Kaed followed behind them as Travis led them back in a southwesterly direction toward the cabin. His thoughts were already home. With Jessica and Lexi.
One more night. Maybe the last night they'd ever spend together. By now, he knew Jessica had to understand that as well. He had to go. As much as he dreaded it, duty made it impossible for him to look the other way. His strength was returning with each day that slipped by, and although it wouldn't be easy to ride all day in the saddle, he knew he was capable of doing so.
The bullet wound at his side was healing well. His cracked ribs had become no more than a nuisance, leaving his right arm his biggest problem. But it wouldn't prevent him from leaving at dawn.
And there was no telling when he'd be able to get back here. Days. Weeks. Maybe never. Telling Jessica goodbye would be one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Coming home to her again—well, he was already looking forward to it, and he hadn't even left yet.
With a jolt, he realized how drastically his world had changed in a few days' time. He hadn't wanted it to. Thought he hadn't wanted it, he corrected. Now, he couldn't imagine it any other way.
They came to the creek crossing, splashing through to the clearing where the cabin sat. Kaed rode behind Travis and Frank, not listening to their conversation, his mind still filled with Jessica. As the cabin came into view, his pulse quickened. This is what it would feel like. To ride back in after ending this business with Fallon, to see the smoke rising from the chimney, the smell of supper in the early evening air. To know what waited for him beyond the log walls.
The love of a lifetime. A home, such as he dimly remembered in the recesses of his mind. A family. Could he risk it again? How could he not?
Jessica stood on the porch talking with Jack Eaton. Harv played with Lexi, who lay on a nearby pallet. He sat with his body blocking the stairs so that Lexi wouldn't fall as she attempted to crawl toward him. Tom Sellers lounged beside the doorway, cleaning his pistol.
Travis turned in the saddle. He cocked his head toward Jessica and Jack and gave Kaed a wide grin. "Worried?"
Kaed shrugged. "Nope. Jack knows what's good for him. I'm still faster than he is, even left-handed. Besides, Jessi knows she's saddled with me, now. She's the one, Travis. The only one who matters."
Travis let go a low whistle. "Never thought I'd see the day, Kaed."
Kaed laughed. "Can't marshal forever. One of these days, you'll have to give up your wild ways and settle down, too."
Travis shook his head emphatically. "Not for me. I've still got some good years ahead of me."
Jessica turned to look at Kaed as they neared the front porch, her eyes like the rising sun when they met his. His chest grew tight, as if his heart was expanding to fill it.
"So do I, Travis," he murmured, holding her look. "So do I."
Chapter Nineteen
That night as they lay in bed together, Kaed absently fingered Jessica's hair. Her head was pillowed on the hard muscles of his shoulder, his left arm encircling her.
Lexi had been restless after all the excitement of the day, and Jessica was unusually tired.
The marshals had made their camp beside the creek bank. Jessica heard the low murmuring cadence of their voices as they spoke, too far away to make out the words, but the lulling sound of muted conversation carried on the night breeze through the open window.
It was comforting somehow, having other people close. She hadn't realized how she'd missed it since Rita Hastings had died and Wayne had gone to California. She breathed in Kaed's scent, a mingling of the pine woods, the freshness of the wind and the heat of the sun on his skin.
How was she going to exist without him?
She squeezed her eyes shut as the thought she'd been trying to deny all afternoon overcame her, engulfed her, and made her numb. His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear, his breathing even. Although neither of them had spoken of it yet, it lay between them, and she could tell he was trying to form what he wanted to say to her.
She turned her head and kissed his chest.
He quirked a brow. "What was that for?"
She smiled at his puzzled tone. "That, Marshal Turner, was a just because."
His lips curved upward. "Give me another one."
"Why?"
He laughed softly. "Just because."
Jessica turned on her elbow instead and looked at him. "Come back to me, Kaed." There was no need to try to talk him out of going. She knew it would do no good, and she didn't want to think about him leaving anymore. Tonight, she didn't want any more discussion or worry over something that couldn't be changed. There'd be plenty of time for the worry after he was gone.
