Bride of the Wild (18 page)

“Yes, I do.” I would finally be able to speak with him, having waited all day for this moment. “I’m ready as ever.”

“Excellent.” He began to walk away, but not as fast as before, waiting for me to catch up.

I glanced over my shoulder at Micah, who frowned. Bryce patted him on the shoulder in a conciliatory manner, offering his nonverbal support. Oddly, in that moment, I felt the most ridiculous urge to return to him, and every step I took in the other direction felt leaden. I would not be able to ponder this strange phenomenon, because Silas and I joined Deputy Thomas then, while the other men broke into groups of threes, heading in differing directions to look for the bear den.

We scrambled partially down the side of a cliff, which led to a clearing, through which a stream ran, the water scintillating in the sunlight. It smelled earthy and damp here, the grasses nearly as high as my waist. Silas glanced in all directions, sometimes stopping by a fallen tree to check for a hole. I wanted to be helpful, observing everything keenly, but nothing looked suitable for a sleeping place for bears.

“I’m hoping the others are having more luck,” said Leonard. “This isn’t promising in the least.”

“You never know when you might come upon them. We should be mindful of that.”

The sun had begun to dip, as if too heavy to hold itself up, the ground speckled with shadows. I wouldn’t say it, but I suspected we would have to camp for the night. It had not been as easy as everyone hoped, because we had yet to find a bear. “Should I fill my jar with water?” I knelt by the stream, which felt cool beneath my fingers. “I can boil it later.”

“You’ve read my mind.” Silas came to stand beside me, his leather boots scuffed. “We might have to sleep here tonight. Even if we turn back now, we’ll be walking in the dark. Did anyone bring a lantern?”

“Sheriff Palmer did.”

“Well,” he grinned, flashing white teeth, “that’s something.” He squatted next to me. “I’m rather disappointed in this Micah fellow. I would’ve thought he’d be a better scout. He has almost nothing to offer, besides delaying us an hour digging a hole for that Indian.” He picked up a stone and threw it into the water.

“She deserved a proper burial, Indian or not, Silas.”

“It held us up. We could’ve been here earlier, ascertained nothing was here, and headed back.”

It irritated me that he thought so poorly of Micah. “I’m taking this water for later.” I screwed the lid on the jar, sliding it into my skirt pocket. “I’m going to keep looking.” I gripped the weapon, determined to be useful, although I felt anything but.

“I’ll join you.”

“I’d like that. I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you.”

“You’re keeping up rather well for a woman. I don’t believe I’ve heard you complain once yet, but the going has been rather easy. It’s usually when things are difficult that females start to whine. I know Susan would’ve been impossible to deal with. She’s dreadfully slow on family walks, when we have picnics. Moving from the carriage to the blanket is quite the ordeal.”

“I want to be helpful. I’m perfectly fine.”

“I can see that.”

We skirted around a piling of rocks, treading carefully. If bears lurked, we might accidentally stumble upon them, and that could be disastrous. “Not all women are inept and whine, Silas.”

“Most are rather helpless.”

I ignored that comment. “It seems Mrs. Faris was sorry to see you leave this morning. She’s grown rather fond of you.”

“She’s a friend of Susan’s. Her husband was killed during the Jicarilla War. She has some stories to tell about the White Massacre that are rather unbelievable.” Settlers traveling west by wagon were attacked by a band of Jicarillas and Utes, which resulted in an intense manhunt, lead by the 1
^st
Cavalry. None of the settlers survived the attack or the rescue.

“How awful. I had no idea.”

“You’re invited to dinner as soon as we return home. Then you can listen for yourself. She’s a talented storyteller.”

I hated the twinge of jealously that prickled. “I imagine. Did she live in New Mexico?”

“No, but her husband was dispatched there, as part of the 1
^st
Cavalry. He was at the garrison near Taos.”

“In the thick of it all, I see. I’m sorry he lost his life. It must be a hardship for her.”

“She’s living with Jane Philips now and traveling to California. They’ll stay here for the winter, though. It’s too dangerous to try the mountains this late.”

We had cleared the rocks, finding nothing of interest. Then from above us, a voice shouted, “I got something!”

I did not know who had spoken, but gunfire erupted, the sound shattered the quietude of the day, sending a flock of birds into the sky.

