Beauty And The Beast (Love Everlasting) Page 5

  Griffin was glad he had packed enough food and supplies to last them the whole winter. Izzy would be upset and think she needed to pay him back for what he’d stored in the wagon, but he just couldn’t allow her to go back to an empty farm house without any food.

  Griffin moved stiffly around the store the rest of the day, feeling like a stranger. It seemed so long since he’d worked the counter. Izzy had not only cleaned the entire place, but she’d moved things around and put them in an order that was convenient and sensible. He imagined within a year, it would be back to the mess it had originally been, before Izzy, but he planned to do his best to try and keep the place clean and organized.

  The day passed slowly. Several times he found himself staring into the round looking glass on the wall at his own reflection and remembering how she had drawn him in the sketch. Not as a beast, Lord, but as a man.

  ~

  The following day several miners came into the store to get supplies for the winter. Griffin questioned them about the weather.

  “Pretty bad already. Started snowing a week ago. I’ve been one day ahead of it the whole way here. I imagine there’s at least a foot of snow already on the ground behind me. By time I get back to my claim, could be about three foot high.”

  Griffin was polite and filled the men’s orders, but as soon as they were out the door, he locked it and turned the sign over to “Closed.” He headed toward the barn and began to saddle his largest horse.

  If the snow catches up with Izzy, she won’t be able to drive that horse. He isn’t going to budge in that kind of snow.

  Before he could finish with the saddle, Griffin heard a crowd of voices. He looked up and noted a group of men headed in his direction. At the front of the group was the scoundrel who’d dared to attack Izzy.

  Before he could speak, the man pointed at Griffin and yelled. “That’s him, men. He’s the beast I was telling you about. He dragged me off my horse and almost broke my arm, just for politely speaking to a young woman.”

  Griffin recognized most of the men as the usual crowd that hung around the saloon. Most of them were already drunk or still hung over from the night before. Even so, it wasn’t a pleasant thing to face. Men in their condition, riled up by a stranger, could be dangerous.

  Griffin backed away from his horse and tried to scoot around to the front of the building, but before he reached the store’s door, the group had encircled him.

  “Just look at him. He’s a monster.” The man stepped up and sneered at Griffin. “Where’s that lovely lady?”

  Through gritted teeth, Griffin hissed, “She’s gone. She and her father left yesterday. They are going back to their farm.”

  The man turned to the crowd. “Did you hear him? The girl’s gone. He claims she went home with her father. Has anyone ever seen her father?”

  The crowd was silent.

  “No one? Perhaps she didn’t have a father. Perhaps she didn’t go home. In fact, perhaps this beast attacked and killed her.”

  Griffin’s head spun, and he roared. “How dare you! You were the one who attacked her!”

  “See, he admits she was attacked. This beast must be stopped, men.”

  The others pressed forward and began to beat Griffin. Within minutes, he was on the ground, being kicked and punched. Blood oozed from his nose and lips. He felt the crushing sensation of his ribs breaking.

  And then, as quickly as it had begun, it ended. A gunshot was fired, and the men all turned. The doctor was standing a few feet away, pointing his shotgun at the crowd.

  “Next one who touches him will get shot.” The man’s voice seemed to bring the men back to their senses. They quickly began to move away.

  The one who had started everything was gone.

  Griffin lifted his head for a moment. “Thanks, Doc. Thought for sure I was a goner.”

  The doctor hurried over. “You might be, if we don’t get you fixed up.”

  Griffin tried to stand, even though the pain was unbearable. Then he shook his head. “I’ve got to go. The snow is only a day off, and it’s bound to catch up to Izzy and her Pa. They won’t be able to make it home if they get caught in the snow.”

  The doctor convinced Griffin to allow him to at least bandage his ribs and wipe the blood off.

  Griffin could barely make it to the building next door where he allowed the doctor to see patients. The doctor quickly assessed that Griffin had a broken rib or two. He stopped the bleeding but couldn’t guarantee that the cut over his eye didn’t need stitches.

