Chapter Sixteen
Lynn held to the reigns as Bluebell trotted through town like a queen, while her main and tail danced with each step. The horse seemed to undergo a transformation once the mare had been introduced to Adrienne. She was thrilled in seeing the young woman’s face brighten up as she fed the horse and hoped that a bit of fresh air would do her some good.
Adrienne’s eyes took in her surroundings as Bluebell trotted on with confidence. She hadn’t been away from town since arriving and was relishing the sites around her, the meadow was beautiful and she couldn’t wait to see what other wonders lay in Colorado Springs.
Beyond the meadow were woods filled not only with trees, but small wildflowers and the occasional animal here and there. The afternoon sun peered through the tops of the trees, casting rays of light below.
“It’s all so beautiful here,” Adrienne breathed into the air for anyone around to hear. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Lynn smiled as she continued to lead Bluebell who had slowed down her pace somewhat, “Certainly is a lovely setting, mother nature can be a fine artist.” Adrienne nodded in agreement as her eyes continued to take in everything around her.
Bluebell carried the women further into the woods, enjoying the freedom she had along with the breeze as it blew through her main and tale. She didn’t get much chance to run free, and this was just what she needed.
Lynn did her best to control the mare as she trotted through the woods, but on occasions it seemed as if the mare wanted to lead them on her own path. This got a little scary at times as the wagon veered off in a few places, causing the women to run into each other.
Adrienne was just beginning to enjoy herself when Bluebell decided to take matters into her own hands. She’d hardly noticed the reigns as they slipped slowly from Lynn’s hands, until she let out a yelp.
Lynn looked a bit frightened as her eyes searched Adrienne’s and then Bluebell wondering how she was going to get them back. “If only it could be so easy,” she thought to herself.
Adrienne swallowed hard, praying inside that Bluebell would begin to slow down, but instead she carried on trotting faster than she had earlier. It was as if something inside of her had let lose and she wanted to fly, but the weight of the wagon was slowing her down somewhat.
Bluebell charged forward trying with all her might to run as fast as she could, but with the wagon attached, things became complicated. Her sudden lurch, caused Lynn to lose the reigns, and now she wanted to be free of the wagon. She wanted to run, frolic through the forests where she’d come from.
Adrienne’s hand somehow found Lynn’s as both women squeezed hard to one another, fearful of letting go. Neither knew what had caused the horse to suddenly pick up a force that could have them both killed.
Bluebell enjoyed her running for only a few minutes as the sudden movement of a squirrel below, caused her to come to a grinding halt. Lynn and Adrienne nearly lost their balance on the wagon seat, almost falling forward into the horse or the ground.
Adrienne’s hair was a mess, her heart pounding from the fear she’d just experienced. It was all she could do to calm herself down as Lynn scrambled down for the reigns. She didn’t dare move either wanting it all to have been a bad dream.
Lynn went over to try and calm Bluebell before she gathered the reigns. She was met with stomps and snorts at first, followed by gentle nudges. “There, there now. You’ll be just fine, never mind about the squirrel.”
Adrienne watched Lynn as she talked to Bluebell in a soothing manner, calming her down and letting her know everything would be alright. She smiled a little at how Bluebell took to her, hoping now that she wouldn’t decide to break out in a run again.
“You have a way with her,” Adrienne spoke in a soft tone touched by the way the horse responded to the human touch.
Bluebell perked up her ears at the sound of Adrienne’s voice, “I think she likes you,” Lynn answered as she gave Bluebell a gentle pat.
Adrienne blushed a little before climbing carefully down off the wagon seat. She walked quietly over to where Bluebell was standing, with Lynn on the other side. Her hand reached out to touch Bluebell who seemed to sense her presence, turned her head and nudged Adrienne’s neck. She let out a small giggle, before gently petting her soft coat.
“Promise you won’t go running off like that again; gave us a little scare there,” said Adrienne speaking in soft tones to Bluebell, hoping to calm her down some.
