Jamie Read online

  Jake sampled his cattail root ball. “I wish we had butter. There’s not much taste to this root thing.”

  “Indians eat these and they’ll fill your belly. With the roots, nuts, and snow water, you’ll stay healthy as long as you remain by the campfire so you’re warm.”

  They ate in companionable silence. Even though he hadn’t adapted to rules, Jake was mature for his age and intelligent. Although he was frightened, and why wouldn’t he be, he was coping with their situation.

  Shelling pine nuts from the cones kept her hands mobile. She fed the cone petals into the fire after she’d shelled a few. They made excellent kindling.

  After all she’d read and her experience the last twenty-four hours, she could understand how trappers and miners who could hunt game survived winters in the mountains. But survival for a woman and a boy was not as easy as for hardened men who could fell trees and built a cabin.

  She and Jake snuggled at the back of their shelter. Even though she was miserably cold, she was determined to keep the boy warm and safe.

  “Jake, you were going to tell me a story. Have you thought of a good one?”

  “I can tell you about Hansel and Gretel. It’s good and has scary parts.”

  “Tell away.”

  He touched her arm, his face a picture of concern. “Now don’t get upset, ‘cause they had a mean stepmother, not a nice one like you.”

  His statement chased the pain of being cold. “Thank you for saying so. Go on with the story and I won’t be upset.”

  Jake launched into his tale, which varied considerably from the one she’d always heard. He had a good imagination and made the circumstances fit with Colorado ranch life. He’d almost reached the conclusion when rocks rained from the mountainside.

  Jake screamed.

  She thought she did too. Sheltering him with her body, she prayed they wouldn’t be trapped in their meager shelter.

  ***

  Jamie loved this land, but today it was his enemy. He scanned the landscape around them, careful to keep his hat brim so it shaded his eyes. He didn’t want snow blindness at any time, but especially not now that he needed all his wits and resources to find Olivia and Jake.

  In some places he hung onto the cliff’s face by sheer willpower. Nothing he’d ever done was as difficult. Western boots were not suitable for rock climbing, but they were what he had.

  Jamie took in a deep breath, sniffing the frosty air as he did. Definitely smoke below and west. Occasionally, he thought he caught a wisp of the plume drifting upward.

  With his spyglass, he could see the men moving slowly. Horses had a difficult time negotiating the deep snow. At least the storm had ended and the air was clear. The riders had to get over and around the slide before dark so they could make safe camp.

  If not for his desperate task, the scene would be breathtakingly beautiful. His mission was to rescue two people who were important members of his family. He loved his children more than his life. Olivia had become a valuable part of the ranch in a short time, more so than he could have imagined.

  Jake was his firstborn and namesake, the boy who’d grow to one day control the ranch if he chose. Jamie couldn’t imagine his son wanting any other life. He had to reach Jake and keep him safe.

  Olivia often annoyed Jamie with her stubborn insistence she knew more about his own children than he did. He admitted that she’d changed Cat and Jake’s behavior for the better. Except for the tantrum that sent them both into a snowstorm, Jake had shown remarkable improvement in his lessons and his behavior.

  Even Cat had learned her letters and could count to ten. She’d proudly printed her name, her full name, for him. Like any other little girl, she appeared to enjoy playing with her dolls and her doll house. Who’d known she’d like those activities?

  Olivia had known. And she’d known how to get Cat to wear dresses and how to get Jake to play in his room. Admit it, she does know more about your children than you do.

  All day he crept from one foothold to the next. At times he’d reached a ledge and made better time. He almost fell when he spotted the red scarf flying from a half-dead pine. His heartbeat increased and exhilaration surged through him.

  Olivia’s scarf. She’d tied that red banner for him. Smart woman. He pulled out his spyglass and focused on the area.

  He spotted her kneeling at the edge of what looked like a frozen stream. Then he saw the fire. What the hell was she doing? Where was Jake?

  Frantic, he wanted to increase his speed, but he dared not. Falling wouldn’t help anyone. He was close to them, though.