  “No time for that. I’ve got to get to Izzy.”

  “Griffin, don’t be a fool. In your condition, you won’t make it a few miles.”

  “I have to, Doc. She’ll need help.”

  The doctor shook his head in wonder. “Might as well have let those men finish what they started then. Either way, you’ll be dead.”

  Griffin clamped his mouth shut and stood. His mind wanted to scream from the pain, but his determination pushed him forward.

  “I guess you can pray for me then, Doc.”

  The doctor looked up in surprise then smiled. “Sure thing. God is the only one who can help you now.”

  The doctor walked beside Griffin to the horse and helped him into the saddle. A bead of perspiration formed on Griffin’s forehead.

  “If you get a fever, you’re bound to get delirious.”

  Griffin picked up the reins. “Can’t be helped. Have to try.” He slapped the reins on the horse’s back and began to trot out of town.

  The doctor stared as Griffin rode away. Then he scanned the sky and recognized the distant threat.

  Lord, I can see why Griffin felt the need to go after the girl, but he won’t make it in his condition without Your help.

  Then he slapped his knee and turned toward the saloon. There were some men who were going to get an earful from him.

  12

  They had traveled for two days, but the air grew chillier as they went. While stirring a pot of stew over a small fire they’d built, Izzy turned her head and frowned at the sky behind them.

  “I don’t know, Pa. We might not get home before it starts to snow. “

  “Have to try.”

  “But it would be smarter to go back to Dobytown.”

  Her father looked up at the sky. “We can beat it, but we don’t have time to stop and eat or sleep. Need to push through. Clean this all up, and let’s get moving.”

  Izzy nodded but moved slowly. She felt lethargic. She wasn’t happy about going back to the farm. She wasn’t looking forward to finding a job in their home town. There was only one place she wanted to be: Dobytown, with Griffin.

  Lord, I have to admit, I’m in love with Griffin, and I don’t know what to do about it.

  She decided to keep the pot of stew. They could eat it cold. She carried it to the wagon and lifted the tarp in the back. She’d already discovered the supplies Griffin had hidden. She wanted to turn around and return them, but her Pa insisted they push on.

  “If you want to pay him back, you can send him money when we get in our first crop.” He’d grumbled at her. “He was keeping us like prisoners, you should be glad we’re out of there.”

  She lifted the tarp a bit higher and pushed the pot in further. It bumped up against a pile of her Pa’s clothing. One shirt fell off and made a clanking noise.

  She drew her brows together and wondered what he had in his pocket that could have made that noise.

  Izzy reached over and picked up the shirt.

  “What you doing, girl?” her Pa’s voice startled her. She turned with the shirt in her hand. She slipped her fingers into the pocket and looked up at him in disgust.

  “Pa. This is the rose brooch. What are you doing with it?”

  The man stood silent.

  “Pa, I asked you a question.”

  “Well… You see, when I started to get better and was able to move around a bit, I noticed something in the corner of the room glittering. When I got closer, I found t
he brooch. It must have fallen out of my shirt when you all moved me up there. It was hidden pretty far in a corner.”

  “Why didn’t you give it back to Griffin?”

  The man kicked his foot slightly. “Cause you had been working so hard. I figured you deserved to have the brooch. I was going to give it to you for your birthday next year. When Griffin told me the debt was clear, even for the brooch, I just kept it.”

  Izzy shook her head back and forth. “It’s not right, Pa. It’s not ours. I was willing to go on to the farm, but now, knowing about this and with the snow coming soon, I can’t go on. We are turning around and going back to Dobytown. We will return this brooch and hope Griffin won’t put you in jail this time.”

  Her father’s face flushed red. “Now look here, Izzy. I’m not going back.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  Izzy climbed up on the wagon and picked up the reins. “Okay, Pa. I hope you can walk all that way before it starts to snow.” She stared straight ahead.

  The old man had seen that look before. There was nothing he could do to change her mind. His shoulders sagged in defeat. “Okay, Izzy. But if Griffin feels the way I think he feels for you, he isn’t going to care about the brooch.”

