Josie's Valor

by Peggy L Henderson

  Everyone shook their heads. Trevor stopped his whittling to look up. “We’ve been trying to figure that out for ourselves. He’s been mighty quiet since coming home. I think he’s been drinking a lot tonight, too, even though Alex is here.”

  Ethan smirked. “Well, it’ll be nice when the valley’s quiet again. You sure you’re up to the responsibility of getting these people back to Independence?” His eyes were on Travis, who glared at his brother and cursed.

  “Did you ask her the same question?” His annoyance exploded into anger. He waved his arm and pointed a finger in the direction of the cabin with an accusing look in his eyes. Every inch of him itched to lunge at his brother. Why did everyone always have to think he was incompetent?

  Rather than attack his brother, Travis spun on his heels and marched off toward the cabin that stood slightly apart from the others. He’d shared that cabin with Harley since his brothers had built their own homes for their wives.

  Maybe it was best to get some shut-eye rather than letting his brothers rile him. He’d always been the young brother known for being reckless and without much sense. Being accused of acting irresponsibly and never taking life seriously had never bothered him before. It had always been a way to get attention, so why did it strike a chord with him now?

  For once, wasn’t he doing a good deed and acting responsibly by offering to guide those women and children home? He was certainly a better choice for the job than some shady backwoodsman or so-called scout Hammond would find loafing around Fort Hall. Travis had never done anything that was outside the law, and he could always be counted on in a pinch.

  Why, then, did everyone think that shy and timid Josie Hudson was the better person for the job? That little girl was afraid to look any man in the eye, and jumped at her own shadow.

  Ever since she’d come to Harley’s Hole eight years ago, Travis had worked harder than ever to carve out his place in the family. From Day One, Josie had found favor with Harley, and received special treatment. While he’d always competed with his brothers for as long as he could remember, he’d never imagined that his biggest competition would be a female. It had put an even stronger drive in Travis over the years to be the best tracker and marksman this side of the Tetons.

  A faint light flickered through the window of the cabin as he approached. Harley must have left the fire burning before joining the rest of the family for supper in Nathaniel’s home. The old fool had probably already been drunk. No matter. At least the place would be warm, and he could get a good night’s sleep. In the morning, he could begin preparing for the journey that lay ahead.

  He kicked the door open and stomped inside, then stopped in his tracks. Sitting at the small table in the center of the room was Harley, a bottle of whiskey in front of him. Across from him sat Alex Walker. The two men spoke in hushed tones, but immediately stared at the door and stopped talking.

  Travis glanced from one man to the other. Harley’s eyes were glazed over. Alex looked bright and alert as always. He never drank. According to Harley, Alex had never touched a drop of alcohol in his life. He’d been brought up by an abusive father who’d beaten Alex and his mother whenever he’d been drunk, and Alex had sworn never to follow in his father’s footsteps.

  “Hope I’m not interrupting,” Travis grumbled. “I was gonna get some shut-eye.” He moved across the room to the ladder that led to the loft.

  “What’s got you all riled, Trav?” Harley rasped. He glared at Travis with a keen eye.

  Travis turned to look at the old man who’d been a mentor and father-figure ever since his folks had been killed by river pirates. He could barely remember his real father. He’d been about nine years old at the time, and the memory of his folks had faded over the years.

  Harley had always indulged him in his antics, whenever he’d riled Ethan or shadowed Nathaniel. The old man had never compared him to his quieter, more serious twin, nor had he ever suggested he should be more like Trevor.

  “What makes you think I’m riled?” Travis grumbled. I’m just tired is all.”

  Harley chuckled, and so did Alex. Travis stared at the bottle on the table in front of Harley.

  “Seems a bit early for bed,” Alex remarked. “The women haven’t even served dessert, yet, or did we miss it?”

  Travis shrugged. “I ain’t hungry. I’m sure Josie will come and find you when it’s time for dessert.”

  Harley cleared his throat, and the two old trappers exchanged a quick glance. Travis turned to head up the ladder to his bunk in the loft.

