Jodi's Journey (29 page)

“You'll all get a bonus of fifty dollars for
swimming them every river and a take on all the strays we picked up
along the way. Your return home will be paid for. You can go by
rail or by cowpony, whichever you like,” Hunt said, seeing all the
men were well pleased. “We got a little over four thousand cows,
six hundred belonging to Mr. Williams down by Salado. And I want to
thank each and every one of you for sticking with me and helping
out so well. I'd be proud to have you on the next drive.”

The men nodded and got back to the herd.
Everyone seemed in a jovial mood.

Hunt was pleased.

Jodi looked at Hunt, her cheeks turning a
bright crimson. “I want you to know I threw the tansy away.”

“I'm sure glad of that,” Hunt said with a
curl to his lips.

“I-I guess I should tell you, well…” She
hesitated, her face a mask of emotions as she spoke. “I told the
boys...well, when I thought you were dead. I told them this baby
was yours.”

Hunt looked at her closely, his eyes holding
hers. “Thanks.”

“I just saw how disappointed they were when
they all thought you were dead. Everyone was so sad, I couldn't
stand it. I thought it might make them…somehow happier. And it did!
Actually, it made me happier, too.”

Hunt pulled her to him. “I'm very glad you
did that, Jodi. And I'm also glad I'm not dead. I have been doing a
lot of thinking about you and me. And there are a few things I'd
like to talk to you about when we finish up our business. But for
now, can I have another one of those Texas-sized kisses you were
handing out back there?”

Without asking twice, she grabbed his neck
and pulled him down to her. “You can have as many as you want.”

“Only one,” he whispered. “Any more than that
and I wouldn't be making it back to the herd.”

The kiss was long and drugging and promised
more than Hunt hoped for, but he still held back a little. He had
some things to talk to her about and he wasn't sure how she was
going to react to some of it. The idea of her rejecting him after
all they'd been through tore at his heart more than he wanted to
admit. After the ordeal on the creek bank, he was more than certain
of his feelings for Jodi. He just wanted to make sure she knew how
she felt.

Still, his hands stole around her and he held
her against him tight. He kissed her till she was breathless and
wanting much more. He wasn't sure how she felt about everything,
but her kisses promised heaven. For a short while, he was going to
enjoy them. He felt too good to worry right now.

“We'll ride into town in the morning and see
what we can find,” he said as he turned her loose and tried not to
think about taking what she offered.

Jodi backed away from him, her face quite
still and furrowed.

“All right, I'll be ready,” she said, and got
back into the wagon.

He knew she didn't understand his reluctance.
He didn't understand it, except somehow he knew that if she didn't
accept what he had to tell her, then everything would change.
Again.

He rode up to Cole and spelled him from the
first herd. They had strung the cattle out well and everything was
moving along fine. Everything but the worry he had created in
Jodi.

If Waco and Ft. Worth had been wide open
towns, then Abilene was a law unto itself. Not as big as Waco, yet
it was growing, and all because of one man with a vision. McCoy was
his name.

There was a shoddy-looking row of sod houses
that employed gambling and prostitution.

Jodi looked around the town. She wasn't sure
why, but she kept expecting to find something different in each
town, and didn't. But when she saw the newly built stock yards, and
the hotel, The Drover's Cottage, she knew she had found something
just a tad out of the ordinary. This town catered to drovers.

She also didn't understand Hunt. It
embarrassed her that she had thrown herself at him so. She vowed
never to do that again. She'd let her guard down, trusted him. He
was acting as though he didn't want her. Maybe he had had time to
reconsider his words. Or maybe it was because he was at the end of
the line and the prospect of having a wife and child didn't appeal
any longer. She didn't know, but she wouldn't do it again, she
vowed silently.

Now that the herd was being delivered, she
could relax about everything but her and Hunt.

She silently wished the baby wouldn't move so
much. It made her so much more aware of what her future held, a
future that may or may not have Hunt in it. She squashed all her
private feelings, because for now, there was business to attend
to.

