Where Wings Can’t Fall
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The morning after their arrival in Colorado Springs, John had been up before the sun. He’d already taken care of the horses and mules, fed them, watered them, groomed them for the day’s ride, and saddled each one with ease—all while keeping an eye on Rebecca. The two men he trusted most had gone into town to fetch a wagon from the livery stable. Now there was just Rebecca left at his side.
Rebecca had slept all through the night and woke feeling much better. She had her appetite back too, but now it wasn’t so bad that she couldn’t take food down. She even ate breakfast as John and Jake went off to fetch their wagon. They returned only minutes later with it ready for them to load.
Now all that was left to do was wait for the others who were supposed to join them for a picnic lunch. After they rode out of town, Rebecca found herself alone again with her thoughts. The day was bright and clear after last night’s rainstorm. Everything looked different this morning. Even in the distance there seemed to be more blue sky than usual.
She felt like she should say something to John but what? Thank him for saving me…thank you for rescuing me? But what would she thank him for exactly? For bringing her here? For making sure she stayed alive despite the danger I’m in?
Would that mean giving away how much she wanted him to kiss her again? She knew she needed to tell him everything before he left her here, but if he kissed her now he might think she was asking for more than just friendship. It would be easier just to let him go, but then she would never hear his voice again.
“Miss Parker!” A shout interrupted her reverie. Rebecca turned around to see Jake leading his team toward her. “Here comes our wagon,” he yelled over the noise. He helped her mount up and soon they were headed for a small grove of trees near the base of Pike’s Peak.
As they rode up the winding road, Rebecca caught glimpses of the mountain rising above the tree line, its snow-covered peak glistening under the bright sun.
As they approached their destination, Rebecca could see there was a small picnic area surrounded by rocks and boulders that offered shelter from wind or rain. In the middle stood a large boulder. That must be where everyone is waiting.
She watched as Jake parked the horses alongside the rest of the wagons already in place. There were six altogether, including the one he’d brought with them.
Jake jumped down to help her down. Then he took care of the horses too before coming over to help her get out of her saddle. As the two of them started toward the rock, Rebecca noticed several other people heading their way.
She hadn’t met them yet and wondered why they had come along. One of the women waved in her direction. Rebecca recognized her immediately: Mrs. Bancroft, Jake’s mother. The three other people were also familiar. She saw Mrs. Cushing and Miss Mathers and knew that the man beside them was Mr. Stearns.
“Mrs. Bancroft has some sandwiches prepared,” Jake said when they arrived at the rock. “We’ll make camp here for lunch.” He pointed to the large boulder where a large blanket had been spread across the ground. “Help yourself.”
Rebecca went straight for the sandwich before anyone else could steal any. “This looks good,” she told him as she pulled apart the bread and reached for the meat inside. “I haven’t had anything to eat since dinner last night.”
“You needn’t worry about your weight.” He put a hand on her waist before removing his own lunch from his pocket. “These aren’t just sandwiches. They’re my mother’s homemade pasties.”
Rebecca didn’t hesitate. When Jake handed her the whole thing, she bit right in to find herself enjoying every bite. It was delicious and filled her stomach with comfort. By the time the others arrived, the two of them were already finished eating.
Jake was talking to a group of men and Mrs. Bancroft when Rebecca joined them. She was surprised to hear the name of her benefactor mentioned in connection with this trip to Pike’s Peak. Apparently, John’s mother had arranged the entire affair.
“Mrs. Bancroft, I don’t know how you did this, but thank you very much,” Jake said when she came to join them. Rebecca thought he sounded sincere.
She nodded politely. “It seems we’ve all got a lot to thank Mrs. Bancroft for today, young man,” she replied as she looked directly at Rebecca with a knowing smile. “I hope you appreciate all the trouble I’ve gone to for you.”
“Yes ma’am.” Now she felt uncomfortable. Why had Jake mentioned his mother? Was that part of some plan they had concocted together? Or maybe not? Had John asked him to bring his mother along for reasons that weren’t apparent to Rebecca?
As she watched the two of them talk, Rebecca felt more and more confused. Her head buzzed as she tried to figure things out while keeping an eye on Jake. She wasn’t sure what was going on between them, but it seemed like the two of them had a secret they were sharing with each other.
Maybe she shouldn’t be concerned. After all, nothing happened between a woman and a man unless the two were married, so why should she be jealous if he was friends with another woman? But she was, and she hated herself for being so.
While the men talked about work, Mrs. Bancroft and Rebecca chatted quietly while they waited for everyone to finish lunch. They talked mostly about their children and family. Rebecca found herself warming to Mrs. Bancroft as she learned that the two of them had grown up in the same town.
