Under the Desert Sky Read online

  “Did you hear that, Will? Your mama is going to be just fine. Do you think we should save some cookies for her? Or do you plan to eat all of them yourself?”

  “Mama’s dead. Wet’s horse killed her.”

  “No, Will, she isn’t dead, I promise you,” Christian said.

  “Yes she is. Mama’s dead, just like Daddy.”

  “Oh, bless his little heart,” Gwen said. “Is that why he hasn’t said a word since July brought him here? Did he actually think Phoebe was dead?”

  “She didn’t move,” Will said. “She didn’t move and she didn’t talk to me. I think she’s dead.”

  Christian sat down on the floor in front of Will and reached out to put his hand on the boy’s shoulder.

  “Will, have you ever fallen and bumped your head?”

  Will nodded, but didn’t speak.

  “Did it hurt?”

  Again Will nodded.

  “Well, that’s the way it is with your mama. When the horse kicked her, she got a bump on her head and it hurt a lot. The doctor wants her to stay with him tonight, but he said we could go get her tomorrow.”

  “Why didn’t she come home today?”

  “The doctor thinks she should rest there instead of coming home in the buckboard.” Christian smiled. “You should have seen how fast Trinidad was driving. We were bouncing along and it made your mama’s head hurt.”

  “She won’t come home—not ever.”

  “Yes she will. I know what. Why don’t you come with me to bring her home tomorrow? Then, if she wants to lie down on the bed Trinidad made for her, you’ll be right there to take care of her. And I’ll be careful when I drive the buckboard. We won’t bounce around.”

  Will jumped up and wrapped his arms around Christian’s neck. Christian embraced the boy, pulling him even closer.

  “Well, now, if Phoebe is coming home tomorrow, I think we need some more cookies,” Gwen said. “But I don’t know who’ll help Adeline and me. Hannah’s not here and we need someone to tell us if these are good enough for your mama.”

  “I can do that.” Will wiggled out of Christian’s arms.

  “I think I can help, too,” Christian said, “but we should try one of these just to make sure they’re all right, don’t you think, Will?”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Gwen handed a hot cookie to Will.

  • • •

  Christian stayed in the kitchen until he was sure Will was engaged. Then he went in search of July.

  “There you are,” Christian said when he saw July with Buck and Yhomas. “I’m glad you thought to leave me a note written in Afrikaans.”

  “I’m sorry, Christian. I know it was wrong to leave the birds by themselves, but I couldn’t take a chance on the uncle taking Will.”

  “Don’t apologize. You did exactly the right thing. Your note said Sloan was bringing the sheriff.”

  “Yes, sir. He’d brought some papers he wanted Phoebe to sign, but when she wasn’t there, he said he’d bring the sheriff to take Will. I thought I could refuse the uncle, but if he brought the sheriff . . .”

  “Sheriff Sturgeon would’ve taken you in,” Buck said, “but if it came to taking Will away from Phoebe, Judge Johnstone would step in. He won’t let the Sloans get away with that.”

  “That is, if he’s still the judge after the election,” Yhomas said.

  “That’s right, and here stand three men who can’t vote,” Buck said.

  “Well, what happens if Sloan guesses this is where July would bring Will? What if he brings the sheriff here?” Christian asked.

  “If they come here, I’ll handle it,” Yhomas said. “You have to remember, I was schooled by my father, who hid out in the Drakensberg for many a night during the Great Trek. No one will find that boy if I want to hide him.”

  Christian chuckled. “Now that you mention it, I could teach Will a thing or two about evasion myself.”

  Yhomas nodded. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. You’d better go see how he’s faring.”

  • • •

  Christian found Will sitting at the kitchen table, playing with the giraffe July had carved for him.

  “That is a fine-looking giraffe you have there,” Christian said. “Where did you get it?”

  “July made it for me.”

  “Well, you’re a lucky young man, then. July has never given me a giraffe.”

  “I’m July’s friend.”

  “So you are.”

