Shelter in Seattle (3 page)

Caleb winced at the thought of Julianne or any woman at the mercy of Marcus Harvey. Finally, he wound up where Julianne stood. “How’s the baby?”

He watched her blue eyes widen with surprise, though she tried hard to hide it. He’d evidently startled her again. He was intrigued by the mystery that surrounded the woman in front of him.

“He’s fine. I was wondering if you’ve thought of a name for him, yet.” She smoothed the hair off the baby’s face and rocked from side to side.

Caleb wondered if she was rocking to sooth her own nerves. “Not yet, I’m thinking along the lines of Jonathan. What do you think?”

“Jonathan.” The name came out a whisper as if she were testing its flavor against her tongue. “It means gift of the Lord. I like it, Caleb. It sounds strong. A man needs a strong name.”

The question was out before he could stop it. “How did you get into this mess, Julianne?” He watched her eyes take on a far away look.

Bitterness laced her next words. “I trusted the wrong man.”

Chapter 3

Screams of frustration tickled the back of Julianne’s throat as she watched her future being decided for her. She felt frozen in limbo where all decisions and actions evaded her.

Strange and disquieting thoughts had plagued her all through the night, and she’d awakened this morning sick with the struggle inside.

Now as she observed the two leaders of the competition, a small glimmer of hope helped raise her chin and muster all the dignity she could.

Caleb and one other man were in the lead. At ax throwing, both men had hit the bull’s-eye on the target. Caleb had climbed and cut the top out of a tree faster than anyone else. The other man, named Marcus, had split more wood than Caleb. He’d only won by one log but he’d still won. And now, it looked as if Caleb was using all the strength he had to fell a tree before Marcus.

She admired the way the muscles in his back and shoulders bulged as he worked the saw against the tree. Rivulets of sweat ran down his face and into his eyes. Still, he continued to bunch his muscles and saw at the tree. It was as if demons drove him to finish before anyone else.

The thought of Caleb Hansen winning the race wasn’t too distasteful. The other men respected him, and it appeared most of them wanted him to win. The few brief times she’d seen him, he’d said little, portraying the semblance of a quiet man. But her aunt had said it was the quiet ones you had to be aware of. Of course, her aunt had been talking about Julianne, not a man, so could that be a characteristic on which she should judge Caleb?

She chose to believe he was the kind of man who would pay off her debt, and then allow her to pay him back as she got the money.

Her gaze moved to Marcus. Now, here was trouble in capitol letters. A burly man with arms as big around as some of the trees that surrounded the camp, he had a mean attitude and cursing came as easily as breathing. She shuddered to think what kind of man he was. She doubted he would be willing to wait for her to repay him. But she had news for him. He’d have to.

“If you’re a praying woman, you better pray that one doesn’t win.” Maggie spoke in a low, warning voice, as if afraid that Marcus would hear. She held the baby against her shoulder and patted his back. She used her chin to point at Marcus.

Julianne tore her gaze away from the men. “Why?” She struggled to make her voice nonchalant. “It really doesn’t matter to me who wins. I’ll make an arrangement with the winner, he’ll pay Sloan, and I’ll pay him back with the money I make from taking in laundry.”

Maggie shook her head. “Honey, not to embarrass you, but these men have been without a real woman for a long time. Do you really think they will just give Sloan the money, and then wait for you to pay it back?” She rocked the sleeping baby.

“You don’t mean ...” Julianne’s hand went to her mouth.

The older woman leaned closer and whispered. “Marcus is a mean one. He will demand full payment of his money from you, and he’s not afraid to take it out of your hide. If you know what I mean.” Maggie pulled away to cheer on Caleb. “Keep at it Caleb, he’s almost whooped!” She bellowed with the rest of the crowd. The baby uttered a sharp cry of protest as if he, too, were against Marcus winning.

Julianne looked at the man they had been discussing. He stood at least a head and a half taller than she was. He caught her eye for a moment and grinned, but his eyes remained flat, hard and passionless. It frightened her to think what he had in store for her.

After quieting the baby, Maggie leaned close again. “Now Caleb, there is a fine young man. He’s got his reason for wanting to win too, though.” She paused. “He needs a mama for this little boy of his. I imagine he figures you will fit the bill.”

“No.” Julianne whispered. That was one of the reasons she’d run from New York. To get away from screaming children and adults who tried to run her life. She couldn’t believe this was happening.

“Oh, being married to Caleb wouldn’t be so bad. He’s got a nice little cabin built off in the woods, and he’s a Bible reading man.”

Bible reading or not, Julianne wanted no part in taking care of another man’s child. Reading the Bible didn’t make him a better man. Her uncle read the good book every night. What good had it done her? None. He still beat her and turned her into the house slave.

But it hadn’t always been like that. Earlier memories held an Uncle that had been kind and patient. He’d bought her a pony and taught her to ride.

“Timber!” The shout came from Caleb.

Marcus added his voice to it. “Timber!”

Everyone held their breaths as the mighty Pine trees fell in unison.

“I won!” Marcus yelled, jerking his hat off his head and rushing to Julianne.

Before she had a chance to protest, he threw her over his shoulder and started stomping off toward the woods. The pins in her hair fell out with each pounding step he took. The smell of sweat and body odor assaulted her senses and made her stomach queasy.

Marcus came to a bone jarring halt. “Get out of my way, Hansen. I won fair and square.”

Julianne tried to pull herself upright but the big man slapped her on her bottom. The sound echoed in the silent camp. Mortified, Julianne’s embarrassment turned to hot, burning anger. She turned her head to the side and sank her teeth into the soft skin above Marcus’s belt.

Marcus dumped Julianne at his feet then drew his arm back to hit her.

 “I wouldn’t hit her if I were you, Harvey.” Caleb’s warning rang out before the slap connected.