  Izzy sat fuming, waiting for her father to climb onto the wagon and settle on the seat beside her, then she turned and asked, “What do you mean, the way Griffin feels?”

  “Can’t you tell? It’s plain as day. The man’s in love with you. That’s why I’m so determined to get us away from there. You don’t need to be saddled with such a monster.”

  Izzy gasped. “Pa, how can you call him that? He was kind enough to let me take care of you and… and just look at the supplies he gave us!”

  “Oh, he’s nice enough, and if you even hinted you were interested, he would have worshipped you; but I don’t want you tied to someone as frightful looking as him.”

  Izzy clicked the reins and began to push the horses to move. She wondered if they could get back to Dobytown before it started snowing. She didn’t like the looks of the sky.

  “Pa, a few scars don’t matter to me. Griffin is a good man. I’d consider myself lucky if he did love me.”

  “Hmph.” Her father puffed and turned his face away.

  They rode on for a while. He acted upset, kept his arms crossed over his chest. But the truth was, in a way, he was glad they were returning to Dobytown. He knew there wasn’t anything for them at the farm, and besides, he didn’t even like farming. Now that he knew she was in love with Griffin, it changed everything.

  Maybe if Izzy and Griffin marry, he’ll set me up to go gold mining again. I’m sure I could strike it rich.

  ~

  The pain in his ribs was terrible. His fingers were almost frozen solid, and from the way he felt, he was sure he had a fever. Griffin kicked the horse’s flanks. “Come on, boy. We gotta move faster. We’ve got to get to Izzy before the snow.”

  They hadn’t even gotten far from town, and the horse didn’t seem interested in going faster. The weak kicks his rider gave did nothing to inspire him to even get up to a trot; and the way the man was slumped over his back, the horse didn’t believe there was any special direction to go. So, together, man and beast wandered.

  Before long it began to snow. For a short time, the cool, wet flakes revived Griffin, and he was able to turn the horse back in the right direction; but from what he could tell, they had lost hours wandering around.

  He did everything he could to stay alert, searching the horizon. Finally fever took complete hold of him.

  Within another hour, he slumped over the horse. After the second hour, the horse slowed and stopped moving.

  Griffin’s body slipped off the horse and landed on the snow-covered ground, crushing the already broken ribs, causing him to black out.

  ~

  As she feared, it started to snow when they were one day out of Dobytown. Izzy’s Pa was now driving the wagon, but she could see the sky ahead. The snow was worse in the direction of Dobytown.

  It doesn’t matter; we have to go back.

  Izzy wasn’t sure what pushed her more: the snow, the brooch or just seeing Griffin again. Thinking about him made her heart pound.

  Will he be angry about the brooch? Will Pa’s theft turn him away from me for good? Oh, Lord. I’ve been praying ever since we left Dobytown You would find a way to bring me and Griffin back together. Is this the answer?

  “Pa, do you think we can make it to Dobytown?”

  He gripped the reins tightly and nodded. “Have no choice. We have to.”

  They rode on for what seemed hours. The ground all around disappearing under a light blanket of snow. It was growing dark.

  “We can’t stop for the night, or we won’t make it. I’m just hoping this horse has a good sense for home because it’s going to get harder and harder to see.”

  Izzy held a hand up above her eyes and squinted, trying to see as far ahead as possible.

  She turned her head slightly to the left and noted something in the distance. She reached out and tugged her Pa’s shirtsleeve.

  “Pa, that looks like a horse, with a saddle on.” She pointed in the direction she’d been looking. Her Pa turned his head then nodded.

  “Yep. Wonder what it’s doing out here?”

  “I think we should go see. At least we could hook it up to the wagon and lead it back to town.”

  “It’s not a good idea. We need to keep going.” He turned his eyes away and clicked the reins again.

  “Pa, I feel we need to see what’s wrong with that horse. I don’t know why, but please. Turn that way.”

