Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (68 page)

Danica shifted her weight to adjust her aching back. She huddled more deeply into her blankets. The cold seeped through even three layers of wool and her buckskin clothing. She couldn’t imagine Josh being warm with only one blanket, but he did wear a buffalo hide jacket. She focused her ears on him, trying to hear past the whistling of the wind, and the groans and creaks of the tall lodgepoles as they swayed and bent through the gale. She heard his steady rhythmic breathing, and it gave her an odd sort of comfort. 

*****

Danica woke suddenly, startled by the absolute stillness all around her. Light streamed in between the branches of the tree she found herself under. A sharp jab in her gut brought her fully awake, and she struggled to raise herself to a sitting position. One hand rubbed her stomach, the other kneaded her sore back. Her eyes darted around her little shelter. Josh was gone. The blankets fell down her shoulders, and she hastily pulled them back around herself when an icy blast of cold air hit her.

She scrambled to her knees, and crawled out from under the tree. The storm had passed. It had left behind a frozen world. The sun shone in ribbons through the canopies of the tallest lodgepoles, reflecting off the ice and fresh snow on the ground, creating the illusion of millions of shimmering crystals and diamonds. Danica had to squint to shield her eyes from the brightness of it all. The smell of wood smoke drew her attention to the man squatting on the ground some ten yards to her left. He was feeding branches to an already sizeable fire. A spit was fashioned over the pit, and a large bird hung from a skewer, juices from the cooking meat sending delicious smells through the air.

Danica’s stomach growled loudly in response. She hoisted herself awkwardly to a standing position, wobbling precariously on unsteady legs. She arched her back in a stretch, while keeping the blankets wrapped firmly around herself. Looking toward the fire, she caught Josh staring at her intently. Had he noticed? Her heart sped up. She turned, and wordlessly headed further into the forest for some privacy.

When she returned, Josh stood. He limped toward her. Just as she’d suspected, he did have another injury.

“Good morning,” she called, trying to sound cheerful. Josh pulled a large hunting knife from his belt.

“Mornin’,” he answered gruffly. “If you’re hungry, there’s some meat on the fire. If you’re still willing, I’d appreciate it if you’d remove that bullet from my shoulder.” He held out the knife for her. She glanced at the weapon, then at his bronze hand that held the blade. Finally, she met his eyes. With a slight twinge of alarm, she thought his pupils looked a little unfocused.

“Are you feeling all right?” she asked, and reached a hand up to his forehead. Josh took a step back when the back of her hand made contact with his skin. To her relief, he didn’t feel overly warm. He must simply be in a lot of pain that he tried hard to conceal.

“Yes, I’ll remove the bullet,” she said when he didn’t answer her.  ”Let me put this knife in the fire, and you tell me when you’re ready.” He nodded, and she walked past him. Danica sank to her knees, one hand pressed into the small of her back, and the other held the knife in the fire. She wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to rise from the ground without support. She felt rather than saw his presence next to her, and pulled her blankets more firmly around herself.

Minutes passed in silence, then Josh said, “the knife’s ready.”

Danica turned her head toward him, and watched him pull his shirt over his head. She stared openly, and her heart hammered against her ribs. She’d seen plenty of bare-chested men, but the magnificent display of muscles before her took her breath away. The only thing that marred the beautiful vision was the angry-looking hole in Josh’s shoulder, and the dried blood smeared down his chest. Just at his belt line above his left hip, a flesh wound stood out prominently in red against his bronze skin. Danica wondered how he could be so unaffected by the bitter cold. He dropped to his knees in front of her, and looked at her, his expression unreadable.

“Do it,” he said firmly, and pulled the knife from the flames, thrusting it at her. Danica held his eyes for a moment, then took the knife from him, her cold hand brushing against his warm one. Her fingers tingled to life instantly, the sensation radiating up her arm and down her center, to settle somewhere deep inside her. A familiar stirring and fluttering in her stomach brought her back to her senses.

