Tracie Peterson (8 page)

“It would appear that way.”

“But who would want to do that? I mean, most folks around here know how happy she is. This feller obviously thinks she’s being forced to stay with you.”

“I’ve asked myself the same thing, Burley. Who in the world would believe her miserable? She fairly lights up the day with her smile, and the happiness she knows from anticipating this child is more than anyone could doubt. But, what really confuses me is why this same man would now hold Pamela hostage. Why not just return her and lay low for awhile? I mean, I realize he would be concerned, since he left the note for me, but he’d have little trouble bringing Pamela back, then disappearing.”

“Maybe he read that story you gave the paper,” Burley offered.

“I suppose that’s a possibility. It was just that I figured if Pamela was seen by other folks, and they knew she was missing, they might offer help in returning her to us,” Riley remarked. “I knew her parents were slated to go to the springs in New York, and I didn’t figure word would reach them from the article before I had a chance to get word to them myself.”

“Maybe this feller realized the potential for a big pay-off. If he knew Pamela was worth a fortune, he might just have decided to make his mistake a profitable one.”

Riley shook his head, not knowing what to think. Raising his arms in exasperation, he sighed, “Anything is possible.”

Burley handed him back the note and noticed an elaborately scrolled envelope postmarked Washington, D.C. “You in some kind of trouble?” he asked, pointing at the letter.

“No,” Riley smiled. “In fact, it might be the only truly good thing that’s come in the mail in a long while. It seems the honorable Mister Horace Tabor intends to come to Dawson in the near future. It says that he has a matter of great importance to discuss with me.”

“Honestly?” Burley seemed dumbfounded. “What could he want?”

“Dawson,” Riley replied. “At least I hope that’s what he wants.”

Ten

P
amela lost track of the time. For well over a week, she was confined to a bedroom that was next to the one Esther used for her own. No noise went unchecked, Pamela soon learned, so her attempts to find a way from the house faded into discouragement. The only time she was allowed out of the room was when Esther escorted her to the privy out in back of the house.

Pamela was just as glad to be locked up, however. Each and every time she ventured from the room with Esther, the men would taunt her with lewd comments and whistles. Pamela’s cheeks would flame red at some of the things said. Never had she been exposed to such lasciviousness.

Pamela tried to pass the time by praying and by thinking of the things Zandy had told her about God. From time to time, her mind lingered on Jim Williams, then guilt ate at her fiercely.

“He may have taken me from Dawson,” Pamela whispered to no one, “but he didn’t deserve to die.”

She couldn’t help but think of Jim’s warm brown eyes. A sadness filled her until she forced the image from her mind. “I can’t think of this anymore!”

One day, as evening came, Esther appeared with Pamela’s supper. “Venison stew and biscuits,” she said and placed the tray on the end of the bed. “Have you still got water in the pitcher?”

“Yes,” Pamela said and came forward to peer into the bowl. “I suppose I can’t complain that I haven’t been well fed. At least, well fed in a rustic kind of fashion.”

Esther laughed. “It isn’t Delmonico’s in New York, that’s for sure.”

“Delmonico’s!” Pamela exclaimed with surprise. “That’s one of my parents’ favorite places.”

“It used to be one of mine too,” Esther admitted. “They served an aspic
de crevette
salad that would bring the world to its feet in applause. I went there every time I could talk someone into taking me.”

Pamela shook her head. “And now you’re here, kidnapping other socialites? It must seem terribly ironic.”

Esther shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just the way life is.” She turned to leave. “For now,” she added, and pulled the door closed.

Pamela sat down to eat and wasn’t surprised to find the stew delicious. The biscuits were as light as any she’d ever had, and Pamela hungrily devoured them, knowing that there would be nothing else until morning.

She’d just finished eating when Esther returned, bringing with her a copy of
Peterson’s Ladies’ National Magazine
. It was patterned after
Godey’s Lady’s Book,
and Pamela knew its issues well.

