hoping to kill any remaining embers. Jennie shook in his arms and he tilted her head up. Her vacant eyes stared at the ceiling above him.
“Jennie?” he kissed each of her eyes. He searched her face for some sign of recognition.
Ruby touched Jennie’s shoulder. “Jennie?” She shook her and Jennie continued to look at the ceiling. Ruby picked up Jennie’s scorched hand, already swelling and turning a bright pink. She led Aiden with Jennie to the table and brought over a pitcher of clean water. She dunked Jennie’s hand in it and Jennie screamed, yanking it out.
Jennie looked down at her hands, then at Ruby. “What … what happened?”
“Aiden pulled you out of the fireplace. I think you should tell us what happened.”
“Aiden?” Jennie turned and her eyes locked onto his chest, then moved slowly up to his face, locking on his eyes. “You’re home…”
“I am.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve never been so scared in all my days. I don’t ever want to hear you scream like that again.” He pulled her close to him and she shuddered and wrapped her arms around him, her tears wetting his shirt.
He kissed the top of her head. “I’m home to stay, Jennie-girl. In fact, I’ve brought my family with me, so neither of us has to sacrifice the love of our families to be together.”
She backed away from him. “Oh, Aiden. You missed my mother! I waited and waited, but she had to leave earlier today.”
“I didn’t miss her. I saw Brody at the train station with a lovely lady and he introduced me to your mother, right before she boarded her train. I wish I’d been able to get back quicker, but there was a lot of work to do on the farm before we could sell it.”
He reached for her wrists, avoiding the hands that were now swollen to twice their size. “I want you to soak those in cold water while I go take care of my parents. You’ll get to meet them soon. Let Ruby take care of you. We’ll all hear what happened after I get my parents settled so they can rest.”
Jennie nodded and Ruby took her back into her room to see to the burns on Jennie’s arms and hands. Aiden shook his head and glanced at the fireplace. If he’d gotten there any later, it may have caught her hair and the damage would’ve been much worse. Why would she stick her hands into the flames and what was wrong with her that she didn’t see him? The questions weighed like rocks on him.
Martha waited next to the wagon. Colin had already gone inside with Brody.
“I hope whoever that was is all right now. I’ve never heard such a noise.” She shuddered.
“Yes, she’s fine now and her sister Ruby’s taking care of her. I’ll get you settled and you can meet Jennie tonight at supper. Does that sound good?”
Martha nodded. “That’s fine. It’s been a long journey. We haven’t traveled so much since we came to Kansas. I’m ready for a rest.”
Aiden put his hand at her waist and led her up to Brody’s house, he opened the door for her and Mrs. Chen waited just inside.
“Mrs. Bradly?” Lei tilted her head.
“Yes, I am.” Martha held out her hand.
Lei inspected her hand for a moment, then reached out and shook it. “Your Mr. Bradly is resting.”
Aiden waited for his mother to go upstairs, but as soon as they stepped out of his sight, he ran back outside and over to Beau’s house. He didn’t bother with knocking. Jennie couldn’t wait.
His eyes filled with the sight of her as he slammed the door open. She sat at the table holding out her arms, wearing only a chemise with her stays and a skirt. Both women jumped when the door hit the wall and Jennie moved to cover herself, but Ruby grabbed her upper arms and held them wide.
“You’re covered enough. I need to get this salve on you right away or you’ll scar. Stay put.” Ruby glared back at him. “Aiden, I have a door for a reason. Kindly turn your back so I can get this done.”
He blinked and forced his mouth closed. His beautiful Jennie was all shades of pink and red with harsh white lines around the reddest parts. He slowly turned away from her and his heart sunk. Would she be scarred? Did it matter?
“Jennie, while I finish wrapping your arms, why don’t you tell Aiden and me what happened. Is it like when we were kids?”
Jennie’s voice was soft. “Yes. I think so. I know I used to walk in my sleep and wake up in strange places. It hasn’t happened for a long time, though.”
“You used to sleep so deeply that you could walk around the house, eyes open, and we didn’t know you weren’t awake. None of us knew if there was something wrong with you or not, but then you grew out of it,” said Ruby.
