A Love to Last Forever

by Tracie Peterson

  This only served to draw the animal’s attention. The bear turned from Major and started back toward Lacy. She took several steps backward, only to stumble on a tree root and fall. She hit the dirt hard as Major rushed to intercept. The bear bit into Major’s hip, then whipped his head to one side, tossing the dog as he did. Lacy couldn’t suppress a scream. What was she to do? She had foolishly left her gun at the house.

  She scooted back as the bear started toward her once again. A commotion to her right caused Lacy to turn her attention only momentarily away from the animal. Rafe and Cubby halted a short distance away while Dave Shepard raised a rifle and fired a shot at the bear, barely missing the beast. The blast startled the animal enough that he took off, back into the brush, and disappeared down the river.

  “Cubby, go get my gun—the big one. I’m going bear hunting,” Rafe announced. “Seems that fellow would make a right good coat.”

  Heart still pounding, Lacy hurried to Major’s side. The dark stain of blood was saturating his coat, especially near his chest and hip, but from what Lacy could tell, the wounds didn’t seem too debilitating. She tried to lift him in her arms but soon found Dave at her side.

  “Lead the way. I’ll bring him.” He gently lifted Major.

  Lacy nodded and headed for the house. Soon Gwen and Beth appeared on the steps.

  “We heard shots,” Gwen announced.

  “That bear is back,” Lacy said rather breathlessly. “He attacked Major.”

  “He was trying to attack Lacy,” Dave said, coming up behind her.

  “Dave fired at him, but he got away,” Lacy added.

  Beth hurried ahead of them to put an oiled tablecloth down on one of the trestle tables. “Put him here,” she directed.

  Major whimpered but lay perfectly still as Dave inspected his wounds. “The cut on his chest is worse than the bite on his flank. Still, I don’t think it’s too bad. The bleeding has stopped.”

  “Poor Major,” Lacy said, pressing her face against the dog’s. “You saved my life, boy. Such a good dog.”

  “Sounds like Dave did his part, too,” Gwen said, bringing water and a rag to clean Major’s wounds.

  Lacy turned to Dave and nodded. “Yes, thank you. I’m glad you showed up when you did.”

  “I was talking with Rafe when we heard you scream. I knew it couldn’t be good.” He smiled. “You’re not given to screaming.”

  “He caught me off guard when he charged us,” Lacy admitted. “I was visiting Pa’s grave and didn’t think to take the rifle. We must’ve startled him when we headed home.” Lacy felt rather dizzy and reached for the back of the chair. She supposed the excitement had just caught up with her.

  “We’ll take care of Major,” Gwen told Lacy. “Why don’t you go rest a bit.”

  “Yeah, come on. Let’s go sit on the porch while you get your breath,” Dave told her. He took hold of her arm and led Lacy through the house.

  Lacy didn’t protest. She hated to appear vulnerable to anyone, least of all Dave Shepard, but at this point she knew it was futile to fight. Easing into a rocker on the front porch, Lacy drew a deep breath and steadied her nerves.

  “That was a close call,” Dave said, leaning back against the porch railing.

  “Yes.” Lacy said nothing more.

  For several minutes, neither one spoke. Dave broke the silence with a surprising comment. “You really hate it, don’t you?”

  Lacy looked up at him. He was watching her intently.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Having to take help. Letting someone else be in control.”

  “Does anyone like it?” she asked, trying hard not to let anger get the better of her emotions.

  “I don’t know. Sometimes it’s nice to have help—to have someone at your side.”

  “That only works if the person is trustworthy, and you can count on them to do what they say they’ll do.”

  “I suppose there’s something to that. Still, I know you hate taking help. I guess it makes you feel vulnerable.”

  “You guess that, do you?” Lacy’s temper began to flare. “Well, you’re right. I don’t like being vulnerable. I’ve been vulnerable all of my life. You never had to put your mother in the ground. You never had to sit alone in a house in the middle of nowhere while your Pa and sisters were elsewhere and wonder if they would ever come back home. No, Dave, vulnerable isn’t a state I enjoy one bit.”

