Noble Savage Page 18

  Damn it to hell! I promised her I'd see her safe to her Pa, and if it's the last thing I do, I will.

  Katie knew Luke was far more worried than he let on. She was too, but she'd die before she admitted it.

  "What about the train stops below the Aspen tunnel," she said, trying to remember what she'd seen on the map. "Do you think they're real towns, or just construction camps?"

  "Camps, more than likely. But this close to End-of-Track, there's probably still folks there."

  "Well, then, we'll be fine. We can get on the train and go as far as they'll take us. Then we can catch the stage to Salt Lake City. Why we could be there in a couple of days!"

  And I'll have to say goodbye to you.

  "What if Whitney's waiting for us?"

  "He won't--" Her heart all but stopped beating. "Will he?"

  Luke shrugged. "Depends on how stubborn he is. You said yourself he was crazy. I don't reckon he thinks the same way most folks do."

  "He's not stupid. No, Luke, if he's anywhere, he'll be in Salt Lake City. And once we're there, Pa can deal with him."

  "I hope you're right."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Cold and exhaustion had sent them both to sleep almost as soon as they pulled up the covers, but this morning was another matter entirely. Luke woke to an armful of warm, lilac-scented woman. She was snuggled close to him, her arm around his waist and her face buried against his chest.

  Luke didn't want to move.

  Yes, he did. He wanted to lift her skirts and slide his hand up the smooth length of her thighs. He wanted to let his fingers find the hot liquid honey of her, to rouse her to the same painful state of desire where he dwelt almost all the time now.

  Instead he opened his eyes and greeted the gray, cold dawn.

  The tarpaulin was so heavily weighted with snow that it was lying atop them. Luke reared up against the edge of it, knocking some of the snow off, giving them room to sit up. Beside him Katie stirred.

  "I think it's warmer today." She pulled the quilt over her head and her next words were muffled and indistinct.

  "Don't know how you can tell," Luke said, rubbing a hand over his chin. A beard kept a man's face warm, most of the time, but when it got iced up, it was purely miserable. One of the first things he planned to do, when they reached a town, was have himself a shave.

  As if to remind them that he'd spent the night without shelter, Lafayette cut loose with a loud bray. Luke pulled his collar up and his hat down. "I'm comin'," he called. To Katie he said, "I'll get the fire started and some snow on for melting. See what you can do about breakfast."

  He didn't see that it was any warmer, but this morning sure was pretty. The snow lay soft and thick on every rock, every branch. The clumps of tall grass that had blown in yesterday's wind were bowed down, fat mounds like the big frosted cupcakes his ma used to make.

  His mouth watered. Right now nothing sounded quite so good as tucking into a big dinner of roast beef, gravy and steaming 'taters, with a slab or two of apple pie afterwards.

  Yesterday's ashes were soaked, but heat lingered in the ring of stones around them. Luke scraped the wet ashes away, down to bare soil. He slivered one of the cedar sticks, carefully made a teepee of dry twigs around it.

  Sheba, her hitch line dragging in the snow, came over and nudged his shoulder as he worked. "Yeah, I'll feed you," he promised as he patted her nose, "just as soon as I get some water on." That damned Salome had untied the knot again, just as she had the past three nights. Luke glared over his shoulder to where the smaller ass was half-hid behind Lafayette. Yep. Her line was loose too. He couldn't decide whether she just didn't like to be tied up, or if it was her natural-born contrariness.

  Katie emerged from the shelter, carrying the provision bag. She set it by the fire ring. "I'll be right back."

  "Take the rifle."

  "But--"

  "Take it, Katie."

  She made a face at him, but picked it up.

  Luke watched her until she disappeared around the shoulder of a low hill.

  She shouldn't have to squat in the snow. No matter that she'd lived in far more primitive surroundings than he had for most of her life. Katie Lachlan deserved a better life than he could give her.

  Shit! What am I thinking?

  Katie climbed the shoulder of a hill just above the mouth of the gulch, edging around so she was never silhouetted against the white sky.

