Shelter in Seattle (10 page)

Panic clawed at his throat, and he whirled to run to the house. Still holding the pitchfork, Caleb raced out of the barn door. His heart seemed to leap from his chest in sheer terror. Never had he heard such raw fear rip from a woman’s throat.

Julianne screamed again and again.

Chapter 11

Fear, stark and vivid, clutched at Julianne’s throat, and she tightened her hold on Jonathan. The rattling from the corner continued ominously.

 The snake’s beady eyes stared at her, and its forked tongue flickered in and out of its mouth. Its body coiled on the floor as the snake raised its head. The rattlers sang in the hot still air.

With every shake of its thick massive tail, Julianne screamed. She couldn’t stop the sound from erupting from her tight throat.

Jonathan’s cries joined hers.

She began to ease the sheet around her body, moving Jonathan to her back and out of the way of immediate danger.

The snake advanced towards her. It weaved its diamond-shaped head from side to side. The yellow slits in its eyes brightened.

Julianne backed into a kitchen chair. Roaring started in her ears and blackness threatened to over take her. She fought the weakness of her knees. She couldn’t faint. She had to protect Jonathan.

The snake’s head came further off the floor. It opened its mouth, and two white sharp fangs threatened her.

“Caleb!” She screamed his name. Her throat felt raw from the force of her scream.

The door slammed against the wall with a force that shook the cabin. The snake turned with a speed that shocked both Julianne and Caleb.

She stopped screaming. Caleb was there. She saw the pitchfork in his hands, but the snake moved so quickly toward Caleb that there was no time to utter a warning.

The snake focused its eyes on Caleb.

Julianne’s mouth went dry, and her head began to swim. Then a quick and disturbing thought shook her to the core. What if the snake bit Caleb? The thought tore at her insides. Her heart contracted.

The snake’s coils slithered around on the floor. Its tail rattled a warning, and its head came up to strike. Only this time, Caleb was its target.

With as minimal movement as possible, Julianne leaned back against the table till she felt Jonathan’s weight rest upon it. She jerked the tied corners of the sheet from around her neck. Gently, she pushed him to the center of the table so that he wouldn’t roll off. With the baby’s safety secured, she assessed the situation to see how she could help Caleb.

The snake’s head waved in the air.

“Don’t move.” Caleb instructed.

Movement had caused the snake to turn on Caleb and movement would distract it from Caleb, too. Julianne prayed she was right. She grabbed the chair behind her and threw it on the floor at the snake.

The snake turned and struck at the chair.

Caleb drove the pitchfork through the snake’s head.

Julianne gasped.

The snake’s body twitched on the kitchen floor. Julianne felt Caleb’s gaze skim her body.

“Are you and Jonathan okay?”

Suddenly no sound would come from her throat. She nodded.

Tears tumbled unbidden down her face. She ran to Caleb and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“There, there.” He enveloped her in his arms and rubbed her back. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anything hurt you, Julianne.”

She sobbed into his chest and held on to him. Safety. That’s what she craved. And with Caleb’s strong arms around her, Julianne felt more secure than she’d ever felt in her life.

Her tears were ruining his shirt, but she couldn’t stop their flow. She tightened her grip around him. If only she could stay here forever. If only all her fears could be dispelled as easily as the snake had been killed.

Jonathan cried all the louder. His protests at being left alone intensified. Julianne sighed. She had to care for the baby, but oh, how she longed to stay right where she was.

She moved to pull from his arms. “The baby needs me,” she offered, when he didn’t release her.

“The baby is safe.” He paused then added, “I need you, too.”

She felt him rest his chin on her head. A deep sigh eased from his lungs. Had he held his breath the whole time he faced down the snake? Julianne felt sure he had.

His body trembled around her. Julianne inched her hands up his back and rubbed his shoulders, and for the first time, they took comfort from each other.

Jonathan seemed to realize the danger was over and quieted. He had cried so hard he had the snubs.

Julianne enjoyed the feel of being safe in Caleb’s arms. She replayed the last few minutes through her mind and shuddered. What if Caleb hadn’t been home? Or God forbid, if the snake had bitten him, what would she have done without him?

He slowly released her. “I’ll get the snake out of here, and then we’ll head to the stream. I could use the fresh air.”

She watched him move to the snake and pull the pitchfork out of its head. Another shudder ran through her. Julianne forced herself to really look at the snake now that it no longer moved.

From the top of its nose to its tail it was about two and a half feet long, Julianne guessed. Its body was tan and dark brown zigzags marked its body. The head was diamond shape, and her stomach turned at the memory of the evil in its yellow eyes.

Julianne stored the information for future use. Caleb carried the snake outside. She hurried to the table and scooped little Jonathan back up. It was her job to protect the baby, and for the second time in two days, she’d almost let him come to harm. She silently prayed and asked the Lord to help her be a better mother to her adopted son.

Her gaze moved to the basket that the clothes and snake had been in. She slipped the cover containing Jonathan back over her head and took a deep breath. Still, her feet refused to move toward the discarded items.

Caleb stood in the doorway. “Let me get that for you.”

She watched him upturn the hamper and pick up each individual piece of clothing and place them inside.

“I don’t think there are any more snakes.” He flipped up the basket and turned toward her.

Julianne stared at him. Caleb Hanson, her husband, had saved her from the snake. He hadn’t been worried about his own safety.

