by Chloe Carley
“I do think of others,” Sara Jane argued.
“That’s true, when it comes to the women in town, but not the men who live and breathe life into this ranch,” James told his daughter. “How many times have one of them rescued you?”
Sara Jane’s face flushed in embarrassment because what Pa said was true. “I’m sorry …”
“I forgive you, sprite, but you need to start making better decisions.” Shawn tugged on one of her braids and gave her a one-armed hug. “One day, Carl and I might not be around to rescue you.”
Sara Jane nodded and then asked Wenaka, “Would you like to get into some dry clothing?”
“I have no others with me,” the young girl told her.
“I know.” Sara Jane stood up and pulled Wenaka with her toward the stairs. “They won’t be what you’re used to, but I have a trunk full of dresses that I rarely wear.”
“You dress like a man,” Wenaka told her.
“Yes, and I plan to continue doing so. When I can. I hate riding in a long skirt.”
Wenaka followed her up to her bedroom and then eyed the proffered dress with distaste. “I understand now. Why would anyone want to wear so much fabric? You could make ten dresses from this.”
Sara Jane eyed the buckskin dress and tight leggings Wenaka wore and nodded. “Your outfit is much preferable, but I think the old biddies in town would hate it just as much as they hate my boy’s trousers.”
“Old biddies?” Wenaka asked as she stepped into the skirt and attempted to hook the waist. It was much too big for her slight frame and when she released it, the fabric slid down her legs to puddle by her feet.
Sara Jane burst out laughing. Wenaka did the same and soon both girls were laughing uncontrollably. “Well, I guess that idea isn’t going to work. Are you sure you don’t want to borrow a pair of my boy’s trousers?”
“I am sure,” Wenaka nodded. “Your clothing is … colorful, but not practical.”
“But it’s dry,” Sara Jane interjected.
Wenaka smirked and then lowered her voice. “My buckskin just looks wet. Like the deer who gave their life so that we might live, it doesn’t let the moisture or the wind through.”
“I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way. By the way, you speak really good English. How is that?”
“We had a missionary live with us for three years. Mr. Patterson from Virginia. I spent many hours with him teaching him our words and he taught me English.”
“He doesn’t live with your family any longer?” Sara Jane inquired.
“No. He left to go and see his family. His mother was dying. He never came back.”
“Maybe he did and couldn’t find you,” Sara Jane suggested.
“No. Pondu was his friend and we waited until the snows came before we headed up into the mountains. Stanley never came back.”
“I’m sorry. It sounds like you miss him.”
Loud voices came from below and Sara Jane grabbed Wenaka’s hand and pulled her back downstairs. “What’s happening?”
“Riders coming in from the pastures.”
“Riders? In this weather?” Sara Jane asked.
Shawn came back inside the ranch house and looked at Wenaka. “It looks like your brother has come looking for you and he doesn’t look very happy. Their faces are all painted white. What does that mean?”
Wenaka paled and rushed out the front door, waving her arms and screaming in her own tongue as she raced toward the riders. When they saw her, they halted their progress and one of the men slid from his horse and embraced her. Everyone stepped out of the house and the man immediately shoved Wenaka behind his back.
“He thinks we mean to hurt her,” Sara Jane guessed.
“I’d say that’s about right,” Gideon murmured coming to stand at her left side. “Let me go talk to them …”
“I found her, let me go,” Carl stated, stepping forward and walking slowly toward the group of warriors.
“Carl …” Sara Jane tried to call him back. He turned toward her slightly, even as his feet kept moving forward, and smiled. She knew he was trying to reassure her that everything was going to be alright, but Sara Jane still felt panic setting in.
“Are these the same Indians we saw the other day?” Sara Jane asked. Her breathing was coming faster, and she reached out and grabbed hold of Gideon’s arm.
He patted her hands and then answered, “I would think so, but we only counted two horses that day. With the one the girl was riding, it looks like they have at least eight.”
Carl and the Indian spoke at length, their arms making gestures as they attempted to communicate. After several minutes, Carl turned and called, “Sara Jane, come over here.”
Sara Jane bit her lip and held back. “I don’t want to.”
Carl motioned her forward with his hand. “Someone would like to meet you.”
Sara Jane shook her head and tried to back away, only to find Shawn’s hand between her shoulders, holding her in place. “I don’t think you have a choice,” Shawn told her. “Carl won’t let any harm come to you.”
“But why do they want to see me?”
“I don’t know. Let’s go find out.” Shawn took her hand and pulled her forward. Sara Jane dragged her feet, her fear intensifying with each step.
“Shawn, let me go. I don’t want to do this.”
“Sara Jane, stop thinking about the past. You’re not five, you’re eighteen. Look at them. Really look at them. Do they look dangerous?”
“Yes.” With their painted faces and spears in hand, they most definitely looked dangerous.
