Love So Deep

by Kathleen Ball

  Unease shot up his back. “What do ya mean pay?”

  “Violet Flower is no longer welcome in our village. She now belongs to you.”

  Patrick shook his head. “Wait one minute. What if I don’t want to accept your gift?”

  Fierce Wind’s eyes narrowed. “She will be killed. It is better to end her life than have her wander through the mountains until she dies. By all that is right, she should have her nose cut off and be left to fend for herself. Mountain Man, she is my daughter and now she is yours.”

  Before Patrick could respond, they turned their horses and rode away, taking the woman’s horse with them. She sat in the snow, her eyes lowered and her body shook. He wondered if it was from the cold or being thrown out of her village. He walked toward her and offered his hand. She took his hand and glanced up at him. What a beauty. Her doe eyes and flawless complexion held his gaze. He swallowed hard, helped her up, and walked her into the cabin.

  Samantha’s expression went from relief to fear. Her eyes widened and she pulled Brian close. It was a reaction he knew but one he never accepted.

  “Patrick?” Her voice wavered.

  “We have someone else who was left out in the cold. This is Violet Flower and she’s, well, she’s—”

  “I am his woman.” Violet Flower took Patrick’s hand, tilted her head and smiled at Samantha. “You?”

  Samantha’s hand flew to her throat. “I’m just someone Patrick rescued. I’m Samantha and this is Brian.”

  Violet Flower barely acknowledged her. Instead, she wrapped both arms around Patrick and drew their bodies together.

  His woman? “It’s not true. Her father left her here is all.” He pulled away from Violet Flower’s embrace and held her shoulders. “Ya are not here as my woman. Ya can stay until the thaw, and then I will see about finding ya a husband.”

  “What about the baby?” She blinked a few times and frowned.

  Patrick’s gaze collided with Samantha’s unhappy one. He hoped the confusion he felt was obvious for her to see. “What baby?”

  Violet Flower took off her robe.

  “Wow!” Brian exclaimed. “She’s got a really big belly. Is that where babies come from?”

  Samantha turned bright red. “It’s not polite conversation.”

  “But—”

  “Brian, we can talk about it later.” Brian closed his mouth and stared at her with a mulish expression on his face.

  Samantha pulled one of the chairs in front of the fire. “Sit and get warm. You must be hungry. I have some biscuits for now and the stew will be ready in a bit.” She smiled what she hoped was a reassuring smile, but all she got in return was a deep glare.

  Violet Flower waited for a minute and then sat down. She turned toward Patrick. “What about your baby? You would have another raise it?”

  Samantha gasped and put the plate of biscuits on the table. Her hands clasped and she held her breath waiting for Patrick’s response.

  “Why is it no one tells the truth? I hate lies.” He gave Violet Flower a pointed look. “If ya continue to lie I will put ya out. I’m supposin’ ya carry a child that is not of your husband. Why else would they send ya away? I know what it means when a woman’s nose is cut off.”

  Brian’s eyes grew wide and he stepped closer to Samantha, putting his hand in hers. She gave it a quick squeeze. They watched as Patrick and Violet Flower spoke heatedly in another language.

  “Oh, my. Here, eat. I don’t think you’re supposed to get so upset while you’re with child.”

  Violet Flower took a biscuit from the plate and nodded.

  Brian ran and got his coat. “I need to help with Ahern.” He quickly scurried out of the cabin.

  “You’re leaving when the thaw comes?” Violet Flower asked, as she looked Samantha up and down, frowning as though she found her lacking.

  “Yes, that’s the plan. Patrick found me in the forest. He’s a good man.” Her face heated at Violet Flower’s raised eyebrows.

  “He is not your man.”

  Patrick scowled at them and slammed out the door. He heard Brian scurrying after him.

  In the barn, Patrick knelt in front of Brian, strapping the newly made snowshoes onto his falling apart boots. “Lad, ya need to stand still.”

  Brian stood still for a full thirty seconds before squirming.

  “Ya sure are a wriggly one.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try to stay still.”

