The Trapper

by Barbara Goss

  Joanna smiled back. “So, they are.”

  “Do you want to try again?”

  She shook her head. “I feel a bit dizzy.”

  Jared pressed her head back against his chest and held her for several more minutes. “Let me know when you feel ready to try again. You have to master them.”

  Joanna looked up at him. “I don’t really know Amelia or Ross that well, and I’m a bit nervous about living with them. I wish I could go back to your cabin. I felt so much more at home there.”

  Jared stared down at her, his blue eyes searching her face. He smoothed back her hair and replied, “No, you don’t wish that. You’ll love living with Amelia. She’s always so bubbly, and Ross is a good man. I’m sure you’ll forget that wish by tomorrow, and, you’ll feel very much at home there, too.”

  Joanna pulled away from his arms. “All right. Let’s master the crutches.”

  With Jared’s help she finally was able to walk around the room without falling. It felt good to be able to move about without pain.

  “Has the doctor been round to change your bandage?” Jared asked.

  “No, and since I’ll be leaving I’m not sure what to do about that.”

  “I’ll do it. Sit in the chair while I grab a fresh bandage.” He walked over to the bedside table and picked up a clean cloth the doctor had left and the salve. He returned, knelt, picked up Joanna’s foot, and gently unwrapped the old bandage. Jared examined the wound. “It’s healing well,” he said, rubbing the salve onto the cloth before rewrapping her foot. He tied the corners of the cloth tightly. “There.” He put her foot down and stood. “Now, let’s get you to Ross and Amelia’s.”

  After arriving at the Steeles' home, Joanna was settled into a downstairs bedroom, and Jared prepared to leave.

  Amelia said, “Oh, don’t leave yet, Jared. Flora has prepared a lunch for us all. Please, stay.”

  Jared sighed. “I really should get back to my cabin to check my traps, but all right. I’ll stay for lunch and then I must leave.”

  He walked behind Joanna as she limped on her crutches to the dining room. The house was beautiful. Joanna had never seen a house that luxurious—the carpets were thick, the furniture tasteful, and the house was large enough for several families.

  Jared pulled out a chair for her. Amelia and Ross sat in the two other chairs, leaving the only empty one beside her, which is where Jared sat.

  Joanna thought it odd that a table that large would only have four chairs, and all of them were set at one end, but she thought, perhaps, they wanted to have an intimate gathering.

  The lunch felt more like a feast to Joanna. The first course was a hearty soup. Then, Flora brought out a platter of roast beef, a boat of gravy, a bowl of mashed potatoes, and dish of yams.

  “Ross, will you give the blessing?” Amelia asked as she passed the platters around the table.

  Later, Flora brought out rice pudding with whipped cream on top for dessert.

  Joanna nibbled on hers as she was full. She watched Jared as he ate his dessert, murmering “Mmm,” after every spoonful.

  When Joanna smiled at it, Amelia said, “Rice pudding is Jared’s favorite. I always try to put it on the menu when I know he’ll be dining with us.”

  “Which reminds me,” Ross said, “we’ve invited Father over for Sunday dinner after church, and we’d love for you to come, too, Jared.”

  Jared pushed his empty bowl away. “Thank you for the invitation, but I really can’t make it.”

  “Oh? Jared, why?” Amelia asked.

  Jared stood. “I really must get back home. Thank you for the delightful lunch.” He took one of Joanna’s hands in his. “If you should need anything, send Ross for me. I don’t think McKenna will bother you ever again.” He winked. “Take care of that foot.” He left the room, and they heard the front door close shortly thereafter.

  Joanna felt an emptiness in her after Jared left. She stood and said, “Do you mind if I lie down for a while? All the moving and walking on crutches has tired me out.”

  “Not at all. Ross will walk you to your room.”

  Ross handed her the crutches and walked with her. “You’re fond of Jared, aren’t you?”

  Joanna was surprised at his question, and she didn’t know how to answer.