  More snow was on the way; she could smell it. So far there was only enough on the ground to make things pretty. Much more and they'd have trouble traveling.

  Shading her eyes, she peered to the south. They hadn't crossed the railroad yet, so that it had to be out in that direction. Somewhere.

  Motion caught her eye and she looked up to see a hawk swooping above the river. No, two of them, hunting the snow-covered land.

  Good luck, she told them, smiling, for all of us.

  Her stomach growled, and Katie turned to head back to camp. And then she heard a faint, far-off sound in the still, cold air.

  Distant, haunting, it was like nothing else she'd ever heard. The plaintive, lonely wail of a steam locomotive.

  Forgetting caution, she threw herself down the slope. "Luke! Luke!"

  By the time she'd run and slid the quarter-mile to their camp, she was breathless from shouting his name. "Did you hear it?" she panted, collapsing on the ground beside him. "Did you?"

  * * * *

  Once they left the hills, the ground looked level as a dinner plate, but it wasn't. Luke cursed under his breath as his foot went through snow, ankle deep into water no warmer than the thin layer of ice that covered it. Behind him he could hear Katie panting as she followed the trail he'd broken through the knee-deep snow.

  Narrow, shallow channels ran every which way across this marshy river bottom. All were filled with water under the ice. If it weren't for the snow, they'd be easy to see, but the white blanket hid them well. And every minute more fell.

  "It can't be much farther," Luke said over his shoulder. "We've come better than a mile." As the words left his mouth, his foot caught on something and he fell flat.

  Instantly Katie was at his side, on her knees in the snow. "Luke? Are you all right? Did you hurt yourself?"

  "Fine," he gasped. After a couple of deep breaths, he said, in a more normal tone, "I'm fine. Just had the wind knocked out of me." He rolled over onto his back and winked at her. "But now that I'm down here, I think I'll take a rest."

  "You're hurt!" Her hands patted over his chest, his belly.

  "I sure am," he agreed. Slipping his hand around her nape, he pulled her face down to his. "Kiss it and make it better," he whispered, just before he took her mouth.

  Blessed God, she was sweet. Her lips were warm and soft, and they parted willingly under his gentle assault. Luke slipped his tongue inside and tasted her, a taste like no other. Uniquely Katie's.

  Even through layers of cloth and leather, he could feel her breasts pressing against his chest. If only it weren't so cold! He wanted to fill his hands with them, to rub his thumbs across the rosy tips until they hardened to delicious points. Then he would take each in turn into his mouth, suckling until she was wild and whimpering for him.

  She raised her head, leaving his mouth cold and empty.

  "Luke?" Her voice trembled.

  "Hmmm?" For a moment Luke considered pretending to be injured, just so she'd run her hands over him some more. Then reason returned and he gently pushed her upright. "Oh, God, Katie. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--Let me get up." As he got his legs under him, he turned away, long enough to adjust his britches.

  Damn! It seemed like he was horny all the time. His hunger for her was worse every day.

  "Why did you stop?" she said, looking up from where she still knelt in the snow. "It was...nice." Her tone told how inadequate she found the word.

  Luke understood. There just weren't the right words to describe what happened when the two of them came together.

&n
bsp; What would it be like if they ever made love? Would the world come to an end in a shower of fire and shooting stars?

  If there was only some way he could find out, and walk away with a clear conscience. But Katie Lachlan was too fine a woman to treat that way.

  There was no question of his staying with her, once she was safe in her Pa's care. He wasn't the man a woman like her needed. There didn't seem to be anything he could do for her that she couldn't do just as well herself.

  Lafayette hadn't stopped when Luke fell, and was now about fifty yards ahead, climbing up a low bank. The two asses were just behind him, their gray coats almost disappearing in the falling snow.

  Katie drew ahead of him, walking in the animals' tracks. "It's the railroad!" she cried as soon as she reached the top of the bank. She threw her arms around Lafayette's neck. "Such a smart mule! You found the railroad for us!"

  Sheba nosed her arm. Katie turned to her with another hug. "Yes, you helped. You're all three wonderful."

  Salome tried to bite her, but Katie dodged away with a laugh.