Chapter Twenty

We hurried back the way we came, scrambling around the boulders to wade through tall grasses that grew by the stream. My heart pounded, not just from the exercise, but also from fear. Whatever had happened above us had resulted in gunfire. Deputy Thomas and Silas drew their weapons, and I followed closely, determined not to straggle. When we reached the site of the incident, we found everyone had gathered, Micah glancing in my direction.

“I’m an idiot,” said Butch Cashman. My weapon discharged by accident. Sorry about that.” He grinned wryly. “Come see what Wesley found.” He pointed to a darkened hole in the ground. “This might be something rather useful.”

I approached, relieved the gunshot had been accidental. “What is it?” They stared into the hole. Silas and I looked at the same time, seeing the furry forms of three baby bears.

“Isn’t it a bit early in the season for this?” asked the sheriff.

“Litters aren’t typically born until January or February, so yes. It’s too early.” Micah seemed perplexed, his brows furrowing.

“Then why are there babies now?” I asked. The animals slept, curled up against one another.

“Who cares,” said Butch. “This is exactly what we need. We can use them as bait to attract the mother bear. I say we put ‘em in a net and hang them from a tree. Then we wait for the big bear to come and shoot it.”

“Excellent idea,” agreed Silas. “Who brought a net?”

I wandered towards Micah, who stood by an aspen, leaning against it. “What do you think?”

“They’ll do whatever they want.”

“It seems like a sound plan.”

“If it works.”

“I wonder how long before the mother comes?”

“The problem is, how do we know an infected bear gave birth to those babies? They seem healthy enough. They’re too early, but maybe they’re not black bears. Maybe it’s some other species. If we’re especially lucky, it’ll be a grizzly bear.”

I detected a hint of humor, as he fought a smile. “That would be even more dangerous.”

“Yes.”

The men had taken the babies from the shallow den, talking amongst themselves about which tree to hang the bundle from. “I guess we’ll find out soon enough. They seem healthy. Something’s been taking care of them. The mother will return.”

He eyed Silas, who had thrown a rope around a limb. “I’d get somewhere safe, if I were you.” The babies, sensing something was amiss, had begun to cry, the sound utterly strange, but
loud
. “Like right about now.” He took my arm, pulling me away. “I’d get outta sight, boys,” he warned.

Micah dragged me up the mountain, but we weren’t alone, because the sheriff had joined us, panting raggedly. “It won’t be long now.” He grasped his weapon. “I’d say those rocks should do. We can hide behind them and observe what’s happening.” The others had hidden as well, and taken up positions.

When we had reached our objective, I glanced at the small clearing below, seeing the baby cubs dangling within the net. Their high-pitched cries filled the air, because all three had begun to shriek. Micah stared down the sights of his weapon at the scene below, while the sheriff did the same. I gazed around, expecting to see Silas, but he had gone in another direction, standing with Butch, Bryce, and the other men across the way. He waved, grinning, clearly enjoying the moment.

We waited for no more than a few minutes before a dark shape emerged, scampering out from within the trees. I had hoped the mother’s condition would be assessed before she was killed, but a volley of gunfire erupted, none of the shots originating from our weapons.

The sheriff frowned. “Hold your fire!” The animal fell to the ground, unmoving. “You numbskulls!” He scrambled down the hill, stumbling over his booted feet to emerge upon the scene, where the babies continued to cry. He bent over the bear, examining her. “She’s not rabid! Dang blasted! We were supposed to watch her for disease. You killed a perfectly healthy bear.”

I glanced at Silas across the way, who did not seem surprised by this turn of events. “Goodness,” I murmured unhappily.

“The babies were healthy,” Micah said. “There was no reason for the mother to be sick.”

“Oh, that’s terrible. What about the babies?”

“They’ll die,” he said starkly.

“This didn’t need to happen.”

“Let’s go down. We should make camp for the night.”

He moved to pass me, but I grabbed his arm. “What would you do? How would you find the bears?”

“I wouldn’t have. They’re diseased. They’ll die on their own.”

“Then why did we come here? Why did you let us?”

“I have no control over these men, Saffron. They’ll do whatever they want. Your beau is determined to make a fool outta himself. Why should I stop him? You were determined to join him, and that’s where I draw the line. I’m not here for the bears. I’m here for you.”