  “I’m sure it was hard.” The timbre of his voice was low and hushed.

  His soft-spoken answer surprised Lacy. She had expected him to give her a hard time about her confession. Almost against her will, Lacy continued. “You think I’m wrong for being self-determined and trying to take matters into my own hands, but all of my life, that’s the only choice I had. You don’t know what it’s like.”

  “You’re right. I don’t.”

  Lacy felt uncomfortable with the tenderness in his voice. She stiffened. “Sometimes I think men like to keep women vulnerable so that they can feel better about themselves. But out here women can’t afford it. It isn’t a luxury that can be had. It’ll just get you killed. Could have gotten me that way today. Next time I won’t be so stupid. I’ll take the rifle with me.”

  Lacy got to her feet. “I have chores to do.” She headed for the door and stopped. She looked back at Dave, who continued to watch her. “Thanks again for what you did.”

  Dave said nothing as Lacy entered the house. He wanted to hold on to the sensation, the knowledge that he’d connected with Lacy . . . at least in some small way.

  “I didn’t know you were still here.”

  Gwen’s voice caught Dave’s attention.

  “Yeah, I guess I’ve been thinking.”

  “I was just going to take Hank some lunch at the store,” she said, holding up a covered plate. “You’re welcome to eat something with us.”

  He shook his head. “No, I ought to be getting on my way. I have some things to take care of.”

  “I’m certainly glad you were here to ward off that bear. Hopefully Rafe will track him down.”

  “My guess is food is scarce, or else the grizzlies have taken over his territory. He didn’t look to be sickly.”

  “Well, he’s been around too much,” Gwen countered. “I heard from Hank that he’s been wreaking havoc with the livestock. I’m surprised no one has caught him yet, but now that he’s getting bolder about his attacks, someone is sure to.”

  Gwen started down the steps, and Dave followed. “I’ve never seen Lacy quite like that.”

  Dave stopped as Gwen turned. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, it’s just that she was more like I’d expect a woman to be. She is always so headstrong, so to see her in need . . . It was different to see her that way.”

  Gwen nodded. “Lacy wants everyone to think she’s capable and strong, but if she were able to admit it, she has a great deal of fear inside.”

  “I’m seeing that for the first time,” Dave said.

  “Well, now that you have, I hope you’ll be . . . well . . . careful with her. Watch out for her.”

  “What are you saying, Gwen?”

  Gwen glanced back at the house and frowned. “She’s got it in her mind again to go after the man who killed our father. I thought I had her talked out of it, but she’s stirred up again, with it being close to the anniversary of his death. I’m afraid for her, Dave.”

  He clenched his jaw. Lacy was convinced he’d failed to do his job where her father was concerned. If only she knew how hard he’d worked to learn the truth—how he was still working on the matter.

  “She told me a while back that she couldn’t keep her promise to me any longer. I expect she’ll be sneaking around Rafe’s again and getting herself into harm’s way.”

  “I hope not. I’d hate to have to arrest her for trespassing.” Dave found himself in an impossible situation.

  “Look, I believe you care about what happens to her—to all of us,” Gwen offered, �
�but you have to understand that Lacy has never seen our father’s death as an accident.”

  “I know that, and I understand her position.”

  “You do?” Gwen looked at him oddly. “Do you believe it was something more than a mishap?”

  “Possibly,” Dave admitted, “but I’d rather you not say anything about it to anyone else. There are things going on around here that I’d like to uncover and get to the bottom of, but if too many people are looking into it, I won’t have as much luck.”

  Gwen nodded. “I suppose that makes sense. Lacy won’t understand, but I think I do.”

  “I’ll try to keep Lacy out of it as much as possible.”

  “Be kind to her, Dave. She’s fragile. She doesn’t want anyone to know it, but she is.”

  Dave slowly smiled. “I’ll look after her. Don’t worry.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  With spring roundup concluded, Rafe opened his saloon to the inevitable celebrations and festivities that appealed to many of the local ranchers and their hands. Gallatin House filled up fast with men seeking a good hot meal, bath, and shave before they headed out for a night of debauchery.

