Finding Promise

by Scarlett Dunn

  Jake and Shorty exchanged a quizzical glance as she inspected her face.

  “Are you as pretty as you remember?” Shorty asked.

  A soft blush colored her cheeks. “I couldn’t remember what I looked like.”

  “Well, you’re about the prettiest gal I ever saw.” Shorty was sincere with his praise. He couldn’t imagine ever seeing a prettier gal.

  “Thank you.” She held the back of the mirror for Jake to see. “My name must be Promise.”

  Jake glanced at the initials and nodded. “There are other personal items in the trunk if you need them.”

  “This is all I need right now.” Glancing inside the wagon, she saw the many dresses hanging from nails. “Are all of those dresses mine?”

  “We think so. They all looked like they fit you.”

  She lifted the skirt of the dress she was wearing. “I hope all of them are not as heavy as this one.”

  Shorty looked at Jake to see if he was going to mention the money, but saw he wasn’t going to comment. “Boss, are we covering a few more miles today?”

  Jake looked down at Promise. “Do you think you’re up to traveling? It’s a lot of jostling in that wagon.”

  “She can ride on the seat with me if she doesn’t want to stay in the back of the wagon,” Shorty offered.

  “Please don’t let me hold you up, Mr. McBride. I’ll be fine.”

  “Jake, remember.” Jake glanced at Shorty. “Tell the men we’ll pull out in thirty minutes.”

  Promise excused herself to see to her personal needs, but Jake remained nearby. He felt like he was walking a fine line, trying to give her some privacy and protect her at the same time. He didn’t want her to be alone, and he instructed Shorty to stay by her side every minute when he wasn’t around.

  Promise listened patiently as Shorty talked nonstop as she rode beside him on the seat of the wagon. It seemed his preferred topic was Mr. McBride, and he had many stories about the tall cowboy. Shorty didn’t hide his admiration for the man, spending hour after hour discussing him. She was grateful that he talked so much; it was a pleasant diversion, keeping her mind off of her dire situation. It occurred to her that he was intentionally avoiding any conversation regarding her circumstances for fear of upsetting her.

  Shorty revealed that Mr. McBride had stayed with her throughout the night while she was unconscious, and he would hear him talking to her. That must be the reason Jake’s voice seemed so familiar when she awoke. Several times today she’d seen him at a distance riding toward the rear of the drive, but he never stopped at the wagons. His size and the way he sat in the saddle made him easy to distinguish from the other men. When she questioned why Jake rode back and forth, Shorty explained that he was checking on the drag rider because, next to the point rider, that man was the most isolated person on the cattle drive. Watching the men with the cattle, she was awed by how hard they worked. They were always in motion, attuned to the movements of the cattle, and dedicated to averting dangerous situations. Several times over the course of the day, Shorty mentioned Jake worked harder than any man, and she’d seen that for herself. The man didn’t stop.

  When it was time to make camp for the night, Shorty and one of the men constructed a tent so they could keep a fire going, and everyone could have a place to sit to eat their dinner out of the rain. Promise kept busy helping Shorty prepare the evening meal. Every time a rider rode into camp, she found herself looking up to see if it was Mr. McBride. Long after most every man had eaten, Jake finally rode into camp. She noticed him glancing her way as he cared for his horse. Once he walked to the fire, she prepared a hot plate of food and poured a cup of coffee for him.

  Jake had thought about hot coffee all afternoon, but seeing the plate of food, he realized how hungry he was. “Thank you. This looks good.” Funny how seeing a beautiful woman in camp made me forget about the long day in the saddle.

  “It’s better than good. God sent us an angel who can make a perfect biscuit,” Shorty told him. “I think she wants my job.” He shoved a plate into Promise’s hand. “You need to sit down for a while and eat. You’ve done too much for your first day on your feet.”

  “Did you forget we’ve been sitting all day?” she replied in a teasing tone.

  Shorty laughed. “Yes, ma’am, but that wagon will wear you out, and you haven’t eaten all day.” He overturned a pail next to Jake’s saddle, for her to use as a seat. “We rough it out here, missy.”

