Once her fire was built and blazing strong, she straightened her back. The pain along her spine was almost unbearable. Her baby kicked and squirmed more than usual, and Danica rubbed her hands soothingly over her stomach.
“Settle down in there,” she spoke softly to her child. “You’re not ready to meet the world yet. You’re safer where you’re at for the moment.”
She pulled her knife from its concealed sheath underneath her dress, and set the blade in the fire. It would have to be good and hot. Josh squirmed again under the blankets, and he mumbled words she didn’t understand. He must be speaking in Shoshone. The sounds were familiar to her, but she didn’t understand the words. After spending all those months with the family of Shoshone, she’d picked up a few words, but communication was achieved mostly with hand gestures.
Danica eased herself to the ground next to Josh, and brushed her hand slowly across his forehead, pushing damp strands of hair from his face. His eyelids flickered open, and he stared at her with unfocused eyes.
“Josh,” she whispered, and leaned over him. “I need to cauterize your wound. It won’t stop bleeding. Do you understand?”
He swallowed several times, and nodded slowly. “Do what you have to,” he rasped.
“Can you sit up to remove your shirt?”
With a groan and grimace, Josh lifted his upper body off the ground. Danica helped him pull his shirt up and over his head. She couldn’t help but let her eyes roam over his perfectly sculpted torso, chest, and shoulders. Tentatively, she reached out her hand and touched the tips of her fingers to his chest. Josh flinched, and she quickly pulled her arm back.
She still couldn’t believe that, after five years, she finally met up with him again, and certainly not under these circumstances. She’d looked for him in town on several occasions, and made discreet inquiries at the mercantile that his father and uncle owned. If he did come to town to visit his family, she never saw him. She knew her feelings were merely fueled by a young girl’s fantasies, nothing more, but she hadn’t been able to shake memories of him all these years. That he was here now, so close, and even more unattainable than before given her current situation, seemed almost like a dream.
She couldn’t believe the overwhelming rush of feelings that had swept over her when he suddenly appeared yesterday. How could she think herself in love with him? She didn’t even know him. Over the years, an image had formed in her mind of what kind of man he was. She was in love with that image that she’d dreamed up in her mind. She still didn’t know anything about the real Josh Osborne, other than he was dark, and serious, and quiet. A loner, just like Kate Russell had told her. There was no room in his life for a woman, much less a fair-haired, fair-skinned white woman with a baby on the way. What kind of woman would catch his eye?
“Would you like something to drink?” she asked, when he eased himself back to the ground. Without waiting for an answer, she pulled one of her water bags from around her neck, and uncorked it. Holding it to his lips, she slowly poured some water in his half-open mouth.
“Thanks,” he grunted when she pulled it away. His deep brown eyes met hers for a brief moment, before his eyelids sank shut again, and Danica’s heart beat faster. She set the water bag aside. The knife would be hot enough now. Rather than heave herself to stand, she crawled the short distance to the fire pit, and carefully pulled the knife from the flames. The blade glowed orange. Her heart pounded when she scooted back to Josh’s side.
She sat beside him for a moment, just watching him. He looked peaceful as he slept. Danica’s hand reached out, and her fingers lightly traced the contours of his chest. She studied her hand, and how it looked pale in contrast to his bronze skin. His body still battled a fever, but the chills had stopped.
“Josh,” she whispered, leaning over him, and nudged his arm. He opened his eyes again. “I’m ready,” she said. “If you don’t want me to do this, I won’t, but I don’t know how else to stop the bleeding.”
“Just do it,” he said, his tone firm.
“Do you want something to bite down on?”
He shook his head.
Danica took a deep breath, and quickly, before she changed her mind, pressed the hot blade over the gaping hole in Josh’s shoulder. His body stiffened, and his face strained in a grimace, every muscle in his neck taut. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his hands balled into tight fists at his side, every tendon and sinew in his arms visible. Danica pulled the blade back with a shaking hand. A dark singe spot remained on his skin, and she nearly felt sick at the smell of burning flesh. She hated what she did, and that he was in so much pain. Josh’s breaths came in quick, ragged gasps.