  “Are ya all set to take them wagons east?”

  Travis stopped. He didn’t face the men immediately. “I’ll have everything ready tomorrow so we can head out first thing day after.”

  “Be sure an’ have a talk with Josie, so ya both have everythin’ squared away ’n know what ya both’ll be doin’. I’ spect ya to look out fer her.”

  Travis spun around. The muscles in his neck tensed. “Why is everyone telling me to look out for her? Seems to me she can look out for herself. I didn’t ask her to come along. In fact, it would be best if you told her not to go.”

  Harley chuckled. “’Course she can, an’ that’s why it’s good fer her to go.” He straightened, glanced at Alex, then back at Travis. He seemed to hesitate, but said, “Fer once, do the sensible thing, son.”

  Travis cursed under his breath. He eyed the door. He could go to the barn and sleep with the horses. He should have left the moment he’d seen Harley in here. Instead, he reached for the ladder. There was no sense arguing. Josie was Harley’s favorite, and in his eyes, Travis would always be the irresponsible one.

  A heavy hand on his shoulder stopped him from climbing up into the loft. Travis tensed even more and turned to look over his shoulder.

  “I know ya think the only way ya can get attention ‘round here is by actin’ like you don’t care, Trav.”

  Travis swallowed, staring into Harley’s eyes. They weren’t as sharp as when he wasn’t drinking. How did the old man know what had him bothered?

  Alex’s chair legs scraped on the wooden floor, and the old mountain man stood.

  “I think I’m gonna see what Evie and the other women are up to. If there’s dessert to be had, I don’t want to be late to the table.” He smiled and glanced at Travis. “I remember the fun you and Lucas used to have and how it would rile Evie to no end when you tried to out-dare each other. She always said Lucas would put her in an early grave with worry. I can only think your mother would have felt the same way about you, but she’d be proud of the man you’ve become.”

  Travis nodded to be polite. Alex went out and closed the door behind himself, leaving the cabin quiet with only the crackling of the fire in the hearth.

  “What’s ailin’ ya, Travis?” Harley lowered himself back into his chair with a groan. He reached for his bottle, then stopped as if thinking better of it.

  Travis stared at the old man. The last thing he wanted tonight was to discuss anything with Harley. Maybe the two of them could get drunk together. It seemed to work well for Harley.

  He pulled out the other chair and sat, reaching for the bottle. Harley’s hand on his wrist stopped him.

  “I ain’t had a drop tonight. Alex reminded me it’s easier to talk with a clear mind.”

  Travis met the old man’s glare. Then what had caused the glaze in the old man’s eyes if he hadn’t been drinking? Only Alex Walker could stop Harley from drowning in a bottle. Not even Josie had been able to do that.

  “Who says I want to talk?” Travis grumbled but pulled his hand away.

  Harley remained silent for a moment, then casually leaned back in his chair. He folded his hands over his belly and glanced into the fire.

  “Trevor’s smart with a good head on his shoulders. Ethan, bein’ the oldest, gets to call the shots. Nathaniel’s the one Trev an’ ya always turned to when the two a ya was in trouble.” Harley’s gaze seemed to be focused on something far away as his mind wandered to years past
. Abruptly, he chuckled and his eyes were on Travis again. “That never left much room for ya to stand out ‘cept to show off an’ act as if ya don’t care ‘bout nothin’.”

  Travis stared back. Harley had never been so observant before. It was as if he’d reached into Travis’ mind and pulled out all the thoughts that bothered him. All, except for one. Josie Hudson had come along and stolen the attention Harley used to bestow on him. Travis shifted in his chair. He was a grown man. It was ridiculous that he should be jealous of her after all this time.

  “For once, I want to do something to make my own mark in the world.”

  Harley nodded. “And ya will.” He leaned forward. “An’ prob’ly in ways ya ain’t even thought about.”

  Travis blinked and shook his head. It was refreshing that Harley seemed to understand at least part of him, but it was time to change the subject. He, too, leaned forward in his chair and stared the old man in the eyes.

