Janelle yanked her wool cap over her head and pulled warm mittens on. Hiding under the baggy winter-wear did not have the effect she desired. Sam whistled.
“Now that cut your high-class finery down to more my style. ‘Bout time ya got a taste of yer own demoralizing hypocrisy.” His grin revealed yellow teeth and holes in his mouth where others had been either knocked or rotted out.
“Big words for a no-good loser like you.” Tears threatened to nullify her brave front but she pushed them back and bit the bottom lip to stop the trembling.
He came in the room and grabbed the case. With the barrel of his pistol he motioned to the door. “Time to pull out, woman.”
“Where are we going?”
“You leave that to me. Been riding the fence line for Silver Aspen Ranch and found me a shack tucked in the woods. Nice and private. Give me plenty of time to tame the wild spirit out of ya.” He laughed. “Got me a stallion fer a wife. Now ain’t that the nicest compliment you ever got, woman?” She never answered.
On the way through the kitchen, he hollered, “Grab some grub. All this fightin’ has given me hunger pangs.”
Good, Janelle thought. A bit more time to waste. Surely Bernie was on his way back to the farm by now. She found a bag and threw in a loaf of bread and a jar of jam, not willing to share any more with the likes of him.
“Got no meat?” Sam asked as she turned to leave.
From the morning fry pan she grabbed a couple sausages and tossed them his way. “I’m not rich if that’s what you think you’ll be gaining from me.”
The offering disappeared down his gullet fast and he grinned his twisted appreciation.
“Not to worry, none. I’m a good shot and there’s lots of game in the forest. We won’t starve.” He chuckled. “How do you like the sound of Mrs. Sam Spalding. I think it suits ya.” He pushed her to the door. “Let’s get going.”
At the hitching post, before Janelle swung her legs over the roan, she dropped a small piece of bread from her pocket. Hopefully that would signal Bernie to follow the hoof marks. Suddenly, as if a sledgehammer hit her stomach full force, her optimism withered. She had no right to expect the man to follow after her. He’d been kind to them, but to risk his life for a family he was walking away from in the spring was another whole game he might not be prepared to play.
When they reached the edge of the forested area Sam yanked on the strap that tied the two horses together. She had no choice but to hang onto the saddle horn and follow. She dropped more bread as they entered the woods and began down a narrow path that would take her further into the unknown. Her fingers searched inside the other pocket of her coat and discovered the material frayed. She ripped a thin piece off and stuck it in a low-lying branch on the way by. Every so often, especially if they took a turn, she either dropped bread or ripped pieces from her pocket. The man ahead paid no heed to what went on behind him and continued to pick his way along the overgrown excuse for a trail that they traversed.
The sun was rising high in the sky and Janelle feared she would run out of droppings before they reached their destination. In the distance she saw smoke billowing from a chimney. Sam turned around. “Home sweet home.” He turned his mare to the right and they wriggled through dense brush. She dropped the last of the bread in a heap on the ground and prayed God would keep the animals away from her food scraps.
One final pull of the reins and they broke into a clearing. She glanced in the direction of the smoke and shuddered. His mention of the shack in the woods had been a generous description of the building awaiting them. Even the first glance of what she now called home was never this bad. She equally knew Sam would not be interested in making the space livable for his captive bride. She grimaced at the image. Oh, Lord, she pleaded. Send Bernie to help one last time.
Chapter 10
The town of Belle was buzzing with activity this morning as Bernie offered an arm and Davey slid off the horse and landed on the ground.
“Now you mind the teacher, boy.”
“Yes, sir.” Little legs scooted off toward a group of boys playing in the schoolyard.
“I’ll be back at three,” Bernie shouted as he nudged Blaze into motion again.
He had a couple errands but wanted most to hurry back to the farm. He looked forward to a day on the farm with Janelle. He missed her on the days she worked in town, but could see a satisfaction in her attitude that she now contributed in a tangible way to the operation of her farm. She balked at his showing up with food, materials or equipment that a stranger shouldn’t have to provide – especially one that was hired on. But his funds were dwindling and soon he’d have to go looking for work that paid wages.
Heaven help him. He didn’t want to leave. Janelle and her son had captured his heart and if he didn’t think she’d bring out the gun, he’d ask her to marry him. Nothing would please him more than settling in Wyoming with this fiery woman. She confused him more often than not, her actions conflicting with her words. A man never could nail down where he stood with the woman. Perhaps he’d be bold enough before he pulled out to just blurt out his proposal. The most that