Bluebell snorted, and then stomped before giving Adrienne another nudge, more playful this time. She seemed to want to enjoy her freedom, prance about, run, not be tied to a wagon.
“She is a feisty one isn’t she?” Lynn remarked from the other side of Bluebell, watching her actions towards Adrienne.
“Mind of her own, that’s for sure,” Adrienne replied as she stared right into the mare’s eyes.
****
Thomas’s body froze in place as everything from the past months came flooding back. He had been running from it, wanting parts of it to disappear into dust. The pain had been too much to bear, and now he found himself staring into the face of what he’d been running from. His mother was the sweetest lady he’d known, one that he could turn to in times of trouble, but this time he couldn’t bear to face her with the truth.
Cloud Dancing turned back towards his young charge, as the stagecoach began to move again. He had hoped to begin again the pleasant conversation they were having, but found himself facing another matter. The young man was near pale, most of the color gone from his face, his eyes frozen in time as if by some force beyond his grasp to stop. It was as if he was staring into nothingness or into a force beyond his grasp.
Thomas stared in front of him watching the stagecoach go by and the past memories with it. How could he ever tell her of the dreams dashed in the rush for gold, the home he’d lost and the woman he longed for? It was all too much pain for him to bear, better that he left it in the past.
Cloud Dancing studied the young man’s face looking for any signs of life, said a prayer, then spoke. “No matter how far you run the past will always come back to haunt you.”
Thomas blinked, snapped out of his trance before coming face to face with the Indian. “What was that you said?” He asked, not quite sure of the words that had been spoken to him.
“No matter how far you run the past will always come back to haunt you. Whatever it is you are running from, I suggest you stop. It won’t get you anywhere.”
Thomas let each of the words sink in carrying the weight of each. A part of him couldn’t bear to lift the burden from his shoulders, while another realized the words spoken were true. He was running from a past that would sooner or later catch up to him, and when that happened there was no telling what would happen.
“It’s painful, the past. I’m ashamed of things I’ve done and I don’t know if there is any hope for a future now,” Thomas replied with a heavy heart waiting to hear the words that all was lost.
“There is always hope, don’t forget that,” said Cloud Dancing as he tried to pass some wisdom on to the young man. Thomas shook his head, there was no hope no matter what he said, yet the gentle pat on his shoulder told him otherwise. “Come, you must ask forgiveness from the spirits, only then can you heal.”
Thomas was left standing there a moment holding his supplies contemplating whether he should follow the Indian or not. He wanted to run, but something about hearing that hope was always there made him want to get on with his life. Moments later Thomas began to follow Cloud Dancing who was already several paces ahead of him.
****
Lynn turned her head away from the mare and Adrienne as she looked at the view in front of her. Bluebell had successfully led them both to the edge of a cliff which neither had bothered to notice right away.
Lynn saw before her a silent moving lake of a deep green/brown nestled against a long bank of tall trees, the beginnings of a forest. She had never been out west let alone into such mountainous territory. Her eyes were filled with new wonders at each turn from the tall mountains to the streams flowing peacefully along.
She made a wish as the sun turned its rays on the waters for something she had longed for, wanted so much yet was afraid to even voice.
Adrienne gave Bluebell one more gentle pat before she left her side moving towards the cliffs edge. She had to be careful where she stepped not wanting to fall or send a shower of rocks falling below into the dark waters.
Bluebell stood tall as she stared ahead of her at the same view both women were admiring. The sun was already beginning its decent for the evening, causing the sky to turn shades of blue, pink, and purple.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” Adrienne murmured, more for herself than anyone else.
Lynn turned to one side, “Nature’s views are so beautiful that not even a painting could capture its beauty.”
Adrienne turned towards the older woman noticing right away the faraway look in her eyes. She wasn’t sure if the view had enchanted her or if there was something else beyond her grasp resulting in a pleasing eye.