“I thought you might want to take a look,” she said and tossed the magazine to the bed.

Pamela picked it up and glanced at her captor. “Thank you.”

Esther retrieved the dishes. “You’ll probably not find anything terribly useful for your stay with us, but I thought it might break the boredom.”

“I wonder if I might make a trip out back before you retire for the evening?” Pamela requested.

“Sure,” Esther replied. “I’ll take these to the kitchen and be right back.” It was a strange, casual sort of relationship between these two women.

Pamela flipped through the magazine while waiting. There was an article on how to arrange cut flowers. Another, equally uninteresting, article gave helpful suggestions for arranging a formal parlor. Of course, there were new dress fashions, and these caught Pamela’s eye, but only for a moment. What could she do about them here?

Esther returned and held the door open for Pamela. She obediently walked a pace or two ahead of Esther and wondered if the time would ever come when Esther might drop her guard.

They moved out back through the quarter-moon darkness and passed the place where Esther’s sons Joe and Bob were nose to nose in a heated argument.

“Robert Joseph! Joseph Robert! You cut it out here and now. I don’t need to break up any childish tantrums tonight. We’ve got plenty of work that still needs to be done.” The men grudgingly parted company with a “Yessum” muttered under their breath.

Esther continued to the privy with Pamela. “You named them nearly the same thing,” Pamela commented.

Esther laughed. “It was their father’s doing. He said that way he’d only have the two names to worry about. Don’t know what we’d have done if there’d been any more.”

“Where’s their father now?”

“Dead,” Esther said without emotion.

Pamela said nothing more but cringed as a hideous sound came from where they’d left Esther’s sons. Shouts and curses rose on the silent night air, and Pamela knew the boys had decided to have a go at one another, after all.

“You see to your business and I’ll see to them,” Esther said in exasperation. “I swear I’m going to have to beat them both. Grown men ought to know better.”

Pamela laughed and did as she was instructed. She could hear the fight raging on and Esther yelling at the top of her lungs. When she stepped away from the outhouse, Pamela was still laughing when suddenly a hand clamped down tight on her mouth. Someone pulled her into the darkness behind the privy.

“This is getting to be a habit,” Jim said as he let his hand drop from Pamela’s mouth.

“Jim!” Pamela exclaimed, forgetting her predicament. Without realizing what she was doing, Pamela threw her arms around him. “You’re alive!”

“Shhh,” he said and embraced her close to him. “You’ll get us both killed.”

“I thought you were dead already,” Pamela said stiffly and pulled away from him. She grew uncomfortable as she realized how much she cared that he was still living.

“Come on,” he pulled her away from the buildings and into the darkness. “We have to go!”

Pamela let Jim lead the way without complaint. She feared they would be caught any moment, and every sound or missed step was absolute torture. Nevertheless, even when she twisted her ankle, Pamela didn’t complain or slow the pace. When Jim began their ascent of the canyon wall, however, Pamela felt moved to speak.

“I can’t climb these rocks,” she protested. “I know I haven’t the strength.”

“You’ll do it or stay here,” Jim said over his shoulder. “You’d be surprised what a body can do when pushed to do it or die.”

Pamela nodded and realized he was probably right. She had no desire to go back and face the wrath of Esther and her gang. “All right,” she said with new determination. “Just let me tuck up this skirt, and I’ll do it.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jim whispered. His pride in her choice to fight was evident.

They climbed the canyon wall without once stopping to rest. Jim had picked a place that was lower than the rest of the canyon. Jim explained in brief that he had been watching the place for only a couple of days, but it was enough time to learn the routine and make a plan.

They could hear shouting in the yards below and Esther calling for Pamela, but they ignored it and pressed upward. Several times, Pamela felt her strength giving out, but just then, it seemed, Jim would know and reach back to take her hand. His warmth gave her strength and hope.

After what seemed hours, they reached the top, and Pamela was sur
prised to find another man waiting with two horses.

