by Lyn Horner
“How do you know the guerrilleros are nearby when it’s so dark?” she quietly asked.
“The night guard heard them. He says they are not far down the trail.”
She stopped suddenly. “What about my tent and sleeping bag?”
“There is no time. Leave them.”
“But I need –”
“This is no time to argue,” he said, tugging her forward. “We must travel fast. You will ride the mule. The beast is surefooted even in darkness. I ordered Berto to pad your saddle.”
“Thanks,” she muttered, annoyed by the loss of her gear, especially the sleeping bag. Where would she bed down the next time? Did he think she’d sleep under his blanket with him? They’d see about that!
She was glad she wouldn’t be forced to sit perched in his lap again. The thick blanket beneath her made riding the mule bearable, just barely. However, once they started up the trail at a good clip, with her riding directly behind Gabriel, she got the jitters. She couldn’t see a darn thing and despite the mule’s supposed ability to stay on the trail, she imagined the animal stepping wrong and plunging both of them into a dark chasm. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Foolishly, she wished for Valdez’s strong arms around her
Don’t be a coward! You can ride just as good as him. You don’t need him to protect you.
CHAPTER FOUR
They apparently lost the guerrilleros in their dark flight up the mountain, much to Josie’s relief. She had no desire to be in the middle of a battle between them and Valdez and his men.
The night grew steadily colder, prompting her to untie the fleece-lined jacket, knit cap and gloves rolled up behind her saddle. Donning them, she was grateful to Berto for insisting she purchase the heavy clothes before leaving Cali. She wished he’d also told her to pick up a pair of long johns. Her legs were freezing.
As day dawned, she saw why it remained so cold. They were now high above the cloud forest. Between the thinning trees along the trail, she glimpsed the puffy belt of white hanging well below them. Farther down, the foothills spread like a lush green blanket above Cali. Awed by the view, Josie also found it unnerving to be so high above the valley floor. Strange when she thought about it, considering she often flew higher than this in the Firebird. But she felt safe enclosed in the helo. Climbing a mountain on mule-back was a different story.
Valdez called a halt for breakfast, which consisted of hard, dry biscuits and cold left over beans from last night’s supper. Starting a fire was out of the question, he said. It would lead the guerrilleros straight to them. After eating, Josie asked his permission to make a trip into the bushes.
He nodded. “Go, but have a care where you step and do not be gone long.”
She waited, expecting him to order Berto to accompany her again. Instead, he gave her a questioning look, prompting her to ask, “Don’t you want to send someone with me to make sure I don’t run off?”
He shrugged. “Where would you run? We have come too far. You would never make it down the mountain by yourself. You are wise enough to realize this, no?”
She frowned but had to admit he was right. Without another word, she turned and trudged into the dense shrubbery, far enough to provide privacy. As always, she checked for any sign of slithering beneath the greenery. Detecting none, she removed her heavy jacket to make matters easier and keep it clean. As soon as she’d taken care of necessities, she zipped her jeans, slung the coat over one shoulder and started back.
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when leaves rustled behind her. Pulse jumping in alarm, she whipped around, fearing a wild animal stalked her. Instead, she came face to face with Manuel, the brute she’d fought with that first night. She gasped and stepped back, realizing he must have circled around to catch her off guard. He grinned, revealing broken teeth and foul-smelling breath, and muttered suggestively.
Fury leapt like a flame in Josie’s heart. How dare the vile pig follow her out here? Reaching for her knife to teach him a lesson, she remembered too late that Gabriel had taken it and he hadn’t given it back. A wave of cold fear swept through her. She whirled to run but Manuel was too fast. Grabbing her around the waist from behind, he clamped a hand over her mouth.
Josie gave a muffled shriek and managed to bite his filthy paw. He jerked it away, snarling furiously, spun her around and punched her in the face. Pain exploded like a bomb in her head. Colors swirled before her eyes. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the ground and her attacker was tearing open her shirt. She screamed as he ripped away her bra.
