Rena's Cowboy Read online

  “What in the world…” Adela was stunned to see a tiny woman across Swift Eagle’s saddle.

  “She found in cave.”

  Adela said nothing, and waited for him to explain why he’d brought the woman to their house. It took some time for her to understand that an old medicine man had found the unconscious woman in a cave. Swift Eagle told her they’d decided the only thing to do was to bring this woman to his friends, Silas and Jake Haywood.

  Adela didn’t know the woman, but saw she needed help.

  “Bring her inside, Swift Eagle.” She headed for the door. When he hesitated, she said, “You’ll have to carry her in. I don’t think I could lift her.”

  Though reluctant, he dismounted and gathered the woman in his arms. He followed Adela into the two-bedroom cabin.

  Adela knew she would have to put her in one of the bedrooms, but Silas would have a fit if she was in theirs. The other one belonged to her brother-in-law, Jake. “Put her here,” Adela said, opening the door to Jake’s room.

  Swift Eagle deposited the woman on Jake’s bed, and without another word hurried outside. Adela figured he was as uncomfortable alone in the house with his friend’s wife as she was with him.

  Once the Indian was gone, Adela studied the tiny yellow-haired woman on the bed. I’ve never seen clothes like that. She must be one of the saloon women from California or somewhere away from here. None of the women from the Silver Slipper dress this way. Looks like she’s wearing under garments. She sighed. Of course, I don’t see those kind of women often. Maybe Jake or Silas will know who this is.

  Adela studied the woman’s strange clothes. She had on short white pants that barely covered her knees and a funny looking striped bodice with no sleeves. She leaned over the bed and looked down at her uninvited guest and after a few minutes of staring at the stranger, Adele’s curiosity got the better of her. She reached out and gently touched the edge of the shirt that crossed the woman’s shoulder. She was surprised to find the material to have a strange feel. It was kind of like winter underwear because it stretched as she pulled at it.

  Looking at the woman’s face, Adela muttered aloud, “I must say she’s not wearing all that grease paint most fallen women put on their face. Just some color on her lips and maybe her eyelashes, but I don’t know about those dangle earrings. They look like what Indians wear, but her coloring says she’s no Indian.”

  Adela was still studying the strange woman when she heard the familiar sounds of her husband’s boots in the hall. Her heart beat faster and she grew nervous. It wasn’t long ago that the sound of Silas’s footsteps made her quiver with excitement knowing she would soon be in his arms, but that was months ago. Now the heavy sound on the wooden floor only stirred up fear and dread.

  “Adela, where the hell are you?” His shout echoed off the walls.

  She braced herself for what he’d say when he saw the stranger. “In here, Silas,” she forced the words out.

  “As I was coming in from the range I saw Swift Eagle leaving and thought he might want something.” Before she could answer, he stormed into the room. “What the hell are you doing in Jake’s room?”

  “I…I…”

  “Who the hell is that?”

  “I don’t know who she is. Swift Eagle brought her. She was unconscious and I didn’t know what else to do with her.” She glanced at him, hoping he wouldn’t take this out on her.

  “Where’s her dress?”

  “This was all she had on.”

  “Don’t look decent to me.”

  “Me either.” She looked up at her six-foot-two husband. “Do you know her?”

  “How the hell would I know her?” He frowned, but he was still looking at the woman on the bed.

  “I thought she might be from the Silver Slipper.” Her voice was almost a whisper.

  “I’m sure she’s from a saloon, but I’ve never seen her.” He stared at the still figure on the bed. “Has she been like this since he brought her?”

  “Yes.” Adela fidgeted. “Do you think we should call Doc Bradley?”

  “Hell, no. Not for the likes of her. She’ll either wake up or she’ll die.” He started out the door. “She’d sure better do one or the other before Jake gets back from town. I know my brother likes that kind of woman in an upstairs saloon room, but I don’t think he’ll fancy one in his own bedroom.”

  “Maybe she’ll wake up soon.”