  Ross laughed. “I can tell by the way you look at him. Is it because of the gun fight?”

  When they reached Joanna’s room, she turned to him and said, “He’s a kind man, and I am rather fond of him. He’s been a good friend.”

  “Of course. Enjoy your nap.”

  Jared checked his traps, cleaned the skins, and threw them into the small bin by the back door to be stretched and salted in the morning. He had almost enough to sell. Jared went inside, made himself a cup of tea, and sat at the table. He needed to examine his feelings. Joanna had felt so good in his arms earlier, even though he knew that what she felt for him was gratitude after he'd fought McKenna for her. She’d soon get over it. As an attractive woman in a town lacking single women, she’d soon be courted by any number of men in Hays.

  Jared reminded himself to write a check for McKenna to cover Joanna’s train fare. He didn’t want him bothering her anymore. He wasn’t sure what his feelings were for her, but he felt drawn to her. She was nothing like Rebecca, and that, alone, was enough to attract him. He was sure Joanna would soon hear the rumors about him and Rebecca which would end any relationship they might have had—if, that is, he wanted a relationship, and right now he didn’t think he did.

  He’d felt all warm inside when she'd told him she’d felt at home in his cabin, and she wished that she could have stayed there rather than at his brother’s mansion. Maybe—

  He broke off his thoughts and decided to read. He needed to get his mind off someone who’d never be anything to him but a fond memory.

  Jared took out his Bible and opened it to where he'd last bookmarked it, read for a while, closed it, and prayed.

  Amelia greeted Joanna as she came into the dining room for breakfast, and she poured some tea into her cup. “How did you sleep?”

  “Very well. The bed is most comfortable. Thank you.”

  “Most days I go to the hotel to do the bookkeeping, but Ross has given me permission to take today off to show you around town. “

  “I’d like that.”

  “Good. I’ll have Teddy hitch up the buggy.”

  “Speaking of buggies, I’d like to learn how to drive one.”

  “Of course, Joanna, but I can drive you anywhere you want to go.”

  “I also want to learn how to ride a horse. I thought perhaps Jared could teach me, since you two will be at the hotel most days.”

  “What a brilliant idea!”

  “Really?”

  “What I meant was that learning to ride is a brilliant idea, and why not Jared?"

  “That’s what I thought, too.”

  “You could ride the buggy over to the cabin and ride back after the lesson. Just be sure no one sees you, or we’ll be planning a wedding.”

  Joanna wanted to spend some time with Jared, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to go as far as to marry him. She felt something for him, but it could simply be gratitude. His soft-spoken voice, and his mannerisms were very charismatic—at least they were to her.

  “I can begin to teach you to drive today,” Amelia said.

  After her first driving lesson, Amelia took the reins and showed Joanna around Hays. There were several streets in town; it was larger than she’d thought. They even had a little opera house.

  Amelia told her that Hays had been named after Fort Hays, and the city had been founded in 1867. “Neither of us would have wanted to live here then. It was a pretty rough place. At one time, there were four houses of sin on this very street.”

  “You mean—”

  “Yes. Soon the ruffians moved on, and so did the houses of sin. Those people follow the men and the money. We still get some rough men coming through now and then, but we have a good s
heriff who keeps us safe.

  “After the ruffians were chased out of town, Hays tried to make this a decent place to live and raise a family. They built churches and even sent for women from the East to marry and tame the single men,” She said with a laugh. “German immigrants came to Hays and helped to make it a successful farming community.”

  Amelia was driving the buggy back to their street when Joanna gasped. “There’s McKenna. In front of the livery.”

  “So, it is. He’s staring at you, too.”

  McKenna moved to stand in front of the buggy, and Amelia had no choice but to stop.

  “Oh, no!” Joanna whispered.

  McKenna walked up to Joanna’s side of the buggy. “Give this to your friend.” He handed her a bank check. “I don’t want money—I want my bride back.” He walked away from them and into the livery.