*
Gabriel heard a shrill scream. Dropping his canteen, he pivoted and ran into the forest in the direction Josie had gone, heart pumping with fear for her. He should not have let her go alone. Had she encountered a poisonous snake or a vicious jaguar? Surely not. Snakes were rare this high up and he didn’t think there were any of the big cats left in these parts. Besides, he heard no snarling, only terrified whimpers.
Parting a thick clump of foliage, he saw Josie on the ground with Manuel crouched over her, hands on her bare breasts.
“Malparido!” he roared. Charging in, he grabbed the neck of the bastard’s shirt, dragged him off Josie and punched him in the jaw, knocking him flat. He delivered several more punishing blows that left Manuel moaning with a cut lip and bloody nose.
Gabriel turned to Josie. She had managed to sit up but tremors shook her small frame. Clutching the torn halves of her shirt together, she watched him with dazed eyes. The left side of her face, where she had obviously been struck, was red and beginning to swell. The sight brought back terrible memories of his mother’s suffering. Grinding his teeth, he was sorely tempted to use the strange, fearful power he possessed to punish Manuel as he deserved for his brutality. But none his followers knew of his gift, and he wanted to keep it that way.
“I am sorry, chiquita,” he told Josie thickly. “I should have watched over you better. No one will touch you again, I swear.” Retrieving her jacket, he draped it over her shoulders. “Come, let me help you up.”
For once she did not object. Continuing to hold the torn shirt closed, she let him raise her to her feet and keep a supportive arm around her. Her body still trembled, and he guessed she was in shock or she would not be so docile.
Manuel also struggled to his feet, swaying and wiping his bloody face on a dirty shirt sleeve. This was not the first time he had caused trouble since joining Gabriel’s band a few months ago, although it was by far the worst. At first, he’d seemed sincere in his desire to avenge his brother’s murder at the hands of drug smugglers, but he’d proven to be no better than the ones he claimed to hate. Javier suspected Manuel was, in fact, a renegade member of one of the outlaw gangs who’d fought with his vicious companions over dope or money, and had escaped with only his miserable life.
After what he had just done to Josie, the despicable cur should be shot or, at the very least, ordered to get on his horse and leave immediately. But Manuel knew the location of their sanctuary; he could easily betray them. Vowing to deal with him, and soon, Gabriel harshly ordered him back to camp. The lout sent him a dirty look but sullenly obeyed.
“Can you walk?” Gabriel asked Josie. She gave a mute nod and he turned with her tucked against his side, intending to lead her back. He was not too surprised to see Javier, Berto and two other men standing there. They had undoubtedly heard Josie scream the same as him and had come to investigate.
“The señorita is okay?” Berto asked, worry lines creasing his boyish face.
“Sí.” Motioning for the men to walk ahead, Gabriel led Josie after them. When they reached their noon stopping place, he halted, keeping his arm around her. “Stay here a moment. Please,” he said quietly. Then he called out for all of the men to gather around, waiting until they drew near.
“No one is to touch this woman,” he fiercely declared in Spanish. “She is under my protection. Any man who harms her will answer to me. Understand?”
They nodded and muttered agree
ment, all except Manuel. He glared belligerently. Gabriel pinned him with a threatening scowl and demanded an answer. Grudgingly, the troublemaker said, “Sí!” between his battered lips.
*
Josie had recovered enough by now to realize what was happening. It humiliated her to stand in front of the men, clasping her ruined shirt together – evidence of what that pig Manuel had done. What he’d tried to do. But she saw from the embarrassed faces why Gabriel wanted her there. She didn’t understand all his words but got the gist of his short, angry speech. As the men scattered, she faced him, forcing herself to meet his eyes.
“I n-need to ch-change my shirt,” she stammered.
“Of course. I will stand guard.”
“With your back turned.”
“I give you my word.” He touched his hand to his heart.
