Within the Candle's Glow (38 page)

She passed through the gap in the colossal gray boulders. Her ragged skirt dragged the ground and underbrush. With one hand, she reached back and jerked it free from a blackberry briar. Jim could hear
the material rip, and he wanted to chuckle at her spunk.

The couple faded from view, swallowed by a dip in the forest floor and a stand of hardwoods. Jim paused in thought while contemplating the upward push of the ground to his left. Perhaps, he could hike above Ella and Josh and circle down. The mountainside sheared off into a ravine on the right side. He didn’t dare venture that way.

Taking the high route, he struggled between boulders and dense understory. He prayed he wouldn’t tread on a napping rattlesnake.
Please, God, clear my path and help me push ahead of them.

A flash of movement sent him hunkering alongside a weathered rock. He spotted them far below, still on the trail. Cautiously, he faded into the swath of forest and quickened his steps.

He had to stop Josh.

He made his descent on the next slope, heels digging in, slipping and sliding between sparse bushes and trees. He didn’t worry Josh might hear him. Jim figured he was a ways ahead of them. Near the left side of the trail, he flattened himself to a tall boulder, caught his breath, and waited. He clutched the gun against his heaving chest and breathed through his mouth.

He heard them sooner than he expected.

Ella’s voice made his heart race. “You’re
wrong
.”

“I seen both of you. He made you cry.”

“Yes, he upset me. Samuel’s my
friend.
He’s sick ‘bout his hand bein’ gone.” Her voice came closer.

“I follered him that night. I seen those slaves pull ‘im to safety.”

“You
saw them?
” There was instant anger, mixed with unease, in her voice. “You
knew
he was in trouble an’ didn’t help?” Her long hair hung to her waist.

They walked behind a huge rock—out of view. “Look at me,” Josh demanded.

“Keep your hands off me.”

“I said,
look at me.
”

There was a whimper from the girl. It chilled Jim’s blood, but he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.
Not yet. Get a good shot at him.

“If you stop one more time to yap your jaw at me, I’ll tie you to a tree, go back, an’ finish off your one-handed lover. I wanted Samuel dead, but I couldn’t figger how to kill ‘im. That old mule ‘bout did it for me. Those slaves crept out of the forest. I didn’t know how many more
might be slinkin’ in the snowy shadows, so I had to turn an’ leave. Start movin’!”

There was silence, then the crunching of stones and sticks. Jim gritted his teeth and caught his breath when the girl walked into view. Her torn skirt swished about her legs. A streak of sun slipped through the canopy of trees, touched her hair, and lit it with glimmers of gold.

Josh carried a heavy musket cuddled in his arms.

Jim silently emerged from the side of the trail. “Drop your weapon.”

Josh froze.

Ella spun and dove for some mountain laurel on the opposite side of the path. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her wrinkled skirt disappear behind a rock.

“Don’t shoot. I did her no harm.” With his free hand raised, Josh slowly faced him—recognition widening his panicky, dark eyes.

“Put the musket down.”

In slow motion, Josh laid it at his feet. His ebony eyes locked on Jim’s face. “She’s unhurt. She hain’t been violated. Ask her.”

“You better be telling the truth.” He retrieved Josh’s weapon and set it between two chest-high rocks. “Ella Dessa?”

She scrambled through the bushes, dragging her shawl, and made a wide berth around Josh.

With his left arm, Jim shoved her behind him. “You all right?”

“Yes.”

“Josh, what should I do with you?”

The muscles in the man’s clenched jaws worked and moved under the smooth skin of his face. Jim recognized the Indian blood in him, but Josh slumped, and his posture bestowed a suggestion of underlying timidity and deceit.

“I want you … to let me leave these parts?” His tone was hopeful.

“
Why
should I do that?” He sneered at the tall man. “Give me
one
reason.”

If I let him go, will he return?

“Ahh, ’cause I won’t come back no more?”

Jim was conscious of the girl’s right hand sliding down his back. She leaned against him. Her body shook. He wanted to turn and wrap her in his arms.

Ella’s brave front had crumpled.

“Here’s what I’m sure of,” Jim said to Josh. “There’s others of her family searching for you
right now
. I know Walter’s a crack shot. Miles
has a new gun. He’s itching to shoot something. Lyle hunts with a bow, as good as any Indian, and that ain’t all the men in this cove. The preacher killed a bear last week. If I decide not to shoot you in front of this girl, I can set a gunman on your trail—right soon.”

Josh blinked, processing what he heard. His worried eyes searched the wooded mountain slope. “They’ll hunt me like an animal?” He twisted his hands together, dry skin causing a raspy sound. “I said … I ain’t comin’ back. I’m headin’ south.”

“I suspect, very shortly, about fifteen men will close in on your boot heels. They’re all good trackers. And my brother, Samuel, is the best. He doesn’t need two hands to search for sign. You won’t have a chance.” He chuckled. “They probably won’t even bury you. Your carcass will be left for the black bears to gnaw on—like that horse I found.”

“I’ll go, but give me my weapon.”

“No.”

“How do I protect myself?”

Jim pointed his gun at the trail. “How? By leaving this area. Run fast when you can.”

Josh stumbled over a rock, moved fifteen feet down the trail, and stopped. “You cain’t let me walk with no weapon.” His face had gone fish-belly white. “I got other men huntin’ me, ‘cause—‘cause I stole gold.”

