White Nights

by Susan Edwards

  Coralie pulled her onward. “Boy, is your mind muddled. How can you possibly think you could hide the fact that you’ve suddenly developed a figure? I’d like to see you try to bind your breasts now. That wouldn’t work.” She laughed. “Sadly, Jessie, your days of passing yourself off as a boy are over.” Coralie frowned for a moment, staring at Jessie’s middle. “And those shirts don’t hide the swelling, though how you can already be showing when I’m just barely showing is beyond me.”

  In front of Jessie and Coralie, Anne and Eirica turned their heads. Pleased smiles confirmed that Coralie was right. They knew. “All right, I didn’t want anyone to worry,” Jessie grumbled, rubbing her stomach. “Wolf is bad enough.” She wrinkled her nose then sighed. “Well, since you’re so smug about it, you’re helping Rook tonight. I’m so tired, all I want to do is sleep.”

  Laughing, Coralie nodded, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness. “Guess what? I think I felt my baby move yesterday. It was just a strange little flutter, but Anne and Eirica said that’s what it feels like at first.” Coralie looked pleased, one hand pressing against her abdomen.

  Eirica and Anne joined in for a lively discussion and soon all of them were chattering excitedly, their trepidation about the descent forgotten as the woman exchanged knowledge and discussed possible baby names. By the time they finished the climb down, Eirica and Anne had promised to help Jessie make some more dresses.

  Coralie nudged Jessie. “I’m going to make your baby a frilly pink dress.”

  Everyone laughed. Eirica couldn’t imagine Jessie dressing any daughter of hers in frills and lace.

  “I have so much, you and Coralie could share,” Eirica offered, thinking of all the wonderful gifts she’d received. She appreciated the work that had gone into her own baby gifts and was eager to join in on the new sewing marathon to come. Coralie had already given her some material to make Jessie a wrapper dress. And Eirica knew Sofia and Anne were also busy with their sewing projects. But she had so much, she felt guilty.

  “Nope,” Jessie said with a laugh. “I have a feeling my brother will want more children. You’ll need them.”

  Eirica blushed. “I’d like to have James’s baby,” she said softly, staring down into her daughter’s wide blue eyes. “Maybe a boy next time—with his daddy’s black hair and green eyes.”

  Everyone sighed happily. “I can’t believe how much has happened in the last five months. We’ve had a wedding, a birth and now the two of you are with child.”

  “And soon to be another wedding.” Jessie smiled.

  Eirica felt her eyes tear up. “I hope so.” She kept to herself her fears of the future.

  “You don’t know my brother. Stubbornness and determination are the traits of us Joneses.”

  Coralie looked smug for a moment, then whispered, “If you want my opinion, we’re going to have three more weddings.” She glanced at Sofia and Catarina.

  Talk turned to Catarina and Elliot’s courtship, then to the blossoming romance between Sofia and Rook. Lost in her own dreams of her own future, one Eirica clung to, she and the others began the walk across the Grande Ronde Valley.

  A few days later, the emigrants ascended into the densely wooded Blue Mountains. Towering pine spruce and balsam all but blocked the narrow trail through the thickly forested mountain. Beside the trail, tall grass and weeds were a welcome sight after the choking dust of the arid desert, and the bracing air and deep shade were a relief after the parching heat.

  The sound of birds singing overhead completed the pastoral scene and made Eirica feel as though they’d stepped into another world. Echoing throughout the woods, voices of fellow travelers were heard, though the emigrants could only see those who were directly in front of them on the winding road through the forest. Even the sky above was nearly blotted out by the gigantic trees. Though the sounds gave a sense of unity in their one common goal, the thickness of the forest retained a feeling of privacy.

  Periodically, gunfire sounded. Game was once again in abundance for those who sought it, as were berries and other edible plants. And for the first time in months, firewood was plentiful.

  They were into the fourth week of September, so fear of snow kept them moving, pushing themselves and their animals ever forward. The going was slow and rough, but the mood was lighter, filled with hope. They were nearly to their destinations.

