Heartbreak Trail (35 page)

“
What was Jacob’s is now mine.” Abner gave her body a raking gaze. “Including you.” Taking the bag of coins, he thrust Amy back in her arms. “Take her.” His flat, passionless eyes drilled into her. “Remember, if ever you disobey me, she’ll die.”

“
Yes, I understand.”

“
Pack up. We leave for Downieville at dawn tomorrow.”

“
We’re leaving the wagon train?”

“
Don’t you ever question my decisions.” His voice hardened. “Woman, you will obey me from now on. Swear it!”

“
I swear.” Lucy answered in a very small voice. Never in her life had she felt so low, so defeated, so totally without hope. She hugged the baby tight, tears of humiliation running down her cheeks.

* * *

“
Mister Palance?”

Beside his wagon, Clint raised his head from the wash basin. He and Charlie had just come back from hunting. In another minute, he’d be off for that much anticipated talk with Abner. “Yes, Chad?”

“
This is for you.” Chad held out a sealed note. “Mister Schneider said I should deliver it to you after they left.”

After they left?
“Thank you.” Clint took the note, sank down by the campfire and ripped it open.

Charlie, newly returned from dressing the deer they’d shot, took one look at Clint “What’s the matter? You look like you lost your best friend and your horse besides.”

“
She’s gone off with that bastard.” Clint’s voice nearly broke with huskiness. “I can’t believe it.”

“
Jehosaphat!” Charlie let out a soft whistle. “What would she want to do a fool thing like that for?”

Clint retained a tight-lipped silence, the note still clutched in his hand.

“
I see the Schneiders’ wagons are gone.” Charlie gazed around the camp site. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “You ain’t planning on doing anything crazy, are you?”

Clint balled a fist. “That fucking lunatic must have forced her.”

“
Reckon he did. Why else would she go off with him?”

“
I’d wager the baby had something to do with it. I’m going to find her.”

“
Well, I think you should, but first you’d better find where she’s headed.”

Which way did she go?
She’d told him Downieville, but he’d better make sure. At this point in the journey, several families had already left the train bound for any one of the many gold mining camps that dotted the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After making inquiries, Clint found two people who’d been up early enough to see the Schneider wagons leave. “I saw the Johnson and Lehman wagons leave also,” one woman said. “Don’t know about the Lehmans, but the Johnsons said they were headed north for Downieville. The Schneider wagons were right behind them, all of them after the gold.”

“
I heard Abner say he was going to Downieville,” said another. “Heard him plain as day.”

“
So, you’re headed north,” Charlie said when Clint returned. He watched his friend saddle up. “You’re sure they’re going to Downieville?”

“
Almost positive. I’m going to find her. I won’t come back without her.”

Hours later, Clint caught up with the Johnson wagon. They were alone. “I ain’t seen them.” Samuel Johnson scratched his head. “Maybe they went with the Lehmans when they turned off.”

Clint tried to hide his frustration. “Where were the Lehmans heading?”

“
Well, Sierra City, of course. They heard there’s gold in the streets there, too.”

Dammit, he’d have to backtrack for miles until he reached the Sierra City turnoff and then catch up as fast as he could. This was going to take time. Longer than he’d thought.

* * *

After leaving the camp at the crack of dawn, Abner followed the Johnson and Lehman wagons a short way north. When they came to a fork along the faint trail, to Lucy’s astonishment, they turned south, not north. “Aren’t we going to Downieville?”

“
No.”

“
But you said—”

“
I know what I said. That was just in case anyone should want to track us down.”

In the back of her mind, she was hoping Clint would come after them. Now, even if he did, he’d be heading in the opposite direction. “Then where are we going?”

“
Hangtown.”

Her heart sank. From all she’d heard, Hangtown was a terrible place. How was Clint ever going to find her?

As the day wore on, she felt such an acute sense of loss she hardly cared. In a numb haze, she drove the wagon, cared for Amy, and fixed the meals over the campfires she’d built. All day she sought to absorb the events of the night before, which had shaken her world and changed her life. How had this happened? How could she have allowed herself to be so intimidated by Abner she’d lost the man she loved, along with her freedom, and was now heading to a wild, lawless gold mining town, the last place in the world she’d ever wanted to go? She was plagued by guilt and self-recrimination. She should’ve stood up to Abner, screamed for help, done something—anything!—instead of allowing him to ruin her life. But then ...

Each time she told herself what a cowardly fool she’d been, she remembered that crazed lunatic gleam in Abner’s eye when he held his hand over little Amy’s face. No question, he would’ve carried out his threat, had she not given in.
I’ve ruined my life, but
I did the right thing
.

That night they made camp in a grove of tall, majestic redwood trees. In the background, the snow-covered peaks of the Sierra Nevadas towered over them. She was unmoved by the beauty of the site. All she could think about was how she’d fallen into the clutches of a man so ruthless, so heartless, he would commit murder to get his way. She realized now that he was more than a touch insane. In the past, despite his eccentricities, she’d considered him a rational human being. Now she knew he was not.

She had more on her mind than grief over losing Clint and fears for Amy’s welfare. Up to now Abner had never so much as looked at her in a suggestive manner. She suspected she’d been safe because she was his brother’s wife, and therefore on sacrosanct ground. But here, all alone in the wilderness, would Abner make advances? Demand she submit? Dear Lord, she hoped not. She could think of nothing more loathsome than making love to Abner. She gave a shudder, just thinking about those thick, moist lips pressed to hers, the coarse hairs of his scruffy black beard rubbing against her skin. What could be more revolting? She recalled the intimacies she’d shared with Clint. Was it only last night they’d made love? So much had happened since then it seemed like another lifetime, back when happiness had seemed within reach. The memory of his loving hands stroking her body sent a warm shiver of feeling through her. The thought of Abner’s hands doing the same filled her with disgust.

