“No, there’s no time.” She reached for his arm and he allowed it. “Laura is gone. I think she must have left sometime yesterday evening. When she didn’t come out for supper, I thought perhaps she slept, so I didn’t check. When she didn’t rouse for breakfast I went to her room and found it empty. I have searched for her, but with the children and all I can’t go too far. My husband’s gone to town to look for her and I know how you kept watch for her, so I thought maybe you could help us.” Tears poured down the woman’s cheeks and she shook her head. “My God, what is happening?”
Josiah looked past her to see two children sitting in the back of the wagon bundled in blankets. Their frightened expressions matched their mother’s.
An hour later Josiah began to fear he’d find Laura like he’d found Gabe.
Dead. Strangled.
He guided his horse in the direction of the clearing where he’d found the child. A light drizzle began to fall, birds flew into the trees to find shelter. Josiah dismounted and looked to the spot he’d found little Gabriel. No one was there. The peacefulness of the location lulled one to take a moment and pause, but he didn’t have time. A few yards away a patch of cloth dangled from a low branch. He tethered his horse and walked past it searching the ground for any signs that someone was about. A sniffle sounded and he hurried towards it.
Laura sat on a tree stump, arms wrapped around her waist, she rocked back and fourth. Her hair was down, the auburn tresses falling to the middle of her back in a wild tangled mess.
“Laura.” Josiah spoke softly not wanting to send her running. “Are you all right?”
She didn’t turn but stopped rocking.
He went to her and lowered to a knee so he could look into her face. Other than a few scratches on her arms, she seemed unharmed. “Why are you here?”
When she looked at him with hollow eyes and didn’t speak, he wanted to shake her and bring her back to reality, out of the shock of losing her child. “I heard his laughter near here. When I rode by yesterday. I want to die.” Her words jarred him, but didn’t surprise Josiah. At least she was talking.
“Now that won’t solve anything will it?” He removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. Glad to see her pull it closed. She didn’t want to die, just mourned.
He sat next to her and looked into the trees. “I also lost someone I loved very much. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a child, of course, but I know the pain of facing life without someone important.”
She didn’t reply, but lay her head on his shoulder and let out a breath.
“Your sister is worried sick about you. I’ll take you home now.”
“No.” She lifted her head and looked at the ground. “I can’t go back there.”
Her reply didn’t make any sense, and he wondered if there was another reason for her to pull away from her family. Was Laura afraid she’d hurt Amelia’s children? He looked at her hands, they were delicate, small. She trembled and stood. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Why don’t you want to return to your sisters?”
She pulled the jacket off her shoulders and held it out to him. “Leave me be. Go away.”
“I won’t do that.” Josiah stood to his full height and as close as possible to her. Yes, it was a move to show her that if he wanted to overtake her it would be easy.
Laura craned her neck and looked up at him. “Why do you care so much? Why look out for me? I asked you to stop. You did and see what happened. It’s my fault. My baby is dead.”
“So what are you going to accomplish by this? “Either being attacked by whoever killed your child or stumble upon a bear.”
“I don’t know!” Laura jumped to her feet and pounded his chest with her fists. “I don’t know what to do. All I know is that I don’t want this life anymore. Without my child I have nothing to live for.”
She collapsed against him and he held her. Other than a shudder she didn’t fight him nor did she cry.
“I have a cabin near here. Why don’t I take you there? You can rest and take all the time you need to figure things out.”
For a long time she remained against him not responding. Finally she nodded. “All right.”
He helped her atop the horse and they rode the few minutes to his cabin. Once he settled her and was sure she’d not leave, he’d let her sister know she was safe. She leaned back against him huddled in his jacket. A surge of protectiveness for her surprised him again. He’d wondered the same things she’d asked. Why did he care so much?
She’d not cried. He’d found her close to where her son’s body was found. Josiah hoped it was just a coincidence.
Chapter Ten
The days passed without too much change. Laura lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. How long had she been there? She wondered absently. Had it been two weeks? Three? A rustling of clothing followed by the sounds of water splashing told her Josiah was up and getting ready to leave. Each morning he did the same, dressed quietly, being careful not to wake her.
They didn’t speak much, rarely said more than a couple of words. She waited in bed until he left then got up and pushed the kitchen table against the front door. She remained in the cabin, only leaving the safety if absolutely necessary. It had become a routine of theirs. Every evening he’d arrive with a meal prepared by the Cole’s cook. He’d watch her eat pushing her to finish the food and every night he’d make her promise she’d not leave the next day. Laura stayed at the cabin because there was no reason not to. At this point she didn’t care about much. The emptiness of her life was the proper punishment for not being a capable parent.
For allowing her son to be taken.
Killed.
She didn’t blame Amelia, who’d begged her for forgiveness. Her poor sister didn’t deserve to feel guilty. She’d done the best she could. Caring for three children and maintaining the household while Laura worked in town. The irony was not lost on her. That she’d cared for someone else’s child while hers was murdered.
Frank Foster was alive. She had no doubt. He’d come for her next. Laura knew what she had to do. She’d prepare for his return. In every corner of the cabin she’d hidden weapons. A knife under her pillow, a sharpened branch on a ledge beside the door and a small caliber gun Josiah gave her was over the hearth hidden behind a bowl.
