Deborah Camp (15 page)

Copper nodded. “Take off your hat, why don’t you.”

Tucker pushed the hood back off his head and ran a hand roughly through his hair.

“Hey there, partner. That’s a fine rack you’ve got growin’ out of your back,” McCall said around a mouthful of square teeth.

Copper giggled and lifted a hand to hide her own smile. Feeling like a damned fool, Tucker struggled out of the straps that held the moose antlers against him. He managed to free himself before McCall could straighten and cross to him.

“Oh, you’ve got it. I was going to give you a hand.”

“Don’t need your hand,” Tucker said, hearing the testiness in his voice but defenseless against it. He dropped the antlers and went to stand before the hearth. He held out his hands, which felt cold and stiff.

“Copper says you’re a Union man.”

Tucker nodded.

“They’re sayin’ at the trading posts that the Union is going to win.”

Tucker nodded again. He didn’t want to talk to the man. He wanted to talk to Copper and ask her what Micah meant to her. Was she sweet on him? Was all that talk about not needing a man just a bunch of bull? He stared at the splint on his leg and decided that it was one thing he could change.

Sitting on the hearth, Tucker took his knife from his belt and sawed at the leather thongs holding the splints in place.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Copper demanded.

“I’m taking this damn thing off. My leg’s well enough.” He hacked at the last strip of leather.

“You can take it off if you promise to keep using
your walking stick for the next few weeks. Your leg is still weak. You could break the bone again if you put too much weight on it.”

“I don’t need your permission and I don’t have to make you any promises.”

McCall cleared his throat and backed toward the door. “Say there’s a turkey to be plucked out here? I’d be most happy to oblige. I’ll have it ready in two wags of a goat’s tail and then we can roast that bird for dinner.”

Copper sent Micah a smile of gratitude, and he escaped the tense atmosphere of the cabin. She put the sleeping baby in the cradle and laced the front of her shirt before facing Tucker again. Her eyes glowed with banked resentment.

“You have something to say to me, Tucker Jones, then say it. Get it off your chest before Micah comes back in. There’s no need to submit him to your foul mood.” When he only glared at her, his jaw rock hard, she propped her hands at her hips and glared back at him. “You’re steaming because I put my child in your arms for a few minutes? Like I said before, make up your—”

“That’s not why I’m … I don’t care about that.”

“Then what?” she goaded, tapping an impatient foot against the stone floor.

“Who is that man? What is he to you?”

“I told you. He’s a good friend.”

“You wrap your legs around all your friends?”

She angled her chin at a defiant angle. “Who are you to question my behavior? I can wrap my legs around a grizzly bear if I’ve a mind to. I was glad to see him. It’s been a long while.”

“Sure he’s not the baby’s father?” Tucker wished he could eat the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.

Copper advanced on him with frosty purpose. Without wasting a second, she slapped him hard across the cheek, the impact turning his head. Stunned, he slowly brought his face around to her
again, and again, her palm connected with his cheek. Anger churned up into his chest. Tucker balled his hands at his sides and felt his lips tremble with pent-up rage, but something inside told him he deserved worse treatment.

“I am many things,” Copper said, her voice trembling, her eyes as dark and impenetrable as any Indian’s. “But one thing I am not is a whore.” She stepped back from him. “And I won’t let you treat me like one.” As she pivoted sharply, her long braid flew out and slapped his chest. She wrenched open the door and joined Micah outside.

After supper Tucker excused himself, saying he wanted to stretch his legs and commune with nature. Micah stuffed turkey feathers into the cradle pillow. Using bleached wool, Copper knitted a baby shawl for Valor.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Copper said, angling her chin toward the cabin door. “He’s not usually so unpleasant. He got along great guns with Gus.”

“How
is
that old geezer?”

Copper smiled. “Ornery as ever. He’ll be glad to hear you’re back to this life. What happened to your woman, Micah?”

“Oh, she lit out one night. Guess she missed her people. We didn’t get along all that well.”

“Are you married to her?”

“Not legal married. I traded for her. As my ma used to say, I drove my cattle to a bad market.” He grinned and Copper laughed lightly. “Gosh durn it, it sure is good to see you again. I didn’t know how much I missed you until I saw your hair glowing like a setting sun. I’m glad the baby came out all right. Birthin’ can take it out of a woman.”

