“Are you going to stand there and tell me you haven’t been with a man before? How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-two,” Rachel said stiffly. “And whether I have or I haven’t is none of your business.”
“Which means you have. Do your folks know?”
Rachel’s mouth dropped, but she quickly recovered her composure and leaned in so near she practically brushed him. “You might not be a gentleman, but I’m a lady and ladies don’t discuss such things.”
“I’m surprised you’re not married yet, as good-looking as you are,” Fargo said. Most women found themselves at the altar before they were twenty. Any later than that, and people started to whisper about spinsters and strange desires.
“Do you really think so?” Rachel touched her hair, then frowned and said, “Quit doing that.”
“What?”
“Complimenting me. I’m trying to be mad at you and you make it very hard.”
“Then we’re even.”
“How so?”
“When I look at you, part of me starts to feel hard, too.”
Again Rachel gasped. Her eyes darted down, below his belt, and then up again. “That was crude.”
Fargo laughed. “You looked, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know what to make of you. I honestly don’t.”
“I’ll help you out,” Fargo said. “I want to go for a walk and do things to you that will curl your toes. Was that gentlemanly enough?”
“You presume too much,” Rachel said, but she didn’t look away or blush, or leave.
“If I’m wrong, then don’t go for a walk with me. But if I’m right, I’ll meet you at the back of your wagon, say, about ten. It will be dark enough by then that we can slip away.”
“Amazing,” Rachel said. “You’re too sure of yourself, by half. Women can’t wait to rip your clothes off—is that how it goes?” She sniffed, and turned. “I need to help my mother. Don’t expect to see me at ten.”
Fargo watched her hips sway in exaggerated anger. “Things are looking up,” he said to the Ovaro.
From under the covered wagon came a scraping noise.
Squatting, Fargo found Billy about to crawl off. He grabbed hold of the back of the youngster’s shirt and hauled him out. “I don’t much like being spied on, boy.”
“It’s not my fault,” Billy said defensively. “I was under there when you and Sissy came up.”
“Then you heard everything?” Fargo could see him running to his parents, and his parents throwing a fit.
“So what if I did? I don’t care what my sister does. Besides, as Ma keeps telling her, she’s a grown woman and can do as she pleases.”
“You’re not mad at me?”
“For wanting to kiss my sister?” Billy laughed. “I was brought up on a farm, remember? I’ve seen cows do it. I’ve seen horses do it. Heck, I even saw two mallards in the pond do it. To me, you and Sissy are those ducks.”
Fargo grinned. He had never been compared to a randy mallard before. “You have a good head on your shoulders, boy.”
Billy laughed. “You don’t fool me. You want me to be your friend so I won’t tell Ma and Pa about your plans for tonight.”
“Like I said, you have a good head on your shoulders.”
“I also have empty pockets.” Billy held out a hand. “A dollar will fill one of them just fine.”
“You little outlaw.”
“I could ask for two dollars.”
Fargo snorted. “The most I’ll give you is fifty cents.”
Billy waggled his palm. “Didn’t you say she’s awful pretty? A dollar ain’t much. And you have to promise to keep her out as late as you can.”
“What for?”
“Sissy has some chocolate hid in the wagon. I’ve been trying to find it for weeks but she’s never away from the wagon for very long.”
Fargo fished a coin from his pocket, flipped it into the air and caught it, then dropped it in the boy’s palm. “If I see your face on a wanted poster in a few years, it won’t surprise me.”
6
It had been a while since Fargo had home cooking, even if the cooking was done over a fire on the trail.
Martha Winston was a quiet woman. She didn’t say a lot, and when she did, she said what was on her mind with no hemming and hawing. Lester was lucky in that she wasn’t one of those women who talked a man to death. Doubly lucky, because she could cook. The food was delicious.
Supper consisted of thick venison steak, with salt if Fargo wanted some. Martha also heaped fried potatoes, cooked carrots and a couple of slices of bread smeared thick with butter on his plate. Saratoga chips were brought from the wagon and Fargo helped himself to a handful. For dessert there were cookies. She had made them days ago, and she didn’t stint on the sugar. To wash it all down, Fargo was told to drink as much steaming hot coffee as he wanted. He downed six cups.
