Free California Woman (Daughters of the Whirlwind Book 1) by Daniel Knapp Page A

failed to
remember her.
    "Here, drink this," he said
evenly.
    She sipped at the broth and took in his
hawk nose, curving moustache, and sharp jawline.
    "You been out for quite a walk, you
and the little fella."
    "The baby!" She tried to push
up but he stopped her. "John Alexander! Is he—?"
    "He's alive. Weak as hell, but
alive. Gonna have to get him to a doctor. You too. Don't know if he'll make it
'til thaw."
    She lay back and rested for a moment.
"Can't we go now?"
    "We got horses." He glanced at
the Indian standing outside the entrance of the lean-to. "But just two of
em.
    She propped herself up and saw the baby wrapped
in furs at the foot of the sleeping platform.
    "I told you he's alive. Lay back
down again, you hear?"
    She felt under her breasts for the money
belt. It was still there.
    He saw the movement. "We didn't take
your clothes off, if that's what you're worried about. You ain't exactly
invitin' right at the moment."
    She smiled gratefully. "Are we very
far from a doctor?"
    "Quite a ways."
    "Please. Take me to one. Take me and
the baby."
    He shrugged. "Ain't easy leavin'
here 'til spring. Helluva risk, not to mention the money in pelts lost."
    "I'll pay you!"
    His eyebrows rose. "You ain't got
any money. I checked."
    "My husband. He's in Monterey. He'll pay you."
    "Take quite a bit to make it worth
riskin' our necks."
    "It doesn't matter... He's... he's
rich. He'll pay you anything you ask."
    "Two hunnert dollars?" Mosby
asked hesitantly.
    "Three. I'll see to it. I promise
you."
    "How come you's alone? Who was you
with?"
    "The Donners."
    "Jeeesus Christ! The Donner Party?
Wasn't nothin' but stories about you folks just before Seeswash and me
come up here trappin." He rubbed his jaw. "Who was it brought the
news down to Sutter's?"
    "Charles Stanton?" She
shivered, remembering the shell of ice that had covered his face and body.
    "That's it! Stanton. Went back to
bring you people through, didn't he?" Mosby thought for a moment.
"Lotta rich folks in that train. You say Stanton brought them in?"
    "No. He died back there." She
pointed, not really knowing in which direction.
    "Beyond the pass?"
    "This side."
    "And the rest of them?"
    Not fully in control of her senses, she
thought he meant just the snowshoe party. "They must be beyond this point
by now. I was separated from them two or three days ago. I... I don't
remember."
    "Here, drink some more of this soup.
Real slow, now."
    She sipped at it, resting as the warm
liquid both stung, then soothed her insides.
    "Three days ago, huh? They was on
snowshoes, like you?"
    "Yes. I don't know exactly how long
it has been. I... I lost track."
    "Mountain man with 'em?"
    "Just Stanton, until he... died. Two
Indians. But I don't think they are from this region."
    "Like as not they're still wanderin'
out there. Might have missed this place by less'n a mile yesterday or day
before and never know'd it." He thought again for a moment, then stepped
outside and spoke to the Indian. She could not hear him, but she saw the Indian
smile in an ugly way. He came back in.
    "See by your diary your name's
Elizabeth. Mine's Mosby. Luther Mosby." He stopped smiling. "Three
hundred dollars?"
    "Yes."
    "We figure them other folks got to
be somewhere nearby. We'll start out tomorrow mornin', double back a little,
then come down the gorge they musta taken if they was travelin' south. Can't
figure out for the life of me why they would be. Or how you managed to angle
this way. Nigh impossible."
    She got up on her elbow.
"Tomorrow?" she whispered weakly. "Why can't we leave
today?"
    He laughed. "Listen to her! You ain't strong enough even to lift your
tail outa bed, let alone onto a horse.
    Anyways, it's nearly sunset."
    "Sunset?"
    "You been asleep for over
twenty-four hours."
    "My Lord! The baby! I've got to
nurse the baby!"
    "Don't worry about him. We been
feedin' him soup."
    "My God!" She reached down, so
weak she could hardly lift John Alexander, and somehow managed to take him to
her