“Come on over here, little bitty gal,” Caleb called in a low voice. “We’ve got a hard ride ahead of us, and we’d best be about it.”

“Who’s that?” Pamela questioned, cowering against Jim. He put his arm around her protectively and pulled her forward.

“Caleb Emerson. He’s a drifter who saved my life after the Owens gang left me for dead,” Jim answered. “Come on,” and he lifted her up to the saddle. “We’ll have to ride double again.”

“No matter,” Pamela said gratefully. “If it means getting out of there and back to Dawson, I’d ride an elephant.”

“No need for that,” Caleb chuckled. “These mounts will do us a whole heap better.” With that, they pushed out and rode as fast as they dared. Their horses labored against the altitude, while Pamela shivered as cold mountain winds blew down upon them.

They rode for several hours. Finally, when Pamela knew she couldn’t stay another minute atop the horse, Caleb called a halt and began unsaddling his mount.

“We’ll camp here tonight,” he announced.

“Is it safe? I mean, are we far enough away?” Pamela questioned.

“They’ll never find us,” Jim said, helping Pamela down. “Caleb and I put out a dozen false trails the night before. Even if they are stupid enough to set out in this darkness, they’ll never be able to figure out which way to go first. Once they figure out the real trail, we’ll be nearly to Dawson.”

Pamela heaved a sigh of relief. “How did you find me?”

“Caleb,” Jim said with a nod. “He’s drifted these parts for a long time and just happens to be familiar with this gang of thieves.”

“Thank you, Mister Emerson.”

“You’re welcome, Little Bitty,” Caleb said. The nickname surprised her, but Pamela said nothing. “Always glad to help a lady in need,” he added with a chuckle, then pointed to where Jim was tethering his horse. “That young man over there nearly fretted himself into the next world worryin’ about how to get you back,” he whispered against her ear. “So, I’d be sure and thank him proper too.”

Pamela leaned up and gave Caleb’s weathered cheek a kiss. The action surprised her almost more than the old man. “I will,” she whispered.

Pamela walked back over to where Jim already had a bed fixed for her. “This ought to block out the wind,” he said, nodding toward the rocky ledge under which he’d placed her blanket.

“Where will you be?” she asked, straining to see his face. The small amount of moonlight offered little help, and Caleb made no move to put together a fire.

“I’ll be right here,” Jim assured. “I’m not about to lose you a second time.” His words seemed more serious than they needed to be.

Pamela stepped closer. “Thank you for rescuing me, Jim. I know I’m not Zandy, but I appreciate what you’ve done and risked for me.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek as she had with Caleb, but Jim surprised them both by pulling her into his arms. He kissed her full on the lips for just a moment, then released her. The action had taken them both off guard.

Pamela hurried to take her place on the blanket, but before Jim walked away he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m glad you’re not Zandy.”

Pamela was grateful for the cover of darkness, knowing that she was blushing. Bradley Rayburn’s stolen kisses had never left her feeling the way Jim’s did. In fact, Bradley was about the farthest thing from her mind at that moment.

She pulled the blanket around her and listened as Jim thanked Caleb for his help.

“It was my pleasure,” Caleb told the younger man. “God always gives us a job to do, and often we have to do it alone. But, sometimes He knows we can’t stand alone, then He gives us a friend.”

“I’m proud to call you friend, Caleb. I don’t know when our paths might cross again, but I’ll be there any time you call,” he reached out and shook the older man’s hand.

“I’m proud to call you friend too, Son,” Caleb replied. “You keep your feet firmly planted on God’s road, and you’ll never go wrong. He’s a good partner to take on, and you’ll never really know what it is to be loved, until you accept His in full.”

Pamela felt a strange comforting peace flood her heart. She snuggled down into the blanket and smiled. The contentment she felt was twofold. God had answered her prayers for rescue, and Jim wasn’t dead.

