“I’m Cara Evans, now, Yale.”
His eyes crinkled. “Only the name has changed. But you haven’t, Cara. And that’s what matters.”
He kept her hand tucked in his as the horse and cart ate up the miles of wilderness. And when, in late afternoon, they finally stopped and made camp for the night, he took Cody and Seth with him to hunt. An hour later they returned with four rabbits, enough to make stew to last them for the next several days.
And that night, as he and Cara lay under the stars, their lovemaking was sweet and unhurried. As though they had all the time in the world.
“Let’s sing a song.” Yale turned to the two boys, who were growing restless in the back of the cart. After endless miles of dust and grime, under a relentless sun, he had proven to be amazingly inventive.
He’d entertained them with card tricks, with jokes, and tales of the towns he’d visited, and the fancy hotels he’d slept in.
“With real feather beds?” Cara couldn’t hide her sigh at the thought.
He nodded. “In San Francisco the room had gilt trim around the walls, and a satin bedspread on a bed big enough to hold all of us.”
She shook her head. “Now I know you’re teasing.”
He merely laughed, and began singing a bawdy song he’d learned in a saloon in Montana. Whenever he came to a shocking word or phrase he’d pause a moment, hum, then move on. And because the remaining words made absolutely no sense, Cara and her sons were soon weak with laughter. But his silliness had the desired effect. They found, as evening crept over the land, that they’d passed another perfectly delightful afternoon.
They’d been on the trail for more than a week, and each day had passed more quickly than the previous one. Yale had taken the time to show the boys how to fire the rifle, and both Seth and Cody had bagged squirrels and rabbits for their supper. They’d added to their larder with fish and had even found ripe berries and apples.
To make the heat of day more tolerable, they often stopped at midday to swim in a creek or take refuge in the shade of towering rocks or trees. They had begun to look forward to these long breaks, knowing Yale would make it fun and lively with his amazing store of jokes and tricks. The boys were delighted with his stories. And Cara found herself looking forward to hearing about his travels. Though she’d never been out of the Dakota Territory, she found herself seeing the rest of the country through Yale’s eyes.
“Do you ever see your brother and sister?” Cara poured coffee and handed it to Yale as they took a break from the trail near a swiftly running stream.
He shook his head. “Not often. Sometimes, when I find myself in a town near Misery, I drop by Aaron Smiler’s ranch for a few hours.” His voice lowered with feeling. “I miss Kitty. I love surprising her with little gifts, and seeing her eyes light up.”
Cara filled two cups with clear water and handed them to her sons before settling herself beside them in the grass. “What about your brother, Gabe? Don’t you miss him, too?”
Yale shrugged. “Some, I suppose. But we haven’t been close for years.”
Cody looked over, his arm around Seth’s shoulders. “How can you not be close to your own brother?”
Yale’s eyes narrowed. “I make him uncomfortable.”
“Why?” the boy asked.
“We chose different paths in life. Gabe’s a lawman. He can’t help thinking like one, even when he’s with me. And I think he’s always been ashamed of the fact that he and I haven’t always been on the same side of the law.”
“But you said you’re not an outlaw.”
Yale realized that both boys were watching him closely, and listening to every word. He managed one of his charming smiles. “I’m not an outlaw. But I’ve done some things I’m not proud of.”
“Like what?” Cody asked.
Yale leaned his elbows in the grass and looked up at the sky. “I guess I’ve broken just about every rule my brother considers sacred.”
Cody blinked. “Ma told us that rules were made for our own good.”
Yale nodded. “Your ma’s right. At the time I broke the rules, I told myself I was just doing what was necessary to survive. But I wasn’t being entirely honest. Most of the time, I liked doing what I pleased, without regard to what others thought.”
He glanced over at Cody and Seth. “Now that I’m older, I’ve figured out why. When I found out that my father wasn’t the man I’d thought him to be, the noble heroic image I’d been carrying in my mind, I just wanted to take it out on somebody. I suppose, if my mother had lived long enough, I’d have tried to punish her for my father’s weakness. But when she died along the trail, there was nobody left to fight except my brother, Gabe.”
