Dorothy Garlock (37 page)

Annie Lash began to concentrate all her attention on the sounds around her. She heard a night bird call again and again, and wondered if it was a bird or if there were Indians in the woods. An owl hooted from a nearby tree and then took off on lazy wings, dodging between the branches. The peeper frogs in the backwaters of the river sang their nightly chorus. She strained her eyes, but not a shadow moved.

Once she heard her father telling Zan that the minutes preceding inevitable danger were the slowest minutes of a lifetime. She had not understood what he meant at the time. Now she did. The minutes seemed like hours as she waited. Life was suddenly very precious. For at this moment in time she could hear and feel as she had at no other time in her life. Waiting to be killed she realized that this must be the way a soldier felt before a battle. Her senses were honed and alert. The smells and the sounds she had formerly ignored or forgotten were now remembered and appreciated.

Annie Lash heard the lonely, dismal call of the whippoorwill, then the monotonous hoot of an owl. On the other side of the clearing, near where the thick forest loomed, she thought she saw movement, but the night was so black she couldn’t be sure, and her eyes became glued to the spot. There was movement! A dark form glided toward her, moving slowly and smoothly. Inch by inch it advanced, the seconds passing as minutes.

Swifter than thought a second shadow leaped upon the first, swinging a hatchet. The first shadow parried the blow with the thrust of a knife. Then began a duel in which strength and fury were matched against savage cruelty and cunning. The one dodged the vicious swings of the hatchet, anyone of which would have crushed his skull. The other, nimble as a cat, avoided every rush while he waited to kill. Annie Lash caught a glimpse of a white head and her blood raced to her ears and pounded there. The fight ended abruptly when a knife thrusted deeply into a human chest and an agonized cry rent the darkness. One shadow crumbled, fell, and slowly straightened out on the damp ground.

At that moment, from the depths of the trees above came a swelling cry that ended in a wail like that of a lost soul. Following the sound was a dull thud, a grunt, and the sound of something falling through the branches above her head. Then a limp and heavy body hit the ground to the right of where she cringed against the tree. She closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to see. When she opened them a man loomed over her.

“Are you all right?”

Jefferson! Oh, thank the blessed Lord! Fingers worked at the rag tied across her mouth. She spit out the rag and gagged.

“Two,” she croaked. “There are . . . two.”

“We got them both.” He cut the thong that bound her hands and she cried out in pain when they fell apart.

“Jefferson . . .” She could scarcely get a sound from her dry throat.

“Can you stand?” He lifted her to her feet.

“I think so,” she whispered hoarsely, her throat and mouth so dry they felt as if she’d swallowed sand. She wanted him to hold on to her, but he moved away.

“Mademoiselle?”
Light was beside her and took her arm when she staggered on numbed legs.

“Oh, Light! I’m all right.” She rubbed her hands together and moved her shoulders to relieve the ache between them. “I was so scared. Jefferson . . .” He bent over the man on the ground and his back was to her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. My foolish action almost cost you your life.”

“And yours,” he said curtly. “Did you get their weapons, Light?”

“
Oui.
I will bring them and the pack.”

Jeff reached out and took one of the long guns from him. “I’ll carry this. Are you ready to go?” he asked Annie Lash.

She nodded, then thinking he didn’t see her, murmured, “Yes. Thank you. Thank you both. I don’t know—”

“Let’s go then,” Jeff said, cutting her off abruptly.

Jeff led off through the trees. Annie Lash stumbled after him on wobbling legs. He was angry! He was very angry and she was afraid she was going to give way to a storm of weeping. She continued to put one foot before the other while she fought a losing battle with her rebellious stomach. Her head whirled and her stomach churned. When she could control it no longer she staggered a few steps to a small tree, grabbed hold of it so she wouldn’t topple over, and the contents of her stomach came spilling out. She moaned with pain when she opened her jaw. When it was over she wiped her face and mouth on the hem of her dress, grateful for the darkness that had prevented them from seeing her.

Jeff took her arm in a firm grip and they walked at a slower pace. She had broken out in a cold sweat when her stomach convulsed, and now she was trembling violently. She hated the show of weakness. But somehow pride surfaced to give her strength and she plodded on, determined to be no more bother to him than necessary. Her heart rejoiced that he was safe. He had escaped the assassins once again.

