The Darkness You Fear Read online

  “You best eat something, miss,” Angus said. He was struck hard in the face, nearly knocking him over. The others got the message and stayed quiet.

  When they were done eating, they were tied up again.

  It took most of the morning for Meredith’s men to pack up. They had been camped here for a long time, it seemed. Their gear was spread out everywhere. They were leaving most of it, a scattered mess. Finally, just after noon, they released the prisoners from the trees.

  Virginia felt the blood coming back into her hands and arms in a painful rush.

  “On your feet,” Caruthers said, pulling her up roughly. She staggered, her legs numb, and nearly fell over. Her hands were tied behind her back again. It was clear that she and her three companions weren’t going to be allowed to ride their horses, which were led away by their captors.

  They were steered toward the creek and pushed forward. Virginia carefully ventured into the freezing water. The creek was nearly empty, and at the deepest spot only reached her knees. But it was slick, and she nearly lost her footing several times. Beside her, Drake went face first into the water, where he struggled to lift his head above the surface. Finally, Samuel took pity on him, lifted him up, and helped him across the last few yards to the far side of the creek.

  At the top of the bank, Virginia saw three patches of freshly turned soil. The digging had been done in a rush, and the areas didn’t have the well-defined contours of graves, but she was certain that’s what they were. Who the unfortunate victims were, she didn’t know. Gus was lying somewhere exposed in the desert, according to Meredith, and unless he was telling a lie—and Virginia couldn’t imagine why he would be—he hadn’t yet encountered Jed or Becky.

  Caruthers tied a rope around her neck and mounted his horse. She struggled to keep up on foot. These men didn’t have a clue how much danger they were in. Virginia was certain that any trespasser on what Meredith considered his territory was in danger, and that probably included Meredith’s own men. Virginia wracked her brains for a way to warn them—and to make them believe her. She thought it pretty unlikely that Meredith had ever intended to reveal the location of the mine to his men, but once the secret was out, he had no choice.

  “He doesn’t want you to know where the gold is,” she said abruptly. “He won’t let you get away.”

  Caruthers leaned down from his saddle and raised his fist as if to strike her, and she subsided.

  There was no way Meredith was going to get the drop on all five of his followers, which meant he had to winnow them down, pit them against each other somehow—which suited Virginia’s goals as well, if she and her friends could just survive long enough. She would watch and wait for her opportunity.

  The knife strapped to the inside of her thigh chafed as she walked. Meredith had ordered her searched, but, out of modesty, Samuel hadn’t discovered it. If she could get her hands free long enough…

  Despite the frost of the night before, the day was warming up quickly. By midafternoon, Meredith’s men were drinking from their canteens, and Virginia’s mouth felt dry, her lips cracked.

  “If you want to keep us alive,” she said, “you’d best give us some water.”

  None of her guards reacted. Meredith was riding at the head of the group. He didn’t seem to hear her at first, then she heard him say, “You’ll live, bitch. We’re almost there. You can drink once we arrive.”

  Virginia looked around. The desert looked the same as the day before and the day before that, an endless sea of sagebrush and lava rocks, small hillocks, and gullies, but now that she knew what to look for, she saw a small butte ahead of them, bare of vegetation, covered by rocky scree. As they approached, the land dipped downward steadily to the bottom of a dry creek bed. Bare rocks rimmed the bottom, rounded and worn smooth by water, so apparently the creek wasn’t dry all year long. Dark sand filled the spaces between the rocks.

  There was evidence of a recently occupied campsite on the banks, and against a small juniper tree leaned a shovel. Below the shovel was a spot in the creek bed where the soil was darker than the rest, with a glistening of moisture atop the dirt and rocks.

  Meredith dismounted and strode over to Virginia.

  “Clement, keep your gun on her,” he said. He cut her bonds, then took two steps over to the tree and grabbed the shovel. Marching back, he shoved it into Virginia’s hands. “You want water, girl? Then start digging.”