Danica scooped up a handful of fresh snow, and pressed it to his wound. “Perhaps this will make it a bit numb,” she offered. Josh hadn’t moved. Once the snow melted and dripped through the cracks between her fingers down his chest and abdomen, she slowly raised the knife to the entry wound. Using her other hand as a lever to part the hole, she inserted the sharp point of the knife into the wound, and felt for the bullet. Probing with the knife and her fingers, she soon realized the projectile wasn’t deep, and she was able to lift it out easily with the knife.

Josh still hadn’t flinched, moved in any way, or emitted any sounds of discomfort. Danica knew he must be in excruciating pain, and she hastily swiped her arm across her sweaty forehead. With a final tug and scrape, the bullet protruded far enough out that she could take hold of it with two fingers. She held the bloody slug triumphantly in front of her, then quickly pressed more snow to the bleeding wound. Only then did she dare to look up at Josh. Danica’s heart leapt to her throat. Her blankets had fallen away from her while she worked. His eyes focused on her round and swollen abdomen, a deep frown on his face. Her baby kicked out sharply at that precise moment.

 ”I’m with child,” Danica stated the obvious, and she met his dark stare unflinching.

Chapter 3

Josh blinked, and tore his eyes away from the woman’s challenging stare. He glanced warily at her bulging abdomen again. While the blankets she had wrapped around herself had concealed her shape effectively, without the covers, not even a blind man could overlook that she was close to giving birth. Her plain buckskin dress hung shapelessly from her body. It had obviously been fashioned to accommodate her growing form.

Josh recognized the workmanship of the Tukudeka, close relatives to his mother’s people, the Akaideka. The dress was made from mountain sheep hide, and he knew it would be as soft and pliable as any cloth the white man could produce. The Tukudeka had been known throughout the sacred mountains for their exceptional hides and tanning abilities. Unlike traditional Tukudeka women, Danica Jensen wore leggings or breeches, he couldn’t tell which, under her dress, no doubt to ward off the cold. A Tukudeka woman would be used to the harsh elements of these mountains. Even in the coldest winters, they would not wear anything but a dress.

Josh reached for his shirt on the ground, and stood to his feet. The searing pain in his shoulder had been forgotten momentarily when his eyes caught sight of the woman’s shape. Hot daggers shot through his arm now as he lifted it to pull his shirt over his head, and he blinked to ward off the dizziness the pain brought with it.  He clenched his jaw, and steeled his mind. He’d endured injuries far worse than this.

Josh was about to turn away when he noticed the woman struggling to rise to her feet. She squatted, and pushed with her hands against the ground. After several unsuccessful attempts, she changed tactics. Getting down on one knee, she set her right foot on the ground in an attempt to heave herself upward.

Groaning in frustration, she glared up at him. “A little assistance would be appreciated,” she said with obvious annoyance in her voice.

Reluctantly, Josh held out his hand. She wrapped her fingers firmly around his open palm, and pulled herself up.

“Thank you. Try not to be so considerate next time.” Her tone dripped with sarcasm, and her emerald eyes gleamed as she glowered at him. She stretched her back. Holding her hands to her hips, she closed her eyes as she tilted her head back. Her long wavy yellow hair reached toward the ground like long blades of buffalo grass swaying in the autumn breeze.  The posture only served to emphasize her impending motherhood. Something inexplicable stirred deep within him, some warm yet dormant feeling he could not define. Josh ran his hand through his hair to push some strands out of his face, and the fleeting emotion vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Coming out of her stretch, Danica didn’t look at him, and walked wordlessly to the fire. Bending cautiously over the flames, with one hand pressed to her back, she tore off a piece of meat.

“What’s in Virginia City?” Josh asked, already regretting what he planned to do. “Your husband?”

Danica turned to face him. She chewed and swallowed, then sniggered. “No.” With her fingers, she tore off another piece of meat from the chunk she held in her other hand, studied it for a moment, then popped it in her mouth. Josh groaned silently, and clenched his jaw.  Extracting information from her proved to be more difficult that trying to steal an eagle’s egg from its nest.