“But why did you want to fight with him?” Cody asked.
“I didn’t. Not really. There was just this anger inside me. And I suppose, somewhere inside my heart, I knew my own brother was a safe target. No matter what I did, he’d still love me. But I pushed him too far. And now, after all these years, we’ve forgotten how to get back to the way we used to be.”
“You forgot how to love your own brother?”
Cody shook his head. “Not really. But there’s a…wall we’ve been building. And with every passing year it gets higher. And I’ve only now begun to realize that if we let it keep growing, soon we won’t be able to climb over it. I guess it’s that way with a lot of things that start out small, and keep on growing until they’re out of our control.”
At his words Seth’s eyes had gone wide.
Seeing his little brother’s reaction, Cody set aside his water. “When our pa died, Seth stopped talking. Is he punishing us?”
Yale shook his head. “Seth’s hurting. He’s gone inside himself to heal.” He winked at the little boy. “And you’re healing just fine, aren’t you, son?”
Seth tried a wink, and blinked both his eyes instead before breaking into a wide grin.
Cody gave a hiss of impatience. “Is it going to take Seth until he’s all grown up to get his voice back?”
Yale tousled the boy’s hair. “I think, when Seth has something important to say, he’ll find his voice.”
“You think so?” Cody turned to Seth, and the younger boy smiled.
Yale got to his feet, then held out a hand to Cara. “Now I think we’d better get back on the trail. We still have a long way to go before we get to Misery.”
“Can we ride up front for awhile?” Cody asked.
At Yale’s nod of assent the two boys scrambled up and raced to the cart. When everyone was seated, Cody and Seth took their places on either side of Yale, and were delighted when he allowed each of them to take a turn handling the reins.
From her position beside them, Cara had to swallow back the lump in her throat. These two little boys had been starved for the attention of a man. And Yale was so different from the stern father-figure they’d known. With Yale, everything, even the most mundane chore, was a joy to be savored, or an adventure to be enjoyed. What a wonderful gift he’d been given. And one he was willing to share with others. With Yale, everything in life was, quite simply, fun.
This had started out to be a terrifying flight for their lives. But somewhere along the way it had become this wonderful, carefree adventure.
And all because of this man.
Just then Yale glanced over Seth’s head and gave her a smile that had her heart actually fluttering in her chest. And though she continued to clasp her hands in her lap and return his smile, she found herself already thinking about tonight. About the pleasure they would discover in each other’s arms, and the passion they would unleash, under the cover of darkness.
Just the thought of it had Cara’s heart beating furiously, and her blood heating. Though she’d been raised to be calm and sensible, Yale had the ability, with a single smile, to have her become his willing accomplice in merriment. And she loved him for it. Loved him for teaching her how to laugh and be silly. To be inventive and ignore convention. Best of all, she loved him for the wa
y he accepted her sons, without trying to mold them into some sort of proper image.
She glanced over at his strong, handsome profile and knew with sudden clarity that, no matter what the future held for them, she would always love him. Just as she always had.
Chapter Seventeen
“Yale. Look.” As their little cart crested a hill, Cara pointed to cattle grazing on a distant hillside. “There must be a ranch nearby.”
“More than a ranch. A town.” Shading the sun from his eyes he peered at the outline of buildings in the distance.
At his words the boys scrambled up and stood in the back of the wagon, holding to the wooden seat as they bounced over hills and watched the outlines slowly begin to take shape.
In no time they were rolling along the main street of Bison Fork. After the silence of the prairie wilderness, they found themselves fascinated with so much sound. Men and women strolling along the dusty road, calling out greetings to friends and neighbors. A blacksmith, standing beside his barn, the sound of his hammer beating a rhythmic tattoo as he pounded red-hot steel into the shape of a horseshoe. The tinny notes of a piano as they rode past a saloon, and paused finally outside the two-story hotel next door.