Far below two figures moved through the clearing and into the woods as the sun was setting all around them. Neither Adrienne nor Lynn noticed the moment of company, which caused Bluebell to shiver.
****
Thomas did his best to keep up with Cloud Dancing who seemed to be moving at a faster pace. He still carried with him the art supplies he’d come with not wanting to let that part of him go. Art was very much a part of his life as the air he breathed. It was also his place where reality could be escaped as the door to another world opened. Only now he was in that other world without having to open any doors.
Cloud Dancing lead the young man right to the edge of trees near the lake they had just walked by. He turned around to face him as he caught up still carrying a bunch of things in his arms.
Cloud Dancing smiled to himself for a moment as he stared at the fine young man before him, but let it fade a moment later wondering why he chose to carry so much.
“You may rest,” said Cloud Dancing the moment the young man had caught up. He then watched as everything came down with small careful “thunks” onto the ground below.
“Thank you,” Thomas replied as he ran his fingers through his uncombed hair, before seating himself on a nearby rock. His gaze fell on the lake watching the rays of sun play on the ripples as darkness began to set.
“There is a lot on your mind,” said Cloud Dancing breaking the silence between them.
“Yes,” Thomas replied not sure he wanted to go further with telling him everything. There were too many memories he carried with him like the ripples in the water and with each passing day darkness fell over them. He wanted so much to run from them but now it seemed as if the Indian was going to force the past from him.
“When you are ready, we will talk, until then rest my friend.” Thomas glanced up meeting the gaze of the Indian as an unspoken vow of understanding past between the two. Cloud Dancing had once seen Sully try and run from the past, now he found himself in a similar situation only he wasn’t sure what this one was running from.
“Thank you,” Thomas replied as he turned back around to stare at the darkness falling over the rippling water.
Chapter Seventeen
Rachel felt her knees weaken and the tears well up in her eyes as the memories came flooding back. She’d been so happy and now everything seemed to have crumbled to pieces before her. Her body seemed to sense that everything was too much for her as her knees gave way; collapsing on the ground below.
Matthew stood a moment before going to his knees beside her, putting an arm around her in comfort. He wasn’t sure what else to do except be there as the sobs racked her body.
Rachel cried all the tears inside that she kept bottled up since his departure westward. She had tried to put on a brave face acting as if everything was ok, when deep down she was shaking with fear. The one thing she had wanted most in life slipped through her fingers in a single evening. Now she felt so alone in the world hoping for a return, searching for what she had lost.
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” Rachel apologized with tears still streaming down her cheeks as she looked up at the young man beside her.
“Don’t worry about it,” Matthew replied. “We all have our days.” He recalled moments when Dr. Mike had broken down in wrenching sobs; watching how Sully tenderly took care of her being there for her without words. Matthew almost felt himself in similar shoes right now.
Rachel nodded. “Thank you. I didn’t mean to…” She trailed off afraid to pick at the scabs on her broken heart.
Matthew let his hand fall from her back, setting gently atop her small hand as his eyes looked down a moment and then up into her tear stained eyes. “It’s alright,” he murmured back.
Rachel didn’t know what to make of the touches the young man was giving her. He was gentle with her and those eyes with depths she nearly got lost in. She was a little frightened by her feelings for this man she pulled from the saloon.
Her mind drifted back to the memories of a young girl….
There he was laughing and joking with his friends as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He was too busy with his friends to even notice me standing there in the shadows, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. His light brown hair flopping in the breeze, grey eyes, handsome features, oh how beautiful he is to me.
I confess I’ve often watched him from afar, wondering what it would be like to have him looking at me with those eyes filled with love. But alas I stand in the shadows dreaming away what may not come.
Matthew watched her face take on a faraway look while her hair blew in tendrils around her face.
All around them the townsfolk moved about coming and going from one place to another. Carriages and horses littered the streets in the absence of their owners, yet just outside time didn’t seem to move.
Rachel broke contact moments later with the faraway spot she’d been looking at, to meet the gaze of the one next to her holding his gaze.
