He drew back his arm, playing with the long lash.
What could she do to save Cherokee? Look, Jake,” she pleaded, you let him go and I’ll leave with you.”
By damn, no!” Cherokee swore, and tried to push her behind him. He’ll have to kill me first!”
Jake grinned. That can be arranged easy enough. What I can’t figure, gal, is how you escaped Lon Brett. He was determined to get revenge for his brother’s death after I told him where you were.”
So you’re the one responsible for that mob and the fire!”
Brett promised to give me the Palace for telling—”
You can forget that,” Silver said. The mob burned the Palace down. The Duchess is dead.”
Jake laughed. Brett was a little loco, I knew it all along, when he was set on getting you, even though the law wasn’t looking for you no more.”
She stared at him in surprise.
You didn’t know?” he asked. Al wrote to the Chicago law and confessed.” He looked at her a long moment. ”What about the gold in the safe at the Palace?”
Silver laughed. The joke’s on you. Everything at the Palace was destroyed in the fire. There’s nothing left for anyone.
Jake brought his arm back. Then all I get out of this deal is you, missy, plus the purdee pleasure of killing the ‘breed here and then helpin’ the colonel kill the Cheyenne.”
She and Cherokee exchanged looks. Cherokee was obviously hurt—blood from the whip cut dripped across his rugged face, his right arm hung as if useless. She could only hope Waanibe had turned and ridden away. If so, at least the child would be safe. Surely this madman wouldn’t harm his own child.
Jake,” she said, let him go. I’ll leave with you.”
You’ll do that anyways, gal.” He gestured. Now you come over here by me so’s I won’t scar you up with this whip any more than you already are.”
No!” She clung to Cherokee as he tried to push her away.
Dallinger, let her go.” And to her, Cherokee said, Don’t be a fool, Silver. He’s giving you a chance to live—take it!”
She shuddered all over. I’d rather die than let him touch me!”
Jake frowned. I ain’t messin’ with you any longer, gal. Get over here before I use this bull whip on both of you!”
And about that time, little Waanibe stumbled through the brush in her nightgown and came out into the clearing right by Jake’s side.
Wal, what’ve we got here?” Jake reached out, grabbed the little girl, and pulled her against his leg. Waanibe began to cry.
Wannie!” Silver screamed. I told you to stay back!”
Silvery! Silvery!” She tried to run to Silver, but Jake had her pinned against his leg.
Stay here, brat!” He looked at Silver and Cherokee. All right, gal, come over here by me or I’ll hurt the kid!”
Cherokee swore. You dirty—”
She couldn’t let him hurt the child. Almost woodenly, Silver walked over to him and the little girl grabbed Silver around the legs, burying her face against Silver’s skirt.
Jake,” Silver said, you can’t hurt this child. Don’t you know who her father is?”
Hell yes, I know!” He held his hand out, showing the birthmark, just like Wannie’s, on his fingers, then looked down at the little girl burying her face in Silver’s skirt. You think it would bother me to kill her? I got no use for a kid!”
Waanibe looked up at Silver and sobbed. I been tryin’ to give you a treasure, Silvery.”
Hush, dear, hush.”
But Waanibe reached in her pocket and came up with a diamond broach. Silver took a good look at the child for the first time all evening. Only then in the reflected moonlight did Silver realize the child’s hands and arms sparkled with rings and bracelets. And on her feet were Silver’s shoes.
Wal now, what has the brat got?” Jake said, looking down.
Not for you, man!” The little girl backed against Silver and defied him. I was playin’ dress-up in Mama’s room and I got some treasures for Silvery!”
Oh my God, she’s wearing a fortune in jewelry!” Silver gasped. Jake, take the stuff, let us go! There’s enough here to keep you the rest of your life!”
Jake grinned. Gawd Almighty! Ain’t this a piece of luck!” He glanced around behind him. When I find his pistol in this brush, I’ll take care of the brat at the same time I finish the ’breed. Then, Silver, you and me is leavin’ with all these jewels!”
