Jacob found himself checking for eavesdroppers. Levi chuckled, then he looked at them with a serious face and said, “I was sorry to hear about your kin. Bad news, that was. Me and Caleb searched for weeks, and here you two found her. I’ll be damned. Where is she? Resting, I reckon.”
“Resting,” Jacob answered.
Levi looked around them, then he laughed. “You know, they could have knocked me over with a tadpole when I found out he had married your kin. Sure is a small world.” His toothy smile showed his amusement. He came in close. “A scout came looking for all of us. Caleb paid him off, and me and Cork led him out of town.” He gave a wink. “Cork had some fierce words for him, and we thought he was out of our hair. Caleb thinks he had something to do with his wife’s kidnapping. Can’t say when Caleb will stop tearing himself up with guilt.”
The cousins looked at each other, then back at Levi.
“You fellas heard anything? Does Rex Conrad ring any bells? The sheriff came snooping around Caleb’s place, too, but nothing came of it.”
Will made sure his sister was out of earshot. Thankfully, he spied her several shops down the boardwalk.
Jacob stepped forward, running his hand over his chin. “Damn it. Never heard the name. We found her in a renegade Indian camp. No sign of any white men. We share the guilt, all of us, if that’s the case.” He swallowed the acid rising in his throat.
“Let’s hope it blows over now that you got her with ya,” Levi said. “Caleb is waiting hard on her return. Had to stop him more than once from going back out to find her. Well, we’ll have to catch up on ol’ times … yous, me, Cork, and Caleb.” He laughed and scratched his disheveled hair.
The last person Jacob wanted to spend time with was Caleb, but he couldn’t deny Levi the thought. “Good seeing you, Levi. We’ll catch up for sure. Now we’ve got to get to our lodgings.”
“Hell of a thing running into you boys!” He patted each on the shoulder and left them.
They stood in silence as they watched Levi enter the saloon, taking in the sight of their former campmate.
“Shit.” Will looked over at Jessica. “What the hell are we supposed to do with that piece of information? Jess was taken because of us? We’ve got to find out what happened to this Rex Conrad. Caleb must know something.”
Jacob shook his head. “Maybe Clermont City isn’t as safe as we thought.”
Chapter Forty-six
Will opened the door to his and Jacob’s second-floor room, then he turned to Jessica.
“Yours is the next door down, Jess,” he said, handing her the key. “Are you sick?”
“She just needs some sleep,” Jacob answered. “I’m going to stay with her for a while.” He took the key from Will.
“Fine, do what you please,” Will said. “I’m done in for the day.”
Jessica remained in her own thoughts as Jacob glanced around the room. There was one narrow bed and a small table with a kerosene lamp next to it. A chest of drawers near the window offered some resemblance to a bedroom, but the plain, little room was a dim reminder of the comforts of a real home. The view from the dirty window looked down onto the main road. Jacob went over to it and checked on the horses.
“I’m afraid,” she said. He turned around and saw a weary young woman standing so alone. “Things might well be very different when I return.” Drawing himself from the window, he took her in his arms, his chest stabbed by sadness.
~
Jessica held on to him. Here and there her thoughts landed, her head hurt, her back ached, and her stomach refused to settle. Suddenly, her insides lurched, and she had to find the washroom. She pushed herself away and ran out into the hallway, desperately searching for the door that would end her suffering. She entered and turned the lock just as she heaved into the basin.
“Jessica,” she heard Jacob say outside. He knocked again and again.
“I’m fine, Jacob, go back to the room.”
“Open the door, Jess.”
She splashed water on her face and cleaned up, then looked at her reflection in the small, scratched mirror above the sink. The person looking back was thin and tired, her skin was darkened by the sun, and her brown eyes were not as bright. Her straggly hair was mound atop her head like a nest, with a metal clip holding it together. Loretta’s styling had long left its mark. She looked away then back again, hoping the true reflection of a pretty, young girl would appear, but it didn’t change. Slowly, she emerged out to the hallway. There she found Jacob standing against the wall, his arms folded in front of him, his expression showing his annoyance. Her nausea turned to anger.