  Beth had experienced this routine since they’d first taken on the place, but she’d never gotten used to the noise and senselessness of it. Besides, this year it only served as a painful reminder of their father’s death.

  With dozens of men loitering around the stage stop, there were continuous demands for food, coffee, and, of course, female attention. Though the cowboys sought the ladies of the night at the saloon, they seemed starved for female companionship of any kind. The men loved talking to Beth and her sisters—it didn’t even matter to them that Gwen was now married.

  Returning to the kitchen to make a new pot of coffee, Beth remembered her father’s comment last year about the danger of pretty girls and rowdy men. Worried about their safety, he’d decided to run an errand to the Lassiters’ himself, rather than letting Gwen go. He’d been protecting his girls.

  Perhaps that was why Pa had wanted to move again. He knew this place was going to continue to draw rowdy cowboys and newcomers who might be a danger to us. She gripped the handle of the coffeepot so tightly that her hand ached. How selfish she’d been in her thinking! Maybe their father knew how bad things would get as time went by. Maybe it had little to do with his wanderlust.

  A woman’s scream cut above the noise from outside, followed by laughter. Beth cringed and went to close the kitchen window. She had no desire to hear any more of the affairs next door than she had to.

  “How soon before the coffee’s ready?” Lacy asked, bringing in an empty tray that had once been filled with sandwiches.

  “Sorry, I haven’t even put the pot on. I just can’t bear much more of this noise.”

  Lacy nodded. “I feel the same. And I can’t help thinking one of the men out there might have been the one who shot Pa.”

  “Oh, Lacy,” Beth said, reaching out to embrace her. “I thought of that, too.” Beth paused. “I can’t stand knowing those men are going to be over at Rafe’s all night, drinking and . . . well . . . you know.” Beth quickly prepared the coffee and put the pot on the stove. She checked the fire and added another couple of pieces of wood to the cook fire. “I wish we had a way to stop them.”

  Just then Beth remembered the case of laudanum they had tucked away. She looked at Lacy, who seemed to have the same thought in mind as she began to smile rather mischievously.

  “At least we wouldn’t have to carry them up the back stairs to their room,” her sister murmured, referencing the time they’d drugged Hank.

  “But there are so many of them,” Beth said, looking around the room nervously. “And if Gwen or Hank caught wind of the idea, they’d be livid.”

  “Gwen’s already upstairs lying down, remember? And Hank’s over at the store, getting us more supplies.”

  Beth remembered that her older sister had complained of a headache, and Hank had insisted she go to bed and rest. “But how can we get everyone to take it?”

  “We can put the laudanum in the coffee.” Lacy motioned to the pot. “Did you make it strong? That will mask any bitterness.”

  “It is strong.” Beth looked at the cupboard where the laudanum was hidden on the top shelf. “Do you think we dare?”

  Lacy shrugged and went to retrieve a chair from where it stood by the back door. She quickly climbed atop, despite being in a skirt, and glanced over her shoulder. “It’s the only answer. We can give coffee to everyone, and once they’re asleep, it will be too late for them to do anything about it.”

  Beth frowned. “What about the others—the ones already over at Rafe’s?”

  Lacy took down several bottles of the medicine and placed them on the counter before answering. “Maybe we can put it in their liquor.”

  “How?”

  Her younger sister smiled. “Cubby. We’ll get him to help us. He’s not had a quiet moment since that bunch arrived, and he’s bound to be exhausted. We’ll tell him what we’re doing and why. I’m sure he’ll help. After all, most of the men pass out at some point. No one has to be the wiser.” Lacy shrugged.“I’ll hide this on the back porch, and after we deal with our fellows, we’ll head next door.”

  Beth bit her lip. “But Rafe won’t let us on his property. And even if he did, we’re not allowed in the saloon. If he saw us there, he’d know something was going on.”

  “Then he can’t see us.”

  Beth looked at Lacy’s confident expression. “What do you have in mind? We have to be able to at least get the laudanum to Cubby and explain how to use it.”