The conversation stopped when a couple of people from the other wagons approached their rock. “Did you know we have a little boy named James?” one of the newcomers asked as she drew closer to the rock.
“Of course!” Rebecca answered without thinking. She glanced over at Jake and saw the shock register on his face. “James?” he blurted out. “What do you mean? We don’t—”
Before she could answer his question, someone shouted from the other side of the rock, “Look! Look there!”
Everyone turned around in anticipation. There was a small boy standing in the shade beneath the largest boulder. His dark hair fell over his forehead and his eyes were blue like Jake’s. Even though he was young, he appeared much like her son. He was wearing overalls and a white shirt and a cowboy hat were tucked under his arm.
Rebecca gasped when she realized the little boy wasn’t alone. Next to him stood another man dressed in buckskin trousers, leather boots, and a long buffalo robe. His long black hair hung down to his chest and he wore a bandanna tied around his neck. The strange outfit gave off an aura of danger, and Rebecca instinctively stepped away from both of them.
“Who is this person?” Mrs. Bancroft asked before turning back to Rebecca and Jake. “I’m sorry; I didn’t realize you had a child with you.”
“That’s our son,” Jake responded after clearing his throat. “His name is James.”
Rebecca took another step backward. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. What was wrong with him? She knew it was foolish to judge a book by its cover, but it seemed to her that the stranger was evil, not good. Something bad was brewing in that tiny frame of his.
“Why are the two of you standing here talking instead of helping us get started?” Mrs. Bancroft asked.
Now Rebecca was feeling even more anxious as she followed Mrs. Bancroft over to where several horses and cattle were being led toward a nearby stream. “I think you’d better start packing up now,” Mrs. Bancroft advised her. “We’ve only got three hours until sunset.”
Rebecca helped the women gather what little belongings they would need for the journey. Then they loaded a small wagon and saddled the animals for the ride into Pike’s Peak.
They traveled through the day and stopped briefly at dusk for supper. As soon as dinner ended, the men mounted up to drive the team and wagon back to the campsite. Rebecca and Mrs. Bancroft walked behind them while the rest of the camp went inside. When they reached the rocks, Mrs. Bancroft motioned for Rebecca to come close. She put her finger against her lips as she whispered, “Be careful. These people are dangerous.”
Rebecca looked up and saw the strangers sitting in the shade next to their wagons. Two others were watching the men from the other side of the camp. One was dressed in buckskin pants, a leather vest, and a long buffalo robe, while the other was dressed like a typical westerner—shorts, a leather vest, and a plaid shirt.
Rebecca felt uneasy as she stared at the two men who kept glancing over in her direction. The one in buckskins was staring at the woman across from him, and she thought she caught something sinister about his dark eyes. It reminded her of how Jake had looked when he first came to the ranch.
Mrs. Bancroft’s warning about the stranger came back to mind. “Are you telling me these people will hurt us?”
“No,” she answered quickly. “But be warned, they aren’t friendly to outsiders.” She hesitated. “If you feel threatened, do whatever you can to get out of sight.”
Rebecca nodded nervously as she watched the men return to their own camp. They sat down on logs around a fire pit. A moment later, Rebecca heard the sound of a rifle being cocked. Everyone froze except for her and Mrs. Bancroft.
A shot rang out, and everyone jumped in alarm. Rebecca screamed when she saw Mrs. Bancroft fall to the ground. The gunshot was followed by a second loud crack of the gun, and she heard Jake call out, “Stop!”
Another shot rang out just as Jake raced over to the two men. They stood up and raised their guns as Jake charged past them and threw himself in front of Mrs. Bancroft. Both shots missed Jake, who rolled to the side in time.
Rebecca screamed again when one of the men fired the gun directly in front of him, causing him to stumble backward. The bullet passed by him, missing his head by inches. It hit the rock wall behind him, sending sparks flying everywhere. The man in buckskins fired another round, hitting Jake squarely on the shoulder.
He dropped to his knees and then fell forward onto his face with a groan. A few other gunshots rang out as Jake fought to stay on his feet. But the effort was too much for him and he lost consciousness.
The men ran over to help the injured man as Mrs. Bancroft moaned in pain. “Help my husband,” she whimpered as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
One of them bent down beside her. “You’re going to be fine,” he assured her as he pressed two fingers against the wound.
Rebecca watched all this unfold without saying a word, still trying to comprehend what was happening. How could those people have done such a thing? What did they hope to accomplish by shooting Mrs. Bancroft? Were they simply trying to scare them or were they hoping to kill both her and Jake? Her fear increased when she realized that they might not care if anyone else was injured as long as they killed her.
