Teton Splendor (16 page)

Sophie’s hand reached up to grab his upper arm. “You can’t just go looking for someone who’s out to kill you,” she said, a high pitch to her voice. Her eyes widened in fear.

Joseph’s lips rose at the corners. Her concern flooded him with warmth. Feather in the Wind, who had grown up in a society where people’s lives centered around raiding and making war on others, would have chastised him for not hunting the man down already. She would have seen it as a weakness in him that he hadn’t acted.

Joseph took another step closer. He dropped his horse’s reins and reached for her. Sliding his hand along her soft cheek, he bent forward and brushed his lips against hers for a light kiss.

“I have to find him,” he whispered. “I can’t wait for him to make another move.”

“Joseph.” Her voice trailed off as she whispered his name. She leaned her head into his hand and closed her eyes. Her relaxed stance drew him in further. His other hand reached for her waist. Sophie’s eyes fluttered open, and her hand on his arm slid slowly upward toward his shoulder. Her other hand settled along his other shoulder. Joseph sucked in a deep breath. Her innocent touch sent a renewed wave of heat through him; it became almost unbearable to maintain his restraint.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” she breathed in a sultry tone. She stood so close, her breasts brushed against his chest. Joseph inhaled sharply. The light from the setting sun reflected golden in her amber eyes. His hand slid behind her head, while his other arm snaked around her waist, and he pulled her tightly up against him. With a deep groan, he brought his lips down on hers.

Closing his mouth over hers, he cradled her head in his hand and wrapped his fingers in her hair. How could he ever leave her side when she pleaded with him like this? A fire roared to life inside of him, and the blood rushed through his veins. Sophie leaned into him, molding her body against his. Awareness of every soft female curve pressed against him sent his mind reeling out of control. He clamped his hands on either side of her waist, holding her to him while his lips explored her mouth, her cheeks, and along the contours of her jaw. Somehow she had wound her arms around his neck, and her fingers raked through his hair. She drew in a sharp breath when he nuzzled her neck. A shudder passed through her.

His horse snorted behind him, and Joseph eased his hold on her. For a moment, he struggled to remember where he was. It didn’t matter, as long as could hold on to the sweet woman in his arms.

Twigs snapped, and a horse stomped its hoof. Joseph savored one final kiss before he reluctantly stepped away from her. Her hands slid away from his neck, then slowly her palms settled against his chest as if she was in no hurry to lose physical contact with him. He drew in a deep breath, his knees weak and his hands trembling. How could her simple touch affect him like this? He had to get his head on straight if he wanted to get them safely to the Jackson Valley. And that meant no distractions.

Joseph ran his fingers along her cheek. Her eyes shimmered with longing that took his breath away. Words failed him.

“Joseph, there’s something I want to tell you,” she whispered. Her lips quivered and her eyes widened with uncertainty.

“Joseph, Lucas wants to try and catch some fish for supper,” Caleb called loudly from the other side of his horse.

Joseph ground his teeth and cursed under his breath. He ran a hand along his jaw and broke all contact with Sophie. The sudden emptiness in his arms startled him, but Caleb’s interruption, although untimely, was exactly what he needed to get his mind back on track. Evening was closing in quickly, and he still wanted to survey the area for any signs of the mysterious shooter.

“Hold that thought,” he said, forcing a grin on his face.

Sophie nodded, offering a reluctant smile of her own. She gathered her horse’s reins, and led the gelding toward their camp. Her hips swayed seductively as she walked, her back straight and her shoulders squared. Her long raven hair flowed freely in the breeze. Joseph’s forced grin became more relaxed. Even in her buckskin britches and a plain homespun cotton shirt, she carried herself like a lady.

“Joseph.” Caleb tugged at his arm. “Where are the fishing hooks?”

“Right here in my saddle bags,” Joseph answered absently. Reluctantly, he pulled his eyes away from Sophie, and rummaged through the leather pouches tied to his saddle. 

He handed Caleb a small leather satchel, and the reins to his horse. Pulling his rifle from the scabbard, he called over his shoulder, “Keep your rifle handy, Lucas. I’ll be back shortly,” and set off along the creek bank.

Following the stream for a short distance, he cut into the forest and circled through the dense woods back toward camp. If the shooter was close by, it would be hard for him not to be heard. The dense growth of pines and underbrush would make it nearly impossible for a horse to get through without making a lot of noise. Even if he came on foot, it would be difficult to approach their camp without detection. Several large granite boulders offered good cover on one side, with the creek on the other. Satisfied that their camp was reasonably secure for the night, Joseph headed back.

Soft female laughter, mixed with Lucas’ boisterous voice, echoed through the trees. Peace and contentment flooded him. Before they reached the homestead tomorrow, Sophie would know that he was in love with her.

Chapter Sixteen

Sophie dabbed a wet cloth around the bullet wound on Lucas’ shoulder. The skin was seared and blistered, but the opening no longer bled and didn’t look to be festering. Lucas flinched slightly and sucked in a quick breath.