“It’s done,” she said quietly, and bit her lower lip. She hoped the cautery would stop him from losing more blood. Josh’s muscles relaxed, and he slumped into the covers. Danica’s heart sped up in alarm. No. A quick glance at his throat confirmed that his pulse beat strong. Perhaps it was good that he’d passed out.
While Josh slept, she busied herself weaving a basket using strips of tree bark as she’s been taught by Kakuu, the old woman who had treated her almost like a daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes, thinking about the senseless killing of this innocent family. She had assumed they had been killed by a patrol of soldiers, but Josh thought the men were poachers – outlaws – who had killed for the sport of it.
Why had she survived? Again. Nearly nine months ago, she had faced a similar ordeal. Only that time she’d been with a group of white people, and Indians had attacked their party. Danica shook her head. She was tired of all the killing and hatred. Why couldn’t the whites and Indians live in peace? There was enough land to go around for everyone. Her brother Jacob had died, fighting Indians. He’d joined the cavalry, much to her father’s dismay, and had paid the ultimate price. Her father had become a bitter man after the death of his son. What would he think of her when she showed up on his doorstep, dressed in buckskins and pregnant?
Danica cut a strip of leather from the bottom of her dress, and lined the basket she’d made with it. She filled it with snow, and gathered some rocks that she laid in the fire. Once hot, she removed them carefully with a couple of sticks, and placed them in her basket. She repeated this until the water turned hot and began to boil. She cut strips of dried meat from her pouch into the water, and let them soak. She needed food, and so did Josh. Eyeing his rifle, she thought she could try and find a bird or something to shoot, but it was late, and the skies were growing dark. Danica shivered. It would be another cold night. She only hoped it wouldn’t snow again.
Josh accepted the meat broth she offered, but he barely regained consciousness. By the time darkness fell, the temperature had dropped to freezing. Danica added more wood to her fire, but it wouldn’t keep her warm through the night. Josh had all the covers.
“Sorry, Josh, but you’re going to have to share,” she said through chattering teeth, knowing he wouldn’t hear. She carefully lowered herself to the ground next to him, and slipped under the covers. She grabbed for his rifle, pulling it close in case she needed to get up off the ground. It didn’t take long for her to warm up. His feverish body was like a potbellied stove under the blankets. He groaned and shifted when she huddled up close to him, but he didn’t wake.
Danica rested her head on his good arm, and inhaled his musky male scent. A slow smile spread across her face. Her fantasy of lying in this man’s arms had finally come true. What would he do if he woke up and found her next to him like this? Would he be shocked? Surely he would realize that she was only doing it to stay warm through the night. That’s a good excuse, Dani. Enjoy it now, because you’ll never get another chance.
Suddenly she wondered why lying so close to him didn’t bother her. She’d never experienced the gentle touch of a man before. How could she be sure that Josh wasn’t like the other . . . No. She refused to believe Josh capable of such a thing. An involuntary shudder went through her body. You survived, Dani. It’s behind you now. That’s all that matters
.
******
“Well ain’t this jest real nice’n cozy.”
Danica woke with a start. The sky was still gray. She blinked, and stared up at a couple of bearded faces smirking down at her. Two men hovered over her, with wide grins that showed rotten teeth, and a hunger in their eyes she recognized all too well. She was instantly wide awake. Without looking away from the men, she mentally assessed her surroundings. Josh was still next to her. It seemed as if neither one of them had moved an inch in the night. Danica’s hand slowly felt for the rifle next to her. She thanked the heavens that she had remembered to sheathe her knife back under her dress.
Josh stirred. She touched his chest. He was still too warm. Danica knew he was no match against these men in his weakened state if they meant to hurt him, or her. She shifted away from Josh, and slowly raised herself to a sitting position.
