We had a terrible lightning and thunder storm last night. The children were all crying and carrying on. It struck so close you could smell Hades breath.
And then we heard a sound like rolling thunder only it did not stop. The ground began to shake. Kavanaugh rode in fast and shouted for the men to get their guns quick. A stampede of buffalo were coming straight for us.
I have never seen so many animals. They are as numerous as the stars in the heavens. Kavanaugh rode out with James and six others and fired their guns to turn the stampede. That was hours ago and the buffalo have been running by us all that time. Dawn broke an hour ago. The sound of those hooves is Deafening. I cannot keep my hand steady for the pounding and my own trembling heart.
Joshua wants to ride with the men and I will not let him. He is angry with me. I said he had to stay. He asked why and I said we needed him to keep watch over us. He is not appeased. MacLeod is here.
The truth is I am afraid he would get himself killed. It is bad enough to be worrying about James without wondering what is happening to my son.
The men have been busy all day butchering the buffalo that were shot during the stampede. They did not shoot many as they shot in the air most times to turn them. I told Joshua he could go help the men do that but he has stomped off to pout. Kavanaugh brought back a hump and tongue and some marrow bones for us. The meat was very tasteful and tender. He told me to roast the bones which I did and found the marrow was delicious. Kavanaugh has been good to us. He seems to watch over my family more carefully than the others. James likes him. Joshua thinks he is next to God Almighty. He is always inviting Kavanaugh to sup with us and then asks him a hundred questions.
Kavanaugh said the Indians do not waste anything. They use buffalo hides to build their homes. They eat the meat. He cut squares of hide and showed James how to wrap the hooves of the oxen. Beth is delighted. Our animals now have shoes to wear! I could use a new pair myself but will wait until we reach Fort Laramie.
Before leaving our campsite, Kavanaugh spoke to James away from the fire. They did not want me to hear. I know enough from watching that they have doubled the guard. James saddled one of the horses and tethered it to the end of the wagon a few minutes ago.
Kavanaugh expects trouble.
Sioux Indians came today. Two of them were wearing magnificent warbonnets. I near died of fright when I saw them riding toward us. MacLeod called the alarm and we circled the wagons. The men took up defensive positions while Kavanaugh rode out to talk to them. I was sure they were going to kill him, but he showed no fear of them and spoke to them at length. Joshua said young braves are dangerous because they have to engage and defeat an enemy in order to take their place on the tribal counsel. I asked him how he knew so much about it and he said Kavanaugh told him. He quotes Kavanaugh like Scripture about everything. Joshua said Kavanaugh told him prairie Indians are seldom at peace with their neighbors. That did not set my mind at rest.
Kavanaugh brought the Indians to camp. I have never seen such fierce faces. Kavanaugh said we are crossing their land and eating their buffalo.
Joshua pays no heed to my fears and warnings. He ignored me and went off with Kavanaugh. If that was not bad enough, while he was about it, he invited the Sioux to eat vittals at our fire! I was afraid they would not like my cooking. They did not care much about food. It was my red hair that impressed them. Joshua told me to take off my bonnet and let my hair down so they could see it. What for I wanted to know. To see if it would make a fine scalp? James laughed and said I have a temper to match my hair. Kavanaugh explained so the Indians would not think James was laughing at them. I was so mad, I let down my hair. They seemed to admire the color. So I cut six curls off and gave one to each of the braves. Kavanaugh told them it is strong medicine. I hope they are satisfied with what I gave them and will not come back for the rest of it! MacLeod gave them gifts of blankets, sugar, and tobacco from stores the company bought for such purposes. The Sioux seemed satisfied with the tariff and left.
Joshua just told me the Indians earn each feather in their warbonnets by killing an enemy. I am glad he did not tell me earlier!
MacLeod has posted extra guards around the stock. I am keeping close watch on my children. I want every one of them within sight and reach. I have heard Indians will steal children quicker than they will steal a horse or mule and Beth and Deborah both have hair the same color as mine.