  “What about you, Harley? What’s been bothering you since you returned from Fort Hall?”

  Chapter 6

  “I think what you’re doing is very brave, Josie. Not many men are up to such a task, and it speaks to your courageous nature that you’ve accepted the offer to lead that group of people.”

  Evie Walker reached for the basket of freshly baked biscuits on the workbench. She carried it to the table where the men sat, drinking coffee. Anna brought a platter steaming with eggs to the table, while Josie removed sizzling strips of meat from the cast iron skillet.

  “Can I get that for you?” Caroline came up beside her, a warm and understanding smile on her face.

  Caroline had always been her closest confidant, and seeing her again after she’d been gone all these years had made Josie realize just how much she’d missed her older sister. Quiet and soft-spoken, Caroline had always been by her side when she’d needed her the most.

  Her heart skipped nervously. Self-doubt continued to grip her, and the question of whether she was doing the right thing plagued her relentlessly. The last few days had been exhausting, trying to wear a brave face and make everyone think she was eager to go on this journey.

  The night before, Caroline had pulled her aside, and they’d had a long talk like they’d used to years ago.

  “I was scared, too, when I left Harley’s Hole to go to Boston,” Caroline had said. “It gets easier, but it’s never easy to face your fears.”

  “And that’s why I have to do this,” Josie had confided. “If I don’t go, I’ll always be a coward, and I’ll never move beyond the nightmares from when I was–”

  Caroline had gripped her arm, stopping her from adding the words that would make her relive the trauma in her mind from eight years ago.

  “You’ve learned so much since we’ve come to live at Harley’s Hole. You can take care of yourself better than Cora, Anna, and me combined.” Caroline gave her arm a light squeeze. “You’re going to do fine.”

  Josie nodded, while her insides twisted with dread. Caroline was right, but knowing didn’t make it any easier in her mind. She’d not only let herself down if she backed out, but also Harley and her sisters.

  Travis would laugh at her and confirm that she was cowardly. She mentally scolded herself. It didn’t matter what he thought.

  “Are you two going to gab all morning, or are we going to get to eat some of that meat?”

  Travis’ loud voice boomed over everyone else’s talking. Caroline smiled at Josie. It was just Travis being his usual self, but that didn’t mean it should be tolerated. Ever since they’d left Fort Hall, he seemed to have gone out of his way to be even more obnoxious in Josie’s presence.

  Caroline reached for the meat platter, but Josie shook her head. She carried it to the table, and set it on the opposite end from where Travis sat, then took her own place next to Harley.

  “As I was saying, Josie is going to be a tremendous help to those families.” Evie Walker, who sat across from Josie, beamed at her with a motherly smile. Clearly, she was used to talking loudly to be heard. She was no stranger to a house full of menfolk, having raised two sons. Lucas Walker, with his outspoken and boisterous ways, had probably been the equivalent of raising three sons.

  “We’re going to miss you, Josie, but this is such a wonderful opportunity for you.” Cora glanced at her from the far end of the table.

  Nathaniel turned to his wife with raised brows. “Yesterday you said you were worried about her going on such a long journey.”

  Cora shrugged. “I changed my mind. After talking it over with Evie, Anna, and Caroline, I’ve realized that Josie is ready and more than capable.”

  “’Course she is,” Harley boomed next to Josie. “Been tellin’ her that all along. Hammond couldn’t’ve picked anyone better to get his mother and them other women and children back east.” He leaned forward and glanced down the table at Travis. “No one more trustworthy and capable than Travis’n Josie fer the job.”

  Nathaniel chuckled, but he was met with a stern look from his wife, so he closed his mouth and didn’t say what was on his mind.

  “I remember being terrified when I came to the mountains,” Evie said.

  Josie locked eyes with the older woman across the table. Evie Walker had lived in the Teton mountains nearly as long as Aimee Osborne, another woman Josie admired. Both women had braved the wilderness to forge out a life with their husbands and families, but she’d never heard how either of these women had ended up so far away from civilization.

