Jamie Read online

  The snow had lessened enough that she realized the slope was gradual. Below was a depression that might be a stream. She had no idea in which direction the house lay.

  Not that she would try to get there. What she’d told Jake was the truth and they had to stay put and let Jamie find them. She knew Jamie was already on his way, but how long would he need to locate them?

  After gathering as many branches and pine cones as she could carry, she went back to the small shelter. She was grateful Milly thought to include the oiled cloth ground cover. That kept Jake dry as he slept. She stumbled on a stone and dropped her load of wood.

  Jake awoke. “Golly, what time is it?”

  “I don’t know. Probably close to midnight.”

  He peered into the dark. “I’m scared. Are you?”

  Endless night above white snow overwhelmed and frightened her. Lying wasn’t acceptable, but she couldn’t admit how frightened she was.

  “A little. Mostly I’m cold.”

  She stuck her wet feet toward the fire. Perhaps she could distract him. “Obviously, I need some good strong footwear for the ranch instead of these lady’s shoes. The next time we go to Angel Springs, I’m buying a pair of sturdy boots.”

  She sat with her back against the cliff and fed a few sticks to the fire. She’d found one larger branch about four inches in diameter and eighteen inches long. Laying it on the fire, she hoped it would burn for several hours.

  “You sure brought a lot of pine cones. They pop when you put them in the fire.”

  “We’re going to eat the pine nuts. They’re messy to extract, but they’re also good food.”

  He stared at her. “I never knew you could eat them. Don’t they hurt your mouth when you chew?”

  She peeled away a petal and exposed the nut. “Fortunately for us, these nuts are large and we won’t waste all our time for a tiny bite, although the small ones are tastier.”

  Working quickly, she harvested one cone. “Now you try. Keep your gloves on because there’s sap that makes your hands a mess.”

  Jake popped one into his mouth and chewed. “They don’t have much taste.”

  Movement caught her eyes. She scanned the night and saw two eyes shining from the dark and inching closer. Dear Merciful Heaven, a wolf.

  Jake inched closer to her. “Olivia? T-That looks like a wolf. What’ll we do?”

  The animal slunk closer, haunches poised to spring. She’d thought the fire would protect them. In this weather, the wolf’s hunting must be limited and the animal extra hungry.

  Hands shaking, she reached for the Colt. “Your grandmother sent a revolver. We can protect ourselves.”

  He scooted closer. “Are you a good shot?”

  “No, but I don’t want to injure or kill him. Blood would only draw more wolves.” She held the gun with both hands in an effort to steady her aim. Choosing a place near the wolf, she pulled the trigger.

  The blast sent the animal running and she sagged against the rock wall in relief. Quickly wiping away tears before Jake saw them, she fought for calm that refused to come. What would she have done had the wolf charged?

  A creaking sound became a cracking groan that grew louder and louder. Seconds passed before a deafening roar reached them. She grabbed Jake and threw her body over his as a shield. A spray of snow showered into their meager shelter.

  The roar continued endlessly and a wall of snow cascaded. When at last the night quieted, she tried to stand. She’d feared they would be covered by the avalanche, but she could see out. Venturing on legs like rubber, she gave thanks for the boulders. The large rock fall had stopped the snow mass’ outward spread.

  Jake sobbed. “Now Papa can’t find us.”

  She hugged him. “The avalanche added time to his search, but he’ll find us.”

  He shook his head. “No, he’ll think we’re buried in the snow like my other mama.”

  His other mama? Her heart lapped up the words like a hungry puppy after gravy. She took Jake by the shoulders. “Jake, it’s all right to be scared. That avalanche scared me, too. But we’re fine. Your father will find us.”

  “You’re just saying that so I’ll stop crying.”

  She cupped his chin so he met her gaze. “Look at me. Have I ever lied to you?”

  He shook his head.

  “I give you my word that your father will find us. It might take several days for him and the men to get over the avalanche, but nothing can stop him.”

  He sniffed. “You promise?”