  At the next ledge, he searched again. There, he spotted her on her way toward the cliff below where he rested. She had something in her arms and stopped to pick up…pine cones? She appeared headed directly below him.

  He’d found them. He started his descent as quickly as he could without killing himself. When he was about ten feet from the snow, he ran out of anything to hold. His foot slipped and he kicked loose a load of rocks and gravel. Then he felt himself falling and was powerless to do more than slide.

  With a plop he hit the snow-covered ground. He lay with the wind knocked from him.

  “Jamie? Oh, Jamie, are you all right.” She dropped to her knees and hugged him. “I knew you’d find us.”

  “Papa? Where are the horses and men?”

  He sat up slowly then stood and helped his wife to her feet. Hugging her and his son to him, he gave thanks they were safe.

  “Let’s get to the fire.” He led them toward the meager shelter where he saw the campfire.

  His wife’s lips were blue and she was shaking. “Get by the fire.”

  Jamie had the one blanket wrapped snugly around him.

  “Let’s all sit together and we can spread some of the blanket over your mama.”

  She shook her head. “No, it’ll get wet and then he’ll get cold. I’ll be fine now that you’re here.”

  “Olivia knows everything about staying safe. She found cattail roots to eat and nuts in pine cones. Before she came here she read up on surviving if you’re lost.”

  He hugged her against his side and pulled her head to his shoulder. “Thank the Lord, you did, Olivia. The men are on their way but can’t be here before dark.”

  She gazed up at him. “Your gloves are shredded and look at your poor hands. How did you climb the cliff?”

  “Had to. Couldn’t stand waiting. I was scared out of my mind. We smelled your campfire. Oh, I have to build a big signal fire.”

  He climbed to his feet and gathered wood which he piled a few feet from the shelter. When he had a large stack, he started the blaze. Waiting until he was certain the smoke could be seen, he fed more wood. Then, he returned to his wife and son.

  She sneezed and slipped the handkerchief into her cuff.

  He pulled her close. “Jake, tell me all that’s happened.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  The moon was high overhead when Jamie heard his ranch hands approach. He’d kept the fire blazing. Olivia and Jake both slept. He suspected his wife hadn’t been able to relax until he showed up because she’d fallen asleep almost immediately.

  Once they’d arrived, he recovered his dry socks from the saddlebag and stuffed them in his pocket. When he had the bedroll from behind Thunder’s saddle, he rolled it out under the shelter. He’d brought two extra blankets and folded them on top of the bedroll. Then, he woke his wife.

  “Olivia? Honey, wake up so you can get inside my bedroll. Strip off anything that’s wet.”

  “Everything except my shirt and chemise?” Her gaze went to the men setting up the tent.

  He pulled one of the blankets to use as a screen. “Don’t worry about them. This blanket will shield you from their view. Work quickly as you can.”

  Her fingers appeared slow to him but he couldn’t help and keep her screened.

  Sam called, “I’m coming to help. Not looking, Miss Olivia.”

  The other man took the blanket from Jamie and
held it while averting his gaze. Jamie moved Olivia’s fingers aside and stripped her shoes, stockings, petticoat, skirt, and coat. His own fingers were stiff from his climb but he put the dry socks on her frigid feet then buttoned her into the bedroll.

  “Thanks, Sam. Her fingers were so cold she couldn’t manage.”

  “No wonder, but yours don’t look much better. We were near frozen ourselves but that signal fire feels durn good. Anything we can do before we turn in?”

  “Nothing now. Get some rest if you can.”

  Jamie draped Olivia’s clothing and shoes near the fire and refolded the blanket used as a screen and laid it on the bedroll. He laid his sheepskin coat over Jake before he climbed into the bedroll with his wife.

  Her eyes opened.

  “I’m going to crawl in and warm you.”

  “Good. I’ve never been as cold as I have the past two days.”

  “This is made for one person so snuggle up and I’ll get you warm.” When they were spooned inside their cocoon, he nuzzled her neck. “Olivia, thank you for taking care of Jake. You’re an amazing woman and a hero.”

  “Hero is a man, heroine is a woman. I only did what anyone would do. All children deserve our protection but I love Jake and couldn’t let anything happen to him.”

