Beyond The Horizon (52 page)

“I want to provide him with the best of everything, my love. We’ll build the ranch into something our children can be proud of. I don’t ever want them to be ashamed of their Indian blood, but neither do I want them to suffer for it. You should have married someone people respect instead of a half-breed.”

“It was you I loved,” Shannon said with quiet dignity, “you I wanted. Besides,” she added with a twinkle, “things have changed for us.” Shannon decided she couldn’t find a better time to tell Blade about her appointment.

Blade slanted her an oblique look. “What in the hell have you been up to in my absence?”

“Oh, Blade, I have some wonderful news,” Shannon gushed. “So much has happened I don’t know where to begin. First, the women’s rights amendment was passed in December. Women can now vote and hold office. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“I agree, love, it is wonderful. It’s no more than women deserve.”

“Are you ready now for the really extraordinary news?”

“You mean it gets better than this?” he teased.

“Much better,” she beamed. “I’ve been appointed Justice of the Peace. I’m to start hearing cases shortly.”

Blade was stunned. He knew Shannon was greatly respected for her work with the suffrage movement, but he never expected so great a reward. His chest swelled with pride, and transferring the baby to one arm he hugged Shannon with the other.

“I always knew you were special. I’m happy someone besides me recognized your worth. But—well, frankly, I’m worried,” he admitted. “How will the townspeople take this?”

“You’re going to find this difficult to believe, Blade, but feelings about us have altered ever since you convinced Red Cloud to return to the reservation. Even Ezra Samms came by to apologize, as did others who had spoken out against you.”

“Apologies won’t bring back our cattle or rebuild our house,” Blade said. He was still bitter over the loss of his home and livelihood. His losses would be nearly impossible to replace given his reduced finances.

“We’ll start over,” Shannon vowed earnestly. “Nothing will stop us this time.”

“We have barely enough cash to live on,” Blade admitted with brutal honesty.

“We’ll have my fees,” Shannon contended eagerly. “Spring is almost here. You can hire men and start rebuilding. It will work out, darling, you’ll see.”

Blade hated to dash Shannon’s hopes, but he was a realist who knew it might take years of working for others before they could replace what they had lost. Prejudice and people’s unwarranted fear had made their lives hell. It wasn’t easy to forget or forgive. He revealed none of his thoughts to Shannon as she rambled on about Peaceful Valley and all her grand plans for their future.

February was a dismal month, winter’s hold not yet broken. To Blade’s surprise, Shannon’s words about being accepted by the townspeople proved correct. When he ventured out now, everyone he met on the street was eager to greet him. Where formerly he was shunned and feared, now people rushed over to shake his hand and express their gratitude for his help in persuading Red Cloud to return to the reservation.

By mid-February, Shannon was settled in her office hearing civil cases almost daily. She found the work stimulating and interesting despite the fact that it kept her from her child too many hours during the day. Thank God for Meg Ryan, who was still with her to care for Grady.

By the end of March, Blade was forced into a decision he dreaded making. The hills and valleys were turning green with new grass and streams ran high with winter run-off. He knew Shannon expected him to start rebuilding their cabin, but a careful tally of their savings told him the money just wasn’t available. He might be able to erect a frame with Jumping Buffalo to help him, but what purpose would it serve? He deliberately postponed the decision until far into April, hoping for a miracle.

Blade was totally unprepared when the miracle he had been praying for arrived unexpectedly.

It was Saturday and Shannon had no cases to hear that day. She and Blade lingered over breakfast, discussing the adorable antics of their six-month-old son. Blade seemed distracted, his conversation stilted and remote. Elizabeth Davis had informed him yesterday that her son and his bride were returning from abroad and would need their house. He had yet to tell Shannon.

Suddenly he looked at Shannon squarely and said, “Shannon, I’ve postponed a decision long enough. It’s time now to decide—”

A terrible racket at the door brought his words to a skidding halt.

“Swift Blade, open, it is Jumping Buffalo!”

