Chapter 17

17

" I t says, ‘Titus gave the city of Jerusalem over to his soldiers with orders for them to sack, burn, and raze. More than a million people died in the siege with those kept alive turned into slaves. Many were sent to be fodder for the gladiators and beasts in the Roman arenas.'" Nik stopped reading the history book in his hand and looked at Aundy as she mixed cake batter from a recipe handed down in her family for many generations. "What do you suppose it was like, being in one of those arenas?"

After pouring the batter into a pan and placing it in the oven, Aundy sat down across from Nik and thought about his question.

"I suppose it would have been loud. Think of all the people there, not to mention the noise from beneath the arena where they kept the slaves and beasts. From what I understand, there were vendors selling all sorts of things, so they were probably calling out to people, trying to get them to buy their wares. It probably smelled bad with all the blood and animals, and the sheer number of people watching. It was most likely hot, standing on the sand they used in the arena." Aundy tried to recall her ancient history lessons. "What do you think it would have been like to be a gladiator? What if you were in your own country, minding your own business, when one day the Roman army arrives and declares war against you. You fight, but despite your best efforts, you're captured. Resistance is futile and you're forced to comply. After days, maybe weeks of travelling, you find yourself at a ludus where you're told you'll train to fight in the arena or you'll be killed."

"What's a ludus?" Nik asked. Enraptured with Aundy's perspective of ancient history, he appreciated the interesting way she shared it with him.

"It was a training school for gladiators. They would break the men down and then build them back up as fighting machines." She'd always liked history lessons. When they finished studying Roman history, she'd move Nik on to the Vikings. Tales of her ancestors' battles often stirred her blood.

Thoughts of her blood stirring made images of Garrett come to mind, so she slammed the door on those mental pictures, much like he'd slammed the door on her several nights ago.

"How do you know so much about history, and everything?" Nik swept his hand over the table to emphasize his point. Piles of books and papers covered the surface.

Aundy smiled, straightening a stack of the boy's homework. "I enjoyed school and learning. Books were a way to travel to faraway places I knew I'd never see in my lifetime."

Nik looked at her, balancing what she said against what some of the men told him about book learning being a waste of time for a poor shepherd boy.

Mindful of his hesitation, Aundy grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Come with me," she said, tugging him to the front room.

Quickly perusing the bookshelf, Aundy pulled several titles from their places and set them on the table in front of the sofa. She pushed Nik down on the seat and grinned at him.

Picking up the first book on the pile, she handed it to Nik then grabbed a parasol from the hall tree by the front door. She held it like a sword, prepared for an imaginary battle. "Dumas' The Three Musketeers lets you engage in sword fights and great battles for honor and truth," Aundy said, jumping around the room, lunging at Nik with her makeshift sword, making him laugh.

After selecting the next book, she tossed it to him.

He caught it and read the title From Pole to Pole . "What's this one about?"

Aundy pulled a quilt off the arm of the sofa, draped it over her head so it fell down her back, and stuck her hands in front of her like claws. "You can read all about the adventures in the frigid zones of both poles. How else would you get up close and personal with a polar bear?"

When she leaped at him, pretending to be a wild animal intent on eating him, Nik jerked back against the sofa, surprised.

"What if you were stranded on a deserted island for years and years like Robinson Crusoe?" Aundy plopped on the chair across from him, looking forlorn, like she was lost and alone. "Just think of what it would be like. The things you'd see and smell and taste and hear."

Nik sat up, eager to discover what she'd do next. She handed him the last book from her stack and snatched the pail by the desk she used to collect discarded paper. Upending it, she beat on it like a drum and marched around the room, dragging a gimpy leg while humming Yankee Doodle.

"What if you could walk beside General George Washington as he defended our great country during the Revolutionary War? Imagine what those soldiers endured as they battled for our country's freedom."

Aundy set down the pail, picked up the scattered papers, and dumped them back inside. She collapsed on a chair and blew the tendrils of hair out of her eyes that escaped the braid around her head.