  He chuckled. “Even half frozen you are an argumentative woman. Go back to sleep now. Tomorrow we’ll go home.”

  “Home sounds wonderful.” Her voice sounded drowsy.

  Almost instantly, she fell back into sleep. As well as he could in the limited space, he rubbed his hands over her body to warm her.

  In the distance, wolves howled eerily. Here he, his wife, son, and his men were safe and almost warm. He thanked God he’d found Jake and Olivia in time. Cuddling his wife and with his son nearby, Jamie allowed himself to relax as sleep claimed him.

  Morning came before Olivia’s clothing had dried. He mulled over his choices.

  Rowdy brought over a pair of spare denim pants. “Sorry I didn’t think of this last night, boss. Reckon I was settin’ up the tent while you were getting’ your missus settled.”

  Jamie broke into a wide grin. “Thanks for loaning us these. She can’t wear that wet clothing to ride home. These will be better for horseback anyway.”

  Once again, Jamie held a blanket while she donned the loaned pants. He’d reclaimed his coat from Jake now that the boy was awake.

  “These shoes are dry, but stiff as a board. I hope I can get my feet in them.”

  “They won’t be comfortable, but they’ll protect you.”

  “How long will the ride be?”

  “We can reach home today now that we won’t have to search for you and Jake. We’ll cut across country and save time.”

  “I admit I was lost, Jamie. Everything was white and looked the same. I was afraid to go anywhere for fear we’d move the wrong way.”

  Jake appeared proud. “Olivia said we had to find shelter and wait for you. She promised me you’d find us and you did.”

  “And you did what she said. That’s good, son. I hope you’ve learned your lesson about not doing what Olivia says.”

  Jake hung his head. “Papa, I know this was my fault and we could have died because of me. If Olivia hadn’t followed me, I would be frozen or eaten by a wolf. I won’t do anything like this ever again. I promise.”

  “I’m proud of you for taking responsibility for your mistake, Jake. Not only you and Olivia could have died. Looking for you in the snowstorm, I almost led the men off a cliff. Sam, Spunky, and Rowdy have near frozen looking for you. You owe them a big apology.”

  Jake took a deep breath and marched over to the men. “I’m sorry for causing you to have to search for Olivia and me. Thank you for coming with Papa to find us.”

  Sam picked up Jake. “Well, little fella, it takes a man to admit when he’s wrong. Takes a bigger man not to make the same mistake again.”

  “I won’t ever do anything like this again, Mr. Zimmerman. I promise.”

  Sam set him down. “Good to hear, Jake.”

  Spunky pulled the skillet away from the coals. “I have breakfast ready if you folks want to grab some chow before we start. Just bacon and hard tack, but it’s hot.”

  Jake rummaged in a burlap bag. “We have pine nuts and cattail root. Olivia cooked the roots and they taste kind of like a potato without butter or salt.” He set what looked like six roots on the coals then spread the bag open to reveal the nuts.

  Sam gaped at Olivia. “Ma’am, you are a wonder. Indians eat those but I never have tried ‘em. Wouldn’t mind a taste.” He picked up a nut and popped it into his mouth.

  Olivia walked toward the men. Hobbled would be a better word.

  She said, “There’s not a lot to forage in winter, but we didn’t go hungry. As Jake said, there’s no seasoning. I’m looking forward to the bacon.”

  Jake smiled at her. “I’m looking forward to your biscuits with butter and sausage.”

  After they’d eaten and doused the fires, they broke camp.

  As he helped Olivia into the saddle, she asked, “What’s this horse’s name? I hope it’s not Buck or Racer.”

  As cold as it was, he felt heat on his face. Embarrassed at the dirty trick he’d played on her when she’d first arrived, he said, “This one is called Rusty. He’s sturdy and dependable but you’d have to light his tail on fire to make him race.”

  “Good, because I don’t want to race, just ride home.”

  When Olivia was in the saddle, Jamie wrapped each of her legs with a blanket. She wore her coat with the wet part trailing behind her and tucked behind the saddle. Around her shoulders, he draped his sleeping bag opened up and then buttoned in places where it could be pulled together. She was almost unrecognizable with only her face showing.