  During what would probably be one of their last days of rest, Eirica and James sat in front of the Macauley tent with a fire burning brightly. The flames took the edge off the chill in the air, though James also had made it bigger than normal to set the mood. He cradled Eirica between his thighs, her head resting in the crook of his neck and shoulder. In silence, they sat in the warm glow with a canopy of stars, bright as sparkling jewels, peeping through the treetops overhead.

  James sat lost in thought. He didn’t see the golden-orange and red flames as they licked at the generous pile of logs and twigs. Nor did he hear the occasional sparks as they popped and floated toward the starry heavens only to cool and fall back to the earth.

  Fear of losing Eirica once they reached Oregon ate at him. A restless panic was beginning to assail him and it grew steadily worse with each mile covered. He tried to hide it from Eirica, but he knew she, too, feared what awaited them. Birk had made sure they knew he was in front of them.

  They’d found Lara’s moccasin hanging from the limb of a tree just that morning, not far from where they’d camped for the night. And they’d found another lock of Lara’s hair stuck in the bleached-white broken skull of an oxen shortly at Farewell Bend. Only the cut hem of her dress hadn’t been found. Either Birk was saving it or they’d missed it.

  Though Lara had finally begun talking again, she still wouldn’t go off without either James, Eirica, Rook or Jessie. James knew it’d take a long time for her to again feel safe. And her frightening ordeal had affected Alison as well. It’d taken James a lot of work to bring back the eager, adventurous child who dogged his steps whenever she could.

  What would happen to them when Birk came after them? And he would. Sooner or later, that bastard would show up and undo all the work he and Eirica had accomplished with the two girls. He sighed, wishing he knew what to do.

  The mere thought of losing Eirica filled him with such despair, he couldn’t bear to think of it. Somehow they had to find a way for Eirica to divorce Birk. Then came the harder task of safeguarding her and the children once Eirica was free. But how? He couldn’t be around them every minute of the day. His own sense of helplessness nearly drove him crazy. He hated this. He hated the wondering and waiting and worrying.

  Eirica glanced up at him then lifted one hand to his taut jaw. “There’s not much we can do now, James. As you said, one day at a time.”

  James leaned into her hand. “The fear of failing you hurts. What if I can’t keep you safe in Oregon?”

  Eirica turned in his arms, sitting sideways across his lap. “You’ve told me more times than I can count to be strong. Now I’m telling you the same thing. We have to be strong, and we can only do our best.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “I’m afraid, too, James. But we’ve taken precautions, the rest is a waiting game and my husb—Birk knows it. We can’t allow fear to rule us, or come between us. If we do, he wins. We have to stay calm and alert. That is how we will win against him. Once Birk gets angry, he loses all control. But we’ll have plans. We’ll outsmart him.”

  James stroked her hair. “He could be out there, watching us even as we speak. Maybe this fire isn’t a good idea.” James peered into the surrounding darkness, hating the idea of Birk watching them, and wondering what might push the man over the edge.

  “This fire is heavenly. Sitting with you in front of it makes me want to do this for the rest of my life. I’m determined we will spend our evenings together in front of a beautiful fire like this one. If Birk is out there, there’s nothing much we can do now but ignore it.”

  Eirica took his hand in hers and brought it to her face. W
here once she’d been afraid of his hands, now she loved the feel of his rough, callused palm against her face. She leaned into his hand, seeking the words to comfort him as he’d always done for her.

  “With Sadie and Wahoska prowling the area, Birk won’t be anywhere near us.” Unspoken was the knowledge that the wolf had attacked Birk. Jessie had told them of the cloth she’d found. Several times lately, both animals had started barking for no apparent reason. James felt some measure of comfort in her words. She was right. Neither animal would let Birk too close.

  Eirica watched James, willing him to put his worries aside. She, too, feared what the future held in store for them, and worried about Birk. But that only made her more determined to take advantage of each and every minute with James. If their time together was short, she refused to allow Birk to taint it. She’d done what she could to protect her family. Without James’s knowledge, she’d made arrangements with Jessie to take care of her children if something happened to her and James. Birk would not get his hands on them. Jessie and Wolf had promised to do whatever it took to protect them and raise them. Her friends would hide them, then take them back to the Nebraska Territory when they went.