She turned away from the commotion and started walking toward the creek. If anything happened to her, there was nothing left for her to do but leave before it was too late.
When Rebecca reached the water, she knelt down and cupped her hands until she felt cold liquid flowing between her palms. The first taste of pure mountain water was exhilarating as she brought the liquid to her lips. It was like heaven to her after so many months of living in the desert.
Rebecca glanced back at Jake’s prone form as he lay flat on his stomach with his arm hanging down beside him. He had been struck in the shoulder; it was bleeding badly. She wondered where Mr. Bancroft was. Had he returned to the ranch to fetch the doctor? Did Mrs. Bancroft know about the wound?
Rebecca took a deep breath and tried to think clearly as she looked over at the two men who were still standing watch. She remembered how one of them had pointed a gun in her direction earlier, and now she knew why Mrs. Bancroft had told her to keep an eye on them.
As she watched them, one of them pulled off his buckskin boots and socks and wrung the water out of them. He tossed the wet garments aside and removed his leather vest. His bare chest made her shiver and reminded her that the temperature was far below freezing outside. She wished she’d put on some more clothing before she left.
A moment later, the man stepped into the water and began washing his body with a bar of soap he must have carried inside his tent. Rebecca couldn’t help but stare at his muscular arms and broad shoulders.
She recalled how Jake once told her how the men at the ranch used to go hunting for food and would often come back with the game for dinner. Was the man taking a bath because he hunted? Or was he doing it for a different reason?
“Did you bring any clothes?” Rebecca asked him in a soft voice as she stood up. He didn’t look like he needed to wear the vest anymore.
His brows furrowed and he stared at her. “What?”
Rebecca swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I just meant your clothes—your shirt, trousers, and—”
He interrupted her by throwing the vest in her direction. “There are no clean ones here.”
“But—”
The man stopped in the middle of his words, turned around, and walked back to his camp. A few seconds later he returned carrying a rifle. He placed it down next to Jake’s head and then went back to washing himself with the soap. When he finished, he picked up the gun again and held it out in front of him.
Rebecca gasped when she saw the barrel pointing right at her. “No!”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Jake said as he sat up. “It’s not loaded.”
The man lowered the weapon slowly as he spoke. “If you try to leave this property, I’ll shoot you dead,” he warned.
“How did you find us?” Rebecca asked. “And what does it matter to you where we live?”
The man ignored her question. “We don’t want trouble, but neither will we allow anyone else to settle here. And if you make things difficult for me, I’ll kill everyone in that house and then myself.”
Jake struggled to sit up further as he rubbed his shoulder. “Who are you?”
Rebecca watched the man carefully as he leaned forward and then rested the barrel of the rifle against his forehead. He looked over at her and nodded with an understanding smile.
She took a step back. This wasn’t going according to plan at all. Now they knew about their home. She should have expected someone to come looking for them. Maybe it hadn’t been so obvious from the start; maybe it had only seemed that way since she was trying to keep it a secret.
But if the man planned to stay, he would learn soon enough that she never intended to give up without a fight.
“Where is my husband?” she demanded.
The man turned away from her as he continued staring at Jake.
“You’re lying! My husband would never hurt anyone or—”
“Stop it, both of you!” A loud voice cut across her words. Rebecca spun around. The stranger she’d seen in town was standing near the horses with another man holding a revolver in his hand. The other man was also wearing a brown suit. Rebecca’s stomach dropped as she watched them point their guns at Jake. “Now, get out of here.”
Rebecca’s heart jumped into her throat. She knew what the man behind her wanted her to do. But she refused to move until Jake was safe. What would happen to him if they let him go? Would they follow him out there with the rifle pointed at him?
A few seconds later, Jake was helped up and escorted out of sight by the two strangers who now wore matching grins on their faces.
***
The three men rode away in the direction of town, leaving Rebecca and Jake alone. The sun was almost gone; a light breeze ruffled her hair as she paced back and forth next to the fire. Jake remained sitting on the ground, staring at nothing in particular, while she watched the flames lick at the embers.
After they left, Rebecca had gone back to watching Jake. The two men hadn’t followed him and instead left him in their care. They were probably worried about him. They certainly didn’t know that he could walk perfectly well without assistance.
Still, she couldn’t understand why he didn’t ask to be taken along. It didn’t seem like such a long ride to town. Why didn’t they take him to get treatment for his injured shoulder? And where did the third man fit into their plans?
The answer came a moment later when Jake got up and walked closer to her. His eyes were still puffy and red, making his blue eyes look even darker. He reached for her hands and pulled her close to him.
