A Gown Of Spanish Lace Part 4

"Wrap yerself in this. It's bitin' cold," said the smaller man.

Reluctantly Ariana obeyed.

"Ya ride?" snarled the bigger man.

"Some," replied Ariana in a trembling voice.

He nodded as though that was good enough. "Yer gonna ride now," he said in his rough voice, and he grabbed the lead rope attached to her horse and gave a jerk. They were moving out. One man in front of her, one behind.

It was snowing quite heavily now.

Mrs. Benson let the curtain fall back into place. Her eyes were dark with worry as she turned back to the kitchen stove, where the evening meal waited. She was troubled. Ariana was never this late. And it was snowing. Fairly hard now. She didn't like it. She moved toward the living room to speak again to her husband. Maybe he should goa"

When she reached the door he was already pulling on a heavy coat. "I think I'll just walk on out and meet her," he said, making the words sound reasonable.

Relieved, she smiled at him. "You'll take the lantern?" she asked simply.

He looked out the window at the falling snow. It was getting darker. He nodded slowly.

"Might be a good idea," he said. "I suppose she's been busy and just lost track of time. Doesn't realize that a storm has moved in so quickly."

Mrs. Benson knew he was trying to rea.s.sure her. She also knew he was aware that their Ariana was not one to lose track of time or the weather.

"She might have slipped and twisted her anklea"or something," she responded. "It's awfullya""

"Now, Mother," said her husband gently. "Let's not borrow trouble."

His words could not erase the worry from her face or the pang in her heart.

She quickly lit the lantern and brought it to him. "She might have stopped at the hardware store," she said, trying her own explanation. "She did say she needed another bottle of ink."

"Likely got talking with one of her studentsa"or friendsa"and hasa"" He floundered to a stop.

Mrs. Benson could tell he was going to add "lost track of time."

"I'll check there first," he said instead.

She watched him go, anxiety making her body tense. Ariana had never worried them with tardiness before. It just wasn't like her.

Ariana's mother turned back to the kitchen. She would busy herself with finding a way to keep the evening meal palatable.

Chapter Five.

Searching All through the long night and into the next day they traveled. Ariana had lost all sense of direction or any clear knowledge of time. Once they stopped, and the man Sam dismounted and came up to Ariana.

"Best slip off those shoes and put on these," he informed her. Ariana was so cold she couldn't comply. It was the man who pulled the shoes from her feet and slipped on soft-furred moccasins. He tucked her shoes into one of the packs on the extra animal. Then he handed Ariana some heavy fur mittens. "Put these on," he ordered, and Ariana managed to obey.

At least they were protecting hera"in some ways. But why? Why was she taken? What was their reason for picking up a simple schoolteacher? They must have confused her with someone else. Surely there would be no demand for ransom. Her father was simply a village parsona"not a wealthy man. He had no money to pay for her release. But if a ransom was not the motive, then why was she taken?

The very question made Ariana's blood run cold. Was she to experience a fate worse than death?

"Oh, G.o.da"please not that," she breathed into the cold night air.

It was again dark when Ariana saw the dim outlines of a cabin. She was helped to dismount by the man named Sam and leda"almost carrieda"into the cold interiora"no better than the outside as far as temperature went.

Sam busied himself with starting a fire and nodded his head toward the flame as he spoke to Ariana.

"Jest don't git too close, too quick. Might faint."

And he left her with the big, surly man while he went out to the horses.

The big man said nothing. He did not even remove his coat or hat. He crossed to a wooden frame in the corner that made some sort of crude sleeping platform.

"Gonna git me some shut-eye," he said, and even those words sounded threatening. "Don't go try nothin' foolish. I've shot more'n one man in my sleep."

Ariana s.h.i.+vered from more than just the cold. She bit her lip to keep from crying and huddled more closely to the fire in spite of Sam's warning.

When Sam returned he made a pot of coffee. Ariana was surprised at how good it smelled. She wondered how her stomach could even respond to it under the circ.u.mstances.

When the coffee had boiled he poured her a cup, then rummaged in a pack he had brought in and handed her something. It didn't look gooda"and it didn't smell good either. Ariana's stomach revolted, even though it ached for something to eat.

"Pemmican," the man informed her. "Boss ain't got much use for Injun waysa"'ceptin' pemmican. Lets me make it the way I learned froma"" He stopped, then shoved something else into her hand. "Hardtack. Eat it. It's all yer gonna git fer a while, an' yer gonna need yer strength."

Ariana cast a glance toward the corner. She could hear snoring coming from the big man. She took a tentative bite of the hardtack. It was tasteless and hard chewing, but it wasn't too bad. She took another and washed it down with the coffee.

She glanced toward the big man. Dared shea"dared she ask Sam questions?

"IaI don't understandawhat this is all about," she ventured in a quiet voice. "There must be some mistake. IaI'm not who you think I am."

Sam chewed off a big bite of the pemmican and spent some time trying to get his teeth to work up the piece before he even attempted a response.