The meal alone almost made all that Fargo had gone through worth it.
After supper hour came the social hour. Other farmers and their wives came over to talk to the Winstons. Mainly they talked about farming, to where Fargo got tired of listening to whether this crop or that crop was better than this other crop or that other crop. And about growing seasons, and how much fertilizer should be used.
Rachel hardly said two words to him. She sat across the fire, her hands in her lap, and now and then gave him a furtive glance. He pretended not to notice except once when their eyes met. He smiled and she started to return it but caught herself.
Billy chattered like a chipmunk. He pestered Fargo with questions about being a scout and the army and Indians, and even asked how many men Fargo had killed. At that point, Martha cleared her throat and told the boy enough was enough, and he should hush. When Billy asked another question anyway, she reminded him that a hickory switch was in the wagon and he was never too old for her to tan his bottom. That shut him up.
Victor Gore ate with them but then went off to visit other families. It was pushing nine when he returned, and he wasn’t alone. He brought Rinson along. Martha poured coffee for them and Gore made himself comfortable.
“I trust you enjoyed your meal, Mr. Fargo?”
“Never had better.” Fargo noticed that Rinson sat to one side, his hand near his revolver.
“Good. Then you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep and be well rested when you ride out in the morning.”
“Who said I was?”
About to take a sip, Gore paused with the cup at his lips. “I beg your pardon?”
“Who said I was going anywhere? I might stick around a while. I’d like to see this Payette River Valley for myself.”
Rinson shifted and scowled and looked at Victor Gore as if expecting him to say something, and Gore did.
“How is it you didn’t mention this sooner?”
“What difference does it make?”
Gore drank and lowered his cup. “What possible interest would a man like you have in going there? You’ve been all over the West, I understand. You must have seen a thousand valleys.”
“I’d like to be sure Lester and his friends get there,” Fargo said. “What with the Nez Perce acting up and all.”
The big farmer interrupted, saying, “That’s awful kind of you. With your savvy of Indian ways, you can be of great help.”
Victor Gore disagreed. “I know as much about Indians as any man. And we have enough guns to protect us, should it come to that.” He smiled at Fargo. “I would much rather you went on your way. These people are under my care.”
“No,” Fargo said.
“Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear. I’m in charge. Complete charge. It’s one of the conditions I set and they agreed to before we left Fort Bridger.”
Fargo returned the smile. “They agreed, not me. I can do as I please, and it pleases me to ride along a spell.”
“I can have Mr. Rinson and his men prevent you from doing so.”
“Not without losing a few, you can’t. Maybe more than a few.”
Gore lost some of his friendliness. “Are you threatening us?”
To Fargo’s surprise, Martha Winston broke her quiet to ask, “Where’s the harm if Mr. Fargo wants to come along? I don’t know about you, Mr. Gore, but we’re sociable folk. We enjoy the company of others.”
“That’s very neighborly of you, Mrs. Winston. In Ohio that’s fine and dandy. Most folks are decent and law-abiding, like yourselves. But out here it’s not like that. Out here renegades and killers are as thick as ticks. One must always be on their guard.”
Now it was Lester who spoke on Fargo’s behalf. “Surely you’re not suggesting Mr. Fargo would harm us? I say he should be allowed to stay.”
Victor Gore stalled by drinking more coffee. Rinson stared hard at him but Gore paid him no mind. Finally, Gore drained the cup, and sighed. “Very well. Never let it be said I’m unreasonable. Mr. Fargo can accompany us. But he must agree to abide by my decisions.”
“You’re in charge,” Fargo said, and held in a grin.
“Yes, well. I think it only fair that I warn you. After what you did to Slag, my men don’t think as highly of you as the Winstons do. You would be well advised not to cause any more trouble or they might take it into their heads to teach you a few manners.”
“That would be something to see.”
“I’ve seldom met a man so brimming with confidence,” Victor Gore said. “And you know what they say. Too much of anything is never a good thing.”
“There’s another saying. Never stand too close to a snake or you might get bit.”
“I’ve never heard that one.”