  She hefted the shovel. Meredith was within striking range; one quick blow and her enemy would be down forever. Without him, chances were good that the others would set to squabbling over the gold mine—if they could find it.

  Clement was watching her. His eyes were glinting as if he could see her intentions and was daring her. No, she decided. She might take out Meredith, but she’d die in the effort, and his men would probably shoot the rest of the prisoners too.

  Besides, she’d promised to find Becky Catledge, and she intended to fulfill that promise.

  Virginia shoved the spade into the dark sand, turning it over and reaching water within moments. She dug down several feet, slopping the wet sand over the sides of the hole. She stood back and examined at the murky water, and almost put her face down to it, silt or no silt. But even as she watched, the water began to clear.

  She felt arms wrap around her waist and lift her away from the hole. Clement grabbed the shovel and tossed it back against the tree. He leaned down and filled his waterskin. One by one, the other men joined him, until the water was down to a few inches of muck at the bottom of the hole.

  “There’s your water, miss,” Clement said, walking away. In his disdain, he didn’t retie her hands. She was a mere girl to him, someone he could lift bodily, and he obviously didn’t believe she posed a danger, reputation or no reputation. Her hands drifted down to her thighs.

  But what could she do with only a knife? She would only get them all killed. She decided to leave the blade where it was for now.

  Meredith supervised the unloading of the packhorses and mules. “Leave that one,” he said, pointing to one of the mules, which was loaded down with shovels and picks. “We’ll be needing those tools to open the mine. You boys stay behind for now. Caruthers and Clement, get your personal gear and follow…”

  “Hey, boss!” Caruthers called out.

  Meredith turned, frowning, annoyed at being interrupted.

  Caruthers was pointing up the rocky hillside. “There’s someone up there!”

  Meredith marched to his horse and pulled his rifle from its holster in one swift move. He motioned for Caruthers and Clement to follow him. At the last second, he paused and turned, speaking to his three other men. “Keep on eye on the prisoners. If they try anything, shoot them.”

  Virginia examined the hillside. She thought she could see movement about halfway up. She tried to get a better view, careful not to make any sudden motions. Samuel glanced nervously back at her, and then toward his boss, back and forth with gun in hand, as if he couldn’t decide where the greatest danger lay.

  Meredith and his men marched to the base of the hill and start climbing. It was only when they were almost to the mine that Virginia saw the small hole in the hillside and the pile of rocks around the entrance.

  A head poked out of the hole, long blonde hair glinting in the sun.

  Becky Catledge, Virginia thought.

  “Stay back!” a woman’s voice shouted. “I’ve got a gun trained on you!”

  Meredith stopped abruptly. The barrel of his rifle rose slightly, as if he was considering defying the challenge, but then he lowered the weapon.

  It was a stalemate, and Virginia couldn’t see how could be easily resolved.

  Shoot him! Virginia thought. But from everything she had read in Ellen Meredith’s diaries, she doubted Becky was that cold-blooded. Yet if she let Meredith get away, it was only a matter of time before he and his men would storm the hill.

  Or worse, they would simply wait. The only water was in the creek bed, and Meredith had tim
e on his side.

  “Is that you, Becky?” Meredith said. His voice was even, almost friendly sounding. “Is Jed with you?”

  “I’m here, Jonathan,” a man’s voice called from inside the cave behind Becky.

  “Well, I’m glad to see you,” Meredith said. “Why don’t you let me in, or better yet, come on out? I’ve got fresh supplies to share. We can talk this over. There’s plenty of gold for all of us.”

  There was silence, and Virginia wondered if the pair inside the cave were actually considering Meredith’s offer. She wanted to shout out a warning, but of course, Becky and Jed knew better than anyone how little Meredith could be trusted.

  “We found them, Jonathan,” the girl shouted. “We found their bodies.”

  “Found them?” Jonathan echoed. “Found who?”

