Holding Heart
Stories similar to this that you might like too.
A week later, after a few more days of travel on the trail, Edith felt like she was ready to go home. She had become used to sleeping in an unfamiliar place and being on horseback for long hours every day. In fact, it didn’t bother her at all anymore.
And while she still missed the city life and shopping and theater, she couldn’t deny that this new life offered plenty of excitement too. It also made her feel closer to John again than ever before. He would be so proud of her when he saw how well she’d adapted.
She stopped riding alongside Joe and turned back toward the group of riders ahead of them. “How much farther do you think we have?” she asked him quietly as they rode along.
“We’re almost there,” he replied confidently. “The canyon is narrow here.”
They rode through the narrowest part of the canyon just minutes later and found themselves riding down into another wide valley with grassy meadows and rocky cliffs on either side. The horses slowed down as they came around the last bend in the road and then walked their way up out of the canyon.
Edith looked up and gasped. They were at the top of the mountain now—at least from where she stood. There were several other small houses scattered about atop the mountainside but none of them looked very sturdy.
They were built mostly of stone and wood and some even had wooden shingles on the roofs. But unlike most of the buildings in town, these structures seemed to blend seamlessly with nature. Trees grew right up against them and shrubs and bushes surrounded them.
Even though they could see nothing else of the house or barns, they certainly did not look like dwellings in a mining camp. They reminded her more of cabins in the woods somewhere far away.
Joe pointed to the left and said, “That’s our house over there. I’ll ride over to check it out and make sure everything is safe. Then I’ll come to get us.”
He pulled his horse off the trail and started walking across the open space between the trees. After only a minute, two men appeared out of nowhere. One waved at Joe and the other went straight to Edith and introduced himself.
His name was Jack, and he was a miner who lived next door to Joe and shared a similar profession. As soon as Jack got close enough, Edith recognized him. It wasn’t hard since he wore his beard long and kept his hair short and curly instead of shaving it all off like most miners did.
He had a pleasant face with a crooked nose and a scar running across his forehead above his eyes. His clothes were worn but clean and he held both hands together in front of him in greeting.
“I’m glad to meet you,” he told Edith. “My brother-in-law lives nearby.”
“You live here?” Edith asked. “This isn’t a mine.”
Jack smiled and shook his head. “No, ma’am, we don’t dig anything. We find gold sometimes, but usually, we just pan for it.”
“Panning!” Edith repeated. That sounded interesting.
Jack laughed and slapped his friend on the shoulder. “Come on, Sam, let’s show her what we do. You’ve probably never seen anyone pan gold.”
Sam chuckled as he took his hat off and wiped the sweat off his brow. “Not likely! No one comes here except those crazy old prospectors.”
Both men dismounted and helped Edith down from the wagon. A moment later, they led the horses inside the corral and tied them up. When they returned, they brought a couple buckets full of water and handed them to Edith. Both men set to work washing the dust off their own clothes and faces.
As soon as the men finished, they sat down on stumps by the fire pit and began talking to each other. Their voices echoed off the walls and roof of the cabin and carried clearly across the valley. They talked about the weather and how hot it was getting during the summer months and the snow that often fell in the winter.
They spoke of the good fishing spots along the river and the bad ones, and they mentioned a number of animals that lived in the surrounding forest. For the first time since arriving in the territory, Edith heard the sound of laughter. She listened closely so she wouldn’t miss any words.
When she saw Jack reach under his shirt collar and pull something out, she realized she would need to learn how to speak this language too if she planned on staying with Joe. Not knowing which direction to start learning, she decided to try listening to the conversation. If she learned to understand the simple phrases and words spoken, she might be able to pick up others as well.
It didn’t take her long to hear them mention the word “pan.” In fact, it happened twice. The men must have known they’d been overheard because after they spoke of panning once, they changed the subject completely.
A few moments later, Edith saw Joe returning to the house. Her heart raced when she noticed a black gun hanging from his holster. She tried to keep her voice casual as she called out, “Are you bringing your gun? What will we do if Indians attack?”
Joe grinned. “Naw, I thought you should know how to shoot.”
