The Texan's Dream (22 page)

TWENTY-FOUR

ON DECEMBER 24, MORNING ARRIVED AMIDST A whirlwind of activity. Jonathan felt like he was moving through the construction of a house as he made his way from the stairs to the dining room. He’d been to a few of the Catlin Christmases years ago. The great room would be turned into a dining hall with tables and chairs from the bunkhouse. A tree would be decorated in the foyer with a hundred candles and sugar cookies decorated like wreaths.

Angela and a few hired helpers cooked the meal except for the meat. The bunkhouse chuck wagon crew buried a side of beef in coals and tended it for hours. Today would be chaos, tomorrow, picture-perfect with everyone forgetting how much work had been involved.

When Jonathan made it to the dining room, he wasn’t surprised to find breakfast consisted of cold biscuits and jam. He poured himself a cup of coffee. Kara came in with all the others, talking of everything that had to be done. She smiled at him, but Jonathan couldn’t read her.

It seemed he’d spent the past twenty-four hours wishing they had time alone … or feeling that time was running out for them. Now, with everyone around, he could almost hear the minutes ticking away faster and faster like a train picking up speed.

He tried to get near enough to say something to her, but that was impossible. When he tried later that morning, he found Mary Ann in the study working over the books and Kara busy cooking with Angela. In the afternoon, she was decorating the tree with the children all around her and Snort standing close by offering advice. Before supper, most of the McLains had arrived and she was helping them get settled.

Nichole and Adam drove in first with their two children. As soon as they unpacked, Adam wanted to see Dawn and her baby. Jonathan translated as the doctor checked Dawn’s child.

His sister and her husband, Wes, arrived next. Allie beamed with a newborn in her arms. Wes looked as mean as ever to Jonathan, but he’d grown to truly like the fellow over the years. The man was hard as year-old jerky, but Wes cherished Allie. When it got right down to it, that was all Jonathan required in a brother-in-law.

Wes also had a way with the children. Despite his scarred face and gruff tone, not one of them seemed the least afraid of him.

Last came Daniel McLain with his wife and two sets of twins. Daniel was a huge man with kind eyes. He’d been a preacher since he was in his teens, but of late being a professor at the university took most of his time. If ever there was a man made to be a father, it was Daniel.

When Wolf rode in with his wife, Molly, their adopted daughter and young son, Jonathan had endured enough company. He headed for the barn as soon as he could escape all the hugs.

Kara found him there at sunset. “You have a wonderful family.” She climbed up the ladder and stepped off onto the loft. “I grew up an only child. I used to long for a big family. The cousins were nice, but when Papa and I went home for the night, it was always so quiet.”

“They’re nice, the best, for a short stay.” He didn’t look her direction. “When I was a wild kid, you should have seen the way they fought for me. They were like a small army, always trying to help. I owe them more than I can ever repay.”

“But you’re still not comfortable with so many of them around?”

He looked at her then, wondering if she’d read his mind. “You’ve got flour on your nose.”

Kara made no effort to brush it away. “Don’t change the subject. You didn’t answer me.”

He crossed to her and brushed the speck of flour away himself. “I’ve lost two families, Kara. Isn’t it enough that I respect Wolf and the McLains? I can’t give more than that. There is no more inside me to give to them.”

Her beautiful green eyes filled with sorrow. “Or to me?” she whispered.

Jonathan’s muscles hardened as if he’d taken a blow and knew another was coming. No matter what he said, he’d hurt her. He’d told her from the beginning that he wanted no ties. He’d told her he could never love anyone. He made no promises when he held her.

“There’s nothing left inside,” he repeated and stepped back, waiting for her to explode with anger. She had a right. If he had nothing to give, why had he kissed her? Not once but several times. Better that she marry the Irishman who half-loved her than him, who couldn’t love her at all.

He saw the fire dancing in the green depths of her eyes. Her fingers balled into fists.

When she stepped toward him, he didn’t move. He’d take the anger straight on. He deserved it. He’d hurt her feelings, her pride.

When she wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him, he was too surprised to move. It took a moment for the softness of her mouth to register. And the gentle pressure of her body leaning against his almost knocked him down.

