Lucky walked up to them. “Is breakfast ready yet? ‘Cause I’m ready for it.”
“Not quite,” Arnold replied.
“Should I play some music?”
Del laughed before catching himself and Sam glared at him. “Do we have time?” he asked Sam.
“Doesn’t look like it. Have a seat Lucky and leave the music for later to get us moving.” The boss dished up everyone’s plates.
Arnold added the biscuits, which looked suspiciously like pancakes to Del. He stifled a shrug and ate the flat bread. Everything tasted better thanks to hunger. One by one, each man finished, putting his dishes into the empty water pail. When Del saw Lefty begin to pick up the washing, he intervened. “Monsieur, let me clean them.”
After a look to Sam who nodded, Lefty straightened. “Sure, sir. I reckon there are plenty of other chores to do before we go.”
Del grinned, scooping up the wash, and headed toward the pond for another chance to see Ellen. He knew Sam had suspected his motives and appreciated his friend allowing him to do this task. Plenty of other people met him on their way to and from the water. Most looked at him as if he were a loaded weapon, while others in their group knew him well enough by now. Him wearing Sam’s shirt helped give him an air of civility, he suspected. Never mind, he dismissed his usual irritation. He merely wanted to see Ellen, make sure her wrist healed, and maybe see her smile at him.
“Good morning.”
He enjoyed the sound of her voice. “Good morning, ma coeur. How are you?” Pausing for only a moment, he glanced over at her. “You’re looking well, as usual.” A slight pink stole over her face. Her shyness warmed his heart.
“Thank you, Monsieur, as do you.” She focused on her dishwashing. “It’s lovely now, but I’m sure we’ll catch rain later. We might want to hurry and get moving.”
With a start, he realized his own task sat ignored. “I agree.” Del began cleaning, trying to think of something else to say. He hurried after seeing her finished stack of dishes. Being done at the same time meant he might walk her back to the camp. “Your brothers, they are good too? Your mother and father?”
“We’re all fine, thank you.” She placed the last dish back in her bucket. “I suppose you are fine. You look so anyway. I mean, no dark circles under your eyes, so you slept well.”
“I did, merci, thank you for noticing.” Did she wait for him? He snuck a peek over at her. Ellen sat there, staring out across the water. His heart did a little flip. She might be reluctant to return to her family, he chided his hopeful thoughts, not eager to walk back with him. The girl disliked his heritage, he reminded his burgeoning optimism. Checking the last fork for cleanliness and satisfied, Del put it in the bucket. “May I walk with you back to the camp?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
“Only as far as the first wagon?”
“I’m sorry, but yes. That would be best.”
Halfway between the pond and their group, Lucky’s bugle gave the signal to start. “We ended in time, no?”
“We did indeed.” She walked a little faster as they neared the others. “Thank you for the company.”
“My pleasure.” He slowed to let her go on ahead. Her cheerfulness brightened his day, and Del didn’t want her father’s anger to dim Ellen’s face one bit. Once she disappeared around a wagon’s corner and out of his sight, he hurried to put away the dishes.
Sam already sat on his horse. “About time, lazy.”
Del shrugged, knowing the truth and certain his friend did too. He rushed to get Pomme ready, putting on the light saddle. As soon as his foot hit the opposite stirrup, his horse trotted to catch Sam and Scamp. Like yesterday, they scouted in front.
The men settled into an easy walk once ahead of the group a ways. The calm morning grew overcast as they rode over the rolling hills. A short stubbly grass covered the ground, spotted with sagebrush. When it began to rain, both men ignored the wet until the drizzle turned into huge drops. As they both shrugged into their individual oilcloth ponchos, Sam said, “I’d like to keep going while the ground is firm.” He raised an arm and made a stirring circle. “Lucky will signal if the wheels start sticking for anyone.”
The covering kept him warm and mostly dry despite how wet and cold his head became. He’d be glad when the sun appeared. Not until late morning did the rain stop. Even then, the sky stayed cloudy. Mud sucked at the horses’ hooves, adding a squish sound to their every step.