“I’m the one who’s in this state, and you’re mad? Well, you know where you can take your anger.” She stormed past him and back into the room. He followed her, then slammed the door behind him.
“What in hell’s name is the matter with you?”
She rubbed the back of her neck. “I feel sick. I ate something bad. I know I did. Snake or awful squirrel meat.” Even the thought of it made her insides flop. “I look ugly! What will Caleb think?”
Jacob stepped toward her. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. You look fine. A little bedraggled, but … we all look that way. It’s been a rough time.”
She felt his arms around her. Sinking into his embrace, she let him lead her to the bed. He sat next to her, rubbing her back. “I told you to take some liquor with food. It kills all the bad stuff.” She was in no mood for ‘I told you so.’ She huffed and turned away.
“You’re beautiful, Jess. You take my breath away every time I look at you.” Her mood softened, and her body gave in to his.
“We could both use a hot bath. Did you happen to see one in there?”
“Mmm,” she replied.
“Big enough for two?” His handsome face and loving smile soothed her to no end.
She accepted his invitation. Comfort was where she could find it, and right now, it was with him.
~
The next morning, Will decided to send the family another telegram, telling them they were in Brandon. He left Jacob at the hotel’s small café where Jessica joined him.
“Slept in? Will’s gone to wire the family.”
Jessica took a breath and let it out. Her nausea was strong this morning. “That’s good. I don’t want to just show up. Your mother would be near hysterics,” Jessica mused as she sat down.
He lit a cigarette. “So you’ve made up your mind?” He blew out the match and threw it on the tin plate in front of him, awaiting her answer.
Jessica was served a cup of warm tea without asking. She looked at him with a smile. “Thank you, Jacob.”
“I know you like your tea in the morning.”
She took a sip of the sharp, dark drink. The day was cloudy, but not too cold. She felt the air of her home, warmer than up north. After she finished the tea, she swirled the remaining leaves in the cup, then turned it upside down on the saucer and twirled the cup once, twice, thrice. Righting the cup, she looked inside and examined the remains. She wished she had her aunt June’s talent for reading tea leaves.
“There’s nothing at the bottom of a cup, Jess. You make your own destiny.”
She placed the cup on the saucer. “Humph! We both know I have to return to my husband. I can’t choose between the two of you. I have to decide which life I want for myself and my future.”
“Caleb is not the man you think he is. He may have gone back to the reservation or gone on with his life with someone else. Why shouldn’t you do the same … with me?”
“He’s not that way.” She adjusted the skirt of her new dress, which was already looking worn. “Is this simply wishful thinking on your part?”
“Yep, I guess it is.” He turned to the side of his chair and finished his cigarette while they waited for Will’s return.
His body language piqued her curiosity. “So you believe I’ll go home to a husband who has abandoned me?” Her body tensed, her eyes misting.
“I hope you
don’t, to be honest. I’ll make something of my life. In time, you will see. I’ll be what you want me to be.”
Jessica turned to him. “I know.”
After a short while, Will was back, ordering a cup of coffee. “Well, the die has been cast. There’s no turning back now, cowboys. The man said they should receive it this afternoon. We’ll be there tomorrow. I sent it to Burt.” He sat down, taking his coffee from the waitress. “Hey, by the way, what did the doc have to say?” Will asked his sister.
“Doctor?” Jacob asked. “What the hell are you wasting good money on a doctor for, when it was just a little food disagreeing with her?”
Jessica ignored him and directed her answer at Will. “He told me to drink water, when I can, and he gave me pills to stop the nausea. I’ll be fine.”
“All right.” Will changed the subject. “Jake and I decided to take you to Burt and June’s first. He can take you up to your husband. We don’t want to add to Caleb’s burden.”
“Burden? What burden?”
“Burden of emotions … at seeing you,” he fumbled.