“Okay, but are they hurting Carl?”
“No. But maybe they only hurt girls.”
“Listen to yourself. They didn’t hurt your new friend.”
“She’s one of them.”
Shawn shook his head and continued to pull her forward. “I won’t let them hurt you. I promise. Now, head up and shoulders back. Let me see some of the Sara Jane courage that gets you in so much trouble.”
Sara Jane did what he asked, keeping her eyes on Carl as they came to his side. Carl gave her an encouraging smile and then spoke to the Indian. “Chief Pondu, this is Sara Jane.”
Pondu looked at her and Wenaka peeked around his back and smiled at her. “So, you are a troublemaker just like my sister.”
Sara Jane frowned and shook her head. “I’m not a troublemaker.”
“Did they not have to go out and find you in the storm?” Pondu asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I could have found my own way back,” Sara Jane defended her actions.
“That’s what Wenaka said.” Pondu shared a look with Carl. “You should tie her up so that she doesn’t give you any more grief.”
Carl nodded and winked at Sara Jane. “That’s an idea I hadn’t thought of. Thank you for the advice.”
“You are welcome,” Pondu said in all seriousness.
Sara Jane wasn’t sure who to be angry with: Pondu for making the suggestion, or Carl for agreeing with it. Wenaka chose that moment to defy her brother and came to stand beside him. She told Sara Jane, “He is only teasing. He tried to tie me up once and I cut his rope into little tiny pieces and left it in his blankets.”
Pondu shook his head at his sister and then pulled on her single black braid. “Stanley would have labeled you a brat.”
“But you love me,” she reminded him.
“Yes, and that is why we came to find you. Come, we must go if we are to get back before the snow starts again.” Pondu looked at the others and bowed his head slightly. “Thank you for coming to my sister’s aid.”
“No problem.”
Pondu turned to James and announced, “I understand we are trespassing, but one of the little ones is ill with a fever and we didn’t wish to risk the storm.”
“I understand and would have done the same thing. You are welcome to stay on our lands until the baby is better. Is there anything you need?”
“No. The fever has alrea
dy broken, and we will leave first thing in the morning. The pueblos are our home during the winter months, the snows came early this year.”
“That they did. Safe travels,” Gideon told him.
Wenaka pulled on her brother’s arm and after a short, whispered conversation, he reached up and removed a braided thong from his hair and handed it to her. She stepped forward and held it out to Sara Jane. Carl gave her a gentle push forward.
“This is a sign of our friendship.” Wenaka held the braided leather out to her.
Sara Jane reached for it, but Wenaka shook her head and tied it around her wrist. “Let this be a reminder of me when you look at it. Maybe one day our paths will cross again.”
Sara Jane looked at the leather and wished she had something to give the young girl in return. Suddenly, a length of rope appeared in front of her, held by Carl’s fingers. She gave him a grateful look and then took it, tying it around Wenaka’s wrist loosely. “Please don’t cut this rope into ribbons but remember me when you look at it.”
Everyone chuckled and Wenaka nodded. “Thank you, my friend.”
She started to turn away, but Sara Jane stopped her. “Is he here?” she whispered so that only Wenaka could hear her.
“Sincho?” Wenaka whispered back. When Sara Jane nodded, the Indian girl’s smile fell slightly, and she nodded once. “He is the warrior on my brother’s right.”
Sara Jane looked at the man who was supposed to be marrying this young girl in a few years. He didn’t look to be much older than herself, but he was very large, and it was easy to tell that he was very strong. He was also looking at Wenaka with a mixture of admiration and confusion. The same mix of emotions Sara Jane often saw on Carl’s face. “He doesn’t look that upset.”
Wenaka glanced at the man and then sighed. “He is just hiding it. I’m sure I will get a lecture on the way back to camp.”
“Oh, I’ve had plenty of those,” Sara Jane assured her. “You’ll be fine. Just smile and nod a lot. It makes them think you’re listening to them.”
Wenaka giggled and then whispered back, “I’ll have to remember that.” She then raised her voice to include everyone and said, “Goodbye.” With a little wave, she ran for the horse that Jace had brought from the barn and vaulted onto the animal’s back.
Sara Jane’s eyes rose, and she exclaimed, “I want to do that.”
Carl and Shawn groaned, and Gideon simply shook his head at her. “Shiloh wouldn’t appreciate your practice attempts. Best to stick to your saddle. You can’t be the best at everything.”
“But …”
“Your brother speaks wisdom. Weakness is not a sin. Allowing others to help is not either. You and Wenaka must learn that helping others is good for the soul of the helper. When you keep someone from helping you, you keep them from reaping the rewards of having done so. Thank you again.”
Gideon nodded and then added, “Anytime you travel this way, feel free to stop by the ranch and say hello.”
