Chapter Twelve
L evi didn’t miss the look on his sisters’ faces. They’d long been looking forward to their arrival at Fort Bridger. Nothing but two crude, rough-hewn log houses, maybe forty feet in length, joined by a pen for horses. The post was a disappointment. Not nearly as well outfitted as Fort John had been, Laramie was almost luxurious in comparison, but at least they had a blacksmith here.
While the twins bore identical features, their temperaments couldn’t have been more opposite. Victoria, the elder by five minutes, as she often reminded them, always saw the cup as half full. Mary Alice would say it’s half empty. She’s the one he’d have to make see reason.
With Lucy and Fallon at his side, Walker preceded them into the trading post. Following suit, Levi held onto his sisters and led them inside. “Purchase what we need. I’m going to inquire about procuring some new oxen. The horses need shoeing, too.”
“I sincerely doubt this place has anything we need.” Her hand resting on a burlap grain sack, Mary Alice surveyed the wares on display and slowly shook her head.
“You’re a bit late, Missy. Weather’ll be turnin’ soon, so most travelers have already passed through.” Skin weathered, his cheekbones high and prominent, a rugged-looking man leaned over from behind a rudimentary counter. “Pickings might be slim, but we got provisions for ya. Cornmeal, beans, bacon, and the like. Where y’all headed?”
“California.”
The man responded with a quick burst of laughter until a warning glance from Walker silenced him.
Her chin held high, Mary Alice put the man in his place. “Do I amuse you, Mister, uh…?”
“Name’s Bridger. Jim Bridger,” he said, contrite, with a tip of his hat. “And no, ma’am, not at all.”
“I have a list, Mr. Bridger,” Victoria cut in, sliding it over to him on the counter. “I’d be much obliged if you could get these items ready for me.”
“I’ll do my best, Miss.”
Walker pulled him off to the side, leaving his daughters and Levi’s sisters to browse the goods on hand. “This is where you’ve got to set your course, son.”
“I’m aware of that, Josiah.”
“You know what yer gonna do?”
Ain’t got a fucking clue . Glancing down at the dirt floor, he rubbed the back of his neck.
“A little advice?” A gnarled hand came down to rest upon his shoulder. “Gather your people after supper, pass around a bottle of whiskey, and talk to ‘em. You’ll figure it out.”
“They’re not gonna listen to me.”
“Some will, some won’t. There’s strength in numbers, but not every man follows the same path. You get me?”
And nodding, Levi sighed. “Yeah.”
“I can help you talk to ‘em if you like.”
“I would, and there’s another matter I want to discuss with you.”
The left corner of his mouth subtly rose as he propped a hip against the wall. “I’m listenin’.”
“In private.”
Perhaps Levi hadn’t yet chosen his path, but wherever it led, Lucy was going with him. Because that’s the only thing he was sure of. When they left Fort Bridger, she’d be leaving as his wife.
“All right, then.” Turning toward the counter, he chuckled. “Jim, we’re camped just outside. We’ll be back in the mornin’ to settle up. C’mon, girls.”
Walker held the door open for his daughters. Levi and his sisters left behind them. Trapper’s lodgings, shabbily constructed of poles dabbed with mud, along with several teepees, dotted the surrounding landscape. The mountain man nodded over his shoulder. “They’ll have a good supply of skins, coats, and moccasins to trade.”
“Trade for what?”
“Coffee. Flour. Sugar.” Walker stopped dead in his tracks. “A horse. A cow. A woman. You’ll give ‘em whatever they want if you wanna survive the winter.”
Levi let Victoria and Mary Alice walk ahead of him and lowered his voice. “A woman? That’s absurd.”
“Don’t you worry none. There ain’t a Shoshone or Bannock here itchin’ to get their hands on yer girls. To them, a good horse holds more value,” he said with a shrug. “But a trapper’s life can be a lonely one. I’m sure plenty of ‘em would be glad to trade for a wife.”
“Over my dead body.”
“And that’s what you’ll be, young man. Your sisters, too.” The mountain man poked Levi’s chest as he spoke, driving his point home. “All of you are gonna end up dead unless you get that head outta yer ass and listen to what I’m tellin’ ya.”
“I’m listening.”
“When the girls are busy fixin’ supper, I’ll come find you. We can talk more, then.”
Surely Josiah wasn’t serious, was he? What in the hell could lie ahead that would force a man to resort to such a desperate, savage act? Levi couldn’t imagine trading his sister for a buffalo hide. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he did.
The twins stood before the fire, tending to a pot of stew. Though the cost of goods at the post was exorbitant, they splurged on beef, potatoes, and fresh vegetables to have a generous supper. Cash, they had, but the traders outside the fort had little use for it.
Levi scanned the camp for Lucy, and not seeing her, went around to the back of the wagon, taking stock of what was left of their meager possessions.
“Walk with me.”
