by Conn, Phoebe
'That is Iris' problem," she said suddenly.
That matter settled, she decided it was time to get busy. She'd found a pair of silver candlesticks that needed polishing, and she decided to tackle that chore first, scrubbing them diligently until the silver shone with a warm glow. They'd purchased dozens of candles since Jason didn't want her to have the bother of making her own, and she placed one in each silver candlestick. Then she set the pair upon the mantel. The house was coming along nicely in her estimation, and she was pleased to think Jason thought so too. Preoccupied as she was with plans for their home, the morning passed quickly for Gabrielle. When Jason returned, she ran to the door to greet him, but her pretty smile vanished instantly when she saw the seriousness of his expression. He'd apparently encountered something dreadful in Oregon City, and she feared it might concern one of her friends. "What's happened? What's wrong?" she asked impatiently.
Jason removed his hat and coat, and hung them on the peg beside the door before he began to explain. "The Cayuse attacked the Whitman Mission. Marcus and Narcissa are dead, so are ten others, many of them children who attended their school."
"Dear God, no!" Gabrielle put her arms around her husband's waist, pressing so close she could feel the steady beat of his heart as she tried to comprehend the full horror of his words. 'They were such a dear couple. They gave us such an enthusiastic welcome. What could have prompted the Indians to murder them?"
Jason put his arms around his bride, kissing her soft shiny hair and hugging her tightly as he reported what he'd heard. "A measles epidemic wiped out half their tribe. The survivors blamed Marcus because he provided a stopping place for settlers, and it seems likely that's how the disease was spread."
Gabrielle stepped back slightly to look up at her husband's strained expression as she asked, "Measles? I don't recall anyone in our wagon train coming down with measles."
Jason sighed sadly. "The Cayuse, like every other tribe that's come into contact with the white man, have suffered terribly because they have no resistance to the diseases which have plagued us for centuries. There's no use trying to assess who's really to blame. The Indians trade freely with whomever they can. An Indian might have caught the disease at the Whitman Mission or in a dozen other places. In their grief they forgot the eleven years Marcus had tended their ills and they blamed him for bringing the sickness to their tribe. He provided an easy target for their revenge and they took it." j
Gabrielle closed her eyes as she shuddered. "But they were so wrong, Jason, so terribly wrong to have killed the Whitmans. I'm certain they showed the Cayuse the same kindness they showed to us. That they slaughtered children as well is too horrible to even imagine. How many children did the Whitmans have?"
"Their only daughter drowned when she was four. Three years ago they adopted seven children who'd been orphaned when their parents died along the trail. They seemed to fill Narcissa's need for a family. She was a wonderful mother to them all."
"I don't understand how any man could kill a child," Gabrielle said sadly.
"Unfortunately, it is difficult for an Indian brave who's seen his family die of a white man's disease to think in such a reasonable manner." Jason put his hands around Gabrielle's waist as he stepped back. "An army of volunteers is being formed by men who knew and admired the Whitmans as greatly as I did. They've asked me to lead them and I've agreed."
"What?" Gabrielle's pretty blue eyes clouded with fear. "They mean to retaliate, to seek revenge for the murders, and you plan to lead them?"
436
"Yes," Jason replied calmly. "Can you understand why?''
"Well, yes, the Whitmans were your friends but—"
Jason took her hand, leading her over to the fire to enjoy its warmth as he tried to explain why he'd joined such an enterprise. "I'm a scout by profession, Gabrielle. These men are sincere, earnest in their purpose, but they're farmers who'd soon become so lost I'd have to be seiit out to find them if they went alone. If I'm their leader there will be no bloodbath either. We can chase the Cayuse farther north without killing any more of the pathetic few who've survived." He paused a moment and then continued in a softer tone, "I'd meant to write to Marcus last week to tell him I'd married you. I'd told him about you when we were at the mission and he'd offered the encouragement I really needed. It's too late now to send him the news of our marriage, but I know he and Narcissa would have been very pleased."
