Savage storm

by Conn, Phoebe

  This was not at all the homecoming she'd wanted, but Gabrielle did her best to stifle her temper in the hope that Jason would soon regain control of his. "Since this is now my home as well as yours, I saw no reason not to invite the best friend I've ever had to come in when he came to call. He was here twice, no more."

  "You did not consider the fact that your husband forbid it reason enough? What sort of a stupid fool do you think I am?" Jason snarled. "Why can't you simply be honest with me and say you want to end this marriage? I certainly do!"

  "What?" Gabrielle was stunned by that revelation. Jason was angry with her, but he understood so little. She knew he was hurt when there was no cause. She could explain nothing, however, when he was in such a jealous rage.

  "You heard me. This marriage was a mistake for both of us. Joe Meek, one of the men who lost a daughter in the massacre at the Whitman Mission, has left for Washington to present a demand to Congress that Oregon be made a territory of the United States. Then the Army will send troops here so a tragedy like the one we just avenged won't occur again. However, there's no way the Army can be effective until they

  become familiar with the terrain. They'll need scouts, and I am a good one. Tm no farmer. It was stupid of me to think I could be. Since neither of us is happy, let's just end our marriage as swiftly as possible."

  Gabrielle stared at her husband. Devastated by the cruelty of his remarks, she had no idea how to reply and said nothing until he began to remove his coat. Noting the great difficulty with which he moved, she cried, "Oh Jason, you've been hurt! Why didn't you tell me?" She rushed forward to help him, but he pushed her away with an emphatic shove.

  "I don't need any help from the likes of you!" In truth, he was so dizzy he could scarcely stand. Dr. Patterson had insisted upon stitching up his arm, and the pain he'd inflicted with a needle and thread was nearly as great as the initial stab wound had been. He was still weak from the loss of blood and wanted only to lie down on his bed before he fainted.

  "Michael should have told me you'd been hurt." Gabrielle didn't understand why he'd not bothered to give her such a vital piece of information. "I would have come into town to meet you. You shouldn't have ridden out here alone."

  "Your devotion is a bit late, lady. If I meant anything at all to you, if my feelings merited even the slightest bit of consideration, I'd have found you at Clayton's house where I fully expected you to be!" Jason pushed by her and went into the bedroom. He sat down upon the edge of the bed and tried to remove his moccasins with one hand, but just leaning over made him so ill that he had to give up the effort. When Gabrielle knelt by his feet to do it, he tried to push her away again but found he lacked the strength to do it.

  "Since I am the only one here, you will have to accept my help whether or not you want it." She removed his well-worn moccasins quickly, then rose to her feet. "Now, shall I help you with the rest of your clothes?"

  Jason glared at her through eyes dulled with pain, his expression one of undisguised hatred. "I can do it alone."

  Gabrielle put her hands on her hips, her exasperation clear

  in her voice. "Of course, you pride yourself on being self-sufficient, don't you? But you want to punish me for exerting the same independence. That is totally unfair, Jason. I won't accept it, but we can have that argument another time. Now your problem is your clothing. You'll be able to rest much more comfortably if you remove it. You really have no choice about accepting my help, no matter how revolting you may find my touch." |

  The problem was Jason did not find her touch revolting in the least. She was every bit as lovely as he'd remembered, her soft shiny hair providing a vibrant frame for her delicate features which expressed a solicitous concern he found impossible to accept as genuine. She could not really care for him when she disregarded every request he made. She was, for the moment, still his wife, however, and she was right about being the sole source of assistance available.

  "I just want to go to sleep," he mumbled softly, and stretching out upon the quilt, he considered the matter closed.

  ''I know you're tired. You're obviously in pain too, and everything Clayton said paints a miserable portrait of my character; but please believe I'd never do anything which would destroy our marriage."

  She was trying to understand his mood but that did not ease the hurt he'd inflicted on her by saying he had no desire to remain married to her. Unlacing his buckskin shirt, she worked quickly to remove it. When her fingertips brushed his chest, he opened his eyes to watch her as if he suspected some foul trick, but she forced herself to smile in response. He then pulled his arm out of the right sleeve, and she helped him to ease the left off carefully.

