The Jeweled Spur (26 page)

She smiled, then turned and left the deck. She went at once to her stateroom, which she shared with Laurie, and began
undressing. Laurie was already in bed, reading as usual. “That old friend of yours—Jim Logan?” she said as she slipped out of her clothes and pulled on a pink silk nightgown. “He knows a little something about women.”

Abruptly Laurie laid the book down flat and stared across at Leona, who was brushing her hair. “How do you know that?” she demanded a little more loudly than she had planned. Leona turned and looked at her, the corners of her lips turned up in a coy smile. “How would I know? He kissed me. That’s the way you tell about a man, isn’t it, Laurie?”

When she saw the look on Laurie’s face, she laughed, came over, and ruffled her hair. “You’re going to be an old maid if you don’t wake up, Laurie. There’s more to life than riding around on the back of a horse.”

She slipped into bed and closed her eyes. The last thing she said before dropping off to sleep was, “I told Logan I’d show him the town when we get to New Orleans. That ought to be interesting . . .”

Laurie sat there, saying nothing. Finally she turned the lamp down, then lay down again, pulling the covers over her head. She was displeased and did not know why she should be so strongly stirred.
I ought to know that Leona is going to try every man she sees,
she thought. But she could not manage to put it out of her mind. Finally, she dozed off to sleep, thinking about the two up on the deck.

****

The next day, Cody noticed that Laurie’s manner was stiff, and she seemed to be avoiding him. He and Sam walked around the boat as usual, slept a great deal, had three good meals, and at dusk, after finishing another excellent meal, he came up on the deck. Several men were standing in the bow, so he went to the stern, watching the paddles churn the water into a lusty white froth. He wasn’t thinking of anything in particular as he stood there, just enjoying the cold breeze and
the sense of being free, when he saw Laurie headed down the deck. He called to her, “Laurie—?”

Laurie glanced up quickly, and he thought for a moment that she would leave. Instead she came to him. “Hello, Jim,” she said, then shook her head and frowned. “Hard to call you that.”

“A lot safer, though.” They stood there for a few moments and finally Cody said, “What’s wrong, Laurie? Are you sore at me about something?”

“Why should I be?”

He peered at her as the last rays of light from the sun seemed to melt into the river. “I don’t know. I thought I’d done something.”

Laurie turned, and he saw the flash of anger in her dark eyes. “If I were you,” she said, “I don’t think I’d get too close to some of the people in the show.”

“What does that mean?” he asked in surprise.

“It means . . .” She stopped and realized what she was about to say and how it would sound. She clamped her lips together, shook her head, and he stood watching her helplessly. “I—I guess it’s none of my business, but Leona—well, I’ve known her for quite a while now, and I ought to warn you that she never sticks with a man.”

He suddenly understood that she had seen him on the deck, with the girl. Either that or else Leona had told her about their meeting. Instantly, he said, “That doesn’t matter, Laurie. The way I am, I’ll never have any long-term relationships with a woman, anyway.”

His comment caught her off guard. It displeased her, too, and she turned to leave. He reached out and took her arm. “I know you’re just looking out for me, and I appreciate it. But you don’t have to worry about that.”

They began walking back toward the stern and had almost reached the door leading to the stateroom deck. Suddenly Cody felt that something was dreadfully wrong. He grabbed her arm and held her. “What is it?” she asked, startled.

Cody didn’t answer for a moment, then he threw his hand up and pointed. “Look at that light up there. Isn’t that another ship?”

Laurie looked up and was shocked to see the vague outlines of another vessel dead ahead. “They’re going to hit us!” she cried out. “Is the captain blind?”

Helplessly they stood watching the two ships close on each other. At the last moment, the captain apparently spotted the boat and tried to turn away, but it was too late. The two crafts met with a rending crash, and a jarring so abrupt that if Cody had not caught Laurie with one hand and the railing with the other hand, they would have fallen. The sound of the crashing continued, and the
Dixie Queen
raised up to port from the shock. When it settled down, Cody yelled, “We’re gonna sink, Laurie! No boat can take a lick like that!”

Instantly Laurie cried out, “I’ve got to get to Star!” She wheeled and ran toward the section that held the stock, with Cody following her closely.