“I was weak for a few days, but I had Tucker to wait on me.”

“How long is he staying?”

“Until spring.”

“Then what?”

She shrugged. “I told him I’d guide him to the fort or wherever he wants to go.”

“I saw Goose Down Woman last week.”

Copper dropped a stitch. She gripped the porcupine quill needles and wool in her lap and knew her face reflected the happiness she felt. “And? How is she? Did you see Much Smoke, too?”

Sorrow shadowed his blue eyes. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Much Smoke died two months ago.”

Warm tears collected in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. “How?”

“Age. Goose Down Woman said he died in his sleep. She woke up and he’d already crossed over to the other side. River Walker is the tribe’s medicine man now.”

Copper rubbed the tears from her eyes, but more came. “River Walker is a fair man, but he doesn’t have big medicine or great wisdom. He can’t take Much Smoke’s place.”

“Neither could Stands Tall.”

“No, he was all big talk and little medicine. At least River Walker isn’t cruel. Stands Tall used his power to lord it over everyone.”

“I was hopin’ you’d forgotten him and was ready for a good man.”

“I have Valor and she’s all I want.” She picked up her knitting again.

“I didn’t say anything about it before, but when I was at the fort I heard some officers talkin’ about Tucker Jones.”

“What were they saying?”

“That some say he’s dead, but others aren’t so sure. The officers were askin’ questions, tryin’ to find out if anyone had seen him lately. They’re thinkin’ he might have deserted, although the rumor is that he’s dead and buried. I saw his grave outside. Guess that’s your doin’.”

“It’s for the Gros Ventre. They were snooping around here looking for trouble. I put up that marker to shoo them off.”

“He might bring you a heap of misery, Copper.”

“He’s earned his keep so far.”

“I would have stayed to see you through hell itself if you had let me.”

She nodded. “He asks nothing but passage come spring. You wanted more than that, Micah, and I’m not blaming you for it. I just didn’t want to give what you wanted.”

“He wants the same as me, Copper. Any fool can see that by the way he looks at you.”

A tremble swept through her, making it impossible to continue her knitting. She let her hands fall limply into her lap and stared at the hungry fire in the hearth. She’d seen the same flames leaping in Tucker’s eyes when she’d breastfed Valor in the cave. She’d also felt the sting of his anger. How could he have spoken so cruelly to her earlier?

“Can’t blame him, Copper. You’re a handsome woman. Any man would be sorely tempted. When you refused me, I honored your decision and took myself off. I’m not sure he’ll be as gentlemanly, Copper. He might force you to do something—”

“No.” She shook her head. “We’ve talked about it. He understands that I’m not looking for a man. He gave me his word I wouldn’t have any trouble from him that way.”

“You think he’s honorable?”

“Yes.” She shifted her gaze to his. Her heart told her to dismiss the earlier confrontation with Tucker. That had been his foolishness talking, she thought, but her pride still stung. “He strives to do what’s right and what’s good. I’ve seen it in him. Lately, he’s been out of sorts because he wants his full health back.” She knew she was making excuses for him.

“Wasn’t too gentlemanly around me. I guess he’s jealous of me.”

“Jealous? You really think so?”

Micah put aside the pillow and leaned his elbows on his knees. His eyes searched her face. “You don’t? He was itchin’ to knock me into next week when he saw you kissing me hello. Didn’t you see the smoke pourin’ out of his ears?”

Copper mulled this thought over, wondering if it might explain his hateful words. Men acted strange when their hearts were involved. Heart? She laughed lightly. No, not his heart. His man’s organ. That’s what made him as cheerful as a cut bull. “His sap’s up, that’s all. I could be as ugly as sin and he’d still be interested.”

“Don’t trade yourself for a handful of beads, Copper. You’re a fine-lookin’ woman, like I said. I’ve been out and about, and I haven’t seen a woman who could hold a candle to you.”

She concentrated on her knitting again. “How long will you be visiting?”

“A day or two, then I’m going up to Gus’. I might bunk in with him the rest of the winter.”

“He’s getting old. He could sure use a younger back and a sharper eye around the place. Of course, he’d never admit to that.” She stared at the fire for a minute as memories danced through her mind. “Micah, how did Goose Down Woman look? Older?”