“How did you find me? It was so dark.”

“It wasn’t hard. It was still light when we got there.” His words were clipped, impersonal.

“It was light? Then you saw—”

“If we’d gone in then, he’d have used you as a shield, killed you. We waited until we could get them one at a time.”

“That’s what they were going to do to you. They thought Will would come alone.”

Jeff didn’t reply and they walked on in silence.

At the bank Jeff sprang up, reached down and pulled her up beside him. There were no hugs and tender kisses like the ones they exchanged the last time he had helped her up the bank. He was as remote as a stranger and if not for the warm clasp of his hand beneath her elbow, she might as well be alone in the darkness.

Her head throbbed painfully and she was deaf to the sounds of the night that only a short while ago she heard so clearly and in the past had so often pleasured her. The worst part of her pain was buried in the back of her mind and it floated on the periphery of her thoughts, tormenting her, reminding her that by her foolish, selfish actions she had spoiled something that had been so very beautiful.

The house was in total darkness when they came up the path from the creek. Jeff’s hand left her elbow and formed a cup around his mouth. He gave out the low, mournful cry of a mourning dove. Instantly, a shadow separated itself from the house and came to meet them.

“Did ya get ’er?” She recognized Will’s voice.

“Yeah.”

“She a’right?”

“Yeah.”

“And them?”

“Dead.”

Through the dark haze of pain Annie Lash registered in her mind this short exchange of words. They were talking about her life and Jeff’s. How can they discuss what happened in so few words? she thought, with the distant part of her mind. She felt lightheaded, like she was floating. The torturous walk was making every step known to her aching body.

When they reached the house she didn’t bother to raise her head until Callie’s arms enfolded her. Then the dam broke and the agony of the day and especially the last few hours bubbled up and out of her in an eruption of tears. She was led blindly to her room. Jeff let her go without a word. Safely behind the closed door, Callie lit a candle and turned to look at her ravaged, swollen face, her hair stringing wild and loose from her braid, and her dirty, torn dress.

“Oh, you poor thing! I was so worried. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m just tired and my head feels like a thousand hammers are pounding on it.” She looked at Callie through eyes streaming with tears. “I’m so glad to be back here with you, Callie. Those terrible men that took me had come here to kill Jefferson and Will. They caught me down by the river. They said I was bait. I knew they’d do terrible things to me before I died. I was scared for Will and Jefferson, too.”

“Light came to tell us—” she hesitated. “He told us the men had come upriver. Oh, Annie Lash, why did you wander so far from the house?”

“Maggie wanders all over.” That was the only defense she could think of.

“Maggie’s not like us. She’s different. There’s something not quite real about that girl.” Callie poured water in the washbasin. “Get out of that dress. Let me help you wash up so you can get in the bed. This has been a day none of us will ever forget.”

“How’s Amos?” She lifted the filthy dress over her head and pulled off her shoes and stockings.

“He’s sleeping. He’ll be fine in a day or two.”

“I’m sorry I ran off and left you, Callie, after I promised to stay near.”

“That part was all right. I’m just so thankful you’re back and the men didn’t do what they came to do.” She smiled. “We’re all still together. That’s what’s important.”

Washed and in a clean nightdress, Annie Lash sank down in the bed, her aching head loving the feel of the soft pillow beneath it. She stretched out her sore limbs. It was pure heaven to be in the soft bed.

“Tell Jefferson I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused him,” she said behind a yawn.

“Here he is. Tell him yourself,” Callie said and slipped out the door.

Her eyes flew open and there he was, staring down at her. She wanted to cry again. She lay in stunned silence, wanting to tell him how she felt, but even her numbed mind knew he was in no mood to listen. His face was streaked with dirt and sweat, and his eyes, dark and as cold as the bottom of a well, raked her face.

“Jefferson—” She tried to firm her quivering voice.

The tension in him was so strong that she was shaking from it. She couldn’t reconcile this Jefferson with the one who had lain in this bed with her and made such tender love to her only last night.

“Get a good rest. I have plenty to say to you, but it’ll wait till later.” With that he turned away from her, blew out the candle, and went out the door, closing it behind him.