Even as they dashed along the deck, wild cries of fear began to pierce the night air. Almost at once the deck was filled with people who came scrambling out to see what the trouble was. The two boats circled each other, the pilots and the crew cursing violently, until finally the two separated as they were dragged downstream by the current.

When they reached the hold where the horses were kept, Laurie started to enter, but Cody pulled her back. “You stay here! I’ll get your horse.”

He grabbed a rope that lay beside the gate and slipped the lock. As he moved inside, he was driven up against the barrier by a wild-eyed pinto. Pain shot along his back, and he heard Laurie crying out. “Stay back, Laurie!” he yelled. “When I get Star to the gate, open it.”

Laurie strained her eyes but could see only the moving shapes of the terrified horses. Finally a taller form appeared, and she made out Cody on the back of Star. She slipped the
bolt, opened the door, and as soon as they were clear, slammed the door and fastened it.

“Can you swim?” Cody asked as he slipped off the horse.

“No. Can you?”

“Not a lick. We’ll have to hope this thing comes into shore. If we go down, get in the saddle and guide him to the bank. Never saw a horse that couldn’t swim!”

The
Dixie Queen
had been so badly holed that there was no keeping her afloat. The paddles continued to drive her until she went sideways down the broad river. When they came to a turn, Cody said, “Look, we’re going to pile up on that sandbar over there!”

As he had guessed, the
Dixie Queen
nosed into the sandbar, which was barely visible in the night by the light of a brilliant moon. Then the whole craft swung sideways and Cody said, “Let’s get off of the boat before the current takes her.”

They were not the only ones with that idea. Not many of the passengers, and fewer of the show members, could swim, so as Laurie and Cody were leaving the ship, there was a full-scale exodus. The crew lowered the gangplank for the stock, and Laurie and Cody rode their horses down to the sandbar. As soon as he saw that she was safe, he said, “I’ll go back and see what can be done with the stock.”

“Be careful,” she warned. “Remember, you can’t swim.”

Cody went back and did what he could, but when the animals were loosed, some of them went to the sandbar, and others plunged immediately into the river. A few of them that had managed to land on the sandbar found their way to the woods that lay beyond. Many were swept down the river, and the terrified screams of the horses pulled at Cody’s heart.

He helped get as many as he could off the boat, but it was impossible to save all of them. He never forgot that night—nor did anyone else.

When dawn finally broke, they stood shivering on the sandbar, huddled together in the cold, January breeze. They saw the current take the wreck of the
Dixie Queen,
catch her,
and swing her out. She floated down a hundred yards, then slowly began to sink.

“There she goes,” Buffalo Bill said morosely. He looked old in the gray light of morning and shook his head. “This is worse than an Indian attack, I think.”

They waited, and an hour later another steamboat, the
Natchez Belle,
came down and carried them all to the next town. Colonel Cody arranged for as many men as possible to find the few horses that were left and try to round up what was left of the stock. Cody was one of these. He worked hard, along with Con Groner, Buck Bronson, and Cowboy Johnny Baker. Colonel Cody sent a scout back for the stock and his riders, and when they finally pulled into town, Cody stared at the scanty herd. “Is this all?” he groaned.

“That’s all we could get, Colonel,” Cowboy Johnny said. “They’re scattered out in the woods all over the place. What are we gonna do?”

The star and owner stared at the remains of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and said, “I wired Nate in New Orleans.”

“What did he say?” Groner demanded.

Buffalo Bill shook his head, and his lips curled fiercely. “You know Nate. He said, ‘Come on and we’ll put on the show in New Orleans.’ So”—he looked around wearily—”all we have to do is find a herd of buffalo and new riding stock.”

They left that evening on a side-wheeler headed for New Orleans, and as the boat moved downriver, Sam said to Cody, “Well, what do you think of show business now?”

Cody looked at him and, with a broad grin on his face, said, “It’s not quite as glamorous as I thought—but it beats being in a jail or a hospital by a huge sight! Come on, Sam, let’s get some rest. I got a feeling when we get to New Orleans, that’ll be the end of sleeping for a while!”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cody Finds a Place

“Does Jim Logan ever talk much about himself to you, Leona?”