"Tell me, Nikola Zorian Gandiaga, don't you think books are a wonderful, magical thing?" Aundy thought she might have gone too far with her antics as the boy continued to stare at her, not saying a word.

When Nik finally jumped to his feet and clapped enthusiastically, she decided perhaps not.

"That was incredible!" Excitement filled his face. "Wait ‘til I tell the guys about this."

"Hold on a minute." Aundy grabbed Nik's arm before he could rush out the front door. "There will be no telling of tales, young man. None at all. That performance was just for you, so you best keep it to yourself. I've got a dignified reputation to uphold, you know."

Aundy thrust her nose in the air with an exaggerated haughty demeanor until she smelled cake.

"Oh, gracious! I forgot the cake!" Aundy ran to the kitchen, pulled the pan from the oven, and released a sigh of relief it hadn't burned.

"The cake would have been a worthy sacrifice for all that." Nik offered Aundy a teasing smile.

"Oh, go on with you." Aundy helped Nik gather up his books and papers. He finished the glass of milk he'd been drinking and snatched a few cookies to take with him. "You can have a big piece of cake tomorrow, but only if you promise to be quiet about your lesson this evening."

"I promise." Nik wished the men in the bunkhouse could have seen Aundy in action. She would have made a great teacher, if she wasn't so busy trying to learn to be a farmer. "Night, Aundy."

"Good night, Nik. Be sure you get some sleep." On his way out the door, she hugged his shoulders.

As she watched him saunter to the bunkhouse with his gangly stride, Aundy smiled. He was such a bright boy with a good heart. She couldn't wait to see what kind of man he was going to grow up to be. She hoped one every bit as kind, gentle, and handsome as a certain neighbor whom she couldn't keep out of her thoughts.

Since she'd pushed Garrett out of her life, she forced herself to stay away from Nash's Folly. She picked up the telephone at least once a day to call and apologize. Those who listened in would have a heyday with the gossip if she did that.

Out riding the previous afternoon, she saw Garrett in one of the wheat fields across the fence and started to wave, then thought better of it.

If her traitorous heart had just listened to her head and not fallen for Garrett Nash, she wouldn't be feeling so heartbroken and desolate.

In the front room, she set the books back on the shelf and grinned, thinking of the fun she'd had with Nik. It reminded her of happy times she'd shared with her brother and sister when they were younger. Lars never liked school, always more interested in something that involved activity, so Aundy would act out some of his lessons in an effort to help him learn. Ilsa liked to join in, and the three of them had a high time studying and playing together.

A frown creased her forehead and turned her lips downward as she thought about the letter that arrived from her sister. Although Ilsa was more than ready to travel to Pendleton, their aunt kept finding reasons to keep her there. The girl thought she might have to steal away in the night to escape. Aundy certainly hoped it wouldn't come to that.

After folding the quilt and draping it back on the sofa, she checked the lock on the door and extinguished the lamp.

Exhausted, she fell into bed. Sleep was a long time coming as she thought about her farm, her family, her duties, and her love for Garrett.

Early the next morning, she heard several loud pops and dropped the glass she held, shattering it in the sink.

She raced out the kitchen door and was halfway to the barn when Dent and the hands poured out of the bunkhouse.

"What was that?" she asked, her eyes wide with fright. She thought she knew what made the sound, but hoped she was wrong.

"Gun shots." Dent ran in the direction of the sheep, yelling orders as he went. "Fred, Bill, saddle up and meet us in the pasture. George and Glen get out on patrol and see what you can find. Li, keep an eye on things here. Hank's with me, we'll check on Nik and Lem."

Aundy picked up her skirts and ran after Dent and Hank. Her side ached and her lungs burned, but she kept running.

As they topped the rise, they took in the sight of five dead sheep in a pool of blood that stained the grass crimson. Not far from them, they found a motionless dog, a bleating lamb, and the unmoving form of Nik.

"No, not Nik," Aundy whispered, willing her legs to carry her to the boy. Dent reached him first and carefully rolled him over. Blood poured from a wound in his upper chest.