  Luke climbed up to the rails and stood, looking around. What with the snow and the flat, white light, it was hard to tell if there was a sun in the sky, let alone where it was. "Let's see. We came in from the north, so we ought to head that way." He pointed.

  I hope. If he'd gotten turned around in the snow, they could be going the wrong direction. And if this storm got worse, there might not be another train for a day or more.

  Katie turned a full circle, then stopped, looking back at the little of their trail that was still visible. "I think you're right." Picking up the lead lines for the animals, she pulled them off the tracks. "Let's go. I want coffee!"

  They trudged alongside the tracks until Luke's belly told him it was dinnertime. He couldn't tell if it was morning or afternoon by the light, but at least the snow had stopped falling. The last of the grain and a couple of slices of dried apple made a meager meal for the animals, so he gave them all the water in the canteens to fill their bellies.

  He and Katie each nibbled on chunks of portable soup. It was terribly salty, leaving his mouth feeling dry, like it needed a quart or two of water to wash it out. Against his better judgment, he scooped up a handful of snow and let it melt in his mouth.

  A few minutes later, he saw Katie do the same.

  Let there be a town soon.

  Katie wasn't worried that eating snow would make her cold. The way she was working, tromping through snow above her knees, she needed to cool down instead of warm up. She cupped another handful to her mouth and sucked on it, relishing the moisture it yielded.

  What would happen if they didn't find shelter before night? Her inner clothing was soaked with sweat. As soon as it grew dark, the temperature would drop and they wouldn't be able to travel. Once still, and wearing damp clothing, they would be in danger of freezing to death.

  She stumbled and almost fell, catching herself with a hand to Sheba's mane. So tired. Once more she found herself wondering if they wouldn't have been better staying on the train.

  And telling herself she wouldn't have missed this week with Luke for anything.

  Once more she stumbled. This time she fell into the snow and landed on a hard, angular something that left her elbow throbbing.

  Getting up was simply beyond her. She lay where she had fallen, surprised at how warm it had become. Perhaps another chinook was coming. She closed her eyes. So very tired.

  "Katie!"

  She didn't move. Luke knelt beside her and pulled off his glove. Her face was even colder than his hand. A faint warmth showed that she still breathed, but that was about all.

  He shook her. "Damn it, Katie, wake up!"

  "Too tired," she whispered.

  He had to bend close to hear.

  "Rest here. You find town."

  One arm under her shoulders, he lifted her upright. She lolled against him like a rag doll. Luke laid the rifle down, then realized he'd never be able to pick it up once he was standing. "Don't move," he told Katie. "Be right back."

  The animals had kept walking and he had to go some distance to catch up. He kicked the snow off a low bush, hitched the lead lines around its stout stem. After stowing the rifle in its makeshift sling on Sheba's pack, he checked the loads on all three. They were secure.

  Even the asses were tired. Salome didn't try to bite him, and she only lifted one hind leg in a feeble imitation of a kick. She did start lipping at the knots in the lead lines, but without much real interest.

  Once back where Katie lay, Luke slipped his arms under her shoulders and her knees. And lifted.

  Tried to lift.

  His arms and back were willing, but his legs refused. He exploded with every foul cussword he'd ever heard.

  Katie stirred. "Luke? Somethin' wrong?"

  "Everything's fine, sweetheart. I just need you to stand up before you freeze to death."

  "Not cold." She rolled to her side, curled up with her hands tucked under her chin.

  "Katie girl, I swear if you don't get up right this minute, I'm a'gonna put snow down your neck. Then you'll be cold."

  She sat up, her lower lip in a pout. Luke had the awful urge to kiss it and forget everything else.

  "All the way," he said, putting one hand under her armpit and lifting. "C'mon!"

  She held back, but he was bigger and stronger. Once he had her on her feet, he aimed her toward the animals and gave her butt a firm swat. "Git along, there!"

  "Damn you, Luke Savage! I'm not a mule!"

  "You can cuss all you want as long as you keep walking."

  She did. Cussed and walked.