  “Thank you, Shorty.” She took her seat, and Jake sat on his saddle.

  “Boss, we know one thing about her already. Cooking over a campfire seemed natural for her,” Shorty said.

  “That’s good news. Did you remember cooking before?” He was hoping some details of her life were coming back to her. All day he’d worried that she might ask him more questions about how he found her. He wasn’t inclined to lie to her, though he didn’t relish telling her about her husband.

  “I didn’t think about it, I just wanted to lend assistance to Shorty.”

  “She made those biscuits, and they’re a whole lot better than mine,” Shorty said.

  “It’s nice to eat them warm and dry. I’m glad I listened to you, Shorty, and brought these tents with us. They’ve been a big help,” Jake said.

  “I told you we would need them, boss.”

  Several men joined them around the fire, each filling his cup with fresh coffee. Since most of them had already eaten, Jake was certain they were there just to get a look at Promise. It was probably a good thing for him that she was such a looker. That alone would keep the men from grumbling about having a woman on the drive.

  Cole walked over and took a seat on a nearby stump. Having heard Shorty’s comment on the food, he said, “I agree, Shorty, these biscuits are better than yours.”

  Jake knew Cole would come sniffing around Promise as soon as he could. Cole would always find a way to finagle an introduction to a pretty woman. “Promise, this is Cole Becker. He was a U.S. Marshal too, and we rode together for ten years.”

  Cole stood again and tipped his hat. “Ma’am.” Getting his first good look at her, Cole couldn’t stop staring. Jake had told him she was almost as pretty as his brother’s wife, but the way he saw it, this gal wouldn’t play second fiddle to any woman.

  “You are no longer a marshal?” Promise asked Cole.

  “No, I decided I like Wyoming. When Jake told me his plans, I decided it might be time for me to settle down, and Wyoming sounded like as good a place as any. Besides, he would just get into trouble without me,” Cole teased.

  Jake glared at him. Why did he have the feeling Cole had never thought of settling down until he took one look at Promise? He wouldn’t have been surprised if Cole started quoting Shakespeare, like Jake’s big brother. Cole told him if quoting Shakespeare helped Colt win a woman like Victoria, he was going to borrow his books.

  Jake glanced at Promise to gauge her reaction to his glib-talking friend. To his surprise, Promise had her head bowed in prayer over her meal. Jake removed his hat, and the men followed his lead and waited for her to finish. Jake had never seen his men stop eating or drinking their coffee for anything before. It shamed him that his own manners needed polishing, and he didn’t think he’d said a prayer over a meal since he was a boy.

  Once she finished praying, Jake introduced her to the rest of the men. When he came to Rodriguez, the vaquero came forward, removed his hat, and bowed before her like she was a queen. “It is my great pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady in such a dreary place.” He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips.

  Promise barely felt his lips brush over the top of her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez.” She didn’t know what to make of the well-mannered, regal-looking man. There was a vast contrast between Rodriguez and the other cowboys on the drive. She gazed up at him through her dark lashes, taking in his perfect white teeth gleaming under a thick, black mustache.

  “Rodriguez Ruiz Dominguez Santoya,” he said, bowing again. �
�It would be an honor if you would call me Rodriguez.”

  When her eyes slowly met his, she had another surprise. Clear blue eyes were staring back at her. He was smiling at her as if he knew what she was thinking.

  “My family is from Spain.”

  “Of course,” she responded shyly.

  “I am sorry for your troubles, señorita. If there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to ask.”

  “That is very kind, Rodriguez.” All of the men were so kind to her that she found herself becoming emotional. She refused to allow herself to wallow in self-pity, reminding herself that God had sent Mr. McBride and these wonderful men to find her. She should consider herself blessed.

  As much as he wanted to stay and talk to her, Rodriguez knew every man was listening. “Good evening.” He gave another slight bow before he walked away.

  Promise watched him walk into the darkness. She had the feeling he was not the usual kind of man that would be found on a cattle drive. He seemed almost aristocratic in his manner, reminding her of someone she might meet . . . where? There were memories on the edge of her mind that continued to elude her.

