Montana Rose (26 page)

“Oh, you’ve maybe wanted to make me help on
your
ranch. You’ve maybe wished for another cowhand you could work like your daughters. But that’s not
need.
You don’t
need
a husband, Belle. You need a
slave.
I’ve got too much pride to work as your slave.” His voice went beyond contempt and anger. He sounded as if he hated her. His eyes told her that he definitely did. He kicked his horse and tore off at a gallop.

Yes, he’d always been lazy.

Yes, he’d always been a cheat.

But why would he hate her? Would he really be so cruel as to abandon her in pain on the trail?

“At least send one of the girls!”

Anthony laughed, his voice carrying back to her on the wind. “If I see one of your little slaves, I’ll send her.”

Would he possibly refuse to send help? She’d kept him fed and in spending money for a year now. Belle’s spirit felt crushed as if the pains were at work on her soul. She felt the tears come again, the tears that had tormented her on this long ride home. But she didn’t let them fall. She had no energy for them.

She clicked to the horses and pushed them on.

God, please have him send the girls.

Her girls would help her.

Did she really work them too hard? Did she treat them like slaves?

She began slow, constant prayer, stopping only when the agony cut her off from her thoughts. When she ran out of prayers, she began reciting all of the Bible verses she knew, and they were many. The Bible was the only book the Tanner family owned. Why, she’d taught her girls to read using it. They took turns memorizing verses during their Sunday services.

The pains came faster. She began the slow uphill climb toward the mountain gap. She remembered Seth’s words about divorce. No, never. Surely Anthony would die soon and save her the shame.

Nearly another hour passed as she made the twisting trip to the crest of the hill. The trip back down would be much faster.

The pains came harder. They hadn’t yet entered that horrible constant stage she knew to expect near the end. She could make it. She could get home.

She thought of the tortuous trail that descended into her valley. She had to ride the wagon brake hard all the way down to keep from overturning on the sharply winding trail. She wasn’t sure she had the strength.

The wagon descended. Belle pulled hard on the wooden brake handle to keep it from running away and harming the horses. Her hands threatened to slip off the brake when a pain was upon her. She went down and down, the trail narrow, snaking. Her hand clutched the brake. She threw her body across it, hoping her weight would do what her normally strong hand couldn’t. She made the first turn only a bit too fast. The wagon clattered. The horses snorted, complaining about the dangerous wagon forcing them forward at a pace that scared them.

She passed several more treacherous turns without incident, but it took all of her strength to keep the buckboard under control. Nearly a third of the way down, a spasm hit so hard she nearly collapsed. She slipped forward. If she fell between the horses and the wagon, the wagon would roll over her and kill her.

She clung to the brake as her body seemed intent on tearing her in half.

Picking up speed as her strength waned, the horses whinnied in fear at the clattering wagon now shoving them at a dangerous pace.

A shout pulled her head up.

Someone came around the sharp curve ahead toward her. Lindsay.

Anthony had sent help.

Belle didn’t have the strength to pull the horses to a stop. They rolled on past Lindsay. Too fast.

Lindsay drew off to the trailside as the wagon passed her. “Ma, what’s wrong?”

Though she asked, Lindsay didn’t pause for an answer. She quickly dismounted, lashed her horse’s reins to the back of the moving wagon, and sprinted to jump up on the seat. She grabbed the brake, gently moving Belle aside. With Lindsay’s strong hand on the controls, the wagon slowed, but it still moved too fast for safety.

“It’s the baby. Didn’t Anthony tell you?” The wagon seat had no back. Belle struggled to sit upright.

“No.” Lindsay bore down on the brake. The last turn was dead ahead, and it was as tight as a hairpin. The wagon couldn’t get around it at this speed.

The horses whinnied in fear. Lindsay fought a quiet desperate fight between herself and the mountain and that brake. The wagon slowed a bit. The tight curve ahead came nearer.

Belle’s stomach contracted again. There was hardly time to breathe between the pains now.

The brakes squealed in protest. The horses began throwing their weight on their back feet under Lindsay’s skillful handling on the reins. Lindsay’s shout even galvanized her own horse to pull against the wagon from behind.

They turned into the curve, still going too fast.

“Lean up the hill, Ma. We can make this, but I need your help.”

Belle obeyed. Years of taking charge, doing what had to be done despite the difficulty, were too ingrained to ignore. Belle leaned away from Lindsay.

The wagon tilted. Two wheels came off the ground.

Lindsay yelled at the nervous horses and threw even more weight against the brake.

They rounded the corner and the trail straightened. The wagon banged down onto four wheels.

Still going too fast, Lindsay now could at least make the horses move a bit more briskly and stay ahead of the wagon. She began winning her fight one second at a time.

