A smug expression swept across Tompkins’s face. “So you did pay.”
Jake realized his defensiveness had cemented the man’s suspicions. “I didn’t say that,” he replied.
“You don’t have to,” Tompkins said with a laugh. “The truth’s written all over your face. God, that’s rich. A shotgun wedding, and you had to pay to be the groom. With you being new to these parts, I would have loved to see your face.”
Mind racing, Jake tried to think of a way to repair the damage he had just done. With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he looked into Tompkins’s eyes and knew he couldn’t. The more he tried to mend this situation, the worse it would probably get.
If anyone so much as hinted to Indigo that her husband had paid a bride price, she’d be bound to think he had mentioned it. After seeing the look in her eyes last night when she discovered money was changing hands, Jake didn’t figure he would have a snowball’s chance in hell of convincing her he hadn’t. He could only hope she never heard about this. If luck went against him, however, he wanted to make damn sure she could at least take pride in the gossip.
Curiosity gleamed in the blond’s eyes. “How much did he get out of you?”
Jake had the horrible feeling he was sinking in quick-sand and cast around for Indigo to make sure she was out of earshot. “A small fortune, and I happily paid every cent. Another thing, just to get the story straight. There was no shotgun wedding. Any man with eyes knows that. The instant I met her, I knew I wanted to marry her, and when I finally worked up the courage to propose, she honored me by accepting. That’s the God’s truth, and I’ll kill you or any other man who says different.”
The blond held up his hands. “Hey, I’d be the first to admit she’s a fine swatch of calico, or should I say buckskin.”
“The finest.” Jake strove to keep his voice even. “Don’t ever make the mistake of referring to her as a squaw again. Not in my presence or in hers. There’s not a female in this town, white or Indian, more chaste or God-fearing than that girl, and any man who doesn’t have the decency to take off his hat to her will answer to me. Have I made myself clear?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad to know we understand each other,” Jake said silkily. “That goes for every rock-buster up here, so spread the word. And fair warning, Tompkins. If I hear one derogatory word about my marriage, I’ll know it started with you.” He jabbed a thumb in Indigo’s direction. “If that girl sheds so much as a tear because of filthy talk, I’ll take it out of your hide.”
Tompkins looked uneasy. “It’s not too smart to make threats about killing people. Someone might think you mean it.”
“What makes you think I don’t?”
“I have no control over what other people say. I’ll tell it the way you want, but I doubt it’ll change anyone’s thinking.”
With that, Tompkins struck off down the slope. Feeling helpless, Jake stood there and gazed after him.
“I reckon you’ll do,” a deep, gravelly voice commented from behind him.
Jake jerked around to see Shorty stepping out from behind a nearby wagon. “I’ll do for what?”
As Shorty ambled closer, he scratched his earlobe, and then leaned sideways to spit tobacco juice. “As a husband for our little missy. At least you stood up for her.” He drew up next to Jake and glanced at Tompkins’s retreating back. “It’s more than that no-good little pecker brain would have done. Half of what he said was envy talkin’. He wanted her for hisself. Offered her pappy three hundert dollars once.”
Jake squinted against the sun. “What did Hunter say?”
Shorty hooked his thumbs under his overall straps. “Nothin’. He ain’t much for jawin’ when he’s thinkin’ murder. He just give him one of them looks of his—the kind that makes yer scalp crawl.” He spat again. “For her sake, I’m right glad it was you she got stranded in the woods with and not Tompkins.”
At best, that was a sparing compliment, and since the old man’s manner didn’t seem all that friendly, Jake wasn’t certain how to reply. He ventured a hesitant, “Thank you. Do you always make it a habit to hide behind wagons and eavesdrop, Shorty?”
“When it comes to our little missy and her happiness, I ain’t righteous. I been watchin’ Denver flap his lip all mornin’. I figgered it’d tell me a lot about you if I could hear what ya said when he flapped to you. I knew he’d make tracks to needle ya the minute ya got here. All I had to do was stick close and wait.” Shorty graced him with a narrow-eyed glare. “When I first saw you, I was afeard you had your eye on her. I guess I wasn’t far wrong.”