Blade and Shannon exchanged alarmed glances, then Blade leaped to his feet, rushing to the door. “Something is wrong!” Shannon was close behind him.

Jumping Buffalo seldom if ever came to town and both knew something serious must have happened to bring him there now. Blade flung open the door and the look on Jumping Buffalo’s usually stoic features sent his heart plummeting.

“What is it, Jumping Buffalo? Has something happened to Sweet Grass?”

“No, my friend,” Jumping Buffalo answered in rapid Sioux. “But a strange thing has occurred at Peaceful Valley. Something you will find difficult to believe.”

“Come in and tell us what troubles you.”

“There is no time. You must come to Peaceful Valley—now, to see for yourself.”

“See what?”

“Cattle, my friend. All the cattle that were stolen months ago have mysteriously reappeared. Even as I speak, they gaze contentedly on the rich grass that grows in the valley.”

“What is it, Blade? You’re speaking too rapidly for me to follow. Is Sweet Grass all right?”

Blade quickly explained. Shannon’s mouth flew open in dismay. “What does it mean?”

“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. I’m going to Peaceful Valley.”

“I’m coming with you,” Shannon insisted, allowing him no time to protest. “Just give me a few minutes to dress the baby.”

Blade stopped the wagon on a ridge behind the burnt shell of their cabin. The view was breathtaking, allowing them a panoramic view of the land Blade had aptly named Peaceful Valley. Shannon drew her breath in sharply, unable to believe what her eyes beheld. Grazing on the verdant hillsides, just as Jumping Buffalo had described, were cattle—over a hundred head.

“My God,” Blade whispered reverently.

“Is it not as I said?” Jumping Buffalo told them, sweeping his arm in a wide arc.

“Whose brand do they carry?” Blade asked, still unconvinced. “That should tell us who they belong to.”

“It is your brand,” Jumping Buffalo said. “I have seen this with my own eyes.”

“My cattle,” Blade said softly, turning to Shannon. His eyes widened in wonder and disbelief. “Our cattle, Little Firebird—do you know what that means?”

Shannon nodded, too awed to speak. She did indeed know what it meant. It meant their dream of rebuilding their ranch and making it into something their children could be proud of was no longer beyond the horizon, but lay within their reach. Their future in the territory that had just become the first in the entire nation to give women the freedom they deserved was suddenly bright.

Shannon was proud to be counted as a citizen of the great Territory of Wyoming. Nowhere else in the world was she free to vote and make decisions normally restricted to men. The country was wild and untamed, just like Blade, but she liked it that way. Wyoming was her destiny.

“Shall we ride down?” Blade asked at length. “I want to have a closer look at those cows.”

“Oh, yes,” Shannon agreed with alacrity. “Sweet Grass will be anxious to see Grady.”

Shannon was surprised and pleased to learn that Sweet Grass was expecting a child, and the two women settled down together for a pleasant chat while Blade and Jumping Buffalo rode off to inspect the cattle.

“After our cabin is built, we will build one for you and Jumping Buffalo,” Shannon promised. “You’ll want something more permanent than a tipi for your family. And Blade certainly couldn’t get along without your husband’s help. It will be good having another woman out here for company. Our children will grow up together.”

Sweet Grass smiled shyly. “I would like that, if I can convince Jumping Buffalo to live within wooden walls. My people are no longer free to roam where they will. I don’t want my children to grow up knowing only fear and hunger.”

“They won’t, Blade will—” Her words ground to a halt as she gazed over Sweet Grass’s shoulder, fear turning her eyes dark.

“What is it, Little Firebird?”

“Wagons, lots of them. And people. My God! Blade! Where is Blade?”

Shannon jumped to her feet, relieved to note that Blade had already seen the intruders and was riding toward them hell for leather. Jumping Buffalo was hard pressed to keep up with him. She waited until he reined in beside her before asking, “What do they want? It looks like the whole town is riding out to Peaceful Valley.”