  She waited for James to say something, hating to see the worry clouding his gaze. Like her daughter Lara, James was a worrier, and tended to stew, regardless if there was much he could do about the situation. Rising onto her knees, she pressed her lips to his in a quick kiss, then she sat back on her heels.

  “James Noah Jones, you will stop this instant! I won’t have our time together ruined by the man I had the unfortunate error as a young, naive girl to marry. I have to believe that the Lord, who has shown me what love is, will protect us and allow us to marry and live without fear.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and stretched her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. “Now kiss me. No sense letting this beautiful fire and wonderful night go to waste.”

  She sighed when he finally gathered her close.

  “Anyone ever tell you that you’re getting mighty bossy?” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm.

  Eirica playfully bit his earlobe. “You, every night for the last week.” She pulled back so she could look at him. “But tonight, I’m serious. We’re a team, remember? We’ll work it out together.”

  She pulled out the stone and dropped it in his palm. “Trust me.”

  James clenched the rock and smiled at her, his eyes full of love and tenderness. “With all my heart.” Then he lowered his head.

  If there was a hint of desperation in their embrace, in the frantic need each conveyed to the other as their mouths met for a long kiss, it left them both breathless and aching for more.

  Eirica fought her desire for James. Though they’d not made love since discovering Birk was still alive, she couldn’t cut off all contact with James. Sitting together in the evenings, stealing a kiss here and there, had to suffice. And if they couldn’t marry, well, she’d decide then what to do with the urges and needs welling inside her. But the one thing she didn’t want to risk was becoming with child. As much as she wanted James’s baby, she wanted that baby born with his name—a legal part of her family, not bastard-born.

  Eirica sighed when James lifted his head to stare at her, his eyes unreadable.

  “I love you, James,” she whispered.

  “Not as much as I love you.” He angled his mouth back over hers.

  By the time they broke apart and turned to the fire, cuddled together, there was no struggle as to who loved whom more. It was a tie, and their love continued to build—which made their vows to fight for the future even stronger.

  A week later, the emigrants stood teary-eyed at a point before The Dalles. The Svenssons had decided to leave Wolf’s party and take the river route the rest of the way into Oregon. They planned on ferrying down the Columbia River to Fort Vancouver, then navigate up the Willamette River to claim their new land. With the herd of cattle and the horses, Wolf had decided to take the overland route through the Barlow Road.

  Jessie, Coralie, Eirica, Sofia, Catarina and Anne stood hugging and crying, their handkerchiefs sodden with their farewell tears. “I’m going to miss you, Anne,” Eirica cried, hugging the woman. She’d become a good friend and role model. One day, she, too, would have a marriage as wonderful as Anne and Lars did. She stepped back to allow Jessie her turn to hug the woman. Jessie wore the new calico dress Anne had made with fabric Coralie had given to her. Eirica smiled. It was odd to see Jessie in a dress, a beautiful woman instead of the tomboy they’d met at the beginning of the expedition.

  Anne sniffed. “We’ll see you in Oregon City. I’ll leave word where we go. We’ll find each other again, I promise you all.” Anne then turned to the others. “Who knows, we might be neighbors,” she offered in an effort to make the parting less painful.

  Wolf, Jordan, James, Rook and Elliot stepped forward to each claim his woman. “Dry your tears, woman,” Lars ordered his wife gruffly. “It’s time to go.”

  Lars led Anne away. She turned and waved. Eirica picked up Lara and together, they waved to Hanna and Kerstin. How she’d miss them. Behind her, Jessie’s frantic voice drew her attention.

  “Wolf, where’s Rickard? I haven’t said my goodbyes. They can’t leave until I see him.”

  “Jessica, you’ll see them soon.”

