Shotgun Bride (19 page)
"But I already know what I want to do. I want to stay here." Didn't he understand that?
He let out a long, heavy sigh. "Right now that's what you want, but it's only because you haven't had many experiences to figure out what else is out there."
"Oh, yes I have, Kid. You wouldn't even believe all the things I've seen. All the things I've done." Her cheeks burned, remembering the few times she'd stolen food when every 178
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other attempts to gain some honestly had failed. She still feared someone would find out she stole.
"Jessie, there's a whole world out there you know nothing about." He made a slight grimace. "After three years in Boston you probably won't want to ever come back to Kansas."
Fear snaked up her body like a sidewinder, covering every nook and cranny. "Kid, I'll always want to come back here." His arms pulled her forward, back into his solid, tight embrace. "And you'll always be welcome here, my sweet, sweet, Jessie."
She sighed at the closeness. Savoring the place she'd always yearn to be. It was sometime before his hold lessened, giving her room to tilt her head and look at his face. By then her mind had formed another question.
"Kid, when I come back ... when I come back in three years, will I still be your wife?"
His dark eyes searched her face, pausing here and there. The tip of his finger, rough and soft at the same time, ran along the side of her cheek. It was a long time before he sighed, and said, "We'll talk about that in three years." Her shoulders slumped, making her feel like a wilted flower. Russell had been right. Kid didn't want her as a wife, she wasn't good enough. But she'd been right too, Kid was a good man, he wouldn't send her back to the soddy. She stepped out of his embrace. No, he wouldn't kick her out, but he would send her to Boston, he'd send her as far away from him as possible.
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"Be a good girl now, and go pack," Kid said as he turned his back to her.
* * * *
Shoulders back, chest forward, and clutching the hateful bag, Jessie walked down the front steps as Hog and Snake loaded her trunk in the back of the wagon. Sammy, sensing something was wrong, ran around her ankles, almost tripping her. Each step was more painful than the last, but she gritted her teeth and kept moving.
A shiver ran up her spine as she heard Kid's voice.
"Bug!" he shouted from his stance near the wagon. "Grab Sammy and tie him to the porch."
Bug looked nervous as he crouched down and tried to coax Sammy to come to his side. The dog wouldn't have anything to do with the brother.
Fighting the breaking of her heart, Jessie patted her thigh then walked over to Bug. She knelt down, and wrapping her arms around Sammy, hugged him close as Bug tied the rope around his neck. Burying her face in the dark, silky hair, she kissed the tops of his wide ears before she stood and forced her legs to move to the wagon.
Kid stepped forward, meeting her near a back wheel. As he took the bag from her, she placed a hand on the edge of the wagon, balancing her wobbly stance. Sammy, no longer able to reach her, started barking and tugging at the rope. The noise made a new slice in her chest.
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Kid took her elbow and led her near the wagon seat where he wrapped her in a hug. After a few moments, his hands framed her face.
"Don't be mad at me, Jessie."
The sob in the back of her throat came forward. Pressing her hands over her eyes, she shook her head. She could never be mad at him, she loved him too much. His lips settled on her forehead, lingering there until she was ready to cry aloud. Then he lifted her into the wagon, his fingers slipping away as his normally rough voice, softly whispered, "Good-bye, Jessie." Sammy's barks increased. She pressed her fingers against her eyelids, forcing the tears to stay put. Hog took a hold of the reins and the bench seat sagged as Snake crawled up on her other side. The wagon jolted forward and the wheels began to turn. Unimaginable pain formed tight knots in her body.
"Bye, Jessie!" Bug's voice rang out above the barking. She gasped for air and turned around, blinking and trying to focus. Bug waved a hand high in the air. Kid stood beside him, hands behind his back. Sammy, stretching the rope as far as he could, yipped and howled at the departing wagon. He pawed at the air, then backed up and leaped forward. The rope went tight, slamming him back onto the ground with a loud yelp. Tears and sobs burst from their holds at the same time.