Matthew returned her action staring into her beautiful brown eyes nearly losing himself in them enough that he began to lean in….
Rachel started to lean in to him wanting very much to be held and loved again yet the closer their lips got the more she was frightened of something happening. She couldn’t bring herself to live another life, having another slip through her fingers. “I’m sorry I can’t…” Rachel spoke breaking the moment by turning her head away.
Matthew looked down at the ground, his fingers twirling the grass blades wondering to himself what he had done.
“I loved with all my heart only to watch it break in pieces before me. Now I can’t seem to put those pieces back together, to love again,” Rachel began as she looked off into the distance, at the ground and lastly over at the man next to her.
Matthew let each word hit him like rain before he spoke. He knew from loving Ingrid and losing her a bit of what the young woman next to her might be feeling inside. “It hurts doesn’t it? To love someone with all your heart only to lose them later, it’s too much for one’s soul to bear.”
Rachel turned fully towards him feeling her heart swell at his words understanding every bit. “It’s the worst feeling in the world and if one ever recovers…..”
“Ya don’t.”
“Who was she?” Rachel asked timidly hoping she wasn’t treading on too shaky a ground.
Matthew took a moment before answering, “Ingrid. She was an immigrant staying in camp near town. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her beautiful blond hair and those eyes I could get lost in. Had a dance a long while back, bought all her dance cards. Took me all night to work up the nerve to ask her to dance.”
Rachel looked over at Matthew, “Poor girl, must have sat there all night waiting for a dance partner. What’d she do when you finally did ask?”
“She was upset. Love can make you do foolish things.”
“That it can,” Rachel replied as she turned her face back towards the bustling town. She wanted to ask him more about Ingrid, but with the faraway look of sadness his eyes took on she decided to leave it be.
Matthew let the silence hang in the air as his thoughts drifted back to Ingrid. He’d loved her so much that talking about her had picked at the love he had for her. “Loved her so much I wanted her for my wife, but a sickness would take her away from me.”
Rachel turned back to face him stunned that he was talking further about Ingrid. She figured that was one scab of love he didn’t want to scratch. Her heart however wanted to reach out and hug him, share the pain in losing someone.
“I’m so sorry,” Rachel murmured after a moment had passed by.
Matthew continued to stare off into the distance not really focusing on anything, but he did give a nod at Rachel’s apology. She was young, beautiful with pain behind her eyes.
“I should get going,” said Matthew after another moment had passed by as he wanted to avoid any more conversation about Ingrid. He had been in such pain since her death and now it hurt to bring it all up again.
Rachel looked up into his eyes pleading with him, “Please stay here; enjoy this picnic with me.” She didn’t want to see him go when she hadn’t even asked for help.
Matthew started to get up from his sitting position on the ground; “I can’t…” he trailed off before his eyes met hers again.
“Please,” Rachel pleaded again as she watched him turn away before reluctantly sitting back down on the ground. “I won’t ask you any more questions about her, promise. All I really need is your help,” Rachel added after he had sat back down and his attention was hers again.
Matthew sat there wondering what it was the young woman wanted with him, as she seemed fully capable of a lot and didn’t really need help.
Rachel noted the look in his face wondering why she had asked such a favor of him. Her thoughts drifted back to the pain she would need to revisit in order for him to help her. It had all been a long painful journey and she hoped deep down that he would be able to help set things to right.
Rachel looked down at the ground to collect her thoughts before bringing her head up as her eyes faced his as she began her story.
****
Thomas wasn’t sure how long he had been staring out at the water before darkness enveloped him in its grasp. His head slumped forward causing his body to fall from the rock where he had been sitting.
Cloud Dancing had seated himself on the ground making a small fire to warm his hands by as he kept an eye on the young man. He noticed how he never once moved from the rock and a while later was slumped over before hitting the ground. “Better he just stay there till morning,” Cloud Dancing thought to himself.
