A Journey of the Heart Collection

  Ten Eyck dismounted and ran toward them. “We drove off a band just over the hill. Is everyone all right?”

  “Just fine, thanks to you.” The lieutenant turned and ordered the men to round up the horses.

  “Just be glad you’re getting back in one piece,” Captain Ten Eyck said quietly. “Fetterman’s command wasn’t so lucky.”

  “The relief party?”

  Ten Eyck nodded to Rand. “Eighty-one men slaughtered and not one left alive. We drove off some Indians and recovered many bodies, but nearly half are still out there. The attack on the wood train was a decoy to draw another force out. Thousands of Sioux were hiding just over Lodge Trail Ridge.”

  The news was so horrific no one responded for several long moments. Eighty-one men. It was almost beyond comprehension. There had never been a slaughter like that in the Indian wars. And thousands of Sioux. Isaac couldn’t imagine such a large force of warriors. Two or three hundred was usually considered a large band.

  “May God have mercy on their souls,” Isaac said finally. “What of the fort?”

  “Safe, but we don’t know for how long,” Captain Ten Eyck said. “Colonel Carrington has readied every mountain howitzer and every available man. But we’ve been operating with a minimal force, and you know how low our ammunition is. So we’d better return as quickly as we can.”

  They all hurried off to mount up and get back to the fort. Isaac just wanted to see Emmie with his own eyes and make sure she was safe, and he knew Rand felt the same about Sarah. He glanced at Jacob riding beside him. Did he worry about Emmie at all?

  Emmie sat with the other women around the fire in Mrs. Wands’ quarters as night drew on. The wind whistled outside as the temperature dropped. Rooster had been predicting a blizzard all day, and the weather seemed to be trying to prove him right. Only a few flakes had fallen so far, but the wind was already whipping the existing snow into drifts.

  The evening gun sounded, but the men still weren’t back. The colonel’s orderly, Sample, had come in some time ago with the news that Reno Valley was full of Indians and nothing could be seen of Fetterman. The entire fort knew some terrible disaster had taken place, but no one knew just what it was.

  It was all Emmie could do to hold her terror in check. What if Isaac had been killed? She vaguely wondered how Morning Song was getting along with the baby, but her fear for Isaac’s safety wouldn’t allow her to leave the little knot of ladies clustered together in a camaraderie of fearful waiting.

  Emmie started to her feet at the sound of a shout outside. She threw her cloak around herself and rushed to the door, followed by the rest of the ladies. She ran toward the gate as doors opened and wagons creaked inside. Dead bodies were heaped on the wagons, but she couldn’t look at them. Isaac couldn’t be in that number. She searched the mounted men for a glimpse of Isaac’s dear face. She exhaled when she saw Rand, Jacob, and Isaac clustered near the last wagon.

  Emmie waited with the other ladies near the flagpole, and Captain Ten Eyck stopped just a few feet away from them where Colonel Carrington stood.

  His salute was a short, tired wave. “Sir, I’m sorry to report that Fetterman’s entire command has been massacred. I brought in all I could, about forty-nine, but there are still more to be claimed.”

  Frances gasped and started to slide to the ground in a near faint as the ladies overheard Captain Ten Eyck’s words. Emmie caught her by the elbow, and she rallied before bursting into tears.

  “I knew it,” she sobbed. “I just knew he was dead.”

  Mrs. Carrington put her arms around Frances. “You’re coming home with me, dear.” She led her away.

  Sarah tugged Emmie’s arm. “Let’s go home.”

  Emmie saw the dark circles under Sarah’s eyes. Her pallor was so pronounced she looked as though she might pass out at any moment. “You’re going right home to bed.” She took Sarah’s arm and steadied her against the wind as they made their way toward their home.

  The fire was out when they finally pushed the door shut against the wind. Emmie hurried to start one while Sarah poked the fire in the kitchen stove to life.

  “I’m going to put on some water for tea,” Sarah said. “I can’t go to bed until Rand gets home. I couldn’t rest anyway until I know what happened.”