  “Either way, I’ll be in for supper as usual. Don’t waste time worrying about the hussy. Have my meal ready.”

  “I will, Silas.”

  He stomped down the hall without answering.

  Adela was relieved when she heard the back door slam and the sound of Silas’s heavy feet going down the steps. At least he didn’t blame her because the strange woman was here. Not yet anyway.

  * * * *

  Jake Haywood’s mind was busy trying to figure out what he and Silas could do to save the ranch when he noticed approaching horses coming directly his way. He reigned up Spider, his big gray, when he recognized Swift Eagle. Jake walked his horse over to the shade of an aspen tree and waited until his Indian friend and the old medicine man rode up.

  “What’s the trouble?” Jake asked.

  “Gray Feather says woman I took to your house is from another time.”

  Jake frowned. “What are you saying?”

  Gray Feather spoke in his own language. When he finished Swift Eagle translated. “Gray Feather said she came through sacred cave.”

  “Slow down, Swift Eagle. What woman?”

  “The woman from cave. I took to your house. Gray Feather must tell you things you need to know.”

  Jake frowned and nodded, but didn’t say anything. He knew these Indians were men of few words.

  Gray Feather spoke for several minutes.

  Again Swift Eagle translated. “Gray Feather said woman will bring you great luck, but won’t understand your way. She will teach you many things, but first you must be patient. She will be confused and you will want to get angry with her when she scream and fuss trying to learn your way. Don’t lose temper. She very smart—not in your way, but in ways you can only dream. She has seen and done things you can’t know. Believe her when she tells you these things. It is true.”

  “I’m still confused, Swift Eagle.”

  Before he could answer, the older Indian spoke again and Swift Eagle translated.

  “She run away. You will find her near caves. She searches for a way to go home. She can never go back. She could go to wrong time and die. Soon she will save life of your brother. Later she will save you. Don’t think she cannot. She is like no woman of your time. She does many things men do. Some things women do are not easy for her to learn. One day you will love her and she will love you. Be kind. She knows great sorrow.”

  “What the hell is he talking about, Swift Eagle?”

  Swift Eagle shook his head. “I know not, my friend. I only tell you what he says.”

  Once more Gray Feather spoke.

  Swift Eagle’s eyes got big and he said something to Gray Feather in their language. Finally he turned to Jake. “Gray Feather said he gives you something belonging to woman. Do not look inside. When woman accepts where she is, she will look inside with you. Wait for some nights to pass before you ask her. Things inside, you will not understand. Other things will kill you. Do not touch. Only woman knows uses. He knows you will be tempted to look. Must be strong and do not give in to need to know. Do not let brother see bag. This most important. Your brother would look. Would kill him.”

  Jake leaned back in the saddle wondering if maybe these Indians were crazy. “I’m not sure I believe a word he’s said, but I’ll not look in whatever it is.”

  Gray Feather lifted the strange looking bag from his shoulder and handed it to Jake. He said more words.

  “He said, be wise and treat woman kind. Most important of all heed his warning. Do not look in bag. If you do…” Swift Eagle shook his head. “That’s all he said.�
�

  Before Jake could ask any further questions the Indians turned their horses and rode back across the prairie.

  Jake frowned as he hooked the strange looking bag over the saddle horn and watched the two Indians disappear. For a minute he sat where he was. Gray Feather was right about one thing. He was sure tempted to look inside. It’d be so easy to ignore the warning, but he’d seen other men discount Indian warnings and end up either dead or in such shape that they wished they were. He shook his head and tried to ignore the bag.

  Still in a quandary, he kneed his horse and said, “Let’s head home, Spider. I’ve got to find out what the hell Swift Eagle and his friend are talking about.”

  * * * *

  Silas came through the back door. “Jake rode in a little while ago. He’s taking care of his horse so you’d better check and see if that woman is still unconscious.”

