Distant Heart (6 page)

“Excuse me a minute, Ginger. I have something to take care of. I'll be back.”

“If you're going where I think you're going, I'm coming with you. These dishes can just wait until we get back.”

“Suit yourself.”

With her new friend Ginger on her heels, Toni stomped with purpose toward Sam and Mr. Kane. The wagon scout was practically carrying the drunken fool out the gate.

“Hold on a second, Sam,” Toni said firmly.

“Everything okay?” the scout asked.

“No.” Toni planted her hands on her hips and stood, feet firm as though bracing for a heavy wind. “Everything is not okay.”

“What on earth are you doing, Toni Rodden?” Mr. Kane's wife, Amanda, gave a little stance of her own.

“This doesn't concern you, Amanda.”

The woman drew her shawl about her and stuck her nose in the air. “If it concerns my husband and the likes of you, it concerns me.”

“I ain't had nothin' to do with her, Mandy. Don't believe her.”

“Don't be a fool.” Toni sniffed her disdain and looked down on Amanda and then Mr. Kane, himself. “Amanda, you've known me for months now. Better than most of the women have even bothered to try to get to know me. How can you even suggest I might be cozying up to your husband?”

Amanda averted her gaze, but not before Toni noted shame filling her eyes.

“Toni, can this wait until morning?” Sam said quietly, indicating with his head that they had already drawn a crowd.

“No. No it can't, Sam. I plan to have my say.” She panned the crowd. “And you all might as well listen.”

“You don't have anything to say we want to hear.” Someone called from the crowd.

“Shut up and let her talk,” Ginger hollered, her hand on her Colt. “Or you'll answer to me.”

The crowd grew silent. Ginger nodded at Toni. “Go ahead, say your piece.”

“Thank you.” Toni's gaze nailed Mr. Kane, whose face slouched in drunken stupidity. “Now, Mr. Kane. All of you! I work as hard on this wagon train as the rest of you. I pick up buffalo chips, haul water, cook, and do just about anything that is asked of me.”

“What's that got to do with anything?” a woman's voice called from the crowd. “So do the rest of us.”

Ginger cleared her throat loudly and fingered her Colt. The woman took the hint and closed her mouth.

“And that is my point exactly. Each of us has a different past. Mine was harder to hide. And yes, I was not the sort of woman you want your sons marrying. Fine. I don't want them anyway. As far as who I was before, that's all behind me. And any decent Christian man or woman knows that God has forgiven my trespasses. So say what you want behind my back. Call me all the names in your twisted, bitter little hearts. Brush your skirts aside when you see me coming. I don't care. But I will not! I repeat, I will not stand by and listen to any of you calling me ‘whore' or inferring that I'm going to resume my former life as soon as we get to Oregon. I have as much right to be treated with dignity as the rest of you. We share an equal load of work and responsibility and I deserve to share in an equal amount of respect. And that's all I intend to say on the matter. But know this, I will not sit by and allow you to degrade me one more day.”

So saying, she swung around and faced the man who had begun the entire encounter. “And that means you, too!”

Without another word, she brushed past Ginger and stomped away. Ginger followed, bursting into laughter. “That
drunken idiot looked like he didn't know what hit him.”

Toni took little pleasure in the victory. If she truly had just won a victory. All she wanted was to be treated like a person with value. Not a whore. She shoved her hands into the sudsy dishwater.

Ginger gave a grunt. “There's ladies comin'.” Her voice was thick with disdain. Toni could guess Ginger hadn't been treated much better than she had at the hands of proper “ladies.”

Toni looked up and tensed at the sight of five women, including Mrs. Brady, the Captain's wife from the fort and Harriet Lamb, the preacher's wife, coming toward her.

Mrs. Brady gave her a kind smile. “We thought you could use a hand cleaning up.”

Relief swept through her. “Thank you. Ginger and I would appreciate it.”

Mrs. Lamb's smile included both Toni and Ginger. “Just tell us what to do.”

