“Me Jim’s wife,” Mary said, joining Amanda at the door.
“I see. Well, where’s your man?” Seth eyed Mary in a critical way.
“He hunting. Be back soon.”
Seth grunted, pushed past the women, and ambled into the room, flopping into a chair at the table. Just his presence made Amanda feel uncomfortable, and she quickly uttered a prayer for their safety.
“So have ya got a mule I can have?” Seth asked, looking at Mary.
She cast a quick glance in Amanda’s direction. Was she hoping Amanda would offer him one of the pack mules that had been with her when Harvey Hanson was her guide? That might be the Christian thing to do, but when Amanda headed west again, she’d have to travel lighter, with just one mule to carry her things.
“Besides the mule, I could really use a few supplies,” Seth said, glaring at Mary as though she were his enemy. Amanda didn’t know why, but it seemed as if this ill-mannered man felt contempt for Jim’s Indian wife. Could he have had a run-in with Indians at sometime? Or perhaps he was prejudiced against them because of the color of their skin. Amanda had known people like that back in New York. Even a few people in their church thought they were better than others.
“How you know cabin is here?” Mary asked, giving no response to the man’s request for a mule and supplies.
“I seen your smoke.” Seth pointed to the fireplace. “Knew it weren’t no Injun smoke signals, so I followed it, thinkin’ I might find some help.”
Something about the visitor didn’t seem right, and Amanda had felt a keen sense of dislike toward him since he’d first entered the cabin. She brought herself up short, wondering if she, too, was being prejudiced. Or could the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach be a warning that this man wasn’t to be trusted? The sense of apprehension felt similar to when the Blackfeet had surrounded Amanda and her guide.
“I’m plumb tired,” Seth said, yawning. “Have ya got a place where I can bed down for the night?”
Amanda drew back, wincing from the foul breath he’d just expelled. She looked at Mary and couldn’t miss her look of surprise. At no point had either of them said the man was welcome to stay here for the night. Where is Buck? Amanda wondered again. Did this horrible man do something to him?
“Say now, I can sleep right there!” Seth motioned to the mat in front of the fireplace where Buck had been sleeping since he’d been injured. Amanda couldn’t believe the nerve of this unpleasant man.
Seth sniffed the air. “Is that coffee I smell? If so, I’d sure like some.” He turned to face Mary. “Pour me a cup.” The man was so rude!
Mary nodded curtly, but before she started for the stove, Seth hollered, “On second thought, have ya got anything stronger’n coffee?”
Amanda looked at Mary again, hoping she could read her thoughts. If there was any whiskey in the cabin, she hoped Mary wouldn’t offer it to Seth. She knew from seeing drunkards on the streets back home that it could do terrible things—turning a normally kindhearted man into a monster of sorts. And she was sure that Seth Burrows was no kindhearted man.
“Only coffee and water here to drink,” Mary was quick to say.
Amanda breathed a sigh of relief.
Seth grunted. “Coffee it’ll hafta be then.”
Mary poured the man some coffee; then she stood with Amanda, watching the man gulp it down like he was desperate for something to drink. It was almost comical, because Amanda had never seen anyone drink hot coffee that fast before. She suspected at any moment that he’d let out a yell, but he acted no different than if he’d just swallowed some cold mountain water.
“Where’s Buck?” Mary whispered to Amanda.
“I … I don’t know,” Amanda replied, keeping her voice low. “When I opened the door, I didn’t see him anywhere in the yard.”
“Say, ya wouldn’t have anything for me to eat, would ya?” he asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I ain’t had nothin’ in my belly since yesterday mornin’.”
“There is some stew left over from our noon meal,” Amanda said. “I can warm that up for thee, Mr. Burrows.” If the man really had gone that long without eating, they could hardly send him away with an empty stomach. Whether he was here to start trouble or just a poor fellow down on his luck, she hoped he’d be on his way after he ate. She was even considering letting him have one of the mules.
“Seth. Just call me Seth. And sure, I’ll take some of that stew.” He looked at Amanda, winked, and grinned.