  “What did he hand you?” Amelia asked.

  “It’s a check from Jared—he paid McKenna for my train fare.”

  “That sounds like something he'd do.”

  Joanna held the check up to her heart.

  Chapter Seven

  Jared had built several long tables behind his cabin where he nailed and salted pelts. Off to the side stood a barrel, where he put the finished hides. He had enough to sell, but he dreaded going into Hays these days, so he thought about selling them in Russell, the nearest large town.

  Jared hadn’t seen Joanna since he had lunch with her two weeks ago, and her face still haunted him at night. He wasn’t sure if it was due to the guilt he felt about her injured foot, or because he had feelings for her. Both thoughts gave him a stab of pain in his chest.

  As he rubbed salt onto the last pelt, he heard hoof beats. His brother was the only visitor he ever had—what could he want now? Jared wiped his hands on the apron he wore and walked to the front of the cabin, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. Joanna was sitting behind the reins of a small buggy, smiling at him. His heart flip-flopped at the sight of her—how he’d missed her.

  “I learned to drive,” she said.

  Jared walked to the small buggy and greeted her with a welcoming smile. He took the reins, tied them to a post in front of the cabin, and helped her down from the driver’s perch.

  “What a unique buggy. Is it Amelia’s?”

  “Yes, I feel very independent now.”

  “So, what brings you out this way?”

  “I need a big favor.”

  “Name it and you have it,” he said, patting the buggy’s horse.

  “Would you teach me to ride a horse?”

  “Me?”

  “Yes. Amelia and Ross are gone all day. Amelia taught me how to drive the buggy, but I want to start learning to ride…today.”

  “Today?”

  Joanna gazed at his apron. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can see you’re busy.”

  “I just finished, really.”

  “Cooking?”

  “No, tanning my hides in the back. Would you like to see them?”

  “I would.”

  Jared led her around to the back of the cabin, noticing how her blue riding habit accentuated her slim figure. He felt a stab of guilt when he saw her limping.

  “How’s the foot?”

  “Much better. I can fit into boots and shoes again.”

  Jared swallowed hard. He pointed to his work station. “I nail the pelts to the table and then remove all the meat residue. Then, I salt them. When they're dry enough, I wash them, dry them again, and put them into the barrel.”

  Joanna peeked into the barrel. “You have quite a few in here. When will you sell them?”

  Jared scratched his head. “I might take a ride into Russell next week.” “Why not Hays?”

  Jared shrugged.

  “So, can you teach me to ride, or should I come back another day?”

  Jared removed his apron and said, “Let’s get to it.”

  Joanna smiled, and his heart lurched. He led her to the front of the house. “I think the mare pulling your buggy might be perfect. My horse is a bit too frisky for a beginner.”

  Jared unhitched the mare from the buggy, threw his saddle on her, and adjusted the stirrups. “The saddle might be a bit big for you, but it’s all I have.”

  He had to help her up onto the horse, but he wasn’t sure just how. He knew he’d better ask. “May I help you up by holding onto your waist?”

  She smiled at him. “Certainly.”

  He put his hands gingerly on her waist and lifted her up onto the horse. She felt so light. Once she was seated he jumped up behind her and handed her the reins. “Now, here’s how you hold the reins.” He showed her how to wrap the reins around her three middle fingers, leaving the thumb and baby finger free. Being this close to her wasn't a good idea. He forced himself not to react to her nearness. He had the urge to wrap his arms around her and hug her tightly, but he didn’t.

  “Good, you’ve got it. Now, let me show you how to turn a horse.” Jared showed her how to tug lightly in the direction she wanted the horse to turn. He was proud of his restraint.

  She practiced the moves nearly perfectly.

  “Once more,” he said. Her scent intoxicated him.

  She did the moves perfectly.

  “Now, to stop the horse, you pull back with both hands, but not too hard. No matter how quick you want to stop, never pull too hard because the bit will hurt the horse’s mouth.”

  “Bit?”