Quickly, Toni doled out tasks and before long several more women joined the group—most from the wagon train.

Ginger stood next to her and dried dishes as the dozen or so women made short work of cleanup. “Well, I'll be derned.”

A smile tipped Toni's lips. “I couldn't have said it better myself.”

Toni knew the moment she saw Fannie's face that her wedding night had been everything the young woman could have dreamed of. Such knowledge endeared the rough-edged Blake to Toni, no matter how he felt about her. And he certainly didn't hide the fact that he didn't have much use for her.

He also didn't hide the fact that he was crazy about his new bride. The two of them had walked, hand in hand, into camp just moments earlier. Toni stirred the pot of stew she'd warmed over the fire to feed herself and the twins, then straightened up to face Fannie.

Blake kissed his wife on the cheek then looked at Toni. “Seen Sam around?”

“He rode toward the lake a little while ago.”

“I'll be back,” he said to Fannie.

Toni gave a short laugh as Fannie sighed, watching her new husband strut like a peacock to get his horse, Dusty, from Kip.

“What's so funny?” Fannie asked with a silly grin. “Oh,
never mind. I have a pretty good idea who you're laughing at.”

“Did you come for a visit, or to start packing up your things?”

“Oh, Toni. That's the only difficult part about marrying Blake. Having to leave you all alone.”

“I'll be fine. And when we get to Oregon, I'll hand the wagon right over to you.” She gave a short laugh. “Provided there's anything left of it after we cross the mountains.”

“Don't be silly.” Fannie waved toward the wagon that she had spent a whole year saving up for in order to escape the cruel man who had held her as an indentured servant much longer than her contract specified. “I want you to have it. You'll have to have a place to live until you get a home built, anyway. Blake says most people live in their wagons or tents for awhile.”

Toni's heart gave a lurch. She hadn't even thought about what she'd do once she got to Oregon. How would she get a house built before winter? She'd have to hire it done, so first she had to take in enough sewing or laundry to pay someone. It was all so overwhelming. “Well, let's get you packed up so you can move to your new wagon.”

Toni paused. “Do you want me to keep Kip and Katie here for a few nights?”

Fannie's face grew pink. She shook her head. “I want to get them settled in and used to Blake being part of the family.”

Again, Toni's heart gave a lurch. Suddenly she was no longer part of this little family. She had grown so close to Fannie and the twins that she'd truly learned to love them as
a sister. But the fact was, she wasn't part of the family. Blake was.

 

Sam had an idea. He hadn't failed to notice Ginger's near-hero worship of Toni since she told the whole wagon train that she would no longer be treated like a soiled dove. Sam himself had been more proud than he ever thought possible. But he'd be lying if he said he wasn't concerned about Toni being all alone. How would she drive the oxen all alone, take care of her own chores, gather her own water, and so many other things that most families split two, three, four, or even more ways? Most single women, like Miss Sadie, hired camp boys to help with chores, but he knew Toni had no means with which to do so. So after prayer and meditation, Sam had devised a plan. A plan that involved Ginger.

He found her inside the fort, stirring up her own brand of trouble. “What do you think you're doing, mister?” she sputtered, pushing back wet hair from her face. Her eyes blazed with anger. The storekeeper dunked her in the horse trough for what appeared to be not the first time.

“You ever going to steal from me again?”

“I didn't steal!”

He dunked her again and left her under until Sam felt he might have to step in. Thankfully, the man wasn't bent on murder. He let her up. She gasped and coughed. “You varmint. You lowdown snake of a slimy rat-faced pig snout!”

Sam fought back a grin as the group of soldiers watching the event set up a howl of laughter. “Stop laughing!” she screamed. She reached for her Colt and lifted it out of the
holster. Her hand shook as she pointed the gun at the storekeeper.

“Hey, now. You put that thing away before you hurt someone,” the grizzled man said.

“You should have thought of that before you dern near drowned me, mister.”