Far above on the cliff, Adrienne and Lynn did their best to move Bluebell and the wagon away so they could begin their journey home.
Bluebell wasn’t thrilled at the tugging of her reigns which could only mean it was back to the fenced in area behind the blacksmith. She was enjoying her freedom being able to bask in the mountain air away from her confinement. Not that she was treated badly; she was just the type who wanted to run free.
Adrienne noticed Bluebell’s reluctance to move as the hour grew darker. She wondered to herself if the mare was spooked by the dark or if there was something more.
Lynn stepped up to take the reigns from Adrienne who then began to speak soothing words to the mare. She had seen some stubborn horses in her life some who would have thrown a fit where this mare stayed calm.
Bluebell kept her ears perked and eyes forward as the sun began to set all around them. She wanted very much to run off into the sunset, but as soon as the words of the one she’d bonded with spoke it was all undone.
Adrienne’s gentle words spoke directly to the mare who gave up all her stubborn defenses and let herself be guided away from the sunset.
Cloud Dancing was about to extinguish the fire when the snap of a stick sounded loudly through the silence of the night. He slowly lowered his cup keeping his eyes wide and ears open.
Following the snap was the sound of hoof-beats, footsteps and something moving.
Cloud Dancing couldn’t quite make out what it was, as he slowly rose from the ground making his way to an area where he could see and hear better.
With the hour growing darker it didn’t help as he looked above and around him for the source of the noise. There was also no telling what it was as the night brought all kinds out.
Cloud Dancing studied with what little light was left the rock formation nearby, wondering to himself if it was climbable. He wasn’t as agile as he once was but the sound seemed to have come from above.
Adrienne and Lynn hadn’t gotten far when the shadow of a man appeared out of the shadows of the moonlight.
Lynn froze with the reigns in her hand, while Adrienne groped to find her hand. Both were frightened their hearts pounding for the unknown spelling either good or bad.
“Who’s there?” Lynn bravely asked into the darkness her voice shaking a little as she spoke.
Cloud Dancing stepped fully into the moonlight. “I come in peace,” he replied not wanting to frighten them any further.
Lynn studied the man’s face as he seemed
familiar to her.
”You are the woman on the stage,” said Cloud Dancing as he made his way closer
to the wagon. “Why are you out so late?”
Lynn looked hard at the man before things began to register. “Just out for a ride, we’ll be heading back to town.”
“I see. Be safe on your journey.”
“Thank you,” Lynn replied with a slight smile in her voice, pleased that they hadn’t encountered anything harmful. Her hands then gripped the reigns, giving them a small tug before Bluebell lead them on a trot back to town.
****
Justin was just pulling down the shades when he heard the sound of a wagon coming into town. “Who could be out this late?” He thought to himself as he let the shade go causing it to fly right back up in a roll.
Justin made his way to the door, opened it and stepped outside. The air was cool as night had set in enveloping the town in darkness. He made his way towards the clinic where he thought he’d heard the noise.
Lynn continued to drive the wagon forward straight towards the general store, not looking behind her or much to the side. She didn’t even notice Justin standing there against a pillar by the clinic.
Justin stood there frozen as Adrienne climbed down off the wagon seat and made her way to inside the store. He could hear her soft voice echo through the air and the light on her face….God she was a beauty. His eyes didn’t even notice the wagon move by him in the darkness as the sight of Adrienne never left his mind making it seem as if the world was standing still just for him.
Chapter Eighteen (Interludes)
Adrienne sunk down onto the cold sheets, laying her head down on the pillow. She then pulled the covers almost over her head, burring herself under them like a rabbit.
The last several days for her had been exhausting. With Miss Dorothy all recovered, Adrienne had taken on assisting her with the Gazette relieving herself of duties with Mr. Bray.
She enjoyed the work and more often than not she found herself working the press more and more. Dorothy helped from time to time mostly teaching Adrienne what to do.