Their group trailed behind them as he and Sam rode to the spiny hill ahead. The sharp stone ridges rising vertically from the ground reminded Del of feathers along an irritated bird’s back. A native trading village was usually underneath the rocky outcrop. The grass grew longer here than where they’d been so far, and stubby trees grew in clumps along the river’s edge. He knew when his friend stopped what Sam had in mind. Their group rolled to them while they waited.
The wagons drew up in a semi circle along the river’s bank. Both men dismounted and staked out their horses to eat and drink. When most of the people had a family member there, Sam said, “Everyone going to the village to trade can head over with me and Del. Otherwise, we’ll spend noon here before heading up the fork for the best camping.”
Del scanned the crowd and found Ellen. She stood with her father, who scowled and walked away from the group. When he left, she followed. Others hurried and shuffled to gather items to possibly trade. He waited with Sam, not intending to barter for anything himself. The sour faced older Warren woman stood with them. Miss Jenny came up, chatting with Lucky. Del couldn’t catch what they said to each other and didn’t try to listen. He’d been around enough love struck youngsters to have a guess. Hearing a rustle next to him, Del anticipated Sam’s speech. Before his friend could say anything, Ellen walked up to them holding a cloth bag. He winked at her, delighted by the flush in her cheeks.
“Please excuse my delay.”
“It’s no matter, Miss Winslow. I’m not as familiar with this tribe, so it’d be best if we all stayed together. Shall we go?” Sam said and led the way forward.
Del kept up with his friend and resisted the urge to lag behind with Ellen. He glanced back to see her chatting with Jenny and Lucky. When he turned forward, Del caught Sam’s smirk. “Non, mon ami, I’ve seen you stare at Mrs. Warren when you think no one is looking.”
“Have I been too obvious?”
“Just to those who know you.” They entered the trading area, Shoshone tipis in a row on the east side and the river along the west. Various people sat in front of their homes. Items for sale sat out on blankets. Children kicked up dust as they played. Their parents scolded them in their own language before going back to a simple English for the whites.
Sam paused at an array of moccasins. He knelt, asking Del, “How much Shoshone do you speak again?”
“Very little. My English is better.”
“That bad, huh?”
The latter half of their group arrived and he said to Ellen, “I’m much better at French and its romance.” Marie and Lucky rewarded him with a laugh while Ellen and Jenny just frowned. They walked on, engrossed in all the available goods.
Calling to him from his crouched position, Sam held up two pairs of shoes. “Del, which do you think Marie would like more?”
He glanced down at the two before continuing his watch of Ellen as she neared the center of the small town. When she and the others stood in front of the chief’s home, he and several of the men with him stood. “Either are beautiful and would suit.” He nodded at the young woman kneeling behind the display. “Who is your chief?”
She blushed before looking down and answering, “Running Cloud.”
Sam decided on a pair of shoes, holding out a silver dollar piece as if asking if she’d take it as payment. The girl nodded, accepting the trade. “How do I say ‘thank you’?” he asked Del in English.
“You are welcome,” the young lady said.
Grinning, Sam got to his feet, tucking the moccasins in his
waistband for safekeeping. “The pleasure is mine. Good day.”
They walked on, wanting to catch up to the others and Del had to tease him. “Buying a gift for one woman and flirting with another? Who is the romantic here?” His jovial mood faded when they neared the others. Tension clouded the air like a late fall fog. A solid line formed by Running Cloud and what looked to be his best warriors looked ready to attack or defend.
“You say this is the man I speak to?” At Lucky’s nod, Running Cloud addressed Sam. “Your woman, the tall one. What will you barter for her?”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “She’s not for trade.”
A younger man came up from behind Running Cloud and said, “I am Pointed Nose, future chief of the Shoshone! Everything is for sale. How many horses do you want?”
Del stepped up. “None. Don’t ask again.”
A flash of fury crossed the young man’s face and he charged at Del. Before he could step back, the chief’s son pushed him backwards a couple of steps, yelling, “I want the woman! I’ll take her myself if there’s no trade.”