Stealthily, Sam moved in. He knew he'd only have one chance to stop the foolish, prideful young woman from doing something that would leave her swinging from the end of a rope.

“You made a big mistake with me, mister,” she continued her threatening diatribe.

“Listen, young lady. It's all right. You just go on and keep that licorice. I don't need it.”

“I told you. I didn't steal no dadblamed licorice. I was going to pay for it.”

Even staring down the barrel of a Colt revolver, the storekeeper couldn't hold back a snort of disbelief.

The girl's shaking hand suddenly steadied and Sam made his move. Just as the gun fired, Sam threw off her aim and the bullet plugged a nearby pole. “What the…”

The storekeeper's eyes were wide and all traces of amusement had gone.

Ginger whipped around and glared at Sam. “What do you think you're doing? I missed on purpose. I ain't no murderer.”

Sam smiled, took hold of her shoulders, and turned her around. He leaned closer to her. “Shut up. Come with me.”

“I don't go anywhere with strange men. And I especially don't shut up.”

She tried to get loose, but he held her fast, knowing by the outrage growing on the faces of the men in the crowd that the next few seconds would be key in this woman's future. “Do not be foolish.”

“Foolish? How foolish is it to sneak up behind a girl with a gun, you crazy half-breed.”

“If you insult my mother and father once more, I'll leave you to these men,” he whispered against her ear.

She seemed to notice the anger for the first time. Sam heard her gulp. “For mercy's sake. No offense meant.”

“She ain't going nowhere.” The storekeeper stepped forward.

“Listen folks. Let's be reasonable. Now, this little girl isn't worth getting in an uproar over.”

The poor private who had been standing closest to the pole that now held a healthy sized slug, shot forward. “She blamed near killed me.”

“H-he threw off my aim. I-I wasn't really going to shoot anyone.”

“She's a thief.” The storekeeper had lost all sense of grace. “And would have killed me if she could have shot a straight line.”

A gasp tore through Ginger's throat and Sam clapped his hand over her mouth before she could blurt out whatever she was thinking.

“Listen, obviously there's been a mistake,” Sam said, trying to keep his voice calm. “Miss Ginger didn't mean any harm.” He was almost certain, anyway.

“Maybe not. But she caused her share just the same.” The storekeeper looked around at the highest-ranking soldier in their midst—a lieutenant who, from what Sam could tell, might have just started shaving a year ago. “What do you plan on doin' about this attempt on my life?”

The soldier looked like he'd rather die than arrest a lady. “Are you sure you want to press charges?”

“You know I do! Else why'd I be askin' what you intend to do about it?”

The lieutenant swallowed hard and stepped forward, his face clouded with dread for the task he was being forced to carry out. Sam stepped in front of Ginger. “Listen, folks. How about if I take this young lady off your hands once and for all?”

“You ain't taking me anywhere half-br—mister.” At least she was a fast learner.

“That's right. I want justice.” The storekeeper didn't look like he was in any mood to be reasonable short of “justice.” But Sam couldn't leave Ginger at the mercy of a mob of irritated men.

“Mr. Lyons,” the lieutenant said. “Perhaps we can let the young lady leave with the wagon train with Mr…. uh,”

“Two-Feathers.” Sam smiled.

“Mr. Two-Feathers.” He turned back to the storekeeper, his eyes almost pleading. “I see no reason to detain the lady. There was no real harm done, was there?”

“I promise I'll never set foot in this fort again.” Finally, the young woman had realized how dire her situation was about
to become. “I-I truly was going to pay for the licorice, but I got sort of distracted by something outside the window and I forgot I had it in my hand.”

“It's all right, Ginger,” Sam assured her. “All you have to do is pay for it now and I'm sure Mr. Lyons—was it?—will let you go.”

“Uh,” she cleared her throat and leaned in close. “I don't exactly have any money.”

“Then how were you plannin' to pay for the licorice?” the storekeeper demanded.