She agreed with her brother, feeling the weight in her own heart. She had her own plan, however. Having come so very far, in so many ways, she wanted to go back to the place where it all began. That night and the next, Jessica slept alone. She had to get used to not having Jacob with her.
Chapter Forty-seven
Rail River Acres
Jessica straightened her back and placed her hands on her thighs, balancing herself on the horse. She dared not touch Jacob’s back. The day was cloudy, and mist had formed on the river. It looked different from that day back in May when the sunshine and warmth gave her pleasure to paint by its refreshing, flowered banks. She looked at the figure in front of her. How could she leave him? A final, fleeting thought raced through her mind—maybe it could work—then it passed. Caleb waited. Finally, she would be back home, back in her husband’s arms, back into the fold of her family. A tear slipped from her eye, and she let it fall down her face.
Cautiously raising her hand, she went to rest it on Jacob’s back. Hesitating, she drew it down. They rode in silence. Her extraordinary experience was coming to its conclusion, only to open up a whole new chapter, one as uncertain as the weather itself. She looked at the landscape, wet and green. Fear swept through her. Do I still have a husband, or has he taken another woman, another life?
Jacob’s hand reached around and found hers. He brought it to his waist and held on to it while they rode. She let her tears fall freely. She had earned the right to grieve.
The two horses with their riders arrived at the banks of the Rail River. The sound of the water finding its way downstream along the green grasses and dormant branches made for a peaceful, winter scene. Jessica had pointed out a path from the dirt road that led them to the place she feared she would never see again. She had one thing to do before reuniting with Caleb.
Will dismounted. Jacob swung his leg over Otis’s head and jumped down, then helped Jessica dismount. “You won’t have to do that again,” she commented as she found the ground. His sad expression didn’t make this easier for her. She straightened her dress and coat, still feeling the motion of the horse. Standing alongside the men, she got her legs under her. It had been a long day, and the sun hung low in the sky. The earth beneath spoke as if to welcome her back, and she stooped down to touch its cool dampness. It was late in November and quiet. The birds weren’t singing as they had been that May morning. The flowers were asleep, and the woodland was less dense. She stayed touching the ground longer than was comfortable for either man, but she was glad they quietly stood vigil over her.
Her tears dropped to the cool earth as she relived the moment that Blue Heron grabbed her and set her upon his giant horse. She was no longer the young woman he had captured. Her innocence laid buried in the ground, lost to her forever. She rose and turned to her brother, and they exchanged a loving look.
“Sis, let’s go to Aunt June’s. You don’t have to do this alone.”
She sighed softly and with resignation shook her head. Then she placed her hand on Jacob’s arm. “I have to do this my way. Will, I’ll see you both at Aunt June’s in a few days. Tell them I am anxious to see them, but I need time with Caleb.” She gave her brother a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “And don’t you two go off before then,” she added with a grin.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Will said. “I’m planting my back side to one of June’s kitchen chairs, and that’s where you’ll find me.” The three travelers chuckled through liquid eyes. “Now go and see your husband.” He kissed her cheek and went for his horse. She noticed him swipe a tear off his face. “I’ll catch up with you down the road, Jake.”
She turned to Jacob. He took her hand and asked, “Where is your home?”
“Just over that knoll.” Her finger trembled slightly as she pointed to where she was going.
“I’ll stay until I see you over it.” He gripped her hand. “Jess, are you sure? I know I’m not a safe bet, but that will change. Give me a chance. I promise I’ll be a bigger man than I am now. Please, Jess, reconsider.”
“Oh, please don’t make this any harder for us.” She hiccupped with emotion.
His strong arms were around her, and she let herself stay with him for a while longer. Then his lips found hers. She held his kiss, not wanting to be the first to unlock their lips and bring an end to their time together. Releasing herself from him, she touched his damp face. He cleared his throat, and she took a step back. He mounted Otis. It was time for her to walk home.