"An' who do we think ya are?"

"IaI've no idea. IaI'm just a schoolteacher," she stumbled on.

"Got nothin' agin' schoolteachers," said the man, taking a swallow of the hot coffee to wash down the pemmican.

"But whya"?"

"Now, missa"don't ya go frettin' yerself over it none."

He took another bite of the pemmican.

"Don't fret myself!" exclaimed Ariana, raising both her position and her voice.

Sam cast a quick glance toward the corner, reminding Ariana that she'd best watch her step.

She shrank back into her crouched position before the fire. In spite of her strong resolve, tears began to fill her eyes and trickle down her still-cold cheeks. She brushed them away with a trembling hand. Sam continued to eat his pemmican.

Ariana said nothing more. It was Sam who first broke the silence. He had finished munching on his trail provisions. He had even finished his third cup of coffee. Now he pulled the back of his hand across his unkempt mustache and sniffed.

"How's yer wrist?" he asked, as though it was an ordinary question.

Ariana's eyes showed her surprise, but she said nothing.

"Let's see it," he suggested.

She hesitated for one moment, and then held it out obediently.

He took the wrist in his two hands and ran his thumbs and fingers over the area, bending it forward, then back, nearly making Ariana cry out. He pushed it to one side, then the other, his fingers feeling each bone and muscle as he moved it. Ariana fought the tears.

"Don't think nothin's broke," he said at last, "but it's gonna pain fer a while."

There was no apology. No offer to give any a.s.sistance with the pain. He released her hand and went back for another cup of coffee.

As he poured out the thick, steamy liquid he spoke again. "Iffen I were you, I'd jest curl up there beside the fire and try to git some sleep. Once daylight comes I 'spect we'll be movin' on outa"an' we got a mighty tough ride 'head of us."

Ariana nodded. The fire was making her feel drowsy.

"Here," said Sam, "use this," and he tossed his big buffalo-hide coat on the floor at her feet. Ariana reached for it and awkwardly spread it out before the fire.

Mrs. Benson opened the door as soon as she heard her husband's steps. Her eyes quickly scanned the darkness, but to her dismay he stood there in the snow alone.

"Whata"?" she began, but he brushed past her and into the room.

She saw his face then and knew that he was just as concerned as she herself was.

"IaI didn't find her," he admitted.

"Did you try the store?"

He nodded. "I went to the store first."

"Did you go to the school?"

"Of course I went to the school." His anxiety made him a bit curt, which was most unusual. His words, spoken in sharpness, brought terror to her heart.

Tears formed in her eyes, and she began to wring her hands in agitation. He stepped forward and pulled her to him. "Now, my dear," he said, and she could tell that he was fighting to put down his own fears. "Let's not jump to any conclusions. I'm sure there's a reasona""

"What reason?" she cut in, her voice full of panic as she pushed back from him. "What possiblea"?"

"I don't know yet, buta""

"She has never been late. This is not like her."

"Perhaps one of her students had an emergency."

It was something to grasp at. She prayed he might be right. But even as he spoke the words, her heart began to doubt again.

"Buta"she would have let us knowa"someway. She'd know we'd worry."

"Maybe she had no way to let us know. Maybea"there wasn't time," he continued.

"Come on to the table," she said, brus.h.i.+ng at the snow on his coat. "I've got your supper." Her voice sounded wearya"dead.

He resisted. "Noano, I just came toato let you knowa" His voice trailed off in an evasive manner. "Wea"I've spoken to the sheriffa"some of the townfolks. Weawe're going to keep looking. Weawe'll check out the homes of all the students. Make surea""

"But it's dark. And the storma""

"We'll all carry lanterns."

Her next protest caught in her throat, between concern for her husband and worry over her daughter. Silently she nodded her head. "Travel in pairs," she said softly. "Are you dressed warmly enough?"

He nodded.

He reached for her again. Her worry had turned to alarm, and now she felt as though her heart were being squeezed. She allowed herself to be drawn up against him, and the tears spilled out and mixed with the melting snow on his shoulder.

She felt him bend his head and kiss her silvery hair.

"We'll find her," he promised, his voice full of emotion.

She lifted her head and fumbled for her pocket hanky. "You should eat," she tried once more through her sniffles.

"Later."

"Travel in pairs," she reminded him again.

He nodded.

"You should have your heavier mittens," she fussed.

He nodded. "Would you get them, please?" he asked her.

She knew he was trying to distract her, but she brought the mittens and watched as he removed the ones he was wearing and replaced them with the heavy pair.

"I'll be praying," she said and lifted her hanky to wipe tears again.

He again held out his arms to her and she quickly took refuge. He was her minister now as well as her husband, and together they bowed their heads while he led them in fervent prayer. Then with one final kiss on her forehead he released her and turned back into the night.

The search continued until it was impossible to carry on. Every home that had a student in the local school was called upon. The response was always the same. The children were shocked and bewildered. "She was still there when we lefta"same as always," came the reply to the question.