“Sorry,” she mumbled. He endured the pain in silence just like Joseph had all those weeks ago when she treated his flesh wound. The hardiness of these men hadn’t ceased to amaze her. She darted a quick glance toward the mountains in the distance. This land was as harsh as it was beautiful, and it was clear to her that weak-minded individuals would never survive here.

Her thoughts drifted to Lucy, and she swallowed back the lump in her throat. As hard as she tried, she could never picture Lucy trekking through this wilderness.  She imagined her own father, who had lived here and endured these mountains for more than five years. Knowing Byron Yancey as a soft-spoken, docile man, she had a difficult time placing him in this environment.

What about you, Sophia . . . Sophie? Raven? Who are you?

The answer still eluded her. This journey had tested her endurance more than anything she’d ever done or imagined, and yesterday’s ordeal still had her shaking with fear. Would Raven, daughter of a French trapper and Bannock Indian quiver in fear for her life? She hadn’t had any time to react at the moment, when Joseph threw her to the ground and covered her with his own body. He would have given his life for her, she realized with sudden clarity.

A shudder passed through her, and her hand slipped as she wrapped a fresh bandage around Lucas’ shoulder.  He glanced at her, a quizzical look on his handsome face. A few years younger than Joseph, Lucas shared his brother’s rugged features, the same square jaw and intelligent, midnight blue eyes. His hair was a shade darker than Joseph’s, almost as black as her own, and much shorter than his brother’s.

“Nervous about something?” Lucas asked, his brows raised.

Sophia shook her head. “No, just . . .” She hesitated. Lucas was easy to talk to. His smile was infectious, and the mischief that sparkled in his eyes belied the fact that he was a force to be reckoned with. His easygoing demeanor hid his capabilities as a rugged mountain man well. Lucas had stumbled upon her moments after Joseph left her the day before to track down the shooter. She had been startled at first that he had managed to approach her without making a sound, but he’d immediately put her mind at ease with his friendly attitude. When he told her who he was, she had no cause to doubt him. His resemblance to Joseph was too striking.

“So, you miss Boston?” Lucas asked casually. Sophia tied the ends of the bandage in a knot, and sat back on her haunches. She shrugged.

“There are things about it I miss. My father especially. This is all very different than what I’ve grown up with.”

Lucas leaned back and reclined on his uninjured elbow. He studied her boldly.

“You’ll like it better here, I’d imagine. I ain’t never been to Boston, but it don’t sound very exciting. What do folks do there?”

Sophia stared at him. How could she explain Boston society to this man? She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.

“You’re right, it’s not an exciting life. Nothing there will test a person’s will as it does here.” She glanced toward the mountains. Even with all their dangers, would she want to return to Boston? Could she remain here, abandon all of society’s conventions that she had grown up with? The answer seemed easy enough. She tried to picture raising children in these mountains. Joseph’s children. Free and happy to run through the hills, and climb high mountain peaks, not sit in stuffy parlors wearing confining suits or dresses, and always under someone’s scrutiny.

Sophia stared at Lucas, who assessed her with interest. Not the same intense interest as what she saw in Joseph’s eyes, but simple curiosity as if he was trying to figure her out.

“So I hear you and your brother like to run through the hills in your birthday suits. And in the dead of winter, no less.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Lucas was silent for a moment. He shot her an amused stare, then his mouth widened in a grin. “My brother said that, eh? What else did he tell you about that?”

She dropped her gaze, bashful for what she’d said. “He doesn’t tell me much.” The banter with his brother was not the intense and sensual teasing she remembered with Joseph. Nevertheless, she fiddled with the cloth in her hands. 

Lucas shifted his weight and raised himself to a sitting position. “Well, did he tell you why we were without our clothes?” He chuckled.

Sophia raised her head and slowly moved it from side to side. Eager to learn more about Joseph, she waited for Lucas to continue.

“He and I were hunting with a few of our Bannock friends.” He paused, and gestured with his chin at her. “Your relatives. Someone called out a challenge to see who was brave enough to jump in the nearly frozen lake without any clothes on. Whoever stayed in the water longest was declared the winner.”

“And what did the winner get for such stupidity?” Sophia challenged. How had he and Joseph managed to survive to adulthood for such foolishness?

Lucas grinned. “Besides frostbite? Nothing other than bragging rights, I suppose.”

“Who won?”

“We never found out.” Lucas rubbed at the back of his neck. “Every one of us had already stripped down to our, ah . . . bare essentials, when we realized a group of girls snuck up and stole our clothes. Of course we all had to chase them. That’s when Joseph met Feather in the Wind.”

“Who?”

“She’s a Blackfoot. The Bannock family who took her in when she was captured in a raid adopted her. One look at Joseph, and . . . Well, I suppose she really liked his . . . um . . . assets. They were sort of inseparable after that, and married in secret. One day, her Blackfoot brother showed up with a bunch of warriors, threatening to kill Joseph and many members of the village if his sister wasn’t returned to her own tribe. Your grandfather, Two Bears, stood up for Joseph, and argued that Feather in the Wind was no longer a Blackfoot.”

“Joseph is married?” Bile rose to Sophia’s throat. A sudden wave of dread washed over her. The thought that Joseph already had a woman waiting for him had been on her mind on several occasions when she tried to explain his odd behavior toward her, but her nagging doubts had vanished over the last couple of days.