Kavanaugh said a most alarming thing to me tonight. He said one of the Indians asked how many horses James would take for me. I asked him how many he said. Enough that he will be making no offers, he told me. He also said not to wander too far away from camp.
I am not certain he was serious, but I will take no chances. James will be surprised when I sleep beside him tonight. It will be the first time I have done so since we left home.
Two wagons were lost today.
We made a slow climb up a California hill to the top of the plateau. Kavanaugh and MacLeod had warned us of the Hard Descent to come, but no one was expecting a drop past perpendicular. Flocks of birds were rising and dipping in the wind. When I saw that hill, I wished we could sprout wings and fly down. As it was, the men rigged a windlass to lower the wagons one by one.
Paul Colvigne was snakebit before the first one made it down. That Event was a sign of other catastrophies to come. The ropes pulled free of Matthew Odell’s wagon and the whole lot went crashing down the hill and made a sorry mess at the bottom. The noise startled the horses. As our luck would have it, Less Moore was in charge of the watch over them. He is better with cards than animals. Joshua and four others are still out rounding them up.
It is near dusk and the men are lowering Stern Janssen’s wagon. It is the last one. The rest of us are camped in a hollow with many ash trees and good water. I have supper cooking and have hung wash on the wagon to dry. There is little wind here which is a relief from the last few days up on the prairie. I am tired of dust in my eyes and mouth and under my clothes.
This was one hill and we have yet to face the Rocky Mountains.
Joshua has returned. He said they found all but three horses. The Best Ones. Sinnott’s Arabian was not recovered. He will be fierce about its loss. The other two were company bought prime stock. Kavanaugh said the Arapahoe are a little richer for our foolishness.
The hartshorn Doc gave Paul did no good. So Kavanaugh made an indigo poultice for him. He said the Indians use it to draw serpent bites. It may be too late. Paul is addled and doing poorly. I gave him whiskey to ease his pain.
We buried Paul Colvigne at sunup. The company voted to give his outfit to Matthew Odell.
Chapter 15
Sierra sat with her bare legs dangling over the side of Ron’s sailboat as she watched Clanton and Carolyn swim in the cove with Pamela and Reed. It was a perfect early summer day, the sun high overhead, not a cloud in the blue sky. Looking back toward the mainland, she could see the haze of smog that lay over the metropolitan area of Los Angeles. Here, she could fill her lungs with clean, sea air.
“It’s heaven, isn’t it?” Marcia said with a contented sigh as she lay basking on a deck chair.
“Hmmmm,” Sierra said dreamily. How long had it been since she had heard Clanton and Carolyn laugh or seen them having so much fun? Clanton was trying to catch Ron. Each time he came close, Ron disappeared beneath the surface and came up well out of reach. The four children tried working together and still failed to tag him.
“All I need is something to eat,” Marcia said.
Sierra turned her head. Reaching up for the railing, she started to pull herself up. “If you’ll watch the children, I’ll—”
“No, no,” Marcia said, adjusting her dark glasses as she got up. “I’ll see about getting lunch. Stay where you are. There’s not enough room in the galley for two people. Besides, Ron didn’t leave much to do this time. He called a caterer. All I have to do is take off the plastic wrap. Stay and enjoy the sun.” She shrugged into a lightweight hip-length terry-cloth rob
e that covered her bikini. “Tom can help keep an eye on the children.” She flicked the hat off his face. Grunting from the shock of sunlight, he awakened abruptly. “I said you can help keep an eye on the children,” Marcia repeated. “I’m going below.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said.
“Go back to sleep, Tom,” Sierra laughed. “I’ll watch them.”
“Thanks,” he said and sagged back, picking up the hat and putting it over his face again.
Ron came up next to the ladder he had put over the side after dropping anchor. Shaking his blond hair back, he started to climb. Sierra couldn’t help noticing he had a perfect body. Looking away, she kept her eyes on the children.
“You’re getting burned,” Ron said, toweling himself off a few feet from her.