“I was reading the Deadwood book of Aiden’s, it was a journal someone had left behind. I was reading about a fire and Ma had just talked to me about Hattie. I guess my mind confused the two in my sleep. I remember seeing her in the house in Deadwood. She was in a huge fire and I wanted to save her, but she poured something on the flames and they erupted all around her. I tried to pull her out… and then I was standing in the kitchen with my hands in cold water. It hurts so bad.” Jennie’s voice shook and Aiden clenched his fists to keep from rushing over to comfort her.
“Aiden. Jennie is covered now, you can turn around,” Ruby said.
Aiden spun and ran over to Jennie. He came behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders to avoid touching her burns. “If you walk in your sleep, we’ll find some way to heat without fire. Something. When we’re together, I’ll protect you. I won’t let this happen again.”
Ruby stood up tall and slammed her hands to her hips. “Aiden Bradly, that might be the worst proposal I’ve ever heard. And don’t you dare make another sound until you talk to Beau. You have to ask him first.”
Aiden pegged her with a smile he felt right down to his toes and squeezed Jennie closer. “I don’t have to do any such thing. I asked her mam when I met her at the train. She not only gave her blessing, she laid a kiss on my cheek for good luck.”
Aiden came around to the front of Jennie’s chair and knelt in front of her. He didn’t want to hurt her hands so he laid them on her knees. “M’fhíorghrá, I promise to love you forever, will you marry me and love me, too?”
She lifted one of her bandaged hands and touched his cheek so gently. A timid smile touched her lips. “I will. I’ll love you always, Aiden.”
He laid his head in her lap and every fear he’d had of not measuring up lifted. He was himself, and that was more than enough for his Jennie.
“Now t
hat’s better.” Ruby grumbled as she left them, closing the door softly behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Six weeks later
JENNIE SAT IN THE BACK of the wagon with Colin as they drove down the peak of Ferguson hill. Colin poked her gently with his cane.
“The lad says you need to close your eyes.” He laughed.
Jennie shook her head; used to his teasing at this point. Now she knew where Aiden got it. “I’ve been waiting for a month while he and Beau have been working. I can’t close my eyes! I want to see it!”
He laughed harder. “Feeling cramped in that little cabin, eh? You should’ve seen the little place Martha and I had when we first moved. Not much more than two walls leaned in on one another.”
Jennie’s leg danced up and down as she nervously waited for the wagon to descend. At first, she’d been disappointed when Brody sold them the land at the base of the hill, the very edge of his property. They would live right off the road without any of the views the upper homes boasted. Then Aiden had brought her down and showed her the spot. The area at the base of the hill reminded her a little of Montana, and it was nestled in a small valley between three hills. Protected, sheltered.
They curved around the hill and she could see the roof. It was much bigger than she’d thought it would be. A two-story home with white painted boards and green trim. It had a porch big enough to sit on and Aiden had even planted some flowers along the front for her. Jennie couldn’t speak. All the words she could think to say were trapped behind the lump in her throat.
Aiden came out of the house and closed the door behind him, beaming as the wagon came to a stop. He looked perfect, standing on the porch of their home. A feeling of peace and contentment washed over her. She’d never fear change again, not as long as they were together.
“Mrs. Bradly, what do you think of your new house?” He held his arms wide for her.
She jumped from the wagon and rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck. He lifted her and swung her around. “Let me show you the inside.” He opened the door and led her in.
Jennie stood in a large living room, already furnished.
“I don’t understand… Where did this furniture come from? It isn’t new, but it isn’t from the cabin.” She turned to glance at him, then back at the couch covered with a hand sewn quilt.
“It was my parents’. They had it all shipped here when we moved. It’s one of the things that took so long to arrange before we left. Hugh helped me move it out and get it set up.”
“Hugh? I haven’t seen him since the wedding. I thought he’d be gone to Lead by now.”
Hugh appeared from the back room and touched his hat. He was so like Aiden, but darker and taller and so quiet. He hadn’t said more than a handful of words to her since they’d returned. Where Aiden had the light red hair of his father. Hugh had his mother’s dark hair. Even when he smiled, there was a brooding secret behind his eyes and he never laughed.
“Thank you, Hugh. Without your help, I would’ve had to wait even longer to be in my house.” She squeezed Aiden closer and winked.
Hugh shook his head. “Aiden had to hurry or he would’ve missed my help. I’m headed to Lead this afternoon. I’ll be there for a while. Bullock is sending me on a special job to find your Hattie. He thinks she’s in Lead… and that she probably couldn’t leave if she wanted to.”