  She crossed her heart. “I promise. As soon as it’s light, I’m going to find a place to hang my red scarf where he can see it as soon as he’s at the top of the snow.”

  He wiped his face. “Like a flag?”

  “Exactly. As soon as he sees it, he’ll know where to find us. We just have to keep safe until he gets here. For now, we need to sleep.” As if she could. She still saw those eyes staring at her, growing closer.

  “What if the wolf comes back?”

  She added wood to their fire. “You think the avalanche scared us, imagine what it did to the wildlife.” She prayed she told the truth. Surely the wolves were frightened away.

  When she had a nice small blaze going, she cuddled with Jake. Soon, he drifted back to sleep.

  ***

  A gunshot split the air. Jamie sprung from his bedroll and pulled on his boots. If they were close enough for him to hear gunfire, he wanted to find them now.

  Then came the creaking he knew too well. “Avalanche!” No, not again. Jake! Olivia!

  The other three men had run outside the tent behind him. They stood in horror as the mass of snow descended. Horses screamed in terror. Spunky and Rowdy dashed to quiet them.

  When the world was still once more, he sank to his knees and pounded the ground. “Why? Why did this happen again?”

  Sam pulled on his arm. “Now, you don’t know they was in the slide.”

  He let the older man help him to his feet, but he was numb inside. “I heard a gunshot then the creaking started. Olivia shot at something that caused the avalanche.”

  “I heard it, too, but sounded like it was other side of where the fall is. Like as not, she and your boy are safe but scared spitless. Leastwise we know which way to look now.”

  Rowdy returned. “Horses are okay but awful cold.” He peered at the mountain. “I reckon I can climb up the slope there and see over the fall. Maybe I can spot your wife and son.”

  Jamie stared at the young cowhand. He was tall and lean with the energy of youth. Last week, the boy had scaled the barn roof for repairs like it was flat. “You’re the surest footed of us, Rowdy, but that’s my wife and son out there. I’m going after them as soon as light breaks.”

  “Okay, then reckon I’ll get back to sleep.” He headed back into the tent.

  Spunky followed him but turned before ducking inside. “Even if you can’t sleep, boss, least you can get in your bedroll and rest up for morning.”

  Sam tugged Jaime toward the shelter. “You can’t stand out here. You didn’t even put on your coat.”

  “I’ll get in the sleeping bag but at first light, I’m heading up that cliff and over that slide.

  Jamie thought he would explode with impatience and worry. At first, he had blamed Olivia for Jake being in the storm. But, while he gathered supplies, Mama had told him about Jake’s tantrum and running out of the house, intent on tattling.

  Dear Lord, Olivia had warned him this would happen because he was too easygoing and indulgent with Jake and Cat. First Cat had climbed in the pig pen and now Jake had run out into the storm. He loved his children, but his leniency had put them in harm’s way.

  He recalled every terrible thing he’d said to Olivia. He’d told her he couldn’t trust her, yet she’d risked her life to protect Jake. He should never have compared her to Lucy. They were as different as two women could be.

  Mama’s last words to him were, “Find my daughter and grandson.”

  Her daughter.
/>   That’s what Olivia had become to Mama. A good mother to Jake and Cat. His wife. Chatelaine of the household. She filled all those roles well. Damned if he wouldn’t be more tolerant and patient when they got home. If he found…no he wouldn’t let himself consider the alternative.

  The first rays of light peeked over the horizon. Jaime gathered his bedroll and cinched it behind Thunder’s saddle. The breeze brought the scent of another campfire to the west. He prayed that was a sign Olivia and Jake were safe and warm.

  He started up the slope. “You can lead my horse and I’ll meet you on the other side of the slide.”

  Rowdy looked at him. “What if you get stuck up there and have to turn around?”

  “Then I’ll wait for you but I don’t aim to get stuck. When I find them, I’ll build a large signal fire.”

  Jamie dug the spyglass out of his saddlebag and stuffed it inside his shirt. “See you when we meet up on the other side of that avalanche.”