She lay in the dark, filled with misery and bewilderment, her mind going in a thousand directions until her tired body overcame her tired mind and she dropped into a dreamless sleep.

*  *  *

Annie Lash woke from a nightmare in which she was wandering on a vast open plain looking for Amos. She pushed herself up onto a bent elbow, blinked, and swept the hair back from her eyes. The ghost of a headache was still there, but she felt vastly improved. Shaking off the fogginess, she flipped back the covers and sat up on the side of the bed.

Did she hear Biedy’s voice? She tilted her head to listen. Yes, it
was
Biedy’s voice; scolding, commanding, cajoling. What was she doing here so early in the morning? But was it early? The light coming in through the window told her it was not early morning. She went to the washbasin and splashed water on her face and dried it with the towel.

Callie opened the door and came in. “Mornin’. Feelin’ better this mornin’?”

“Much better. Is that Biedy’s voice I hear?”

“Yes, Biedy is here, as is Silas and three of their boys. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry, Maggie’s folks, are here, too.”

Annie Lash’s eyes closed. “What’s happened?” she asked tightly, opening her eyes to look at Callie.

“That’s what I wanted to tell you before you came out. You were too tired last night. Jason is dead. The neighbors, out of respect for Jefferson and the boys, have come for the burying.”

“Oh, Callie!” Annie Lash sank down on the bed and pulled Callie down beside her. “How did it happen?”

Callie repeated what Jeff had told her before he and Light went to look for her as well as the lesser details Will had provided during the long wait.

“It’s wicked, I know,” Callie said softly. “But I can’t be sorry, except for Jefferson’s sake. Jason had a demon in him at times. He would never have been happy and content at anything. He didn’t know how,” she added sadly.

“Ah . . . poor Jefferson! Do you realize all that happened to that man yesterday? Hartley tried to kill all of us, and then took Amos. His brother coming to such a tragic end! Then, if that wasn’t enough, he had to come for me, knowing men had come to kill him!” Annie Lash felt chill bumps pop out on her neck and arms when she thought of the accusations she had flung at him before she ran off into the woods.

“It seems it’s always been this way for Jefferson. He’s had to get Jason out of first one thing and then the other. He even had to provide a home for his brother’s wife and children. But he has you now to stand by him and help him. If ever a man deserved to be happy, he does.” When Annie Lash didn’t answer, Callie got up from the bed. “Get dressed and come on out, or Biedy will be in here to see about you.”

*  *  *

The group that gathered around the box that held Jason’s body were there out of respect for Jeff. Silas and Biedy sang “Rock of Ages,” his deep tones and her melodious ones united in beautiful harmony. Silas read a scripture from the Bible. Annie Lash couldn’t help thinking how Jason would have sneered at the simple service.

Jeff stood on one side of the grave with his hat in his hand. Callie, holding Abe in one arm, her other hand holding tightly to that of her older son, stood on the other side. After the service was over, they all stood silently while the Cornick boys filled the grave. After it was filled, Biedy handed a bouquet of wild flowers to Amos.

“Lay them on your pa’s grave, Amos,” Callie said gently.

The child took the flowers and placed them carefully on the heap of black dirt. He was dry-eyed and solemn. Then, instead of returning to his mother, he went to the end of the grave and took Will’s hand. Will swung him up in his arms and carried him back to the house.

There was a flurry of activity in the kitchen as the women laid out the noon meal. Biedy and Mrs. Gentry had brought food and it was placed alongside the hastily prepared meal Callie and Annie Lash had put together. There were enough men to fill the table. Amos took his seat beside Will. The women waited their turn to eat, talking in low tones out of respect for the occasion, fetching extra bread and refilling mugs with strong, hot tea.

While the women ate, Annie Lash told of being taken by the woodsmen. They wanted to know every gory detail. But she couldn’t repeat some of the things that had happened to her. They were brought to mind often enough each time her sore nipple touched her dress, and now, when she was unable to eat the baked chicken Biedy had brought or the nut pie which Mrs. Gentry was so proud of. The large, purple bruise on the side of her face caused the women to click their tongues in an expression of sympathy, and shake their heads.