The film of tears in her husband's eyes gave their gray color the glow of silver. She gave his hand a fond squeeze, hoping to ease his pain. She'd not believed he'd given their marriage a moment's thought until the afternoon he'd issued his completely unromantic proposal, but she knew he'd not lie about a conversation he'd had with a dead man. Perhaps he had pondered the decision to marry her more thoughtfully than she'd considered possible.
"You know I don't want you to go," she said hesitantly, "but if you feel you must I won't try to stop you."
"I am going." Jason stared into the flames, their crimson glow turning to the deep red of blood in his imagination. He'd known she'd not beg him to stay home, but if she had he'd not have remained with her. "The Cayuse were wrong, but killing off more of them won't bring the Whitmans back to life. White men can be every bit as brutal as any savage and I want to see there's as little bloodshed as possible. Marcus gave the last years of his life to caring for these people and he'd not want their deaths as a monument."
Looking up at her husband, Gabrielle thought his attitude a
most remarkably forgiving one since he and Marcus had been close friends. He'd frequently commented about Indians as they'd journeyed along the Oregon Trail, and she realized he'd studied the various tribes in some depth. As the warm glow of the fire made the bronze of his skin shine handsomely, she thought back over the many times they'd made love under the warmth and light of the sun. His body had a rich even color which simply deepened when he went without a shirt or hat, but his skin was naturally dark and she'd never stopped to consider why. "Which of your parents was the Indian, Jason, your mother or your father?"
Jason's eyes narrowed as though she'd slapped him; he was so shocked by her question. She was regarding him with open curiosity, however. Her question had been a sincere one, not an insult, so he answered her truthfully. "My father's mother was a Cherokee. While others flocked to Oregon for the opportunity to own land, his motivation for moving here was to escape being called a half-breed and it worked. He resembled his father, not his mother. Without gossip to give away the truth of his ancestry it wasn't discovered. If he were alive he'd be mortified to think you'd seen in me something he'd struggled half his life to keep hidden."
Gabrielle was too perceptive not to understand instantly what had happened between them. "He was ashamed of his Indian blood and you aren't, but in spite of his fears you've never told anyone, have you?"
"Only you," Jason replied softly. "And you have such a || romantic view of Indians I knew you'd not care that my grandmother had been one."
"Of course I don't care! But what if I did?" she wanted to know.
Jason's eyes swept her figure knowingly. "Now it is too late for such an objection to matter."
It was the arrogance of his tone that was so unnerving. He | was proud of himself, rather than guilty for not trusting ' her with such an important piece of information about i
his background. »
"What else is there I really ought to know? If you have not bothered to tell me, of your heritage what else have you neglected to mention? Do you plan to simply surprise me with things like this when they can no longer be kept secret?''
Jason turned away. "I have no time to argue. I have to gather my things and get back into town. There's no way I can give you any accurate idea of how long I'll be gone, but I want this job over and done as swiftly as possible."
Gabrielle's expression turned to one of amazement as her husband moved about the house collecting the items he wanted to take with him. That he liked to travel light was p
lain, for other than food and weapons he took little. In less than fifteen minutes, he was ready to leave and she had no idea how to tell him goodbye. "I've just realized I don't even know you," she whispered as he approached her. "I think I can guess now why you left home, but so much about your life is a mystery to me. It isn't fair that you must leave now when we've only been married one week and—"
"Gabrielle." Jason drew her into his arms, stilling her complaints with a slow, deep kiss which left her resting languidly in his embrace. "I will be back in a few weeks, but I don't want you to stay here alone. I'll tell Clay to come and get you. He's still got a houseful of women and can't go with us."
"But I want to stay here. This is my home now, and I've just begun to get everything the way I want it. I can't move back into Clay's house; I'd be completely out of place. What about the cow and the chickens? I can't go off and leave them alone!"
Jason shook his head. "The chickens can take care of themselves. Take the cow with you and leave her in Clay's barn. I'll not listen to any more arguments. I want you under Clay's roof while I'm gone and that's final."
