Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (115 page)

Chapter 29

Jana emerged from Daniel and Aimee’s bedroom, closing the door softly behind her. Dan glanced up from staring into the fireplace for so long, he had to blink to adjust his vision. Their eyes met from across the room. She swiped her hand across her forehead, reminding him that he was covered in perspiration as well. She looked worn out, her eyelids heavy from lack of sleep, but a bright smile lit up her face.

“The proud parents are finally resting,” she said quietly, and walked into Dan’s open arms without hesitation. He inhaled deeply of her subtle flowery scent, pulling her close to him.

The two Indian women, Morning Sun and Little Bird, had retired to the little cabin shortly after the birth, commenting that Aimee was in good hands with her knowledgeable white sister. While Aimee labored, Dan had quietly tried to put Daniel’s mind at ease that everything would be all right. Daniel had paced the main room of the cabin like a caged lion, until Jana had finally come from the bedroom, calling him into the room. Aimee wanted him to be with her during the birth. Dan had almost laughed at the look of sheer panic on Daniel’s face just before he followed Jana into the room. Dan had slapped him on the back with a wide grin, which earned him a murderous glare.

“It’s okay, Daniel. Modern men are frequently present when their wives give birth. You can do this. Just hold her hand, support her back, and let her tell you how much she hates you for putting her through such agony.”

Jana’s eyebrows had shot up at his words, and she glared at him. Dan had shrugged. “It’s what they say in the movies.”

“I can’t believe we got here on the day Aimee has her babies,” Jana said, bringing Dan’s mind back to the present.

“Fate wanted you to be here,” Dan whispered, kissing the top of her head.

“Or the sky people,” Jana said quietly.

A sudden loud banging on the front door made Jana jump. She pushed away from Dan, a fearful look in her eyes. Dan knew exactly what she was thinking. Hastings! The bedroom door opened seconds later, and Daniel emerged, a rifle in each hand. He shot a quick look at Dan and Jana, and motioned with his hand for them to move to the right of the room toward the bedroom he’d just come from. He tossed one of the rifles to Dan, who caught it with a reflex he didn’t know he possessed.

“You know how to fire this rifle?”

 Dan stared at the Hawken rifle. He’d only fired a flintlock once or twice before, and wasn’t at all sure if he could do it if called for quickly. He nodded slowly. A baby began to cry loudly.

“Go in there with Aimee,” Dan whispered, and pushed Jana toward the bedroom. She grabbed hold of his arm, her eyes wide with fear.

“Go,” he said forcefully. She hesitated another second, then disappeared through the door.

Whoever was outside banged on the front door again, and a man’s voice shouted. Dan couldn’t understand the words, but relief swept over him.  It wasn’t Hastings. Daniel yanked the door open, and three men stumbled in. Two Indians supported a third man, his arms draped around each of their shoulders. He was unable to stand on his own, and a loud moan escaped his lips. His eyes were closed, and his buckskin shirt was soaked with blood.

Daniel spoke to the two other Indians in quick, hushed tones, and motioned with his hands to lay the man on the ground by the hearth. Dan couldn’t understand what they were saying. They were not speaking in Shoshone. He noticed both of the other men were bleeding as well, one from his upper thigh, the other from his arm.

“Jana, come out here,” Dan called. He rushed to the Indian, and knelt to the ground. Blood had soaked his entire buckskin shirt. It was torn in several places where bullets had entered his chest and abdomen. Dan was amazed the man was even alive. Only a modern-day rifle could have put so many bullets into this man.

Everything seemed to happen at once. Jana dropped to her knees beside him, checking the wounded man’s pulse. Daniel stood beside Dan, telling him these were Absarokas who had encountered two white men before dark, who then shot at them with magical weapons. Three of their companions had died instantly. These three had fled, and were here to seek aid from Aimee.

“This man isn’t going to make it,” Jana said frantically. Aimee called from the bedroom, wondering what was going on. She could hardly be heard over the loud cries of both babies.

“I’ve got this,” Jana said, looking up at Daniel. “Aimee needs to stay in bed. I need any medical supplies she might have. Water. Bandages. Dan, sterilize a knife for me, and bring me your medical kit.”

Dan rushed to do her bidding, thrusting a knife into the hot coals of the fire. He ripped open his backpack that he’d tossed in a corner of the cabin when they first arrived, and pulled out his medical kit. There was no hope for this man. He knew that, and Jana knew it, too. Pride swelled in him, even during these frantic moments to save a man’s life. The way she took charge of the situation, tossing out orders at him and Daniel, it was a side of her he hadn’t seen before.

Dan handed her the medical kit, when the man on the ground gasped. His body went rigid, just before his limbs relaxed again in death.

“No, dammit.” Jana immediately began chest compressions. Dan reached for her and tried to pry her away. She pulled away from his hold, refusing to give up her life-saving measures.

“Jana, he’s gone.” Dan hooked his hands under her arms, and hauled her to her feet. “There’s nothing you can do for him,” he whispered, and pulled her into his arms. She trembled, and sobbed into his shirt.

“There are two other men here who could use the attention of a good nurse,” he reminded her gently. “Why don’t you see what you can do for them.”

Jana straightened, and he released her. She picked up the medical kit, and knelt beside the man with the gunshot wound to his leg, making gestures with her hands to get him to remove his leggings so she could examine the wound.