Please find me, Clint, please!

That night after dinner, Abner sat silently watching as she washed the dishes, put them away, and stomped out the campfire. If all went as she fervently hoped, he’d soon say goodnight and retire to his wagon for the night. She would go to her wagon and all would be well. Something in the way his eyes boldly raked over her while she worked gave warning she’d better be prepared for the worst. How should she handle this man she despised? All day the question had hammered at her.

Later on, after she stomped out the campfire, Abner stood, adjusted his crutches, and hobbled toward her. “Come along.”

“
Come along where?”

His stern expression didn’t waver. “To my wagon, of course. In case you’ve forgotten, you swore to obey me.”

Her mind raced. Would she give in to his revolting demands? She regarded her brother-in-law, dwelling on those flat, cold eyes that held no hint of love or compassion. Impossible though he’d been before his accident, now he was ten times worse. There was no way she could reason with him. Why even try? At that moment, she made the only decision that would allow her to retain a modicum of self-respect.

“
No.”

His eyes went wide. “What do you mean, no?”

She stepped back and crossed her arms. “Last night I promised not to leave you, and I won’t.”

“
You promised to obey me, too.”

“
Yes, I did.” She forced herself to sound calm and reasonable. “I will obey you in all ways but one.”

“
You will obey me in all things!” He raised his hand as if to strike her, but she nimbly leaped away.

Out of range, she faced him, fists clenched. “I will cook and clean for you. I will care for your child. I will not share your bed, not now, not ever. I don’t care what you say or do.”

For a moment, Abner sputtered, shocked by her defiance. Soon his mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. His curt voice lashed at her. “Have you forgotten our discussion concerning Amy?”

The mention of Abner’s threat to kill the baby strengthened her resolve. “Wait right here.” She went to her wagon, hopped on the long yoke, and climbed inside. Jacob’s two Hawcan rifles still stood propped behind the flour barrel. She grabbed one and carried it to the front of the wagon. Kneeling down, she faced Abner, who stood waiting by the smoldering campfire. She aimed the rifle at his head. “You see this rifle? If you ever try to touch me, I shall get this rifle and blow your head off. Is that clear?”

Abner’s jaw dropped. When her words sunk in, he sneered. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“
Oh, wouldn’t I?” The mere act of holding the rifle in her hands gave her a feeling of power she wouldn’t have thought possible. No longer was she shaking or filled with fear. Instead, a calm confidence came over her. She bent her head and sighted along the barrel. “In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve already killed one man with this rifle—shot him square between the eyes. You think I couldn’t do it again?”

“
It was only an Indian.”

“
A man, nonetheless.”

For a long time, Abner stared at her, no doubt searching for an appropriate answer. Coward that he was, she could see he was flabbergasted, unsure what to do. “I won’t tolerate your disobedience. But for now, I shall let it go because you’re tired and don’t know what you’re saying.” He turned to leave. “We shall discuss this in the morning.”

“
Yes, we’ll do just that.” She felt a glow of triumph because she knew she’d won. The glow soon faded. What had she gained other than putting Abner off for the night? She was still obligated to the man. Her heart twisted with anguish. How could Clint find her when he had no idea where she was? What if she’d lost him forever?

* * *

Late the next day, Clint returned to the camp at Truckee empty-handed. “I couldn’t find her.” He wiped a weary hand over his brow.

“
That son-of-a-bitch must have lied. Most likely he said he was going one way, then went the other. Trouble is, she could be in any one of dozens of gold mining camps by now.”

“
I’ve got to find her. Even if I have to search every gold mining camp in the Sierras.”

“
I know.” Charlie had been sitting by the campfire. He started to stand but sat down again, wincing in pain.

“
What’s wrong?” Clint asked.

“
It’s my back. Must’ve wrenched it hauling that deer carcass. Right now I can’t even get on my horse.” Charlie regarded Clint with pain-filled eyes. “I’ll be fine. You go ahead. You’ve got to find her.”

With all his heart and soul, Clint wanted to continue his search for Lucy, but he didn’t hesitate. Loyalty to his partner came first, plus obligation, plus what it came down to was doing the right thing. He swung from his horse. “You’re not fine. “I’m taking over. You go lie down.”

“
But, Clint—”

“
You heard me. You old fool. I know you won’t admit it, but you damn well are going to need my help.” With an effort, he stripped all bitterness and frustration from his voice. “Don’t concern yourself. When we get to Sacramento, I’ll start looking again. That should be soon enough.” Would it be? Already he knew he’d be half out of his mind with worry, but for the moment, there was nothing he could do except pray that Lucy’s courage and resourcefulness would be enough to keep her safe.

Hangtown. Never had Lucy imagined such a place existed. The contrast between staid, respectable Beacon Hill and this roaring, wide-open mining town amazed her. Where else did fortune seekers from the four corners of the earth jam the stores, whorehouses, and gambling halls, each with high hopes he’d strike it rich? They spoke in at least a dozen languages, bargaining in the coin of whatever country they came from. Mexican gold Orzas mingled with silver dollars, but at sixteen dollars per ounce, the gold dust dug from the nearby hills remained the main coin of the realm. Nearly everyone carried small bags of gold dust in this busy, brawling, sinful town.