Gabrielle backed away, shocked by the intensity of his gaze. Her heart fell as she realized why he wanted her to stay with his friend. "It's because of Beau, isn't it? Don't you trust me out of your sight?"
There was no point in denying her accusation since it was an accurate one. "I don't want you Hving here alone, Gabrielle. It's not a matter of trust, but a matter of avoiding a situation I | know you couldn't handle."
"I think you'd better leave before you say another word, ason.
Gabrielle turned her back on him, too furious to discuss the issue any further. This was no way to send him off on a mission she knew would be dangerous, but why had he been thinking only of Beau and not of her? She chewed her lip nervously, knowing if there were some way to ease his mind she'd use it. He might not respond as she wanted him to, but she wanted him to know she'd never betray his trust because she loved him. She spoke those words as she turned to face him, but the room was empty. He'd left so silently she'd not even heard him don his hat and coat and close the door.
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Gabrielle stamped her foot impatiently. "Husband," she muttered under her breath. There was no point in her going after Jason. If he'd walked out on her, surely he wouldn't care to hear the declaration of love she wished to make. She felt so cheated that she wanted to scream. She'd done her best to please a man who could not be pleased—except in bed, it seemed. She placed her hands upon her slender hips and continued to tap her toe. She'd be damned if she'd go to Clayton's like a little child who couldn't manage on her own. If she had no one with whom to converse other than the stock, then so be it. Sunny had been her trusted confidant for years and he'd not fail her now.
Not until the evening, when she put on her nightgown and sat down upon the edge of the brass bed to brush out her hair, did she realize how alone she was. Only the sound of the wind moaning through the trees near the house broke the eerie quiet, and in spite of her earlier confidence she grew frightened. She sat for a long while before laying her brush aside and getting under the covers. She wondered where Jason might be staying that night and if he were thinking of her, but somehow she knew he'd be far too busy for that. He'd set out to lead an army formed to avenge the massacre of his friends and he'd not be diverted from that purpose. He was an extremely
responsible man. That was what had inspired her trust when they'd first met, but she'd not reaHzed there were so many others who needed his strength as much or more than she did. Was this to be the pattern of their Hves? He was a scout he'd said, not a man who'd retired from blazing trails through the wilds to build a home and raise a family with his wife. A single tear slipped down her cheek and she lifted her hand to wipe it away. Apparently she'd spend a lot of time by herself, but she knew she'd never grow to like it.
The next afternoon Beau Ramsey knocked at her door. He wore a sheepish grin and held out a small tan box tied with a red bow. "I found some maple sugar candy, and I remembered how much you liked it. I know Jason isn't home so won't you please invite me to come inside for a visit?"
"What makes you think Jason isn't here?" Gabrielle asked suspiciously, making no move to ask him to enter her home or to accept his gift.
"I saw him leave Oregon City this morning. He and his friends rode out of town in full view of anyone who cared to look," the young man replied, thinking the matter an unimportant one. "I came to apologize for the way I acted last Saturday. I was more mad at myself than you, but that's not the way it sounded. Now may I please come in? It's getting cold out here."
Gabrielle had known Beau all her life, and despite Jason's edict forbidding her to see him, she considered their house her home too. She'd not turn away her best friend. Looking up at the cloud-filled sky, she gestured toward his horse. "Would you like to leave your mount in the barn before you come in? He might as well be comfortable top."
"Thanks, I would." Beau led the horse across the yard and into the well-built structure. Rather than tethering the animal, he took him into a stall containing a good supply of hay, removed his saddle and bridle, and slapped him on the rump. "Make yourself comfortable. If I'm lucky, you'll have a warm home for a while." Chuckling to himself, he returned to where
Gabrielle stood waiting for him on her front porch.
"Please come in," she invited graciously. "I'll make some tea, or would you prefer coffee? If Jason has anything stronger, I don't know where he keeps it."