Jonathan didn’t care what she was trying to tell him. All that mattered was that Kara was in his arms. The kiss turned to liquid passion as he lifted her off the ground and held her close. With her touch she was giving him a gift he had no right to expect.

He wanted her, needed her, nothing else mattered. She was matching his hunger with her own. She was asking for the one thing he thought he had to give her. Passion.

Without breaking the kiss, Jonathan carried her into the shadows of the loft. He wanted to make wild, raging love to her that would consume them both. But Kara had started this. It was her turn to set the pace.

She drew him with her as he lowered her into the hay. When his body pressed over hers, sanity left him. He would have willingly died for one more moment with her in his arms.

Her clothes did little to hide the curves of her body. When she moved, even breathed, he was aware of how wonderful she felt beneath him.

She hadn’t said a word in answer to his words, but as she touched him, his body made a liar out of him and they both knew it. He needed her with a hunger he’d never known, he wanted her more than he wanted breath.

He could demand he had no love to give for hours, but one embrace proved him wrong.

A voice came from far away. Someone yelling Jonathan’s name from the courtyard.

At first, Jonathan thought of ignoring it. He could be needed no greater place than here.

But the booming voice came again, closer, shattering his paradise.

“You up there, son?” Wolf’s shouting echoed off the insides of the barn.

Jonathan rolled from Kara. “I’m here,” he managed to say, stumbling to his feet so he could block Wolf’s view of her.

Sure enough, the huge man poked his head up into the loft. “We need you, Jonathan. The soldiers are here, and you’re going to want to see the prisoner.”

Jonathan dusted hay from his clothes and moved toward the ladder.

“Evening, Miss Kara,” Wolf said casually.

“Evening,” she answered just as casually.

Jonathan stormed down the ladder. He’d just kissed a woman so passionately he thought they might set the hay on fire and she didn’t seem the least bit affected. He could hear her passing the time of day with Wolf as he helped her down the ladder.

“I’ll be along in a moment,” she said. “As soon as I comb the hay from my hair.”

The little Jonathan thought he knew about women quickly evaporated into nothing. She didn’t seem to care in the least if everyone on the place knew what they’d been doing in the loft.

Jonathan stormed out of the barn and froze. The sight before him almost rocked him to his knees.

Six soldiers stood around a wagon with scraps of wood used along the sides to build a makeshift cage. In the dying light, he saw a man spread out in the wagon’s bed, his arms and legs chained to the comers. Quil!

Jonathan moved forward slowly. His friend had suffered greatly. Bruises darkened along his body, cuts had dried with blood. His wrists and ankles were raw from pulling on the chains.

“Easy now, son,” Wolf’s words came in warning. “I know what you’re thinking, but we got to do this right, or you might get you and your friend killed.”

Jonathan straightened, shutting all emotion off in his body and facial expression. “I’m well aware of the danger.” He’d seen soldiers shoot prisoners with little provocation. “I’ll handle this. Watch over Kara for me. Don’t let her too close to Quil.”

Wolf agreed and backed away.

Jonathan walked alone to the band of soldiers. Though he didn’t look around, he knew the guards watched. They’d back him up no matter what he did. But if he wasn’t careful, blood might run in the courtyard tonight.

“Evening, gentlemen.” Jonathan’s voice was strong, a hair less than friendly. “I’m glad you could make it in for the big dinner tomorrow.”

The leader of the group offered his hand. “I’m Lieutenant Travis. My men and I are mighty grateful you invited us.”

“We’ve set up extra beds in the bunkhouse.” Jonathan moved closer to the wagon without looking too interested. “I believe the chuck wagon cook is making a washtub of chili tonight. The men always play poker on Christmas Eve. You’re more than welcome, as long as you’re willing to keep the game friendly.”

The lieutenant smiled. “That sounds mighty fine.”

Jonathan’s gaze met Quil’s for only a fraction of a second. “What about this fellow?”

“I’ll have the men pull two-hour guard shifts on him all night. This is one you wouldn’t want to get free. He about killed the lot of us before we roped him in.”

Jonathan tried to act like he was only mildly interested. “We’ve got a doctor who could take a look at him.”

The lieutenant hesitated. “It’s not necessary.”

