Wind Rider

by Connie Mason

  What mattered was that Hannah would think him responsible for the savage’s release and be most appropriately grateful. Marrying Hannah hadn’t been part of his original plan, but he’d come late to the realization that marriage was the only way he could have her. She would make him a suitable frontier wife. He admired the way she had traveled alone from Ireland, indentured herself to pay for her passage, and survived numerous hardships. She had spunk, he’d give her that much, and he’d do anything to have her in his bed. Once she was his wife he’d make her forget the white savage she fancied herself in love with.

  On the morning Trent had arranged for Ryder’s “escape” he arrived bright and early at Hannah’s boardinghouse. Zach had already left for the governor’s office. Today Governor Evans was to decide if amnesty was to be granted in Ryder’s case, but Hannah held out little hope for help from that quarter. She met Gilmore in the formal parlor of the boardinghouse.

  Gilmore took Hannah’s hands in his and stared earnestly into her eyes. “It’s all arranged, Hannah.”

  Hannah’s green eyes, lusterless from lack of sleep and constant worry, lit up. “Ryder will be set free? How in the world did you manage it?”

  “Anything is possible with enough money. I’ve saved my pay. There’s little to spend it on out here.”

  Hannah was so grateful to Trent that she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, Trent. You don’t know how grateful I am.”

  “You’ll have your chance to prove it soon enough. I’ve arranged for Wind Rider to be released at noon today. If you don’t trust me, you can watch him ride away yourself from a window on the upper floor of the building where he’s being held. Does that meet with your approval?”

  Hannah nodded eagerly.

  “Pack your clothes. I’ll come back for you shortly before noon. After Wind Rider is released we’ll meet the patrol that will escort us to Fort Laramie. We’ll be happy there, Hannah; you’ll see.”

  Hannah lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. She was unaccustomed to lying and she feared Trent would know. But she could never marry him, no matter that he had arranged Ryder’s freedom. She was carrying Ryder’s child and someday, somehow, they would be together again.

  “I’ll be ready, Trent.”

  Ryder had no idea how long he’d been imprisoned in the dark, dank room. If the frequency of his beatings, which were administered regularly by the meaty-fisted sergeant and his cohort, were any indication, he assumed that at least four days had passed since he’d been tossed in jail. Always the questions were the same. Where was Red Cloud’s camp located? How many Indians were living in the Badlands? What were Red Cloud’s plans for taking up arms against the whites? And always Ryder met their questions with silence.

  Then came the beatings. When he passed out he was doused with water, revived, and beaten again. The two sadistic soldiers were masters at their craft, Ryder thought bitterly, for they knew just when to stop. Evidently, Chivington didn’t want him dead. Not until he’d divulged the information the army wanted, anyway.

  Ryder tried to sit up and groaned as raw pain surged through him. He had no idea how many of his ribs were cracked, but judging by the violent pain, it had to be more than one. His lips were so swollen, he could barely speak, and his eyes and face felt like raw meat. Ryder knew he couldn’t last much longer under these conditions, but that no longer mattered. Seeing Hannah had made him realize that he had no business loving her. She deserved much better than what he could offer. He didn’t even know who he was or where he belonged. And furthermore, his blindness made him totally useless as a husband. Besides, he was likely to die from the constant beatings if they continued.

  When footsteps sounded in the passageway Ryder cocked his head and turned his sightless eyes toward the door. He went rigid when the door opened. He’d already been beaten once today and doubted if he could survive another brutal attack. Then something happened that made Ryder forget all about his split lips and battered body. The fuzzy veil lifted from his eyes and he saw the flickering light of a candle and the shadowy figures of two men. As they moved farther into the room, the mists clouding his eyes miraculously parted, allowing him a glimpse of the men’s features.

  Since Ryder had never seen Sergeant Collins before, he identified him by his voice. He sounded grumpy and somewhat disgruntled. “Someone to see you, Injun. If you want my opinion, you got more luck than you deserve. I sure as hell don’t know how he did it, but evidently your brother-in-law’s got friends in high places.” Collins thought about the money Lieutenant Gilmore had paid him to release and then recapture the prisoner and shrugged. He couldn’t help it if orders came from higher places. Besides, Gilmore was leaving today for Fort Laramie, and it shouldn’t matter to him what happened to the prisoner.

  “Ryder, it’s Zach. I’ve come to take you home.”

  Slowly, Ryder turned his head in Zach’s direction. He blinked, realizing he could see Zach as clearly as he had before he’d lost his sight. Instinct as well as shock convinced him to keep the information to himself for the time being.

  “Did you hear, Ryder? The governor has granted you amnesty. You’re free. I’ll tell you about it after we leave this disgusting place.”