Aundy dropped to her knees, held Nik's head on her lap, and brushed her hand along his forehead. "Oh, you poor baby. You'll be okay. We'll take care of you. Nik, please be okay." She turned her head to wipe her tear-stained cheek on her shoulder while Dent looked to Fred as he arrived on horseback.

"Call the doc and the sheriff. If they don't answer, ride for town." Dent yelled out the orders. Fred spun his horse around and took off to the house. Bill arrived, leading another horse that Dent mounted. He sent Bill to get the wagon so they could move Nik to the house.

"I need to find Lem, Missy. I'll stay here, but I'm gonna look around." Dent turned to Hank. He stood nearby, his face blanched white at the sight of all the blood. "Hank, walk over to that grove of trees and see if you find anything."

Dent rode off in the opposite direction, studying the ground.

Aundy fished her handkerchief out of her pocket and rubbed at Nik's dirty cheeks. His face had lost all color and the fact he hadn't stirred worried her. That reminded her too much of the day Erik was injured.

She should never have let Nik stay out with the sheep after she had the first threat. Regardless of what she said, he would have snuck out to be with the sheep.

Bumped from behind, Aundy lifted an arm and Butter wedged his little body next to her side, bleating pitifully.

"I know, Butter. I know." Aundy rubbed her arm over the lamb's head. He flopped down on the grass next to her and sniffed at Nik, bleating again.

She forced herself not to look back at Bob. The dog was beyond helping.

The pounding sound of hooves beating the ground drew her gaze as Bill and Fred topped the hill in the wagon, bouncing wildly as they urged the horses to go faster.

Dent dismounted behind a tree and she wondered if he found Lem. She prayed the cowboy was alive.

Hastily sending up prayers for Nik and all her men, Aundy held onto Butter as the wagon creaked to a stop beside them. Bill and Fred cushioned the bed of the wagon with a few saddle blankets. Aundy scrambled to climb into the back, sitting down so the men could place the boy with his head resting on her lap. Fred picked up Butter and set him beside her.

"Thank you." She glanced up at him with tear-filled eyes. She knew how much Fred disliked the sheep. To see him tenderly lift the lamb threatened to unravel the few threads keeping her from falling apart.

Dent waved frantically at them from the tree, so Bill and Fred guided the wagon that direction while Hank ran over.

"Help me get him loaded, boys." Dent motioned to Lem. Although unconscious, he was breathing. A bloody cut on his head appeared to be all the damage he'd suffered.

"Looks like someone knocked him out. Probably clubbed him with the butt end of a rifle," Dent said as they placed Lem in the wagon next to Nik. "Head back to the house. I'm gonna do a little sniffing around while we wait for the sheriff."

"He's out of town, but Kade and Doc both said they'd be here as quick as they could," Fred said as Bill turned the wagon toward the house.

When the wagon stopped at the end of the front walk, Aundy carefully moved and lowered Nik's head to the wagon bed before accepting Bill's hand and jumping down.

After running up the porch steps, she raced into Erik's former room, glad she'd aired it recently after sorting through his things. The room looked orderly, if impersonal.

She flung the quilt off the bed and ran to the kitchen for an oilcloth. As Bill and Fred carried the boy inside the door, she draped it over the bed.

"Bring him in here," Aundy said, watching as they gently placed Nik on the bed.

Aundy returned to the kitchen to start boiling water while Bill and Fred helped Lem into the house. Disoriented, he managed to walk into the front room with the support of the other two men.

Terrified she might lose Nik, Aundy hurried back to the bedroom with a pan of warm water and a stack of rags. She held a cloth over his wound, hoping to stop the flow of blood. After instructing Bill to hold the rag in place, she took another and wet it, wiping off Nik's face and hands.

"Nik, you're going to be just fine. You're back at the house and safe now," Aundy said as she rinsed the rag and washed his face again.

Bill peeled back the blood-soaked rag and Aundy handed him a fresh one. She took a damp cloth to Lem and dabbed at the wound on his head that already formed a scab.

The thundering of hooves echoed up the drive, and Fred ran outside to greet Kade.

