Teton Splendor (12 page)

“Sarah’s fine. She stayed home with the rest of the girls to look after her parents and keep them out of trouble. Kara came to stay with her Uncle Zach and help him in his law practice. I think she’s secretly hoping to snatch a husband here in St. Louis, even though she’s much too young to be thinking about men.”

“Oh, Papa, stop embarrassing me.” Kara smacked her father on the arm, her smile matching his. “Besides, there’s nothing wrong with coming to the city to try and meet a man. I’m nearly seventeen.” Her eyes volleyed to Sophia. “You’re all the way from Boston? How long have you lived there?”

“Best watch out, Sophie,” Chase said with a chuckle. “She’s about to ask a million questions.”

Kara scurried next to Sophia, and eyed her tattered dress. She shot an accusing glare at Joseph, then hooked her hand through Sophia’s arm and ushered her away from the men. Sophia glanced over her shoulder. She hadn’t expected Joseph’s eyes on her, and the intense, almost possessive look in his stare sent a jolt of adrenaline rushing through her. Unsure of how to interpret his expression, she turned her head and gave her attention to the girl pulling her away from the group.

“You live in the mountains where Joseph is taking me?” Sophia asked when they stood a good distance from the others. Caleb and the other boy seemed to be getting along well, and they both pointed at a display case filled with knives.

“Yes, my family lives along the Madison River, further to the north of where Joseph and his family have their homestead. Are you on your way home to your people?

“”I’ve never been this far west that I remember.” Sophia shook her head slightly.

Kara’s forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. “But you’re a Bannock. On whose side?”

“My mother,” Sophia answered. There wasn’t a hint of disapproval in Kara’s eyes, only curiosity. Sophia liked her, despite her initial reaction to how Joseph greeted her. “I was raised in Boston.”

“My Uncle Samuel’s wife, Summer Rain, is Shoshone.” She pointed to the Indian woman and the child hanging off of her hip. The short woman stood next to the other blond man. “Their son, Josh is almost two years old. And over there’s my brother Kyle.”

Sophia’s unease lifted. Her chest seemed to lighten all of a sudden. Was she finally among people who wouldn’t judge her based on the color of her skin?

“I’d love to hear more about life in Boston. Now that I’m about to turn seventeen, I finally persuaded my parents to allow me to spend a year in St. Louis with my uncle. My older sister, Emily, was allowed to come here last year. We don’t see a lot of white folks where I live. It’ll be exciting to meet some new people.”

Sophia smiled. Ironic how this girl wanted what she herself was trying to escape from. But then again, Kara never had to contend with Beacon Hill society.

“There’s a much better shop in town for buying clothes than this place,” Kara said. “I assume you’re going to purchase something more appropriate for wilderness travel?”

Sophia shook her head. “I lost all my money in a steamboat accident almost a week ago. What I’m wearing is all I have.”

“Oh my. That had to have been quite scary. I’ve never been on a steamboat before.” Kara made it sound as if the ordeal had been more of an adventure than a life and death situation. She smiled, and squeezed Sophia’s hand, then glanced toward the men.  “Well, I’m sure Joseph will buy you some clothes that are better suited,” she said brightly.

Sophia quickly shook her head. “No, I couldn’t impose on him like that.” Her eyes darted to him. He stood with the other two men, deep in conversation.

Kara’s forehead wrinkled. “You can’t travel into the mountains in that dress. Joseph knows that.” She paused, then her face brightened again. She snapped her thumb and middle finger together. “I have an idea. I need to get some clothes more suited for St. Louis. It’s more comfortable and practical to travel through the mountains in britches, but I won’t need them here. You can have my clothes. I have a clean shirt in my travel pack.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. She glanced at the girl’s britches.

“ I . . . I’m not sure I can accept your offer,” she stammered.

“Nonsense. Of course you can.” Kara squeezed her hand again. “And as repayment, you can help me pick out some appropriate dresses and undergarments. You must know a lot about fashion.”