  “Will’s been telling us how the accident happened. It sounds to me like Phoebe is one lucky lady,” Gwen said.

  “I’d say so,” Christian said, “because she has a little boy named Will.” He winked at the child and was rewarded with a big smile.

  “Wet says I can go with him tomorrow when we get my mama. Do you want to come, too?”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Christian said. “She’ll appreciate having you with us. You can help Will comfort her in the back of the buckboard.”

  “The buckboard? Why not take the surrey? Don’t you think that’d be more comfortable?” Gwen asked.

  “She doesn’t have a surrey,” Christian said.

  “No, but Mr. Prinsen has one and I’m sure he’ll let us use it,” Gwen said. “We can stop by the house and I can get her a more comfortable garment to come home in.”

  “Does that mean we’re going to stay here?” Will asked. “Who’s going to take care of Wapi if I’m not at home?”

  “You forgot. Trinidad is there and he’ll take care of Wapi,” Christian said.

  For the first time since he had known him, Will began to cry. Christian took him in his arms. “What’s wrong? Trinidad won’t let anything happen to Wapi.”

  “I forgot. You won’t be at our house anymore, Wet. Don’t go away.”

  Gwen was listening to the child’s comments. She raised her eyebrows. “Is there more to this story?”

  “No,” Christian said, “it’s just that, with Trinidad back, Phoebe doesn’t need me anymore.”

  “Yes she does,” Will said between sobs. “You can’t go, Wet. You can’t go. Mama needs you.”

  “I tend to agree with Will. In view of her present condition and now whatever Frank has up his sleeve, don’t you think she does need you?”

  Christian let out a long sigh. “This is between Phoebe and me. I’ll stay until I’m sure she’s stable, but then I need to start studying the Salt River project.”

  “And you can’t do that from her house?” Gwen asked.

  Christian shook his head. “Come on, Will. Let’s go find a place to sleep.”

  • • •

  The next morning, it took about an hour to get away from the Prinsens’. Christian, Will, and Gwen were in Yhomas’s surrey, while July followed in the buckboard.

  When they reached Phoebe’s place, Trinidad came out to greet them, a wide grin on his face. “You were right. The sheriff came out here looking for the boy.”

  “Was Sloan with him?” Christian asked.

  “Oh, yes. I tried to stop him, but he went in the house. He went to Miss Phoebe’s room, opened every drawer, put stuff all over the floor. I don’t know what he was looking for.”

  “Well, he obviously wasn’t looking for Will. Gwen, why don’t you go see if you can put things in order?” Christian asked.

  “I’ll do that and find her something fresh to wear home. Why don’t you come, too, Will? You can help me.”

  When Will was out of earshot, Christian turned to Trinidad. “Tell me exactly what happened when the sheriff got here.”

  “He asked me if I knew where the boy was. I said no. Then Sloan says for the sheriff to search the barn while he searches the house. When he came out, he asked where you stay and where the big man stays. I didn’t tell, so he searched the bunkhouse. When he found your things, he got mad—came out swearing and kicking. Then they rode away.”

  “You handled that very well, Trinidad. July, go check the bunkhouse. Make certain my rifle’s still
there.”

  “Do you think you might need it?” July asked.

  “You never know. I’ve never had to fire it, but I want it handy just in case.”

  “I’ll do it, and then Trinidad and I will go see how many chicks have hatched out. I’m thinking any egg that’s left in the nest is probably not going to hatch by now.”

  “Good,” Christian said. “I don’t know what time I’ll be back from town. If Phoebe’s not better, I don’t know what I’ll tell Will.”

  “You’ll handle it. You’re good with that little boy, and I think you’d make him a good daddy—especially since you seem to like his mother.” July slapped the reins on the back of the horse and moved the buckboard before Christian had a chance to comment.

  • • •

  When the surrey pulled up in front of the doctor’s office an hour later, Phoebe was sitting in front of the window. Her face brightened when she saw Will coming into the doctor’s office. Opening her arms in invitation, she said, “Will!” Happily, he ran into them, and they hugged, then she showered his forehead and cheeks with kisses.