  He looked back once. The men had climbed in their saddles and led the two extra horses with them.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Olivia checked the meager supplies she’d brought. They were gone to the last crumb or nut. She needed to gather food, but Jake was still afraid. He clung to her as if they were connected.

  “Jake, although we could live on them for days, I’d like more than nuts.”

  He pointed to the closest pine. “You could catch a rabbit by that tree.”

  She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. And if I did, I wouldn’t have the heart to kill the poor thing.”

  He gaped at her. “You eat ‘em when Mr. Zimmerman catches ‘em.”

  How could she make this child understand she’d grown up patronizing a butcher shop except for the chickens her father kept? “When he brings them to the kitchen, they’re ready to cook on a nice range. I don’t have to kill, skin and do all kinds of other things to them.”

  She got to her feet. “I think there’s a stream down the slope.”

  “You can’t go fishing, can you? And nothing but pines grows in the snow.”

  She reached for her bag and knife. “If there’s water, there’ll be cattails along the stream where the water is still. Even though the tops die, the root is still there.”

  He pulled on her arm. “I wanta come with you.”

  “You have an important job to do here. Keeping the fire burning just as it is now will save us. Not too high but don’t allow the flames to die out. We need it for warmth and to keep animals away.”

  His panic appeared to increase and she was afraid he’d cry. He followed her onto the snow. “You said the wolves were scared off by the avalanche but they might come back now.”

  She guided him back under the shelf where he’d stay dry. “They were, but eventually they’ll come this way again. I haven’t heard them howling, so you’ll be okay here.”

  He clung to her arm, his eyes pleading. “Don’t go, Olivia. Don’t leave me.”

  She shoved and tugged at a large rock until she’d maneuvered the stone near the fire. “Jake, sit here. You’re almost seven so you’re old enough to understand. I’m going to climb that half dead pine and hang my scarf like a banner from that dead limb. Then I’ll climb back down and go to the stream. Imagine how good a baked potato would taste about now. Cattail roots are similar.”

  “What if I see a wolf or a bear or a lion?”

  “Yell as loud as you can. I’ll hear and come running. While I’m gone, you make up a good story to tell me when I return. Can you do that for me?”

  “I guess. I’ll yell read loud.”

  “I won’t be far.” She made certain he was seated. “Sit right here so that your blanket doesn’t catch fire but you stay warm.

  Bracing herself, she strode off toward the pine that looked as if it had been struck by lightning. The tree resembled a two-sided doll except one part was green and one gray and barren. Could she climb it?

  She hadn’t scrambled up a tree since she was twelve. Surely grim determination would count for something. After putting down her bag and sticking her knife into the snow, she tried to grab a branch for leverage.

  Three tries later, she was able to hold on to a branch and use her knees to anchor her body so she could reach a higher limb. Slowly, she scaled, all the while praying the weakened tree wouldn’t topple. When she judged she had gone high enough, she took her muffler and tied one end around the stub of a branch protruding from the gray side.

  The breeze ruffled the scarf out like a banner. Now if only it didn’t become tangled on the other branches. Still, the bright red showed up against the green and gray pine and white landscape.

  While on her perch, she gazed out across the snow slide in amazement. How would Jamie and his men get over that mass? They’d need days to go around while she and Jake were here alone.

  Worse, what if Jamie thought they’d died in the avalanche? Would he turn around and go home? She had a knife and a revolver with five bullets left. How long could she and Jake last before they froze or were attacked by wild animals?

  The thought almost toppled her from her roost. No, she couldn’t let herself dwell on those kinds of thoughts. Jamie would come and they would be safe.

  Getting down the tree was even more difficult because her skirts wanted to stick to bark or fly up. By the time she reached the ground, she was exhausted. She wanted to sit in the snow and rest a while, but she knew that would be fatal.

  Jake depended on her and she had to find food. She missed the scarf’s warmth and turned up her collar to protect her neck. After picking up her knife and bag, she started down the slope toward what she thought was a stream. Sure enough, she recognized the flat ice covering the water.