Yes, that was all she seemed to know. It wasn’t exactly useful knowledge for the wilderness. Maybe if she dressed more appropriately, and didn’t remind him so much of a city girl, Joseph would take notice. Would he look at her differently if she wore these clothes?

“Agreed,” she said firmly, grasping Kara’s hand. There was only one way to find out, and as Kara had said, britches would be more practical in the wilderness. Her silk dress wouldn’t last much longer. Sophia’s mouth widened in a soft smile. She almost laughed out loud. Not in her wildest dreams had she ever thought to wear britches, and buckskin ones at that. Her eyes darted to Joseph, whose back was turned to her.

Or that you would fall in love with a man like him
.

Chapter Twelve

Joseph didn’t turn around, but he was acutely aware of Sophie talking with Kara in the far corner of the store. The sound of Sophie’s laughter sent a thrilling wave of warmth through him. He’d never heard her laugh before, not like that. He was glad that she had found a friend in Kara Russell. From the few comments she’d made about her life in Boston, it didn’t seem like she had too many close friends. When the store’s doorbell jingled, he knew immediately that the two women were heading out the door. His head turned just in time to see Kara’s blond rope of hair swish from side to side before the door closed behind her. Through the glass window, Sophie smiled and giggled brightly as she and Kara headed up the wooden boardwalk. The complete change in her from the somber woman earlier today was amazing, and it lifted his own mood.

“How long are you in town, Joey?” Chase Russell asked, cutting into his thoughts.

“Long enough to get some supplies, then we’re heading out.”

“You’re gonna take that gorgeous girl of yours cross country all by yourself?” The blond man cocked his eyebrows.

Joseph had known Chase Russell all of his life. His wife’s parents and his own folks were good friends. The man was a bit strange at times, and his manner of speech perplexing, but he had made a name for himself as one of the best mountain men along the Yellowstone, and as someone to be respected.

Joseph laughed at Chase’s words, ignoring the reference that he somehow considered Sophie to belong to him. “How else am I going to get her to the Tetons?”

“Sam and I’ll be heading home tomorrow. You could hook up with us, at least part of the way.”

Joseph considered the idea. It would certainly be safer to travel with more people. Over the last week, he’d had the nagging feeling that they were being followed. The man on the big dun horse he’d seen across the river on the day of the accident came to mind. Avoiding settlements, Joseph had sometimes cut his own trail, and even backtracked a few times. He’d barely slept, and often wondered if he was simply imagining things. A lifetime in the mountains had taught him to never second-guess his intuition. It was safer to be cautious now, rather than dead later.  

If it had been just him, he might have followed up on his hunch and gone looking for the man. He hadn’t wanted to alarm Sophie or Caleb and worry them needlessly, so he hadn’t mentioned his suspicions. The responsibility of keeping her and the boy safe weighed heavily on his mind. He had told Yancey that he planned to get her safely to the Tetons, and that’s exactly what he would do. Even though she wasn’t aware of it as far as he knew, he watched her like a hawk. His protective instincts were at an all time high because of her, and perhaps his mind was merely playing tricks on him.

He didn’t have the first inkling as to why anyone would be tailing them. He thought of Oliver Sabin, but that was highly unlikely. The man hadn’t been heard from or seen in nearly twenty years. If he were still alive, would he still carry a grudge? And how would he have known about Sophie’s presence here now?

Joseph made up his mind. “All right, Chase. We’ll go along with you, at least part ways up the Missouri.”

“Glad to have you. You never know what scum is out there trying to waylay someone. And you sure as hell don’t want to become a target for sport by a bunch of Indian bucks who need to prove themselves as warriors.”

Joseph nodded, knowing Chase spoke from first hand experience, but he didn’t comment.

“Now where did that daughter of mine run off to?” Chase glanced around as if realizing for the first time that Kara was no longer in the store.