Wonder filled her. He had put Julianne and her needs above his own. No man had ever done that for before. She felt a bottomless peace and satisfaction at the knowledge that he cared for her.

“Ready?”

She felt his gaze run over her face in concern. What a ninny she must look like standing here staring at him as if he’d sprouted two new horns. Julianne picked up the bag she had prepared earlier for Jonathan and agreed. “Ready.”

Caleb led the way down to the spring, his footsteps sure and strong.

With Caleb to protect her, she could enjoy the beauty around her. Little yellow birds sang overhead in the tree branches, and insects flew and fluttered from flower to flower. Julianne took her time and admired the beautiful surroundings.

In her earlier trip, she had raced through, seeing all kinds of dangerous animals and missing the pink flowers and yellow birds. Even in the clearing, undergrowth prevailed, and only a well walked path showed the slightest bit of earth. At places, she had to lift her feet high to make it through the tall weeds. It was nigh on to impossible to differentiate between weeds and plants for the intertwining vines held beautiful bulbs and flowers. And the trees, they reached the sky. Some were so close together it would be difficult to walk between them and on others she noticed the limbs were perfect for a swing. She sighed and inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers.

Caleb set the basket beside the stream and sorted the clothes. She watched him sink to the bank and begin washing one of her dresses. Julianne hurried and knelt by his side.

“I’ll do this.” She removed the blue calico from his hands.

She dunked the material into the water expecting Caleb to walk off and occupy his time elsewhere. He didn’t move and a splashing sound met her ears just before water droplets landed on her arms. This time he vigorously washed one of his shirts. She sat back on her heels.

“Caleb, you don’t have to help me.”

He continued to scrub and Julianne frowned. Men didn’t scrub clothes. So what was he doing?

Caleb rinsed the soap out of the red shirt and stood to hang it on a nearby bush. Julianne admired his easy movements as he knelt beside her again. Did he think that because she had been afraid of the snake that she couldn’t do the wash?

“Really, Caleb.” She huffed. “I am capable of doing the laundry.” She bent back to the task of rubbing the soil from the dress.

She heard, more than saw, him sit back. “Julianne.” His voice held steel even though he called her name softly.

“What?” Julianne didn’t look up.

He pulled on the blanket that held Jonathan to her. “Julianne, look at me.”

She did as he said with reluctance. “What, Caleb? I don’t have time for games. I have to finish the wash, cook two meals and get a bath today.” Julianne dared him to deny what she said.

A warm smile caught her off guard. “I know you have to do those things, and I’m going to help you.” He reached up and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear.

“Why? Don’t you have something else to do?” She hated the way her voice came out in a whisper. Caleb would think she was weak and unable to take care of the chores.

Rich laughter filled the air around them. “Nope, I’m here to protect my family and to be a helpmeet to my beautiful wife.”

Julianne stared at him. He thought she was beautiful? The man had to be half blind. Her hair fell from the neat bun she’d created this morning, she knew her skin was freckled from being out in the sun without a bonnet, and her dress was wet and muddy at the knees. And besides, wasn’t it her job to be the helpmeet to him? He puzzled her, this man she’d married. But he also drew her in ways she couldn’t deny. Julianne ducked her head, sure he was teasing her.

The more she was around Caleb the more Julianne knew she was falling in love with this gentle man who was her husband. Her husband.

He startled Julianne by cupping her lowered chin in his strong, callused hand and gently raising her head. Her confused gaze met his warm eyes. Was that truly attraction she saw and heard in his voice as he announced, “Julianne, God brought us together to help each other. I’m glad He did.”

 Julianne was glad, too. Caleb began to talk, opening up his dreams to her. As they scrubbed clothes together by the waters edge, he shared with her his desire to own an apple orchard.

The excitement in his voice as he described the trees and the different kind of apples he was going to sell was contagious. Julianne began thinking she and Caleb would make a great team.

How could she help him make his dream come true?

Chapter 12

Julianne rocked Jonathan to sleep. Caleb would be home soon. Love for him and the baby swelled in her heart. She marveled at the changes the last few weeks had brought into her life.

Her husband cared for her. He’d shown it in many ways. She loved that Caleb made sure to spend time with her. Every evening they took long walks in the woods and by the river. He’d taken her on different paths, showing her that at certain points, the earth just dropped off and water rushed up against the bank.

Each morning they shared a warm breakfast, and then he went to work. She straightened the cabin, and then took the laundry down to the river.

The Indian girl still came to the river, too, but she never tried to harm Jonathan. Using gestures and some sign language, Julianne had learned the woman’s name was Morning Star.

It seemed that every time Julianne went to the river, Morning Star was there, also. The young Indian woman took pleasure in feeding Jonathan, and she started to bring her laundry with her to the river. They shared only a few words of the same language, but their love for Jonathan was equal.

Julianne had begun to think of Morning Star as her friend. After the first few visits, they were signing and laughing together. She taught Morning Star English words and Morning Star taught her how to twist the laundry so tight it dried much quicker when she hung it on the branches by the creeks edge. It felt good not to be alone while she worked.

But in the waning hours of this night, their last conversation still haunted Julianne. They’d finished their laundry and were sharing lunch. Julianne had brought two biscuits with pork, and Morning Star traded one of her beef jerky strips and a small square of corn bread for one of the biscuits.