Finally, the brake caught firmly ahold of the heavily laden wagon. Seconds later they reached the bottom of the mountain trail.

Belle suspected Lindsay normally would have pulled over and given herself and the lathered horses a chance to calm down, but she was a canny girl and she’d already figured out Belle needed to get home. “What did you mean about Anthony telling me?” Lindsay asked.

Belle gasped as the pain let up. “He came past me on the trail. He wouldn’t stay. I asked him to send help. When I saw you—” Belle lost her ability to speak again as another storm swept over her beleaguered body.

“He came in the cabin. He served himself supper in front of all of us without saying a word.” Lindsay threw Belle a look of such fury that Belle regretted saying anything about Anthony’s part in this. “I just knew it was time for you to be coming, so I rode out to keep you company.”

Belle’s heart broke at Anthony’s cruelty. But she set that aside as another pain threatened to tear her apart. A sudden spate of moisture told her the baby had broken through. It wouldn’t be long now.

“What can I do to help you, Ma? Can you ride my horse to get yourself home faster?”

“No, it’s too late. I wouldn’t be able to sit on the horse.”

Lindsay slapped the horses with the reins and yelled. They picked up the pace to a trot.

Belle knew they still had a long way to go. The gap was miles away from the cabin. She didn’t think she’d make it, but she held on, her fingers white against the buckboard seat.

Lindsay reached her left arm to support Belle’s back, holding the reins in her right hand, now that the brake was no longer needed.

“The horses can’t keep up this pace all the way home.” Belle wouldn’t harm her team to save herself. She’d give birth along the trail first. “Not with the wagon loaded.”

“We’ll go as long as we can. I’m watching ’em. I won’t let them overdo. We’ll deliver the baby out here if we have to.”

Belle focused on the team, trying to keep her weight off Lindsay, trying not to be any more of a burden to her daughter than necessary.

Slave labor. Was it true?

The pains were nearly constant when the cabin finally came in sight.

“Emma!” Lindsay’s shout brought Emma and Sarah out of the cabin at a run. Lindsay pulled within inches of the door.

“What’s the matter?” Emma came around the back of the wagon, her eyes on Belle.

“Ma’s having the baby. Help me get her down.” Lindsay wrapped the reins around the brake with lightning movements. Emma threw herself up beside Belle. Lindsay and Emma eased Belle sideways.

Belle did her best to help. The baby pressed to be born.

The girls, including Sarah, nearly carried her into the house.

The commotion brought Anthony’s head up from where he lay on his narrow bed. He smirked at Belle then sauntered outside.

The girls lowered her to her bed, and they were in time. Barely. The baby slipped into the world, into the gentle hands of her big sister. It was a girl.

Belle was home. She’d made it home.

But her marriage made it a sad, pathetic excuse for a home.

For the first time since Susannah’s birth, Cassie kept something from Red.

She’d been going whole hog, spouting off her ideas and feelings, and it had seemed to suit Red fine. She surely loved doing it. But now she couldn’t forget the threat she’d seen in Wade Sawyer’s eyes and the cowardly way she’d acted the last time he’d threatened her. She still had nightmares about that cold, wet crevice where she’d cowered. Cassie was determined to never be so helpless again.

Cassie started practicing with her gun.

Red always left the rifle, loaded and ready, hanging over the door. She didn’t fire any bullets. Red never left the ranch yard long enough or went far enough for her to believe she could practice without his notice. And he would have missed the bullets. Griff had always been careless about details like that.

But she’d gotten good before. Now she just practiced grabbing it and aiming quick. The gun started to feel comfortable in her hands. She loaded it while she walked, while she ran, while she lay on her belly in the dirt. She studied the yard for shelter should she be caught out, away from the house.

She knew she should tell Red what she was doing, but she didn’t want him to make her quit. And she didn’t want to listen to him talk about the right and wrong of shooting a man who hadn’t made peace with the Lord ... because she was ashamed of the cowardice driving her.

She was prepared for trouble when she was alone, but as she scratched in the dirt planting a garden, she knew Red was close by and felt perfectly safe.

Safe turned out to be a luxury she couldn’t afford, any more than she could afford black silk dresses.

“Cassie honey, stand up slow,” Red said stiffly.

Cassie turned to see what had caused the harsh tone, expecting to find him hurt and bleeding. She froze so solid her heart had to struggle to beat.

Red stood in front of Wade Sawyer. Blood trickled down Red’s forehead, and his knees wavered slightly as he walked. Cassie saw a noose snared around Red’s neck.

Wade held the end of the rope in one hand and his revolver in the other. He sneered. “It’s movin’ day, china doll. Go fetch your things and come along with old Wade.”