  “You know who, you bastard! Cager and Allie…and Edwin.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  In response, there was the loud crack of a gunshot. A rock just above where Meredith was standing spun and slid down downhill, generating a small rockslide that nearly tossed the man off his feet.

  “Get away, and don’t come back,” Becky called.

  Meredith caught his balance but remained where he was. Caruthers and Clement turned tail, however, and went sliding down the hill toward the camp.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Meredith said loudly. “And neither are you.”

  He stood defiantly for a few more moments, as if daring her to shoot him. Only then did he turn and make his way down the hill, not looking at all rushed.

  Virginia heard a furtive movement behind her, as if an animal was running for cover. She turned to look, and at the same moment, there was the sound of a gunshot.

  Caruthers, who had almost reached the bottom of the hill, slapped his hand to the side of his neck. Blood welled out from under his hand, then squirted between his fingers. He fell to his knees, then toppled over.

  Two more shots rang out. Franklin dropped to the ground, unmoving. Behind Virginia, the small tree the shovel was leaning against splintered. She couldn’t make sense of it at first. Were Becky and Jed shooting at them? Why now?

  A fourth shot rang out, and one of the horses squealed and staggered. The shots were coming from behind them, at the edge of the copse of trees. Furtive shadows darted forward, and Virginia saw their bare skin. Indians, she thought.

  She tried counting them, and probably counted some of the attackers twice, but she was certain there were at least a couple of dozen men, quickly flanking and enveloping them.

  Two of Meredith’s men were caught in the open, and both went down in a flurry of gunshots.

  “Run for the mine!” Virginia cried.

  Perhaps her Canowiki voice helped, for they all obeyed—prisoners and guards alike—at once. Samuel ran over to the horses and tried to lead them away, but they were too panicked. Several broke away, and he quit trying to coax the others and turned and ran.

  Virginia, Angus, and Drake were the last to reach the base of the hill. By then, Meredith had reached the mine’s entrance. He stood at the entrance, his hands outstretched, his pistol dangling from his fingers. Everyone paused for a moment to see what would happen, even as bullets continued to strike around them, sending ricochets off the rocks.

  Meredith ducked into the opening, quickly followed by Clement and Samuel. Virginia pulled out her hidden knife and cut the ropes binding Angus and Drake. Angus stumbled as they began the ascent. Virginia grabbed his arm and helped him gain his balance. Drake lurched forward on his own.

  Bullets flew past them, tugging at the edges of their clothing and packs, but miraculously missed them.

  Should we throw ourselves on their mercy? Virginia wondered. It was clear that Meredith and his men had done something to anger the Indians. Her thoughts went back to the three freshly dug graves. Could Meredith have been so stupid?

  She continued to scramble up the rocky hillside. It felt as if she was sliding back a foot for every two feet she climbed, but eventually she reached the opening to the mine, which was bigger than she had expected. It wasn’t big enough for one of the pack mules, but she could duck into it without having to crawl.

  A last gunshot rang out. The rock above Virginia’s head shattered, showering slivers into her face, barely missing her eyes.

  Uncertain what she’d find on the other side, Virginia dove into the darkness.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Vale, Oregon Territory, September 1851

  When Jed showed up at the Smith Feed Store in Vale, it was barely dawn. Becky, an early riser, was sitting on the porch. Her heart leapt to her mouth, and she felt uncharacteristically shy as he approached. He was tall and handsome, and so mature that she felt like a little girl in his presence.

  “Hello, Jed,” she said softly.

  He stood before her, looking as though he wanted to embrace her, but instead stiffening into a ramrod correctness. “Miss Catledge,” he said.

  A few years before, she would have squealed and run into his arms, but now she blushed and looked down at the ground like a proper young lady. She had spent most of the last couple of years in hiding, dreaming of the day when Jed would appear before her, and she had fashioned a thousand greetings, but now that the time had come, she was dumbstruck.