  Jessie turned away and ran to her wagon, tears streaming down her cheeks. She hadn’t realized how much she’d miss Anne’s youngest boy. He’d become the younger brother she didn’t have: someone who looked up to her, wanted to be like her. She’d spent the last five months teaching him everything she knew. She smiled through her tears, recalling his difficulty in handling the oxen on the day they’d left Westport. She’d resented him, hated the idea that he was to be in charge of her team. That was back when Wolf hadn’t trusted her. But Rickard’s own lack of experience had triggered something in her; she’d been the one who taught him to snap a whip and handle the oxen.

  And when he’d shot himself in the foot trying, along with the rest of the emigrants, to keep the stampeding herd of cattle from their wagons, she’d taught him how to handle his weapon. Pride filled her. While he still was not as good a shot as she was, he was improving. And with the whip, he’d excelled. When he cracked it now, it sounded like lightning.

  “Jessie?”

  She turned at the sound of his voice. Letting out a cry of relieved joy, she ran to him. They held each other tight. “I’ll miss you, Rickard.”

  “I’ll miss you, too, Jessie. I ain’t never had an older sister till I met you.”

  Jessie sniffed. “You take care. Don’t shoot yourself or fall in the water or do anything else stupid. If you do, you’ll answer to me.”

  Rickard grinned. “I won’t.” His gaze slid toward the wagon where the pups were yapping, protesting at having to be confined to the wagon.

  Lars shouted for Rickard. The boy shifted from one foot to the other. “I guess I gotta go.”

  Jessie grinned with anticipation. “Wait. I have something for you.”

  She reached inside the wagon and pulled out the pup with the white face, his pup, complete with a collar around its neck and a length of rope attached. A pink bow attached to the collar was Coralie’s insistent contribution. “She’s yours. You’d better take care of her, you hear?”

  Rickard’s face split into a wide grin. “Oh, wow! Gee, thanks, Jess!” He hugged the pup close and giggled when the furry animal twisted around to lick his face. After a final hug, he ran back to his parents with his precious bundle stuffed down his shirt.

  All too soon, Wolf indicated that it was time for the rest of them to move out as well.

  For the two men hidden along the trail, revenge was nearly within their grasp. Birk and Zeb lay on their bellies, concealed beneath some bushes high on the hillside. Birk had been relieved that the group had split—there were now fewer of them to deal with in Oregon.

  Right now, Wolf and the Joneses posed his biggest problem in getting to Eirica
, them and those damn animals. Anytime he got too close, he’d stumble across the dog or wolf prowling around the perimeter of the camp. And whenever Eirica left the camp, it was always with them damn Joneses. They never let her or his brats out of their sight. He fingered his shotgun.

  Before this was over, James Jones would be a dead man.

  Somehow, he’d get Eirica back. Maybe he’d just grab her, the hell with his children. They were too much trouble. He frowned, knowing it’d take him a while to get his wife back to being submissive again. He didn’t like the changes he’d seen in her when spying on her. She’d gotten too independent. Perhaps he’d have to take at least one of his brats with him. Maybe Lara, the quiet one. He could keep her, at least until he had Eirica away from the others. He planned on heading down to California, taking her as far from those friends of hers as he could.

  While Zeb scouted ahead, checking on Wolf’s wagon train—they’d decided to fall behind and tail the group so there was no chance of losing them—Birk helped himself to the whiskey flask. It was nearly empty. They’d have to find more, maybe tonight. He lay there, in the thick pile of leaves and compost on the forest floor, and let his mind wander to the enjoyment of reclaiming Eirica.

  Imagining her fear, her cowering before him made him squirm with excitement. Damn, his need was growing. He needed release. Though he’d eased his stiffness many times on his own, his body wouldn’t be satisfied until he was able to lie between her legs, see her fear and hear her cries as he forced her to submit to his dominance of her body.

  He groaned, emptied the bottle and tossed it away. Suddenly, Zeb returned from his scouting. “Now’s our chance. Them women is up ahead, alone. One of the wagons broke an axle and the menfolk are dealing with it. It’ll be a while afore they get it goin’. I say we get ’em now.”

  Zeb fingered the deep scar that ran the length of one cheek. He took his knife from his sheath and ran his finger down the long blade. “I gots me a score to settle with that bitch with tha whip.”