Twenty-seven

Midafternoon, Lara spotted a prairie schooner tilting severely to one side straight ahead, with people standing near it and a tent stretched close by. Alarms sounded in her head.

Pony Latham noticed it about the same time. “Hold up, Mrs. Legend. I’ll ride over and check it out. Might be a trap.”

He might be right, although the group seemed to be mostly women and children. Who would cross Indian Territory with a bunch of small children if they didn’t have to? She glanced at Gracie in Henry’s arms and remembered how close she’d come to losing her daughter. But who was she to judge without knowing their circumstances? Maybe they hadn’t had a choice.

Henry leaned forward with a frown. “Want I should get my rock?”

“Certainly not. I don’t think these people mean us harm.”

He shrugged. “Okay. Look at the butterfly, Gracie.”

The child pointed, jabbering with excitement, seeming to have returned to normal, thanks to Dr. Mary.

Nick and Caroline pulled up alongside. “Who are those people?” Nick asked.

“I don’t know. Pony went to check them out. Told us to wait here,” Lara answered.

Caroline craned her neck to see. “I’m so happy to find other women. They’ll give us someone new to talk to.”

Lara stifled a laugh. Except for preparing the meals, the girl spent all her time in the wagon with her husband. She doubted having others around would make much difference.

Pony had reached the travelers, and Lara stayed alert as he spoke with them. His relaxed body told her he didn’t see trouble. Soon he turned and rode back. In minutes, he pulled up beside Lara and wiped his face with a bandana.

“Their wagon has a busted wheel, ma’am,” he said. “Boss will probably camp down where they are for the night so we can help ’em fix it, but I’m just guessing on that. Not my place to say.”

“I’d say the same, Mr. Latham. My husband won’t leave anyone stranded out here.” Lara knew that much.

Clay galloped up. “A problem, Latham?”

Pony explained the situation. “We can’t very well leave ’em out here with those outlaws trailin’ us. Got a bunch of women and little kids.”

“We’ll help ’em,” Clay said. “Go on down and start making camp. I’m sure Mrs. Legend and Caroline will welcome the company of other women for a spell.”

That she would. “Thank you, Clay. I look forward to it.”

As the head drover rode back to tell Houston, Lara released the brake and drove toward the stalled group. She hoped some of the women were her age. But on the other hand, maybe an older one would know the answer to a question that burned inside her. No matter their ages, they would be a welcome sight.

A short while later, she found the perfect spot near a little stream of water and parked the wagon. Pony Latham went to join a man who sported a long, dark beard. Children ranging in age from about ten down to five ran over, asking Henry if he wanted to play hide and seek.

“I have to work,” Henry said proudly, sticking out his chest. “But I can play for a few minutes. Okay, Lara?”

“Go ahead. You’ve earned some fun.” Lara took Gracie and watched her brother scamper off with them. She knew how lonely he was both on the ranch and out here on the plains. He needed kids to play with. In size, the fourteen-year-old loomed over these small ones, but he matched them mentally, which was more important.

One of the women wearing a prairie bonnet approached her and Caroline as they climbed from their wagons. “Hi, I’m Hannah. It’s nice that you folks came along.”

Lara stuck out her hand and introduced herself. “I’m married to Houston Legend, the owner of those longhorns coming yonder. We’re headed to Dodge City to sell them.”

Caroline did the same, adding that she was a newlywed. She appeared curious about the young woman who was clearly in the family way. “Is this your first, Hannah?”

“It is and I’m very excited.” Hannah’s smile lit up her face. “Time seems to drag its heels, though. I’m getting impatient to have this babe.” She tickled Gracie under the chin and set off a round of giggles. “You have the prettiest little girl. Can I hold her?” she asked Lara.

“She’s a tad on the rambunctious side, so be careful.” Lara handed the kicking child over. “Her name is Gracie. Do you have names picked out for yours yet?”

“Hiram the fifth for a boy, because that’s my husband’s name, and Abigail for a girl.”

“Good names. How much longer do you have?” Lara asked.

“About four weeks.” Hannah drew some other women forward. “These are Martha, Sarah, and Ruth.”

Lara found the women warm and friendly. The dark-haired Ruth appeared the oldest, judging by a few lines around her mouth. She carried a small toddler who looked to be about two or three years old. He buried his face against his mother.

“What a handsome boy, Ruth. What’s his name?”

“Hiram the fourth.” Ruth smoothed his dark hair. “I named him after his father.”

Caroline asked to hold Hiram the fourth and hugged him to her, a dreamy look on her face.