  Joel came in moments later, his young face sober. He silently heaped wood in the fireplace for Emmie, then sat on the floor with his knees drawn up to his chin. The news had squelched even his high spirits.

  By the time the men arrived, warm currents from the fire heated the room, and the aroma of steeping tea filled the kitchen. Emmie cut some thick slabs of bread and spread butter and jam on them. She was suddenly ravenous and knew the men would be too. Morning Song was still at Jacob’s. The weather was much too cold to have the baby out, but she wished for Morning Song’s calming presence. Did she know what had happened? And was she even safe? The anger against the Sioux would be ready to boil over with this news.

  The door opened and Rand and Isaac dashed in before slamming it against the howling wind. Sarah uttered a little cry and flew into Rand’s arms. Emmie was right behind her as she ran to Isaac. She buried her face in the rough wool of his coat and burst into tears.

  He put his lips against her hair and patted her on the back. “We’re okay.”

  Emmie pulled away and looked up at him. “I’m sorry.” What was she thinking of? She had no right to be in Isaac’s arms.

  Isaac held on a moment, then let her go. “It’s not over yet. I still intend to talk to Jacob.”

  Emmie nodded. “Want some tea and bread?”

  “I thought you’d never ask,” Isaac said. “I could eat the whole loaf. I’m famished.”

  “Me too.” Rand walked toward the kitchen with his arm around his wife.

  “Where’s Jacob?” Sarah asked. “I thought he would come to see that Emmie was all right. After all, he says he wants to marry her.”

  “He wanted to see about Gabrielle,” Rand said.

  Emmie glanced at Isaac. He had come to find her as soon as he could, but Jacob hadn’t. This was just a taste of what it would be like to be married to a man who didn’t love her. Not that she wanted Jacob to love her. She couldn’t imagine dealing with that problem too.

  Sarah sniffed. “Is he coming over later?”

  “No,” Rand said. “He said he’d see us in the morning. We’re all beat.”

  Sarah’s fierce look softened. “Tell us about it.”

  They spent the next hour exclaiming over the harrowing adventure as Rand and Isaac related the day’s events.

  “I wish you would have asked Wolverine about White Dove,” Sarah said. “I would love to see her again.”

  “And what about Red Hawk?” Joel put in eagerly. “Did you see him?”

  Rand shook his head. “I didn’t see Red Hawk and it would have done no good to ask about White Dove. Even if she were close, you couldn’t see her, sweetheart. It’s too dangerous to set foot outside the fort. You know that. You haven’t been outside the gate since we got here.”

  “I still wish you’d asked. I’d like to know she’s all right.”

  Rand grinned. “Well, if we ever get in that situation, I’ll be sure to say that my wife has insisted on knowing where his woman is. He’ll be very impressed.”

  Sarah chuckled, then stood. “I’m going to bed. I’ll fall asleep right here in this chair if I don’t go now.” She put her hand on her brother’s shoulder. “You’d better get to bed too, Joel.” He didn’t complain but went off to his cot in the parlor.

  Rand yawned. “Me too. See you all tomorrow.” He stood and followed his wife into
the bedroom and shut the door.

  “I should be going too,” Isaac said. “It’s been a long day.”

  Emmie stood and followed him to the door.

  “Try not to worry.” He bent and kissed her on the forehead. “Things will be all right. I’m going to build us a home. I promise.”

  Emmie shut the door behind him. She just didn’t see any way out.

  SIX

  The next morning Emmie hurried across the parade ground toward the Carrington residence. It was hard to keep her balance in the driving wind. Already four inches of snow had fallen, and if she didn’t check on Frances soon, she might not be able to get through the drifts.

  A pall of dread and foreboding hung over the little fort. She saw sober faces everywhere she looked. The biggest danger, Rand had said, was that the Sioux would attack the fort itself. Only the Indians’ fear of the big howitzers kept them at bay. If they did attack, all would be lost because the soldiers were outnumbered and low on ammunition.