Yale leapt down and hitched the horse, then lifted Cara to the ground. Behind her Cody and Seth climbed down and stared around in amazement.
“Where’d all these people come from, Ma?” Cody asked.
Cara turned to Yale with a questioning look.
He merely smiled. “I guess your ranch was too far from civilization to notice the land rush that’s been going on here in the Dakota Territory. There’s talk that it’ll soon become a state.”
“Imagine that.” Cara stared around in awe at the women who looked so fashionable in their gowns with matching shawls and bonnets. She couldn’t help smoothing down the skirt of her faded dress.
Seeing it, Yale put a hand beneath her elbow and led her toward the doors of the hotel. “Come on. It’s time we enjoyed a little luxury.”
Cara stopped short and pulled back in alarm. “Yale, we can’t go in there.”
“Why not?”
She stared down at her soiled gown, her scuffed boots, her torn, ragged fingernails. “It’s too fine. Besides, we couldn’t possibly afford it.”
He merely smiled and closed her hand firmly in his. “I can afford it, Cara. And it’s not nearly fine enough for you.” He turned to wink at the boys. “What do you say? Would you like to sleep in a real bed tonight? In this big hotel?”
“Yes, sir.” Cody answered for both of them. Then, taking his little brother’s hand, he skipped through the doorway.
Inside, as Yale approached the front desk, the boys and their mother stood staring in openmouthed surprise at the lobby decorated with ornate rugs and horsehair furniture. Hanging from the ceiling was a huge crystal chandelier ablaze with dozens of candles.
Yale seemed to take forever talking with the bespectacled man standing behind the desk. There were, it seemed, a dozen or more questions before he finally reached into his pocket and handed over a handful of coins. After signing his name in a book he accepted a key before taking Cara’s hand and leading her toward the stairway. The boys trailed behind, running their hands along the polished railing.
On the second floor Yale paused outside a door and turned the key, then stepped aside, allowing Cara to precede him.
Inside she stopped and put a hand to her throat, unable to speak.
“Look, Ma.” Cody danced across the room and stared at the big bed with its fancy, rose-embroidered spread.
“I see.” Laughing nervously, Cara touched a hand to the china bowl and pitcher that rested on a marble-topped nightstand. Then, because she couldn’t help herself, she picked up the pretty soap and breathed in the fragrance of mulberry. “Oh, Yale. Are we actually going to stay here?”
“You are.” He gave her a mysterious smile. “The boys and I are next door.”
“Next door? But why?”
His grin widened at the look on her face. “Because you don’t need us around. I’ve ordered up a bath. It should be here in a few minutes.”
“A bath?” Her eyes widened. “Here in the room?”
“That’s right. And while you’re indulging yourself, I’m taking the boys with me for haircuts and baths at the barbershop down the street. So you just take your time. And when you’re done, we’ll have supper in the rooming house at the end of town.”
He beckoned to her sons. “Come on, boys. Let’s give your mother some privacy.”
Cara watched as Cody and Seth raced to the door, eager for the next adventure. Yale paused in the doorway. The look in his eyes sent shivers along her spine. Without a word he was gone.
Like her son, Cara danced across the room and touched a hand to the bed. Then she perched on the edge, enjoying the softness of the mattress. Too excited to remain still, she got to her feet and walked to the window. Down below in the street she could see Yale and her sons just entering the barbershop.
At a tap on her door, she rushed across the room. When she opened the door a housemaid entered, carrying a round tub. Behind her were two brawny youths carrying buckets of water.
Within minutes they were gone, but before Cara could peel off her clothes there was another knock. Puzzled, Cara opened the door to find another housemaid holding several parcels.
“What is this?”
“Your clothes, ma’am.”
“Clothes?” She blinked. “I don’t understand.”
“Your husband ordered these. He said I was to bring them up for your approval.” The maid brushed past her and laid the parcels on the bed, then unwrapped them to reveal a lovely pink gown, with matching shawl, and a pair of fine kid boots. In another parcel were a delicate chemise and petticoats, as well as a pretty jeweled comb for her hair.