Del grabbed the man by the wrists. “You’ll do no such thing. Leave her alone.”
“Let go of me! Who are you to speak to me this way? Nothing! You’re nothing!” Struggling, he tried pulling out of Del’s grip first one way then the next.
While stronger than the chief’s son, Del still worked to keep a grasp of him. “Yet, I’m more than you.”
“Stop this right now!” Sam stepped up, pushing both of them away by their shoulders. “There’s no need for this! Adelard, tell him you two are fighting over my wife.”
His breath caught in his throat at first. “Vous? Non! Je—” he began to protest.
“Yes, mine! Tell him!”
Sam’s voice cut through Del’s anger and stopped him cold. Instead of arguing with his friend, he glared at Pointed Nose “The woman is this man’s wife. Your attempts are useless. Our fighting is useless.” He nodded over at Sam as he held Ellen in his arms. With everyone’s attention on them, he kissed Ellen on the forehead and hugged her closer. Del also caught sight of Lucky holding Jenny’s hand and wanted to stop another fight before it started. “The two young women are spoken for, no trade for either of them for anything you own.”
With a snort, Pointed Nose stomped off back to the center of the village. The chief frowned at both Sam and Del. “You needed to state this claim at the beginning. Now was almost too late. It may still be too late to stop war.” He turned without waiting for a reply and followed his son.
The glare he received when Pointed Nose looked back at them over his shoulder unnerved Del. He turned to the whites with him. “I’m sorry everyone, but they are angry. We will need to continue on very soon.”
Sam took a deep breath. “I agree. Let’s go.”
Ellen began, “Sam, I’m sorr—”
“No, don’t be. The young man pressed the issue. I know how you feel.” His arm still around her, he glanced down at her. “I should have stepped in sooner.”
Del had to disagree with his friend’s assessment. He cleared his throat, the adrenalin keeping him a little shaky. “Non. I should have imagined your solution sooner.” He guessed that everyone else felt shaken as well, judging by their silence as they walked back to safety. As soon as they were alone, he would need to warn Sam further. Pointed Nose didn’t seem to be the forgiving type, and Del wanted them all to be on guard until out of the area. No one dawdled on his or her way to the wagons. Once there, everyone scattered to their own family.
Del and Sam got on their horses with Sam saying, “Let’s bring up the rear in case we’re followed. You know more Shoshone than I do. I’ll need your expertise if we have guests. Go on back if you want and I’ll be there soon. I need to let the other men know what we’re doing.”
He nodded, steering Pomme to the back of the wagon train. Del went to the end, reaching the Warren’s wagon. From the opposite side he heard Ellen and her friends talking. He continued on to the back of the line, not wanting to listen in despite his urge to do so.
Before he cleared the end of the wagon, he heard Ellen say, “I’m not going to be the slave of some animal.”
Del gritted his teeth. He’d not made any progress with her in changing the woman’s opinion of Native Americans. She’d been grateful and friendly, but because of his actions, not because of him. An uneasy ache settled in his chest. Later, when alone, he’d tell himself how one person’s opinion of him didn’t mean anything. Even if that person was Ellen. He didn’t pay attention to his horse’s motion and turned the corner into full view of them.
“Ellen!” Marie exclaimed. At his movement, she looked at him and swallowed before saying, “I know you don’t think that.”
“You don’t know what I think. No one does,” the young woman snapped.
Del wanted to stay and argue with her attitude but couldn’t, especially since he agreed with her. Pointed Nose had acted like a brute expecting to buy and sell a wife. He’d been a decent enough looking young man. Pointed might have had a chance if he’d behaved with a little more charm. Del sighed, staring up at the sky at his own foolishness. Such a good idea to use good manners with Ellen, he thought to himself, because of all the supreme success he’d had in doing so.
He shook his head, knowing he needed to snap out of this sarcastic and blue mood before Sam reached him. His mountainous amount of jealousy over Pointed Nose’s interest also needed an examination. Del had wanted to snap the young man’s neck when he’d threatened to kidnap her.