  Patrick saw the near panic in Brian’s eyes. “No need to be afraid around here. No one is going to haul off and hit ya or the like.”

  Brian nodded but his eyes gave away his unease.

  “There, all done. Let’s go out and walk on top of the snow.” He headed for the door, glancing back making sure Brian was following. “Come on.”

  Brian hesitantly took a step onto the piled snow and his eyes opened wide. “Look at me! I thought for sure I’d fall right through. I wish I had these when Solomon made me go for firewood and water.”

  “It’s harsh out here in the winter. These shoes help me do what needs doing.”

  “Like check your traps?”

  “Sure, I wouldn’t want to take a chance of Ahern getting hurt. I bet Solomon left the mountains for drier ground. Can’t get a wagon too far in these snowy mountains.”

  Brian smiled. “Yeah, I bet he’s far, far away.”

  “Well, I guess we should feed the horse and get back home. It’s only getting colder.” Brian nodded and followed him into the barn. They made sure Ahern was all settled and made their way to the cabin.

  “Can’t wait to show Sam my shoes.”

  “Sam?”

  “Well, I can’t call her ma so I figured Sam is a good name.”

  He laughed. “Ya might want to ask her. Women can be a might peculiar when it comes to their names.”

  Brian nodded and excitedly opened the door. “Look at my snow shoes…”

  “What in the blazes?” Patrick roared. Violet Flower stood, knife in hand, cornering Samantha. He quickly disarmed Violet Flower, took her by the arm, and sat her down in the chair. “What do ya think you’re doing?” He slammed his hand on the table next to her.

  Brian quickly took off his shoes, ran to Samantha’s side, and hugged her. She stared at Violet Flower but managed to give him a weak smile. “Everything is fine now.” She shook and her white complexion concerned him.

  Violet flower sat with her arms crossed glaring at Samantha. He groaned and shook his head. “Ya were going to kill her weren’t ya?”

  Violet Flower shrugged her shoulders.

  “I can’t allow ya to stay.”

  While keeping the Indian woman in his sight, he walked to Samantha and drew her close. She shivered and reached inside his coat, encircling his waist with her arms. It was difficult to keep his face expressionless. He didn’t want to add fuel to whatever fight the women were having and he didn’t want to put a pregnant woman out into the cold.

  “I’m so glad you finally came home. It seemed as though you were gone for hours.”

  Taking off his gloves, he stroked her back. “I’m here now and I’m grateful I got here in time.”

  “Yeah, we wouldn’t want to try to wash blood off the floor. It ain’t an easy thing.” Brian sat on the bed swinging his legs back and forth.

  From the earnest expression on Brian’s face, he figured it was something Brian had done in the past. He’d probably seen far too much for his young years. Closing his eyes, he breathed in her scent; she smelled soap and water clean, not unlike fresh linen on washday. His body started to respond to her and he put a bit of distance between them before she became aware of his need.

  “So, Violet Flower, why did you try to slice up Sam?” Brian’s voice sounded more curious than mad.

  Samantha stepped out of his embrace. “Sam? Slice up?”

  “She looked ready to gut ya, Sam. She really did.”

  “I thought the same thing, Brian.” Her voice quavered and Patrick led her to the bed.r />
  “Move over and let your ma, I mean Samantha sit on the bed. I’ve never seen anyone look so white and not pass out.”

  Brian scooted over, making room for Patrick to ease her down. He turned and frowned. “I’m not sure what I should do in this situation. This is a small cabin and it’s overflowing and busting at the seams. Rightfully I should put ya out, Violet Flower. I really should but I, like your father, wouldn’t want ya to suffer out in this weather. On the other hand, I can’t have ya threatening anyone in my care. Do ya understand me? We are all strangers to each other and we will learn to get along.”

  “You will see who the father of this baby is when it is born. Mountain Man, it will probably look more like you.” She paused and smiled. “It’ll have darker skin, I would guess, since you’re half Indian.”