Danica’s mind swirled. She had to think quick. “Good morning, gentlemen. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t expecting company or I’d have risen sooner,” she said, her words cheerful, and in the most lady-like tone and mannerism that might even make per papa proud. She slowly shoved the rifle under Josh’s body, concealing it from view. If he was even awake, he didn’t give any indication.
The two men’s eyes bulged, obviously taken off guard.
“Would one of you fine gentlemen be willing to give a lady a hand?” she smiled sweetly, and held up her arm.
Completely baffled, one of the men scratched his beard, then held out a large beefy hand. Danica swallowed nervously, then placed hers in his calloused palm. She hoped she’d played her cards right. He pulled her from the ground with more force than she was prepared for, and nearly collided with the man. She quickly held out her other hand to ward him off. The sour stench of his unwashed body sent bile up her throat.
“Well ain’t you just a purty little thing,” the man drawled. The other man’s watery eyes roamed up and down her body.
“I’m so glad someone finally came along,” Danica said dramatically, and stepped around the man. Her heart hammered in her chest. She always considered herself a fair judge of character, and her ability to toy with a man’s mind had made her friends envious a time or two. Of course, that had all changed last summer, when . . . In an exaggerated movement, she put her hands to her hips and arched her back. “Oh, my aching back,” she sighed.
“Sweet Jesus, she’s gonna be a mother, Ethan,” the dark haired man who’d been leering at her said, a mixture of horror and awe in his voice. Both men’s eyes shot to Josh on the ground.
“What’s wrong with ‘im?” the one named Ethan asked.
“My, ah, companion was shot by some outlaws, and he’s been trying to get me to Virginia City. I’m afraid he’s taken sick. My family must be out of their mind with worry for me. We could sure use some assistance.”
Danica hoped she gambled correctly. The man’s reaction to her pregnancy was what she hoped for. Her past experience with gold prospectors had been that they mostly talked rough and rude, but most of them were God-fearing men who missed their wives or mothers, and a woman in the family way was almost revered. Although dirty, these men didn’t look to be too dangerous. Their lustful leers from a moment ago turned to looks of awe and unease.
“That thar’s an Injun,” Ethan said. “You been layin’ with an Injun, lady?”
“How dare you make such a claim,” Danica said, her eyebrows furrowed. Her hands shot to her hips. “This man was escorting me from Cooke City to get home to Virginia City, when we were waylaid by some outlaws. I buried my poor husband – rest his soul – on the trail. I’m afraid my clothing got ruined, and a kind band of Indians furnished this outfit for me. Or would it have been preferable had I walked through the dead of winter without anything to wear? What would you have done?” She glared at the men.
Ethan and his companions looked away. They were obviously mulling over what she said.
“Furthermore,” Danica raised her voice and stepped up to the men. Her eyes shot daggers at each of them. “Where did you two spend last night? Right here where I’m standing, it was pretty cold. I have a child to think about, and if you dare suggest any impropriety on my part, I will have my father come after you. He wouldn’t take kindly to someone speaking ill of me. I did what needed to be done to keep warm. Had it been you two I spent the night with,” she jabbed a finger at each of their chests, “rest assured I would have sought out your body heat as well.”
“All right, all right,” Ethan waved his hands in front of him to ward her off. “No need to get yore dander up, lady.”
Danica circled the men, her chin raised. “Well, now that that’s settled, will you assist me and my companion to get to Virginia City?”
“He don’t look so good,” Ethan remarked. “Ya sure he ain’t dead?”
Danica ignored the comment. “Do you have horses?” she asked.
“Got a couple a mules,” Ethan pointed to some shrubs behind him. Two mules stood, laden with packs. These men were definitely prospectors, and poor ones at that. They had no horses to ride.
“Well, go fetch them. We have one horse, and I’ll need you two to help get this man on the animal’s back. When we get to Virginia City, my father will reward you for all your help.”
The two didn’t move. They glanced from her to Josh, then back to each other.
“I’m not sure how much longer this baby’s going to wait,” Danica said impatiently, and clutched her stomach. “If I don’t get to Virginia City soon, you might be delivering him right here on the trail.”