It wasn’t until they reached the soapstone bank of the river that the mountain man finally spoke. He sat on a log, a bottle of whiskey in his hand, looking out at the flowing water to the rolling sage-covered vista beyond. “My wife was Shoshone. Her people call this river Seeds-kee-dee-agie . The Prairie Hen River. It’s too late for you to turn back, and you ain’t gonna make it over those mountains in time. That leaves you with two choices.”
“What are they?”
“Bridger might take y’all in for the winter. You could set off again come spring. Would come at a hefty price, and one I don’t think yer willin’ to pay.” He slugged down some whiskey, then exhaled with a sigh. “That’s not what I see for you, though.”
Almost afraid to hear the answer, Levi asked, “And the other?”
“Do you believe in visions?”
His head cocked, he took the bottle from the old man’s hand.
“Dreams, Levi.”
“Can’t say that I do.” And he drank, the fiery liquid burning a hole in his gullet.
“Follow the Seeds-kee-dee-agie north.” Josiah squeezed his knee, and then he stood. “That’s where you’ll find it.”
“Find what?”
He smiled. “Home.”
Maizie’s bakery was his first stop this morning. He’d ordered the cake weeks ago, lemon and a touch of elderflower cordial, frosted in a Swiss meringue buttercream, lavished with candy pearls and sweet flower petals in all the spring colors she loved.
Eighteen. It’s not a big number, but it is an important one.
And Jake wanted everything to be perfect.
Armed with a bouquet of blooms and her favorite breakfast of scrambled eggs, maple sausage, and blueberry pancakes from the town diner, he knocked on the painted wood door.
Her hair in a loose pile on top of her head, dressed in grubby old sweatpants and a t-shirt three sizes too big, Emily’s eyes opened wide when she saw him. “Jake?”
“I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“Would you look at me?” She glanced down at her attire. “I’m a mess.”
Oh, I’m lookin’, and you’re a beautiful sight .
“It’s your birthday, sleepyhead.” With his hands full, he couldn’t sweep her into his arms like he wanted to and kissed the silky-soft skin of her cheek instead. “You wanna waste away the day in bed?”
Brow raised, the corners of her lips twitched.
“What are you doin’ here this early, Jacob Gantry?” She finally grinned, and relieving him of the flowers, Emily took a sniff. “They’re so pretty.”
“I couldn’t go to work without seein’ my girl first to wish her a happy birthday, now could I?”
“You did that at midnight.”
True. He could’ve been here in person when the clock struck twelve—any other man waiting as long as he had likely would have. But Jake wanted to give his brother one last evening alone with her. The coming year was going to be a difficult one for him.
“FaceTime don’t count.” He followed Emily into the sun-filled kitchen, setting down the bags from the diner. “And I wanted to have breakfast with you.”
“You brought me Harry’s?”
“Sure did.”
“Blueberry pancakes?”
“It’s your favorite, ain’t it?”
“Oh, look,” she squealed, opening the to-go container. “They’re shaped like hearts.”
Emily got up on her tiptoes. Soft lips sweeping across his jaw, he put his arms around her. It felt so good to hold her close that he never wanted to let go. Then he remembered, he didn’t have to anymore.
His hands sliding up her back, Jake held Emily against him. He reached her nape, and fingers slipping into her hair, he pulled out the clip. As fragrant wildflower waves tumbled down in disarray, his lips brushed over hers. How he’d hungered for their delicate sweetness. How he’d longed to feel their pillowy softness touch his own.
Gazing into enchanting green eyes with her beautiful face in his hands, the organ in his chest beat a thunderous tattoo. Her lips parted. Jake brought her mouth to his. And the moment he kissed her only affirmed what he already knew.
He loved this woman.
One kiss. That’s all it took. Fingers sinking into the back of his neck, Emily gripped him tighter and slung her legs around his waist. Jake sat her on top of the island, and, pressing in even closer, his cock lurched in his jeans. Sweet essence from her tongue infused him, imprinting her in every cell of his body. He breathed her in, her breath giving him life as if he’d only been a shell of himself until now.
This girl. This amazing, beautiful, wondrous soul was the reason Everleigh Clary and her sister never had a chance, why his college years left him empty, and aching, and wanting. Hit with the fact that Emily made him whole in a way he couldn’t have comprehended before had him reeling.
It’s only a kiss .
Still, Jake could keenly imagine how completely lost in her he’d be once he touched every square inch of skin. Tasted her. Made love to her.
Jesus, he was fucked.
This is what put Levi on his path.
Why Matthew Brooks risked it all.
It’s what turned Tanner into a heartsick puppy and Kellan a feral dog.
Absolute love .
Just the thought of losing it could drive a man mad.
“I love you, Emily.” With her face nuzzled against his neck, Jake’s fingers sifted through her hair. “Happy birthday.”
The hardest part of his test was over now.
But for Billy, it was just beginning.