Cassie didn’t take her eyes off Red’s battered face. She slowly got to her feet. Cassie glanced at the house, and Red blinked his eyes and made a nearly invisible move with his head. He seemed to be asking her for time. Maybe time for his head to clear or time to come up with a plan to get them out of this.

Cassie sent a thousand silent prayers for help in the space of a single breath. Then she spoke with quiet authority. “Wade, untie him and quit this nonsense.”

Wade didn’t react. He seemed to be processing her words, and Cassie decided he was drunk again. Surely if they could bide their time, he’d sober up enough to know what he was doing was madness. Then Wade jerked on the rope he held, nearly knocking Red off balance.

Red staggered slightly to remain standing.

Wade yanked it again.

Red fumbled for the rope tight around his neck and held it in both hands. Cassie noticed him discreetly try to loosen the rope.

Wade was focused on her and seemed oblivious to Red’s efforts. Wade cocked his pistol with a sharp
crack.
“Do it, china doll, or Red dies right now.” Wade rested the muzzle of his six gun on Red’s temple. “How about it? You in the mood to bury another husband?”

Cassie realized she had a choice. She could go into the house as if to pack her things. Once in there, she could get her hands on her gun. Wade was drunk enough that he wouldn’t notice her rifle if she came back out with it hidden behind her coat. She had a better than even chance of beating Wade.

She looked at Wade’s cruel, lustful face and at the blood streaming from the cut on her precious husband’s head and thought,
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
In that instant Cassie finally knew the difference between cowardice and courage. She was terrified but she didn’t go for the gun.
“Whom shall I fear?”

She trusted her instincts, believing they were directions coming from God. “The last time we talked, Red told you to let go of your hate, Wade. Think about what you’re doing. What brought you to this? When I first came to Montana, you were the rich, powerful son of a cattle baron. You were going to inherit a dynasty. You flirted with me but you never threatened to kill Griff or kidnap me. What has happened? What is eating you up inside that changed you into a man who would threaten murder?”

Wade opened his mouth and closed it again.

She remembered the last time she’d given him time to respond to her and the vicious tightening of the stranglehold he had on Red. She didn’t wait. “Have you ever heard that hate destroys the hater? Who do you hate so much, Wade? It can’t be Red. He’s never done anything to you. And how can it be me? You’ve aimed your hate at us like a loaded gun, but this can’t be about us. Is it your father?”

“No!” Wade exclaimed loudly. “You leave my pa out of this.”

He said it so furiously that Cassie thought she’d found the right direction to proceed.

“What did he do to you, Wade? He’s a hard man. I’ll bet it’s difficult to have such a tyrant for a father. Has he ever let you walk your own path? Has he ever shown you any gentleness or affection?”

Wade laughed bitterly. There was a slightly hysterical note to the laughter. “Gentleness is for women. No one but a fool expects mush and petting from his pa.”

Cassie saw Wade’s hand tighten on the rope. Red had both hands under the noose now and Cassie could see him hold it so it felt tight to Wade but without it cutting off his breathing. Cassie had the distinct impression that Red’s wobbly knees were at least partly an act, too. He just needed a little more time.

“Red fusses over Susannah all the time, Wade. A father should hug his child. He should speak of love. Your father may have treated you harshly because he wanted you to be strong, but instead it broke your spirit. You bully people and they back down because of who your
father
is, not because you’re a strong man yourself. Bullies think they’re strong, but they’re very careful to pick on people who are weaker or sneak up behind rather than face them. But Wade, you’ve gone too far this time. You’ve faced a man who is stronger than you in the ways that really count. Red has the strength of God on his side, and so do I. We want to live because God has been so good to us in this life and we love serving Him, but we aren’t afraid to die.”

Cassie gentled her voice. “I will not go with you. We will not submit ourselves to you. But we will be your friends. We will love you.”

“You
do not love me.
” Wade was listening. His shocked reaction to her words was evidence.

“Let go of Red and put down the gun. Come inside and talk to us. We
do
love you, Wade. And God loves you. If you could understand how much God loves you and how it makes His heart break to see one of His beloved children turn away from Him, you’d put down that gun and listen to us. You’ve tried doing it without God, and look where it’s brought you. Let us tell you how to put God in charge of your life. If you do, you’ll find out what true strength really is.”

“You ... you...” Wade shook his head as if to clear it.

Cassie looked at Red. He was ready. He could have pulled himself free of the noose and grabbed the gun from Wade’s unsteady hand, but Red had known the difference between cowardice and courage for a long time. He left the rope where it was and gave Wade the chance to choose God.

The love Cassie felt for Red at that moment was almost violent. She prayed and saw Red’s lips move. He was praying, too. They both asked for Wade to open his heart and take the first step back from the terrible path he’d traveled for so long.