  “Leave that to me. We’ll just borrow some of Pa’s old clothes from out in the shed. We’ll braid our hair and tuck it up under a hat and rub our faces with dirt. No one will know the difference in the middle of all their partying.”

  “But what if they do?”

  Lacy shrugged. “It’s not well lit at Rafe’s, on account that it’s not as easy to cheat folks when they can see clearly. Plus, it’ll be smoky, and they’ve already been drinking for a spell and that clouds a man’s vision. I don’t think anyone is going to even notice us.”

  Beth could see the possibilities in Lacy’s plan. It was daring, but frankly, she was willing to risk it. She couldn’t bear to think of Ellie and the others being used throughout the night.

  “Hey, where’s the food and coffee?” a cowboy demanded. He filled the entryway to the kitchen, grinning. “You two are cuter than baby bobcats. Wanna dance with me?”

  Beth shook her head. “I’m making the coffee, and Lacy has to make more sandwiches.” She glanced to where her sister stood, blocking any view of the bottles on the counter.

  “It’d sure be nice to dance,” the man persisted. “I think we need to have a dance.”

  “There’s no one to play any music for us,” Beth reminded. “Now, just go on back, and we’ll have everything out for you in a few minutes.”

  The man begrudgingly complied, but Beth knew it would only be a matter of time before the men became more demanding. She looked at Lacy and nodded. “Let’s get to it.”

  Half an hour later, Lacy teased and smiled as she poured coffee for each of the dozen men who were still at Gallatin House. “This is our special coffee,” she told them. “We only make it for our very favorite customers.”

  “Then pour me two cups,” one of the men said and patted his lap. “I’ll drink ’em both while you sit here and tell me how come you’re so pretty.”

  Lacy laughed. “One cup per man for now. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on getting a chance to try this.”

  Beth delivered a tray of sandwiches and one of cookies. Generally, they didn’t allow for eating in the front room, but she and Lacy had decided earlier it would be simpler to meet the men where they were, rather than try to herd them into the dining room.

  Waiting for the men to nod off seemed like a painfully long affair, though in reality it didn’t take that much time. She was glad Hank had returned
earlier with the needed supplies. He’d hurried upstairs to check on Gwen and had reported she was sleeping peacefully before he returned to the store once more. With any luck at all, Beth and Lacy would be free to do what was needed.

  One by one, the men yawned or rubbed their eyes. They would look uncertain for several moments, then nod off. Where once-rowdy conversation and loud voices had reigned supreme, now only snoring interrupted the silence of the room—that and the ongoing party at Rafe’s.

  “Well, this went well enough,” Lacy said, stepping carefully over one cowboy who’d stretched out in front of the fireplace. “We’d better go change and get next door.”

  It was nearing ten o’clock when Beth and Lacy walked into Rafe’s place. As Lacy predicted, the heavy smoke and dim lighting allowed them to pass unnoticed through the room. With their hats drawn low and their long coats disguising their figures, no one even took note of the newcomers.

  Lacy walked up to the bar as though it were something she did all the time. Beth marveled at her sister’s composure and glanced around anxiously to make certain all was well.

  In the far corner Rafe was dealing cards to a number of scruffy-looking, half-sober cowboys. On the opposite side, Wyman held court with his own group of rowdies. Beth had no idea what game they were playing, but the men seemed quite worked up over it when Wyman turned a card over and presented it for their consideration.

  “Cubby,” Lacy said in a low, husky voice.

  Cubby was just returning with a new crate of whiskey. He looked at her oddly, then put the case down. “You fellas want a beer?”

  Lacy nodded and put several coins on the bar. Beth’s jaw dropped, but she quickly recovered and hunched over the bar as some of the other men were doing. Cubby drew two beers and practically thrust them into their hands.

  A couple of the prostitutes came up and began sweet-talking the men to Beth’s right. When they moved off from the bar with the women, Beth breathed a sigh of relief and stared down at the beer. For just a split second, she gave consideration to taking a long drink to steady her nerves.