Adrienne rolled over the covers just barely covering all of her as she stared up at the ceiling. She could just make out the slender beams of light coming through the window and making streaks of light above.
Her thoughts drifted away from all her work to Justin. She’d run into him a lot in the past several days saying hello as each of them went about their business in town. He always had a small smile for her as well which was beginning to make Adrienne’s heart flutter.
Adrienne had always thought of him as a sweet young man and now it seemed as if there might be something more there behind the simple greetings. But she did know from experience that men were hard to read and there was no telling what he might be thinking. Yet the way he was beginning to look at her told her otherwise.
“Oh I need to stop this foolishness,” Adrienne thought to herself as she rolled over again burying herself in the covers before shutting her eyes. She needed sleep and welcomed the dreams to come.
****
Justin came out of the sheriff’s office as the sun was beginning to set. He’d put in a full days work. With Sully’s help he had finally been able to patch the hole in the wall caused by the two brothers. Cleaning up the mess had been another matter but he’d managed to get everything set to rights.
Justin was thankfully Matthew hadn’t come home yet and had to deal with the mess himself. He wasn’t sure how many wagon loads of debris they’d hauled away.
He pulled the door shut behind him, locked the door and proceeded towards Robert E’s where his horse had been taken care of.
Justin found her munching on a bit of hay scattered on the ground outside the feed trough. The closer he got her ears perked up, the eating stopped and she made her way over to him.
Justin patted the mare on her muzzle before running his hand down the side of her head. Clyde gave him a nuzzle a moment later as if there was something she wanted.
“You’re thinking I’ve got something in my pocket don’t ya girl?” Justin asked in a teasing manner, knowing full well she was looking for a handout.
Clyde backed up a bit giving him a “who me?” stance. Justin laughed, while he reached down into his pocket, pulling out a nice red apple that he’d gotten from Loren earlier in the day. He held out the apple which was readily taken from him with a tickle of the lips left on his hand.
Justin looked up at his horse with the sensation of her lips left behind on his palm. She’d done this to him but this time it was different, as his mind wandered to the young lady he couldn’t push from his mind. She was beginning to grow on him each time she passed by him with a smile or he caught her laughing, hair blowing in the breeze. It was a enough to render a man senseless enough to follow her around like a puppy, but there was something more about her.
Justin felt as if it might take a mountain to win a girl like her. Not only was she beautiful but her disposition was so sweet something that you didn’t often find. Adrienne was a special girl who deserved the best which he wanted to give but didn’t know how.
****
Lynn sat in front the fire sipping the tea Michaela had made for her, as she watched the flames dance around the logs. The Sully’s so far had been most hospitable towards her, not even allowing her to lift much more than a finger. She’d delighted in talking with Brian who seemed to have a real knack for writing; the young man was going places in her mind. Colleen was blossoming into a young woman who was following in her mother’s footsteps. Sully was tender and caring with his wife, reminding her of her older son the way he was with his wife. There was such love in there eyes, a passion that couldn’t be broken.
Lynn set her tea down on a nearby table, freeing her hands to pull the quilt over her. Even with the warm fire she still seemed to find the small chill in the air nestle over her. Once she pulled the quilt over her, she again reached for the tea to sip more of its warmth.
As she sat there her thoughts drifted to her younger son and the woman she had been spending time with. She had hoped to find him settled down with a nice young lady when she arrived, but alas he was still on his own. Disappointment had filled the air until the first time she’d seen him lay eyes on Adrienne. From that one glance she knew deep down there was more behind their eyes than anyone would suspect.
Adrienne was a charming young woman and her son a handsome young man. They seemed so perfect for each other that she wanted to do all she could to bring them together. But deep down she knew that wasn’t possible.
Lynn thought back to her own courtship the way Dave had looked at her, touched her, and just been the sweetest of gentlemen. She blushed at the way they had been those years ago, so in love. Now she thought she might be seeing that again, yet love didn’t happen over night. It would take time and patience before she saw the love behind their eyes unfold.