  “Jake, keep your blanket tight around you.” Jake’s coat and clothes were dry as he rode with Jamie.

  “Sam, you lead so I can ride beside my wife. She’s so cold I’m not sure her fingers can hold the reins well enough.”

  They set out for the ranch house. Going was slow through the snow and with Olivia not knowing how to ride well. Jamie reflected on the state of Olivia as opposed to Jake.

  His son had been warm, dry, and fed. Olivia was wet and almost numb from cold. She had risked everything to keep Jake safe in every way. She was definitely a heroine in every sense of the word. He couldn’t have been prouder of anyone than he was of her.

  As dusk fell, the ranch buildings came into view.

  She peered ahead. “The lights of home look welcoming, don’t they?”

  Jamie hugged Jake in front of him. “Never more than now.”

  When they rode in, people appeared from everywhere. Beth, Mama, Milly, and Cat hurried from the house. Ethan, Monty, and Pete hurried from the barn.

  Cat reached them first. “I’ve been watching for you from the window. Telling Grandma when I saw you was my job.”

  Jamie hauled her behind him for the remaining few feet to the house’s hitching rail. He dismounted and stood Cat on the ground. “You did a good job but now I have a new one for you. Go open the door for me so I can get Olivia inside.”

  Jake slid off the horse without help.

  Jamie lifted Olivia down and carried her toward the house.

  She peeled off the bedroll and it fell behind them. “I can walk. I’m much too heavy for you to carry.”

  He looked over his shoulder as Sam picked up the dropped bedroll and carried toward the barn.

  “You might be able to walk, but that doesn’t mean you will. Those shoes have to hurt your feet by now.”

  “I’m afraid they’re ruined and worthless. Fortunately, I have one more pair, but they’re for dressy wear and not suitable for outside.”

  He headed up the stairs. “Next time we go to town, we’ll stock up on your footwear of every type.”

  When they reached the bedroom, he set her on the bed. “Let me help you get these shoes off and then you can get in bed.” He looked up to f
ind they had an audience.

  Mama, Beth, Cat, Jake, and Ethan hovered just inside the door.

  Mama said, “Clara’s helping Milly heat supper for you and the men. I’ll get Olivia’s nightgown if you tell me where it is.”

  Cat walked to the drawer under the armoire. “I know.”

  Jamie peered at his family. “I thank you for being concerned, but everyone out and let me help Olivia into bed so she can rest. She’s had a terrible ordeal and she’ll tell you about it when she’s warm.”

  Mama ushered Jake and Cat. “We’ll wait in the hall until you call us. But don’t be long, son. We’ve been worried sick.” She closed the door behind her.

  Olivia stood and shimmied out of Rowdy’s denims. “Thank you, but I can manage the rest. What I need most right now is the chamber pot.” When she tried to walk, she stumbled.

  “Let me help you. I’ll get you behind the screen and give you privacy.” He lifted her and set her down by the chair containing the chamber pot.

  While he waited, he shed his coat and hat and put another log on the fire. The room was warm, but he wanted to be certain Olivia was comfortable.

  “Make sure Jake eats before he goes to bed. We had food, but nothing tasty and the ride was long.”

  “He ate pine nuts most of the way home. Said he didn’t want them to go to waste because they were a pain to dig out.”

  “You should be proud of him. Jake did just what I asked, even though he was so scared most of the time. He worried the wolves would come for us. I hope he doesn’t have nightmares from our ordeal.”

  She appeared at the edge of the screen and Jamie rushed to help her. “I’m more proud of you, Olivia. I can’t imagine where you found the strength to do all you did to keep my…our son safe. Mama never did anything better than choosing you for my wife. I’ll be grateful until my dying day that I have you.”

  Tears appeared and rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, Jamie. That was a lovely thing to say.”

  He brushed away her tears and kissed her cheek gently. “I meant every word.”

  “Thank you.” She gestured toward the washstand. “At last I can clean in water instead of snow.”