Maybe if he eats, he’ll leave quicker, Amanda told herself as she reheated the stew. If only Jim or Buck were here, or even Thunder. It was unsettling to think that she and Mary were alone in the cabin with this stranger. She wondered if Mary felt as uncomfortable as she did. The man was so big and his odor hard to tolerate. His presence seemed to fill the whole room. Amanda was tempted to walk outside and stand on the porch, hoping to see Buck approaching. But there was no way she would leave poor Mary and her baby alone with this brute of a man. Besides, to get to the door, she would have to walk past Seth, and she definitely didn’t want to do that. Where art thou, Buck? Please come back to the cabin, and soon.
CHAPTER 22
Wa-a-a! Wa-a-a! Wa-a-a!
“It’s Little Joe,” Mary said to Amanda. “I need tend to him.”
“It’s fine, Mary,” Amanda replied. “Go do what you need to do.”
Seth, apparently unmindful of the baby’s cries, gulped down his plate of stew. Dribbles of the sauce clung to his beard as he picked up the dish to lick off what was left. This man ate like an animal, and the putrid smell of him had become overbearing.
The baby’s cries grew louder, so Mary hurried to the bedroom to feed him.
Seth looked at Amanda. “So she’s got a baby, huh?”
She gave a quick nod.
“Boy or girl?”
“Mary and Jim have a son.”
“Ah, I see.” Seth sneered at Amanda in such a way that it caused her to shudder. “What’s a purty little thing like you doin’ in a place like this?” he asked.
Trying not to let him see her anxiety, Amanda asked, “Didst thou get enough to eat?”
Seth rubbed his belly. “Oh yeah, but I could always use more.”
Amanda took the bowl and started toward the stove. “I will get thee more stew.” Before she could get there, Seth reached out his calloused hand and grabbed her arm. “Forget about the stew for now. I wanna talk to you, purty lady.”
“About what?” she squeaked. “And please, let go of my arm.” Amanda thought about saying she had a husband who was out for a walk, hoping that might cause Seth to think twice about touching her, but she’d never believed it was right to tell an untruth and doubted she’d be convincing if she did make up a story. If she lied to Seth, he’d probably catch on to the truth, and that might make matters worse.
“Well now, ain’t ya jest the high and mighty one?” Seth tightened his grip and squinted his beady green eyes at her. “You ain’t really in no position to be givin’ orders.”
Amanda’s eyes burned, but knowing she needed to remain strong, she would not give in to her tears. She could smell the man’s disgusting body odor even more clearly as he held her firmly in his grip. Her stomach churned.
“I’d be happy to serve thee more stew, or maybe some biscuits?” she said, trying to keep her voice steady so he wouldn’t know how frightened she was.
“It ain’t just food I’m hungry for,” Seth said, jiggling his shaggy eyebrows.
Amanda twisted her body, trying to free herself from the evil man’s grasp, but he held her tightly. She couldn’t pry his fingers loose from around her arm. She gasped when he pulled her roughly against his side and then onto his lap.
“Let woman go!” Mary shouted, rushing into the room.
“Shut up, Injun!” Seth hollered. “This ain’t none of your business!” He grabbed Amanda’s chin, twisted her head toward him, and gave her a smothering kiss.
Amanda nearly
gagged as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. She had never smelled anything so repulsive as this man’s rancid breath. And she could only hold her own breath for just so long or she would surely pass out.
Mary leaped forward and clawed frantically at the man’s neck and face. That only seemed to anger him further. “You’re a real wildcat, ain’t ya, you little heathen? Well, I can tame ya. I’ve taken on mountain lions that had more fire in ’em than any Injun, and I always won!”
Seth let go of Amanda, and jumped up, hurling the chair aside and knocking Amanda to the floor. He raised his arm, and whack! He backhanded Mary’s face so hard that her head jerked to one side. Clasping his hands around Amanda’s neck, he pulled her up and pressed her tightly to his chest.
She squirmed, coughing and gasping for air. Oh dear Lord, help us, please!
Mary bit the man’s shoulder. He let out a yelp and released his hold on Amanda. The commotion woke Little Joe again, and he began to howl. Mary started for the bedroom, but Seth tripped her and she fell to the floor, hitting her head on the corner of a chair.