She gave him a puzzled look and then shrugged her shoulders. “Well… okay. Just don’t tell me I can’t bring my pistol.”
They entered the house and found the three women sitting around the table eating lunch. The food smelled delicious and Edith couldn’t wait until she had a chance to taste it. Joe removed his hat and hung it on the wall near the fireplace. He turned toward the kitchen and shouted, “Linda! Get some plates and help yourself to lunch. I’ll get the rest.”
After a moment Linda came into view carrying a large wooden bowl filled with mashed potatoes and gravy. She stopped dead in her tracks and gasped. “What happened to you?” she asked. “Why are you covered in blood?”
Edith reached down and touched her arm and said, “Don’t worry about it. I got a little banged up while helping rescue someone from bandits.”
Linda frowned. “Bandits? Who attacked you?”
“Two men who were trying to rob an elderly woman,” Joe replied.
Linda glanced at Edith again. “How did you manage to fight back against two men?”
“One of them shot me in the leg. But I still managed to knock him down and disarm the second man before he could escape. It wasn’t easy; both of them had guns pointed right at me. And one of them was much bigger than I am. Still, somehow I won.”
Linda looked relieved to hear that Edith hadn’t been hurt badly. “That’s good news. Now come sit down and eat before the food gets cold. I made enough for everyone.”
The meal passed quickly. After finishing her plate, Edith poured herself another cup of coffee and leaned over the table. “So where exactly is this bandit town?” she asked. “I mean, does it exist or are you making all of this up?”
Linda frowned. “There is no such place as Bandit Town. We only use that name for fun.”
“But there are bandits, aren’t there?”
“Yes. There’s always someone trying to make money robbing travelers like us.”
Edith nodded and sipped her coffee. “And these bandits seem to target people traveling through the territory?”
Linda nodded. “Sometimes. Mostly it’s those who travel alone. Men, usually. Most of the time they’re heading west looking for a new life in California. Sometimes they just want to see the country before settling down somewhere.”
Edith stared hard at her. “You know, I’ve traveled quite a bit myself. I think I remember hearing about bandits in Kansas, but never here in Montana.”
Linda shook her head. “Not here in Montana. No, the most dangerous part of our trip was crossing the border from Nebraska into Kansas.”
“Crossing the border?” Edith repeated. “Didn’t you pass through any towns in Kansas? You certainly weren’t robbed.”
“No, we didn’t stop anywhere.”
“Then how did you cross the border?”
Linda laughed. “We drove through the night and crossed the border sometime after dark. That way we avoided being searched by the guards.”
“How many times has this happened to you?” Edith asked.
“This is only our fourth time traveling together,” Linda explained. “We started doing this kind of thing five years ago. Our first year was awful. First we lost almost everything we owned in a terrible fire. Then the following winter, a blizzard buried our wagon and killed several of our horses. But we learned a lot about surviving in harsh weather conditions.”
Edith smiled. “At least now you have a horse named Diamond.”
Linda nodded. “Yeah, that makes things a whole lot easier.”
When Edith finished drinking her coffee, she stood up. “I’m going outside for a walk,” she told the others. “Just let me know if anyone comes along.”
She stepped onto the porch and headed toward the woods. When she reached the edge of the trees, she stopped and looked at the horizon. A slight breeze stirred her hair and blew across her face. It felt wonderful not having to wear a bonnet anymore. For a moment she closed her eyes and took a deep breath and enjoyed the fresh air. Then she walked deeper into the forest.
***
It took three days for Edith and Joe to reach the outskirts of Bandit Town. They spent their evenings camping out in a clearing surrounded by thick stands of pine trees. Early each morning, they would start hiking and arrive late afternoon at the outskirts of town. During the day, they kept to themselves and hid in the bushes whenever they saw a group of cowboys riding past.
On the third evening after reaching the outskirts, Edith and Joe heard a loud crash coming from the direction of town. In seconds, they raced to the edge of the trees and peered around the corner of the house.
A group of bandits rode by on horses and scattered when they spotted Edith and Joe. One rider charged straight at Edith, who threw herself aside and rolled into the grassy field beyond. The horse trampled her as it galloped past.