  Frances was huddled in a quilt on the sofa by the fire when Mrs. Carrington ushered Emmie into the parlor. Frances was pale, but she seemed composed with a strange peace.

  “I somehow knew it would come to this,” she told Emmie. “George seemed determined to force a fight with the Indians. He idolized Fetterman, but I knew his rashness would come to a bad end. George just wouldn’t see it.”

  Someone knocked at the door again, and Sample, the Carrington’s orderly, led in a bearded man in his thirties. He was dressed in civilian clothes and had a wolf robe over his shoulder. He took off his hat and stood, turning it in his hands in front of Frances.

  “Miz Grummond. My name is John Phillips. I been a miner and a scout, but I ain’t never seen such a bad thing. You been through enough. I’m goin’ to Laramie for help for your sake if it costs me my life.” He pulled the robe from his shoulder and laid it across Frances’s lap. “Here is my wolf robe. I want you to have it to remember me by if I don’t make it back.”

  Frances was nearly speechless, but then she thanked him with tears in her eyes as she stroked the robe.

  “Are you going alone?” Emmie asked him.

  He shook his head. “Lieutenant Liddle has asked to go too. We’re setting out at different times, though. If one of us don’t make it, maybe the other one will get through.”

  Isaac was going out through a blinding blizzard surrounded by hostile Indians? Why didn’t he tell her that last night?

  Emmie fought to maintain her composure. “I must go.”

  Everyone was assembled in the parlor when she arrived at the Campbell house. Jacob glanced at her when she came in, then quickly looked away. Isaac, his face set in a stubborn mask, stood stiffly with his back against the fireplace mantel. Sarah looked as though she had been crying.

  “So it’s true!” Emmie burst out. “You’re going to Fort Laramie.”

  “Someone has to go,” Isaac said. “We can’t just send Phillips and hope he makes it. Too much is at stake. We have to have reinforcements and ammo. If the Sioux attack, we’ll lose the fort itself and everyone in it.”

  “He’s right,” Rand said. “Wolverine said the Sioux are planning to attack soon. We can’t afford to wait and just hope headquarters will send the reinforcements Colonel Carrington has been requesting for months now.”

  Emmie’s eyes burned, but she refused to make it harder on Isaac by crying. “But why does it have to be you?”

  “Why not me? I don’t have a wife and children here like some of the other men. And I know this terrain. I have to try.” A bugle sounded at the other end of the fort. “That’s assembly. We have to go.”

  The men all put on their coats and filed out the door. Emmie wanted to run and fling her arms around Isaac one last time, but how could she with Jacob there? What if she never saw Isaac again? She struggled against the tears as the door shut against the howling wind. She whispered a prayer for Isaac’s safety as she watched his retreating back through the window.

  The blizzard had intensified as Isaac, followed by Rand and Jacob, fought the wind all the way across the parade ground. John Phillips had already gone ahead to summon relief from Fort Laramie, and Isaac wanted to get on his way. He was about to mount up when Jacob approached him with a determined look on his face.

  “I need to speak with you before you go.”

  Isaac turned and faced his friend. He had tried to hate him for what Jacob was doing to him and Emmie, but he couldn’t. All Isaac could feel was compassion and pity.

  “I know I’ve been acting like a fool,” Jacob said. “My brother has been none too gentle about pointing it out to me. I want you to know before you go that I’m releasing Emmie from her promise—if you make it back.” He grinned and thrust out his hand. “That’s good incentive for you to fight to get through.”

  Isaac let out the breath he had been holding. “Thank you.” He took Jake’s hand and pumped it.

  A shadow darkened Jake’s face. “Amelia would be ashamed of me. I’ve struggled with this thing every night. God wouldn’t let me sleep or eat. He just kept telling me like he told Job, ‘Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ I don’t understand why he would take the one person who gave my life meaning without even letting me say good-bye.” Tears glistened in his eyes and he swallowed hard.