  “Patrick?” He heard the questions in Samantha’s voice. The questions of why didn’t you tell me and how did it happen? No one minded when a white man took an Indian for his woman but they took exception to half-breed offspring. It was fine as long as ya kept everything away from the good people of the town. His father wasn’t the type to care what others said or did. He didn’t care how his wife and son were treated or mistreated. He heard it all in her voice and his stomach sickened. Samantha was like all the rest.

  Clenching his jaw, he turned toward her. “Yes, I’m a half breed. And no, I can’t take ya somewhere else to stay. It isn’t safe to travel but as soon as it is I’ll have ya back to your own world.”

  Her eyes widened as she shook her head. “I didn’t—”

  “Save it. I’ve heard it all before.” She visibly recoiled and it upset him but he couldn’t bear to hear the lies come out of her mouth. “This is how it is going to go. Ya all have to work to earn your keep. Cooking, cleaning, and helping me outside, whatever it takes. I’m not prepared to feed so many but I can and I will, only if there is no more trouble.” He glared at Violet Flower. “Don’t make me tie ya up to keep the others safe because I will do just that. You’re not my woman, that is not my child and I really don’t care who the father is since it’s none of my business. I will do what I have to, don’t test me. If I ever see ya even look at Samantha with your hate-filled eyes ya will suffer. I can always take the baby after it’s born and turn ya out.”

  He heard both women gasp and he didn’t know where to look. How had he become the bad guy? It’d been a long time since he’d had to deal with interacting with others. Now, he’d become responsible for three extra people. It was going to be a very long winter.

  Her hands clasped and unclasped the furs on the bed, while her mind raced. Patrick wasn’t such a great man after all. How could a person threaten to take a baby away from a mother? Through the fringe of her eyelashes, she watched him stare into the fire. All was quiet in the log cabin, except for the pounding of her heart. Violet Flower had meant to kill her. She had a vile way of speaking and when she grabbed the knife, Samantha thought it to be all over.

  She saw Violet Flower out of the corner of her eye, staring at her. Her hands shook and she became lightheaded. Now was not the time to show weakness but her body betrayed her.

  “Sam? You’re shaking the bed something awful,” Brian said.

  Patrick turned and gazed at her with concern in his eyes. Blood rushed back into her face at his perusal, making her warm, too warm. Pulling her gaze away, she studied her hands, wondering what would happen next. How could she live in the same house with Violet Flower? The woman was sure to try to kill her again.

  The chair legs scraped across the floor as Patrick stood. “I’ll dish up the stew. Ya look as though ya could use something to eat.”

  “It’s my job. I can do it.”

  “No. Brian and I will do it for today. A good meal and some rest may help to put us in better moods.” Any warmth in his voice had fled and it hurt to see him turn away. It was just as well, they had no future together. He’d made it abundantly clear he couldn’t wait for spring to be rid of them all.

  “Thank you.”

  Brian eagerly helped to dish up the stew and bring a plateful to her. He made a wide berth around Violet Flower and she didn’t blame him one bit. She knew what it was like being banned and trying to live yet another day, but something had to be done. Somehow, she needed to get through to Violet Flower she didn’t have any claim or any plan to claim Patrick.

  Dinner was quiet and everyone ate heartily except for a sullen Violet Flower. Too bad, Samantha didn’t feel much sympathy for her.

  “What will be the sleeping arrangements?”

  Patrick ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s a tricky one. I had first planned for both ya women to share the bed but that’s out of the question now.”

  “Violet Flower should have the bed since she is in the family way.”

  “I will not sleep in a bed. I will sleep in front of the fire with Patrick.” Violet Flower smiled at her in triumph.

  “I’m not sleeping with ya. Take the spot by the fire and I will sleep on the floor by the bed. I don’t trust ya not to slit Samantha’s throat while she sleeps.”

  Samantha gasped and Brian’s eyes opened wide. He put his hands on his throat as though protecting it.

  “She can sleep in the barn then we could lock the door,” Brian offered.

  It wouldn’t be right to voice her opinion but secretly she agreed with Brian. It was Patrick’s cabin and he deserved the respect of following his guidelines. “It’s a fine idea, Patrick. I will sleep easier knowing you are so close. I just hope you’re not a heavy sleeper.”