Amanda started crawling across the floor. If only she could get to the kettle of stew. It was still hot, and she might be able to use it as a weapon. She was almost there when Seth’s bulky hand grabbed hold of her arm, and he commanded her to stand.
“Where do ya think you’re goin’, missy?” Seth buried his face in Amanda’s hair, which now hung freely around her face. “Tryin’ to sneak off, are ya?”
Amanda screamed when she looked over at Mary and saw blood running down her face. “Mary! Mary, art thou all right?”
“Aw, she’s fine. Just a little whack on the head.” Seth, breathing rapidly, kissed Amanda a second time. Turning her head away from his crushing lips, she tried to free herself from his grasp, but he was much stronger than she. He held her in a vise-like grip, and Amanda felt as if her spine was about to snap.
The cabin door flew open, and Buck burst into the room. “What’s goin’ on?” Looking at Seth, Buck rushed at the man and knocked him to the floor, but Seth didn’t break his grip and took Amanda down with him.
Then, pulling Amanda up with him, the big man got up, grabbed his knife from its sheath on his leather belt, and held it against Amanda’s throat. “Come at me again, and this woman is dead!” he bellowed.
Mary scooted across the floor to the bedroom, where Little Joe now whimpered. She hoped he would go back to sleep. Turning to watch the challenge between the two men, Mary wondered how she could help. Should she make a noise, hoping Seth would look her way? That might give Buck an advantage. Or should she find something to hit him with? If she could sneak up behind the crazed man and knock him out, they would be okay.
Too many times Mary had seen attacks like this one on women captives in the Blackfoot village. She was not about to let it happen here in her home. Not if she could help it.
Mary looked over and saw the kettle of hot stew. Steam rose readily from the top. Feeling more confident as she inched her way closer to the stove, she planned her attack.
Buck stood rigidly, trying to decide his next move. The crazed man meant business. If Buck didn’t comply with his wishes, he would probably slit Amanda’s throat. Buck had come across this type of man before, and his kind had no morals or conscience.
“Put down the knife,” Buck demanded. “The woman’s done nothin’ to you.”
“No way!” The man shook his head. “I aim to take what I want!”
Behind the attacker, Buck saw Mary edging closer to the kettle of stew. He knew what she was thinking, and he had to do something quick because she could end up getting hurt. Jim would never forgive him if he let anything happen to Mary or the baby.
Buck was about to pull his own knife out of the sheath, when the big man hollered, “Better not! You do like I told ya now, or the women will pay.”
Amanda’s face was paler than snow, her eyes wide with fear, as she hung limply over the intruder’s arm.
Reluctantly, Buck placed his knife on the kitchen table, stepped back, and raised both hands, to show the other man his good intentions.
“That’s better. Now open the door and stand aside,” the man ordered gruffly.
“Just let the woman go.” Buck’s hands itched to lunge for his knife, but he couldn’t risk Amanda getting hurt.
The man snorted loudly. “You ain’t in no position to be tellin’ me what to do. I’m takin’ this woman as well as one of them pack mules I seen outside, and there ain’t nothin you can do about it. Now open that door and stand aside!”
“Do what man says,” Mary spoke up. “Don’t let him hurt Amanda.”
Buck held his breath, but the man didn’t seem to notice that Mary had moved. Reluctantly, Buck edged his way toward the door and gave it a hard yank. It swung open, letting in a blast of warm air. If he was going to save Amanda, he’d have to do something quick.
The big brute maneuvered his way across the room, pulling Amanda helplessly along. Just as they stepped through the open doorway, Buck called, “Get him, dog!”
Thunder, who had been lying on the front porch, leaped to his feet and, with a piercing, wolf-like snarl, dove straight for the enemy’s leg.
Caught off guard, the man let out a yelp and dropped the knife. Then he staggered and fell to the ground, taking Amanda with him.
Buck bent down and grabbed the knife. “Hold him there, Thunder!”
The dog bared his teeth, and his hair bristled as he hovered hungrily over his prey. Unless the man had no common sense, he wasn’t going anywhere.