His smile faded. "I've been thinking about what I wanted to say to you."
"I know you have." She looked down.
"Jessi, you're not mad at me, are you?"
Her gaze returned quickly to his. "No, darling." She reached to kiss his lips with a gentle brush of her own. "I'm not mad. I know—I understand—that you've got to go. I knew it when I saw them all here in the yard today. Mr. Eaton said—" she broke off at his glowering look.
"Mr. Eaton said what?" Kaed asked caustically.
"He said, looks like maybe you could use another week or two on the mend. Maybe you could catch up."
Kaed chuckled aloud at Eaton's wrangling. "Jessi, he was just trying to make up for what he said earlier."
"About the other women?"
His eyes warm with laughter, he said, "I've never been a monk, Jess, but those others were before you. Jack just saw a chance to make it up to you. Thought maybe if he dropped that idea in your lap, you'd badger me into staying here to heal up."
"Are you saying you don't believe you need it?"
The laughter fled, and he became serious. "No. I know I need it. I'm not ready to do the kind of riding we'll have to do. My ribs still hurt some, and my arm's not good for anything yet, probably won't be for at least another week."
"A week? More like a month, the way it was broken. Kaed, if you re-injure it—"
"Eaton's a pretty fair doc. Knows something of medicine, and can set a broken bone. Probably what he's worried about."
"I wish you could wait a little longer."
He sighed, then kissed the top of her head. "I wish I never had to go, Jess. But Fallon's had those captives too long already. He'll be itching to get them sold. If it takes much longer, or they become too much trouble for him, he'll kill them. The money won't be worth it." His voice turned hard. "Most of all, I want to see Fallon dead for Mitch, and for White Deer and Two Stars."
She raised her eyes to his, her unspoken plea obvious.
"I'll be careful." The pad of his thumb traced her cheekbone. "I promise."
She bit her lip, and sighed in defeat. "I never knew I could love anyone so much."
Kaed grinned and reached for her. "Come show me."
* * * * *
"What's he doing, Tori?" Lily whispered. She moved closer to her sister, her gaze riveted on Andrew Fallon as he ordered his men into the chilly river waters. The night had turned colder, and the girls' clothing was becoming threadbare and ragged.
Tori shook her head. "Fallon's plumb crazy, Lily. Making his men dive for that ship! What's he think he's going to do if he finds it? Pull it up with his bare hands?"
"Or a rope, maybe," Lily said innocently.
Tori didn't say anything. She reminded herself that Lily was, after all, only eight years old. And she, at eighteen, knew how the world worked much better than little Lily did. At least Lily had stopped crying all the time. Now, Tori wasn't sure if that was an improvement.
Lily sometimes scared her, the way her eyes looked hollow. Like there was no feeling left in her. Tori had no mirror, but her little sister looked like she herself felt. Older than she should be. And sad. But Lily didn't seem to be afraid any longer, and Tori supposed that was a good thing.
Tori knew what Fallon intended to do with her and Lily. But the initial shock and fear of Fallon's intent
was overshadowed by other things that had actually happened. The violent deaths of their parents and their brother, the endless days of riding with scant food and water, the bone-deep weariness that never let up, not even when she slept on the hard ground at night next to Lily.
She was responsible for Lily, now that her parents were gone. She squared her thin shoulders, her gentle eyes turning hard for a moment. She would protect her sister, no matter what.
Tori watched as Fallon ordered three of his men back into the water yet another time. Even if they could see what they were diving for, it would be too deep to reach. But the scene helped Tori realize just how unstable Andrew Fallon was. Once or twice, she'd caught herself thinking he was almost a nice man. He'd brought her and Lily a blanket one cold night. And he'd given them extra rations another time. But she knew he was not nice, not even sane.
Evil, was what Andrew Fallon was. Evil, and most insane.