  There was a bit of warmth in Patrick’s gaze as he nodded to her. “It’ll be fine. Living in the wilderness, a person can’t afford to sleep deeply.”

  “Are you sure ya don’t want to bed down with the white woman? I’m used to the ways of a man and his woman.”

  Heat traveled from her toes to her head. She must be the color of scarlet. Crudeness on this level was new to her and the embarrassment ran deep.

  “Good, we won’t keep ya from sleeping then.”

  “You said she’s not your woman.”

  “That’s right. I’ve said it repeatedly but ya refuse to listen. Keep your thoughts to yourself. I don’t want to hear them. I think all ya are trying to do is shame Samantha for something she did not do. It is ya who is shamed.”

  Violet Flower grabbed a small stack of furs and made herself comfortable in front of the fire, turning her back to them.

  Samantha sighed and tucked both her and Brian into bed. She watched Patrick as he lay out furs for himself. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “For what?”

  “For protecting us.”

  He nodded. “I’m glad I’m good for something.” He lay down and turned his back to her.

  She lay in the bed as still as possible so not to disturb Brian. What did Patrick mean good for something? She must have missed something but she couldn’t figure it out. The events of the day haunted her and she wrapped her arms around her middle to keep from flying apart. As long as Violet Flower thought she was Patrick’s woman, she wasn’t safe. She’d have to make sure that woman never had reason to think it again.

  The next morning a sudden chill woke her. The door stood open and Brian was gone. Her heart pounded as she scrambled out of bed. Patrick was gone as was Violet Flower. What was going on? Pulling on her shoes, she chastised herself for sleeping so long and so soundly. She grabbed her useless coat and raced outside. Icy rain pelted her face, stinging her.

  Patrick and Brian were gathering as much wood as they could and Violet Flower was tending to Ahern. “What’s going on?” Her shout escaped unheard by the wind. No one turned toward her. She tried to reach Patrick but she fell repeatedly until she was too afraid to stand.

  When she did finally manage to get his attention, he looked thunderous. He dropped the load of cut wood in his arms and slowly made his way toward her.

  “What are ya doing out here? Get back inside before ya hurt yourself.”

 
; The forcefulness of his voice caused her to cringe. “I can’t get up. It’s so icy I keep falling.”

  Sighing, he whisked her up into his arms and muttering the whole way he brought her inside. He set her down and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. Her whole body tingled at his touch. It pleased and puzzled her at the same time.

  “Stay inside. It’s dangerous out there and we need to get as much wood inside as we can –ya can’t burn wet wood.”

  Nodding, she watched him go back into the frigid rain. The best thing she could do was make sure they had a hot meal when they came back in. She took off her wet coat and put more wood on the fire. It was not easy to cook over a fire but she had learned during her time on the wagon train. A sharp pain went through her heart. Her parents were sadly missed. It had never occurred to her she’d be without them, yet here she was.

  The door opened and Brian came in with an armful of wood. He dropped it just inside the door, without a word turned, and went back outside. Samantha gathered the wood and began to stack it close to the fireplace. It was wet but it would dry. Next Patrick came in and did the same. It became a steady stream of wood piled on the floor and soon she had it stacked up as far as she could reach. One whole wall housed the wood.

  She found coffee and put it on for a change then quickly made biscuits. She would have cut slabs of meat to fry but the knives were all missing, and she wondered where Patrick hid them. He seemed worried, very worried. How bad could the storm get?

  Violet Flower kicked the door open and walked in carrying two buckets of snow. She set them down and groaned. Quickly Samantha went to the other woman’s side and helped her take off her heavy ice-laden coat.

  “Come sit by the fire, you must be freezing.” She took her hand and led her to the chair nearest the fire. “I’ll pour you some coffee.” For once Violet Flower wasn’t spitting nails at her. In fact, she appeared almost grateful, but Samantha knew better.

  “You must know a lot about horses if Patrick allowed you to tend to Ahern.”

  “Yes, he knows I’m a good woman. Good women know how to please their man.”