Wide-eyed, the two prospectors scrambled to do as she asked, and headed for their mules. Danica sank to her knees besides Josh.
“Are you awake?” she whispered, and touched his right shoulder, leaning over him. Josh’s eyes opened, and the corners of his mouth twitched. His hand curled around his rifle, his index finger on the trigger.
“That was pretty good. You almost had me believing your story,” he said. “‘Course now, I don’t know what I should believe about anything you’ve told me.” His face grew serious, and his dark brows drew together.
“Believe what you want,” Danica hissed. “But I can’t get you on a horse, and these men seem pretty harmless. We need to get to Virginia City. You need a doctor.”
Josh groaned, and raised himself to a sitting position. His hand rubbed at his temples. “I feel like a herd of bison ran me over, but I can manage on my own. I don’t need help from the likes of those two.”
“Stubbornness is not a virtue.” Danica shot him a heated glare. “If they’re willing to help, take the help.”
“Sounded more like they were badgered into helping,” he grumbled.
“I’ll take help however I can get it,” she shrugged. “It’ll get us to Virginia City. Put your shirt on, and conceal your rifle.”
Josh glared at her. She raised her eyebrows in response. Touching the back of her hand to his forehead, she said, “You’re hardly in any condition to argue with me. You still have a fever.” She dared a glance at his left shoulder. It looked red and angry, but the bleeding had stopped.
His glare turned into a scowl, and Danica smiled. With her hand on his good shoulder for leverage, she pushed herself off the ground and headed for Josh’s horse. Men. Why did they have to be so stubborn? But it was just this hard-headedness that would get Josh through his illness. He was too bull-headed to die, she decided. Did he know she’d slept right next to him all night? She wondered what he’d think of that.
Chapter 5
Danica observed the quiet streets of Virginia City when her little party marched down the main thoroughfare. All around her, shops and buildings were boarded up. The once busy city was slowly dying. A year ago, the city had been busier. Was she the only survivor to return from that ill-fated pleasure trip last summer? She might soon find out. After nearly a year away, this homecoming felt strange. Her heart sped up in nervous anticipation.
She glanced at Josh astride his horse. He hadn’t spoken in
hours, and his upper body swayed precariously over the back of his mount. His shoulders slumped forward, and his head bobbed back and forth. He’d kept his eyes closed most of the time. Danica wasn’t sure if there was a doctor left in town. It pained her to see such a strong man in such an obvious weakened state. A few days of rest, and a proper dressing on his wound should help speed his recovery.
When they passed the bank, Danica stopped. Rather than ride one of the mules, she’d walked the entire distance. It was easier than sitting on an animal. She stared at the building. It wasn’t boarded up, but the windows were in dire need of washing, and the paint was peeling so as to make the words Virginia City First Bank nearly illegible. Had her father packed up and moved on?
“Well, where’d ya say yore pa lives?” Ethan asked, halting his mule next to her. The two prospectors had been polite and friendly with her the entire day. They seemed almost fearful of her. Danica smiled inwardly. They were probably afraid she would give birth at any moment. They’d visibly relaxed once they’d reached the city.
“Just down this street,” Danica pointed to a side street past the bank. Her home would be a few buildings behind the main street, a quaint little Victorian with a white picket fence surrounding a rose garden that her mother used to tend. Her father had let it go after her death, but Martha, their housekeeper, had done her best with the flowers, as had Danica. They turned the corner. She noticed her two companions glance longingly up the street. Faint piano music drifted from the saloon, along with men’s laugher. Apparently there was at least one business establishment that was still doing well in the city.
Danica’s mouth dropped when she stood before her home. The fence was in need of repair, the gate hanging on one hinge. Although she’d expect all the plants and flowers to be dormant this time of year, the patches of snow in the garden could not conceal that weeds had taken over. She walked slowly up the stone path to the front door, her heart beating wildly, not knowing what to expect. Would her father be there? Would Martha? She glanced over her shoulder.
Yellowstone Dawn (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 4) Page 4