“It’s one of theirs?” Ryker’s flinty features gleamed with vicious glee. “And here I was ready to light a shuck.”
Nate waded the stream, pulling the horse after him. That the Blackfeet let him take it surprised him. Horses were immensely valuable to them, the most prized possessions of any warrior.
“They must have followed us without us catching on,” Ryker said.
“I think they got here ahead of us.”
“How? They didn’t beat us through the pass or we would have seen sign.” Ryker scanned the forest, his thumb on his rifle’s hammer. “Not that it matters.Just so they show themselves. I aim to blow out their wicks, every last one of the bastards.”
Nate passed him. “Cover me,” he said, and quick-stepped toward the cabin. Ryker backed along after him. Aggie and Anora were almost there, Aggie carrying the pot Anora brought to the stream.
Nate was surprised that no war whoops pierced the gloom and arrows didn’t whiz out of the air. At the cabin he handed the reins to Ryker. “Wait with the others until I get back. Don’t let anyone come outside.”
“Where will you be?”
“Prowling around,” Nate said. But not on horseback. The dense brush made it too easy to be picked off. Sprinting around the corner, Nate angled into the woods. He was in among the trees before a feathered shaft or heavy lance could find him. Crouching, he scoured the undergrowth. If the Blackfeet were there, they blended in so well they were invisible.
Working his way with consummate care, Nate headed toward the junction of the high cliff walls. The forest was as dark and quiet as ever. He searched for tracks, human or animal, but didn’t find any. That in itself was peculiar. There should be wildlife, what with the stream. If he didn’t know better, he would think the wild things shunned the valley.
“Mr. King! Mr. King! Where are you?”
Nate drew up short. That was Tyne. He had told Ryker not to let anyone venture outdoors. Reluctantly, he pivoted on a heel and jogged back. She was a good twenty feet from the cabin, alone and unarmed, as defenseless as a fawn. “You shouldn’t be out here.”
“Mother and Father sent me to find you. Aunt Philberta has come around, and Mother wants you to hear what she has to say.”
“Where’s Ryker?”
“Mr. Ryker found a bottle in one of the cupboards. He is at the table, drinking.”
Nate’s blood boiled. Taking her hand, he ushered her inside, making sure to close the door after them. On a blanket on the other side of the room lay Philberta, Peter and Erleen on their knees beside her. Anora was making tea. Aunt Aggie, Fitch and Harper whispered together in one corner.
Ryker was at the other end of the table, and had just taken a swig. Smiling crookedly, he beckoned. “Care for a sip? It’s brandy, not whiskey, but it goes down smooth just the same.”
Nate walked over and did the last thing Ryker expected.
He hit him.
Tale of Woe
Nate King was seething mad. He’d seen too many people die because they were careless. All it took was one mistake. He was doubly incensed because Ryker had lived in the Rockies almost as long as he had and was well aware of the dangers. Yet Ryker let Tyne go out by herself.
But as mad as Nate was, he didn’t hit Ryker in the mouth, or even the face. He hit him in the chest. The blow sent Ryker tumbling from the bench.
“Mr. King!” Erleen cried.
Cursing, Ryker scrambled to his feet. “What the hell was that for?”
“I told you not to let anyone go out.”
Ryker blinked, then glanced at Tyne. “I told them not to. But her mother sent her to find you.”
“Why didn’t you come look for me instead?”
“The mother asked the girl. I’m not their nurse-maid. If they won’t listen, it’s on their shoulders.”
Nate would have torn into him again if not for Aunt Aggie. Suddenly she was between them, her hand on Nate’s chest.
“No more. Please. It’s upsetting everyone.”
The Woodrows were appalled by the violence. Erleen had her hand to her throat. Anora was wringing her hands. Peter wore a stern look of disapproval. But what cut Nate the deepest was the bewilderment on Tyne’s face. He stepped back. “Sorry,” he said—to them, not to Ryker.
“My word!” Erleen exclaimed. “That was uncalled for. You acted like a savage.”
Nate directed his anger at her. “When will you get it through your head? This isn’t Pennsylvania. You can’t let Tyne go wandering out alone.”
“I only sent her to call you. She wasn’t to go far, and we are right here.”
Nate shook his head in disgust. Some people were too thickheaded for their own good. He was about to say as much when when Philberta stirred and groaned. The rest quickly gathered around her, with the lone exception of Ryker. He sat on the bench and glared.
Nate went over to the others.
Philberta had opened her eyes and was gazing about in confusion. She licked her thick lips with the pink tip of her tongue, then weakly said, “Where? What?”
Erleen gently squeezed her hand. “Everything is all right. You are in your cabin in the Rockies. Peter and I came to find you after we hadn’t heard from you for so long.”
“Erleen? Is it really you?”
“It’s really and truly us. All of us. We brought the whole family. Plus my sister.”
“Agatha too?”
It could be Nate’s imagination but Philberta didn’t sound happy about Aggie being there.
“She’s always been fond of Sully. You know that. She was gracious enough to foot the bill for much of the cost for our expedition.”
Philberta’s eyes roved the half circle of anxious faces and fixed on Agatha. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome, dear.”
Peter bent low. “Tell us. Where is my brother? Why aren’t Sully and your boys here?”
“Give me a minute,” Philberta said. “I can’t think straight. I am all confused.”
Nate didn’t see what she had to be confused about. To him, she was stalling. But then, his wife always said he had a suspicious nature.
“Take your time,” Erleen told her. “We are here for you. Whatever you want, you only have to ask.”
“I can’t believe all of you have come so far on our behalf.”
Peter said, “The Woodrows stick by one another, come what may. Sully would be there for me if I needed help.” He gripped her wrist. “Where is he?”
Erleen, appalled, slapped her husband’s arm. “Let go of her! Can’t you see she is in a bad way? The poor dear has been through some sort of ordeal.”
“That I have,” Philberta said softly. “An ordeal such as none of you could possibly conceive.”
“Enlighten us,” Aunt Aggie said.
“I lost a baby.”
Nate was as shocked as the Woodrows. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ryker chuckle, and he almost went over to hit him again.
“A baby!” Erleen exclaimed. “Philberta! At your age?”
“I know, I know. It’s been fourteen years since our last. Since Blayne was born. We certainly didn’t want any more. But shortly after Sully finished building our cabin, I found I was in the family way. I was scared, terribly scared, as I wouldn’t have a doctor or even a midwife to attend me.”
“I don’t blame you. I would have been scared too.”
“But Sully was confident everything would be fine. You should have seen him. So caring. So devoted.”
“That’s my brother for you,” Peter said proudly.
Philberta wanly smiled. “But confidence isn’t always enough. Especially when we started to go hungry.”
“What are you talking about?” Peter asked. “Sully is the best hunter I know.”
“He never had trouble keeping food on our table back in Pennsylvania, that’s for sure,” Philberta replied. “There was so much game. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, grouse, pheasant, woodchucks.” She paused. “But it turned out not to be the same here.”