The One Who Waits for Me (31 page)

Sweat rolled from Walt Jornigan's temples as he stood at the precipice in the morning light. Wandering over to a rock, Beth sat down, weariness evident in every line of her posture. She glanced over when she heard a faint hissing. Eyes widening, she spotted Pierce. He was bent, peeking through a bush, finger to his lips. She almost called out but caught her response.
He's here! He came!

Then he let go of the branch and faded silently into obscurity.

Walt rummaged in his saddlebag and took out a lead pencil and a scrap of paper. Sitting down on the ground, he began to write.

Beth couldn't control her curiosity. “What are you doing?”

“I'm cipherin'.” He focused on the task. “Ever heard of that, girlie? Smart folks don't just leap over ravines. They cipher their moves on paper so's they don't make a mistake. That's what your pa did. He ciphered his move. I'd bet my life on it.”

“I don't think Pa knew how to cipher.”

“Oh, he was wily. Yes, ma'am. Real wily, and I'd bet cash money he learned how to cipher from your fancy book-learned ma.” Walt bit the tip of his tongue and drew. “Now, lemme see. My rope is about sixty-eight feet long. That'll have to be enough for me to make a seventy-foot jump.” He glanced up, scratching his chin. “I wish I could measure exactly how far across that is.”

Beth didn't know how to cipher, so she couldn't dispute his figures. All she knew was that there was no deed on earth that would make her leap that canyon.

His tongue wedged between his teeth, Walt scribbled. “You're gonna be glad you decided to cooperate with your ol' Uncle Walt. You know that, girl?”

Beth didn't respond, but that didn't stop Walt from going on. “Yes, ma'am. Once I get my hands on that deed, we'll be sitting pretty. Might even share some of my riches with you and Bear once you get hitched.”

“I've told you before that I won't marry my cousin. I've heard that terrible things can happen when a person does that.”

“Oh, yes you will. You'll do what your uncle tells you. You hear that?”

Beth turned away from the man and the pencil stub feverishly bobbed. “You think I'm a fool,” he said.

Beth remained silent.

“Fess up. You think I'm an idiot.”

Drawing a deep breath, she said, “Yes, sir.”

Pausing, he lifted an angry brow. “Are you sassing me?”

“No, sir. You asked a question and I answered you.”

“You'd better watch your tongue!” Moments passed and he paused. “Go over the details again,” he demanded.

“What details?”

“How did Emmett jump this here span without falling into it?”

Heaving another deep sigh, she said, “Pa said he tied a rope to that hickory.”

“Yeah. Go on.”

“He told me he climbed the tree, tested the rope, and then swung over.” She lifted her eyes. “He said it was close. He almost didn't clear the canyon.”

“But he did.” Walt focused on the chasm and then switched back to his notes. “That's the point. He did, and so can I.”

“I wouldn't try it.”

He stood, stuck the pencil behind his ear, and began to scale the tree, a rope hanging over his arm. “That's the difference betwixt you and me. You're scared of your shadow, and I'm not afeard of nothing.”

“Except honey,” she muttered.

His face turned red and his eyes bulged. “When I come down from here,” he hissed, “you're gonna feel the sting of my whip on your sassy back.”

Beth met his gaze steadily, not a whit of fear in her being. “Make your silly jump.”

“That's exactly what I'm gonna do. I'm here to stay, darlin'. I'm gonna be your new papa-in-law.” He steadily climbed upward. “Ain't that a happy thought?”

Beth ignored the taunt as she watched him scale the tree to its top and then tie a thick knot. Testing the hemp with his weight, he swung out and then back under the tree a couple of times. The rope and branch held his weight.

Her eyes skimmed the brush, taking comfort in knowing Pierce was here. Did he plan to intervene or simply let Uncle Walt do what he would? The rope looked sturdy, and Pa had successfully swung over and then back. Maybe Pierce was waiting until Walt made the jump, retrieved the deed, and returned. And then what?

Walt paused at the edge of the canyon and retied the rope, slightly adjusting its length. He tested the rope one more time, and then giving a one-finger salute to his temple, he grinned. “I'll be back with the deed. Don't you run away—you hear me? I'll find you, Beth. Wherever you go, you'll never have a moment's peace. But if you're a good girl and stay until I get back, your ol' uncle might decide to give you and Bear a fair chunk of the plantation.”

“Wonderful,” Beth murmured. She had no reason to run with Pierce waiting nearby.

Giving a confident nod, he grasped the rope. “Adios!”

Springing to her feet, she watched her uncle leap. But even before he was halfway across the ravine, the tree branch groaned, and Beth watched in horror as it gave way, lowering Walt's body by several feet as he swiftly approached the other side. She realized in an instant that he wasn't going to make it. He hit the opposite wall full force, and the shock caused him to let go of the rope. She could hear him cursing at the top of his lungs as he disappeared.

She went to the edge of the chasm and peered over, staring at the tiny, motionless form of her uncle far below. “Oh my goodness!” He'd actually done it. He'd actually killed himself. Beth stared in shock. “Oh my goodness!”

Pierce, Gray Eagle, and Preach appeared. Pierce took her arm and gently led her away from the horrific sight. She gasped, trying to comprehend what she'd just witnessed. Gray Eagle peered over the rim.

“I…he…” Beth's voice caught in her throat as she turned into Pierce's waiting arms.

Glancing over his shoulder, Pierce consoled her. “It's okay, sweetheart. It's over. Common sense should have told him that it was foolish to try such a jump. The tree branch giving way wasn't your fault.”