She watched him, posturing and screaming at his men, who were so terrified of him that they were making fools of themselves trying to dive for an unreachable goal, a ship that may contain treasure, but just as well may not. A vessel that was impossible to get to, all the same. Especially in the pitch-black night. Lily leaned against her, her weight heavy with sleep. They sat beside a tree, their backs propped against the rough bark. The night was cool, and Tori had drawn the blanket close around them. She sagged against the tree trunk, her arm around her little sister, as Lily's eyelids drooped.
Tori sighed. She would have allowed herself to cry while Lily slept, but she was surprised to discover that she was able to keep her eyes dry with minimal effort. She must be getting stronger, she decided, and not just for Lily's sake. She didn't need to cry anymore. She thought of the long hours after Fallon's men had murdered her father and brother, and of how she and Lily and her mother had cried until there were no more tears left.
Maybe that was it. There were no more tears. She and Lily had cried when their mother had been killed. But there had been no more tears since that day. Was it pride, she wondered, or had they no feeling left in them?
She settled Lily closer, resting her back more fully against the tree, as she continued to watch Andrew Fallon make a fool of himself and his men. A small smile curved her lips.
"Are you watchin' him, Mama? Crazy, isn't he? Just plumb nutty."
A peace stole over her. She often thought of things she'd like to say to her mother, but had never dared to speak them aloud. But it felt good to talk to Mama. Maybe Mama was their guardian angel, doing her best to watch over her and Lily.
"Mama, please let someone rescue us. I know you're there, and you're listenin' to me." She brushed her long blonde hair back as the breeze played with it. "You always used to say—"
God helps those who help themselves.
Tori sat up abruptly as the words crashed into her consciousness, just as loudly as if—as if her mama had spoken them.
All of the men were down by the river, with no one in camp, not one other person except her and Lily. Maybe they didn't need rescuing.
They could escape.
But where would they go?
Tori gazed into the darkness of the woods beyond the campfire. Those unknown recesses could receive her and Lily into their bosoms for safekeeping, or as a sacrifice.
She lifted her chin. She wasn't afraid of the woods themselves, but she knew what dangers they held. Yet, what could be more dangerous than their present circumstances?
She glanced toward the water once more, and watched the ravings of a lunatic. How long would he continue his search? She shook Lily awake. "Lily, wake up, sweetling."
Lily opened her eyes. "Mama?"
Tori gave her a smile. "No, it's me."
Lily looked disappointed.
"All the men are down at the river," Tori said, excitement mingling with the chill to make her shiver. "I was thinking, maybe we could escape—" She broke off as Lily eagerly nodded her head.
"Yes, Tori. Let's do it. Remember what Mama always used to say?"
Tori felt a prickle at the nape of her neck. "What was that?"
"God helps those who help themselves. Maybe this is our way of getting to help ourselves."
Tori felt as if the breath had been knocked from her lungs.
Mama was here. She would help them through the darkness.
* * * * *
"You reckon Kaed'll ride with us tomorrow, Tom?" Harv dumped the rest of his coffee out and knelt beside Sellers to wash his cup in the creek.
Tom chuckled and raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Harv. "You reckon he won't?" He shook his head. "He'll be with us. Ain't nothin' could keep him away from ridin' along, I 'spect." A scowl crossed his face. "Though, I sure don't like the idea of goin' off and leavin' a woman and baby out here alone whilst we're off trackin' Fallon. God only knows how long we'll be gone. Anything can happen."
Harv nodded and got to his feet. "Reckon I know that better'n anybody else, Tom. Sometimes I think my Sally an' the boys woulda been better off dead than livin' like they are with them savages."
The bitterness in Harv's voice surprised Tom. He rose, and flung water droplets from his own enameled dishes before he met Harv's eyes. "You want to be careful, Harv, that you don't wind up like Polk. How long's it been now? Near twenty years? That's a long time to keep all that inside you."
"What would you do?" Harv muttered.
"Write it off and move on. It's past time you done that, Harv. Way past time. Them boys is growed now. They're men. Got their own lives. You need to do the same."
Harv's face turned incredulous. "Marshalin's all I know, Tom. It's all you know."