  “What will you do with Gabrielle? She still needs a mother.” Isaac hesitated, then plunged ahead. “We would be willing to raise her.”

  “No, but thanks. I’m going to marry Morning Song.”

  Isaac’s eyes widened. “Have you asked her?”

  “Not yet, but she loves Gabrielle.” Jacob wore a sad smile. “And her John needs a father.” He clapped Isaac on the back. “I don’t want to say anything until you get back. If you don’t make it, Emmie’s baby will need a father and I will honor my promise to Amelia.” He said this last with a defiant determination.

  “Agreed. I would want her taken care of.” Isaac gripped Jacob’s hand again. “Whatever happens, will you promise me you will try to learn to love your new wife? Amelia wouldn’t want you to marry just for convenience. She intended for you to be happy.”

  Jacob was silent a moment, then returned the pressure of Isaac’s fingers. “I don’t see how I can ever love anyone but Amelia, but I will try.”

  “That’s all I ask.” The two men looked at one another a moment. “Take care, Jacob.”

  Jacob nodded. “I’ll be careful. And Godspeed, my friend.”

  With a last handshake, Isaac swung up onto Buck and urged him toward the gate. He heard a cry behind him and turned to see Emmie running across the parade ground toward him with her navy cloak flying behind her in the wind. He dismounted and caught her in his arms.

  “Be safe.” She cupped his cheeks in her gloved hands and reached up to kiss him.

  The touch of her lips on his and the sweet scent of her breath on his face warmed him clear through. He kissed her for a long moment, then pulled away to stare into her face. “It’s going to be all right, Emmie. Jacob has released you. I have every reason to get through and bring relief to the fort. Don’t give up on me, no matter what.”

  Tears sparkled in her violet-blue eyes. “I won’t. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  A soldier opened the gate and saluted as Isaac slipped outside into the blinding snow. He had thought long and hard about what would be the best way to accomplish his mission. He decided to avoid obvious trails and travel by night as much as possible. That would help keep him warm during the frigid nights, and he could avoid confrontation with the Indians. He had left by a back gate and counted on the Sioux being occupied with celebrating their victory. The detail of men riding out to retrie
ve the dead would divert the Indians also.

  The blizzard intensified out on the plain with no fort walls to block the wind. Isaac’s mustache was soon coated with snow and ice, and he wished he had a full beard like many of the men wore. He had to stop often and walk his horse through the snowdrifts. It had to be at least twenty or thirty below zero even without the wind.

  He found it hard to stay awake as he clung to the pommel. The wind cut through even his buffalo robe, and he swayed in the saddle. He had to hang on and get help for Emmie and his friends. Clutching the pommel with both hands, he fought to stay mounted.

  As his horse rounded a grove of trees, he lost his tenuous grip and pitched sideways from the saddle into a drift. He felt nice and warm away from the wind. He’d just lay here and get warm for a few minutes. He closed his eyes and slid into unconsciousness.

  SEVEN

  Emmie awoke near dawn on Christmas Eve to a cold room with the fire out. Isaac had been gone three days. He hadn’t had a fire or shelter in all that time.

  The sentry’s cry came. “Five o’clock and all’s well.”

  All’s well. No one really believed that. The mood at the fort had been a peculiar one the last few days. Everyone seemed on edge as though they were listening for some sound beyond the log walls of the stockade. Rand and Jacob along with their detachment had come back two days ago with the rest of the bodies of the slain soldiers. The Sioux hadn’t bothered them at all. Rand said he wasn’t sure if they were holed up in camp because of the blizzard or simply too busy celebrating their victory.

  Jacob told them that before they left to recover the bodies, Colonel Carrington had opened the magazine and cut the Bormann fuses of round case shot. He opened the boxes of ammunition and adjusted them so that by lighting a single match, the whole lot would go up. His instructions were that if the Indians attacked in overwhelming numbers, the women and children were to be put in the magazine and blown up rather than have any captured alive. Thankfully, that had not happened, but Emmie couldn’t forget that the magazine was still readied for such an eventuality.