Tears slid down her cheeks, though she didn't know why for the life of her she was crying. He'd been nothing but a cruel taskmaster to her and her family. Perhaps it was relief that she was finally free of the burden of being hunted by him, that she could actually begin to think about living her life as she chose. As Joanie chose.

“What about the deed?” she finally whispered against his chest.

“Is it important to you?”

“No. I don't care if remains there for eternity. I have my land—and if the deed stays in the cave, then no one can sell the plantation. It will belong to the slaves.”

He sighed. “No, Bear will probably still run roughshod over the plantation, but that can't be your concern now. Joanie is your concern.” He rubbed a hand soothingly over her shoulder, his chin on top of her head. “Let's go home. Preach and Gray Eagle will never mention a word about any of this to anyone.”

“But…wait.” She drew back to look at him. “The sisters could use the money from the sale of the plantation.” Beth thought about how frugally they lived. That deed could provide much: ample food, new material for clothing, spring seed for their gardens. The slaves would be set free. No longer would they have to spend hours picking rows of cotton or separating the lint of a cotton plant for its seed.

Pierce shook his head. “And which sister would make the jump? Sister Mary Margaret?”

Beth perked up. “She would!”

He laughed. “She won't, and I guarantee that the deed wouldn't hold any temptation for them.” He watched her smile even as she swiped at her tears, and he pulled her close again. “What do you say about heading on home?” he whispered with his lips against her hair.

“Home? Where is that?”

Lifting her face to his, he smiled into her eyes and then kissed the end of her nose.

“Pierce?”

“Yes, Beth?”

“I know this seems odd…but Walt was kin. May I say a short prayer over him?”

He nodded. “I think that would be real nice.”

The party stepped to the rim of the canyon and the men removed their hats. Beth took a calm breath, aware that this would be her first public prayer. She bowed her head and concentrated hard on the words that wanted to come, so wanted to come. “God…I know You don't hear from me much, but I'm going to get better about talking to You more regularly. Thank You for bringing me and Joanie this far.” She glanced over at Pierce, aware of him standing beside her, hat in hand, head bowed. “I…didn't love Uncle Walt…not the way the Bible says, and I ask forgiveness for that. I hope he finds…something in death he couldn't find here on this earth. Amen.”

“Amen,” the men chorused.

“That was very nice, Beth. I'm proud of you,” Pierce said as he draped his arm around her waist and they walked back to the waiting horses.

Nice, but he hadn't answered her question. He had acted as though he knew something about the matter she didn't know.

So, where exactly, did the captain think her home was?

U
ncle Walt was dead. Bear was tied up and sweating in a Cherokee lodge. The pursuit was over. Joanie was breathing easy, and Trella and baby Esther were thriving.

There was no longer anything blocking their way from leaving, Beth concluded the next morning.

Pierce could go home now too. The idea of not seeing him every morning, hearing his low whistle, watching his jaunty stride…She bit her lip and pushed back breakfast that suddenly tasted sour.

Joanie broke the silence between them. “I don't want to leave, Beth.”

Beth pitched the last of her coffee. “Our plan from the beginning was to go to the next community and find help for you. We have no reason to stay.”

“But I'm better—so much better here.”

“I know.” Pausing, Beth studied her sister. Her cheeks bloomed with color and her eyes were bright. Her cough was infrequent these days. What had brought about this miraculous change?

“Joanie,” Beth ventured. “Has Gray Eagle been giving you some sort of new herbal treatment in addition to the lobelia?”

Joanie's gaze dropped. “No…”

“But Gray Eagle
is
responsible—am I right? Tell me at least that.”

“I can't, Beth. I promised.”

With a soft sigh, Beth leaned closer. “I hate it when you keep things from me.”

“Nothing's happened. Let's just say that Gray Eagle found a way to help, but neither of us can say how.”

“You can tell me, Joanie!” Beth was practically shouting now.

“I truly can't. I made a solemn vow.” She reached for her sister's hand. “Can't you just be happy that I've found relief? If I leave here, I'll get sick again.”

“That doesn't make sense. What is
here
that you can't take with you?”

Shaking her head, Joanie insisted, “I have to stay.”

“Well, we can't. This is the Cherokee summer home. When autumn arrives, they'll be moving to winter grounds.”

“I know, and I've thought of nothing else for days. I felt sure that the hour would come when we would be free of Walt and Bear and have to move on, but if I do I'll surely die.”

“Joanie! You're talking in circles. You're much better!”

“It's true, Beth. Now I'm better, but if I don't have…my treatments…then my lungs will close and someday that will be it for me.”

Burying her face in her hands, Beth took a deep breath. None of what she said made sense. “Does Pierce know about these treatments?”

“No one knows. And no one must know, or they will be taken away from me.”

“Then…perhaps we can ask special permission to live here. Maybe at the abbey with the nuns. They could use our help once the Indians leave for their winter home.” Beth's eyes roamed the camp. The people here had been wonderful. If Joanie's condition could be treated, then Beth was willing to stay. She'd never been happier or more at peace. She loved Sister Mary Margaret and the sisters, and if she and Joanie left, she would miss them with a fierce longing.

“I pray that we can stay, but I fear we won't be allowed,” Joanie admitted. “The sisters have been good to us, but we are intruders.”

“They don't think of us as intruders. Mary Margaret said so.”

Joanie turned soulful eyes on her. “It won't be the same. Gray Eagle is leaving, and so are Pierce and Preach.”

“When?”

“In the morning.”

“Who said?”

“No one
has
to say, Beth. Their business is finished, and we've known all along that they want to go home.”

“Does Trella know Preach is leaving in the morning?”