  “Free?” Confusion registered on Ryder’s swollen face. How could it be? One minute he was enduring brutal beatings and the next he was free to leave. Never would he understand the workings of white society.

  “Yes, free. Just as soon as Sergeant Collins removes your shackles, I’ll get you out of here. Can you walk?”

  The chains fell away as Collins bent and unlocked them. “It’s against my better judgment to do this. Colonel Chivington ain’t going to like it one damn bit.”

  Ryder groaned and tried to rise, but his legs buckled beneath him. Zach sent Collins a poisonous glare and assisted Ryder to his feet. “You sure as hell didn’t need to be so damn brutal. The man can hardly walk.”

  Collins shrugged. “Chivington wanted information. All he had to do was tell us what we wanted to know and we would have left him alone.”

  “Bastard,” Zach gritted from between clenched teeth.

  “I can walk, Zach.” Ryder said, declining Zach’s help. He wanted to walk out of this place on his own two feet.

  About the time Ryder was leaving his cell, Hannah and Gilmore entered the building and ascended the stairs to the second floor. They entered an office facing the street, and Gilmore led Hannah over to the window. “It’s almost noon, Hannah. Wind Rider should be making an appearance any moment now. I’d venture to say one of those horses tethered to the hitching post outside will carry him away from Denver.”

  Hannah’s intent gaze did not stray from the street below. She had no idea how Trent had managed this, but she still didn’t trust him.

  Ryder paused in the doorway, blinded by the sun. It had been many weeks since he’d lost his sight. Darkness had become a way of life. Hannah had been right; his blindness had only been temporary. He didn’t have time right now to analyze what all this meant, but he felt certain Heammawihio would reveal it to him in his own good time. Dimly, he wondered why Hannah hadn’t accompanied Zach. He was eternally glad she hadn’t, for he didn’t want her to see him in the state he was in. Pity wasn’t what he wanted from her.

  “The horses are right outside,” Zach said as he paused behind Ryder. “Wait here. I’ll help you mount after I give your clearance papers to Sergeant Collins.”

  “I do not need your help,” Ryder said, looking directly into Zach’s eyes. “I can do this by myself.”

  Zach sent him a stunned look. “Ryder! Dammit, man, you can see! When .. . how .. . ?”

  “Finish your business. I will explain later.”

  Zach searched Ryder’s face, nodded, then lingered behind to confer with Sergeant Collins. Ryder took a shaky step forward and nearly fell flat on his face. Steadying himself against the doorjamb, he mustered his strength and ventured another step. He was encouraged when his legs moved on command
. Gritting his teeth, he made it all the way to his horse. Mounting took considerable effort, but he accomplished it on his second try. He had no idea Hannah was watching his every move.

  “He’s alone! He can’t see!” Hannah cried, growing panicky. “I should have asked Zach to meet him. How will he find his way out of the city?”

  Gilmore was considering his answer when suddenly Zach strode out of the building and joined Ryder.

  “Oh, there’s Zach! Did you contact him, Trent? You must have known Ryder wouldn’t be able to manage without help, didn’t you?”

  “What?” Gilmore couldn’t believe his eyes. How in the hell had Zach Mercer gotten involved in this? But it was too late now to worry about it, he reasoned as he searched his mind for an answer to Hannah’s questions.

  “Yes, that’s it. I knew you’d worry if someone wasn’t on hand to help him.” This really complicates matters, Gilmore thought, stunned by the turn of events. If his superiors learned what he had planned, his army career was over. Something he wasn’t aware of had occurred, and he needed to find out about it before Hannah did.

  “You’ve kept your promise, Trent,” Hannah said, ignorant of the elaborate plans he had laid for Ryder’s release and recapture. “I’m very grateful.”

  Gilmore sent her a sly smile. “Show me, Hannah. Show me just how grateful you are.”

  He pulled her into his arms, his desire making him forget that they were standing before a window where anyone could see them. When his lips slanted across hers she stiffened but did not resist. She supposed she owed him this much. Once Ryder was safe she’d let him know that she didn’t intend to stay with him.

  Stiffening his spine against the stabbing pain, Ryder rode away from the place where he had been imprisoned and tortured. But a nagging demon inside him prompted him to look back one last time. What he saw brought a vicious snarl to his lips. Framed in the window, her bright hair catching the noonday sun, Hannah was being soundly kissed by Lieutenant Gilmore. His brief glance had revealed her pliant body pressed hard against the blue-coat’s virile length. Nothing in her stance led him to believe she was unwilling.

  Zach heard Ryder’s outcry and turned his head in the direction of Ryder’s gaze. He saw the same intimate scene Ryder was witnessing and let out a curse. “Damn little bitch. I was wrong about her, Ryder. Forget her; she isn’t worth your time.”

