Luke turned to see if Crystal was still with him. “What happened? What in the world was she doing there alone?” she asked.
“Well now, that’s when the story gets good. The beautiful woman dove into the deepest part of the stream. Curly waited with bated breath for her to come up, which seemed a couple of minutes. Thinking she was in trouble, Curly started removing his boots and started running down the ridge when all of a sudden she came up for air. She slung her long hair around and dove in again. The last thing he saw was a beautiful pair of fins where her feet should have been.”
Crystal laughed long and hard. “Oh, my sides hurt now.”
“Had you goin’, didn’t I?” Luke was laughing too. It made his heart feel lighter to hear her laugh.
Crystal wiped the tears of laughter from her face with the edge of her shirtsleeve. “You did. A mermaid? Luke, honestly, did you make that up?”
“Heck no. That was Curly’s story. When you spend a lot of time riding line camp, a cowboy can envision almost anything.” He paused and looked into the campfire. “He was the best of this bunch.”
When Luke looked back at her, Crystal’s eyes were big and luminous from her tears, sparkling like jewels. He felt a pull in the center of his chest. Once again he found himself wanting to kiss the tears away, but instead he touched her on the arm.
“Try to get some sleep. Tomorrow’s a new day. Things always look better in the daylight.” He started to stand up, but she reached out her hand to touch his sleeve.
“Please . . . could you just sit here with me a bit . . . till I get sleepy? Unless you have first watch?” she pleaded.
He paused, then sat back down a little closer to her. “Sure . . . I have the second watch.”
Crystal looked over at him out of the corner of her eye. He sat with his arms on his knees and rubbed his callused hands together absentmindedly. Large but gentle hands. Long fingers with nails in need of attention from days of grime and dirt. His jeans so worn that they looked soft. His boots dusty, the heels worn down, in bad need of replacing. Maybe I can do that for him. He is my foreman, after all. Then she reminded herself that he belonged to someone else. Still, she was lonely.
Maybe it was his manner and the softness of his calm and reassuring voice, or his big hands pulling the quilt about her, but she somehow felt momentarily at peace. Soon her eyes were heavy. The wind skimmed the tops of the cottonwoods, touched her face, and lulled her with its sighs into that space between consciousness and sleep.
Luke was content to be near Crystal until it was almost time for his watch. He lay back, propped himself up on his elbows, and watched Crystal until her breathing was slow and even. He wanted to hold her close like a little kitten.
He knew he should be sleeping instead of watching Crystal sleep. She lay on her side with her hands tucked under her face in sweet repose, while the wind lifted strands of her dark hair across the soft curve of her cheek. What was he going to do? He was drawn to her in a way that was new to him. Most of the time, all they did was argue. But today was different. Maybe it was because of Curly’s death, but they had come together in their grief.
Luke had been quiet that evening. He hated losing Curly more than he cared to admit. He hoped Crystal was right about him being in heaven. She seemed awful sure about that.
Luke gazed at the stars twinkling in the spacious Colorado sky. Never again would he be able to look at the stars without thinking of Curly.
19
The sun was high in the crystal-blue sky as the outfitters traveled the trail carved years before by other brave souls seeking the gold of this magnificent mountain range. The view of the valley that lay behind was so splendid with conifers as the backdrop.
Now the cowboys concentrated on the task ahead. The creek beds were not deep at this juncture but were brisk and cold, something that both the cows and cowboys alike enjoyed amid the summer heat.
Crystal dismounted along with the rest of the cowboys, rolled her sleeves back, and splashed the icy creek water on her face and neck. She didn’t know that a person could get so dry and dusty. Now her hands, forearms, and face glowed with a rich tan from the outdoors.
“Nothin’like cold water to refresh and cool you off on a day like today,” Rusty said. He unknotted his bandana and wiped his face and beard.
“It’s so invigorating,” Crystal agreed. Even though this didn’t compare to a real bath, it would have to do until they reached Denver. She intended to have a long soak in a real tub once they arrived.