Jake wondered where this was heading. “No, I guess not.”
“After overhearin’ what I just did, I reckon I don’t need to say this, but I’m gonna anyways. You’d best treat her good. If’n ya don’t, we’ll take ya to task, and don’t think we won’t. Just because her pa’s flat on his back and all her other menfolk is gone, don’t think there ain’t nobody to take up for her.”
Though Jake didn’t feel particularly intimidated, he made a gallant attempt to appear so and bit back a smile. “Who’s we?”
Shorty straightened his arthritic shoulders. “Me, Stringbean, and Stretch. Harm one hair on her head, and you’ll answer to all three of us. And don’t ya forgit it.”
Striving to keep his expression carefully blank, Jake replied, “I won’t.”
“See that ya don’t.” The bulbous end of Shorty’s nose turned red. “I s’pose you’ll give me the boot now, first chance ya git. But somebody had to say it. It ain’t right, a little mite like her, with nobody to take up fer her.”
Jake could no longer hide his grin. “I agree. Rest assured, though. I’ll take good care of her. From here on in, you don’t need to worry.”
Shorty nodded. “From what I heard you sayin’ to Tompkins, I reckon I don’t.” He met Jake’s gaze. “Just watch yer back. He’s a sneaky little bastard, and his neck’s been swole for better than a year over that girl. He’ll be lippin’ off to ever’body he sees now, mark my words. He won’t be happy ’til he’s got her in tears.”
That was Jake’s worst fear. He studied Shorty for a moment, decided he could trust the man, then cleared his throat. “If he flaps about that bride price, it’s going to break her heart. Me being white, she didn’t like the idea a damned bit, and I can’t blame her. I’m worried that she’ll think I was bragging. Or worse yet, complaining. I didn’t think of it as a purchase, but that’s what she’ll believe if word gets back to her.”
“Send her to me.” A twinkle crept into Shorty’s eyes. “Sometimes, atwixt right and wrong, there’s a blessin’. In this case, it’s my ears. I’ll tell her what was said, just the way it was spoke.” He offered Jake his hand. “Ya handled it right fine, to my way of thinkin’.”
Relief washed over Jake. He clasped Shorty’s outstretched palm. “I appreciate the offer, and I might take you up on it. I’m afraid she won’t believe a damned word I say.”
Shorty’s gaze held Jake’s. “She was present the day Tompkins offered her pappy that three hundert. He walked right up, bold as brass, and tried to buy her. Try that on for size and see how it makes you feel.” With that, Shorty hiked up his overall strap and strode off down the hill.
With a thoughtful frown and a shake of his head, Jake resumed his work, loading the pile of gravel near the arrastra into a wheelbarrow and taking it, one load at a time, to the sluice.
At noon break, he went in search of Indigo and found her helping to man a rockerbox, which was as exhausting a chore as it was backbreaking. Using all his self-control, he managed to swallow any objection. If he meant to restrict her from every job at the mine, he might as well send her home.
When she saw Jake coming, she spoke to her partner and abandoned her work. There was a question in her eyes as she walked down the slope. Forcing his gaze from the feminine swing of her hips to the narrow set of her shoulders, Jake remembered how fragile her ribs had felt beneath his palm last night. Then
he recalled how soft and warm her little fanny had felt in his cupped palm this morning. She was his wife, dammit. He could buy her anything she needed, yet here she was, slaving in a two-bit mine. A fierce wave of protectiveness washed through him.
Lifting his gaze to hers, Jake set his jaw, determined not to say anything. He doubted Indigo would care a whit about all the things his money could buy her. His fancy home in Portland would no doubt impress her, but not favorably. To her, all the riches in the world were right here, and he couldn’t in good conscience rob her of them. His one consolation was that she seemed more like herself now than she had since the wedding last night. She moved with confidence, and her gaze met his without faltering.
Indigo had little difficulty interpreting the look in Jake’s eyes, and for at least the hundredth time that morning, she was filled with apprehension. There was no question what he had been thinking when he said, “About your going to the mine.” He had come just that close to saying she had to stay home.