Ginger sent a scowl around the crowd. “Fine. I wasn't going to actually pay for it.” She swung around to Sam. “Happy?”

“I'll pay for the licorice.” Sam turned to the sound of Grant Kelley's voice. He reached into his vest pocket. “How much does she owe you, sir?”

“Two bits.” The storekeeper took a breath. “And another two bits for the trouble.”

Ginger gasped. “That's highway robbery! You belong in jail!”

Sam pressed her elbow and murmured. “Easy, Miss Ginger.”

Grant Kelley didn't even blink at the ridiculous price. Rather, he turned over the coins and nodded to Sam and Ginger. “Ready to go?”

“I'm not going anywhere with you two.”

“Miss Ginger, I have a proposition for you.”

“No thanks. I'm not that sort of woman.”

“And I'm not that sort of man.”

“Then we understand each other. If you'll excuse me, I'll just be pushing on.”

Before Sam could detain her, Grant grabbed her arm in an iron grip. “Would you shut up for once and just listen to the man?”

“Thank you, Grant.” Sam turned to the stunned woman. “Ride along with us to the wagon train and at least hear me out. If you're not interested, you're free to go.”

She scrutinized him, perusing his expression. Sam highly doubted she'd have known if he had been lying, but he had to admire her for at least thinking it through before agreeing.

“All right, Mr. Two-Feathers, I'll go with you.” She glared at Grant. “I'm not going because of you.”

Grant's lips twitched. “I won't presume to believe you have anything but the deepest of disdain for me. Although I'm at a loss to know why.”

“Good. Because that's exactly what I have.” She frowned. “Disdain, that is. For you. And I got my reasons.”

“Thank you for your candor.”

Eyes narrowed, she peered closer. “You laughing at me?”

“Why no, Miss Ginger, I'd be afraid of your sharpshooting eye.”

“Why, you…”

“I'll ride on ahead so the two of you can talk.” Grant rode away, leaving Ginger sputtering after him.

“I've never met anyone with such bad manners.”

Sam suffocated the urge to laugh out loud. He decided to get straight to the point. “I'd like for you to travel with Toni as her companion.”

“Excuse me?”

“Miss Rodden.”

“I know who Toni is. But I travel alone.”

“What's a woman like you doing all alone in a rough place like Fort Laramie?”

“I reckon that's my business.”

“I'll grant you that, miss. But we both know you haven't been at the fort long, which leads me to believe you were waiting for the wagon train. Why would a woman do that if not to join up and travel the rest of the way under the protection of a wagon train the size of ours?”

“My, uh, husband passed away not long ago. We live a few miles from here. I only go into the fort to trade.”

She was lying again. Sam didn't even have to wonder. It seemed just about every time she opened her mouth a falsehood flew out.

“Supposing you do have a place.”

“You calling me a liar?”

Sam sucked in a breath. He reined in his horse and grabbed her bridle. He commanded Ginger's gaze. “I don't want to insult you. But yes, I'm guessing you're not telling the truth. That no husband died recently and you don't have a ranch anywhere near here.”

Her face reddened. “I never said it was a ranch.”

“Are we ready to be honest with each other?”

“All right, fine. I want to stay close to the train. I wasn't going to ask to travel with you though, because I didn't want to have to do chores. Satisfied?”

“Toni needs a companion. Someone to talk to during the day, and divvy up the chores when we set up camp each night. What do you say?”

“What's in it for me?”

Sam shook his head. “I can't pay much. But I could come up with a little.”

Interest sparked in her eyes. “How much?”

“I'll pay you twenty dollars at the end of the trail as long as you do your share and live up to the bargain.”

“Ten now. Ten at the end.”

Sam smiled at her audacity. “Five now. Fifteen when we reach Oregon.”

The girl nodded and stuck out her hand. “Deal.”

Relief sifted through Sam. In his absence, he knew this girl would look after Toni.

“One more thing.”

“What's that?”

“Don't ever let her know about our arrangement.”