Jennie gasped and covered her mouth, then dropped her hands and hid them in the folds of her dress. They were still discolored from the burns and they embarrassed her to no end. She’d seen the doctor in Deadwood and he didn’t know if they’d ever heal completely. Only time would tell. In the meantime, she covered them.
Aiden put his arm around her shoulder. “Godspeed, brother.”
Hugh nodded. “I’ll need all the help I can get.” He tipped his hat. “I’ll go help Mam and Da move their things in, then I’ll be off. You probably won’t see me for quite some time.”
Hugh left and Jennie turned to Aiden and returned her hands to his neck.
“Thank you, Aiden. It’s perfect.”
“It wasn’t perfect until you walked through the door. Now, it’s home.” Aiden leaned forward and tugged her down on the couch, onto his lap, kissing her until she felt it down to her toes.
As always, her heart soared. She drew back and cupped his cheek. “Aiden, I do believe you need a shave.” She laughed as his eyes grew wide with apprehension.
“I don’t have two dollars, Jennie-girl.” He gently twisted the hair by her ears, uncoiling it loose from her bun.
Jennie laughed and leaned forward, whispering in his ear, “I’ve never kissed a man fresh from a shave.” She watched him scuttle to their room for his new shaving kit. She couldn’t help but remember the shave she’d given him after she’d first met him, and how she’d wanted to kiss him even back then. But she hadn’t; she’d been so afraid to live.
While Deadwood would never be Cutter’s Creek, with Aiden by her side, it would always be home.
Historical Elements
Dreams in Deadwood takes place, of course, in Deadwood South Dakota, just three short years after South Dakota became a state. While the whole story is a work of fiction, I’ve done my best to include little bits of Deadwood history within the story. Here are a few examples:
The Deadwood Times mentioned in the story was actually called the Deadwood Pioneer-Times. The editor was known for showcasing areas he thought could be enriched within the city of Deadwood and was a big supporter of taxation on prostitution. You can find old issues online at https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/93970696/.
Deadwood began as a mining town, a western boomtown that practically grew up overnight. With mining towns, and the single men that worked them, came the gambling, saloons, and bawdy houses that the Old West is known for. At the time of this story, men quite literally outnumbered women 10 to 1, and wandering the street without a chaperone wouldn’t have been recommended for a young woman.
This story takes place in 1892, just 15 short years after the Black Hills war, also known as, the Great Sioux War of 1876. While fear of the Indians may not have been forefront on people’s minds, it was close enough in history that the fear was real. I tried to convey that by mentioning it but not making it a main focus of the book.
Seth Bullock would later become famous for his friendship with President Theodore Roosevelt, but prior to that he was known for taming Deadwood, or at least giving it a good shot. Some would claim Deadwood still isn’t tamed. The day after he arrived, the notorious Wild Bill Hickock was shot and, because Deadwood had little more than a camp court at the time, his murderer went free. For a time. Bullock deputized citizens to help him and he was later sworn in as sheriff. Would he have taken any interest in a missing girl at the time? I can’t say, but I can say, judging by the historical record, he probably would have appointed Hugh to do the job.
The city itself has changed drastically over time. Deadwood has suffered three major fires that decimated much of the town. In fact, it was one of the first towns in the west to enact building codes requiring brick buildings, which is why the old parts of Deadwood, if you visit today, are all brick. Those are the buildings that survived.
I’d like to take a moment to specially thank the Adams Museum and the Adams House in Deadwood, South Dakota for creating my fascination with Deadwood. I highly recommend a visit to these places on your next visit to Deadwood.
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Kari Trumbo is an inspirational romance author, blogger and proud home schooling mother to four great kids. She interacts often on reader groups on Facebook and volunteers at the local library when needed. When she isn’t writing, she is obsessively reading and expanding her skills as a wordsmith. Kari lives in her great-grandfather’s remodeled 1890-built home in central Minnesota with her husband, children, cats, and one hungry
wood stove.
Other Titles:
Western Vows
Forsaking All Others
To Honor and Cherish
For Richer or Poorer
To Love and Comfort
Cutter’s Creek
A Lily Blooms
A Penny Shines
A Carol Plays
A Ruby Glows