  "How did this happen? Were you shot?" The doctor had bandaged the wound so she could not tell how severe it might be.

  Jason sighed impatiently, disgusted with himself for having let it happen. "I was careless. A brave came up behind me with a knife."

  "You mean you were stabbed?" Gabrielle felt her heart lurch. She'd assumed he'd been shot, perhaps only grazed by a stray bullet, but that he'd been stabbed horrified her. "Oh, Jason." Her glance filled with alarm for she could easily imagine how desperate his situation had been if an Indian had been that close when he'd attempted to kill him.

  "It was my own fault," Jason admitted sheepishly. He pushed her hands away when she reached for his belt. "I can do that myself." He sat up slowly then and swung his legs off the bed to stand. When he swayed precariously, she came forward quickly to offer some support.

  "How did you manage to make it home in such dreadful condition?" Gabrielle removed his pants with a swift tug and then helped him to get under the covers. "I'll have Michael's hide for this. He was here this afternoon, and from what he told me you were perfectly fine. I'll never believe another word he says!

  Jason stared at his bride, not knowing which was the more astonishing, that she'd admit Michael had come to see her or that she'd pretend to care what had happened to him. "You mustn't blame Michael. I didn't feel nearly this bad until Dr. Patterson insisted upon cleaning out the wound in my arm and sewing it up. Now please just go away and leave me alone."

  When he'd closed his eyes, Gabrielle remained beside the bed for some time, not wanting to leave him. He'd given her little hope she could ever regain his confidence, but she vowed she'd not give up on their marriage as easily as he had. She leaned down to kiss him lightly upon the cheek then tiptoed out of the room to let him sleep.

  That Jason had returned home safely, even though wounded, was reason enough for Gabrielle to feel her prayers had been answered, but she knew his attitude would have to improve dramatically for them to reach any sort of accord. Since she could solve none of their problems by herself, she prepared aa light supper and then attempted to read for an hour. She chose poetry, knowing with so much on her mind

  she'd be unable to follow the plot of a novel or play. When at last she grew sleepy, she knew the only place she would ever want to rest was beside her husband. She returned to their room then to prepare for bed, exercising great care to be quiet so as not to disturb him.

  Jason appeared to be resting comfortably, and after donning her nightgown, she slipped into bed beside him. Snuggling up close, she laid an arm across his stomach and closed her eyes. Even if he did not know she was there, she enjoyed the comfort of his warmth. Elated with the hope for their future his presence brought, her night was filled with the sweetest of dreams.

  ^Aa/Ue^mPl/J

  A hushed silence filled the house when Jason awakened the next morning. He yawned sleepily, trying to think of some compelling reason for getting out of bed. Then he recalled that he and Gabrielle hadn't settled a damned thing the previous night. He glanced over at her side of the bed and was surprised to see her nightgown laying where she'd left it that morning. He'd slept so soundly he'd not even realized she'd been lying next to him. That she had done so shocked him. There were other beds in the house, and he'd expected her to use one. As there was no sound comi
ng from the rest of the house, he knew she must be outdoors. Feeling guilty because she'd had to do all the chores by herself, he sat up cautiously. His arm still hurt, but it was more of a dull ache now, not the racking pain he'd suffered the previous evening. "Looks like you'll live. Royal." He laughed to himself as he recalled Dr. Patterson's attempt at humor, but when the man had been stitching away on his arm it hadn't sounded a bit funny. He got up carefully, hoping he'd feel like his usual self. Although his legs were still a bit shaky, he was able to wash and shave on his own. By the time Gabrielle came back into the house with the milk and eggs, he was dressed and waiting for her.

  "Why, Jason, I thought you'd probably sleep until past noon." She greeted him with a warm smile. "Would you like

  me to fix you some breakfast?''

  "I can make my own," Jason replied, **Had I known you planned to occupy that bed last night, I would have taken one of the others."

  "Oh really?" Gabrielle scoffed at that idea. "You would never have made it up the ladder, Jason."