Snake reached out, one arm meant to wrap around her in comfort. She pushed it away. Nothing could ease the pain ripping across her chest.
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Kid witnessed her refusal to be calmed as the wagon roll away. Pain seared his heart like a hot branding iron. The rattle of the wheels could barely be heard over Sammy's barking and howling. The dog jumped, twisted, and bit at the rope, doing his damnedest to follow his mistress. Kid knew just how he felt. Sending Jessie away was by far the hardest thing he'd ever done. It just might break him. Sweat popped out on his forehead.
"Jessie sure looked sad, didn't she, Kid?" Bug said with cheerless eyes.
Kid swallowed, making sure his voice wouldn't crack when he spoke, "Yes, Bug, she looked sad."
"I sure am going to miss her." He patted the boy's back. His hand shook. He balled it into a fist and let it fall to his side. "So am I, Bug, so am I." The wagon turned, following the road around the calving pens. Kid wiped at the sting in his eyes as the travelers disappeared.
"You leaving now, too?" Bug asked.
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"In a few minutes, let them get a head start on us." Kid turned to Sammy. The dog had his nose pointed straight up, a long, mournful howl-song rose into the forlorn quiet. The tune was more ear-piercing and sadder than any coyote ever sang. It made his spine quiver.
"Sammy!"
Startled the dog stopped the howl mid-note and lowered his head. Slowly, he swung the wide neck around, curled his front lip, and gave a low, hateful growl. Pissed at the world, Kid scowled back at the dog. "Oh, shut up!"
He turned to Bug. "Don't untie him."
"I won't, Kid. I won't!" Bug shook his head. Joe led two horses to the front porch. The saddle bags bulged. "You ready?"
"Yeah, I don't want them to be too far ahead of us." Kid mounted Jack, flipped the horse around and said, "We'll be back in a couple days, as soon as we make sure Jessie and the boys get to Dodge safely."
"All right, Kid." Bug gave a nervous look toward Sammy. The dog stared straight ahead, watching the road, waiting for Jessie to return. He didn't even bat an eye toward him and Joe as they rode out. "Traitor," Kid mumbled. Another low growl filled the air behind him.
"Even your dog's mad at you over this one," Joe said as he rode beside him.
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Kid sent a disgusted stare toward the other man.
"Hey, I didn't say I was mad, said the dog was."
"Will you shut up?" He didn't want to hear it right now. His head throbbed, his guts were raw, hell, his whole body ached. The last thing he wanted was some chatterbox riding beside him all the way to Dodge.
"He's probably just wondering why you gotta send her all the way to Boston," Joe added.
"Because that's the only place she'll be safe." He had tried to come up with another plan, barely sleeping a wink all night. Several times he'd come close to entering her room, telling her she didn't have to leave, telling her he couldn't let her leave. But he hadn't, nor had another plan formed.
"Hell, I thought she was pretty safe at the ranch. That house you built is stronger than Fort Dodge, and between the hands, your brothers, you, and me; Montgomery wouldn't ever get a chance at her. Her brother either for that matter. Skeeter's got him out in the middle of nowhere. You know, I almost feel sorry for the sap. A month with Skeeter ... I couldn't do it."
"It's for Jessie too, you know. She deserves a chance to see what life has to offer besides this God forsaken land," Kid mumbled. Hoping someday he could believe his reasoning.
"I thought you loved this country."
"I do, but that doesn't mean everyone else does." He took his hat off and wiped his forehead with his arm. Joe looked around, nodding his head. "I do." Far ahead, little more than a dark blob on the barren land, he could make out the wagon that carried Jessie away. Would 184
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she ever want to come back? Would Boston and the Women's College change her so much she'd never want to see the rolling fields of the prairie again? He hoped not—no, he prayed not.
"Keep your eyes peeled for any movement, no one's seen Montgomery for several days," he said and spurred Jack into a canter. He wanted a moment to himself, a moment to mourn the loss of a love he never thought he'd experience.