“I insist,” Jonathan said, calmly meeting the man’s gaze.

“All right.” The officer backed down. “I wouldn’t want him dying on us before we get him delivered for trial.”

Jonathan turned his back on Quil and put his arm around the lieutenant. “You boys go have yourselves some supper. We’ll take care of your prisoner for a while.”

As the hungry soldiers disappeared into the bunkhouse, Jonathan issued low commands to the men around him. They moved the wagon into the barn.

Wolf walked Kara the long way around the garden and back to the house. She had the feeling something was happening in the courtyard, but Wolf was being so polite, she hated to interrupt him. When the bear of a man set his mind to it he could be almost charming.

When they entered through the kitchen door, Adam passed her carrying his medical bag. She didn’t miss the look Wolf gave his Molly.

“I’ll come along, Adam.” Molly stepped from the counter where she’d been slicing bread. “Just let me get my bag of medicines.” She winked at Kara. “Around this family, it pays to come prepared.”

Wolf gave a slight nod of thanks to his wife.

Kara could wait no longer for answers. “What’s going on? I think I’ll find Jonathan.” She took a step toward the door.

Wolf blocked her path. “I’ll not stop you, but it might be best if you stay in here. Jonathan is fine. The soldiers are holding his friend, Quil, as a prisoner. Right now, all that’s going on is doctoring, but if I know Jonathan, all hell’s going to break loose when those soldiers try to move Quil out of here.”

TWENTY-FIVE

KARA WALKED FROM ROOM TO ROOM, WAITING FOR the men and Molly to come back from the barn. Everything in the house was ready for tomorrow. The tables were set up and beautifully decorated. The tree glowed like a jewel in the evening shadows. Pies and cakes lined every available counter. But all Kara could think about was Jonathan in the barn with his friend, Quil.

As Kara circled the foyer one more time, she noticed Allie heading downstairs with her baby in her arms. Jonathan’s sister was a gentle soul who looked as if she’d lived with only kindness each day of her life, but her childhood must have been as terrible as his. They’d both been captured but she’d been older, and her memories must be stronger. Yet, watching her with her child, Kara saw only peace surrounding Allie.

“I was coming to find you,” Allie whispered as she neared. “I’ve just been trying to talk with Dawn.” Worry filled her eyes. “My Apache is not as good as it once was. But, I understood that she’s frightened with all the people in the house, and all the noise. She doesn’t understand about the holidays and an hour ago, when she saw the soldiers, she panicked.”

“Did you explain?” Kara asked, hoping Allie knew enough Apache to make Dawn understand that she was in no danger.

“I tried, but she’s determined to leave. I think you’d better have Jonathan talk to her soon, or she’ll be gone. She doesn’t trust me, but she’ll believe you and Jonathan.”

Kara nodded, though she had no idea what to do. “I’ll stay with her until Jonathan comes in.”

Allie agreed. “Don’t let her leave. She isn’t convinced her Apache family is gone. She thinks they are camped at their winter encampment. She’ll die looking for them on the frontier, and even though she has light hair, without English, no one will help her.”

Climbing the stairs, Kara tried to think of what she could say, if anything, that Dawn might understand. She slowly opened the door to Dawn’s room.

The beautiful young mother was dressed for travel in her leathers and fur. She’d finished the cradleboard for her child and strapped a long roll of hides, which must contain the other clothes she’d made, to her back. A pouch hung from Dawn’s waist.

Kara glanced at the bowl she always kept filled with fruit near the fireplace. It was empty.

Dawn slid one of her hands slowly over the other, making a sign.

Kara knew it must mean Dawn was leaving. Somehow, she must stop her. She couldn’t see herself grabbing the woman and holding her down, and she had no skills to talk her into staying.

Dawn made the sign again then lifted her child. Though she wasn’t out of her teens, the young mother’s eyes flickered with determination. She would not stay another night in this hostile world.

“Come with me.” Kara used her hands, hoping to convey the message that her words would not. “We’ll find Jonathan.” Wolf had said it was best she not go to the barn, but he hadn’t flat-out ordered her to stay away. With Molly there, it couldn’t be too dangerous. Jonathan would be nearby to protect her, and so would Wolf, and probably all the Old Guard.