  Jake noticed Promise watching Rodriguez. He figured she’d been taken by his good manners, and the vaquero had them in abundance.

  After a moment, Promise turned her attention to Cole. “Do you also have a ranch in Wyoming, Mr. Becker?”

  Cole liked the sound of her soft Southern voice. “Call me Cole. Not yet, but I found a place I like.”

  That was news to Jake. He listened to them talk until he couldn’t take anymore of Cole’s flirting. Forcing his mind back on business, Jake pointed to four men. “Take first watch with me. He glanced at Cole, saying, “The rest of you can relieve us in four hours.”

  Ready to retire for the night, Promise stood and said good night to the men in camp. Shorty offered to walk with her to the wagon, but Jake nixed that idea when he jumped up. “I’ll see her to the wagon.”

  Jake grabbed a lantern and took hold of her elbow as he led her from the fire. Rodriguez wasn’t the only man with manners, he told himself. He just had to work a bit harder at dusting his off now and then. He’d noticed her perfect deportment as she interacted with the men. She gave her full attention to each man she spoke with, listening intently to what he was saying, as if she didn’t have enough problems of her own. He had to admit, that was difficult for him at times, with the way some of the men droned on and on. He had never met what he thought was the quintessential Southern belle, but it seemed to him that the title suited Promise perfectly.

  “How did you enjoy the first day of your cattle drive?” Jake hoped he sounded as though he engaged in polite conversation with ladies every day. That wasn’t easy; for weeks on end he’d been around men who were rough as cobs.

  “It was quite informative, and Shorty is very entertaining.” Promise looked up at the large man beside her. His face was shadowed by the brim of his hat, and his eyes were so dark she couldn’t really see them.

  Reaching the wagon, Jake tossed back the canvas flap and put the lantern on the floor before he helped her inside. “Do you have everything you need?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Her gaze swept the surrounding dark terrain, unable to stop thinking of the possibility danger was lurking in every shadow. All day she couldn’t stop questioning why someone would shoot her. It was a question with no answers; she didn’t even know if she had enemies. It occurred to her that whoever shot her could come back and try again. Surrounded by darkness, her fears increased.

  Sensing her anxiety, Jake wondered what was making her so nervous. She seemed fine during dinner. “Is there something on your mind?”

  “Hmm . . . yes.” She looked up to see him staring intently at her with those midnight eyes. “I was wondering if . . . whoever shot me . . . well, do you think they might try again?”

  “You haven’t remembered anything about that, have you?”

  “No, and that is what concerns me. Not knowing who or why, how am I to know if the person is near me?”

  His gaze didn’t leave her when he said, “You will be safe with us.”

  She believed him, yet it did little to set her mind at ease. “Shorty said you slept in here when I was unconscious. Is this where you normally sleep?”

  “No, I usually catch a few hours outside before I take another watch. I just wanted to be close if you came around, because sometimes I can sleep pretty soundly if I’m overly tired.” He correctly assumed she didn’t want to be alone right now. “I can stay for a few minutes if you want.”

  “Oh, that would be lovely,” she replied, obviously relieved.

  He gracefully jumped in the wagon.

  She gave him a tremulous smile. “Shall we sit?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I can’t stay bent over this way for long.”

  He did look uncomfortable, doubled over to keep from hitting his head. She sat on her pallet and watched him remove his hat as he took a seat across from her. When he stretched out his long legs, she realized he took up a lot of space. “I don’t mind if you sleep here.”

  It was one thing to sleep inside with her when she was unconscious, but now that she was awake, he didn’t think that would be such a good idea. He wondered if she would make the same offer if she wasn’t afraid. He gave her another grin. “I have my reputation to consider.”

  Embarrassed that she hadn’t considered how inappropriate the offer sounded, she blushed at his response. “I didn’t consider how that would appear.”

  Seeing that she was flustered, he added in a teasing tone, “Not that I would mind spending the night with a beautiful woman.” Even in the dim lamplight, he could see her cheeks turning pink. He felt certain many men had told her she was beautiful, and even his own men couldn’t take their eyes off of her, yet she didn’t seem to realize the effect she had on them. “If it makes you rest easier, I will sleep right beside your wagon when I’m in camp. When I’m on watch, I’ll have someone else take my place.”