She walked beside him to her trusty mule. Stationing himself at the beast’s head, facing away, he kept watch while she dug a clean bra and shirt from her saddlebags. Shaking with cold, she quickly changed, put on her coat and stowed the torn garments away. She would have to try to repair them because she’d brought very few extra clothes along.
Moments later, they were underway with Josie astride her mule behind Gabriel on his big bay gelding. As they rode on, she mulled over his actions. She couldn’t understand him. He didn’t trust her, yet he protected her, even giving a well-deserved beating to that vicious animal, Manuel. Was he driven by a sense of honor or was there more to it? Whatever the reason, she was deeply grateful to him for saving her.
Reluctantly, Josie admitted she was also attracted to Gabriel Valdez. He was like a hot wind blowing through her, awakening her dormant desires, and he would never rape her. He’d use sweet words and his sexy body to seduce her. She told herself she wouldn’t let him, but a primitive part of her brain wasn’t so certain.
As the hours wore on, the trees thinned out more and more and grew noticeably shorter, soon disappearing all together. Replacing them, dwarf shrubs and bunch grass dotted the rough, rocky terrain. The sun hung bright in a clear blue sky, warming the day to some degree, but a cutting wind blew constantly, making Josie hunch low with her cap tugged down and her coat collar pulled up around her ears. She stared at the stalwart rider ahead of her. He, too, wore a heavy coat and had exchanged his camo hat for a wooly black cap. He sat tall in the saddle, looking perfectly comfortable.
The trail had broadened for the time being. Dropping back to ride beside her, Gabriel said, “The wind bites today as it usually does this high on the mountain. We are now on the páramo, above the tree line as you can see. The high altitude and weather systems do not make for a pleasant climate.”
“I’ve noticed. How much farther do we have to go?”
“Not far. We will reach our destination in another hour or two. A good thing, I’m sure you will agree, because the temperature up here often drops below freezing after sundown.”
Right, and her cozy sleeping bag and tent had been left behind. Picturing herself frozen solid on the bare ground, Josie shivered. The only way to survive would be to snuggle up to her kidnapper. Somehow, that thought did not seem as abhorrent as it had only hours ago, before Gabriel saved her from being raped.
“How did you learn to speak English so well?” she asked abruptly in an effort to distract her wayward thoughts. This was something she had wondered about over the past two days.
He smiled rather sadly. “I grew up hearing it spoken right along with Spanish. My mother was from California, you see. She insisted on a bilingual education for me, and later I attended her alma mater in your country.”
“Yeah? What school was that?”
“Berkley. It offered environmental science courses, and I dreamed of returning home with my fancy education and fighting to save Colombia’s forests.”
“Sounds like a fine dream. So you’re a scientist when you’re not hiding out in the mountains and kidnapping women?”
He gave her an irritated glance then looked away. “No, I never finished my degree. And I am waging a different kind of battle now.”
“You mean your fight to bring down the Cali drug lords?”
His expression hardened and one gloved hand clenched into a fist on his thigh. “Yes, most especially the man who killed my mother,” he bit out.
“Dear God!” Josie stared at him in shock. “I’m sorry, Gabriel. I didn’t know.”
“I do not want your sympathy, Josie Tseda,” he barked, causing her mouth to drop open. Tugging a waterproof poncho from behind his saddle, he flung it across her lap. “Put that on. There is rain coming.” With that he kneed his horse ahead.
“Don’t worry!” she shouted indignantly. “You’ll get no sympathy from me ever again.” A twitch of his shoulders was his only reaction, leaving her to fume in silence.
What was his problem? Genuinely sorry for his loss and shocked by his revelation about his mother’s death, she had simply tried to be kind. But he couldn’t or wouldn’t accept any kindness from her. Why? Did he think it would damage his macho image? Or was it because he didn’t trust her and refused to believe her expression of sympathy? Either way, she found it insulting.
Clouds were gathering, turning the sky gray and the landscape dull brown. As Gabriel predicted, a cold drizzle began to fall minutes later. Thankful for the poncho he’d tossed her, Josie huddled under the waterproof garment. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the others had also donned rain gear. Ahead of her, Gabriel bent low over his gelding, with nothing to protect him from the rain.
