Chapter 6 #2
“Nothing more to say?” He halted the wagon before the dwelling. “Too late. We’re here.” He jumped to the ground and reached up to help her.
“I am not getting down.” She crossed her arms and stared at the trees as if assessing them as a direction of escape.
“Maybe you should use the outhouse and have some fresh water.” Would his words placate her?
“I’d sooner die of thirst, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” He turned to greet the men who crowded around the wagon. They barely acknowledged him.
“Lady like to come have tea?” The cowboy’s invitation included a wave toward the house. He was nudged aside by the hunter.
“Maybe you’d like the fine furs I has.” The man fingered a foxtail hanging from his hat. “Make you a nice collar.”
Dianne’s nose twitched, though no one else noticed as they studied her.
“Ignore those two.” The agent pushed them aside. “This here is my place. Why not come have a look-see?”
She brought her gaze around, and eyes like hot coals burned in Jace’s direction.
He hesitated a moment, enjoying her uncertainty, then uncoiled his arms and returned to the wagon. “Guess we’ll be moving on.”
The three men tore their attention from Dianne to the sky.
“Getting late. Be dark ’fore you reach Golden Valley,” the agent observed.
“Trail is hard to follow in the dark. Dangerous even.” The trapper gave a sad headshake.
“Sure would hate to think of ya stranded on the road.” The cowboy’s face drooped in concern, although his eyes had a feral look to them.
Jace climbed to the wagon seat. “We’ll be fine.”
“Good Lord willin’.” The trapper’s dire words sent a shudder across Jace’s shoulders.
As they drove away, he murmured to Dianne, “Sure hope your prayers work at getting us to town safely.”
They traveled a mile before air whooshed from her, and she relaxed. “Were you really going to leave me there?”
“With three hungry men? What do you think?”
“I think,” she spoke slowly as if considering her words. “You don’t want to be bothered with us. Concerns me what you’ll do when you tire of it.”
Yes, she was a bother, continually suggesting he should return to the ranch, challenging him about trusting God, and needing a ride because she failed to stay with the stagecoach.
But he wasn’t a bad person. He wouldn’t do anything that put her in danger.
“What would you expect me to do when I reach that point you mention?”
“Leave me with three scary-looking men.”
He ground his teeth. “If I’m such a nasty person, why do you want me to join you on the ranch?” Which he had no intention of doing despite her continued onslaught.
“I—” She opened her mouth and clicked it shut without speaking.
He chuckled. “Exactly. It’s not possible not to trust me and still act like I am exactly what you want…need.”
Her answering scowl knotted her brows together.
And made him laugh again.
She pursed her lips, then covered her mouth. Her eyes flashed.
“Are you laughing?”
She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.
“I thought you were angry.” Surprise made his words loud.
“I was. No, I am. Except I’m not.” Confusion darkened her eyes. She shook her head. “I don’t know what I am except anxious to reach my new home.”
“Don’t say it again. I’m not going to change my mind. And don’t raise your eyebrows as if you know I will.” Chet had considered Jace stubborn. His attitude didn’t hold a candle to Dianne’s.
He needed to change the subject. “How did you meet your husband?”
A content smile curved her lips. “The first time I saw him was in the store where he was purchasing something. I can’t even remember what.
Guess I didn’t pay attention. He was handsome.
” She shot Jace a starry-eyed glance, then turned her attention to Eddie.
The boy played in the back, amusing himself on a trip that was boring for a child.
“Eddie has his looks. He’ll grow into a handsome man. ”
“Handsome is as handsome does.” Why had he uttered those words? It sounded critical, which he didn’t mean to be. “My pa said that often.”
Traces of her smile lingered. “I agree. I hope I can teach him to be kind, truthful, and industrious.”
At the way she jerked her attention to him, he sighed. Here it comes again. The need for him to run the ranch so she and Eddie would have a home. No doubt she expected him to teach Eddie the things he needed to know about being a man. Like Pa had taught Jace. And Chet had carried on when Pa died.
He would not think of Chet.
Why did Dianne constantly remind him of the man?
How many times and in how many ways would he have to say no to her demand to return to the ranch?
She glanced past him. “This road is narrow in many places, and there are scary drop-offs.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Will we reach town before it’s too dark to see?”
Good. He appreciated the change of topic.
“We’ll do our best.” Darkness was a real concern on this narrow, winding road, but he was going as fast as was safe.
Many corners could not be taken at a trot.
Besides, the horses hadn’t had any relief, not like the ones pulling the stagecoach that were spelled off every ten miles or so.
They had at least eight miles to go before they reached town, and already dark shadows obscured many places in the trail.
The sun hovered at the top of the mountains.
It would soon dip out of sight. They might have an hour after that before he couldn’t see well enough to continue.
Was there a full moon tonight? When had he last taken note of anything in the sky?
It was long enough ago he couldn’t remember what phase the moon was in.
“If you believe in prayer, now would be a good time to ask for safety.” He barely finished speaking when the wagon hit a hole and bounced hard enough almost to throw her from her seat.
He jammed his feet to the front and held on.
“Eddie!”
At the fear in her voice, Jace gripped the reins harder. Please, God. Let the boy be safe. He glanced back just as Eddie staggered forward to grip Dianne’s hands.
The wheels rattled to the ground. They landed too close to the edge of the road. The wagon’s back corner tipped.
“Lord, help us!” Dianne yelled, clinging to Eddie as she clutched the seat to keep from being thrown out.
Jace gritted his teeth.
The wheels slid toward the abyss.