“I put sunscreen on.”
“It probably washed off when you took that two-minute swim,” he said, grinning.
Two minutes in the cold Pacific had been all she needed to know she preferred toasting on the deck.
“You need another basting.” Ron uncapped a bottle of lotion Marcia had left next to her deck chair. Squirting some into his palm, he rubbed his hands together and hunkered down behind her. The scent of coconut and tropics filled her senses as he rubbed the lotion into her skin. “Where’s your hat?” he said, his strong fingers kneading her shoulders.
“I think I left it below.”
“Deliberate disobedience.” Unlooping the towel he’d put around his neck, he covered her head with it. “I don’t want you getting sunstroke the first time you sail with me.”
Laughing, she folded it up so she could see. “You’re worse than a mother, Ron.”
He flipped her French braid over her right shoulder and finished rubbing the lotion into her back and shoulders. “You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”
“Very much.”
His hands slowed. She felt his thumbs moving up her spine. He gripped her shoulders. “It’s good to see you smile and mean it,” he said. Releasing her, he straightened.
Marcia called for Tom and began handing up the food. There was a large platter of cut vegetables and dip, another of sandwiches, bowls of potato and fruit salad, and bags of chips. “How are we doing with the drinks?” she called from below.
Tom opened the ice chest that had been set on the deck when they got under way. “We could use some more wine coolers. We’ve plenty of everything else.”
Ron gave a piercing whistle, drawing the attention of the four children, who were still splashing around in the cove. “Anybody out there hungry?”
Four voices gave a short yes! and started swimming for the boat.
“You’d better get what you want before they get here,” Marcia said. “There’s something about swimming and salt air that seems to triple the appetite.”
Laughing, Sierra rose from her post. The only one who hadn’t served himself was Ron. He nodded for her to go ahead while he kept an eye on the children, who approached like hungry barracuda.
Clanton clambered onto the deck first. Shivering, he threw a towel around himself. Taking a plate, he heaped it with two sandwiches and two scoops of potato salad. Tucking a soda under his arm, he grabbed a bag of chips and headed for the bow. Reed, Carolyn, and Pamela poured onto the deck and raced for the food.
Ron laughed. “It’s like watching sharks in a feeding frenzy.”
“Take some vegetables, Reed.”
“Aw, Mom.”
“You heard me.”
Glowering, Reed took a couple of carrot and celery sticks and put them on his plate before heading for the bow.
Shaking her head, Marcia glanced at her daughter and noticed she was about to take a handful of potato chips. “Pamela,” she said, sounding weary. “You know very well what grease does to your complexion. No, take some of the fruit salad instead.”
Cheeks stained red with humiliation, Pamela put her plate down and fled below.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Marcia said, annoyed. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her lately.”
“I wonder.” Tight-lipped, Tom leaned down and took another wine cooler from the ice chest.
Marcia raised her brow. “You’ve had four, Tom.”
“Then I guess this one makes five.” He headed for his deck chair.
Marcia stared after him in consternation. Clearing her throat softly, she glanced back at Ron and Sierra. “Well, I guess I’d better go below and see what’s upset Pamela this time.” She gave Ron a beseeching smile and whispered, “Would you please keep an eye on Tom?”
“He’s a grown man, Marcia.”
“Yes, but I think he’s had enough to drink, don’t you?”
Sierra noticed that as soon as Marcia went below, Reed pitched the vegetable sticks into the water and dug into the bag of chips Clanton had commandeered.
She and Ron shared a quiet lunch together, talking about Outreach and some of the children they were helping. Tom fell asleep in his deck chair while the boys rummaged through a waterproof case on the deck where Ron had laid in a supply of games. Carolyn sat with her legs dangling, waiting for Pamela to come up from below. When she did, her face was splotchy from crying.
“Mother says she has a splitting headache,” she said as though delivering a rehearsed message. She picked up her plate and dutifully added a small scoop of fruit salad before she went to sit on the bow with Carolyn.