Eleven

A
steady rain was pouring when Pamela awoke the next morning. She was grateful for the small ledge under which Jim had thoughtfully put her bed. Pressing back against the rock wall, Pamela peered out from her blanket and wondered where the men had taken cover.

Suddenly, it seemed too quiet, and Pamela grew fretful. What if the Owens gang had found them and had already done away with Jim and Caleb? Sitting up abruptly, Pamela couldn’t help but call out.

“Jim!”

She heard movement to the left and found her fears relieved as Jim scooted under the ledge to sit beside her.

“It looks like it might do this all day,” he said with a grin. “I swear, mountain rains are the most unpredictable things.”

“Where’s Caleb?” Pamela questioned. She could see where Jim’s horse was still tethered, but there was no sign of the older man’s horse or gear.

“He’s gone. Thought it best if we split up, and I figure he’s right on that point.”

“They’ll be coming after us, won’t they,” Pamela more stated than asked. “A million dollars is nothing to let slip away without a fight. It’ll keep them riding the trails, come rain or shine, of that I’m sure.”

“A million dollars?” Jim’s confusion was evident.

“That’s the amount of ransom they asked Riley and Zandy for,” Pamela explained. She pulled the blanket around her to ward off the cold and leaned back against the rock. “They were going to send another letter today and give the details of where they would meet.”

Jim’s face twisted into a look of disgust. “Why in the world would they think anyone would pay that kind of money? That didn’t come out sounding the way I intended,” he immediately added. “It isn’t that I wouldn’t consider you worth that much money. It’s just I can’t figure how they would assume Riley Dawson would care enough to part with that much.”

Pamela calmed her singed emotions. The last person in the world she wanted to fight with was Jim. “The leader of the gang is a woman. She’s very intelligent and has her people bring her newspapers from Denver. Apparently, when you took me from Dawson, Riley and Zandy must have put out a story with my picture, in hopes that someone would know something about my disappearance. The only thing is, the story told too much of my background and the fact that I’m from a wealthy family in Kansas City.”

“Are your folks that rich?” Jim questioned innocently.

“My folks are very well-off,” Pamela whispered. “I’m their only child,
and I stand to inherit a great deal. That’s why they didn’t trust Bradley
Rayburn.”

At the spoken name of the man she loved, Jim’s fascination with Pamela’s delicate face ended abruptly. He tried to distance himself by moving away just a bit, but Pamela would have no part of it.

“It’s so cold. I know it isn’t proper, and it would be most unacceptable were the circumstances different, but I wonder if you would mind. . .I mean,” she paused as Jim looked back at her. “Would you sit very close and maybe even put your arm around me?”

Jim hesitated for a moment and moved closer. Taking the blanket, he pulled it around both of their shoulders and let Pamela move under his arm to lean against his chest.

Pamela tried to seem oblivious to the physical contact while, in truth, she was shocked with herself for suggesting such a thing. After a few moments of silence, she spoke of a matter on which she’d reflected for most of the night.

“I heard some of what Caleb said to you last night,” she began. “His words about God were so comforting, and I truly felt that I was protected under God’s care. I was just wondering, are you a Christian too?”

Jim sighed, releasing a bit of the tension he felt.

“I guess so,” he said in a noncommittal way. “I asked to be saved when I was just a boy, but I’ve never really done anything that would prove that it took. Caleb told me to seek God out and ask His forgiveness. He said a lot of times we’re inclined to get sidetracked. God knows we aren’t strong creatures, and that’s why He’s so good about forgiving us. I guess right now I’m just trying to work things out so that I can be on good terms with Him again.”

Pamela smiled. “I went to church with nannies and maids. Sometimes, once in a very long while, I would go with my parents. But you know, until I met Zandy, I hadn’t a clue what God was truly about. How can somebody sit in church, listen to the preacher tell of hellfire and eternal damnation, and still not understand that they needed saving?”

“I don’t guess I have the answer to that one either,” Jim replied. “I never was one for church after Ma died. For that matter, I’ve never been one for much of anything.”