It was only a matter of time before he’d appear. He’d fulfill the promise that if she ever left him, he’d kill Gabe and then her.
After washing and dressing, Laura sat and concentrated on breathing, on calming her jumbled thoughts.
Then she got up from the chair near the fireplace and pulled the table away from the front door. It was time to stop hiding.
She lifted several of Josiah’s dirty shirts. Without thinking she brought the clothing to her nose. She’d not been so absent as to not notice how attractive the man was. Several times she’d caught glimpses of him while he dressed. For the first time ever, something inside her stirred. A strange sensation that made her stomach tumble. Every time his eyes met hers, she’d had to look away, not able to stand the strange feelings.
Josiah McClintock was a quiet man who seemed comfortable in silence, never pushing her to hold a conversation. Some evenings he read and when he did, it gave her more time to study him. Something was different about him. His mannerisms more refined than any man she’d ever seen. He moved with assurance yet when he spoke, he had a strange accent. According to Amelia he was Irish and he’d come to the Coles after leaving work as a railroad worker. She’d seen the Irish workers who moved with the railroad lines and Josiah was nothing like those crude and unruly men.
If he wanted to keep his past private, she could not blame him. If she could start over and leave everything behind she would. If that were only possible. But she didn’t deserve it. Her life without Gabe would never be good. How could anyone strive to be happy when a piece of their sou
l was missing?
She washed Josiah’s clothes in the small creek behind the cottage and hung them near the hearth to dry and then set about cleaning the cottage. It was her simple way of paying him back, cleaning and taking care of his clothing.
Every once in a while she couldn’t help by steal glances at the doorway, fear demanding she block it. But she’d not cower anymore. All that was left to do was wait.
Josiah arrived that evening. He took in the freshly swept cottage and made up bed and looked to her without speaking. He set the basket of food on the table and went to the hooks beside the door to hang his jacket. Laura stood by the coffee pot and poured him a cup. “I appreciate all you’ve done. Have to start repaying in some way.”
Josiah took the cup, his eyes narrowing at her. There were times when Laura felt as if he judged her, as if he had questions he would not ask. “Thank you. You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do.” She went to the table and pulled out bread and a small clay pot with what looked to be stew from the basket he’d brought. “And I will start cooking. If you could take me to town, I can get food. I have some money saved.”
Josiah stood next to his now dry clothes she’d hung up and stared at the wall for a moment. Then to the fireplace and added a log. “When would you like to go?”
They spent the evening as usual. He read and she washed up the dishes and repacked them so Josiah could take them back with him in the morning.
She went outside to relieve herself in the small outhouse and then pulled the blankets she’d aired out from Josiah’s pallet off the clothesline and took them inside. He looked up from his book and watched in silence as she fluffed his blankets and made his bedroll. She wondered if he slept comfortably.
“I will sleep here and you will take the bed. You work all day. Need the comfort of a bed.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I insist.” Laura met his gaze not looking away until he nodded.
Later that night, his soft snores gave her comfort as she lay in the darkness. A shadow crossed the window and she sat up with her eyes glued to the window. Was someone out there? She got up and went to the window, her entire body trembling. With a shaky hand, she moved the window covering aside and looked outside. It was a bright night, the full moon casting enough light to see. There was no one, not within her sight anyway.
Something rattled and Laura let out a gasp and jumped away. “Oh God.” She whispered moving back. A warm hand touched her elbow. She let out a yelp.
“What is it?” Josiah’s voice was husky with sleep. “Is someone out there?”
He went to the window and looked out. A different type of trembling shook Laura as she took in his shirtless wide back. “I don’t know. I thought I saw something, probably shadows. I’m sorry.”
He turned and looked at her. They locked gazes and for whatever reason she’d consider later, she reached out to touch his chest. Josiah remained still, his eyes never leaving hers, but his hand covered hers, keeping it in place. “There’s no one there.”
Tentatively he leaned forward his eyes lowering to her lips. Heat pulsated from him onto her palm. She felt his strong heartbeat, the most amazing thing she’d ever touched. How she wanted him to kiss her, for him to pull her against his strong body and show her what it meant to be loved. By the heat in his gaze, he desired her as well.
“Josiah...” She lifted to her toes offering herself. His mouth covered hers and Laura could have sworn she’d died. A feeling like nothing she’d ever encountered filled her completely.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. He continued to deepen the kiss turning his head to one side then the other while he cradled her head with both hands. The softness of his lips as shocking as the hardness of his body against her lulled her into a world she’d never thought existed and Laura let out a soft moan.
The jolt of reality when Josiah abruptly jerked away shocked Laura so that she wobbled on her feet.
“I’m sorry.” Josiah ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t know why I did that.”
Sorry? For what? Oh, yes, for the kiss. Laura touched her lips. “Don’t apologize. It certainly made me forget I was afraid.” She almost smiled at his look of surprise. “Goodnight, Josiah. I’m sorry I woke you.”