  Not wanting to upset Silas, Adela turned from the stove, wiped her hands on her apron and went to Jake’s room. It would be much easier to deal with Jake if this woman was awake and could explain her presence. Though Jake wasn’t as quick tempered as his brother was, when he got mad, everyone knew it. She also knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t like the woman being here anymore than Silas did.

  She looked into the room. The woman still lay motionless on the bed. Adela wished Swift Eagle had taken the yellow haired creature somewhere else, but it was no use wishing that now. She was here and there was nothing to do but deal with it. Biting her lip, she slipped back down the hall.

  Jake came in the front door just as she entered the small parlor that separated the kitchen from the bedrooms. “Hello, Adela.”

  “Hi, Jake. I need to tell you what happened today.”

  “I met Swift Eagle and I sure as hell want to know what’s going on, but first, it was a long ride from town. I’m tired and hungry. You can explain while I eat.” To keep Adela or Silas from seeing it, Jake covered the strange bag with a blanket from a chair. He put the bundle down and followed her.

  “I see you’re back,” Silas said when Jake walked into the big open kitchen. “Were you able to get Jefferson to extend our loan?”

  “Hell no. Said we had two months to come up with the money or he’ll take the ranch. Wouldn’t even consider extending the loan. I think the bastard is doing this for Wigham.”

  “No doubt about it.”

  The two men took seats in ladder back chairs with slatted bottoms and pulled up to the long wooden table. Their one ranch hand, Gideon Finn, came through the back door. Without speaking he sat down. Adela set a plate of ham, a big bowl of beans and one of squash on the table. She followed with a pan of biscuits and a bowl of gravy, then picked up the coffee pot and poured for all of them. All three grabbed their food and ate, ignoring Adela.

  “Damn old Jefferson,” Silas said as if Finn wasn’t there. “Somebody ought to break his thieving neck.”

  Jake looked at his brother. “I agree, but I’m not ready to hang for the likes of him.”

  “How the hell are we going to come up with enough money in two months?”

  “I don’t know, but we’ve got to try.” Jake shoveled beans into his mouth.

  “What do you suggest we do?”

  “First, we’re going to round up the cattle and drive them to market. I don’t know what they’ll bring, but maybe we can scrape by.”

  “There are plenty of mustangs around. We could break them to sell to the army. They’re always looking for horses,” Finn broke into the conversation.

  Jake looked at the slight man with the bushy handle-bar mustache. “That’s not a bad idea, Finn. I hired two men for the roundup while I was in town today. They’ll be out later tonight or in the morning.”

  “I thought you might find somebody. I got the bunkhouse ready.” Finn was sopping gravy with his biscuit. “Think two will be enough?”

  “Not if we go for the mustangs.” Jake drank coffee.

  “Why don’t we wait and see. We need to save all the money we can,” Silas said. “That damn bank may ruin us yet.”

  When a silence followed, Adela broke it. “We’ve got another problem, Jake. Swift Eagle brought a woman here today. She was unconscious and I put her on your bed. She’s still unconscious.”

  “Wait until you look on your bed, brother,” Silas said with a lustful laugh. “I know you like little women, but this one may be too small for you. I told Adela you liked her kind in saloons, but not in your bed at home.”

  Jake continued to eat his supper without answering his brother’s comment, though deep down he didn’t like the idea of a strange woman in his bed. No female that he hadn’t invited should ever be there. He almost lost his temper, but he remembered Gray Feather saying he had to be patient. He didn’t know if that was possible, but he’d try. He surprised everyone, including himself, by calmly saying, “I guess we’ll have to figure out a place to put her.”

  “If I can find somewhere to put Adela, I’ll let you put her in my bed. She’s a nice little eyeful. And when I say little, that’s what I mean. I never had one like that. She’s not more than five feet tall and no bigger around than a child.”

  Jake frowned at his brother and changed the subject. “One of the men I hired today worked for old widow Walker ’til she died. He didn’t like the grandson who took over, so he moved to Texas. He said he missed Arizona and came back to find a job. The other guy is a friend of his who came with him.”