“What do you want to do with your life, Jim?” Pamela asked softly.

“I can’t rightly say,” Jim responded. “I’ve tried my hand at mining, cattle, horses, farming, and I was even a lawman for Riley Dawson when he first came to Colorado.”

“Back when he was so very evil?”

“Yeah,” Jim replied. “But I suppose he’s changed now, eh?”

Pamela lifted up her head and met Jim’s dark brown eyes. “He honestly has, Jim. Zandy is very happy with him now.”

“I guess I’m glad for that,” Jim said and grew thoughtful. “If Riley can change that much, I guess God won’t have such a hard time with me.”

Pamela laughed out, and the sound echoed off the rock ledge overhead. “That’s the same kind of thing I told Zandy when she helped me to find God’s direction for my life. I figured if one man could be so changed from the worst possible character to the kind of person I saw in front of me, then I knew God could help me. I guess I’d come to the place where I had nothing and no one else.”

“What about your Mister Rayburn?”

Pamela shrugged. It was funny how over the last week or so, she’d given much more thought to Jim than Bradley. “I’m not sure. I suppose my parents could have been right. They could also have been wrong. I think when we go back to Missouri, I’ll sit down and write a long letter and apologize for the way I treated them. I suppose we’ll just have to work it out from there.”

“You’ve changed,” Jim said suddenly.

“I suppose I have,” Pamela replied, not taking the slightest bit of offense. “I had so much time to think about things. I realized how demanding I was and how bitter and angry I’d grown. Being in a place where the only thing people thought of was how much money they could make off you, I realized how much I’d harmed the ones I loved.”

“How so?” Jim questioned.

“At the Owenses’, nobody cared if I wanted things done a certain way. No one gave a thought to how I dressed or what I ate. I was totally and completely at their mercy, and that caused me to see how demanding I’ve always been. The rest. . .well, I think a lot of my reason for wanting to marry Bradley had to do with making my parents take notice of me.” The words surprised Pamela, for she’d never truly allowed the revelation to surface in full. Speaking them seemed to validate the possibility, however, and she felt relieved for having said them.

“I did. . .do. . .love Bradley,” she continued. “But I’m not sure that I understand in full what that even means. Zandy told me about God’s love and how He loved us enough to send Jesus, His only Son, to die for me and all the other people in the world. And all because if He didn’t, we could never get close to God. God’s love for me is such a wonder that I can’t begin to imagine.”

Jim’s eyes locked with Pamela’s. “I know what you mean,” he said hoarsely. The words would barely make themselves heard. “Caleb made me realize the same thing. I’m glad God cares enough to not have given up on me. I feel in many ways like I’ve just been saved. Maybe that’s the truth of the matter. Either way, I’m just a babe at this walking with God stuff.”

Pamela sat up with a smile. “Yes, that’s it exactly. I’m so much an infant when it comes to understanding God and the Bible. I’ve never even given much of a reading to the Word of God, yet Zandy says it holds all the answers for our lives.”

Jim smiled. “Zandy would say that. I remember her faith well. I always admired her for it and wondered how a person could give themselves over so completely to something like a book filled with words. Now, though, I think I’m beginning to understand.”

Pamela leaned back against Jim and nodded her head in agreement. “It’s like God calling the heart to a new way of beating.”

“I guess we have that in common, anyway,” Jim said, not thinking.

“What do you mean?”

“Being new Christians,” he replied. “We’re both just starting a new way of living, and both of us have a heap to learn.”

❧

It was nearly two hours later before the rain let up. Jim knew the flooding in the valley below would most likely be bad. He took Caleb’s suggestion of heading down an obscure little path that led into Central City, offering a silent prayer that God would give them safe passage.

Easing into the saddle behind Pamela, Jim was more than a little aware of her close presence. It was becoming increasingly difficult for Jim to ignore the fact that he had, indeed, come to care about this “little bitty gal.”