“Knowing your girl, she’s gone off to the dressmaker’s place. She’s been ogling that store all morning,” Sam chimed in with a smirk on his face, and reached for three licorice sticks from the candy jar on the counter. He handed one each to a wide-eyed Caleb and Kyle, and the third to the dark-haired little boy in his wife’s arms.

Chase sighed heavily. “Yeah, she’s definitely turned into a female over the last couple of years. How did I get so lucky and end up with four daughters?” He rolled his eyes.

The mention of dresses reminded Joseph of another item he needed to buy in addition to the provisions. Sophie was in desperate need of something else to wear other than that fancy dress she had on. It wouldn’t last another week out on the trail and barely looked like the gown she’d worn on the riverboat. Heck, it barely qualified as a dress. It was dirty and torn in places, and without those cumbersome contraptions she usually wore underneath, it hung limply from her body. Thankfully, she had left all those things behind of her own will. He’d been prepared to burn them if she insisted on bringing them along.

Glancing toward Caleb, Joseph decided that the boy could use a new set of britches, a shirt, and new shoes as well. His coins would be depleted after today. He still had to see about two more suitable saddle horses. The old nag he’d bartered for from the farmer in exchange for the buck he’d shot for him would last about as long as Sophie’s dress.

He eyed the rack of women’s clothes in the corner. Would Sophie agree to wear a simple dress like that? Even she would have realized by now that silk gowns had no place where they were headed. Joseph ambled to the dress rack. He fingered a simple blue cotton gown. Blue seemed to be her favorite color, and it looked good on her. The dress wasn’t pretty or fancy, but it looked practical and sturdy. Adding a set of boy’s britches, shirt and shoes to his purchases, he leaned forward and whispered to the proprietor behind the counter, asking where he could find women’s underthings.

“Maude,” the man called loudly over his shoulder, and seconds later a burly woman appeared from the door leading to the back of the store. Joseph groaned.

“Can you add some female things that go under a dress to my tally?” he mumbled to the woman, rubbing at the back of his head. He’d been in some tight situations before, but nothing had ever made him feel as cornered or uncomfortable as asking about unmentionables for a woman. The proprietor’s wife smiled broadly and studied him with a knowing eye.

“Does your lady prefer something practical, or a little more fancy?” she asked, batting her lashes.

Joseph ground his teeth. Hell, nothing in this store would even come close to the frilly things Sophie preferred.

“Practical,” he said quickly. “You can just wrap it all up with my other things,” he sputtered, and cleared his throat. When he turned back to the men, Chase Russell stared at him intently. Joseph’s knuckles itched to punch the annoying grin off the man’s face.

Chase leaned forward and added something to Joseph’s growing pile of purchases. A flowery scent passed under his nose, something he recognized but couldn’t identify by name. It was a fragrance he’d smelled in Sophie’s hair, and a warm sensation passed through him at the memory of holding her close many weeks ago on his horse, inhaling her sweet woman’s scent.

“Lavender soap,” Chase explained. “Trust me, women like that sort of stuff.” His grin widened. Joseph frowned, and eyed his mountain of supplies.

 “So, you got yourself a family now, huh?” Chase nodded with his chin toward Caleb, who seemed to have found a new friend in Chase’s son, Kyle. “He doesn’t look like he belongs to Sophie, and she’s a bit young to be his mother.”

Joseph chuckled. “He’s an orphan. He ran away from the orphanage he lived at. I wasn’t gonna send him back, so I offered to bring him with me. He’s a good boy.”

Chase nodded. “Well, your folks will sure be surprised, you coming home with a wife and kid.”

“Wife?” Joseph’s head snapped up from looking at Caleb to stare at Chase. He laughed nervously, and ran a hand over his rough face. He could use a shave. “Sophie’s not my wife.”

Chase’s eyebrows raised. He coughed loudly, and slapped him on the back. “Well, let me give you some advice then, Joey.” He paused, a serious  look on his face.

“What would that be?” Joseph asked reluctantly. Why the hell was he having this conversation?

“Don’t wait too long.”