As soon as the rider disappeared, Edith jumped to her feet and ran back toward the house. She rushed inside, grabbed a blanket from the closet, wrapped it around herself, and returned to the front door.
As she waited for Joe to join her, she watched the sun set behind the hills. Overhead, the sky turned from orange to red then purple before finally fading away altogether. Clouds covered the western horizon and the wind picked up.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled overhead. By the time Joe joined her, the storm had already arrived. Thunder cracked so loudly it drowned out every sound except for the pounding rain.
After dinner, they huddled under a small roofless shed next to the house and listened to the rain pelt against the tin roof. Neither one mentioned what they’d seen during their nightly foray into Bandit Town. Instead, they sat close to each other and talked quietly.
They were halfway through the conversation when Joe suddenly put his hand on her knee. He squeezed gently, sending shivers racing through her body.
“Joe—”
He silenced her with a kiss. With trembling hands, she cupped his cheek and pulled him closer. Their lips met again and again until she could barely catch her breath. Finally he broke free and rested his forehead on hers. “God, I wish we weren’t trapped here like this. I don’t want to spend another night sleeping alone.”
Edith sighed. “Neither do I.”
The two kissed again. This time they held nothing back. And when their kisses ended, both lay there staring at the ceiling, trying desperately to forget about the world outside.
***
Two weeks passed and the two became more comfortable around each other. At times, Edith forgot they were working undercover and just enjoyed being near Joe. But at other moments, she remembered they were supposed to be keeping watch over him.
So she tried to keep her distance. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, something always distracted her and caused her to forget what she should be doing.
During breakfast one morning, Edith poured them some coffee and noticed Joe watching her intently. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing.” Joe shook his head and glanced at the wall clock. “Look, I’ve got to get ready for work. We’re meeting the sheriff today. You’ll have to come later.”
“You mean the lawman?”
“Yep. Now go wash your face while I eat my breakfast. Don’t worry, we won’t leave without telling you.”
While Joe ate his eggs and bacon, Edith washed her face and brushed her hair. She was putting on her hat when Joe came down the stairs carrying a saddlebag filled with supplies.
“We need to take our guns, too,” he said. “And you may need yours.”
With that, he opened the front door and left the house. Edith hurried to follow him. After grabbing a rifle from the gun rack, she followed him to the barn where the sheriff and his deputies awaited.
When they entered the room, all four men rose and offered their hands to Edith and Joe. The sheriff introduced himself first. “I’m Sheriff Denton.”
“Good morning.” Edith nodded politely and extended her hand. “My name is Edith Cooper. Nice to meet you.”
Sheriff Denton smiled. “Well, Miss Cooper, it’s nice to meet you. Let me introduce the others. Deputy Jameson and Deputy Stokes will serve as backup if needed.”
“Thank you.” Edith turned to Joe. “Are you sure you don’t mind riding in the wagon? It seems to be safer than having us ride in an open buggy.”
Joe shook his head. “No, it’s fine. I can manage.”
The sheriff motioned to the deputy. “Deputy Jameson, would you please bring the wagon forward?”
Jameson stepped to the side and the sheriff walked to the back of the wagon. He lifted a canvas cover off a wooden crate and retrieved a long-barreled shotgun. As soon as the sheriff finished loading the weapon, he handed it to Edith.
“Here, load this for me. I think you’ll find it easier to use than the single-shot rifles.”
She took the weapon and loaded three rounds. Unloaded, the shotgun looked almost like a rifle but with a longer barrel and double barrels.
Sheriff Denton removed a pistol from its holster and handed it to Joe. “This one shoots faster. Here, give it a try.”
Once they were satisfied with their weapons, the sheriff led them out the front door and down the porch steps toward the road. The deputy brought up the rear, followed by Joe and then Edith. A short walk away stood a horse and carriage waiting for them.
As soon as the wagon stopped, the sheriff climbed aboard. “It looks like the storm has cleared up. Let’s make good time.”
At the sheriff’s command, the horses started trotting along the muddy road. Soon after the wagons left the ranch, the rain let up and clouds rolled aside. Sunlight bathed the surrounding land making everything look brighter. They traveled for nearly two hours before stopping at a small creek that ran alongside the road.