Pondu mounted his horse in a similar fashion to Wenaka and then Sara Jane remembered the reason his sister had been out in the storm in the first place. She ran to Wenaka’s side and told her where to find the willow trees. Wenaka thanked her and after a short conversation with her brother, the small group set off for the pond.
Sara Jane stood there watching them, only realizing that she and Carl were the only ones left outside when she began to shiver. Carl dropped his duster over her shoulders and then took her hand and led her back toward the ranch house. “You need to stop coming outside without your coat.”
“And you need to stop telling …” Sara Jane paused as Pondu’s words came back to her. Carl was only telling her about the coat because he didn’t want her to get sick. As much as it galled her, she couldn’t fault him for looking out for her. She nodded and they continued walking. Just before Carl reached for the door handle, she said, “Thank you for going to look for me.”
Carl lifted one hand, tracing the line of her jaw and then slipping it beneath her hair. The braids were down and coming undone, and the feel of his icy fingers sent shivers down her spine–at least, that’s what she told herself. He gazed into her eyes and then smiled tenderly at her. “Sara Jane, as long as there is breath in my body, I will always come to look for you.”
Something inside her melted at those loving words and she couldn’t take her eyes off of him. This handsome man who was always looking out for her and had promised to always continue to do so. She finally broke her gaze away and murmured, “Thank you anyway.”
He kissed her on the forehead before dropping his hand and opening the door. “You are very welcome. Sleep well.”
“Aren’t you coming inside?” she inquired. “Ma has supper almost ready.”
“Not tonight. I’ll eat with the boys in the bunkhouse. I need to change into some dry clothing.”
“You could …”
“I could, but I’m not going to,” Carl stopped her. “You’ve had a very exciting couple of days. A good night’s sleep will help take those dark circles from beneath your eyes.”
Sara Jane lifted a hand to her face and felt the skin beneath her eyes. Carl gave her a little push toward the house. She went inside and joined the rest of the household for dinner, but her thoughts circled back to everything that had happened that day. So many confusing thoughts and emotions, she didn’t even know where to start to process them all. She headed to bed early that night, spending time journaling about Mark and Carl and Wenaka. When sleep finally claimed her, she still didn’t have any answers, but she was certain of one thing. She needed to make some decisions about her life—and soon.
Chapter 14
A few days later
“Sara Jane?” Ma’s voice called from outside her bedroom door.
Sara Jane opened her eyes, glanced at the window and then frowned. It was already light outside, and she should have been up hours earlier. “Ma?”
The door opened and her mother’s head appeared. “Are you awake? We missed you at breakfast.”
Sara Jane pulled a face and commented, “Hours ago. Why did no one come up to wake me?”
“I did come up,” Ma replied. “Your covers were all tangled up and you looked exhausted. I decided you needed a few extra hours of sleep.”
Sara Jane pushed herself up in the bed and yawned. “How can I still be this tired?”
Ma walked over and looked at her closely before putting her palm against Sara Jane’s forehead. “You don’t have the fever.”
“I don’t feel ill. Just tired.”
“Are you sleeping well?” Ma asked.
Sara Jane shrugged her shoulders. “I guess so.” In reality, she knew that wasn’t the case. Ever since she’d returned from almost getting lost in the snowstorm, her dreams had been a jumbled mess that bordered on nightmares. She tossed and turned each night, finally going to sleep only to wake up hours later shaking in terror. The problem was, she couldn’t seem to remember what the dreams had been about. Not fully.
Ma was still watching her, so Sara Jane kept her expression neutral, and stretched her arms over her head. “I’ll get dressed and then go get my chores started.”
“The boys have probably done most of them by now. We got more snow last night.”
“I should hurry then,” Sara Jane told her, and Ma nodded before leaving, closing the door behind her. Sara Jane wanted to slide down beneath the quilt and go back to sleep, but that wouldn’t get the chores done. Shiloh would be wondering where she was.
Sara Jane crawled from the bed, quickly washed her face with the cold water in the basin, and then unbraided her hair. She took a minute to brush it out, and then quickly plaited it in one long braid down her back. She’d admired the braid Wenaka wore her hair in and Sara Jane had practiced in her room for hours until she finally got it right. With her hair done, she glanced out the window and decided today was going to be very cold.
She pulled on a pair of long johns she’d claimed as her own when her brothers had ou
tgrown them, and then added trousers and a heavy shirt. She exited her room twenty minutes later, her stomach grumbling at being denied food for so long. She’d and two of the ranch hands had ridden the western fence line the day before.
Along the way, they’d found several sections that had either fallen down, or where the wire had snapped. They’d repaired everything but hadn’t returned until it was almost dark. Sara Jane had been so exhausted, she’d grabbed a slice of bread, adding a slice of salted pork to the top, and then taken it up to her bedroom. She’d only intended to change into some clean clothing but had instead eaten and then fallen fast asleep on her bed.