 “Who’s gonna stop me? You?” He grabbed Julianne by the hair and jerked her head back.

Her cry of pain tore at Caleb’s insides. He took a step forward. His gaze locked with hers, and he witnessed the fear, pain and humiliation on her soft features.Marcus pulled a knife from his boot and pressed it into her throat in one liquid motion. “Hold it right there, Hansen.”

Caleb stopped. A small stream of blood traveled from the tip of the knife, down her throat and into the material at her neck. He didn’t move; he didn’t breathe; he simply held her gaze and silently begged her to trust him.

He held his hands up. “Now what?”

Marcus looked around the logging camp. Men watched his every move. It was apparent he hadn’t planned on revealing the knife, but pride made him bluster through the threat. Twisting his hand in her hair and pushing the knife a little harder against her throat, he jerked Julianne to her feet. He saw the foreman standing off to one side with his hands behind his back. “Me and the little gal are gonna go settle up.”

Caleb stepped closer. “I don’t think so, Harvey. You’re either going to let her go or kill her now.” He made eye contact with the foreman.

Julianne gave a tiny squeak as the knife cut deeper.

The foreman stepped forward. “Marcus, I’m not so sure you won. The trees fell about the same time and me and the boys here need to be the judge of who won.”

Marcus focused on the foreman and shook his head. “No, sir. I won.” He lightened the pressure on Julianne’s neck.

It was all the distraction Caleb needed. He rushed at Marcus, grabbed the hand that held the knife and forced it away from Julianne.

The camp went wild. Marcus kicked Julianne away from him and she fell, her head hitting a tree, the breath knocked from her. Men rushed over her body.

In a matter of seconds, Caleb had Marcus on the ground, his feet and hands bound with rope.

Caleb rushed to Julianne. Blood caked her throat and the front of her dress. He scooped up her unconscious form. “Maggie!”

“I’m right here. You don’t have to shout.” She scolded him. “Take her into the cook shack.”

The baby slept soundly in Maggie’s arms.

Caleb lay Julianne down on the kitchen floor. “Do you think she’s going to be all right, Maggie?” Her eyelashes looked like black soot against her colorless face.

Maggie started to hand him the sleeping baby. “Here take care of your son, while I tend to her.”

“My son?”

Maggie heaved a breath. “Yes, Caleb. Take the baby.” She knelt beside Julianne’s still form as he tucked the baby in the crook of his arm.

“Maggie, he’s not my…”

“Stop yer yammering, Caleb, and let me see to this child.”

The impatience in Maggie’s voice halted his shocked denial of her assumption that Jonathan was his son. Just one more thing he’d have to settle later.

 He turned to find Marcus Harvey. With each step his anger grew. How could any man hurt a woman like that? He’d seen the pleasure in Marcus’s eyes every time he pressed the knife blade deeper into her soft creamy throat.

He came to the spot where he’d left the logger. Several men stood around smoking and talking in low voices. “Where is he?” Caleb asked.

“The foreman took him,” Ben Wheeler said.

He turned to the small man with wire-framed glasses. “Where’d he take him to?” He shifted the baby to his other arm.

“He didn’t say and we didn’t ask. Just loaded him in the wagon and took him out of here.”

Caleb thought about following them. The deep ruts of the wagon would be easy enough to follow. At that moment, the baby stretched and warm moisture coated Caleb’s arm. He looked down at the tiny red face as the baby strained, his arms flailing and the diaper became heavier. Jonathan thrashed his legs and Caleb knew from experience that if the diaper wasn’t changed in the next few moments, things would get ugly. First things would have to come first.

Sloan stood off to the side, “I want my money, Hansen.”

Caleb dug in his pocket and pulled out a hundred dollars. “There, that’s all you’re getting. Stay away from Julianne.” He waited for Sloan’s stoic nod, and then hurried back to the cook shack.

Julianne woke slowly. Her cheek burned, and her head hurt. She reached up to touch her throbbing neck.

“Don’t be messing with my handiwork.” Maggie scolded gently. She caught Julianne’s fingers before they could touch the material at her neck. “It’s just a scratch.”

The nightmare of a few moments ago, flooded in on her. She sat up. “Where is he?” The cry tore from her raw throat.

Maggie put a hand on her shoulder. “He’s not going to hurt you any more, Julianne. Caleb and the lumber boss made sure of it.”

Julianne pushed her hair out of her face. “They did?”

The older woman nodded, “they did.”

Caleb came through the side door, Jonathan screaming in his arms. “I’m sorry, Maggie. He’s wet, and I have to get his things.”

“That’s okay. She’s awake now.” Maggie got up and went to the saddlebag that sat in a corner.

Julianne watched Caleb jiggle the baby while he waited. She knew she owed him her life. A new fear entered her heart. How much would he demand for payment?

“Here, I’ll take him.” Maggie took the crying baby and moved to one of the side tables to change his diaper.

“Feeling any better?” Caleb asked. He squatted down beside her.

She nodded.

“He won’t bother you again, I promise.” He raised his hand to touch the white cloth that bound her neck, and then dropped it lifelessly to his side.

“Thank you.” Julianne felt his gaze sweep over her face. Whatever words she would have added vanished with his appraisal.

Caleb rose to his feet and extended his hand to help her up. “Do you feel like taking a walk with me? Or would you rather stay here and talk?”

Julianne studied the callused tan hand. It was large and full of strength. Would he hurt her too? She raised her gaze to his face and sought the answers to her question in his eyes. He had an air of calm that comforted her.

“Trust me, Julianne. I promise I will never hurt you.” Caleb continued to hold out his hand.

 Julianne placed hers in his. He’d protected her before; she had to trust he meant what he said. “I think I’d like some fresh air.”

He turned to Maggie with a questioning gaze.