You animal!” Cherokee swore, but when he moved as if to charge Jake, the scout jerked Silver against him and put the tip of the shiny blade of his big Bowie knife up under her breast.
Come on, gal!”
The little girl stumbled along with them as Jake stepped backward, Bowie knife in one hand, bull whip in the other.
Jake glared at Cherokee. ’Breed, don’t make no sudden moves.” He glanced backward as he dragged her through the brush, looking for the pistol.
Silver felt his hot, dirty hand on her body, the tip of the knife under her breast. It was up to her to do something. Cherokee feared to make a move, afraid that Jake would make good his threat. It was now or never! She put her left fist in the palm of her right hand. Putting all her strength behind that hand, she rammed her sharp elbow up under Jake’s ribs with all the strength she could muster.
Jake cried out and swore as he stumbled backward, the Bowie knife flying from his hand into the underbrush. That few seconds was all they needed. Silver grabbed up the little girl and ran even as Cherokee dived for him and the two men meshed and struggled, fighting for possession of the big whip.
Gasping for breath, Silver stopped at the edge of the clearing, uncertain what to do.
Run, Silver!” Cherokee screamed. Get out of here while you still can!”
He was disabled and clearly losing to Jake’s brute strength. She could not run away and leave him. Besides, even if she did manage to get to her horse, if Jake won this fight, he might ride her down and recapture her, encumbered as she was with Wannie.
The pistol and the knife! If only she could find them in the darkness while the two men fought! Confident of his advantage, Jake tossed the whip to one side as the two went down, the injured man on the bottom.
Jake swore. Now, ’breed, I’m gonna strangle you with my bare hands!”
She had to do something quick! Silver sat the sobbing child on a log and got down on her hands and knees, searching frantically in the moonlight. Behind her, she heard Cherokee gasping for air and struggling as the giant scout laughed and slowly throttled him.
Surely the knife or gun might reflect the moonlight! Silver dug through the dead leaves, looking for a weapon. Metal gleamed its reflection. With a glad cry, Silver grabbed it up, then realized she held the big whip, its silver handle catching the moonlight. What could she do? If she swung it at Jake, he’d only chase her down and take it away from her.
She had to save Cherokee. He was still struggling, but weaker now, gasping for air in the silence while Jake laughed and choked him with powerful hands.
She did the only thing she could do. Running up behind the crouching scout, she looped the lash over his head and twisted it around the big handle. She didn’t have much strength, but she had her old skills as a dancer, and like quicksilver, she turned and turned, twisting the lash around his thick neck.
Jake shouted in sudden surprise, trying to get his fingers under the deadly lash that cut off his air. Cherokee seemed forgotten now as he tried to stumble to his feet and get to Silver. But she stayed behind him where he couldn’t reach her as she twisted the noose tighter. Jake gasped and struggled, his breath coming in strained gasps, as he fought to get his hands under the whip lash.
If he killed her, she wouldn’t let go. Like a small snapping turtle, she hung on while her giant prey crashed about, literally yanking her off the ground. Both her hands ached from hanging on to the whip handle, but she was determined not to let go.
Vaguely she was aware that Cherokee had staggered to his feet and was s
earching through the leaves for his pistol. It wasn’t needed. Even as he found it with a glad cry, Jake took one last, agonized breath, pulling at the thin leather cutting into his thick neck, then stumbled and crashed to the ground like a falling tree. As he fell, the whip pulled from Silver’s aching hands, but it was too late for the villain. Jake Dallinger’s spirit was forever trapped in his dead body.
Cherokee ran over and knelt by the still form. For a long moment, only the sounds of Cherokee’s labored breathing and Waanibe’s sobs broke the stillness. As Cherokee stumbled to his feet, Silver ran into his arms and clung to him, dissolving finally into tears.
He patted her hair. It’s all right, sweet darlin’. Everything’s all right now. You saved my life.”
She looked up at him and saw her face mirrored in his eyes. And the love she saw mirrored there, not the scars of the reflection, were all that mattered. Oh, Cherokee, I’ve been such a vain fool!”
I love you, sweet, and you’re here. That’s all that matters now.”