“You and your partner—years ago, did you kill Velma’s husband?”

“No, no!” He shook his head, black hair whipping the sides of his narrow face. “We
found
him. My partner wanted to do a good deed—so God would favor us.”

Jim chuckled. “You are stupid. And this gold you gave Ella, saying it was Velma’s?”

Josh licked his dry lips. “I lied. It never were her husband’s.” He blinked and stammered, “There was—there was another dead man.”

“
Hmm
, I know who killed him. Get out of my sight!” Jim yelled. He pointed the barrel of his gun at the man’s narrow chest.

There was no hesitation. Josh whirled and jogged—in spite of the rocky trail. His coat flapped against his slim hips.

Jim lifted Josh’s musket from the ground. He hesitated and then flung it through the air. It crashed into a boulder, busting into three pieces. The stock hit a tree. Josh flinched and staggered to a stop. He started to pick his way toward the area where it landed, but he heard Jim chuckle.

“Go ahead, Josh. Give me one last reason to kill you.”

Indecision showed in the way Josh raised his hands to the sides of his head and gripped his long hair. Then he turned and ran.

“He won’t be back.” Jim slipped his left arm around the girl and crushed her against his side. He knew Josh would run as if trailed by haunts.

Ella pressed her face against his chest. “Thank you for findin’ me,” she whispered, her lips touching his shirt.

“You’re not hurt?” He couldn’t stop the trembling in his fingers as he cupped her chin and lifted her tear-streaked face. He wanted to hold her and never let go. “He didn’t hurt you? If he did, I’ll go after him.”

Her cheeks flushed pink. A light sprinkle of freckles blended with the vibrant color. “No, he pushed me around some. He threatened to take me to Florida an’ marry me.” Her blue eyes shimmered with tears. “Take me home?”

“How about our place first? Mother will be praying I found you.” He took the liberty of hugging her to his side. He released her before his boiling emotions got the best of him. He set the gun over his shoulder and offered her a hand.

For a split second, she hesitated, and then she slipped her hand into his. “I didn’t know if anyone looked for me. How’d you know?”

“Deer.” He swallowed and headed off her next question. “Sam and I found him. We figured you wouldn’t have left him without a cause.”

Her eyes filled. “Josh hit him with the butt of the musket.”

“Deer’s back right leg is crushed.”

She gasped. “I thought he had died.”

“No, but he’s hurt bad.” He tightened his hold on her hand.

“Did you find my bonnet? I left it as a sign … wrapped in a filthy blanket he gave me.”

“No.” He grinned. “I saw his name scratched in the clay floor. You did that?”

“Yes.” She shivered and tightened her grip on his hand. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Let’s speak of something more pleasant—like me finding you.”

He matched his stride to her shorter one. A heaviness in his chest hurt when he thought about Josh accomplishing what he schemed to do with Ella. Jim wanted to stop right there in the woods, wrap his arms around her, and promise to protect her forever.

How would she respond?

“Ella, there’s others hunting for you. I know Samuel sought help last
night.”

“He did?” Astonishment widened her eyes.

“Yes. He told me how he hurt you.”

“Samuel’s not the same since—” She pressed her free hand to her lips.

“My brother’s battle is within himself. It’s a fight only he can win, after he reaches clarity of mind. He’s suffering.”

“With God’s help, he’ll make it.”

“Yes, that’s so. In fact, he hurts more when you’re near him.”

“Why?” Her puzzled blue eyes stared at him.

He cleared his throat. “Because he
loves
you. He’s a very proud man. He has to make it on his own and prove to himself he’s still a man—capable of conquering the odds. It may take years, but Samuel will eventually come out on top.”

“That’s what I said, but he was even more hateful. It’s like he no longer wants to be near me, an’ I did nothin’ to him.”

“Well, as much as this hurts, you
can’t
be the one to stand by him or even help him. You’re
part
of his pain.”

“No!”

“He cares deeply about you. But let him grow strong without relying on you. I know him. He’s on a lonely trace—an overgrown, rocky path.
Let him go
. I know he dearly loves you—more than you realize.”

“Loves me?”

“Yes. So, let him find his way back to you, if it’s meant to be.”

“Come
back
to me?” She shook her head. “No.”

“Yes. He will then ask you to be his wife. You’ll just have to be patient and wait.”

Jim wanted to stop right there and lay his own heart and soul bare for her inspection. He wanted to see what she’d say. He couldn’t. Samuel loved her too much.

Ella walked with her head down, but her small hand remained tucked in his.

His mother had warned him only hurt and pain would come out of the situation, and she was right. Sophie made it especially clear of late that she still wanted his attention, and he felt Ella
wasn’t
meant for him. He decided he’d soon ask Sophie to marry him and end the agony. The young woman’s parents would welcome him as a son-in-law.

Life would settle into a calm routine.

As they drew near the house, he sensed Ella’s grip tightening. Jim
thought he understood her extended silence and tension.

She was reluctant to face Samuel and dreaded the news about Deer.

J
im’s mother saw them and ran to hug Ella. “Oh, honey, we’ve been worried.”

“Josh took me,” she murmured against the older woman’s shoulder.

“Oh, no!”

“She didn’t go quietly.” Jim chuckled. “This girl’s mean. I trailed them like a chicken hawk and watched her annoy him.”

Ella pulled away from his mother’s embrace and giggled. “Stop tellin’ lies.”