  “It’s a metal piece in her mouth attached to the reins, so you must always be gentle with the reins.”

  He showed her how to get the horse to move by touching the horse’s ribs with the heel of her boot. The horse moved a bit too fast, and Jared put his hands over hers to pull gently back on the reins. “Take it slow, not too fast yet.” Those were the very words he’d been telling himself the whole session.

  After their lesson, Jared slid from the saddle and held his arms out to help Joanna down. She braced herself by putting her hands on his shoulders as he lifted her. Joanna didn't remove her hands when she touched the ground, but she moved closer and looked up at him. Her lips trembled a bit and it was a natural reaction for him to kiss her. It felt like a magnet had pulled at him. He expected her to pull away and scold him, but she returned his kiss instead. Jared was so shaken by the kiss, he pulled away first.

  Jared sighed. “I didn’t plan that.”

  “Nor did I,” she whispered.

  He rubbed the back of his hand on her cheek. “I’m sorry, Joanna. That never should have happened.”

  “I’m not sorry. It was quite enjoyable. It was my first kiss.”

  Before his feelings took over and he kissed her a second time, Jared turned abruptly and said, “The lesson's over. I don’t think teaching you to ride is a good idea.”

  She looked up at him. “I really enjoyed the lesson.”

  His back was to her as he removed the saddle, but he could tell by her voice that she was disappointed.

  He glanced back at her briefly. “You did very well.” Why did she get more beautiful each time he saw her? “It’s the kiss—it shouldn’t have happened. I apologize. I don’t know what came over me.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “It’s just that due to some events in my life, I vowed to live alone in my cabin and enjoy nature. I have no plans to court anyone or start a romantic relationship.” Jared pulled the saddle off the horse and balanced it on the fence post. He gazed at her before hitching the horse to the buggy. “It just isn’t the right time.”

  Joanna tilted her head. “Why?”

  “It’s a long story.” Jared turned to work with the horse. He knew that once she’d heard the gossip about him and Rebecca, she’d hate him. Maybe that was the answer. If he told her what happened, maybe she wouldn't tempt him anymore, but something held him back from telling her. There was always the chance the gossip had died down and she’d never hear it.

  “I’m a good listener.”

  Jared handed her the reins to the
buggy. “Will you be all right riding back to town alone?”

  “Of course. I got here, didn’t I?”

  “You have no idea of the dangers out there, especially for a woman alone. I’ll saddle my horse and follow you.”

  Joanna watched Jared saddle his horse and she suddenly knew that she was in love with him. He was everything a woman could want in a man. He was gentle, honest, and his kisses made her want to hug him so tightly, they merged into one person. He'd nursed her, paid her debt, and now he was making sure she got home all right. He was a caring man who, for some reason, wanted to separate himself from the town and relationships.

  “Jared, I have something for you.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out the check. “McKenna gave me this and insinuated that it wasn’t what he wanted.”

  Jared took the check from her. “You saw him?”

  “Yes. One day, while Amelia and I were riding through town, he stepped in front of our buggy and handed it to me.”

  “What did he say exactly?”

  “I don’t recall the exact words, but it was something like, ‘I don’t want his money; I want my bride.'”

  “Have you seen him since?”

  “No.”

  Jared shook his head. “Another reason why you shouldn’t be riding alone. What if he saw you?”

  Joanna simply stared at Jared. He was right. She hadn’t even thought about that.

  “Let me help you into the buggy,” Jared said. “I’ll follow you right to Ross’s front door.”

  Joanna pulled the buggy into the yard by the barn and turned to see that Jared had stopped in front of his brother’s house. Joanna parked her buggy and walked over to where he was sitting on his horse.

  “Come in for tea?” she asked.

  His eyebrows squeezed together into a frown. “I really need to get back.”

  The man confused Joanna. His kiss had seemed so meaningful. She didn’t know much about kissing, but could someone put so much emotion into a kiss if he didn’t care for the person he was kissing?