  “You should tell your story, Evie,” Harley said, glancing sideways at Josie. After making eye contact with her, he looked at Evie Walker again.

  Evie paused. Her gaze roamed the table before settling on Josie. Josie swallowed the piece of biscuit she was chewing. How much about her history did the older woman know? Other than the Wilders, no one should have known, and it was not like Cora or Anna to reveal what had happened all those years ago.

  Perhaps they had mentioned it to Evie? It was doubtful. Cora and Caroline knew not to divulge such information. Evie was just trying to let her know that she understood what Josie was about to face once the journey got underway.

  Evie smiled across the table. “Thirty years ago, this was much wilder country than it is now. Not many women traveled across the continent with the fur trappers.” She glanced at her husband, Alex, who sat next to her.

  “You were foolish to do what you did,” he said. There was no humor in his tone.

  Evie nodded and reached for her husband’s hand. “But if I hadn’t, you and I would not be married today.”

  “I thought you two knew each other since you were little?” Nathaniel chimed in.

  “We did, but I left St. Louis to come west when I turned eighteen, after my mother died,” Alex said. “I was young and restless, and wanted to experience the freedom of the wilderness and make my fortune. I’m sure Harley has told you plenty of stories about those days.”

  Ethan and Nathaniel both nodded.

  Evie laughed. “And you left a heartbroken thirteen-year-old girl behind. Of course, you didn’t give me the time of day back in those days.”

  “So how’d you two end up together in the Tetons, of all places?” Cora glanced from Alex to Evie, clearly intrigued by the story.

  “To make a long story short, years later, I followed my brother into the wilderness when he sold the family farm. He wanted me to marry someone else, and I would have none of it. I was kidnapped by river pirates, who intended to sell me to the highest bidder at the trapper rendezvous. Alex recognized me, bought me to save me from an unsavory fate, and we were married.”

  Murmurs and gasps erupted around the table.

  “That must have been awful and terrifying,” Caroline exclaimed.

  Evie laughed softly. “Of course I was terrified. There were times I wanted to die.”

  She glanced around the table, her gaze coming to rest on her husband. She smiled lovingly at him. “He wasn’t too happy about me being there. In fact, he was downright gruff a
nd acted horribly at times.” She paused, but before Alex could chime in, added, “In the end, it all worked out, and I’ve never been happier. I can’t imagine my life any other way than how it turned out.”

  Josie glanced at her plate. There wasn’t an appropriate time to ask the question foremost on her mind about Evie’s story, so she’d have to wonder if the woman had met the same fate Josie’d had to endure at the hands of a man.

  A slight shudder passed through her. It didn’t matter. Evie had persevered and recovered from her ordeal, and this journey would prove once and for all that her past was not going to hold her prisoner, either. Josie sat up straighter in her chair, once again locking eyes with the older woman across the table, and returned Evie’s smile.

  Travis stomped out of the cabin. He stretched and inhaled a deep breath. The fragrance of summer grass was in the air, mingling with the strong scent of smoke from a half-dozen campfires in the valley.

  His mood had definitely been lifted after last night’s talk with Harley. For the first time, he’d had a long conversation with his mentor. The old man understood him better than Travis perhaps understood himself. And at least now it was clear why Harley had been so set on bringing the wagons here to the valley, even though it seemed unbelievable.

  While Travis still didn’t understand the need for Josie Hudson to go along on this journey, it was good to know that Harley trusted him and believed he would get the wagons safely to their destination.

  Travis shook his head and chuckled. He rubbed at his full belly. With breakfast over, it was time to get to work and make sure all preparations were underway so they could get an early start tomorrow.

  He glanced at the camped wagons and headed in their direction. Josie had left the breakfast table ahead of him and was already talking to Hammond. Since it was inevitable that she was going to be part of this expedition, he might as well talk to her and make sure they were like-minded when it came to getting those families safely to their destination.