Tom's lips curved up under his moustache. "Naw, Harv. It ain't all I know. It's all I done for a long time, but I know a lot of other things besides ridin' a horse and drawin' a gun. So do you." He grinned at Harv's obstinate look. "You know how to keep baby girls occupied on the front porch."
Harv's neck reddened. "Now, wait a minute! I was just tryin' to help Miss Jessica out since she was so good as to make us some food, an'—"
"Aw, hell, Harv, admit it. You enjoyed playin' with little Lexi. Ain't nothin' wrong with that." He gave Harv a sly wink. "An' it sure entertained the rest of us. It's been a while since I've seen a grown man make such a doggone fool of hisself."
Harv raised a finger. "Now lookee here, Tom Sellers—"
Sellers chuckled. "Why don't you find yourself another wife and make a baby? Settle down an' grow corn or somethin'?"
"Why don't you?"
Unperturbed, Tom turned to walk back up the embankment to the campsite. "Too old," he called over his shoulder.
"Too old? You're only two years older'n me!"
"See, that's what I'm tellin' you. Two years makes a big difference. You better get busy, 'fore time runs out."
"I'm already forty-one years old." Harv snorted caustically. "Settle down and grow corn. Make a baby. Hell, you musta left your mind somewheres along the way."
Tom turned and smiled at Harv's agitation. "You think on it some, Harv. See if it don't start soundin' just a little bit good to you after a while." He walked away to stow his gear and put out his bedroll for the night.
Chapter Twenty
Andrew Fallon watched his men with pride. Dobie Perrin was swaying with exhaustion, but Fallon knew he wouldn't dare drop to his knees. Perrin shivered with cold, cursing.
Fallon stood on the banks of the Arkansas River where his soldiers had been diving all night, looking for any sign of the sunken J. R. Williams. Darkness was their main problem. But Fallon would be damned if he'd call off the search and let them sleep. They were numb with cold and fatigue, but they would not give up. Not Fallon's Brigade!
"Where's them girls at?" Matt Baker squinted through the darkness toward the beckoning glow of the campfire. "I cain't see 'em."
Fallon turned to peer in the same direction. "Archie," he said thoughtfully, "go see where those girls are."
"Yes, sir." Gilpen headed back toward camp
slowly.
"Back in the water, men!" Fallon ordered behind him. "You're just not diving deep enough."
"General, sir, beggin' yer pardon, sir, but we just can't go any deeper than we already are—"
"Shut your maggotty mouth, Ringwald! I don't want to hear any of your sniveling excuses. My men are the best! The smartest, the fastest, the strongest, the best! Push yourselves, men. A hundred dollars in gold to the man who brings something up from the ship."
"General!"
Fallon turned at Archie Gilpen's urgent yell.
"General, them girls is gone!"
Fallon yanked off his plumed hat and threw it on the ground with a curse. None of the men spoke or moved. He turned to look at them. "What are you all waiting for? We've got to find those girls. Get moving!"
"Uh, General, what about the ship?" Terry Howard asked anxiously.
Fallon's hand hovered perilously close to his pistol. His lips thinned. Howard held his breath. Finally, Fallon exploded. "Damn it, Howard, it's been here for the last four years. It ain't moving, boy! Now get your ass up there and let's find those girls!"
"Yes, sir!"
* * * * *
Tori and Lily stumbled along slowly in the darkness. They stayed along the riverbank to keep their bearings, heading southward.
Tori knew they hadn't come very far, but she encouraged Lily as they walked by talking to her about how great a distance they'd put between themselves and Fallon's men. Traveling in the dark was difficult. Tori held Lily's hand, and tried to keep her calm, even though her own heart was pounding in her ears.
Once, Lily had tripped and they'd both fallen atop the silken glide of a water moccasin, barely stifling their screams in the inky blackness of the night. After that, Tori had thought it best to travel through the woods, just keeping the river in sight. It was slower, but safer, because they couldn't be seen as readily, and the water snakes kept closer to the river.
Finally, Lily's steps had slowed until Tori felt as if she was pulling her along behind her.
"Come on, Lily," she urged. "We've got to hurry."
Fire Eyes Page 12