Chapter 9
The next morning, Janelle hurried to the henhouse to see if her new occupants had left any surprises. She’d love to treat Bernie to an egg, although the meager offering on his plate could never match the thankfulness that burst in her heart. A farm was not a farm without hens and chickens and for the first time since arriving in Belle she felt her dream had found secure footing. It was a silly notion, but it was hers, and Bernie had fulfilled it. For her to have known two of the kindest most giving men in all the country caused her heart to sing on this fine day.
Bernie had ridden Davey by horseback to school this morning, as she did not have to work at the diner today. Lots to do but first on her list was to prepare a lunch feast for Bernie with all his favorite foods – hopefully eggs included. Inside the coop, she gently fished her hand around the straw under the platform. When she came up empty she groaned and talked encouragement to the birds attempting to trip her up. The hens were settling into their new home and probably disorientated in their laying routines. But Janelle persisted, searching in every nook and cranny and was rewarded with three large contributions for her table. She left the henhouse ecstatic. She’d not moved two feet when she ground to a halt.
“Was mighty disappointed you didn’t invite me to your birthday party, little miss.” The sneering face of Sam Spalding greeted her. “Brought me a present along anyway, just to show what a good sport I am.” He passed a bag to her.
“You are not welcome here. I thought I made that very clear when you last visited.”
“Now don’t be kicking a gift horse in the face. Understand you could use a filly to get to town and back – you being a working girl and all.”
Janelle gazed longingly at the roan he offered. His hand extended the reins in her direction. Briefly, she feasted on the fulfillment of yet another dream but just as quickly pushed it aside. Accepting a gift from this man would cost her dearly.
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
Already she could see his vile temper surfacing. His black eyes penetrated her defenses, deepening until it seemed she stared clear into the depths of hades itself. She inhaled. Deciding she’d not win a stare-down with him, she moved to sidestep him. That was a mistake. He grabbed for her arm and during the brief struggle that followed, she dropped her precious eggs to the ground. Tears erupted.
“Now that’s more like it,” Sam said. “Like me a woman who knows when she’s defeated. And since you seem to be missing your rifle this morning, this would be a good time to go for a ride.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” Janelle shouted.
Her retort surprised Sam and she pulled her arm free and ran. He caught up, turned her to face him and with no hesitation punched her square in the side of the face. The impact sent her wheeling backward and landed her in a soft wet snowdrift.
“Now you ain’t gonna win, girl, so you best just climb up on yer new horse and ride.”
“Where are we going?”
“Now I’d like to say I’d take you to the preacher and do it all up legal-like, but that will have to wait. Don’t want to run into your hired man before I claim you as mine.”
“I will never be yours,” Janelle argued.
If she could just keep him talking and waste time? Bernie should be back from town soon and he’d finish off what she failed to do the first time around.
“We’ll see about that.” He handed her the reins. “Even got ya a saddle.”
Her brain searched for a distraction. “I need warmer clothes.”
“Thinking of packing a bag, are you?” he looked behind him and when the road was empty, he agreed. “Might be gone fer a spell. You got five minutes and I’m right behind you so don’t try anything funny.”
As she walked toward the cabin, she mentally imagined her next move. The rifle was out of reach for Sam dogged her steps and she’d not have a minute alone. But when she noticed him stop briefly at the hitching post by the front porch, she hurried up the steps and fled inside, running full tilt for the gun. She should have taken the time to latch the door, for her opportunity was lost when he caught her arm reaching for the rifle on the high shelf. His fist found her face again and she tumbled to the floor. She felt the abrupt impact from the heavy leg of the oak table as her head collided with it. She closed her eyes and lay slumped, pretending to be knocked out. Would he be fooled by her show of unconsciousness? She heard him cuss and when his boot connected with her side she recoiled in pain.
“Get on your feet, wench! I’m trying to be nice and you keep riling me.” With one pull he yanked on her arm causing her to shriek with the pain that shot into her shoulder.
“You only got two minutes left. Best pack in a hurry.”
Janelle raced for the bedroom and threw clothes recklessly around the room as a sign for Bernie and picking the warmest to put in her duffle bag. A thought came to her when she sighted the chunk of bread Davey had left on her night table this morning while eating-on-the-run. Grabbing the uneaten portion, she buried it into the pocket of her dress. She’d leave Bernie a trail, and hope the birds didn’t eat it before he caught on.
“One minute,”