They sat together beneath an oak tree to eat the lunch she had packed. While she forced herself to nibble a piece of dried apple, she gazed at nothing and tried to imagine what her life would be like if Jake forbade her to come here. She knew he wasn’t alone in feeling a wife’s place was at home.
She tried to think of something she might say to sway him over to her side, but there was nothing. A wife’s wants didn’t carry a great deal of weight with most white husbands, a squaw’s even less. Her only hope lay in prayer and his benevolence.
Chapter 12
AFTER THE NOON BREAK, JAKE RETURNED to his job of hauling gravel. By making repeated trips from the arrastra to the sluice, he had opportunity to observe the other miners. What he watched for, he wasn’t certain. Anything that looked peculiar, he supposed. Someone had weakened those timbers in the mine, and, as far as he was concerned, no one was above suspicion.
He couldn’t help but hope his father had nothing to do with it. The possibility had been bad enough before, but now? Indigo already resented their marriage. She would detest him if she learned his father had nearly killed hers. Jeremy had promised to continue searching Ore-Cal’s files while Jake investigated at Wolf’s Landing. Jake hoped that instead of finding evidence against their father, Jeremy would find he wasn’t guilty.
Each time Jake pushed a load of gravel to the sluice, he cast about for Indigo. Trust him to marry a slip of a girl who tackled everything. It took all his control not to interfere when he saw her helping Topper reseat a loaded skip onto the rails. To his surprise, she managed to lift her side. The weight was enough to break the backs of two men and a small boy.
Jake cringed and looked away. Then, though he knew he shouldn’t, he slid his gaze back to her. As he watched, Denver sauntered down to the unseated skip. Indigo turned at something the blond said. Jake couldn’t read her expression. He curled his fists around the handles of the wheelbarrow.
A cool breeze wafted against Indigo’s hot cheeks. She gazed up at Denver, aware of the steel gray rain clouds gathering in the sky behind him. Tall pines whipped in the rising wind, heralding a storm. Denver’s blue eyes glinted with cruel amusement, heralding unpleasantness of a different type.
“So you’re married?” he asked. Tipping his head to one side, he flashed a smile. “How does it feel?”
Indigo glanced at Topper, who waited for her to resume their chore. She turned back to get handholds on the skip. “That’s a strange question, Denver. It’s like asking someone how it feels to have a birthday. One day is much the same as another.”
“Really? I’m surprised you aren’t wearing a leash.”
Indigo’s hands cramped on the side of the skip. She stared across the pile of ore at Topper’s stony expression.
Denver chuckled. “You know, it’s funny. Your father really had me fooled. He acted so indignant that time I tried to buy you. Remember that? I was convinced he’d never do such a thing. And all the while, he was just holding out for a better offer.”
Indigo slowly straightened. As she turned around, her pulse quickened. “What are you saying? I haven’t all day for games.”
“I’ll admit it made me angry at first. But now that I’ve talked to Rand about it, I don’t feel so bad. In fact, now that I’ve thought it over, I’m kind of glad it happened this way. I’m not the marrying kind. I’d rather spend a few dollars to be with you and go home fancy free.”
“Shut your mouth, Tompkins!” Topper interrupted.
Indigo held up a hand. “No, let him say what he came to say.” She riveted her gaze to Denver’s. “Finish. I’m waiting.”
“What more is there to say? If I’m willing to pay the price, I’ll get to spend time with you.” He ran a knuckle along her cheek. “Not right at first. He said he wants to keep you for himself for a spell. But, hell, how long can it take for him to get bored? Besides, he’ll be anxious to earn his money back. He paid a mighty steep price for you, the way he tells it. You’ll have to do a lot of entertaining to earn his money back for him and start turning a profit.”
Indigo jerked her head back. Denver caught her chin.
“Don’t act too high and mighty, Indigo. When he starts renting you out, I’m going to be first in line. I’ll take you down a notch or two the minute we’re alone.”
“That’s enough, Tompkins.” Topper stepped around the skip. “One more word, and I’m going to lay you out.”