They went to the Drover's Cottage. It was a
rather large, three story hotel with a huge veranda and a good
eye's view of the cattle yards. A man with a vision, McCoy was
going to quickly turn Abilene into a cow town.

They entered and spoke with the proprietress,
a rather handsome woman with a rare, open warmth about her and an
air of authority they quickly recognized. They introduced
themselves and asked for an appointment with the buyers on their
list. They got one right away with the first name, as they were the
first bunch of drovers to come to town. The buyer was from Missouri
and he was very interested in the cattle. He met them in the
billiards room and spoke all the while he played. Hunt found it
strange that a man conducted his business this way, but kept quiet
and listened.

This buyer was only paying nineteen dollars a
head. Hunt talked with the man while Jodi tried her best to keep up
with the business end of it. After a long while, Hunt thanked the
man and said he'd be in touch.

As they walked out of the hotel, though, Hunt
shook his head. “We can do better than that, I’m sure of it.”

“Nineteen a head isn't bad.” She defied him,
anxious to get this part of the trip over with.

“Maybe, but we came a long ways and we didn't
lose a head. We deserve as much as we can get for them. Let's hear
a few out before we jump.” Hunt surprised her with his
determination to do better. Jodi wasn't against more money, that
was for sure.

Knowing he made good business sense she
didn't argue further, but she wanted to. As usual, Hunt was making
the best decision for them all, she knew it. It was pure
stubbornness on her part as she persisted to agitate him in every
way she could. Even her own mind warred with her, making her wonder
why she was acting so stubborn.

The next appointment came that afternoon.
Hunt knew he could impress them with his figures and facts, since
he'd personally seen to the herd and brought them in.

He was right on target. The buyers were more
than a little impressed with his double responsibility and didn't
fail to let him know it. Jodi listened and was amazed at how these
men wanted to impress Hunt now. Begrudgingly, she had to admit,
he'd done a great job of bringing those cattle through. Much better
than she had ever hoped for.

“Mr. Johnson, you did our company a huge
favor by bringing that herd in like you did. We didn't expect it.
We'd heard some rumors that there was trouble and I got a telegram
that the trail boss was killed. I figured we'd lost the entire herd
then. What you did was quite remarkable and your crew should be
more than paid for their troubles. We'd like to make a deal with
you on this and even your own herd if you're interested. We'd be
willing to pay your men double their salaries, give them a bonus,
and pay for any extras you picked up along the way. That could come
to a considerable amount since we're offering the going price of
twenty-four dollars a head. And as a reward, we'd like to pay all
expenses. Honestly, we never thought we'd see a head from that
herd.”

Hunt was not only thrilled, but amazed at
doing business with such honest and forthright men. He shook hands
on it, and signed the deal then and there with Jodi's approval.

Jodi couldn't help but be elated. She never
figured on that much for the cattle, nor anyone offering such a
great deal. But they weren't finished.

“You know, Mr. Johnson, if you were to bring
more cattle through in the next few years, I'm sure we could do
business. We're from Illinois, and I don't know if you remember the
problems we had last year getting the cattle up our way. They were
in such bad shape, they were skin and bones and we lost money all
the way round on that one. So you see, we know a little about what
it is like to not make it. We like the way you handle yourself. I'm
told that your outfit is one of the very few that had no
casualties, and no losses. Very impressive. We'd like to offer you
any contract you like in the coming years.”

Hunt was astounded and very happy over his
deal.

When they left the hotel this time, even Jodi
had to smile.

“You did a bang up job, Hunt,” she commented,
trying not to add anything personal to the conversation.

“No, we did, Jodi. I couldn't have done it
without you.” He smiled. “Now, I don't know about you but I'd like
to get spruced up a little and have one of those juicy, Texas-sized
steaks. Then a nice, clean room and some sleep.”

“Sounds great to me,” she laughed, catching
his enthusiasm.

“I'll get us a room here at The Drovers
Cottage” he said, glancing at the hotel. “It's a pretty nice place,
don't you think?”

“Very nice, and I like the manager, too. She
seems to really cater to drovers and their troubles. You don't find
that everywhere you go,” she added.