"Doc's coming!" Kade yelled loud enough they could hear him in the house. Fred scooped up Butter from the front lawn before climbing into the wagon and driving it to the barn, following the deputy as he raced ahead.

"How's Nik?" Lem asked quietly, trying to look into the room where Bill bent over the boy.

"He's bleeding a lot," Aundy said, not knowing what else to do for Lem. She hurried to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water then handed it to him. He drank it down and leaned his head back against the chair, closing his eyes.

"Tried to stop him," Lem said, shaking his head then wincing at the pain.

"Stop who?" Aundy hoped Lem saw the man's face.

"Don't know. He wore a hood." Lem held his head in his hands. "Don't know who."

"Just rest for now, Lem." Aundy patted his arm. "You can tell us what happened later."

"Aundy?" Bill called. She hurried to the bedroom. Holding out his blood-slicked hands, he nodded to the basin on the nightstand. "I need more rags."

Terrified by the sight of the blood-soaked rags in the pan, Aundy took it to the kitchen and hurried back with another stack of cloths. Nik was going to bleed to death right there on the bed if they didn't do something soon. Uncertain if the bullet was still inside the boy, Aundy felt helpless.

She dropped to her knees next to the bed, took Nik's hand in hers, and prayed. When she lifted her head, Bill nodded and offered a tight smile. Before she could get to her feet, the doctor burst into the house through the front door.

He started toward Lem, but Bill caught his attention, motioning him into the bedroom.

"Nik's been shot," Bill said, pointing to the wound. "Lem's got a bump on his head. Reckon he can wait a spell before you tend him."

The doctor began barking orders and put both Bill and Aundy into service helping him. When he dug the bullet out of Nik, Aundy thought she would surely faint, but forced herself to breathe and continue following the doctor's directions.

"I can't promise anything, Aundy. That poor boy lost a lot of blood," Doc said, staring down at Nik's ashen face. "We'll just have to wait and see."

The doctor tended to Lem, declaring he had a concussion and a nasty cut. He gave him six stitches, told Lem to take it easy for a while, and stay away from any activities that might bump his head.

Lem decided to go back to the bunkhouse to rest and ambled off that direction, leaving Bill, Aundy and Doc in the house to watch over Nik.

The phone rang and Aundy answered it, not surprised to hear Nora's concerned voice on the line.

"Oh, honey, George told Jim what happened over the fence a little bit ago. I'll bring some food over and Garrett will help track down whoever did this. George mentioned someone was injured. Who was hurt?"

"Nik." Aundy's throat tightened with emotion. "Nik was shot."

She heard Nora's intake of breath. "Have mercy! Who would shoot that sweet boy?"

"I wish I knew." Anger began to overtake her other emotions. Who, indeed, would shoot an innocent boy? "Doc took out the bullet so we're just waiting."

Nora didn't have to ask what they were waiting for.

"I'll be over as soon as I can, honey. Just sit tight."

With Nora there, she'd be able to focus more on Nik and figuring out who had done such a horrid thing.

After making a fresh pot of coffee, Aundy walked back to the front room where Bill and Doc sat visiting quietly. They positioned their chairs so they could easily see into the bedroom where Nik fought for his life.

Uncertain what she should do, Aundy took a wet cloth and wiped Nik's face again, kissing his forehead as she pushed back his hair, whispering to him to fight to get well. She reminded him that he had many, many adventures to take and they'd barely got started on his schooling.

"Fight, Nik. You've got to fight." She brushed her fingers once more over his forehead before returning to the kitchen.

She poured two cups of coffee, carried the mugs to Doc and Bill, then went back to the kitchen to stir up a batch of sugar cookies. She needed something to keep her hands busy.

When the cookies were ready, she placed several on a plate, still warm from the oven. She carried it to the front room and set it on a table between the two men. Offering to refill their coffee cups, she took them back to the kitchen and returned to the front room, ready to climb the walls.

Not one who could sit and do nothing, Aundy knew she couldn't read, couldn't sew, couldn't do anything other than worry about and pray for Nik.