“Then where is your husband?”

Danica raised her chin, and looked him squarely in the eyes. “I don’t have one,” she said in a tone that dared him to ask the next question. Josh reached for his weapon belt on the ground, the motion sending hot daggers shooting through his arm. He ignored the pain, and strapped the leather around his waist.

“What about the father of your child?” he pressed, knowing she wouldn’t provide any information on her own.

“What about him?” she countered. Her stare turned to ice.

Josh ground his teeth, and inhaled deeply. He closed his eyes for a split second, then stared heavenward. The man who had fathered her child had most likely taken leave of his mind when he involved himself with this woman. He’d probably come to his senses in time before committing himself to a lifetime of misery with her. Although Josh could sympathize, the idea bothered him. What sort of man would abandon a woman he’d gotten with child? Josh glanced at Danica. She’d turned her back on him, and stood quietly by the fire, slowly chewing the food he’d provided.

His mind kept working. Perhaps the man wasn’t at fault.  What sort of woman would lay with a man without benefit of marriage? Josh already thought she’d flirted with him the night before. Was she a loose and careless woman? By the tone of her voice, she certainly didn’t seem to hold much affection for the man who begot her child.

“I’ll take you to Virginia City,” he said quietly, the words coming before he had a chance to change his mind. His conscience simply wouldn’t allow him to leave a heavily pregnant woman to her own devices in the middle of the wilderness. Even if she was annoying as hell. She would never reach the city by herself.

Danica turned to stare at him with wide eyes. Her forehead wrinkled slightly, as if she was weighing her options. Josh knew she had no options.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” she finally said, catching him off guard. He figured she’d be grateful for his offer. “You said you were pursuing those men who shot you. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your duty.”

“You’ll never make it to the city on your own . . . in your condition.” Why the hell was he arguing with her? If he had any sense at all, he’d grab his horse and run.

“I’ve managed to get this far,” she said casually, and shrugged. “Besides, I think my condition is far less precarious than yours. At least I’m not walking around with open gunshot wounds, in danger of dying of blood poisoning.” She turned away from him and headed toward the tree that had served as their temporary shelter.

Josh simply stared after her, and watched as she cautiously sank to her knees and crawled under the branches. She had grit, he had to give her that much. Danica emerged moments later, two water bags dangling from her neck, along with a small leather pouch. When she struggled again to rise to her feet, he limped slowly toward her, his lips curving in a grin. With an exasperated sigh, she accepted his outstretched hand, and he hauled her to her feet.

“Fine, you can take me to Virginia City,” she mumbled, and bumped her elbow into his ribs as she scurried past him.

“Where’s the father of your child?” Josh called after her again, pivoting in her direction. She stopped in her tracks, but didn’t turn around. The prolonged silence made him wonder if she would answer. He prepared himself for another sarcastic retort.

“Dead,” she finally said, her tone cold as ice.

Again, she’d managed to catch him off guard. “What happened to him?”

Danica turned slowly. Their eyes met. She raised her chin and squared her shoulders. “I killed him.”

*****

Danica studied Josh’s handsome face for a reaction. His eyes narrowed, but that was all. She could only imagine what he must be thinking. She had no desire to discuss the circumstances that led to her current condition with him. He’d asked questions, and she’d answered them honestly. If he pressed for more information, she’d somehow cut him off. She didn’t owe him an explanation.

Danica slowly, tenderly, ran her hand over her protruding stomach. This child was an innocent player in all that had happened to her. He or she had not been conceived out of love, but Danica would make sure her baby would know a parent’s love and affection. She knew first-hand what it was like to be deprived of such a thing.

She was well aware that her pregnancy, not to mention her clothing, would raise eyebrows once she reached the city. She had nowhere else to go. Her father might turn her away, after the shock of seeing her wore off. After more than eight months, she was certain most people wouldn’t expect her to be alive.