Fargo had made it up. If the old trapper got the point, he hid it well.
But Rinson couldn’t sit silent any longer. “I don’t think it’s right, him tagging along. We have enough to do without keeping an eye on him, too. And like you said, Slag and the others ain’t happy about what he did.”
“They will do as I tell them.”
“You think too highly of yourself,” Rinson said defiantly. “There is only so much we will abide.”
Gore looked at him. “Is that a fact? In that case, you and anyone else who wants to can head back to Fort Bridger.”
“Now hold on,” Rinson quickly said.
“No.
You
hold on. Why must I keep repeating myself? I’m in charge. You’ll do as I say or be gone at first light.”
Rinson didn’t strike Fargo as being a kitten but he meekly said, “I was only saying my piece. We’ll do whatever you want. You hold the high card.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
Fargo marveled at the control Victor Gore had over them. The old man bossed the cutthroats around as if they were his own personal army. “What high card would that be?” he inquired.
“I hired them, Mr. Fargo. They won’t be paid if they don’t do exactly as I say.”
There had to be more to it than that, Fargo reflected. But Gore wasn’t about to come right out and say it.
Just then someone produced a fiddle and began to play. Most of the farmers and their families gravitated toward the center of the circle, some clapping, some tapping their feet. A few linked arms and began to dance.
“I do believe I’ll join in the festivities,” Victor Gore said. Rising, he doffed his hat and took his leave, Rinson glued to his heels.
Martha Winston grasped her husband’s hand. “Come. It will be nice to relax for a while.”
Billy scooted off to join friends.
That left Fargo and Rachel. He looked at her and she pretended to be interested in her dress.
“Changed your mind about that walk?”
“Not on your life.”
Grinning, Fargo rose. A sickle of moon hung low to the horizon and a multitude of stars sparkled like diamonds. “Suit yourself. I’m going for a walk.” He went around the rear of the wagon and had barely taken six steps when she was at his side but staring straight ahead.
No one called out or tried to stop them. Most everyone was watching the fiddler and the dancers.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Fargo said.
“Maybe a stroll would be nice, after all.”
“It has to be your decision.”
Rachel snickered. “First you invite me to traipse off into the dark with you, then you try to talk me out of it. And men say women are fickle.”
The cool night air was a welcome relief from the heat of the day. Fargo pushed his hat back on his head and made for a stand of cottonwoods. From the mountains to the north wafted the ululating howl of a wolf. To the south, as if in answer, a coyote yipped. From the timbered slopes across the valley came the screech of an owl.
“Doesn’t it ever scare you?” Rachel asked.
“What?”
“The wilds.” Rachel swept an arm at the black well of the valley. “They sure scare me. Bears and mountain lions everywhere. Hostiles out to scalp every white they meet. I don’t see how you stand it.”
Fargo thought of his encounter with the mother bear. “It’s not as bad as you make it out to be. Nine times out of ten a bear or a big cat will leave you be. And not all tribes are hostile. I could name half a dozen that have never harmed a white man.”
“But there are many more that have,” Rachel persisted. “I’m not a simpleton. I’m aware of the dangers. I just couldn’t go gallivanting all over as you do. It’ll be bad enough settling in the Payette River Valley.”
“I take it you wish you were back in Ohio.”
“I never wanted to leave,” Rachel said sadly. “It was Pa’s idea, and he talked Ma into it. That didn’t leave me much choice.”
“Why didn’t you stay in Ohio by yourself? You’re a full-grown woman.”
“I may be grown but I’m afraid I lack confidence,” Rachel confessed. “Everyone says I’m so pretty but when I look in a mirror I see an ugly duckling.”
Fargo stopped. Taking her arm, he turned her so she faced him. “You’re as fine-looking as any filly I’ve ever met.” He ran a finger over her silken hair and lightly brushed her ear.
“You’re only saying that.”
Fargo bent and looked her in the eyes. “May God strike me dead if I’m lying.”
Rachel nervously giggled. “You shouldn’t tempt the Almighty like that. My ma would call it blasphemy.” Unexpectedly, she pressed her mouth to his in a quick, light kiss. A touch of her lips was all, and then she hastily pulled back.