Savage storm

by Conn, Phoebe

  Surprised that she would notice, or care enough to ask, Jason simply shrugged. "I have a lot on my mind, you needn't concern yourself with my welfare."

  "Oh, I see, and it is only your job that makes you responsible for mine?" she asked skeptically. "Really Jason, why won't you tell me the truth?"

  The truth, he thought with a painful stab of remorse. Speaking the truth had cost him too dearly; he'd not risk it again. "Speaking of the truth, is there not something you wish to tell me?"

  Puzzled by that question, Gabrielle leaned closer to whisper. "What do you mean, Jason? I will tell you whatever it is you want to know." Now that they were talking so quietly together she felt the man's tension and sincerely wanted to know its cause. Just looking at his troubled expression caused her pain and she set her cup aside so she might reach again for his hand, her gesture an irresistibly sweet one. "You have seen for yourself tonight that I will risk a beating to help a woman I don't even know. Tell me what sort of help you need for I will gladly give it." She felt the very same rush of emotion which had filled her heart when last they'd been together and she did not understand how she could have been such a fool as to have threatened him with death should he come near her again. "Please forgive me for what I said to you, I could never harm anyone and I'd never wish to kill a man so fine as you." That he had dispatched Sam Duffy so quickly truly had impressed her as greatly as he'd thought it had and she leaned forward to kiss his cheek softly. "Now what is it?"

  Astonished by Gabrielle's tenderness, Jason looked around quickly. Pleased to see no one lurking nearby who might have

  observed that kiss, he tried to smile then as he teased her. "You don't know how reUeved I am to hear that. I've been meaning to make out a will just in case—"

  "Jason, you stop it this instant!" Gabrielle insisted with a lilting laugh. "Now just tell me what it is I am supposed to tell you. Stop teasing me."

  Taking a deep breath, Jason decided it might be best just to be blunt. "You do understand how a child is conceived, don't you.*^

  Gabrielle's cheeks flooded with color at that query and she could barely find her voice to respond. "Is that what is worrying you so greatly, that I might have become pregnant and would demand that you marry me? Since my father is dead I suppose I would have to ask Mr. Home to take his place and come after you with a shotgun!"

  Jason watched the bright blue of Gabrielle's eyes take on a purple sheen and knew he'd made another grave mistake. "Will you keep your voice down please!" He ordered in a hoarse whisper. "One thing at a time. That I am concerned about you should not be any cause for anger. All I meant to say was that I hope you will tell me should the possibility of a child prove to be a reality."

  Gabrielle shook her head. "It isn't. You've nothing to fear."

  She was so embarrassed she wanted only to run away from him as fast as she could but she sat still, waiting for him to say whatever he wished in response.

  "Damn it! I am not afraid to accept the consequences of my actions, Gabrielle! Are you?"

  Lifting her chin proudly, Gabrielle responded truthfully. "No, I am not. Now if this frightful inquisition is over I'd like to be excused."

  Jason knew he'd made a mess of everything as usual. He had been worried about her, desperately worried, but not for the reason she mistakenly believed. He'd no need of a wife, but he would have married her without a moment's hesitation should it have been necessary to give their baby a name. He felt far

  worse now than he had before they'd begun to talk, knowing she thought so little of him.

  "I don't look upon marriage as a trap, Gabrielle, but as the most natural way for a man and woman to live. Go on back to your wagon and forget I ever asked what I did. If it insulted you, I didn't mean to do that." He stood up then and, with a gentle touch, lifted her to her feet before stepping back, their conversation over without their having reached the accord for which he'd hoped.

  Gabrielle was depressed too for she sensed his disappointment. However, she did not know how she could have responded any differently since she had expressed what she truly felt. "I am sorry I misunderstood the intent of your question, Mr. Royal, but if there were a child, you would be the last person to whom I would turn for help." With that taunting farewell she was gone, her feet flying over the grass. She left him too stunned by her parting insult to give pursuit.