Something twisted in my chest, and, as our eyes met, I wanted to deny the connection I had begun to feel, but I could not. “I thought it would be easier. Maybe we can keep the babies alive and take them with us as bait?”

“Only the mother would care, and she’s dead.” He glanced at where my hand was, because I had not let go. “I know you want to prove yourself and be helpful, and perhaps you’ll get that chance. My only responsibility is to make sure you get home in one piece. I made that promise to your father, and I keep my promises.”

I released his arm. “You shouldn’t feel responsible. I’m perfectly able of taking care of myself.” I watched him carefully, expecting to see some form of denial or to hear what men usually said, that women are weak and incapable, but no such words came from him.

“Feeling responsible for you isn’t a hardship. I’m actually enjoying every hour I spend out here, despite being surrounded by a mob of idiots. They could fall off the side of the mountain for all I care, but just not you.”

“Saffron! Where are you?” called Silas at a distance. “It’s safe now. The bear’s dead.”

“I'm here! We’re coming!” I led the way, while Micah followed, but my thoughts remained in turmoil, the words he had spoken echoing in my head. But I had to think of something else. “So, it seems we might be here tonight. Where should we camp?”

“Near water. We’re in no danger from flood at the moment.”

I glanced over my shoulder, intending to continue the conversation, when I spotted something that made my stomach drop. An equal measure of panic and fear ran swiftly through my veins. I fought the instinct to scream, grasping the rifle and bringing the stock to my shoulder. I aimed at the object that scampered towards us at astounding speed and fired, the sound nearly deafening.

Micah, having seen me lift the weapon, fired then as well, both of our bullets connecting with the bear, who had come within ten feet of us, foaming at the mouth, with eyes ablaze. This creature was far larger than the mother bear, and it had not stopped its approach. I loaded another cartridge as fast as I could, aiming and shooting, while Micah did the same. The animal roared ferociously, throwing its large, furry head back, while spittle flung from its mouth. Too close to shoot now, Micah withdrew a knife, the blade glinting in what remained of the late afternoon sun, but we mercifully wouldn’t need it, because the bear stumbled then, its enormous body tumbling to the ground at our feet.

Stunned, I stared at the animal, while someone shouted, “What was that? What happened?”

An enormous grin split Micah’s face. I could not recall ever seeing him smile this brightly, his rugged features looking boyish. “You saved my skin!” he exclaimed. “If you hadn’t seen it when you did, we’d both be dead right now.”

“It was pure chance. I hadn’t heard a thing.” My breathing had yet to return to normal, my heart pounding.

“What’s happening? Saffron?” Silas appeared, holding a rifle before him. “By all that’s holy. What on earth happened? Where did this creature come from?” He strode towards us, followed by the rest of our party, who all held weapons. “This must be the feral bear. Just look at its mouth. It’s foaming badly.” He kicked the prone animal with the tip of his boot. “It certainly looks dead.”

The sheriff approached, gazing at the bear. “I’ll be darned. Nice job, folks. Must’ve been the daddy. He sure is big.”

“I doubt that,” said Micah. “It’s rabid, though. I wouldn’t eat the meat, but I’d skin it. The hide’s worth a pretty penny.”

Butch and Wesley stood nearby with Bryce, who grinned. “That was a close call,” he said.

“She saw it first. She shot first.” Micah pointed at me. “She saved my life. I didn’t even hear the darn thing. It was no more than ten feet behind me, and I didn’t hear it.” Appreciation shone in his eyes. “She’s a fine shot, all right. Your bullets hit him between the eyes. I think mine grazed the ear.”

“It doesn’t matter.” I lowered the weapon with trembling hands, the adrenaline from the attack had yet to abate. “We aren’t going back today, are we?”

“It’s getting late,” said Sheriff Palmer. “We should make camp.” The sound of baby bears echoed in the distance. “We’re gonna eat some bear tonight and skin the rest. That should make a rather nice supper.”

“I’ll scout out a spot,” said Wesley. “Someone else can take over the slaughtering responsibilities.”

“I’ll skin this bear,” said Butch. “Unless someone else wants to.”

Silas strode towards me. “I don’t.” He held out his hand. “Come along, Saffron, you little bear killer, you. Let’s build the fire. I’m parched.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Who brought the whiskey? I think we’re in need of a celebration.”