  “You’re looking none the worse for wear.” Gwen smiled. “Except for that bruise on your forehead and your black eyes. Have you looked at yourself?”

  “I don’t have to see it, Gwen, I can feel it,” Phoebe chuckled.

  “Well, I’m glad you can laugh about it. What were you doing, standing in front of a rearing horse, anyway?”

  “Gwen, I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but I don’t remember a thing. The last thing I recall was standing in front of the porch, then the next thing I remember, I was lying on the bed with a throbbing headache.”

  “Well, who wants to remember getting kicked in the head?”

  Phoebe laughed. “I’m glad you brought Will with you.”

  “He was concerned about you,” Christian said. “We all were.”

  “Mama, Uncle Frank came to take me away.”

  “What?” Phoebe looked concerned.

  “And July played trap with him.”

  “What?” Phoebe’s look of concern changed to confusion.

  Christian laughed. “When Frank reached for Will, July wrapped his hand around Frank’s wrist. Apparently that was enough to dissuade him.”

  “He played trap,” Will repeated.

  Now Phoebe laughed as well. “I think July could dissuade anybody.”

  “He brought Will to our house after Frank came, and it’s a good thing he did. Trinidad said he came back with Sheriff Sturgeon,” Gwen said.

  “Sheriff Sturgeon? Why?”

  “No one knows for sure,” Christian said. “July said Frank was bringing some papers for you to sign. Do you have any idea what they could be?”

  “I’m afraid not, and even if I did, I’ve forgotten it now.” Phoebe reached for her forehead.

  “You’re going to use this amnesia thing, aren’t you?” Christian brushed her hair back from her face.

  “No. I’m not going to forget everything that’s happened to me.” Phoebe looked directly at Christian.

  “I know,” Christian said. “We’ll have to talk about that, too.”

  For a moment it was quiet, then Gwen said, “Here.” She held out a bag she was carrying. “I thought you might want to change clothes before we start back. Christian said you had quite a bout with nausea.”

  “Oh, Gwen, that’s very thoughtful.” Phoebe stood up to reach for the bag, then quickly sat back down again. “Oh.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s nothing, really. I just got very dizzy for a moment. The doctor told me I might have these dizzy spells for a couple of months, though they should eventually go away.

  “Christian, why don’t you and Will wait here while I go in the back to get changed?”

  “I’ll go with you,” Gwen offered.

  When the two women stepped into the back of the office, the doctor came out front.

  “Is it all right for her to go home?” Christian asked.

  “Yes, it’s quite all right, and it’ll be good for her,” the doctor replied. “She’s been waiting all morning.”

  “She just had a dizzy spell. Is that anything to worry about?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t recommend that she climb up on anything very high for a while. But as long as she’s careful about where she is or what she’s doing, she shouldn’t have any trouble. I’ll want to see her again—just to make sure she’s doing all right. Let her get plenty of rest, and bring her back in about a month.”

  “We’ll have her here,” Christian promised.

  • • •

  When they pulled up in the yard. July and Trinidad were there to meet them.

  As Christian handed the horse’s reins to Trinidad, he said, “The boss lady is home.”

  Will hopped down and Christian offered his hand to Gwen. When it came to Phoebe, he lifted her out of the surrey, not releasing her when her feet touched the ground.

  “You look as if you’ve been in a fight, Miss Phoebe. Is this your first black eye?” July asked.

  “Indeed it is.” Phoebe allowed Christian to still hold her. “I’m glad to be home.”

  Trinidad shook his head. “When I took you out of here, I wasn’t sure you’d come back. All I could think of was that day with Mr. Edwin.”

  “I thought about that, too. I didn’t sleep all that well last night.” As Phoebe took a step away from Christian, a wave of dizziness came over her. She reached out for Christian’s arm.

  He steadied her. “Are you all right?”