  Clayton had gone for a short walk to give himself the opportunity to think more clearly. That Jason was handsome was a fact he'd always known, and he had been aware that he was something of a rogue where women were concerned. Still, the young women they were escorting were so terribly young he'd not thought it necessary to caution his partner against becoming involved with any of them. By the time he'd returned to their tent, however, he had decided that he and Jason needed to have a serious talk immediately. Finding that Gabrielle had returned to her wagon for the night, he did not mince words.

  "Miss MacLaren is a most enchanting creature, Jason."

  "Yes, she is that." Jason agreed readily, his attention now focused upon his friend's words.

  "You really must be more cautious around her, around all the girls in fact. I was shocked to see Gabrielle seated so comfortably and holding your hand in her lap. It is a stroke of

  good fortune I was the one to see that shocking breach of etiquette rather than someone else. She is very young and foolish, but you have no such excuse. If she cannot keep her hands off you then you will have to tell her to do so in terms she will understand."

  Jason started to laugh for Clayton's understanding of what he'd witnessed was so terribly inaccurate. "Believe me. Miss MacLaren is the very soul of discretion. She was worried about me, that is all. She even remarked on how tired I seem to be, just as you did, and I don't think you consider yourself overly forward. You needn't worry that Gabrielle will cause any scandal, nor I either."

  "I have your word on it?" Clayton asked skeptically, still not convinced his message had gotten through.

  "Of course." Jason meant that promise too, for the last thing he wanted was to damage Gabrielle's reputation or cause her anguish. She might think damn little of him, but he still considered her the dearest of women, and not one he meant to give up so easily either.

  "Good." Clayton hoped he'd made some impression upon Jason, but he was still unconvinced. "Perhaps it is not a good idea for you to take the girls riding, that might cause comment,"

  "It hasn't so far. There are still a few more I've not invited, and it would cause far more comment if I stop entertaining the young ladies in the only way possible."

  "I suppose you are right, but be careful, Jason. I mean it."

  "Good night. Clay." Jason had listened to enough of the man's fears so he went out to make certain the first group of guards were at their posts. Then he went to bed, on this night to sleep soundly for a change.

  Curious to hear what Mr. Duffy would have to say for himself, Gabrielle made her way to his wagon while the others were eating breakfast the next morning. She hoped he'd be

  good and sorry for being so mean to his wife, but she found him engaged in a bitter argument with Jason.

  "The bitch has her eye on every man in sight and needed to be taught a lesson I tell you!" Sam Duffy was nearly as tall as Jason, but much bulkier. His sandy hair was overlong, and his scraggly beard added no note of distinction to his nondescript features. That his wife might wish to look at other men hardly seemed surprising.

  "I care little what prompted your argument, Sam. I'll not allow any man to strike a woman; it's as simple as that. You can give me your promise that it will never happen again, or you may leave the wagon train now. Those are your choices."

  "You can't do that!" Sam protested indignantly. "I got every right to be here, same as everybody else!"

  Jason stood with his feet apart, poised for another fight if that was necessary to end the man's belligerent mood. "Not if I say you haven't. Now make up your mind, I've no more time to waste this morning."

  Althoug
h Gabrielle could hear the men's conversation, she moved closer still, afraid she might miss something important if she didn't. Mrs. Duffy was standing nearby, far from eager to rejoin her husband's company. Gabrielle felt sorry for the woman. She appeared to have been pretty once, but now her right eye was black and her lips were so swollen she probably couldn't even sip liquids without suffering considerable pain. Gabrielle wondered if she had loved Sam Duffy when they'd married, for it certainly didn't look as though she did that morning. When Jason spotted her he gave her a warning glance as if he expected her to cause some further disturbance, but she just smiled prettily, as if she had every right to be there.

  Knowing he was beaten, Sam Duffy had to agree, but he looked far from pleased about it. "All right. You'll have no more trouble from me, I swear it."

  "Mrs. Duffy, will you come here please?" Jason waited for her to approach; then he explained what had been decided. "I'll not tolerate another incident like yesterday's. If you even

  suspect it might happen again, I want you to come to me immediately. Is that clear?"

