A flash of anger crossed Benjamin Cruthers’ face. “This is none of your business and I’ll brook no interference from you.”
Cheryl Cruthers’ eyes widened a bit but she didn’t say a word.
It was then he saw Amelia struggling with two pails filled with water, making her way toward them. Eli hurried over and took the buckets from her and filled the water barrel with one and put the other near the fire. “Are you alright?”
She quickly glanced at her parents. “Of course I am. Just doing a few chores is all.” She brushed past him and started cutting up meat for dinner pot.
Mr. Cruthers glared at her, and Eli didn’t want to make things worse. “Keep as warm and dry as you can. It’ll be a bad storm tonight.”
Benjamin stepped forward. “Why is that? Did we leave too early? Other wagon parties were waiting a few more weeks before setting out. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“I’m sure.” Eli touched the brim of his hat before he walked away.
Life was full of ups and downs. He’d just left the Otters. They were a nice couple but Reverend Stan and Bess hadn’t been blessed with children, and they hoped to adopt a few out west. And there were the Cruthers who had no love for their daughter. People continued to surprise him at every turn. For the most part, the bad surprises had outweighed the good.
The wind howled, driving the snow sideways, hard and wet. Amelia pulled the quilts up over her head again. Every so often, she felt as though she couldn’t breathe so she poked her head out. Icicles had formed on her eyelashes and her body shook so badly it hurt. Was she such a burden that her parents didn’t care that she could die out here?
Sighing, she curled up into a ball. Of course she was the bane of their existence. Hadn’t they told her that a hundred times over? She’d be a mouth to feed until the day they died? No man would ever love a cripple like her. She was too hideous to look upon. She’d known at an early age that dreams of a home and husband were not hers to dream.
Her mother often lamented about what they could have done so wrong to be saddled with a daughter like her. They were right. The scarring on her hip was hard to look at and her limp screamed loud and clear that she was defective. She’d been teased enough to know she wasn’t wanted as a friend.
People liked others that were whole. It didn’t matter that she could do as much work or that she was just as smart. Nothing mattered except for her limp.
She’d asked Reverend Otter the other day why God had made such a mistake as her. The kindly reverend had taken both of her hands in his and told her, “God doesn’t make mistakes and you are just perfect the way you are.” They were the kindest words she’d ever heard even though she knew them to be untrue.
Her quilt was getting heavy with wet, cold snow, and it no longer kept her warm. She wasn’t sure what to do next. There was no reason to bother her parents. They wouldn’t let her in the wagon. It would only disturb their sleep. But if she stayed where she was, she’d be dead come morning.
Finally, she rolled out from under the wagon, pulled her quilts around her, and walked to the only fire she saw. It was like a beacon, and she followed it to its warmth. No one else was near so she sat on a crate, and tried to feel its heat through the sodden quilts.
Perhaps she could add more wood. She didn’t want to make anyone angry, but in the end she figured she could always fetch more wood to replace what she used. Finally, she added enough to feel the heat. Her body still shook but she no longer believed she was going to die.
Maybe in Oregon there would be a man willing to take her on despite her ugliness. He’d have to know that there would be no children. In essence, she was nothing but half a woman but she could work hard. She stared into the fire and frowned. There was no sense hoping and dreaming. It only led to heartache. She’d already had a lifetime of that.
Eli walked over to the Cruthers’ wagon on his way back to Smitty’s. Relief trickled through him when he noted the spot under the wagon appeared to be empty. He’d worried about Amelia all during guard duty. As Captain of the wagon train, he wasn’t required to pull guard duty, but he’d learned from his brother Mike that it was best never to ask another to do something he wasn’t willing to do himself. He started to turn away from the wagon when he noticed an indentation in the snow underneath. So she had been there, and recently. Dang it!
At least they took her inside. He stamped snow off his boots before he continued on. A huddled figure near Smitty’s fire stopped him in his tracks.
His jaw dropped. “Well I’ll be a sonofa—,” he started to mumble. Her parents hadn’t taken her in after all.
Fury filled him. What type of monsters were they? He slowly walked to the fire to get his anger under control. Then he sat down on a crate next to Amelia. She turned her head and gave him a sad smile.
“I hope you don’t mind but I put more wood on the fire.” Her teeth chattered as she tried to talk.
“It’s fine. Are you getting warm at all? How long have you been here?”
“I’ll be just fine. I’ll leave if you want.”
He stood. “Here let’s take off the top quilt. It’s soaked through and it’s not helping any.” He took it off and laid it over a couple other crates near the fire. “Have you slept at all? The snow will be falling all night.” He tried to make his voice sound gentle, but he wasn’t sure he succeeded.
“Don’t worry about me. I bet you’re tired after a long day. Go ahead and get some sleep. I’ve been without sleep before and survived and now that I have a fire to keep me warm everything is good.”
Smitty climbed out of the wagon. “I thought I heard voices.” He grabbed the coffee pot out of the back of the wagon. “I’ll put this on, and it’ll warm you through.” He glanced from Eli to Amelia. “The both of you. Now I’m sorry to say I was eavesdropping on your conversation. Not an easy thing in the howling wind but I’ve had my share of sleep. Amelia why don’t you just take my bunk?”
She started to shake her head but Eli stood scooped her up once again and deposited her inside the wagon.
“We’ll all feel better if you’re the one who is warm. I can grab some shuteye tomorrow. Please?”
She stared into his eyes as though she was waiting for him to say more. Finally she nodded. “If you’re sure…”
Eli smiled. “Positive. Now sleep."
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About the Author
Sexy Cowboys and the Women Who Love Them...
Finalist in the 2012 and 2015 RONE Awards.
Top Pick, Five Star Series from the Romance Review.
Kathleen Ball writes contemporary and historical western romance with great emotion and
memorable characters. Her books are award winners and have appeared on best sellers lists including: Amazon's Best Seller's List, All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, Desert Breeze Publishing and Secret Cravings Publishing Best Sellers list. She is the recipient of eight Editor's Choice Awards, and The Readers' Choice Award for Ryelee's Cowboy.
Winner of the Lear diamond award Best Historical Novel- Cinders' Bride
There's something about a cowboy
Other Books by Kathleen
Lasso Spring Series
Callie’s Heart
Lone Star Joy
Stetson’s Storm
Dawson Ranch Series
Texas Haven
Ryelee’s Cowboy
Cowboy Season Series
Summer’s Desire
Autumn’s Hope
Winter’s Embrace
Spring’s Delight
Mail Order Brides of Texas
Cinder’s Bride
Keegan’s Bride
Shane’s Bride
Tramp’s Bride
Poor Boy’s Christmas
Oregon Trail Dreamin’
We’ve Only Just Begun
A Lifetime to Share
A Love Worth Searching For
So Many Roads to Choose
The Settlers
&nbs
p; Greg
Juan
Scarlett
Mail Order Brides of Spring Water
Tattered Hearts
Shattered Trust
Glory’s Groom
Battered Soul
The Greatest Gift
Love So Deep
Luke’s Fate
Whispered Love
Love Before Midnight
I’m Forever Yours
Finn’s Fortune
Glory’s Groom
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