  "Probably not, but I thought you could." There was not the slightest trace of a smile on Jason's face. He was handsome still, but his expression was more menacing than pleasant. His gray eyes were cold. They raked over Gabrielle with a taunting leer as if the mere sight of her disgusted him.

  "Jason, you said you no longer wished to be my husband; I did not say I didn't want to be your wife." She approached him slowly, her heart aching with the loneliness his homecoming had done nothing to ease. "I had hoped, when you returned yesterday, that we could resolve our differences. If you're feeling well enough this morning, wouldn't you at least like to try?"

  "Differences? Don't you think that's a rather ridiculous way to describe what's happening here? As I see it, I'll be away too often to have any need of a wife, and you're in love with another man. A divorce is the perfect solution for both of us. There's nothing more to discuss."

  Gabrielle came closer still. "It will be awhile before the Army can send any troops here, probably not until spring. You'll need some place to live until they arrive and I would like to have you stay here with me."

  "How very gracious of you. I would have sworn this was my house." Jason shook his head in disbelief, "What will Beau have to say about that?"

  "Why nothing. I imagine he's already left for California, and what I do is no concern of his anyway," Gabrielle explained matter-of-factly. She had spent the early hours of the morning rehearsing possible dialogs with Tulip and Sunny, and had decided that no matter how Jason insulted her, she was not going to lose her temper. She'd told herself repeatedly that

  if she could make him listen to her she'd at least have a chance to make him change his mind ahout ending their marriage. If she became as hysterical as he was then all was lost.

  Staring at his bride, Jason marveled at the way lies dripped from her tongue with the sweetness of honey. "Til just bet he's gone to California. Why would he leave when you two have just been reunited after such a tragic separation? That makes no sense at all.''

  Gabrielle twisted her wedding ring nervously, unaware of the significance of her gesture. "My aunt always criticized Beau for being no more than a handsome dreamer, and it seems from the little he's accomplished in the time he's been here that she may have been right. He thinks there are more opportunities in Gilifornia than there are here, but of course, he used to say there were far more opportunities here than there were in Liberty. Maybe that's just an excuse, a way to avoid responsibility, always thinking things will be better somewhere else."

  Jason was amazed by that statement, "Did I just hear you say something nice about your aunt?"

  "She wasn't an evil person, Jason, just a woman who didn't want the task of raising a small child thrust upon her. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to take me in when my parents died. She did the best she could, but she never gave me the love my parents would have provided."

  Jason could not recall the last time he'd found Gabrielle in such a reasonable mood and that confused him all the more. "Well, surely your childhood couldn't have been all that lonely. Beau was your constant companion," he put in sarcastically.

  Gabrielle moved toward the kitchen, hoping he would follow her, and when he did she placed the slices of bacon she'd cut in a pan. She put the pan on the stove to prepare his breakfast. Knowing it would be far easier to converse if her hands were occupied so she could avoid his defiant stare, she began to transfer the eggs she'd gathered from her basket into a bowl.

  '*Yes. He was a wonderful companion for a child, but Vm a woman now, Jason/' She glanced up at him then, hoping he'd return her smile, but his gaze was no less suspicious.

  Jason shifted his weight. Leaning back against a chair to rest, he considered the remarkable transformation that had come over his bride. As always, the uniqueness of her coloring made her beauty vividly bewitching, but he meant to get past her pretty facade to the treacherous heart it hid.

  "Do you really expect me to believe Beau came here no more than twice while I was away?"

  "It was only twice." Gabrielle gathered all her courage and began her explanation in a breathless rush. "He came the day you left. He wanted me to go away with him, but I refused. It started to rain, and I told him he could stay for the night but—"

  "I don't want to hear anymore!" Jason stood up abruptly. "I can imagine what happened. You needn't confess it because I'm not going to be your husband for a minute longer than I have to!" He turned and left the house with the long sure stride which had carried him wherever he'd wanted to go for a good many years, but once outside, he could not think of a single place worth visiting that day. That did not deter him, however, from saddling Duke and riding away. The thought of going into town to consult an attorney finally occurred to him, but despite Gabrielle's open infidelity, he meant to do the gentlemanly thing. When he grew tired, he stopped to let Duke graze while he dozed in the shade. Then, in no great hurry, he waited until the sun had set before he returned home.