Laura went back to the pallet and lay down, listening for his soft breathing to tell her he’d gone back to sleep. Then she touched her lips again and frowned. Why had he kissed her? Was it wrong that she’d enjoyed it so much? God she didn’t deserve to feel good about anything.
It dawned on her that Frank would return and her days were numbered. And that thankfully a man she desired had kissed her. Finally she’d learned what it felt like to care for someone. Another jolt shook her. She cared for Josiah McClintock. Cared for him very much.
Chapter Eleven
It was middle of the day at the mercantile. Mitch was behind the counter moving items around so he could dust. It was hard to ignore the thumping at his temples, but better to have the dull headache than to be throwing up like he’d been earlier. Nora was right. He shouldn’t drink as much as he did. Especially since it made him so sick. The few moments of fog were not worth an entire day of feeling a few steps short of death.
The door opened and a young woman walked in. Dressed in serviceable muted tones, she stopped just inside the doorway to allow her eyes to adjust to the dimness. It gave him a moment to study her plain but pleasant face.
Brown hair pulled back and tucked under a hat she reached up and adjusted it and then looked up to him. “Where do you keep molasses? Do you have any jam?”
Was she here as someone’s personal maid or cook? If so, then she could be single. He cleared his throat. “Over here,” his reply was husky with lack of use.
Her smile brightened her face. It was a pretty smile. Mitch went to the counter. “I have a few jars of jam. A local, Mrs. Jensen, makes them.”
He waited while she looked over the jars and placed two of them on the counter and then followed her to a bin of fabric. “Are you new in town? I’ve not seen you before.”
“Oh, yes,” she replied with enthusiasm. “My husband and I arrived just a week ago. We’re staying with the Smith’s for now. Do you know them?”
He did. “Nice folks.” Married. His heart sank, but he ignored it. It irritated Mitch that the knowledge of the woman, any young woman being unavailable bothered him so. “Welcome to Alder Gulch.”
*****
Laura shook out the kitchen rug and placed it over the bannister of the small front porch. She went back inside and swept the area where it had laid. There wasn’t much to do. She’d cleaned the same spot the day before. Keeping busy kept thoughts at bay, so she continued with brisk movements.
While working she wondered what her future was, she had to do something. She couldn’t possibly remain here much longer, no doubt Josiah did not want to be saddled with a lonely bitter woman.
Perhaps she could move back to her sister’s, but the thought of it brought sadness. Yes, that was an option. Or she could find work as a housekeeper. Although she wasn’t sure how to go about finding employment, she could ask. She’d start by visiting the Watts, it was possible they’d allow her to live there and continue to help with Meredith.
If not, maybe she’d ask Josiah to take her to speak to Elizabeth Cole. The matriarch of the Coles knew everyone in town and kept well informed from what Amelia said. If anyone could help her, perhaps Mrs. Cole would be inclined to.
Her eyes lighted on a small shirt. It had been Gabe’s. Amelia brought it and left it for her. She’d told her to get rid of everything. It hurt too much to do it herself. But now she was grateful her sister had not listened. Laura lifted it and held it to her cheek.
Footsteps sounded and Laura realized she’d left the front door open too long.
“Hello, Laura.”
Hearing Frank F
oster’s unmistakable voice was like being submerged in ice water. Laura turned slowly and let out a loud gasp at his appearance.
Hair was missing from half of his head. The skin from the center down the left side of his face remained bumpy having not healed properly. The same side of his face was sunken. His left eye had a grey film over it. His shoulders were at an angle, his right side lower than the left. Of course. The horseman she’d seen while at the Watts’s.
Frank held a gun in his left hand, pointed it at her. He limped in dragging his right leg and sat on one of the chairs at the table. He kept the gun trained on her the entire time “You’re shacked up with a ranch hand. I always knew you were a whore.”
Laura scanned the room. Where Frank sat, he could see her every move.
“Get me some coffee.”
Although she could out maneuver him and make it to any of her stashed weapons, she’d not be able to avoid being shot. It would be at least three hours before Josiah returned. Either she’d be dead or have killed Frank. Either way she’d do her best to keep Josiah from harm. It was not his fault she’d brought all this mess to his doorstep.
“What do you want, Frank?” She calmly poured a cup of coffee.
His eyes widened and for a moment he seemed speechless. Of course she’d never dared talk back to him. But he regained his bearings too soon. “I came to finish what I started. To kill you.”
It should have scared her, but calmness filled her, it’s warmth seeping into her bones. She placed the cup in front of Frank and stepped back, her movements slow. “What good will it do? You already killed Gabe.”
“I told you what would happen if you left.”
Anger burst into her chest. “I waited for you. Months. I left because we ran out of food. Men followed me from town. I was scared. Moved here to live with my sister.”
“You were to remain and wait,” Frank insisted. “You should not have left and whore yourself out. I warned you.”
Laura studied the man, shoulders hunched he seemed so small now. Indians had caught him. They’d almost succeeded in scalping him. After managing to escape certain death, why did Frank insist on revenge instead of a life of thankfulness? “You killed Gabe. I hate you.”
Blue Horizon (Shades of Blue, Book 4) Page 5