Joseph frowned. “For what?” He paid for his purchases, and reached for the items on the counter that had been wrapped in brown paper, and piled them into his arms. He motioned for Caleb to come and grab one of the packages that contained the boy’s new clothes. Chase wordlessly grabbed the blankets and several burlap pouches that made up the rest of the items Joseph had bought. Together, they headed for the door, which Sam held open.

Joseph blinked into the bright sunlight. The busy street teemed with riders and wagons. Chase helped him secure his purchases to his horses that were hitched in front of the store. The man still hadn’t answered his question.

Tying the last blanket onto his gelding’s saddle, Joseph glanced up. His body tensed. In front of the building further down the street with a sign advertising it as a saloon stood a big dun horse tied to a post. Joseph squinted. At that moment, a man emerged from the establishment, and untied the reins from the rail. There was no mistaking that it was the same man Joseph had seen at the river that day. Pulling his wide brimmed hat low over his head, the man mounted the animal, and glanced over his shoulder. His eyes met Joseph’s for a split second, then he turned and kicked his mount into a trot, heading up the street that led out of town.

Joseph’s eyes followed the rider. A rush of adrenaline surged through him. His gut instinct hadn’t been wrong after all. Was it purely coincidence that this man was here in St. Louis, so far from where the steamboat accident had taken place? What possible motive could he have to be following them? Sophie’s safety was foremost on his mind. He brushed off the ridiculous notion that Oliver Sabin might still seek revenge on something her father had done to him. Sabin wore an eye patch. Sophie’s father had blinded him during a fight at one point. This man didn’t have a patch, and he was much younger than Sabin would be.

“Friend of yours?” Chase asked, glancing at him.

“No. I’m not sure who that is, but I saw him a week ago near where the steamboat exploded.”

“Wonder why he’s here in St. Louis,” Chase remarked.

“I’m wondering that myself,” Joseph mumbled. “My gut told me we were being followed this past week. Seems I might have been right.”

“Well,” Chase said, his eyebrows drawn together. “It could be pure coincidence. You wanna go after this guy and introduce yourself?”

“No.” Joseph shook his head. “I don’t want Sophie to start fretting. Besides, I think he’s had plenty of chances to make a move if he’s a threat.”

“Maybe he tailed you because you survived. Who knows, maybe he had something to do with the explosion,” Chase offered. “Maybe it wasn’t an accident, and he’s trying to figure out if you know anything to tell the authorities.”

“Yeah. Maybe,” Joseph answered absently. He was  glad that he would have company heading into the wilderness. Chase had made an interesting point. What if the boiler explosion hadn’t been an accident? But what did that have to do with him or Sophie? So far, even if this was the person Joseph suspected of following them, he hadn’t made a threatening move.

“Well, we’d best find my daughter, and then head over to Zach’s place,” Chase said cheerfully, dismissing the stranger. He turned fully toward Joseph, his expression serious. “That girl of yours is gonna attract the attention of every brave, and probably every white man this side and the other of the Missouri. You’d better stake your claim soon, or she just might slip away. Unless, of course, you’re still holding out for your wife. Your former wife. She did toss you out, as I remember. You’re not bound to her anymore.”

Joseph laughed to hide the jolt that hit him in the gut. Did everyone see what was in his heart and on his mind when it came to Sophie? He’d kept his distance, and stayed as impersonal as possible over the last week. What little sleep he had gotten was tormented by dreams of her and the kiss they’d shared. He watched her when she wasn’t looking, and was more aware of her than he’d ever been of another person.

No matter how many times he told himself that nothing could ever come of his attraction to her, his heart had other ideas. Sophie wasn’t coming to the Tetons to stay. He shouldn’t entertain any crazy notions that she might choose him over her life of luxury in Boston if he asked. That she didn’t complain about her harsh conditions and seemed to take her predicament in stride had surprised him as much as everything else about her. Feather in the Wind hadn’t entered his mind at all, except to remind him that he shouldn’t pursue Sophie.