  The battered woman nodded. "Yes, sir," she finally managed to whisper.

  Satisfied that his rules were understood Jason turned away. He headed straight toward Gabrielle, not realizing he had drawn Sam's attention to her. The hostile man's expression darkened and an evil gleam appeared in his eyes, but he knew better than to insult the attractive young woman when Jason could overhear him.

  "You should have known better than to come over here this morning, but at least you kept your mouth shut. I'm grateful for that." He was pleased to see she bore no trace of the scuffle she'd entered, and he smiled as he greeted her.

  Turning to take her place by his side, Gabrielle responded truthfully. "I wanted to know what would happen to the man, that's all. How could he manage tofollow the trail if he were all alone? Wouldn't he be attacked by Indians, or become lost?"

  "Definitely, that's why he'll be a model husband for as long as the trip lasts. I hope he learned something from this. His wife told me he is a good man except for an occasional burst of jealousy."

  "What?" Gabrielle was astonished by that comment. "How can she consider such a man 'good'?"

  "It isn't all that unusual for a man and his wife to argue, Gabrielle, but no man has the right to abuse a woman, no matter what the reason for his anger." Jason pushed his hat back, trying to adjust it more carefully upon his curls. His hair had grown too long—he'd simply had no time to trim it—but that was a slight annoyance. "Did your aunt and uncle never have disagreements?"

  They had reached her wagon now and Gabrielle took only a moment to explain. "My aunt was a spinster. I have no experience with families except from what I observed in my friends' homes, and their parents were undoubtedly on their good behavior when they entertained guests."

  "Oh, undoubtedly," Jason agreed. "You don't know a damn thing about life, do you Gabrielle?" he asked with a sly grin, her innocence now having an understandable cause. Her aunt must have been shocked when she'd had to assume the responsibility for a child, especially one who'd grown up to be such a lovely young woman. Since she hadn't approved of Beau, he could well imagine what the woman would have thought of him.

  With a fiery glance, Gabrielle responded sarcastically. "Only what I've learned from you, Mr. Royal. Now good day." She left him then, since she knew he had to give the command to begin the day's march, but when she turned he was watching her, an amused smile on his face. This made her angrier still for she thought she knew a damn sight more about life than he did.

  As they rode along the trail that day, Gabrielle noted the continuing changes in the landscape. The rolling hills had given way to a new flatness. This was a barren terrain devoid of the pretty spring flowers whose fragrance she'd so enjoyed. They soon discovered the Oregon Trail was not a well-worn road, but a route which was two to three miles wide. That was why each wagon train's experience was approximately the same, but in subtle ways each was also different.

  When Paul had finished serving lunch he sat down with his charges and joined in the discussion of the morning's ride. "We've left the valley of the Little Blue. That's why you've noticed such a difference in our surroundings. We should reach the Platte River by tomorrow afternoon if Mr. Royal keeps to his usual pace and I have no reason to doubt he won't. That man is as steady as they come. He doesn't waste a moment that could be better spent on the trail."

  "The Platte?" Gabrielle remarked with a vacant stare, overcome by a sudden wave of apprehension. She'd known all along that they couldn't avoid the river, but she'd not thought the mere prospect of sighting it would fill her with such terrible dread. She could barely chew and set her plate aside after taking no more than a few bites.

  "Yes, we've been making a good fifteen miles a day Til bet. We'll reach the Platte easily by nightfall tomorrow."

  "Is that a fact?" Gabrielle whispered hoarsely, feeling she was expected to make some comment.

  "We should be able to hunt some, antelope or buffalo. Have you ever tasted buffalo meat?"

  "No, I'll look forward to trying it."

  As the others picked up the conversation Gabrielle grew silent. She tried to follow her friends' comments as they teased Paul about his cooking, but she could not escape the feeling of foreboding which swelled within her until she could scarcely draw a breath. Excusing herself, she walked toward the horses, knowing her devotion to Sunny would attract no attention, but even as she stroked Sunny's glossy coat she thought only of Beau.