  Jed seemed equally tongue-tied, but he managed to ask Becky when she would be free to go for a stroll. She looked around for the manager, Cole Johnson, and motioned him over.

  “Will you take over the front?” she asked.

  “Certainly, ma’am,” Johnson said.

  She turned back to Jed, who raised an eyebrow. “Ma’am?”

  Becky curtsied. “I’m free right now, sir,” she said. At the word “sir,” both of them laughed, and it seemed to break the tension. But a “sir” was what he looked like. He’d filled out, and no longer looked like a scarecrow in castoff clothes. He had a short beard, neatly trimmed, and a mustache that he curled up at the ends.

  Becky had filled out as well, and she caught him staring when he thought she wasn’t looking.

  As they walked down the dusty street, they relaxed, and, chatting, they soon fell into their old conversational rhythm.

  “Where’s Edwin?” Becky finally asked. The question ended their easy familiarity.

  Jed stopped dead in the street and looked down at his shoes. “That’s…that’s why I’ve come.”

  Not to see me, Becky thought with a twinge of disappointment.

  “Edwin’s gone, Becky,” Jed said. “He left a message that he was going to California to join the gold rush.”

  “He always was a romantic,” Becky said. “Good for him.”

  “No,” Jed said curtly. He caught himself and took a breath. “Sorry, but you didn’t hear how he used to disparage the gold hunters. ‘You’d make more money selling them shovels,’ he’d say.”

  They started walking again. They had no specific destination, and there was little open that early in the morning. Eventually, Becky intended to lead Jed back to the house, but for now she wanted him to herself.

  “So where did he go?” she asked.

  “I think he went looking for Cager and Allie,” Jed said. “At least, so I hope.”

  “But you think there is another possibility…” she prompted.

  “My father…stepfather…was traveling around the same time. Edwin was always asking to go along…”

  Becky felt her heart sink. It was a fearful possibility, for they both suspected that Jonathan Meredith was responsible for Cager and Allie’s disappearance, though neither had ever dared to broach the possibility, for if either of them admitted it, they would have had to do something about it.

  The tragedy had tainted the friendships of all the small company who had spent so much time together on the long westward trail. They’d all felt the same helpless guilt. When Becky’s parents had insisted on moving away and changing their names, Becky had agreed, but only because she thought it was a temporary s
olution. She’d thought she’d be separated from her friends for only a few months; a year at the most. Surely Mr. Meredith would meet justice, if not for this crime, then for another.

  “How did you find me?” she asked.

  “Your letters,” Jed said. “You always sent one of them near my birthday, and finally I followed the man who delivered the letter and questioned him. I have a great deal of money now, Becky. I bribed him into telling me who’d given him the letter.”

  Becky didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then she turned aside, climbed the stairs in front of the general store, and sat on the empty bench outside the door. Inside, she could see Mildred and Paul Davies getting ready to open the store.

  “How long ago?” she asked.

  “What’s that?”

  “How long ago did you find out where I was?” she repeated.

  Jed sat next to her and put his hand on hers. “I’ve known for a couple of years, Becky,” he said gently. “But I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me. You disappeared, after all.”

  “What about your stepfather?” she asked. “Does he know?”

  “Of course not!” Jed said, sounding shocked. “He never knew I received any messages from you, and I certainly wouldn’t tell him.”

  Becky believed him, but she was still troubled. If Jed had a “great deal of money,” Jonathan Meredith had a great deal more of it.

  “Becky, I’m going to look for Edwin,” Jed said. “Will you come with me?”

  Becky didn’t have to ask where Jed planned to look for his brother, for they both knew there was only one place he was likely to go. “Let me write a note to my parents,” she said. “We need to be gone before they wake up.”

  ***

  The Lost Blue Bucket Mine was easier to find than Becky had expected. It was as if she could remember each individual footstep she’d taken on that long-ago journey, but most of all, she remembered the places that Meredith had avoided in the search for Allie and Cager.