He deserves to get soaked for tossing my sympathy back at me like it tasted bad in his mouth. Still, she cringed when he jammed his hat back on over the wool cap and hunched even lower in his saddle.
About an hour later, they started down a narrow, rocky incline. The rain had mostly stopped by then. Thank heaven for small mercies! She didn’t see how they’d make it down the twisting trail otherwise. It led into a ravine, camouflaged by rock outcroppings & brush. Miraculously, the slashing wind gradually let up as they rode deeper into the narrow cut in the mountain.
Suddenly, a man popped out from behind a tall boulder, giving Josie a start. Dressed in baggy pants, a dark-striped Andean poncho and knitted cap similar to Gabriel’s, he brandished a rifle but lowered it when he recognized the lead rider. “Hola, Señor Gabriel,” he called with a grin.
“Hola, Carlos,” his rain-soaked leader replied. The two talked for a few moments, but Josie was unable to hear their low-voiced conversation. Then, without looking back, Gabriel raised his hand and signaled his followers onward.
The guard touched his forehead to Josie and smiled as she passed. She smiled in return and heard him laughingly greet the men behind her. They rounded a bend and the rock walls opened into a box canyon that narrowed at the far end, where a stand of scraggly trees and undergrowth blocked the view. The space wasn’t huge but provided enough room for two buildings constructed out of stone and rough lumber, with rusty corrugated metal roofs. One appeared to be a bunkhouse with a porch across the front and crude chairs for lounging. The other building was smaller, possibly a private residence or an office.
Off to her left, Josie spotted a dark rectangular opening in the canyon’s rock face. Shored up by stout beams, it looked like a mine entrance. Were Gabriel and his men engaged in mining along with their efforts to disrupt drug smuggling? Efforts she had yet to learn anything about. One thing she didn’t see was a well, but surely the fugitive band must have some source of water. She sure hoped so, because she desperately longed to wash the grime from her body.
Located on the opposite side of the small canyon was a corral fenced on three sides by a tangle of brush and stone, and backed by the canyon wall. Josie and the others followed Gabriel to this enclosure within which two shaggy horses and a mule dozed. The animals lifted their heads at the riders’ approach and, perhaps scenting missing companions, neighed a greeting.
For her part, she was simply glad to finally arrive. Utterly sick of riding,
she dismounted with a tired sigh. She turned and found Berto standing nearby.
“I take care of mule, señorita?” he asked with an uncertain smile.
“Yes, thank you, Berto.” She handed him the reins. Finding the canyon warmer than the open trail, she unbuttoned her coat as Gabriel rounded his horse and stepped to her side.
“Come, I will show you where you are to sleep,” he said.
“All right.” She started to reach for her saddlebags, containing the few clean clothes she had left, but he beat her to it.
“Let me,” he said. Crowding her with his body and the scent of his rain-wet jacket, he lifted the heavy leather bags off the mule’s back as if they weighed nothing. He slung them over his shoulder and pointed to the smaller of the two buildings. He didn’t try to take hold of her arm as he often did, which was fine with her. She hadn’t forgiven him for his nasty rebuff earlier.
“I apologize for snapping at you before,” he said as if reading her mind.
“Forget it.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“I wish I could forget many things, Josie, but unfortunately I cannot.”
She caught her breath at his grim tone. Was there a threat in his words? Was he thinking of what he might do to force the truth – his truth – out of her? Icy fingers of dread raced down her spine at the thought.
CHAPTER FIVE
“This was the mine foreman’s house before the operation closed down,” Gabriel said, opening the door to the small dwelling for Josie and following her in. “The place is not grand.”
“I can see that.” Standing in the middle of a single room that doubled as kitchen and living area, she took in the barebones furnishings: a blanket-covered couch not much bigger than a loveseat, an old-fashioned wood burning stove, a scarred table and a few mismatched straight chairs.