* * * *
The next afternoon, they boarded the train. Numb, somewhat scared, but newly determined Jessie smiled at the conductor as Hog carried her bag down the long isle and Snake handed their tickets to the man. The brothers were to travel all the way to Boston with her. She sincerely hoped Kid wouldn't be too mad at them when they told him what she'd done, but she couldn't include them in her plan. Besides, Kid was just like Sammy, all bark and no bite. The long, dusty trail from the Triple Bar to Dodge had given her plenty of time to think, learn, and plan. Snake and Hog were quiet boys, unless you got them talking, then they couldn't be shut up. Her head still spun from everything they'd said. Kid did have a trip to Europe paid for, and it was a trip to find a wife.
The brothers said he'd been planning it since he was ten, when his father brought him to Kansas from Missouri and they'd stopped along the way at Sam Wharton's place. Kid laid a plan to become just like the rich rancher, which included traveling to Europe and bringing back a refined, well185
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bred woman to be his wife. The boys also assured her Kid always does what he plans.
Well, that was fine with her; she didn't want to be his wife. She didn't need him, her brother, or any other man telling her what to do. And she certainly didn't need to be sent across the nation.
Boston of all places!
If he didn't want her at the ranch, all he had to do was say so. She had her soddy. She gritted her teeth, trying to appease the anger boiling in her stomach. It wouldn't be good for the boys to know how mad she was, they might suspect something. With one hand pressed against her stomach, she gave both Snake and Hog slight smiles as they sat down on the opposite bench. Hog pushed her bag beneath his seat. A sense of longing rumbled through her veins, she'd miss the extra set of clothing, but it couldn't be helped, the bag might hamper her escape. She'd never jumped from a train, but figured both hands would be needed when the time came.
"Jessie, your stomach hurtin'?" Hog asked, clearly concerned.
"Hmm? Oh, yes a little, nerves I guess." She wasn't lying, her stomach did hurt. And she was as nervous as hell.
"There's nothing to be scared about. We're with you." Snake gave her a charming smile.
"I know." A loud whistle sounded. As it faded she added,
"Thanks, you boys have really been good to me."
"Well, you're our sister. We gotta be good to you, or Ma would skin us alive," Hog said, giving her a wink.
"And Kid would kill us if'n something happened to you," Snake added, his tone serious.
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"Kid won't kill you," she assured. The boys glanced at each other, both silently saying they didn't believe her.
"He's not nearly as mean as he has you boys believing. Neither is Sammy."
They still didn't believe her.
The whistle sounded again, this time followed by a hiss of steam. It was almost time to set her plan in motion. She took a deep, fortifying breath and let it settle in her chest. "I'm going to use the lavatory before we start to roll," she said, rising to her feet.
"Uh?" Snake asked.
"The privy," she whispered.
"Oh, all right," Hog replied.
Jessie walked between the rows of seats, to the back of the train car and two small closets. Lifting a latch, she glanced back to the boys. The smiles they returned tugged at her heart. She ducked into the little room, blinking at the sting in her eyes. Holding the door closed, she braced her feet, waiting for a jolt as the train whistle sounded one last time. A moment later it came. The car shook as large iron wheels began to turn.
There's still time to change your mind
. She ignored the thought, blew the air from her lungs, and opened the door a bit.
Peeking out the crack, she waited for the conductor to step up from the back platform. After he walked past the closet, she pushed the door a smidgen wider, and once assured the coast was clear, snuck out. Her feet nervously scampered through the boarding door and onto the platform. 187
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The hitch between the passenger car and the box car attached to it clanked, the loud noise sent her heart to her throat. Hugging the outside wall, she fought to keep her balance and edged to the side, glancing each way. A sigh emitted, thankfully no one was about. Slowly, the train picked up speed, the ground began flowing beneath the metal platform like a river of sand and gravel. The cattle pens beside the tracks filled the air with a foul, strong odor. Jessie tried to breathe beyond the smell, ducked beneath the wide safety rail, and pulled her body up on the other side. Positioning her toes on the thin edge of the platform frame, she clutched the safety bar behind her back and watched fence posts roll past.
