water’s surface, dipped her head completely under, and sat on the riverbed.
“That white woman is strange.” Running Cloud pinched his lips together as if he’d tasted something nasty.
“White women are all strange, and they’re cowards. That one’s afraid of her own boots.”
“Hmm. She’s not lazy like the others. How many other white women did you see walking? She was the only one not sitting beside her man on those boxes pulled by horses.”
“I don’t think she had a choice,” White Eagle said.
“If you think she’s such a coward, why don’t we go down there and see her reaction? Even better, I’ll hold her down and you can take her.”
White Eagle glared at him. A feather danced from the braid over his friend’s shoulder, and for the first time in all their years together, White Eagle wanted to drive his knuckles into his face. Despite the Indian wars and the number of soldiers he’d killed, White Eagle had never ravished a woman. So why would Running Cloud suggest he do such a thing now?
“I have another plan,” White Eagle said, trying to make him forget the idea. “I’ll go down to the bank. I bet she’ll take one look at me and panic.” There was something about this woman that drew him. The need to test her bravery was strong. Would she react like the other whites?
Running Cloud grunted, shaking his head.
“She will,” White Eagle said. “All white women are the same. I’ll go down there, and if she panics, you give me the saber you took off that soldier at Summit Springs.”
“You can go down there, but that’s not enough. Let’s watch them for two suns. If she’s a coward, I’ll give you the saber. But if she acts with bravery, I get your breast plate.”
~*~
Anna stayed under the water and faced upstream so that the current’s force would pull the loose strands of hair away from her face. It reminded her of the times her father used to take her to the beach in Scheveningen and swimming in the canals in Holland. It’d been that long since she’d done anything enjoyable like this.
The coolness enveloped her as she floated over the riverbed. What an invigorating delight. Her body cried out for her to stay under as long as possible. She continued to hold her boots up out of the water when the shadow of a figure standing on the embankment caught her eye.
After coming up, she rubbed the water from her eyes.
Beth gasped. “Anna, what are you doing?”
“It feels wonderful! Why don’t you join me?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t dare. Al would tan my hide.”
Anna rose and climbed out of the water’s delicious pool, her pleasure short-lived. It wasn’t fair for her to enjoy its refreshment if Beth couldn’t join her.
“Oh, my.” Beth’s eyes widened as Anna stepped out of the water. “Pray that no one comes near the embankment. Forgive me for being so blunt, but I can see right through your chemise.”
Anna gasped, and her gaze darted to the trees. Thankfully, she didn’t see any peering eyes or unwelcome visitors. Letting her boots fall down around her neck, she grabbed her dress and plopped herself on a flat rock next to her new friend.
The two of them bent over the gown in search of the semi-precious stone. Anna dripped water on her dress, but she didn’t care. It felt more than wonderful to be wet.
“I’m sorry Al wouldn’t allow the others to help you,” Beth whispered.
“You don’t need to apologize. You’re not responsible for his behavior. Besides, the others didn’t seem interested in helping me anyway.”
“They think you’re rich.” Beth glanced at her, and then looked quickly down at the dress. “I mean, with your nice clothes and all, and then because you’re traveling alone, and when you mentioned the jewel, well, I guess they all got hungry for money.”
“I’m certainly not rich, and I do owe you something for letting me travel with your wagon train. Food isn’t free, I know.” She glanced back down at the dress. “I’ve found it.” She tore through the threads and out fell the small jewel.
She set the stone next to her money pouch and stood. Balancing one foot on a rock, she slipped her stockings over her damp leg and hooked them one by one to her garter. She then tied her money pouch back around her waist, pulled on her boots and reached for her corset.
“You’re not going to put that on over your wet chemise, are you?”
Anna shrugged. “I can’t very well wait for it to dry. Someone might come and find me this way.” She rubbed her hand along the cotton. “It’s dry in some places already.” She pulled the clinging fabric away from her shoulder.
“In what places?”
Both of them laughed, but Anna wasn’t about to wait for it to dry. It felt good anyway to have the moisture against her skin. Beth helped her slip back into her corset and started doing up the stays along her back.
How nice to have a new friend. Anna sensed Beth needed one as much as she did. She knew how helpless and alone Beth must feel. The woman was so beautiful, Anna couldn’t understand why Al would be so cruel.
“I’m sorry Al hurts you,” Anna whispered.
Birds twittered and a sparrow’s singing danced on the air, contrasting with the sudden tension pulling between Anna and Beth. The silence stretched out with Beth’s tugging as she tightened the last stay. Anna braced her legs to keep her balance. She was sorry she’d said anything. Nobody had ever talked to her about Uncle Horace’s beatings, and she thought Beth might want to talk or know that someone cared. After the final jerk on the was tied, she turned to face Beth.
Tears streamed down Beth’s cheeks as she handed Anna her bustle and skirt.
“I’m so sorry.” Anna placed her hand on her chest, then lowered it again so she could attach the bustle and step into the skirt. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Beth gave her a shy smile. “I’m not hurt that you spoke about it. In fact, you’re the only one who seems to have noticed. The others haven’t said anything, probably because they feel it’s not their business.” She held out Anna’s dress jacket and helped her in it. “Thank you.”
After struggling into the well-fitted fabric, Anna grabbed her buttonhook.
“I try to find my strength in the Lord,” Beth said.
Her words surprised Anna. She’d learned the hard way that the Lord didn’t keep bad things from happening. How Beth could find strength in that, she didn’t know. She finished the last button and tossed her buttonhook into her carpetbag.
“I’m unable to have children.” Beth sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Now Al feels I’ve ruined his life. He’ll never be able to have the son he’s always wanted.” She sighed. “That’s all he used to talk about before we were married three years ago. He loved me back then. And now I don’t have any family left.”
“Oh, Beth, I’m so sorry.” Anna stepped closer to give her a hug.
“Beth, woman!” Al’s voice boomed from the top of the bank, causing both women to jump. “Why ain’t you fixing my supper? Get your lazy self up here and get to work.”
Beth gave Anna a weary smile and climbed up the embankment.
Al glared at Beth, and as she walked past him, he knocked her upside the head. He then scowled at Anna, his thumbs in his suspenders. “Where’s my payment?”
Anna snatched it from the rock, climbed up the embankment, and handed Al the stone. It was the first time she saw him smile, and it was a wicked one at that.
She trudged back down to the river