“But I thought… Hannah, aren’t you naming your child the same thing if it’s a boy?” Lara thought this was the oddest thing. Why would both use the same name? Maybe it was some kind of competition between them, or perhaps a long-standing joke of some sort. Yes, that must be it.

Hannah jiggled Gracie. “Yes, I just love that name.”

“I’m going to name our son Nick when he’s born.” Caroline put Ruth’s baby on her shoulder and patted little Hiram’s back, the dreamy expression still glued on. “I can’t wait to have a baby. Nick and I are trying very hard.”

They certainly were. Lara would give them top marks for effort.

Sarah came forward. “We’re so relieved you came along. We’ve been stuck here for three days. We saw some Indians in the distance but they didn’t approach us.”

“I’m glad we can help. I just pray we don’t bring our trouble to you.” Lara explained about the men trailing behind, sparing them the details. That was Houston’s place and he may not want to frighten these women if the threat was over.

Standing beside her, Caroline jostled little Hiram, who was grunting and squirming to get down. Everyone else could’ve vanished as far as the girl was concerned. She was dreaming of motherhood.

Sarah pushed back a stray hair, tucking it inside her bonnet. “Thank goodness your men were able to send them running. We’ll warn Hiram.”

Houston arrived with the herd, and Lara’s gaze followed his tall, lean form as he dismounted near the only man with these women and offered a handshake. For a moment she forgot about these ladies, her attention drawn to the bulging muscles of Houston’s forearms just below his rolled-up sleeves.

Her heart raced in anticipation of more stolen kisses. With luck, he’d lie beside her again with night’s shadows around them and make her feel like the luckiest woman alive—all safe and protected as though he cherished her. She prayed one day he could. He’d said she drove him crazy with need, but that seemed only to mean physical. He hadn’t said he loved her. Maybe he never would.

If he just treated her with kindness and cared for her, it would be enough.

Yet, in her heart she knew it wouldn’t. She needed all of Houston with nothing held back.

Martha appeared shy but she smiled, showing pretty dimples. “Aren’t you afraid to go on this trail drive with all these men, Lara?”

“No, I’m not afraid. My husband won’t let anything happen to me or our daughter. That’s him standing over there.” Lara thought Houston looked especially handsome, even covered in a layer of trail dust.

She licked her lips that had gone dry. “But even if my husband weren’t here, I wouldn’t worry. These drovers are nothing but kind and care about me and the baby.” Lara laughed. “You’d think they were all Gracie’s fathers the way they carry on sometimes.”

Hannah leaned close. “Your husband is very tall with such broad shoulders. He’ll give you many more fine children.”

Lara’s cheeks grew hot. She really should explain about Gracie, but she couldn’t. Somehow she didn’t think it was important. Houston was her daughter’s father and that was that.

As for other children? The thought sent old fear rising up, where earlier she’d felt nothing but excitement. She had to get over that, fighting to tamp it down. Sometimes in the dead of night, she pictured herself lying naked in Houston’s arms, feeling the beat of his heart and hearing his deep voice whispering words of love in her ear. Kissing her and…

“Lara?” Ruth asked.

“Yes?” Lara dragged her attention back to the women.

“You were a million miles away,” Hannah said. “I hope we’re not keeping you from your work. We just wanted to meet you and Caroline.”

“I do have to start cooking for the drovers soon.” Lara took Gracie from Hannah. “Oh, I just had a thought. What if we pool the food, share the work, and all eat together?”

Ruth glanced toward Hiram. “We’ll see what Hiram says, but it sounds like a wonderful idea.” The woman reached for her son and let him down. If she hadn’t kept a firm grip, he would’ve taken off running. Ruth softly scolded the boy, “Oh, no you don’t. You have to stay with me, little man.”

“He sure doesn’t like to stay still.” With the toddler gone from her arms, Caroline emerged from her trance at last. “You’ve probably guessed that I’m very young. I need to find out all about babies. Nick and me are going to be having a whole houseful, so I’ve gotta get to my learning.”

Lara smiled at the young girl’s zeal. Caroline didn’t know how much work babies were or how fast they could be stripped from you. And she didn’t know it took more than a child to make a marriage complete.

“Ladies, there’s really no need to eat separately,” Lara pointed out again. “And besides, Caroline and I both want to talk to you more before we have to go our separate ways.”

Something had to explain the tingles when Houston glanced at her and the way her stomach flipped when they kissed and touched. If she dared, maybe she’d ask the questions that had burned inside for the past two weeks. Surely they could tell her how a woman knew if she was in love.

Or if it would hurt when Houston made love to her.

And if it did…could she hide it from him?

She wouldn’t be able to bear the hurt in Houston’s eyes if it all went wrong.