  “I think I should lie down.”

  Without hesitation, Christian scooped her up in his arms and began walking toward the house.

  When he laid Phoebe on her bed, she closed her eyes, gripping the side as if she needed to hang on.

  “It’s awful, Christian. The room is whirling around me.”

  “You need to stay in bed for a while.”

  “I can’t.”

  “And why not?”

  “Who’s going to take care of Will?”

  “Maybe he could go stay with Gwen until you feel better.”

  “No!” Phoebe’s eyes darted open and she tried to sit up, but immediately she fell back on the pillow.

  “You know Gwen and the girls would love to have him until you feel better.”

  “Frank was here looking for my son. I won’t let him take Will. I won’t let that happen.”

  “I understand. Then I’ll take care of him.”

  “That would mean you’d have to stay here, wouldn’t it? I mean, in the house, not in the bunkhouse.”

  “I suppose it would. Would you be all right with that?”

  “I think the question is: Would you be all right with it?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “It’s just that, last night, I remembered something that happened before the horse kicked me. Didn’t you say, ‘I guess that’s my cue to ride out of here’?” Phoebe asked, repeating the words Christian had said when she’d told him Trinidad was back.

  Christian looked down. “I did, but it’s not what I wanted to do. Maybe you don’t remember what precipitated those words.”

  Phoebe reached for Christian’s hand. “I do remember—I remember it very well, and I am embarrassed by what I did.”

  Christian smiled. “You mean banning me to the bunkhouse?”

  “No, Christian. I was a brazen hussy to come to your room. I’m sorry.”

  Christian leaned down and kissed her. “I’m not sorry. I’m not sorry at all.”

  Tears were glistening in Phoebe’s eyes as she wrapped her arms around Christian. “I don’t know how to act. I’ve never known a man like you.”

  “I’m not very good at this either. Why don’t we pretend like we’re just meeting one another? Phoebe, may I have your permission to start a courtship?”

  Phoebe smiled. “That depends. Do you have a carriage or a bicycle built for two?”

  “For you, a magic carpet.” Christian kissed h
er again. “I’ll let you rest now.”

  “All right, but don’t let me sleep through lunch.”

  “I won’t.”

  Leaving her bedroom, Christian walked back into the kitchen. “Whatever you’re making smells awfully good.”

  “Will suggested soup.”

  “Will did that?” Christian tousled the boy’s hair.

  “I think Mama will like it, but now I’m helping Miss Gwen make noodles to go in the soup.” Will dropped a handful of flour into the bowl Gwen held.

  “I think that’ll be all we need.” Gwen mixed the stiff dough.

  “If Will is finished here, I could use some help to move my things out of the bunkhouse.”

  Will looked dejected. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m moving back upstairs, unless someone else has taken my room.”

  “Oh, goodie! You’re coming back!” Will began clapping his hands, raising a cloud of flour.

  10

  “Under the circumstances, I think someone should be in the house with Phoebe,” July said when he found out Christian’s intentions. “But I’m going to stay in the bunkhouse.”

  “I understand, but I’m sure it’d be all right if you moved back to your room as well.”

  “ ‘See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.’ I’ve lived by that maxim for a long time, and I probably shouldn’t have opened my mouth yesterday.”

  “No, you were right to speak up. If something is going to happen between Phoebe and me, it should happen in its own good time.”

  “Do you want something to happen?”

  “Yes, I think I do.”

  “Do you want this, Wet?” Will came out of the bunkhouse carrying Christian’s rifle.

  “Let me carry that. It’s a little heavy.” Christian took the rifle from the boy.

  “Do you ever shoot that gun?”

  “I’ve never shot this particular rifle, but I learned how to shoot when I was just a boy.”

  “Will you teach me how?”

  “When you get a little older.”

  Will’s face broke out in a broad smile. “You’re going to stay with us a long, long time.”

  “We’ll see.” Christian picked up his satchel. “Let’s go see if the soup is ready.”

  • • •