The sheriff called a halt. “Everyone out, so we can water the animals.”
They helped unload the wagon and placed the barrels in the shade under the trees. When everyone was done, the sheriff ordered, “Get some lunch, folks. Eat and drink plenty.”
After eating, they moved on. Three hours later, they reached a large ranch. “That’s the place.” The sheriff pointed to a cluster of buildings and several barns. “Let’s see who’s home.”
Edith went inside the nearest building and found the owner. The man seemed surprised to hear her knock on his door. “Yes?” he asked.
“I’m looking for Mr. Grant.”
“Who are you?”
“Just a lady who happens to be interested in purchasing some cattle. May I ask why you haven’t sold any yet?”
The man stared at her and slowly pulled open the door. “May I help you?”
“Oh, yes, sir.” Edith held out her hand. “I’m Mrs. Edith Cooper. I understand you have several hundred heads of cattle here and am wondering how much they cost.”
Mr. Grant laughed and waved his hand. “Come on in, young lady. And you can call me Ben.”
Ben was about fifty years old, with dark brown eyes, thinning gray hair, and a neatly trimmed mustache. His clothing showed signs of wear; there were stains on his shirt and vest. But his voice was strong and pleasant. “Please come in. Would you care for something to drink?”
“Tea would be great. Thank you.”
He poured tea into the chipped cup and sat across the table from her. “So, what kind of business brings you to my humble ranch?”
“I’ve heard your cattle are very well-fed and healthy. That’s why I’d like to buy some. We raise sheep and pigs ourselves, but we could always use more beef.”
“You’re quite welcome to purchase whatever you wish. What would you need?”
“We’d prefer a dozen or so cows, preferably black ones, and perhaps five or six bulls.”
“How many do you plan to keep for breeding purposes?”
“One cow per family member is our goal.” She paused and then added, “Of course, we could sell extra meat to the townsfolk. So far we only eat our own livestock.”
“Why didn’t you say so? You certainly sound serious about raising livestock. If you’re going to go through with this, you should probably invest in a few bull calves. They grow quickly and will add value to the herd. I can send you over to the stockyard if you like. There’s no sense buying too many mature animals.”
While the conversation continued, Edith watched him closely. Despite his age, he appeared fit. He ate sparingly but enjoyed his food. No doubt she could get an ample supply of fresh vegetables from his garden. It made perfect sense. Why hadn’t she thought of it earlier? Now she had to decide which bull to choose.
Before leaving, she thanked the rancher.
On the way back, Edith said, “I know you mentioned selling us some bulls and cows. How many did you have in mind?”
“A half dozen would be ideal. I don’t want to give you too much since I can never predict the demand for such things. In fact, I wouldn’t even bother giving you any until next spring.”
Joe replied, “But we’ll have plenty of money by then.”
“Don’t worry about the price. I won’t charge anything close to market prices. All you have to do is sign a contract agreeing to pay me one-tenth of each animal’s sale price.”
“Sounds fair,” Joe responded.
The rest of the trip passed without incident. As they neared town, Edith asked, “Where do we take the animals now?”
“There’s a pen behind the house where they can graze freely.”
She nodded. “Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Grant.”
As soon as they arrived, Edith took her new purchases straight to the barn. The others followed. Then she locked them inside and turned to face the men. “Well, gentlemen, that’s all the cattle we need.”
“What happened to those other two?”
“My husband purchased them.”
Joe shook his head. “Your husband paid good money for them. Not to mention the trouble we caused. This has been a bad experience.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” Edith told him. “That’s not why we came.”
Joe looked confused. “Then what are you doing here?”
“To begin with, I wanted to thank you both for rescuing us. I hope you realize how lucky we were.”
“I think you have reason to be grateful.” Joe glanced around. “This place seems much better than last night. Where exactly is it?”
“Over yonder.” Edith pointed toward a small hill. “If you look down at the valley floor, you can see our campfire pit.”
“And where is that?” Joe squinted.
Edith sighed. “Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, that’s where.”
The End