  Jason stood in front of the fire over which he and Clayton had cooked their lunch, and he watched Gabrielle with a fond gaze. She is delightfully graceful, rather like a wood nymph, he thought, with her talent for taming even the most spirited of beasts. He had to chuckle then, for he knew her touch to have a far different effect upon a man. Her stallion nuzzled her shoulder affectionately, and they appeared to be such a contented pair that he did not intrude. However, the following afternoon he made a point of seeking out the young woman he'd come to regard so highly.

  "Come with me!" he called, and pushing Duke to a gallop, he wasn't surprised when she responded to that challenge. Sunny overtook Duke with a few long strides, and once they were sufficiently ahead of the first wagon to avoid being observed, he drew his stallion to a halt. "I did not want the river to take you by surprise. We will reach the Platte withing the hour."

  Gabrielle nodded thoughtfully, as if she weren't already aware of that fact. "Thank you, it is most considerate of you to think of my feelings." Jason continually surprised her, and as usual she wondered what his true motive was for being so kind.

  Jason shrugged nonchalantly. "It's only one of my many

  duties, ma'am.''

  "Of course, but it is appreciated all the same," Gabrielle responded seriously, not knowing how she should react to his teasing sarcasm. If only he were not so damned good looking, she thought, suddenly determined to resist the charming grin he was flashing so easily. She'd lost her head completely with him once—several times actually, although the last had been the most devastating in terms of surrender—and she did not want to repeat that intimacy ever again since it was pointless. Had he been a true gentleman he would have asked for her hand before they'd made love, or immediately thereafter. He most certainly would not have waited to see if he had to marry her just to avoid a scandal. Now just looking at him was painful, for she could imagine no fate worse than having to marry a man who didn't love her.

  Seeing her glance grow troubled, Jason spoke of the only topic which came to his-mind. "We'll follow the South Platte for nearly sixty miles. Should be about five days with good weather. Then we'll cross over and follow the bank of the North fork of the river."

  "That sounds like a complicated path to follow, I'm glad you know the way," Gabrielle replied, relieved he'd not said something more suggestive.

  "I'll see you aren't lost for a minute, Gabrielle." Jason knew he was flirting openly with her now, hoping to distract her from her gloomy memorie
s in the most outrageous manner possible. "Let's have that race we didn't have the opportunity to try. You take Duke and I'll ride Sunrise if you're willing."

  Gabrielle tried to read the message in his glance and in his words, but she saw nothing that led her to believe he wanted to do more than simply race.

  "Why not? It was my idea in the first place as I recall."

  Jason slipped from his saddle and held Duke's bridle to make certain he would stand still while Gabrielle leaped upon his back. She was as agile as a deer, mounting the animal with no more effort than she would expend in taking a step upon the

  ground. Satisfied that she was comfortably seated, he turned to Sunny. He stood by the horse's side for a moment, hoping the spirited staUion would be as cooperative as his mistress.

  "Has he ever been ridden by a man?" he asked curiously, for he judged Gabrielle's weight to be little over one hundred pounds while he weighed closer to two.

  "Only one," the auburn-haired beauty replied sadly, touched by the pain of that unexpected memory. "I have taught him no secret signals, but if you are afraid to ride him we needn't have the race. "

  Scoffing at the absurdity of that idea, Jason leaped upon the roan and tipped his hat. "I'll let you set the course, my dear."

  After surveying their surroundings for a moment, Gabrielle could find no point of sufficient interest to use as the finish line. "Shall we return to the wagons or go on toward the river.*^

  "If we race back the way we've come, we'll scare everyone needlessly for they'll think we're trying to escape a pursuit. What do you say to racing to that boulder on the rise just ahead?"

  "Yes, that's fine." Gabrielle adjusted her hold upon the reins, making certain she'd be able to control Duke. "Since you claim I didn't give you a fair start, I want you to say when to go."

  "We'll both count to three then, how's that?" Jason offered agreeably.