If she could get Dawn to the barn, maybe Jonathan would have time to talk to her. She had to do something. Kara couldn’t just allow the young woman to leave.

Dawn let Kara lead her down the stairs and out the front door. Kara heard everyone in the kitchen and dining room having dinner, but, thankfully, no one noticed them passing.

Once outside, Dawn followed Kara across the darkened courtyard to the barn. They slipped in through the same side door Wolf had ushered Kara out of thirty minutes before.

The huge barn was dark except for a circle of lanterns in the center. Several stalls contained horses. The animals added low noises to the darkness.

As they neared, Kara heard Wolf’s familiar voice ordering men to take care and stay back.

Dawn hesitated, not wanting to go further. Kara took her hand and slowly inched toward the lights.

A wagon stood in the center of the circle of men—a strange wagon with boards placed around the sides like a picket fence. Barbed wire laced the boards so thickly it seemed unlikely anyone could get close enough to see clearly what was inside.

Kara motioned for Dawn to stay where she was, then Kara moved between the men. She spotted Jonathan kneeling in the dirt beside the back of the wagon. His rapid-fire words were Apache, but Kara recognized their angry tone.

Adam stood behind Jonathan, holding his medical bag. The doctor’s kind face was drawn in concern. Molly waited a step behind him.

“We could use chloroform to put him under,” Molly reasoned.

Her whisper barely reached Kara before a sudden rattle of chains filled the barn.

“It’s too dangerous,” Adam answered. “To get close enough, we’d all have to fight. By the time we put him out, several of us might be feeling the effects. He’s not just willing to fight. He’ll fight to the death.”

A guard shifted, and Kara saw the man Jonathan talked to on the ground. Quil. His arms were spread wide, chained to either side of the wagon with enough slack in the chain to permit him to jerk and lunge several inches. He was battered and bruised. Hatred raged in his eyes like wildfire. For a moment he appeared more wild animal than human.

“See if he’ll take water,” someone instructed, passing a tin cup and a half-filled bucket forward. “The soldiers said he hasn’t eaten or drank anything since they captured him.”

Quil’s sudden jerk sent the cup flying. Even chained, he wouldn’t admit defeat.

Jonathan stood. “Let him rest. We’re only making matters worse by trying to help him now. At this point, he hates all of us enough to kill us, me in particular. I just took away his one reason for staying alive. I told him I buried his son.”

The men mumbled among themselves as they moved away. Adam knelt as close as he dared to Quil. “None of his wounds look life-threatening. I’d like to get some salve on his wrists before they get infected, but it can wait.”

Jonathan tried one more time to talk to Quil, but his friend turned away.

As the men parted, Kara saw Dawn watching from the shadows, her eyes wide with fear and sympathy. She understood. She’d lived the same pain. Though she was the daughter of settlers, her heart was Apache. Jonathan had told Kara that Dawn had no memory of her life before she became a member of the tribe.

After a long pause, Dawn lowered her bundles to the floor and unstrapped the cradleboard. She handed her sleeping baby to Kara, then moved toward the circle of lanterns.

H. B. stepped in her way as everyone stopped talking. The beautiful, blond-haired girl dressed in leather and moccasins drew everyone’s attention.

“Let her pass, H. B.,” Jonathan said in a tired voice.

The old man stepped aside.

Dawn slowly walked to Quil as if there were no one else in the barn. She knelt beside him, too close to be safely out of his reach.

The silent woman who believed her blood ran the same as Quil’s had tears streaking her cheeks as she spoke in Apache.

Quil watched with cautious eyes, as if he suspected a trap. But he didn’t try to propel his body into her as he had when the men opened the cage and managed to wrestle him out to the ground.

Dawn kept her simple movements slow. Reaching her hand into the bucket of water behind her, she scooped as much as she could in her cupped palm. When she brought the water to Quil’s lips, he drank.

Again and again, she repeated the action, giving him water a handful at a time.

“Back away,” Jonathan whispered. “Give her room. She might just save his life tonight.”

The guards melted into the shadows.

For an hour, Kara watched the strange couple. Dawn pulled a small knife from her belt and sliced an apple from her store in the pouch. Quil ate what Dawn gave him without saying a word or taking his eyes off her.