As Sam rode up, Del faked a grin, silently resolving to sort out his feelings, keep Ellen safe, and convince her he was civilized.
Chapter 3
They rolled along the valley and away from the natives’ settlement. Ellen trembled when remembering the vicious look in Pointed Nose’s eyes. Between his threats and Del’s own anger, she fretted as the three women walked. Jenny talked the most with Marie adding in a word or two when necessary. Ellen tried to keep up with the conversation and only listened to every other word. Lost in her thoughts, Lucky’s bugle noise startled her. She didn’t laugh with the other ladies at how they all jumped at the sound.
“How are we surprised at something that happens every day?” Marie asked.
“His bugle always surprises me,” Ellen confessed. “I’m not scared so much as I can’t ever remember when he’s going to use it.”
Jenny sighed. “I love when he plays at night. He’s such a talented musician.”
Her gaze met Marie’s and they both grinned. The girl certainly was partial. The older woman said, “I’ll agree. His playing has been a pleasant part of all this.” They paused while waiting for the wagons to move into their usual circle for the evening. Several trees grew near camp, some with dead branches under them for tonight’s fuel. With plenty of grass, the cattle and other stock had already begun to graze. Marie stepped away from her friends. “Until tonight?”
Ellen nodded, hoping she’d have the chance to meet up after dinner chores. “Until then,” she said to Jenny.
“Bye!” The girl waved and headed for her own wagon.
Ellen scanned the horizon, wanting to delay returning to her family and their fussing. A small grove of trees to the west promised additional wood. She’d have to scout a shallow place to cross later when time permitted.
Lucky walked up to her, leading his horse. “Howdy, Miss Winslow. I saw your folks near the tail end, just ahead of the Warrens.”
“Thank you, Mr. Lucky.”
“Let me walk you over there.”
The young man’s face glowed, and Ellen knew she wasn’t the cause. “Why do I suspect you have an ulterior motive for this?”
His cheeks deepened in color. “I reckon I do.”
“Jenny likes you too, in case that’s what you wanted to know.” Ellen laughed when he blushed even more. “I thought as much! Are we done talking, or would you like to continue?”
“I don’t mind seeing you to your wagon, miss. You’
re a pleasant lady too.”
“Thank you. You’re a pleasant man as well.” She glanced over to see her father staring at them. “Have a good evening.”
He tipped his hat at first to her then to Jack Winslow. “Miss, sir.”
Ellen gave a quick look around their camp. They’d not been stopped in one place long enough to start chores. Skeeter was most likely off playing, and she’d heard Lucy with Buster in the wagon. The oxen were still yoked, so she stepped toward them.
Before she could do anything, Jack said, “That Mr. Lucky is a fine young man.”
She paused, turning to face him with a smile. “He seems to be. My friend Jenny thinks he’s hung the moon. Mr. Lucky thinks the same about her.” Ellen bit her tongue to stop her babbling.
He shook his head and walked over to her. “Now, if you’d talked to him more in the beginning, he might be your fella. Instead, you have that half-breed lurking around here. I wish he’d just steal what he wants and leave already.”
Not censoring her thoughts, Ellen asked, “What makes you think he’s here to steal anything?” His furious expression chilled her blood, and she wanted to grab the words back. She tried to placate him. “Mr. Du Boise has been helpful so far. We’d not be here now if he’d not saved us. He’s only half Indian, so that’s something, right?”
Jack stared at her with evident scorn. “No matter who his daddy was, no matter what good deeds he’s done to win over Granville, he’s still a filthy Indian who needs killing.”
The injustice of such an idea infuriated her. Del being different from them didn’t mean he deserved to die. Ellen studied her shoes to avoid his knowing gaze. “I see.”
He walked past her to the front of the wagon. “No, you don’t. If you did, I’d not have to hear about you cavorting with him every chance you get.”
Ellen followed him. She had to convince Pa she’d not been doing anything to encourage Del. “Cavorting? I don’t think we—”
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