The little girl came over slowly and looked up at them. Bad man’s dead?”
Yes, honey.” Silver patted her dark hair.
Waanibe looked up at Cherokee with curiosity in her dark eyes. My mama said my daddy was a half-breed. Are you my daddy?”
Silver winced. She couldn’t expect Cherokee to take this orphaned child, yet she couldn’t desert her. What would she do?
But Cherokee knelt and put his arms around the little girl. Do you want me to be your daddy? If you do, I’d like to be.”
Waanibe grinned and looked at Silver.Can Silvery go with us?”
Cherokee smiled gently. Oh, we can’t go without her! I’m going to marry her, you know.”
Then I’ve got a treasure for you,” the child said solemnly, and she took Cherokee’s big hand and kissed the palm, folding his fingers over it. Put that in your pocket to save for when you need it.”
Cherokee winked at Silver. Now I wonder where she learned that.”
Then all three of them were in each other’s arms, hugging and wiping away tears. After a long moment, Silver looked at all the jewels Wannie wore and kept pulling from her nightgown pockets. Oh, Cherokee, what should we do with this? The stuff is worth a fortune!”
As much as my gold that’s gone with the Duchess?” he asked. Maybe we’ve got a right to keep the jewelry.”
This is for Silvery,” Waanibe said importantly, and taking off the gold nugget bracelet, she handed it to Silver, who smiled as she put it on. Silvery, are you mad about me playing dress-up with your shoes?”
Silver hugged her and shook her head.
A family,” Cherokee sighed, looking toward the horses. Well, almost a family. First I’ve got a man to bury.”
They buried Jake in the clearing, but they left the silver-handled whip twisted around his neck. Silver couldn’t bear to touch it, and Cherokee said since it had killed men, it was cursed.
As he said, I don’t always believe in Indian superstitions, but I think his spirit deserves to be trapped. He was such an evil hombre, we wouldn’t want it haunting the wilderness.”
But Silver paused to say a proper word for Jake. Even an evil man needed the hope of God’s mercy.
She examined Cherokee’s arm and the cut across his face. Neither were as bad as they had seemed at first. The arm was only badly sprained.
Silver said, What about the Cheyenne?”
It’s out of our hands now,” Cherokee sighed. Nothing else we can do. We can only hope they listen to Iron Knife when he tells them the soldiers are coming, or that the troops decide not to go when Jake doesn’t arrive to scout for them.” he paused thoughtfully. We’ve got one more stop to make in Denver.”
Waanibe looked at him in alarm. I don’t have to go back to my mama, do I?”
Silver held her close. No, honey, you don’t.” Later, she would tell Wannie about her mother’s death, but she had a feeling the little girl wouldn’t grieve much. Silver had been more of a mother to her than the Duchess. She thought about another child who needed parents back in Denver. Would Cherokee want another orphaned child? No, maybe she dare not ask. It was a lot to expect from a man.
Finally, they mounted up, Waanibe once again sitting behind Silver, hanging on for dear life. Cherokee took the reins of Jake’s horse. I’ve got a use for him.”
They rode back to Denver, leading the spare horse. The town was quiet at this late hour, the Palace only a distant pile of glowing rubble. The gold was still there, mixed in the ashes, but it was cursed treasure. They wouldn’t want to sift through the embers for it. And they had most of the jewels.
So why had they returned? Mystified, Silver kept her horse alongside Cherokee’s as he rode down the street. He reined in before the stable, and called out, Keso! Keso, are you in there?”
Silver looked over at her love and her heart was full to bursting. Oh, Cherokee, I had thought about suggesting it, but I was afraid you wouldn’t want another—”
What is it?” The Indian boy stumbled out of the barn, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Who’s there?”
Cherokee grinned. Keso, I’ve come by this extra horse and I thought you might like to have it.”
The dark eyes grew round. For me? A horse for me?”
Sure!” And he tossed the reins to the boy.
The smiled faded. Boss, I—I can’t afford to feed no horse.”
You could on a big ranch that grew its own hay.”