“Rebecca,” he whispered, “please tell me everything I need to hear so we can end this tonight.”
Her face grew hot under his touch as she pressed her lips together and looked up at him. There was so much she wanted to say; how could she pick one thing to speak about first? How did she explain to him that his wife had died years ago, leaving him alone for the rest of his life?
That he had to stop feeling responsible for her death when it was really her own fault? Or tell him that she’d killed herself because of the terrible memories she kept having of that night?
But all those words wouldn’t change anything. So she simply said, “I love you.”
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. As he brushed his lips over hers, she felt relieved. At least it wasn’t so bad. After all these months, she’d finally told him what mattered most to her.
Then something made her pull away from him slightly and look him in the eye. “There’s another reason I’m here,” she admitted.
Jake sighed. “What is it?”
She glanced at the fire; it was almost out. Then she returned her attention to him and spoke carefully.
“This isn’t the only place in this territory where you can find gold.” Her mind drifted back to the day she met Jake in New York City. “I’ve already found several mines and am working on opening more of them. We’ll continue to dig for gold as long as there is enough work. If we decide not to stay here, I’ll send word and you can come with me.”
His brows knitted together as he stared at her. She saw his muscles tighten under his skin and knew it was too late for her to try to change things. They’d come this far; it would be a waste of time to turn around and go back now.
“It sounds like a good plan,” he finally said, “but it doesn’t matter anymore. You can’t do any more digging.”
Rebecca shook her head. “That’s wrong. It has nothing to do with your injury.”
“How do you figure that?”
“When we were in the mine shaft, something happened.” She paused, searching for the right words. “Something changed inside me. Before you came down, I felt like I was going mad. Now… everything makes sense now.” She hesitated again. “Your body was buried underground for five days.”
“So? I’m alive now. Is that supposed to mean anything?”
“It means that my father was right all along. I’ve been searching for someone who would die for me since he told me that. I thought that was you. But now…” She took a deep breath and smiled at him. “Now I know what I truly want.”
For a brief second, his eyes narrowed before they widened in surprise. Then he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close once again. “You don’t have to worry about money or food,” he whispered against her ear. “All you have to do is marry me.”
***
Rebecca didn’t expect to see Jake again. It seemed like the last thing she’d ever want to do, but after spending some time alone in town, she decided it would be best if she left as soon as possible. No one seemed to care that she was leaving. The miners had grown used to the strange woman with a black eye and swollen lip who showed up every morning. It didn’t make sense to stay.
The sun had almost set by the time Jake rode into town. When his dark horse pulled up near the livery stable, the other riders looked at him curiously. Some whistled as they approached him. He ignored them and dismounted, then tied the reins to the post in front of the tack room.
He walked past the men without speaking to anyone until he arrived at the saloon, which was located on the opposite side of the street. He opened the door and went inside. A moment later, he saw Rebecca sitting at a table in the corner.
“Rebecca!” he yelled as he crossed the room toward her. His friends looked surprised as they turned back to their gambling tables.
He sat down across from her and took her hand between both of his. “I missed you,” he said softly, looking at her face. Then he kissed her cheek. “Where in God’s name did you learn to kiss like that?”
She grinned. “My father taught me.”
“Did he teach you how to kiss that way?”
“No,” she said, “how to kiss passionately.”
He laughed. “I never saw that coming.”
Then his expression became serious. “Are you ready to go home?” he asked.
She nodded and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter and map. “This is a good start,” he said. “Let’s get going.”
They left the saloon and started riding out of town. As they passed through a small canyon, Rebecca noticed a large boulder blocking the road and pointed to it. “Look there,” she said, and Jake quickly dismounted and pushed the rock aside. She followed him, eager to leave this place behind.
“Why are you smiling?” he asked when they stopped in the center of a small valley that was surrounded by high cliffs. The ground was covered in green grass that swayed in the wind. It was beautiful. “What happened in here?”
“There’s no one else here—just you and me.”
His smile broadened as he looked around. “I like that very much.”
After tying the horses to a tree in the valley, they climbed up the rocky trail and made their way around to the backside of the mountain. There wasn’t a sound except for the birds flying overhead. Rebecca watched them circle the sky; she felt free for the first time since she left Chicago.
“Do you think you could live up here?” he finally asked, staring into her eyes as they walked side by side.
Rebecca looked into his face, trying to decide where to begin. She glanced over the rim of the cliff and took in the sight of the valley below. Then she slowly smiled back at him.
“Yes,” she replied, “but not just yet.” She squeezed his arm.
The End