She rubbed her hand on her apron and looked down, noticing for the first time the blood that covered it.

Quickly excusing herself, she went to her room and changed into a clean dress. With her hair flying every direction, she took it down, combed it, and then braided it in a crown around her head, knowing that would help keep it contained. As she was leaving the room with her soiled clothes in hand, she thought about her little revolver. She slipped it into her pocket, deciding it might be a good idea to carry it with her.

She left her clothes soaking in a pan of water on the back porch by the washing machine, then tied on a clean apron and began thinking about making lunch. A quick look in the refrigerator confirmed she had enough leftover roast to make sandwiches. She started to lift out the platter then set it back inside when Nora bustled through the back door, followed by J.B., both carrying loaded baskets of food.

The couple set the baskets on the table and each gave her a hug. J.B. decided to walk out to the barn and see who was there while Nora removed her hat and hung it on a peg by the door.

"Let's go see that boy." Nora took Aundy's hand and walked to the bedroom. Aundy asked Bill if he'd walk with J.B. down to the barn, knowing he'd rather be outside than stuck in the house.

Nora and the doctor checked on Nik while Aundy stood at the foot of the bed. Tears threatened to spill as she patted Nik's sheet-covered foot. She turned away as a knock sounded at the front door.

Aundy opened it and bit back a sigh. Ashton stood on the front porch with his hat in hand.

"Aundy, I just heard the news. Is the boy going to live?"

"We're praying he will." She opened the door and stepped back so Ashton could walk inside. He gave a brief glance into the room where Doc and Nora stood over Nik's bed, then took Aundy's hand in his own, pulling her to the far side of the front room.

"When I find who has done this, I'll make sure he pays," Ashton said vehemently.

Aundy looked at Ashton, really looked at him. Something about him seemed different. Although dressed impeccably, his hair was a mess and a growth of stubble darkened his normally smooth cheeks. His eyes were what she noticed most. There was an odd light glinting in them that left her frightened.

"Missy, Dent say to…" Li rushed inside then came to a complete standstill a few feet away from where she stood with Ashton. The cook dropped his head and began backing toward the door. "Sorry, Missy. I come later."

"Please, come in." Aundy motioned for him to stay. "Have you met Mr. Monroe?"

"I leave now, Missy." Li hurried out the door.

"That wasn't like him," Aundy said absently, staring at the closed door, wondering what had gotten into her cook.

"What kind of help have you hired out here?" Ashton glared at her. "You've hired a Chinese laborer?"

"He's a wonderful cook and a good friend." Aundy didn't like Ashton's tone. "Speaking of good cooking, Nora brought food for lunch. I think I'll set it out. I'm sure everyone is hungry."

As she walked to the kitchen, Aundy wished Ashton would leave instead of following her. She opened one of the covered baskets Nora brought and set a platter of sandwiches on the table.

After retrieving plates from the cupboard, she turned around and watched Ashton grab the rocks she left in a bowl in the center of the table.

"Aren't those pretty?" Aundy set down the plates then pulled a cake from the second basket. "I found those down at the creek the other day."

"Down at the creek? On your property?" Ashton dumped the rocks into his hand, tossing all but three aside.

"What are you doing?" Aundy bent down to pick up the rocks Ashton threw on the floor. When she reached beneath the table, his fingers curled around her upper arm like an iron fist.

"Something I should have done weeks ago." Ashton yanked her upright and tugged her out the door behind him. Rushing around the corner of the house, he jerked Aundy along with him. So surprised by his behavior, she hadn't yet put up a fight, but when he neared the end of the front walk, Aundy pulled back.

"I'm not going anywhere. I need to be here, close to Nik," Aundy said, digging her feet into the yard.

"You're coming with me." Ashton held her arm in a painful grip, continuing toward his horse.

"I won't go with you." Panic began to overtake her and she struggled to pull away. If she screamed, would the men get there in time to help her? "You can't make me."

"Yes, I can." Ashton pulled a revolver from his holster and struck the handle against her head, knocking her unconscious.