"Quite the proper housewife, aren't you?" Beau replied with a grin. "I'd rather have tea if that's what you'd like too." He looked around the large room, impressed by its size and well-crafted furnishings. 'This looks more like a fur trader's lodge than a farmhouse. Are you sure your husband's a farmer?"
"No," Gabrielle replied honestly. "This was his parents' home, however. Apparently they'd anticipated having a large family but they did not." She put the kettle on to heat water for tea, then came back to sit down in the rocker. "Won't you sit down? Pull one of the chairs closer to the fire if you'd like." She watched him closely as he sat down beside her, leaving no more than a few inches of space between them. He was again dressed in buckskins, apparently favoring that mode of dress as Jason did. Since the day was overcast and cold, his fair complexion was flushed by the chill, but he had changed little in the year and a half they'd been apart. His muscular body was as sleek, his hair as blond, his eyes the same warm brown. They filled with a merry sparkle as he returned her inquisitive glance. When he held out the box of candy she took it this time.
"Thank you."
"Go ahead and open it. It's very good." His grin was a charming one as he waited for her to untie the ribbon and remove the lid. "Do you remember the time your aunt bought a pound of that for her church guild meeting and we ate it all before she could offer it to her guests?"
"Yes." Gabrielle had to laugh with him, for in addition to being punished for eating all the candy, they'd gotten very sick. It had been several years before she'd wanted to taste the sugary sweet again. "We did so many truly awful things to her, poor dear. I don't think she ever understood us though, or
even made an attempt to try."
"How did you convince her to let you come out here?" Beau || wanted to know.
"Of course, you wouldn't have heard." Gabrielle spoke her ; thought aloud. "She passed away last spring. She'd not been j well for several weeks; the doctor said it was her heart. I left Liberty the day she was buried."
Beau regarded Gabrielle thoughtfully for a moment; then he nodded. "I heard you were one of Clayton Home's brides." He looked toward the fire then, the muscles along his jaw tensing as he tried to control his anger. "If only—"
"Don't, Beau. Please don't." She reached out to touch his sleeve, fingering the long fringe lightly. "It's pointless to think how things might have been when there is no way to change the way they are now."
"Everything can be changed if you want to
change it, Gabrielle. Your husband will be away a long while. He'd never find us if we left now. Let's just go." Beau held his breath, praying she'd agree to his plan.
His gaze was so filled with love that Gabrielle had to look away. "No. I told you I won't leave him and I won't."
"You've only been married a little over a week," Beau pointed out angrily. "You were my girl for years!"
Gabrielle sat back in her chair. Taking one of the leaf-shaped candies from the box, she took a small bite and let it melt in her mouth. "That's just the point. Beau. I'm no longer a girl; I'm a woman now." Jason Royal's woman, she thought proudly, even though her husband had left her without the courtesy of a formal goodbye.
Beau blushed deeply at that remark. "I don't care if you've been with him. You thought I was dead or it wouldn't have happened. You know that as well as I do, so don't try to deny it."
Gabrielle shook her head. "I won't deny it, but there's no point in going over this another time. Beau. I am Jason Royal's wife and I intend to remain married to him."
AAA
Beau's stare was intense, but he could detect no wavering in Gabrielle's resolve. Knowing he would only enrage her if he continued to argue he slumped back in his chair and stared into the fire. "I'm just no good without you, honey. We had so many plans, but without you here to help me I couldn't even get started. I haven't had much success as a trapper, and this winter will probably be no different if I stay here. I could claim the land for a farm, but then I'd not have the money to raise a house or buy what I'd need. If only you'd come with me, everything would have been different. We'd have our own farm by now. You always brought me luck,Gabrielle. Without you, I'm nothing."
Shocked by his somber mood and depressing words, Gabrielle hastened to argue. 'That's not true, Beau, you know it isn't. You can be successful at whatever you attempt."
Beau shook his head. "I've had a year and a half to prove you wrong. Why I'd never even have learned anything in school if you hadn't helped me with my homework every afternoon. You were two years younger and a girl, but I loved you so much I just swallowed my pride and asked for your help whenever I needed it, which was damn often."