  The man sighed but steered in the direction of the lone horse. It took about ten minutes to reach the horse. Izzy had been scanning the entire area. When they came over the last small hill, she yelled, “Look, there’s someone on the ground.”

  “Izzy, it could be trap. Might be someone who wants to steal our supplies and wagon.”

  “No, Pa. You can see the snow is piled on the person. Whoever it is has been laying there for quite some time.”

  When they got closer, Izzy jumped off the wagon seat and approached the horse gently. Something about the animal seemed vaguely familiar. Then, with a start, she realized it was one of Griffin’s horses. Her head spun to the still body on the ground.

  “Griffin?” Her voice was a whisper, and then she ran over and dropped to her knees. She reached out and tugged on the man and turned him over.

  “Pa, it’s Griffin! He’s hurt bad. Looks like he’s been beaten.”

  Her father joined her beside the large man. He leaned over and listened for a breath. “He’s alive.”

  “Can we get him into the back of the wagon?” Izzy’s question was more of a plea.

  “I’ll bring the wagon closer. Let me tie his horse onto the wagon first.”

  As her Pa moved about, Izzy leaned over and tried to shake the man. “Griffin, wake up. It’s me, Izzy.” After several shakes, Griffin’s eyes opened slightly. His voice sounded strange. “Izzy!”

  “Yes, Griffin. I’m here.”

  But he didn’t recognize her. Instead he mumbled and tried to sit up. “Must find Izzy.” He wasn’t strong enough to get up though and, after a second, sunk back onto the ground.

  “I’m here, Griffin.” Tears were streaming down her cheeks, freezing as they fell. “Pa, hurry.”

  Finally, after tying the horse to the wagon, her father brought it as close as possible. He jumped down, and he and Izzy used all their strength to get Griffin onto his feet.

  Griffin seemed to sense what they were doing to help, and he stood and clumsily climbed into the back of the wagon. Izzy crawled in after him and pressed him to lie down. She covered him with the tarp.

  “Let’s go, Pa. We need to get him back to Dobytown as fast as possible.”

  Her Pa frowned. “The ride will be too hard on him. We need to find some place closer.

  Izzy thought for a moment then realized they weren’t far from the riv
er, which meant Griffin’s cabin was near. She pointed the way, and her Pa clicked the reins.

  Izzy sat silent, holding Griffin’s hand in hers and praying.

  Please, Lord, don’t let him die. You know I love him.

  She cupped his face gently in her hands, leaned over and pressed a kiss on his cold lips.

  Griffin opened his eyes for a moment, the fever raging in them, and mumbled, “I’m a beast; she’s a beauty.”

  13

  The snow was falling heavily, but finally, after several hours, they saw the river and the cabin in the distance. She bent over and whispered, “We’re almost there, Griffin. Just hold on a bit longer.”

  Griffin had been shivering for the past half hour, and nothing she did helped. It didn’t seem to be from the cold. Griffin was hot to the touch so she knew he had a very bad fever.

  Once her Pa looked back and shook his head. “Don’t look good for him.”

  “Never mind, Pa. You keep driving as fast as you can. I don’t know what Griffin was doing and why he’s so beat up, but none of this would be happening right now if you hadn’t stolen that brooch in the first place.”

  “I know, girl. I wanted to give you something pretty since I didn’t strike it rich. I know you love roses so I thought you would like it.”

  “Oh, Pa. Didn’t you know? I just wanted you to come home.”

  “I’m real sorry, Izzy. I’ve not been a very good father.”

  She didn’t answer. What could she say? It was true. “Please, Pa, just drive.”

  ~

  As they pulled in front of the cabin, they could hardly see through the snow. It was piling up quickly, and the horses were moving very slowly.

  Izzy released Griffin’s hand.

  They stopped in front of the cabin. She and her Pa jumped from the wagon. She hurried to open the front door, and then they pulled Griffin off the wagon and half dragged him inside.

  While she tried to make a bed for him near the fireplace, with the tarp from the wagon, her Pa collected wood from nearby. She spent most of the time rubbing Griffin’s hands, trying to get them warm.