  As he entered the house, Jason's eyes widened in amazement, for Gabrielle was wearing the attractive blue muslin gown she'd worn to Clayton's parties. She'd coiled her hair atop her head in the sophisticated sweep which displayed the elegant line of her creamy white throat and shoulders to every advantage, and his mind was swiftly filled with the most erotic of images. Cursing his own weakness he directed his attention to the rest of the room. It was readily apparent from

  the tantalizing aroma wafting from the stove that sheMgone to considerable trouble to prepare a nice dinner. She'd covered the table with a starched white cloth and had set it with his mother's best china. He hadn't noticed the new curtains until then, but their snowy whiteness brightened the dark wood of the room. He was pained to think how many years it had been since his home had looked so inviting. But why would any woman go to such lengths when she knew her husband was leaving her?

  Cabrielle did not look up from her book, for she felt very foolish now. She'd almost stopped hoping Jason would come home, but now that he had she waited for him to be the first to speak.

  "Whatever you've got cooking smells delicious. I haven't eaten all day, will it be ready soon?" Jason said the first thing that came to him, knowing whatever occurred that night would be better faced on a full stomach.

  "It was ready some time ago." Cabrielle closed her book carefully and replaced it in the bookcase before going into the kitchen to serve their supper. She knew the savory stew would be more flavorful for having baked awhile longer, but her voice clearly revealed her disappointment in him for not having arrived sooner.

  Jason washed his hands and sat down at his place. "I was busy, I'm sorry to be so late."

  As Cabrielle placed his plate before him, she stopped to remove several sprigs of dry grass from his dark curls. "Obviously," she remarked slyly.

  Feehng like a complete fool now, Jason decided simply to ignore the evidence that he'd been doing nothing more strenuous than sleeping in the forest all day. When Cabrielle took her place opp
osite him, he waited for her to begin eating and then asked in the most reasonable tone he could manage, "Will you please tell me what it is you are trying to do here?" When she gave him an inquisitive glance, clearly not comprehending his question he explained more fully. "Why

  would you dress so prettily, or go to such trouble with dinner? There's no point in it, so why did you bother?**

  "I am glad you are home even if you are not happy to be here. I thought the occasion deserved some sort of celebration so I have done my best to provide it," Gabrielle replied softly.

  Why he should suddenly feel so guilty Jason didn't know, but the lovely creature before him seemed so sincere he felt he was the one who'd done something wrong. But, damn it, she was the one who'd betrayed his trust not the other way around.

  "It sounds as though you couldn't wait for me to get out of town to see Beau. Perhaps I might have understood if you'd said you'd been lonely, but good Lord, Gabrielle, how could you invite him to share your bed the first night I was gone?"

  Although she was sorely tempted to scream every vile curse she knew, Gabrielle reacted coolly. "He did not share our bed. He slept in the loft. In the morning he chopped some wood for me and left a short while after Clayton did. I did not see him again until he came to tell me he was leaving for California. Erica was here then, and if you must have a witness, she can tell you he was here only briefly and did not come inside the house."

  Jason watched her take another bite of supper, the elegance of her beauty, the grace of her gestures, the quiet dignity of her manner reminded him of the meal they'd shared in the hotel in Kansas City. He found himself merely watching her as she ate, his own hunger forgotten for the moment. Her story seemed preposterous. Jason could not imagine why she had not gone with Beau when he'd come for her. He forced himself to begin eating again, knowing if he didn't consume some nourishment he'd soon grow as weak as he'd been the previous evening. He was aware that he'd need all his strength to keep up with Gabrielle. When they'd finished eating and she'd served coffee, he cleared his throat and told her what he'd decided to do. "I want you to be the one to file for the divorce. As I said, I hope to work for the Army. It may be difficult to reach me, but