She blinked back the tears that threatened behind her eyes. A crushing sensation grabbed at her chest. The way he held her, protected her, and kissed her . . . he was so convincing that he harbored more than casual feelings for her.

Lucas laughed. “No. One day, Feather in the Wind dumped all of Joseph’s belongings from their lodge, and declared she was returning to her Blackfoot family. She left that same day, and Joseph came back to live with our folks at the homestead.”

Sophia had heard enough. A quick fleeting memory of Joseph’s angry face when he stepped into the tent at the Lakota village, telling her it would appear as if she had thrown him out if he slept outside, entered her mind. The comment had confused her then, but it made perfect sense now. He was in love with a woman who had pushed him aside.

She scrambled to her feet. A sudden urge to be alone swept over her. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she hastily swiped it away with the back of her hand.

“Excuse me,” she mumbled hastily, and rushed toward the treeline where the horses stood picketed. She rubbed her gelding’s neck while he blew hot air on her shirt, sniffing for a handout.

 “Sophie?”

Sophia spun on her heels at the sound of Joseph’s voice. When had he returned to camp? Her pulse pounded in her ears. Their eyes met. Had he overheard his brother talking? Why hadn’t he told her himself that he had a wife? How could she possibly compete for Joseph’s affection with a woman who grew up here, and knew her way in the wilderness? Even if the woman left him, she was still his wife. And Joseph still loved her.

Could a man be in love with two women at the same time? She didn’t want to know. She would never accept sharing his attention with another woman. In Boston, she’d heard the hushed talk about Indians having more than one wife. Perhaps Joseph thought this would be acceptable since he was so familiar with their culture.

Wasn’t it the same with men back east? Hadn’t Andrew’s father suggested that he keep a mistress, or several? If all men thought it was all right to have a wife but keep a mistress, then she’d rather never marry.

Wife! He’s never given any indication that he wants to marry you.

Sophia sucked in a deep breath. Joseph would never find out how deeply he had hurt her. She’d almost told him she loved him if Caleb hadn’t interrupted earlier. She was thankful for that now. It saved her the humiliation of spilling her heart to him.

“You’re back,” she said without emotion, for lack of something better to say. In no mood to listen to his excuses and explanations, she wouldn’t bring up his wife.

Joseph’s eyes roamed her face as if searching for something. He stepped closer.

“I hope Caleb caught some fish. I’m rather hungry and tired,” she said, stepping to the side to move past him. Joseph reached for her hand. She pulled away, and tensed.

“You wanted to tell me something before I left.” Joseph’s eyes drew together.

Sophia raised her chin, and forced a smile.

I love you, that’s what I was going to tell you.  I’m glad now that I didn’t get the chance.

Bearing her heart to him, only to find out he loved another woman would have been worse than learning the true reason Andrew asked her to marry him. He was only after her father’s money. What did Joseph want from her?

She cleared her throat. “Yes, I wanted to tell you that I’m glad to finally meet my grandfather, and . . . and ask if there is a chance we can return to Boston before winter. I miss my father.”

Joseph’s face hardened. The warmth in his eyes extinguished slowly like a flame deprived of air.

“Afraid not. You’re stuck here until spring,” he said, his voice clipped and unusually harsh. His jaw muscles tensed, then he stepped away from her. “I didn’t see any evidence that the shooter is nearby. We should be safe here tonight, but Lucas and I will keep watch. I’ll go check on those fish.” He turned abruptly and headed back toward camp.

Sophia stared after him, the tears rolling freely down her face.

*****

When the large cabin came into view, Sophia’s heart thumped nervously in her chest. For the better part of the morning, they had followed the course of the Snake River running parallel with the Teton mountain range. Tall reeds and willow bushes interspersed with colorful aspen trees that displayed their glorious fall colors. Shades of yellow, orange, and red mixed with some deeper browns to create a spectacular palette of color against a clear blue sky and the white peaks of the mountains. The marshlands soon gave way to an ever-widening valley. The knee-high grasses had turned a fall yellow, and the stillness in the air was marred only by the constant chirping of crickets. Nestled along a slow flowing creek stood a cabin and several barns and outbuildings.

“I hope Mama is fixing a good supper, ‘cause I could eat my horse,” Lucas nearly shouted as they approached the home. He kneed his horse into a gallop and raced across the meadow toward the cabin. Caleb shot a hopeful glance toward Joseph, who nodded silently. With a triumphant whoop, the boy gave his horse a nudge, and raced after Lucas.

Joseph remained silent. He hadn’t spoken much with anyone since the night before, and had set a fast pace all morning. Apparently, he was in a hurry to reach his home. Sophia mulled over what she had said that would cause him to be so upset with her. He should be glad to reach the end of the journey. He’d seemed eager to pursue the man who threatened their lives. Perhaps that was what was on his mind.

“I can only imagine how wonderful it must have been, growing up here,” she said in an attempt to make conversation with him. Her eyes swept the valley. Horses and cattle grazed off in the distance.  She guided her mount closer to his, and glanced at him.