“I don’t know, love, but I’m not taking any chances,” Blade replied, checking his weapons. “Take Sweet Grass and the baby inside the tipi. Don’t come out until I tell you.”

“Surely you don’t think—”

“I don’t know what to think,” Blade said tightly. “Just do as I say.”

Shannon hugged Grady protectively as she and Sweet Grass huddled together inside the tipi. Both recalled with vivid clarity what happened the last time visitors came to Peaceful Valley. Judging from the deafening roar of wagon wheels, Shannon had been right when she said earlier that it appeared as if all of Cheyenne was coming to Peaceful Valley. What chance would Blade and Jumping Buffalo have against so many? she wondered bleakly.

“Do you have a gun?” she asked Sweet Grass in sudden determination.

“Jumping Buffalo keeps a rifle here for my use.”

“Give it to me.”

Sweet Grass obeyed instantly. “What will you do with it?”

“Here, take the baby, I’m going to help Blade.”

Sweet Grass scowled disapprovingly, but it did little to dissuade Shannon as she dumped Grady in the Indian woman’s arms, picked up the rifle, and slipped outside. She was astounded to see at least twenty wagons and more people than she could count grinding to a halt before Blade and Jumping Buffalo. She had the presence of mind to note that not only men, but women and children were climbing down from the wagons. Many people she recognized, including Ezra Samms, who was the cause of much of their trouble. It was Samms who approached them now, and Shannon stepped to Blade’s side in open defiance.

Seeing Shannon beside him, Blade scowled fiercely. “What in the hell are you doing here? I told you to stay with Sweet Grass.”

“I want to help,” Shannon said stubbornly.

“We don’t mean no harm, Mrs. Stryker.” Samms was close enough to hear Shannon’s words.

“Why have you come?” Blade asked curiously. Though his voice was low, it was filled with quiet menace.

“Me and the townspeople, we—uh—” Samms shifted uncomfortably. “Well, dammit, we want to make it up to you for all the trouble we caused you.”

“You are responsible for the return of my cattle?” Blade asked, comprehension dawning.

“A man does what he has to do,” Samms muttered. “We want you to know how grateful we are for what you did for the Territory. We want to show our appreciation.”

Blade’s dark gaze left Samms and swept over the crowd of men, women, and children, and a puzzled frown wrinkled his brow. He still didn’t understand what all these people were doing here.

“In what way?” Shannon wanted to know.

“We going to rebuild your house, Mrs. Stryker,” Samms said, twisting his hat in his hands.

“That’s right,” agreed another, separating from the crowd. “We brought lumber, nails, everything needed to build as good a cabin as the one that got burnt. And our women brought food aplenty. We’ll come back as many days as necessary to complete the job.”

“I—I don’t understand,” Shannon gasped, thinking it all a wonderful dream.

All the values she had learned at her mother’s knee, all her belief in the basic goodness of mankind had never been demonstrated so forcefully or dramatically as it was today. She and Blade no longer had to reach beyond the horizon to fulfill their dreams. Everything they desired in life was right here in Peaceful Valley.

Blade reached for Shannon, hugging her close as the men started unloading the wagons and the women saw to the food.

“If this is a dream, I never want to awaken,” he said, his voice taut with emotion. “And to think I almost considered leaving Wyoming and settling someplace where we might live in peace.”

“It’s no dream, Blade,” Shannon sniffed, close to tears. “I knew one day people would come to their senses where you are concerned.”

“It is you they respect,” Blade suggested.

“No, my love, you earned their respect. You may be part Sioux, but I’ve never known a more honorable man. I’m proud of what you are and who you are. I love you, Blade Stryker. I wish my family could meet you.”

“You miss them very much, don’t you?”

“I’d be lying if I denied it.”

“We’ll visit them one day, I promise. Didn’t you say both your mother and brother had married?”

“Yes, and I’m truly happy for them. Mama married David Foster, the wagon master, and Tucker is wed to Maggie. I understand Maggie led Tuck quite a chase, but it all ended well. According to Tuck’s last letter, he is quite anxious to meet you.”