Luke left the grazing cattle in the meadow, reined Buck in next to where Rebel was drinking from the creek, and dismounted. Exposing his now-flattened black hair, he hung his hat on the pommel of the saddle. He scooped cold water onto his suntanned face and ignored the fact that it soaked his chambray shirt, which stuck to his chest. Once he was refreshed, he turned to his compadres.
“Rusty, I figure after we cross the river, we can push on into Bear Valley tomorrow and then into Denver. Grazing should be good there.” Luke scratched his head before donning his hat.
“Whatcha figure? Two days? Three maybe?” Rusty picked up the reins of his horse, preparing to mount.
“No more, unless we run into trouble.” Luke reached into his vest pocket, pulled out a stick of peppermint, and handed it to Crystal. “This’ll help your dry throat.”
Crystal took the stick of candy, broke it in three pieces, and popped a piece into her mouth, then offered some to Rusty. She reserved a small piece in her shirt pocket. “Mmm . . . I hope this is not going to be lunch,” she joked. Impulsively she bent over to splash water on her companions, bubbling with laughter at their surprise.
Luke splashed back at her while the drovers slapped their thighs and poked one another with enjoyment, causing more fracases that led to a few being thrown into the creek, all in good-natured fun.
“All right, stop the lollygagging, and let’s git them dogies’cross the creek by noon.” Rusty shook his head. “Just like a bunch of young’uns.”
Crystal smiled sheepishly at Luke, who shrugged his shoulders with resignation.
“He’s right. Men, let’s git them dogies movin’. We’ll stop just the other side where Sourdough is already set up and have our lunch.” He threw a sweet smile toward Crystal, who smiled back, her sunburned face even pinker now.
The cowboys followed the Yampa River, then veered east across the valley, pushing the steers. Here they would pick up the Colorado River. And what a sight it was. Today was a sparkling, fresh morning, the kind that gives one joy at being alive. The jagged walls of the red-rock canyon rose up from the Colorado River, towering high above the riverbed, while the cowboys were careful to pick their way over rocks and bunchgrass along the river’s edge.
Once they were between the canyon walls, darkness belied the sun, though it was mid-morning. Luke had scouted ahead, knowing exactly where they would cross downstream after the whitewater rapids mellowed out. White water could make crossing the river a nightmare, something they could all do without. He did not want a repeat of Curly’s unfortunate incident. He knew that once they crossed the river, a lush meadow lay on the opposite side not too far ahead. That’s where they would stop for their noon meal. Looking at his surroundings now, he knew they were in the best place for crossing and motioned with a circle of his arms for the crew to split into even numbers on each side of the herd.
Luke reined Buck in, tilting his hat back to watch the small band of cowboys urging the cows on either side to ford the river. He had to admit to himself that Crystal was carrying her weight on this drive, and he was secretly proud of her. She rode her mount in one fluid motion like one bred to horseback, never minding the splashing water and danger of a steer’s horn. Watching her was a stunning thing. She yelled and waved her hat along with the others, encouraging the cattle into the river’s edge.
She had become an asset to the trail drive, and her skills amazed him. Would April be as adept? April was an excellent horsewoman, but if she was w
orking with steers, the dust, and the danger of being on the trail, she probably would not have held up as well as Crystal.
He enjoyed the fun they’d had earlier. He liked that about Crystal. She had a playfulness about her that was sweet and innocent. Now he was poignantly wishing he had met up with her before he’d met April.
Well, it was a done deal now, no matter what his feelings were. He and Jim McBride had made a deal. Luke would get the property he wanted on the Blue River. Luke would miss Crystal once she went back to Georgia, but that fellow Drew would probably be waiting for her. Besides, he figured that it didn’t matter what he thought. Better that he keep his mind on the chore at hand.
Though it took a full hour, it couldn’t have been a smoother crossing than if Luke had drawn it out on paper. The cattle, now tired and thirsty, entered the cold river. It wasn’t long before the tail end of the herd crossed to the other side without a hitch, fanning out now in the meadow to graze in a comfortable fashion.