  “They sound okay, but have we got enough to pay them?”

  “As long as we feed them and give them a place to sleep, they’re willing to wait until we sell the herd to get their pay.”

  They ate the rest of their meal in silence. As usual, Finn was the first to finish. He pushed back his plate, wiped his mustache on his sleeve and stood. Without another word, he went out the back door.

  Jake pushed his plate aside and picked up his coffee. “Soon as I drink this I want to see the woman.”

  “Close the door if you decide to help yourself to her.” Silas let out a deep throated chuckle.

  “’Til I find out what’s going on, there’s no danger of that.” Jake drained his cup, pushed back his chair and stood. “Come with me, Adela.”

  She glanced at Silas.

  “Go on,” he said. “I trust my brother.”

  “Maybe you should come, too,” Jake said. “I want to tell you both what Gray Feather said about this woman.”

  Silas followed them down the hall. “What’s to tell? A saloon gal got herself lost and ended up here. We might ought to let old man Jefferson know we have her. I hear he likes the ladies at the Silver Slipper. Maybe he’d lower our debt if we turned this one over to him. He goes for Molly because she’s the smallest one there, just like you always do.” He let out another lusty chuckle. “Molly would probably make two of this one.”

  Jake and Adela ignored him.

  Jake picked up the blanket-covered bag as he went through the sitting room. He carried it to the wardrobe and put it under his hanging clothes before looking at the woman on his bed.

  Jake’s first look at the still form made his breath catch in his throat. Though he liked little women, she was almost too small for his taste. Yet, for some reason, she hit him as one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. “Swift Eagle didn’t tell me she’d be dressed like this,” he managed to say.

  “I think you’d call it undressed, myself.”

  “I don’t know, Silas. Maybe where she’s from this is the way women dress.”

  “Then I want to know where that saloon is. I intend to go there.”

  “According to Gray Feather, this woman isn’t from any saloon.”

  “I’ve heard of Gray Feather, but how in hell would he know anything about this whore?” Silas raised an eyebrow.

  “I’ve heard he’s the tribe’s strongest medicine man and is able to see and know things that others don’t. Swift Eagle assures me he never makes mistakes.”

  “Most of the time I trust Swift Eagl
e’s word, but I’d have to see proof that Gray Feather is as good that.” Silas moved to the side of the bed with his brother.

  “We may soon find out how good Gray Feather’s predictions are.” Jake nodded toward the bed. “I saw her arm move.”

  Adela walked up to the other side of the bed.

  The woman turned her head, but didn’t open her eyes. Jake couldn’t help wondering what color they were. He noticed the smooth creamy skin and the shape of her chin. Her brows were brown and the earrings she wore were of turquoise stones. His eyes traveled down her body and he saw the tiny waist and small but shapely hips. He also noticed that for her size, her breasts were well formed. He looked away because he didn’t want his brother to see his interest in this woman. As he sized her up, he wondered how Gray Feather could think this small woman was capable of ever saving anyone’s life, but according to him, she’d saved both him and his brother at some time.

  “What should I do with her?” Adela looked at them.

  “Nothing,” Silas said and turned to Jake. “What did Gray Feather tell you about her?”

  Jake decided not to tell everything he’d been told, but he knew he’d be blunt with what he did tell. “He said she came from another time.”

  “What the hell does that mean?” Silas not only looked confused, but uneasy, as well.

  “He kept referring to the things she’s seen and done that we can’t even imagine. I took it to mean this woman came from the future.”

  “That’s the damn stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. People can’t travel through time.”

  “I know. I don’t believe it either, but there is something strange about her.” Jake looked at the woman again. “She sure is a pretty little thing.”

  “For God’s sake, don’t you go falling for a saloon girl, Jake. You know by the way she’s dressed that’s all she is. Why, she’s even painted her mouth red.” He looked at his wife. “Don’t you think she’s a loose woman?”