Climbing over the knoll, she knew she was out of his sight. He would ride back to his parents’ home. What will he tell them? She prayed it would be only what they could handle. Her heart ached painfully in her chest, the sadness colliding with her anxiety. When she and Jacob meet in a few days, she will be Caleb’s wife. Again, she would tuck their love in a secure place in her heart.
The expansive field laid out before her. She took in the sights and smells of the land she had so longed for. It felt too vast to her now and she quickened her pace, but her courage began to wane and her legs became wobbly. She knelt on the cold grass, surveying the field. Just a little farther, and she would be able to see the house. A chill breeze touched her face, and she thought of their warm stove, her kitchen, her art room, their bed, her chickens, and Suzy the cow. She smiled. It would still be there … he would still be there. There was only one way to find out, and that was to cross this field. Her resolve strengthened, and she continued with great purpose.
Chapter Forty-eight
Poking the fire to encourage its flames, Caleb could barely control his anxiety. His wife would be home soon. He cursed Will again for his vagueness. Which direction they were coming from, his telegram did not say. He couldn’t work today. He roamed the field and walked along the river, then into the woods and back. He found himself nearly running home when he thought he heard a horse approach. Turned out to be his imagination. Deciding to stay close to the house, he worked his land and took care of the livestock. He loosened some hay in the barn and brushed down Lightfoot. Still, his energy could not be dampened.
The hours ticked by excruciatingly slowly. After a quick meal of bread and cheese, he stepped out onto the porch, tucking his shirt into his pants and straightening his hair back into a queue. Boones came around the house with a low bark, then a louder one. It caught Caleb’s attention, and he looked out over the field. “What’d ya see, Boy?” Boones’ whole back side moved with his vigorous tail wagging. Caleb spied a figure rising up from the land. As his heart beat wildly, he controlled his reaction. She wouldn’t be alone. It must be a lost stranger. Before Caleb could hold Boones back, the dog took off, running into the field. Caleb stepped down and began to walk toward a woman running to him. His throat tightened. He walked faster until he was running himself.
~
Jessica’s heart burst with joy at the sight of her husband. “Caleb!” She tried to cry out to hi
m, but her voice was weak with emotion. Boones ran into her legs, and she knelt down to take in the softness of his fur. She rose and Caleb was upon her. He swept her up in his arms, his strong, loving arms, lifting her off the ground. The land echoed the sound of a man and woman weeping together, reunited.
She was on her feet again. Caleb placed her at arm’s reach. “Is it you?” His face was wet and stricken with awe.
With a quivering voice, she could only say, “It’s me.”
They looked at each other for a while, then embraced again, now with Boones jumping on her, demanding attention.
“Oh Boones, my good boy! How you’ve grown!” Again, she buried her head into his soft fur, then kissed his forehead, laughing through her tears. He sniffed her and licked her face. Then she was in Caleb’s arms again, his voice muffled in her hair. “I never thought I’d feel you again. I thought this day would never come.” She could only hold on to him as he curved his tall body to surround her.
“I can’t let you go.” He wept with a slight laugh. “The spirits returned you. It’s a miracle!” She felt him pull her away from him, then he surveyed her from head to toe. “Are you all right? Are you hurt at all? Why are you alone? Where’s Will, where’s Jacob?”
Jessica heard the questions rush out of him and she was overwhelmed. She looked into his liquid, blue eyes. “I’m well. I wanted them to leave me by the river. They’re at Burt and June’s.” She took a moment to survey her husband. He was as handsome as ever. A little thinner, perhaps, his hair much longer, some white in his goatee, but he looked remarkably well. Maybe too well.
~
Caleb examined his wife. He had expected her to be dressed in the same clothing he had last seen her in—the hand-sewn smock over the light-blue day dress. The brown, wool coat she wore was dirt-stained and tattered on the hem. Her face was thin and her eyes were a bit sunken, not as bright or lively as he had remembered. They held something else, and he recognized the look of someone having experienced a terrible ordeal. He felt desperate to take it from her.
Sacred Terrain (Traveled Hearts Series Book 2) Page 21