The remuda was a little less inclined to cross, but Slim was skilled in horse handling. He used gentle pressure from the lead reins to coax the horses to swim and then led them to the other side.
Lunch was a quick affair of beans and biscuits, but Sourdough promised them a cherry pie for dessert, which gave the drovers something to look forward to. Weary and bedraggled, the men got fresh mounts again, eager to get on the trail to finish out the day.
The sun beat down on Crystal, scorching her back and shoulders through her shirt. Up ahead, she saw Luke reclining on a huge boulder, taking a break, and she decided to do the same. Dismounting Rebel, she started toward Luke but stopped dead in her tracks. There on the boulder right behind him slithered a copperhead snake, obviously enjoying the warmth of the rock. While Luke wiped his face, he watched his men off in the distance dutifully pushing the cows and rounding up any strays.
Crystal looked around. There was not another cowboy in shouting distance. Crystal knew she would have to take matters into her own hands. Could she make a clear shot from this far off? She would have to try. She took a deep breath.
Shaking now, Crystal pulled her pistol from her saddle and stepped closer with as much ease as she could muster without making a sound.
“Luke,” she whispered, “don’t move a muscle.” She pulled the trigger back and prayed that she would hit her mark, then fired at the coiled snake now poised to strike. Her mark was dead center.
Luke jumped three feet at the sound. He sprang off the boulder just in time to see the snake flail, momentarily spring up as if hit by lightning, and fall back down onto the rock. It slid lifelessly to the ground. “Jumping jackrabbits!” He stared down into the grass. “Lucky for you that was a good shot. You could have killed me, Crystal.”
Crystal was rooted to the spot, amazed at her own skill. “It was nothing,” she joked, a nervous giggle bubbling up. She leaned over to make sure the snake was dead. “I hope he was a poisonous snake. I’ve never shot one.” Crystal laughed again. “Other than at practice, I’ve never shot anything.”
“He was poisonous, all right. I’m glad you came up when you did just now, or I’d be pushing daisies instead of enjoying that cherry pie Sourdough promised. I reckon he liked sunbathing on that warm boulder.”
“Yes, well, this sun is just about to bake my brains right through my hat.”
“Crystal, thanks. I guess Rusty taught you well. I owe you.”
Crystal blushed under the deep glow of her tan and replaced her gun. “You don’t owe me a thing. Glad I was able to save your skinny hide.”
“Aw . . . I didn’t know you cared.” He patted his hand over his heart. Turning aside, he kicked the limp snake with the toe of his boot. “He was a big one.”
“I can’t afford to lose my foreman now, can I? Not this close to the end of the trail. There’s the ranch at stake here.” Crystal allowed him to assist her back up into the saddle. Everything about him sent warning bells off in her head with his nearness. His shoulder briefly touched her leg once she was in her seat.
“What was that shootin’about?” Rusty came rushing over at a fast clip, reining in his mount to spin around in a semicircle.
“Crystal just saved my hide, that’s what.”
Rusty shook his head. “That could have been a deadly situation. Atta girl, Crystal. I told you she was a quick learner.” He glanced at Luke.
“Guess I’ve earned my piece of pie tonight, huh?” The mere prospect of such a rare delicacy on the trail made Crystal smack her lips. She hoped it would meet her standards of pie making.
“All right, enough yakkin’about it. Let’s hit the trail so we can wind this afternoon up before dark. I’m bone tired.” Luke mounted Buck, signaling the conversation was over.
True to his word, Sourdough had pies cooling off to one side of the chuck wagon as the cowboys hurried through their usual meal of stew and johnnycakes. Later, Crystal enjoyed assisting Sourdough in cutting and serving generous slices of pie along with strong cups of coffee.
Each night the air was colder, but the campfire was a welcome spot as they sat around licking the last specks off their forks. The conversation naturally turned to the day’s events, with the incident of the snake being the hot topic.