She could think of no other options but to seek out her father. Danica wasn’t even sure if he still lived in Virginia City. Last spring he had talked about pulling up stakes and leaving, just as many of the other merchants had already done. The gold strikes in the area had all dried up, and most prospectors had moved on. The once sprawling city was quickly turning into a ghost town. She knew that Josh’s father, and his aunt and uncle had talked about packing up and heading out.

If her father turned her away, at least she could gather some of her belongings from her former home, and withdraw the money she’d saved in her bank account. It wasn’t much, but it would get her through a few months until she could figure out what to do. For the moment, she lived her life one day at a time. She wouldn’t allow herself to think about her uncertain future. It would only lead her down a road of despair.

Danica focused on the man standing before her. She inhaled deeply. “It’s getting late. I’m heading out. You can escort me, or not. It’s up to you.” She pivoted without much grace, and headed for a nearby tree. Selecting a sturdy branch, she wrestled with it, bending it back and forth, until it finally gave up and snapped off the trunk. She used it to gather her blankets off the ground, scooting the end of the stick under the fabric, and lifting it toward her. Smiling triumphantly, she tested her new tool’s strength by leaning on it. She would be able to use it to brace herself for getting up off the ground when needed. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of this before.

Glancing over her shoulder, Josh still stood where she left him. He watched her every move. Her heart skipped a beat. Was that admiration in his eyes? She blinked, and what she thought she’d caught in his stare was gone.
Stop your foolish thinking, Dani. You’re about to have a baby. You couldn’t catch a blind man’s eye in your condition. And certainly not a man like Josh Osborne. You already know you’re not his type.

Danica glanced around the area once more to make sure she wasn’t leaving anything of value behind. She wouldn’t bring the wood bundle this time. It had proved too much of a burden yesterday. Hopefully, she’d find dry firewood when she stopped for the night. The temperature had warmed up enough that she didn’t feel the need to wrap a blanket around herself. She didn’t want to work up a sweat. Exposure was still a risk.

Rolling up the three blankets, she flung them over her shoulder. She shook fresh snow off some tree branches into her water bags. It would melt by the time she needed a drink. Without another look to see what Josh was doing, she headed in a westerly direction.

“Would you like to ride?” Josh’s rich, deep voice sounded from directly behind her several minutes later. The rhythmic crunching sound of hoof beats on soft snow caught her ear. She hadn’t seen Josh’s horse at their makeshift camp. She turned her head, but kept walking, and quickly realized she shouldn’t have done that. With her center of gravity shifted due to her heavy abdomen, she tripped over a rock and lost her balance. A strong hand snaked out and caught her arm before she fell to the ground. Josh pulled her close to his solid body. She glanced up to look into his scowling face.

 Danica’s mind instantly transported her back in time. Five years ago, she’d stood facing him in much the same way, and her heart had no longer belonged to her. The same overwhelming feeling swooped over her at this moment, dousing her in a warm, tingling sensation that radiated throughout her body. She sucked in a deep breath, and braced her hand against his chest, taking care not to get close to his injury. Her bulging stomach brushed against his flat abdomen. The baby kicked out at that moment. Josh stared at her, his eyebrows raised, just before his gaze traveled lower to where their bodies touched. Had he felt the baby move?

“Don’t you have any common sense in that female head of yours?” he said quietly, and his lips twitched along the corners. He remembered! He’d said those exact words to her five years ago.

“Apparently not, where you’re concerned,” she said weakly, and stepped away from him on unsteady legs. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her child must have been aware of his mother’s unsettled state. She’d never felt him kick this strong and violently before. Her hands clutched her stomach, and the air left her lungs when the baby thrust a limb up beneath her ribs.

“Are you okay?” Josh asked, his voice uncharacteristically filled with concern.

Danica shook her head. “I’m fine.” She smiled up at him. “The baby’s decided to test his muscles. I’m afraid he’s using me as his punching bag.”