“I’ll pay anyone willing to take me out.”
Zack continued to laugh. “General, please. Don’t show off ya money like that. You gonna call bad attention.”
“Ineedto get to Montana.”
Zack sighed, patting the counter. “Look, General. If ya really wanna get there, wait till spring. I got a nice room out back, and you can stay there. I’ll even send you a nice lady to keep ya company. Just don’t do somethin’ stupid.”
General’s muscles tensed. He didn’t want a woman. He didn’t want a bed here, despite the lovely supply of liquor. He wanted what was rightfully his.
“I’m good,” General snapped. “I’ll find someone else to help.”
Zack walked off, shaking his head as he continued to laugh. “Good luck with that.” The barkeep turned away and tended to another customer on the other side of the counter.
General took another sip of whiskey and put his money away. Some business Zack had here, insulting his customers. Perhaps if General taught him a lesson, he’d think of something else to say, perhaps even get him a stagecoach. Something told General the man was just frightened and lazy.
“You lookin’ for someone to take ya to Montana?’
General turned around, facing a man standing tall before him. He had a thick, black beard, streaked with smoky gray, that added to his rugged appearance. He wore an oversized buffalo coat that draped heavily on his broad shoulders, making him appear twice as large as he likely was.
“What’s it to you?”
The man settled himself in the stool next to General, putting out his hand. “Buck Hanson.”
General took the man’s hand, shaking it with a firm grip. “General Marcus Wellington.”
“General?” Buck repeated, his brows raised and forehead creased. “Confederate?”
“Yes.”
Buck nodded with a smile. “Ah, well it’s an honor. We might’ve passed each other on the battlefield once. I fought for the Confederate States. I’m a Louisianan, born and raised.”
General grinned. “Well, that makes me proud. It’s nice to meet another true man of the cause.”
“I came out west after the war. I trap and trade now.”
General took a sip of his whiskey. “You trade with the Indians?”
“I do,” Buck said. “I hope you don’t mind that I overheard your conversation, but I’m headin’ out to Montana myself to trade with some Cheyenne. I have a sled already set up with suppliesthat’ll last another month.” Buck leaned in closer. “I know that barkeep said you’re crazy for goin’ alone, and he’s right. It’s not just the freeze you should worry ‘bout. There’s Injuns, lots of ‘em, and they’re out for blood. You need someone with experience to escort you out.”
General’s brows raised. “I’d be obliged.”
“Anythin’ for my general. I respect ya, just like I did in the army. You and me are brothers from the same side.”
General reached into his pocket. “How much?’
Buck shook his head. “None.”
General grinned. He reached out, shaking Buck’s hand. “What time we heading out?”
Chapter Thirty-One
JosiesatintheBlythe pew, clutching Nathan against her chest while her hands trembled violently. Here she was, holding a three-week-old baby who was healthy in size and far from early. He was full-term, weighing nearly eleven pounds by now. Nathan was no premature infant; his plump cheeks, tiny fingernails, and healthy complexion made that clear.
Josie’s thoughts drifted back to the gossip circles of her childhood, where stories of early babies and perfect health were whispered with suspicion. If she was still part of that circle, she’d be the subject of every conversation, sticking out like a sore thumb, being the topic of gossip for years to come.
She shamed this family, no doubt of that. If it wasn’t for Travis’s gentlemanly heart, she would gladly step up and take the blame. Travis wanted Nathan to grow up with the same love and belonging as if he shared their blood. Telling town members Josie was from Bozeman was a lie, but it was his way of protecting her.
Reverend Levingston closed his Bible after delivering the message. The building fell into a hushed silence until he called upon a man in the front row to lead the closing prayer. Josie bowed her head, her eyes fluttering shut as she held Nathan close. Her heart raced with every growing second, awaiting the subtle “amen.”Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,echoed in Josie’s mind. The familiar scripture wrapped around her, and the peace within those words slowly soothed her restless spirit.