“I hear tell that was mighty fine shootin’out there, Miss Crystal,” Kurt said.
Crystal was a bit uncomfortable with all the attention she was receiving, but she sensed they all had come to respect her endurance after grueling days in the saddle. Holding on to the ranch was her driving force, and without it she didn’t know if she would have been able to complete the trail drive.
“I would have done it for any one of you,” she said. She collected plates and placed them in sudsy water, then tried to change the subject. “Sourdough, that was almost the best pie I’ve eaten in a long time.”
Sourdough shuffled over to the washtub, beaming as he cleaned up. “Almost? Do I take that as a compliment, missy?” But the cowboys continued their teasing, and Crystal didn’t have a chance to respond about the pie.
“Did you feel that bullet whiz behind you, Luke?” Slim teased.
“Matter of fact, I did. I wasn’t sure if she was shooting at me or something else.” That brought a round of laughter from the men.
“I always said it’s good to have a woman at your side,” Jube added to their comments. “I think you should show your thanks to Crystal by putting her up in the best hotel in town when we get to Denver, instead of that tiny Evening Shade, where we always stay.”
Crystal raised her eyebrow with interest at the talk of accommodations. Rusty added, “That would be the Oxford, across the street from Union Station. I heard they have fine dining too.” He winked at Crystal.
“That’s true. They opened up last October. It’s a grand building.” Kurt threw a glance in Luke’s direction.
“How about it, Luke?” Crystal’s aching body cried out for the softness of a real bed, but she thought it would be selfish to have a bed when the other cowboys didn’t.
Luke seemed to know when he was beaten. “Okay, I owe you . . . but just one night. If you want to stay longer, you’re on your own.”
“Ooh . . . I can hardly wait.” Crystal pulled her arms overhead to stretch her back muscles. “But tonight I’ll just settle for going to bed early.” She turned to retrieve her bedroll, then laid it out neatly not far from the fire. Night temperatures dipped in spite of the warm days.
Jube pulled out his harmonica and played haunting tunes while the rest agreed on who would have certain watch times. They divided up carrying out various nightly duties. Crystal’s eyes became heavy as she snuggled down into her quilt, thinking pleasantly of the bustling streets of Denver.
Two days later the group, tired but looking forward to some excitement and a taste of Denver, picked their way along the last leg of trail. The sand and dust was thick, the air dry. They had followed Clear Creek and later the Platte River alongside the sprawling cow towns nestled in the valley. To the south of them
lay Pikes Peak, and though its imposing sight looked close, it was still sixty miles away. To the northwest lay Longs Peak, its sharp outline visibly imposing against the clear sky.
After a brief respite following the cattle crossing of the Platte River, they saw low brick buildings begin to crop up in the outlying areas. By late afternoon they would be at the rail station, where Luke and Rusty would wrangle a deal to sell the beef as quickly as possible.
“That was about the fastest deal I ever made, Miss Crystal.” Rusty clapped his gloves against his thigh with obvious enthusiasm.
“Who made the deal?” Crystal poked her finger into Rusty’s chest.
“Well . . . Mr. Hunter was taken with you, Miss Crystal, and you drove a hard bargain. Although how he could tell you were a woman under all that dirt and grime, beats me.” Luke chuckled.
Crystal pursed her lips coquettishly and fluttered her eyelids, not at all embarrassed at the way she had handled the sale. In fact, she would now be able to pay her punchers and her debts.
“I’ll go pay the boys. Luke, you walk Miss Crystal over to the Oxford like you promised. We’ll see to the horses. I’ll meet up with you later,” Rusty said.
“Shall we?” Luke offered his arm to Crystal as he picked up her carpetbag. “It’s about a few short blocks to the hotel.”
Placing her hand under his arm, she felt an unexpected tangle of emotions. If April were here, she would be clawing Crystal’s eyes out, but since she wasn’t, Crystal was going to enjoy the moment.
No Place for a Lady (Heart of the West Book #1): A Novel Page 16