“Yes, I couldn't believe she got us an
appointment that quickly.” Hunt smiled derisively.

“Can you see about two rooms, though?” Jodi
added, watching his smile fade to a frown.

He glanced at her, confusion lining his face.
“All right, two rooms.”

As they tried to register, the hotel manager
sized them up quickly and smiled. “I've only got one room left,
honey. It's the wrong time of year to be askin' for extras, if you
know what I mean. And you signed in as Mr. and Mrs., didn't
you?”

“Oh…well, that will be fine,” Jodi said,
trying to be friendly. “Yes, of course.”

“The name's Mrs. Lou Gore, and if you need
anything, you just let me know. It's the first door on your left.”
The woman smiled.

“Can we have a tub?” she asked shyly. “You
see, we've been on the trail for some time and a good hot bath
sounds wonderful.”

“Of course. We have a private bathing room in
the end of the hall, with hot water too. It's fifty cents extra.”
Mrs. Gore said. “When you're ready, just ring the bell and I'll get
the key for you, honey.”

“That's sounds wonderful.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Jodi was looking forward to the bath. Taking
a bath in the river was exhilarating, but there was nothing like
enjoying a tub full of warm water.

After obtaining the key from Mrs. Gore, she
undressed and slowly sank into the warm haven. Mrs. Gore had
thought of everything, leaving a pleasant smelling bubble bath to
be enjoyed. The room was empty except for a chair and a large
mirror on the wall. The floor was a shiny wood with a bear rug to
step out on when she was finished. Everything looked so clean, Jodi
felt like a queen as she relaxed. While she scrubbed up with the
perfumed lye soap, she noted the hump in her belly. Somehow, things
had managed to change. There was no longer an urgency to rid
herself of this child. However, she felt oddly unfamiliar with
motherhood.

She'd never been a mother and had no idea
what to expect.

She was not totally prepared for this. Her
folks hadn't been a wealth of information, and although the book
had enlightened her on having the child, it gave no instructions on
being a mother. That part, she realized, would have to be gained by
on hand experience.

It scared her witless to think about what was
coming. So like everything else she knew nothing about, she vowed
to study up on it.

When the door key turned, she shrieked and
covered herself with the large rag she was using. Plus, the bubbles
in the bathtub kept her well covered.

≈≈≈

“Hey, I need to talk to you,” Hunt said,
walking into the room and locking the door from the inside. He knew
she wouldn't like this invasion of her privacy, but he had to
settle a few things and he couldn't do it with her running off
every time he started a decent conversation.

“I'm taking a bath,” she shrieked with
indignation. “Could I have a little privacy, please?”

“I realize that, but honestly, this is the
best place to talk about this.” He gazed at her for only a second,
it was a thorough gaze. Keeping his hands busy was necessary, too.
Otherwise he might haul her out of the water, or join her in
it.

“You want to talk to me while I'm taking a
bath?” Her brows knitted and her hands still covered all the
important parts from his vision. “Hunt…I don't understand you.
You've been such a perfect gentleman up until now…”

He cleared his throat and drew up a chair by
the tub. He straddled it and stared at the door as though it were
more interesting.

Yes, he'd been a gentleman and it had cost
him nearly his sanity, he thought with a frown. The way the woman
kissed him back, she was lucky he hadn't taken the advantage by
now. But her innocence was what saved her from him. That and the
fact that she was carrying a child stopped him. “I'll try to leave
you some privacy. But at least you will hear me out and we can
settle things between us.”

“I'm sort of at a disadvantage here.” She
frowned up at him. “And what, pray tell, do we have to settle?”

“Please, try to relax. I'm not gawking at you
like a school boy. I'll keep my eyes trained on the door,” he said.
His smile spoke volumes. Knowing she was just as uncomfortable made
it all the more interesting.

“Why here?” She asked.

“Because here you are sort of forced to
listen. You can't get up and run away.” He chuckled softly. She had
such beautiful, innocent eyes. But then he thought she was
beautiful all over.