“Some. She asked about you, and I told her you were about to give birth. She made me promise to come back soon and tell her about your baby.”

Copper’s heart soared. “She spoke my name? Even though it’s forbidden?”

“Not your name, but I knew who she was talkin’ about.”

His answer clipped her heart’s wings. “Well, at least she hasn’t completely forgotten me.”

“Oh, Copper. You know she won’t ever forget
you. Could you forget your child? Even the first one?”

“No, never. I’ll never forget.”

“Goose Down Woman is no different. She raised you. You’re her daughter just as surely as if she’d given birth to you. No matter how many tribal leaders tell her that you never existed, she’ll never close her mind and heart to you.”

Copper stared at the wool yarn and crude knitting needles. Goose Down Woman had taught her to knit, had taught her everything she’d needed to survive. “I miss her. Sometimes I want to see her so bad that I ache. She turned her back on me. I never thought she would, but she did. She and Much Smoke. I reached out to them, begged them not to let the others chase me out, but they turned their backs on me.”

“They had to, or they would’ve been kicked out, too.”

“I was never one of them. Not really. I tried, but they never fully accepted me.”

“They were afraid of you.”

She wiped angry tears from her eyes. “Maybe. Maybe they felt they should have killed me when I was a child.”

“Well, I’m mighty glad they didn’t.” He reached out one big paw and covered her hands. “You want me to tell her about Valor if I see her again?”

“Yes, tell her that I have a girl child and I will never turn her out, that I will always love her and take care of her. Tell her, Micah.”

“I will, but you have to promise me you’ll let these bad feelings go before they turn your heart to stone. You’re too good a woman to carry around such bitterness.”

“You don’t think I have a right to be bitter?”

“Yeah, sure, but it only eats you up and makes you miserable.” He lifted one of her hands and pressed her knuckles to his wind-chapped lips. “I’d be so good to you, Copper.”

“Micah, I—”

The door rattled and abruptly flew open. Tucker stood silhouetted on the threshold. For a few moments the chilly air scampered in and made the fire in the hearth hiss and spark before Tucker finally moved inside and shut the door. He shook snow off his shoulders and hair.

“Y’all want me to sleep out in the stables tonight?”

Copper sighed, aggravated by his put-upon attitude. She eased her hands from beneath Micah’s. “And why should you?”

“He’s staying the night, isn’t he?” Tucker asked, barely acknowledging the guest.

“He is, but you didn’t bed with the ponies when Gus slept over.” She took up her knitting again. “Snowing outside?”

“Just started.”

“Micah has told me that Union officers are still nosing around for you.”

He cast a worried glare at Micah. “That so?”

Micah nodded. “It’s generally believed you’re dead, but Crazy Clint told me that some Union men think you might have deserted. By spring I figure they’ll have marked you off. Nothing to worry about. I’d be more concerned about the Gros Ventre, if I were you.”

Copper bent over her knitting, loathe to admit that Micah was right.

“Is that so?” Tucker asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Micah had brought a sack of fresh beans and the strong, hot brew had tasted better than whiskey to Tucker.

“Everybody knows the Gros Ventre are trouble,” Micah said. “Take Feet Like Wind. There’s a snake. He loves to raid camps, kill men, rape women. He’s got no morals.”

“I wonder if he was one of the Indians who attacked us.”

Copper didn’t look up from the scalloped collar she was knitting. “He counted coup on you.”

“Holy Moses!” Micah sat forward. “Copper, was he one of them snoopin’ around here?”

She nodded, and Micah fell back as if he’d been punched. He flattened one hand to his forehead and stared at her as if she’d grown horns.

“What’s going on?” Tucker asked, sipping the coffee and looking from Micah to Copper for an explanation. Micah finally shifted his gaze to him.

“Partner, you don’t want to be hunted by Feet Like Wind. He’s meaner than the devil.”

“He hasn’t been back since he saw the grave,” Copper said, flicking her gaze warningly at Micah. “The danger has passed.”

“Girl, you better hope that grave put him off the scent.” Micah pinned her with stern blue eyes. “If he thinks you’ve got his prize hidden in here, he’ll burn you out and hang your carcass out to dry. You know he will, Copper.” Micah looked at Tucker again. “Hope you understand the woe you’ve placed on this girl.”