“Do you approve, ma’am?”
Cara couldn’t seem to find her voice. Feeling tears threaten, she merely nodded.
The housemaid smiled. “Your husband was so sweet. He said I was to tell you that if you wish anything at all, you need only ask.”
“I…” Cara cleared her throat and tried again. “I can’t think of anything more I could possibly need. Thank you.”
When the maid was gone Cara stared at the clothes without daring to touch, for fear of soiling them. She looked around, feeling as though this must be a dream.
Then with a laugh she peeled off her clothes. As she settled into the warm water, she gave a sigh that seemed to come from deep within. None of this seemed real. The room. The warm water. The beautiful new clothes.
But if this truly was a dream, she hoped she never woke up.
Yale strode into the shop, trailed by the two boys. Almost at once there was a perceptible pause in the conversation.
Ignoring the stares of the cowboys Yale placed a coin in the barber’s hand. “We’ve been on the trail awhile, Finn. The boys and I need haircuts, and I’ll need a shave.”
“Yes, sir.” The barber indicated his chair. “Which one of you fine boys wants to go first?”
Seeing the way Cody and Seth hung back, it occurred to Yale that they had probably never been in such a place before. To alleviate their fears he said, “I’ll go first. I’m in a hurry to get rid of this horse’s mane that’s been growing on my face.”
As the barber soaped his beard and began to shave him, Cody and Seth watched in fascination.
“You hoping to play a little poker, Mr. Conover?” the barber asked conversationally.
“Not this trip, Finn.”
Cody and Seth saw the way the cowboys seated around the room hung on his every word.
“Haven’t seen you in these parts lately, Mr. Conover.”
“I’ve been away.”
“We’ve missed you. The town just isn’t the same without you.”
“That’s nice to know, Finn. I’ll be needing a few favors while I’m here. Clothes, for one thing. And a good horse.” He reached into his pocket and dropped some mo
ney in the barber’s hand.
“Anything you need, Mr. Conover, you need only ask.”
“Thanks, Finn. I knew I could count on you.”
Afterward, as Yale’s thick dark hair was trimmed and dropped to the floor, Cody heard two of the cowboys whispering about the fact that they were in the presence of a legend.
Before he could ask what that meant, it was his turn to have his hair trimmed. And though he was nervous at first, he soon came to realize that it didn’t feel very different from the way his mother cut his hair. Seeing the way his little brother was watching, he managed to smile, and before long the towel was whisked aside and the barber was saying, “There you go, son. Now let’s see to your little brother. Climb right up here, son.”
A short time later they were led to the back room of the barbershop. Yale, freshly shaved and shorn, peeled off his clothes unselfconsciously and eased into a tub of warm water, then leaned back and held a match to the tip of a fine cigar. In the tub beside his, Cody and Seth climbed in, splashing and frolicking like two puppies.
Cody looked over to ask, “Why did the barber take us ahead of all those cowboys who were waiting?”
Yale shrugged, too content to even open his eyes. “I guess he just liked the color of my money.”
After a few minutes of silence Cody looked up to see a shopkeeper walking in, his arms filled with parcels.
“Yale.” The little boy’s tone grew more urgent. “Yale. What’s he doing?”
Yale opened his eyes and gave a smile to the man. “Thanks, Jed. You work fast.”
“I do for you, Mr. Conover. If any of this doesn’t suit you, just let me know.”
“I will. Thanks, Jed.” He closed his eyes and continued to soak and smoke, all the while looking as contented as a cat in a pool of sunshine.
Finally, when the water began to cool, Yale stood and reached for a towel.
As he dried himself he said, “You boys might want to open some of those parcels.”
“Yes, sir.” Eagerly Cody and Seth began examining the mysterious packages.
Inside they found dark pants, much like the ones Yale always wore. Only these were scaled to their size, as were white shirts. There were even shiny new boots that were so soft inside, they didn’t scratch or rub their toes raw or hurt at all.