Sierra went below and found Marcia rummaging through her tote bag. “I know I brought them,” she said in frustration. Upending everything onto the couch built into the bulkhead, she spread things out, searching again. Letting out her breath in relief, she picked up a small prescription bottle and uncapped it. Shaking out two capsules, she recapped the bottle and dropped it on the couch. Tossing the pills into her mouth, she headed for the galley. Sierra heard the hiss of tonic being shot into a glass.
“I don’t know what to do about that girl,” Marcia said from the galley. Sierra heard the thunk of a glass on the counter. “All I’m trying to do is protect her. Children can be so merciless to someone who’s fat and has pimples.” She came back into the chamber and sat down on the couch built into the bulkhead. She began to collect and toss the things back into her tote bag. “She misunderstands everything I say to her. Sometimes I think she does it deliberately in an effort to make me feel bad. Either that, or she’s stupid.”
Dropping the tote bag onto the floor, she leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she kneaded her temples. “And now this headache. . . .”
“Can I get you a cold compress?” Sierra said, feeling sorry for her.
“Please,” she said and stretched out on the couch.
Sierra went into the galley and dampened a cloth for her. “Thank you,” Marcia said and pressed it against her eyes and forehead. “Would you please tell Tom I’m not feeling well? I must have a touch of sunstroke.”
“Tell her to take a nap,” Tom said when Sierra delivered the message. Yawning, he pulled the hat down over his eyes again. Clearly, he had no intention of going below and speaking with his wife.
Ron went in his stead and talked with Marcia while the children went swimming again. Sierra leaned on the railing near the bow and watched them.
When Ron came up again, he gave her a rueful smile and shook his head. “Sorry to desert you.”
Sierra had enjoyed the solitude. She felt guilty that Marcia’s problems made her feel less a failure for her own. She had always thought Marcia’s family was perfect. She knew there were times of tension, of course. What family didn’t have them? But what she’d seen today was clear evidence that all was not well in Camelot.
“Is she feeling better?”
“She’s going to stay below and rest on the way back.” Ron gave a loud whistle to catch the children’s attention. “Wrap it up, mates. We’re hauling anchor in half an hour.”
Four children groaned expressively and went back to their game of water tag.
Under his tutelage, the children, with Tom’s
assistance, manned the sails. When the wind caught the sheets, the boat sped across the water toward the Long Beach pier. Closer in, they battened down the sails, and Ron used the engine to bring them to dock.
“We had a wonderful time, Ron,” Marcia said, kissing his cheek while the children gathered their things. While Tom shook hands with him, Marcia turned to Sierra and gave her a hug. “Sorry I made a scene below,” she said, kissing her cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” Sierra saw her take the car keys from Tom’s hand as they headed for the parking lot.
Ron took Sierra and the children to an expensive seafood restaurant. He laughed when Clanton and Carolyn both ordered hamburgers. Over dinner, he talked about sailing to the South Seas and spending two years exploring islands that were barely a spot on a map. Clanton was enthralled; Carolyn, quiet.
It was late when Ron finally pulled up in front of Sierra’s house. She was sorry the day was over. The children had fallen asleep in the backseat of his Mercedes. They’d only lasted fifteen minutes from the restaurant before dozing off and leaving her and Ron to talk alone. And talk they did, about everything from his travels to her growing up in a quiet country town to racial prejudice, social climbing, education, and the importance of family. He’d grown up the only son of a Greek businessman and a Swedish actress. His mother died in a car accident when he was only fourteen. “My father never got over her death,” he said quietly. “Now he’s gone, too. I’m the only family I’ve got left. And I find myself craving the connection of family all the time.” He smiled at her in the darkness. “All in God’s timing,” he said.
Sierra couldn’t help feeling a twinge of jealousy. The woman he married would be lucky indeed. She didn’t know anyone as caring and sensitive to others as Ron Peirozo.
He turned off the ignition, then glanced into the backseat. He chuckled. “If you have a wheelbarrow in the garage, I’ll unload your children for you.”