Kara stood behind Jonathan where he squatted, watching from the darkness. “Will he be all right?” She placed her hand gently on Jonathan’s shoulder.

He covered her fingers with his own. “I don’t know. If the soldiers get him as far as Fort Griffin, he’ll be hanged for sure.” He squeezed her hand. “I won’t let them leave here with Quil in that cage. I swear it.”

“How can I help?”

Jonathan glanced up at her, and for a moment, she saw the surprise in his eyes. “How far are you willing to go to help a man you hardly know?”

“As far as need be,” she answered. “And I’m not helping a man I don’t know. I’m helping you help your friend. I’ll do whatever I can.”

“You trust me that completely?”

“I do,” she said, knowing that she meant it. He was a man of honor, and she’d stand with him no matter what the cause.

Without letting go of her hand, he stood and pulled her into his arms. For a long moment, he just held her, then he whispered something in Apache against her ear.

“What are you saying?”

“The words translate, ‘you are of my tribe,’ ” he whispered. “It means forever, unbroken.”

Kara turned to look at Quil and Dawn on the ground beside the wagon. “And are they the same to you?”

“Yes.”

“Then we must help them. No matter the risk.”

While the soldiers and the ranch hands played cards in the bunkhouse and the McLain children hung stockings in the main house, Kara and Jonathan watched Dawn tend to Quil. She wrapped his bleeding wrists and washed dried blood off him. He didn’t speak to her, but his eyes showed he understood her soft words.

As the time passed, Jonathan spread his coat on the hay, and sat with his back against a stall. Kara sat next to him, leaning on his chest. The old guards moved in and out the side door, changing shifts every hour.

When Dawn’s baby cried, Kara brought the child to the young mother’s side. Turning away from Kara and Jonathan, Dawn nursed the child in full view of Quil.

After a moment, the Apache closed his eyes, as though he could endure the pain of watching mother and child no longer. For the first time, he stopped straining against the chains that spread his arms and legs.

Jonathan looked down at Kara. She lay fast asleep against his heart. “Kara,” he whispered. “Kara.”

She didn’t move.

“Kara,” he said louder, but she didn’t wake.

If he yelled any more, he’d wake the baby Dawn had rocked to sleep. Carefully, Jonathan picked Kara up and carried her across the courtyard. As she had before, she rolled into his chest as though being in his arms was the most natural thing in the world.

He slowed his steps, enjoying the feel of her steady breathing against his throat. It would be heaven to feel her sleeping beside him all night. There was a peace about this woman, he thought. A peace he’d longed for all his life.

As he entered the house, he saw Molly and his sister talking on the stairs. Molly had considered herself an old maid by the time Wolf married her. Though she was always kind, there was a hint of propriety about her that always made Jonathan watch his manners around her.

She stood, obviously alarmed, when she saw him carrying Kara. “Is something wrong? Has something happened?”

Jonathan smiled. “She’s just a sound sleeper. I’ll put her to bed.”

Both women followed him to Kara’s room. “We’ll help,” Allie said in a matter-of-fact way. “I don’t think it’s exactly proper for a man to put a young lady to bed.”

“I agree.” Molly tried to sound serious but her laughter gave her away. “A sound-asleep young lady needs watching over.”

Jonathan looked over Kara’s hair at them and frowned. “I can put her to bed without a committee. We’ve lived in the same house for months now, and this isn’t the first time she’s fallen asleep.”

Neither woman backed away. Molly pulled the covers down. “Still, it doesn’t seem right that a man tucks his bookkeeper in at night.”

“Not unless he’s properly chaperoned,” Allie added as she tried to help.

“Be careful with her glasses. They’re in her pocket. Put them on the table by her bed,” he ordered. “She likes them within her reach at dawn. And Allie, hand me another quilt. It might get colder tonight.”

Molly and Allie looked at one another and grinned.

“Very concerned for his employees,” Allie whispered.

“Wonder if he tucks Snort and H. B. in, too?” added Molly.

“What are you two hinting at?” Jonathan mumbled, not sure he really wanted to know what they thought was so funny.

“Nothing, brother, nothing at all.”