With a sarcastic laugh, Denver released Indigo and stepped back. “I’ve said all I had to say.” He slid his gaze to Indigo. “You can bet I won’t be playing cards and losing my paychecks from here on. Now I’ve got better things to spend my money on.”
With a jaunty bounce to his step, Denver walked away. Indigo stood there and stared after him, unable to move, unable to think. As if from a great distance, she heard Topper’s voice, but she couldn’t grasp the words. She lifted her gaze to the hillside where Jake had stopped with a loaded wheelbarrow. When he realized she was looking at him, he raised his hand and waved.
“Denver’s lying through his teeth, Miss Indigo,” Topper said from behind her. “He’s been building up to it all morning. Mr. Rand didn’t tell him none of those things.”
A horrible chill washed over Indigo’s skin. How could Denver possibly know Jake had paid a bride price, let alone how much he paid, unless Jake had told him? The cold knot of fear that had rested deep within her since her wedding turned icy, and her insides clenched spasmodically around it. She knew many a white man had made extra coin by renting out their squaws. The practice was so common, in fact, that people joked about it. If Jake chose to do it, he wouldn’t be the first, or the last.
Jake watched Denver Tompkins walk away. Relief filled him when Indigo turned back to the skip. With a little luck, maybe Denver hadn’t said anything. Jake had no doubt that if and when Denver did, he’d make it sound as bad as he could. The only consolation Jake had was Shorty. The instant Tompkins said anything, Jake would take Indigo to her old friend and ask him to give her an accurate account of his conversation with Tompkins.
Heaving up on the wheelbarrow handles, Jake started to take a step. As he did, he thought he glimpsed movement on the rocky slope at the top of the cliff. He turned to look, and what he saw turned his blood to ice. A rock slide. The main entrance to the tunnel lay directly in its path. For an instant, Jake stared, scarcely able to believe his eyes. Then he dropped the wheelbarrow and broke into a run.
“Indigo!”
She couldn’t hear him. The cacophony of sound in and around the mine drowned out his voice and the rumble of the rock slide.
“Indigo, run! Run!”
Jake felt as if he was having one of those horrible dreams where the danger advanced with lightning speed and he reacted with agonizing slowness. He could hear his blood pounding in his ears, his lungs whining. The impact of his boots on the slope jarred clear through his body.
“Indigo!”
At last, she and Topper heard him. Shading her eyes with her forearm, sh
e turned to look. Jake made a wild gesture with his arm, never breaking stride.
“Run! A rock slide! Get out of there! Run!”
She cast a glance around and, seeing nothing, lifted her hands in bewilderment. “What?” she called.
Jake could see the rocks gaining momentum, dislodging others in their path. He imagined Indigo crushed beneath them. Fright lent him speed he didn’t know he possessed. “Run, dammit! Run!”
She and Topper backed away from the skip, but, not knowing where the danger came from, they didn’t move far enough.
“A rock slide! Above you! Get out of there!”
She looked up. When she saw what Jake was screaming about, she grabbed Topper’s arm and whirled to run. The first of the rocks reached the edge of the cliff and peppered the ground around the skip. One hit Topper on the shoulder and dropped him to his knees. Indigo stopped to help him. Jake’s heart froze. She was going to get herself killed.
With Indigo’s help, Topper staggered to his feet. She draped his arm over her shoulder and half carried him along with her. A split second after they cleared the area, the bulk of the rock slide hit the edge of the cliff and spilled over like a giant and deadly waterfall. The skip and the surrounding ground for twenty feet in all directions were showered with stones.
Jake’s legs went wobbly with relief, and he reeled to a stop about ten feet from Indigo and Topper. Dust billowed around them, searing their throats and lungs. The three of them retreated a few more feet, coughing and struggling to breathe.
Jake knew he never would have reached Indigo in time to get her out of there. One more second, just one, and she’d be dead right now. The realization made him start to shake. He wanted to grab her into his arms, but fear had jellied his muscles.
When the air began to clear a little, Topper exclaimed, “That’s what I call too close for comfort.”