  As she descended the landscape, she scanned for signs of clumps along the edge of the waterway. When she spotted a likely bulge under the snow, she headed that way. Turning to glance behind her, she waved to Jake. She hoped he’d remain where she left him and stay out of the campfire and trouble.

  Squatting beside the clump, she brushed away snow. By now her shoes were soaked and so were the hems of her dress, petticoat, and coat. Her feet were growing numb so she needed to hurry. She tunneled like a dog burying a bone.

  Thank Heavens, she’d located a clump of cattails. Using her knife as a spade, she attempted to pierce the frozen ground. There was no way she could dig out the roots armed only with a knife. She wasn’t sure a pick ax would help.

  Grateful she’d brought matches, she brushed snow from the dried stalks. Her knife sliced the crisp stalks and leaves. She piled them near the base of a cattail clump and ignited them. As they burned, they melted the ground underneath. She added more stalks to keep the fire going.

  Coveting warmth, she stood as close to the fire as she dared. Gradually, mud formed at the base. Olivia tossed snow to extinguish the flames. Before the ground could freeze again, she cut out enough roots for several meals.

  After gathering them into her bag, she rose to begin the trek back to Jake. Her teeth chattered and she couldn’t stop shivering. She moved slowly so she wouldn’t sweat, remembering that perspiration would make her freeze faster.

  A numbed sensation of being out of herself forced her to move as if stunned. Her body and her mind were as frozen as the ice on the stream. How could she be any colder? She couldn’t, not and stay alive.

  Oh, how she yearned for her bed with the nearby fireplace and her husband’s strong arms around her. Stumbling, she slowly climbed the slope. Concentrate, she told herself. You know what to do and you can carry out the steps to stay alive.

  Her lungs burned like fire and her throat was frozen. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to function when she got to the shelter. She had to. Jake’s safety depended on her.

  Along the way, she gathered more pine cones. If he didn’t like the cattail root, Jake could have more nuts. At least eating them would keep him alive.

  She barely reached the overhang where Jake waited by the fire.

  He smile
d proudly at her. “I kept the fire going like you said.”

  She managed to croak, “Good. I knew I could depend on you.”

  Stumbling, she all but fell beside him. After pulling the roots from her pack, she placed two on the coals at the edge of their campfire. Oh, the fire felt wonderful as she held her wet mittens over it. Warmth reflected from the wall and overhang created more heat than the fire down by the stream.

  “You sure were gone a long time, but your scarf looks like a flag just like you said.” He peered at her with a speculative gaze. “I didn’t know grown ladies could climb trees.”

  “Ladies do what they have to do to survive.” She glanced at the sky. “I think it’s about noon. Our dinner will be ready soon.”

  His frown was a small copy of his father’s. “Your lips are kind of a funny color. Are you okay?”

  Admitting she wasn’t would panic him more. She tried to sound confident. “I will be as soon as I get warm. Thank you for doing such a good job with the fire.”

  Jake beamed at her praise. “I watched you in case you fell but you did okay. Did you build a fire to get warm down there?”

  “No, I had to thaw the ground so I could harvest our dinner and supper.”

  Inwardly, she gave thanks she had survived and rejoined her son. Walking back up the slope, she had feared she wouldn’t be able to reach the shelter. Why hadn’t the waterside fire warmed her? Now she hugged her arms and placed her feet near the campfire. Her shoes were sodden and her feet stung with pins and needles.

  He sat on the rock and hung his head. “I sure do wish Papa would come. I want to go home.”

  She put her arm around him. “I do too, Jake. Your papa will be here. I know he’s on his way now. You know he’s doing his best.”

  She took a stick and pulled the roots from the coals. “Let’s have our dinner. Why don’t we pretend you’re an Indian brave and I’m an Indian captive who has to bring you food?”

  He appeared to think over her suggestion. “Well, okay. My name will be Chief Running Deer.”

  “I’ll be called…Meadow Lark. Here’s your dinner, Chief Running Deer.” Her nose had turned into a faucet. She pulled out her handkerchief to keep handy.