  Once they were caught up with the animals, Luke let her sit and rest while he shifted the almost empty-gunnysacks from Sheba's back to Lafayette's packsaddle.

  Getting Katie back on her feet took just about all the strength he had left. When she was leaning against Sheba's flank, he said, "If you want to ride, you're going to have to help."

  "Help?" She sounded half asleep.

  "Yeah, help. I can't lift you, sweetheart, so grab hold of that mane and pull."

  Fortunately Sheba was patient and even-tempered, for the business of getting Katie astride her back was enough to try Job himself. Luke finally got a shoulder under her bottom and boosted her aboard. If he hadn't had hold of one of her ankles, she'd have gone right off the other side. At last she was set, her arms tied loosely together around Sheba's neck, her ragged skirt covering most of her legs.

  Luke retrieved his rifle. With one of the thongs, he tied its stock to his wrist, knowing that if his hands got much colder, he wouldn't even know if he dropped it. Then he took hold of Lafayette's pack. "Okay, you stubborn old mule. It's up to you, now." As if he understood, Lafayette moved out, walking a little slower than before, picking his way carefully among the snow-covered mounds and humps that grew increasingly common in their path.

  For what seemed like hours, Luke kept walking, his gradually weakening legs pushing the snow aside as they had been all day. Once he stumbled. Patiently Lafayette waited while he pulled himself to his feet. "Gotta get Katie to her Pa. Promised," he mumbled. Ice coated his moustache and short beard, cracking and dropping off as his lips moved. He checked Katie and saw that she seemed to be sleeping. He prayed her sleep was natural, and not because she was freezing to death.

  Luke shut everything out of his mind except the necessity of putting one foot in front of the other and making sure they stayed within a few feet of the railroad embankment. He didn't even worry about Salome, walking along behind Sheba. If the donkey took it into her head to wander off, it was her bad luck. What was important now was getting to shelter before dark.

  Night came on slowly, shadows turning from blue to gray as the hidden sun set. The world grew more blurred and indistinct, filled with shifting shapes as errant breezes stirred the surface snow into swirls and flurries. There was ice on Luke's lashes now, tiny crystals shining around the edges of his vision.

  He didn't s
ee the water tank until he all but ran into it.

  It sat tall upon upright log legs, a round wood tank about ten feet high, with a spout from its bottom stretching out across the tracks, waiting to top off the boilers of the big locomotives that crossed the high divides. Between its legs a square structure hunkered, and beside it was a pile of wood ties.

  He squeezed between the bracing timbers and circled the structure until he found a door, closed but with a latchstring hanging out. Pushing inside, he peered into the almost total darkness.

  It smelled dry and clean. There was a faint odor of coal oil, a memory of pipe tobacco. The low ceiling was barely above his head and the walls were thick, with ventilation holes cut in the top boards up near the flat roof.

  They could even have a fire.

  Katie was completely tractable as he pulled her from Sheba's back and pushed her between the water tank's legs and into the hut. Once he had her inside, he found his flint and steel and lit the last little stub of a candle he'd been hoarding.

  Wooden boxes were stacked against one wall, mostly covered by a ragged, stained tarpaulin. Otherwise the hut was empty. The dirt floor was dry, littered with straw and globs of dried mud, but otherwise clean. He propped the candle upright with some of the globs and guided Katie over against the boxes. Once she was seated, he took off his coat to wrap it around her.

  She seemed to be sleeping. Her breathing was slow and even, her body totally relaxed. Luke hoped she would be all right while he set up camp.

  The stack of ties and the hut together made a fairly effective windbreak. Once he'd unloaded the donkeys and Lafayette, he tied them to the tank's supports, then crumbled the last of the crackers into three pitifully small piles. Over each he broke a third of the remaining honeycomb, his mouth watering as he did so.

  A few of the ties were splintered and broken so Luke had no trouble getting firewood, even though his hands were now so stiff with cold that each move was an effort. He dragged a broken tie into the hut after he'd piled a good supply of kindling by the door. Then he checked the animals a last time, picked up the coffeepot and the battered bucket he'd filled with snow, and went inside.