The boy looked from one face to another. I don’t know what you mean.”
Well, Keso”—Cherokee pushed his hat back—I’m making me up a ready-made family here and I don’t have a son. What’s a family without a son? You know a ranch has to have hands to work it.”
Tears came to the boy’s eyes. He tried to speak but couldn’t. Waanibe had already slid to the ground before Silver could stop her. Does that mean he’s going to be my brother?”
Cherokee nodded. Reckon so, if he doesn’t mind having you for a little sister.”
Little Waanibe caught Keso’s hand. Then here’s a treasure for you to put in your pocket and keep.” She kissed his palm and folded his fingers over it.
Keso made a face and wiped his hand on his ragged shirt. Ugh! Am I gonna have to put up with this kid wanting to kiss on me like that?”
Cherokee winked at Silver. Son, believe it or not, there’ll come a day when she’ll be something besides a kid and you might like a woman kissing on you.”
Well, if she goes with the deal, I reckon I can put up with her. Here, kid!” Keso gestured to her, grabbed her up, and put her on the back of his horse. Then he swung into the saddle. When he looked over at Silver, his eyes shone. You know I always dreamed of having a real family, and especially a pretty mother like you!”
For only an instant, Silver winced, and then she realized that, like Cherokee, the boy was looking at her with eyes of love.
Come on, family,” Cherokee said, turning his horse around. It’ll be dawn soon, and it looks like it might decide to snow. We’re gonna have the best Christmas anyone ever had this year.”
Christmas?” Keso asked. You mean, with one of them trees, and gifts and all?”
Silver’s heart sang. And pies and food. I can cook, believe it or not!”
Cherokee smiled. Somewhere in this territory, there’s got to be a preacher who doesn’t mind performing a morning wedding.”
Good!” Waanibe piped up. And I get to dress up!”
Keso looked over his shoulder at her. Hush, kid! Clothes ain’t what’s important to a wedding.”
Silver laughed and shrugged at Cherokee. I think we’ve got our work cut out for us with this pair!”
We can handle it,” Cherokee said. He reached across and took her hand, squeezing it. We can handle anything as long as we have each other, Silver. I love you.”
I love you, too, my dearest.”
In the pale pink of the coming dawn, the little family turned their horses and rode out of town together.
Epilogue<
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No one ever knew what really happened to Silver Heels, so in Colorado today, they still tell the tale with a sad ending. According to the legend, after catching smallpox, Silver Heels ran away to hide because of her scarred face, only returning now and then to put flowers on the graves at Buckskin Joe. They say her weeping ghost, clad in mourning and wearing a heavy veil, sometimes appears in the Buckskin Joe cemetery. Unlike you, they don’t know she and her lover were finally reunited.
Perhaps the half-breed miner and his sweetheart do live eternally in the wilderness of the Rockies. Sometimes late at night, locals say you can see the reflection of her silver shoes as she dances on the peak that bears her name. Only cynics insist it must be a star or the moonlight shining on abandoned ore piled by a played-out mine.
But those same cynics hear the tinkle of rushing creeks and never recognize it as her laughter, or smell the scent of her perfume and mistake it for wildflowers.
Maybe Silver Heels and Cherokee live forever because, while beauty fades, true love like theirs can never really die. If you believe that, too, I invite you to walk the streets of the deserted Colorado ghost towns late at night as I have done. When the moon is full, you might see the sparkle of her shoes and hear the tap of her dancing feet.
And the other sound? Perhaps you will think at first it’s the breeze sighing through the abandoned buildings, but listen—listen with your heart. Very faintly, the wind will carry the echo of that old saloon piano and Silver’s high, sweet voice singing to her love.
To My Readers
Yes, there really is a Mt. Silver Heels in the state of Colorado. The mountain was originally called Mt. Morton, and is located approximately eight miles northwest of the town of Fairplay. That’s near the ski towns of Vail and Breckenridge. The tale of the dance hall girl by that name is also told in other gold and silver mining states, but only Colorado boasts the named mountain, so it is likely the legend began there.
Quicksilver Passion Page 35