Dan watched her for a moment, then turned to look at Daniel. He was conversing with the other warrior.
Two men
. Daniel said these Indians told him there were two men. Hastings had brought someone else with him. Dan cursed under his breath. Hastings and his accomplice were obviously well armed.

“This attack occurred not far from here to the east. Less than a half day’s walk,” Daniel said, moving around the table to stand next to Dan. “You only spoke of one man, but Broken Lance says there were two. Two men with weapons that can do this kind of harm,” he pointed at the dead Indian on the ground, “make this far more dangerous. What do you suggest we do?”

Dan stood there, speechless for a moment. Daniel asked for his advice?

“I’m wondering if Hastings didn’t attack these people to draw you out, get your attention,” he thought out loud. “I wonder if he thinks I have found you by now, or if he believes I never made it this far. If the attack occurred to the east, he didn’t come the same route Jana and I did. He may have come from the canyon.”

“Then we must use the element of surprise. If I go now, I can find their camp by dawn.” Daniel headed for his bedroom. The babies had quieted down again, and Dan heard Aimee’s soft voice raise when Daniel spoke to her. She apparently didn’t like what he had in mind to do.

Daniel reappeared, a bow and a full quiver of arrows in his hand.

“I’ll go with you,” Dan said, when Daniel headed for the front door. Daniel halted in his tracks, and turned to face him.

“I leave you to watch over my wife and sons. If all goes well, I will be back before the end of the night. I cannot allow this man to come to the valley. I must meet him out in the open, but I can’t leave my wife unprotected.” He pointed to the Hawken propped against the wall.

“Do what you must to protect the women. I will send Morning Sun and Little Bird to help Jana care for these men,” Daniel said with finality. He didn’t wait for an answer, but turned and headed out the door. Dan could only stare after him, dumbfounded. He slowly turned his head in the direction of the bedroom. Daniel had left him in charge to protect his wife and babies. What had he done to earn such trust and respect?

Dan clenched his jaw. He picked up the Hawken, and checked to see if it was loaded, even though he had no doubt that it was. He swore under his breath. Whatever it took, this time he would not fail his ancestors.

****

Jana cradled the little infant in her arms, rocking him gently back and forth. The baby was almost asleep, content with a full belly and a clean change of a cloth diaper. She lightly touched the blond fuzz on top of his head, and stroked his rosy baby cheek with the back of her finger. She glanced over at the bed where Aimee sat, feeding her other son. She looked worn out, her eyes almost closed and her head resting against the bed’s backboard.

Jana didn’t know which baby she held in her arms – Zach or Matthew. Daniel and Aimee had not named the infants yet. If Hastings showed up, how would he know which baby to murder? After everything she’d witnessed, the dead and injured Indians, the man would have no trouble killing both infants.

Aimee didn’t show it, but she was worried. Jana knew her too well. Her friend always put up a good front, but the haunted look in her eyes said she was afraid for Daniel. As if she knew Jana was thinking about her, Aimee looked up, and her lips curved in a weak smile.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” she said, her voice hoarse from lack of sleep.

The early morning sunshine filtered just enough light through the burlap covering over the window to cast the room in a dim glow. Jana nodded in agreement, although she didn’t feel as if everything would be okay. Daniel had left in the middle of the night. How was he going to track two men in the total darkness? He only roughly knew where Hastings and his accomplice might be camped, based on what the Crow had told him.

Morning Sun and Little Bird had taken the injured Indians to the small cabin to finish tending to their wounds after they helped Dan remove their dead companion outside.

“You should get some sleep, Aimee,” Jana said. She placed the baby in her arms into the wooden cradle that looked newly made. Luckily, it was big enough to hold both babies for now. Daniel would have to carve out another one soon. Reaching for the infant in Aimee’s arms, she laid him next to his brother. When she turned around, Aimee was asleep. Jana rubbed at her own tired eyes, and quietly left the bedroom.

Dan sat on a chair at the table, the rifle draped across his lap. His arms were propped on the table, his hands supporting his head. He looked just as worn-out as Jana felt. His head turned when she entered the main room. Quietly, she closed the door behind her, and offered him a smile. He sat up straight, and laid the rifle on the table, holding out his hand to her, beckoning her to him.

Jana came to him, and he pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist. She rested her hands on his shoulders, and smiled softly.

“Kiss me,” he said in a low tone. Jana bent her head without a second thought, and pressed her lips to his. Dan held the back of her head, deepening the kiss, exploring her lips with his tongue. Jana wrapped her arms fully around his neck, and leaned into him. Deep ripples of desire flowed through her, and she gave herself over to the wonderful feelings Dan’s touch and kiss evoked deep within her.

“I love you so much,” she whispered, touching her hand to his whisker-roughened cheek.

“You’re my whole world, Jana.” Dan ran his fingers through her hair. The smile on his face couldn’t betray the apprehension in his eyes.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked gently.

“You are,” he answered.

Jana scoffed at him. “I hope I don’t put that worried look on your face.”

“I know Daniel can take care of himself and Aimee, but even he’s no match against a man with a twenty-first century gun or rifle. Let alone two men.”

“Daniel knows what he’s doing. And he obviously holds you in high regard.” Jana could see what a heavy weight rested on Dan’s shoulders. He was held responsible for the safety of Daniel’s wife and children.