“You love me?” Wade said it like it was unfathomable. His throat worked, and Cassie thought she saw a sheen of tears in his eyes. She remembered his longing in the Bates’ store when Red had talked to him. She knew Wade wanted help. He wanted something better in his life.

He opened his mouth. Then as if no words could come, he closed it again and threw the rope aside and dropped his gun in the dirt. One hand came up to cover his face and he turned away. He began walking, almost stumbling, his shoulders slumped and shaking.

Red glanced at Cassie and she gave him an encouraging nod. He took the noose off his neck and ran after Wade. “She wasn’t just saying that to get you to leave.” Red lay his hand across the back of Wade’s shoulders, and Wade stopped immediately, as if every step was a huge burden he could hardly bear. “Come into the house with us. We’ll make you some coffee and a good meal, and we’ll talk about how you can find your way back.”

“Find my way back...” Wade turned to Red and spoke so softly, Cassie could barely hear it. “Back to where?”

She walked over to Wade and rested her arm on his back so she and Red were surrounding him. He was no danger now. “Back to yourself. You’ve lost the very best of yourself, Wade. Just like I had. And back to God, because He’s the one who created you and loves you just the way you are.”

“No, not like I am. Maybe once I was someone God could love.” Wade shook his head and a single tear trickled down from the corner of his eye.

“Talk with us, Wade. Come meet our daughter and spend the day with us.” Cassie urged him to turn and realized she and Red were nearly holding him up. He’d been drinking, but this was about more than the liquor. It was as if Wade had been knocked almost to his knees by words of love.

For the first time, Wade looked at her in a way that didn’t frighten her. She smiled, and Red rested his hand on hers, where they met on Wade’s trembling shoulders.

Cassie said, “Every one of us has to choose. I had started down the wrong path with my life just like you have.”

“You, china doll? You’ve always been perfect. A man’s dream set down in the middle of the wilderness.”

“It may have seemed like that because I always acted the part. But the truth is I had no faith in God. I had no courage. I didn’t believe in myself any more than you do. Red helped me see I was worthy of God’s love. I didn’t believe that when I came to live here. But now I know my willingness to act like the perfect, obedient wife was just me taking the easy way out and letting someone else make all my decisions for me. You and I have a lot in common. Does your father trust you with any part of the ranch?”

“No, he never has. But who can blame him?”

“And does he make you feel stupid when the truth is you’ve just never been trained?”

“I am stupid. I never do anything the way it’s supposed to be done,” Wade said humbly.

“That’s exactly how Griff treated me. And I think that you saw that, even though you want to believe I’m perfect. You saw a kindred soul who was going through the same thing and you wanted to save me. That’s noble, Wade. That’s something I respect and admire in you. We reacted differently to being dominated. I became a submissive little coward and you rebelled, defying your father by leaving the ranch and getting mixed up in every evil vice you could think of just to spite him.”

“We’re nothing the same,” Wade said firmly. “You can’t compare yourself to someone like me. I’ve done so many things, it’s impossible for me to ever undo them.”

“You’re right that you can’t undo them, but you can start today living your life differently. Come in with us.” She knew Wade still had scars on his heart and he’d still have trouble believing in himself. Look how long it had taken her to trust herself and believe in her own worth. But Wade had taken the first step today. He’d stopped sinking deeper in sin and reached up for God. And God could reach all the way down to meet him and help him the rest of the way.

“China doll ... I ... I can’t go near your baby.” Wade looked her in the eye, and for the first time she realized those green eyes that had frightened her could be vulnerable and soft and even kind. “And you can’t want me in your home.”

“My name is Cassie. Please call me that. And I
welcome
you to our home.” She urged him forward. “I have coffee still warm from this morning, and it’s only a little early for lunch.”

At her urging, Wade started toward the house. Cassie looked over at Red and she saw him nod at her with deep approval. Some of what she’d said had only really become clear to her as she’d talked. She knew God had guided her words, and she’d spoken them for her own benefit as well as Wade’s.

They headed for the tiny soddy with the cave bedroom. A giant step down from the lovely home she’d lived in less than a year ago. She could see now that God could use what she’d been through. He could use her to help someone else. The honor of it made her tremble deep inside.

And as she walked, she felt the china doll shatter inside her. Gone forever. And out of the rubble a new woman emerged. Not perfect. Not even close. She was a sinner who struggled and failed and tried anew each day.

But she was also a new woman in Christ. A woman God loved, but even more, a woman worthy of being loved by God.

What had started as a nightmare on that day of Griff ’s death had become the fulfillment of all her dreams.

Red’s hand, resting on top of hers, moved so their fingers entwined. Together they supported Wade and each other. She smiled at her husband, and they helped bear the burden of their new friend. And as she walked, she realized that her whole life had led her to a plan God had all along.

She’d been following a twisting, turning, sometimes treacherous path that had led her straight home.