Con Groner had stopped work long enough to have a cup of coffee between acts, coming to sit down beside Leona. His question had come so suddenly that it surprised her, and she looked up at him curiously. “Not much,” she shrugged. “But then, I don’t talk much about my past to him either. Why do you want to know, Con?”

Groner shrugged carelessly. “Just wondered. I guess most of us in this business don’t like to talk much about our past. I sure don’t.” He sipped the coffee, then murmured quietly, “You’ve been pretty close to him since we got to New Orleans and put this new show together. You’re not gettin’ too thick with him I hope, Leona.”

Leona’s eyes turned hard, and she said, “You jealous, Con? We had our time, but it’s over.”

“Just a mild warning. He’s like all the rest of us cowboys. Not much future. Like to see you do better than some two-bit cattle roper.” Hastily, he added, “Not aimed at Logan, of course. Just that we’re all pretty much the same in this business.” He rose and left without a word, leaving Leona to stare after him.

“I wonder what
that
was all about?” she asked. Sitting there, she thought about the days that had passed since Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show had opened in New Orleans. It had taken a mammoth effort to round up buffalo, stock,
and equipment—but somehow Nate Salsbury and Colonel Cody had managed between the two of them. Everyone had worked until they were ready to drop, and at one point Leona had told Laurie that she hoped she never would have to work the hardstock again.

Finally, she rose and left the cook tent, wandering over to the corral. As she had suspected, Cody was there helping to handle the horses that constantly were on the move in and out of the arena. She watched as he was busy, unaware of her, and thought,
Most men with those good looks have more vanity. Jim doesn’t know how good-looking he is.
She was a connoisseur of male attractiveness and rested her eyes on the pleasing symmetry in the smoothly rounded shoulders and lean hips of the tall rider as he moved easily among the horses, speaking a word here, quieting them, removing saddles.
He’s good with horses,
Leona thought, and a bleak smile touched her lips,
but he sure doesn’t care much about women. At least not about this woman.
After the show was over, she found him and smiled up into his face. “Let’s go downtown, Jim. I’m bored with this place.”

“I’d like to, Leona, but Colonel Cody wanted me to work some with this new stock. Some of them are too feisty and need a little extra breaking. Maybe later.”

Leona hesitated, then said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something, Jim.” A smile came to her lips, and she added, “I just wanted to be sure you’d be around long enough to do what I need.”

“What is it, Leona?”

“I need some help with my act,” she said. “I want to have someone to help me reload and to throw the balls up for me so I don’t have to do two things at once.” She looked at him and shrugged, raising her eyebrows, saying, “I know that’s not a very glamorous offer, but I really do need somebody. I’d be glad to pay you.”

Cody grinned crookedly. “No need of that,” he said. “I’ll be glad to do what I can.”

She was pleased with his response, her face reflecting a genuine satisfaction. “We’ll need to practice a little bit. Could you spare some time tonight after supper? We’ll come out here, and I’ll show you what I need.”

“Sure,” said Cody.

As soon as she walked off, Sam came ambling up. He had something on his mind, Cody saw. Usually Novak spoke right up, but for some reason he was having difficulty. Finally, Cody said, “Well, spit it out, Sam. You’re making a speech to yourself. What is it?”

“Oh, none of my business, really—but I been watching Leona. Don’t want to say anything against her, you understand, but she’s not what the doctor might recommend for a long-term relationship.”

“Been listening to a little gossip, Sam?” Cody asked sharply.

“I guess. But so have you. She seems like a good woman.” Sam halted, then said, “No. That’s not right. She’s
not
a good woman. She’s been with every cowboy in the show.” Then he stopped again and said, “No, that’s not right. Oh, confound it! I’m not really worried about her—it’s you I’m thinking about.”

“Funny,” Cody murmured. He smoothed the mane of a palomino, then turned to face Sam Novak. “Laurie told me the same thing.”

“You should listen to her.”

“I did listen to her, and I’m listening to you too, Sam.” He shook his head almost wearily. “So I’m telling you like I told Laurie. Nothing will ever come of it. I’ve got no future before me.”