Buck bent down to check on Amanda, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Pulling her gently to her feet, he said, “Go back into the cabin.” He then dropped to his knees and held the tip of the knife against the man’s throat. “You hurt Amanda, and now you’re gonna pay with your life.”
Looking up at him with pleading eyes and trembling lips, the man begged for mercy. “Please don’t kill me, mister. Your woman came on to me.”
“You’re lying—I know better than that!” It was all Buck could do to keep from taking the man’s life right there on the spot. “I’ve seen your kind before. You take what ain’t yours and don’t care how ya get it. I oughta kill ya right this minute and be done with it!”
“Please, don’t do it,” Amanda pleaded from the porch. “God’s Word says ‘thou shalt not kill.’ It wouldn’t be right.”
“If ya spare my life, I’ll leave this place and be gone without another word,” the big man said. “Honest, I will.”
Reluctantly, Buck slowly lowered his knife. “Get up, ya filthy animal, and get outta here before I change my mind!”
The man rose slowly to his feet. “What about that mule I’m needin’? Ya know I can’t make it outta here on foot.”
“You’ll be gettin’ no mule. Now get going!” Buck shouted.
“But I need some form of weapon. My knife’s all I got now that my gun and all the supplies I had are at the bottom of the river. Ya wouldn’t send a man into the wilderness without some form of protection, would ya?”
Buck grunted through clenched teeth. “You ain’t much of a man. You oughtta be grateful I spared your life.”
The big fellow limped off, cursing under his breath, “I’ll get even with ya someday; just see if I don’t. You’ll get your just reward.”
As Buck watched the man disappear into the woods, he muttered, “It ain’t me who’s gonna get their just reward.” Looking down at Thunder, he said, “Good boy! Now, stay out here and stand guard till Jim gets home.”
Thunder looked up at him and whined. Then he took his place on the front porch. It wasn’t likely that the intruder would return, but if he did, Buck wouldn’t let him off so easy.
CHAPTER 23
Me fine,” Mary said after Amanda had tended to the wound on her head. “Bleeding stopped now. No hurt.”
Amanda smiled. “You’re a woman of courage, Mary. You stood up to Seth Burrows and didn’t back down.”
“I thi
nk you were both pretty brave fightin’ off a man of that size,” Buck said, picking up the chair that had fallen over.
Mary’s forehead creased. “Me not always a woman of courage. Once, when try to run away from Blackfeet, I scared of everything. But now, with baby son, I would fight like she-cat to protect him.”
Amanda placed her hand gently on Mary’s arm. “Would you mind telling us how you tried to escape the Blackfeet?”
“I tell you all about it,” Mary said, glancing toward the room where her son now slept peacefully. “Many weeks I gather supplies for journey. When left alone in the tepee, I gather dried pemmican, buffalo jerky, and kouse cakes. Hid them under bedding. Put each in different place, so no lumps show through top of sleeping mat.” She grimaced. “Winter come soon. I know if going to escape, it need to be then. Make choice to leave that night.”
Amanda and Buck listened as Mary leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and relived the past.
Yellow Bird lay motionless on her mat, listening to the sounds of the night. An owl hooted from somewhere outside, and one of the Indian ponies, corralled nearby, whinnied as if in response. Inside the tepee, she heard heavy breathing from the other two women, accompanied by the sound of Smoking Buffalo’s deep snores.
Slowly, quietly, Yellow Bird crawled out from under her buffalo robe. She waited until she was certain that everyone was asleep. Then, reaching under the mat for her food supplies, she tied them inside a piece of deer hide and slipped into her tunic and moccasins. She stuffed some larger deer hides under her sleeping robe, so it would appear as if she were still asleep. On hands and knees, she crept toward the door flap.
When Smoking Buffalo rolled over and grunted, Yellow Bird halted, holding her breath. She felt the blood race through her veins as she hunkered down close to the tent floor, waiting to see if he would awaken. His snoring continued, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She longed to reach out as she passed the sleeping man, snatch away the knife lying close to his side, and take her revenge. But it wasn’t worth the risk. Freedom would be better than revenge.
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