Mountain Rose by Norah Hess Page A

Tillamook men find her, she's with Roscoe, and she'll explain to them that only he is responsible for stealin' her away.
    "I guess it comes down to her life against many of our own."
    Ruthie knew Chase was right and reluctantly picked up the rope. "I guess I'd better tie her back up then. She might try to make it back to her village and be attacked by a cat or a pack of wolves."
    "Just tie her hands to the post, with enough slack in the rope so she can lie down."
    "And you think Roscoe is going to leave it that way?" Ruthie snorted scornfully.
    "He will, because he's not comin' back here tonight."
    "Oh? How do you know that?" Ruthie finished tying the rope to the post.
    "I'm gonna keep buyin' the bastard whiskey until he passes out." The woman had lain down and wearily stretched out her bruised body. "Pile some hay over and around her, then let's get back to the post before Roscoe decides to come back."
    When a short time later they splashed through mud and puddles of water, the lantern lighting their way, Ruthie worried out loud, "I hope her people find her soon. She won't live long in Roscoe's hands."
    "An Indian man demands strength and endurance from his women. I'm sure she'll survive Roscoe's brutality somehow."
    Ruthie pushed open the back door of the post and they stepped inside.
    "When will you tell the others what Roscoe's done?" Ruthie put her leather bag in a cabinet.
    "First thing in the mornin'." His hand on the latch that separated the kitchen from the barroom, Chase paused. "Has my friend Jamie been around, Ruthie?"
    Ruthie shook her head and smiled sympathetically. "I haven't seen him, Chase. Has he disappeared again?"
    "Yeah." Chase nodded his head soberly. "Somethin' or somebody set him off." He lifted the latch. "He'll be back when he gets whatever it was out of his system. Maybe in a week or so."
    Chase stepped inside the big room smelling of spirits and stood at the end of the bar. "Raegan all settled in?" Sid Johnson put a bottle of whiskey and a glass before him.
    "Yeah." Chase nodded. "Listen, Sid, I want you to do me a favor."
     
    "Sure. Just name it, friend."
     
    "Keep Roscoe's glass filled with whiskey until he falls into a drunken stupor. I'll settle up with you when he passes out."
    Sid looked at him quizzically. "You're gonna treat that bastard to free drinks? How come? There ain't a man in this room who'd buy him a glass of water if it would save his life."
    "I have my reasons," Chase said grimly, "and it has nothin' to do with friendship. Ruthie will explain it to you later."
    "Okay, if that's what you want." Sid took a bottle from the shelf behind him. "I'll start him on the path to oblivion right now."
    Sid walked down the bar and Chase poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bottle his friend had left beside him on the bar. As he sipped the fiery liquid, his thoughts turned to Jamie Hart—Jamie, half breed, wild and reckless: with an angelic smile.
    Jamie had became a part of his life five years ago. The young man, around twenty-one years old, had beyond a doubt saved Chase's life. He could remember the time.
    Mists were still hanging in the valleys that morning when he saddled Sampson and rode to a meadow a few miles away, hoping to bag a deer. The animals' favorite time to browse was
     
    in the early daylight hours.
     
    He had barely secreted himself in the dark shadows of a wide spruce when six head of them trooped out of the brush and began daintily snipping at the tall, lush grass. He tightened his knees around the stallion's belly, signaling him not to move. He pulled his rifle from its sheath, brought the butt to his shoulder and carefully took aim at a yearling.
    Chase never pulled the trigger. For suddenly he was surrounded by a pack of wolves. He thought there were at least eight as he fought to stay on Sampson's back, the stallion whinnying his terror as the hungry animals snarled and snapped at his legs, trying to pull him down.
    Before Chase knew it, as if it was