  Relief washed over her, knowing he would be close. Though she didn’t know him, she trusted him without question. “It helps to know that. The only thing that seems familiar to me is your voice. Shorty said you talked to me when I was unconscious, so that is probably why I find it so familiar.”

  When she looked at him with those large whiskey-colored eyes, he was tempted to forget she was a recent widow. “I didn’t know if you could hear me. It seemed to me it might be a comfort to know you were safe.”

  “Did the doctor say how long it might take for my memory to come back?”

  He tried to think about how he would feel if he didn’t know who he was. It had to be frustrating for her, but he had to be honest. “He wasn’t sure.”

  “I read some of my journal, and I wrote about someone named Matthew. He was obviously someone I traveled with. Do you know who he is?” At first, she thought Matthew might be her husband, but for some reason she was certain she was not married.

  Now what was he going to say? Exactly as he feared, she’d asked the very question he didn’t want to answer. “I’m not sure who he is,” he responded. He was hedging, but in all honesty, he wasn’t positive Matthew was her husband. “I do think you were traveling with him.” Before she could ask him what happened to Matthew, he said, “Why don’t you lie down and try to sleep.”

  “I can’t sleep in my dress. You don’t have to stay. I’ll be okay now that I know you will be near.”

  Jake stood and retrieved his hat. “If you need anything, I’ll be right outside.”

  “Thank you, Mr. McBride. Good night.”

  “Jake,” he reminded her. “Good night.”

  When he approached the fire to retrieve his saddle, he noticed all the men looking his way. He started to ask them why they were staring until he realized they weren’t really looking at him; they were looking past him to the wagon. He turned to see what held their attention. Promise was sitting at the back of the wagon and the flap was still open, so they could see her br
ushing her hair over one shoulder. It was such a simple task, but one that made every man stop and stare. Jake understood how they felt. It had been way too long since any of them had spent time with a woman. Suddenly, she stopped brushing her hair and dropped her face into her hands. It was obvious she was crying. It broke Jake’s heart, and the heart of every man watching her. She was frightened, and who could blame her? He couldn’t imagine being in her position, and at the mercy of strangers. All in all, she was handling things much better than he would. Finally he saw her lift her skirt to dry her eyes, and he turned to the men. The look on their faces said the scene had affected them much as it did him. “Okay, men, let’s get moving.” He knew his tone sounded harsher than he intended. Not a word was spoken as the men went about their business.

  “Why are you angry?” Cole asked.

  Jake hadn’t noticed him standing there. “She has a lot to deal with and she doesn’t need an audience.” Jake bent over and picked up his saddle and bedroll. “She’s going to be with us a long time, and I don’t want the men hanging around her every minute.”

  “They are not going to be able to avoid her.”

  “I wonder how they would feel if they were on the receiving end of their stares?” Jake barked. He wasn’t angry at the men, he was angry at her situation. And he wanted more than anything to go after those killers. That was what was truly troubling him.

  Cole chuckled. “I’d say they’d like the attention if it was Promise doing the watching.”

  Now there was the problem. He’d seen how the men watched her at dinner, Cole in particular. It was unusual for the men to hang around after they finished their dinner. If they weren’t on watch, they were getting some much needed shut-eye. At this rate, every man on this drive would be in love with her before they reached Wyoming.

  Chapter Eight

  Jake didn’t come back to camp when he was relieved; he stayed with the cattle and let some of the other men get some extra rest. It was almost three o’clock in the morning when he rode to camp. His plan was to rest for an hour or two, and true to his word, he was right below Promise’s wagon using his saddle for a pillow. It wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep since it was still raining. He’d covered as much of his large frame as he could with his slicker, but water was still finding a way to his skin. Pelting rain wasn’t his only problem. He could hear every move Promise made as she tossed and turned inside the wagon. It was evident she wasn’t sleeping any better than he was. In a few short hours he’d be in the saddle again, so he’d just about given up on getting any rest.