  Once they turned the corner, Ryder brought his mount to a halt. “All right, Zach, out with it. What happened between Hannah and Gilmore? I cannot believe she could change so in such a short time. I misjudged her once; I refuse to do so again until I know the truth.”

  “You saw yourself what happened,” Zach muttered darkly. “Hannah decided Gilmore would give her a better life than you could. She’s going with him to Fort Laramie. They’re going to be married.”

  “Married!” Ryder started to rein his horse around in the direction from which he had just come, but Zach grabbed the reins and refused to let go.

  “You’re in no condition to confront anyone, Ryder. Look at yourself. You’re having a difficult enough time just keeping your seat on your horse. It took some fancy talking to get the governor to sign your amnesty papers, and I’ll not let you jeopardize your freedom.” Even if Zach thought Hannah was lying about her reasons for abandoning Ryder—and it was very possible she was—he wasn’t going to allow Ryder to return.

  Ryder’s head spun dizzily and his cracked ribs made breathing painful. He couldn’t have defied Zach if he’d wanted to. But leaving Hannah to Gilmore was abhorrent to him. Something was wrong, desperately wrong. If only he could think clearly, he’d figure it out. But Zach, aware that Ryder needed immediate medical attention, wasn’t allowing him time to think as he slapped the rump of Ryder’s horse, sending him on his way. Zach followed close on his heels as they left Denver behind them.

  Meanwhile, finding the kiss much to his liking, Gilmore couldn’t wait to get Hannah away from Denver and all to himself. He left her alone in the room briefly while he went to confer with Sergeant Collins. What he learned stunned him. The governor had granted Wind Rider amnesty and set him free. Once Hannah was told he knew she would refuse to honor her part of their bargain. She would leave him and go back to her white savage. He couldn’t allow that to happen. Haste was important. He must take Hannah away from Denver as soon as possible.

  Fortunately, that wouldn’t be difficult since he’d already made arrangements to leave immediately after Hannah had viewed Ryder’s release. A small contingent of Colorado militia was waiting to escort them to the fort. Once

  Hannah was his he’d make damn certain he was the only man in her life. As for his own complicity in the “release and recapture” of the prisoner, the money he’d paid Sergeant Collins would keep the aborted affair from public disclosure.

  Hannah felt a wrenching grief as she left the city. Would Ryder ever forgive her for leaving so abruptly without an explanation? she wondered despondently. Would he realize that she had done it for his sake? Or would he return to his People and forget all about her? She pressed her hand lightly to the place where Ryder’s child grew beneath her heart and felt a crushing sadness. How she wished she had told Ryder about the baby.

  As she rode away from Denver, Hannah begged God to let Ryder understand and forgive her. To let him be pleased when he learned about their child. And to bring them together as a family. It didn’t matter if Ryder never regained his sight. Her love was too solid to let his blindness make a difference.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Three days of bed rest was all Ryder would tolerate. Abby had wrapped his ribs tightly and tried to get him to remain in bed longer, but he was adamantly opposed to doing nothing while each day took Hannah and Gilmore farther away from him. His emotions had run the gamut from outright disbelief that she had gone willingly with Lieutenant Gilmore to outrage and anger. Though she had told Zach she had gone with the blue coat of her own free will, Ryder was not convinced. He needed to hear from her own lips that Gilmore was the man she wanted before he’d believe it.

  To his dismay, Ryder could not make himself believe that Hannah didn’t love him. He harbored a glimmer of hope that Hannah had gone with Gilmore for reasons that had nothing to do with her wanting the blue coat as a lover. But even that small hope seemed farfetched; the governor had already granted him amnesty, and she’d had no reason to sacrifice herself. The more he thought about the abrupt way in which she had left, without a word or a proper good-bye, the angrier and more confused he became. And the more determined he was to go after her.

  After three days under Abby’s tender care Ryder was able to move around freely, but not without considerable pain, which he ignored. On the fourth day Zach found him in the barn saddling his horse.

  “Good God, Ryder, you can’t go anywhere in your condition.”

  “I am well enough to ride.” Actually, Ryder wasn’t at all certain he could sit his horse.

  “I suppose you’re going after Hannah.”

  “I must.”

  His great anguish was clearly visible in the darkening of his silver eyes.

  Zach searched frantically for a way to keep Ryder on the farm until he was fully healed. “Are you forgetting your commitment to the governor? One of the conditions of your release is that you work for the government.”

  Zach had revealed to Ryder, once they had reached the safety of the farm, that the only way the governor would grant amnesty was if Ryder agreed to put his expertise to work as an Indian agent to the Sioux and Cheyenne nations. He hoped to put Ryder’s vast knowledge of Indians to good use.

  “As Indian agent you’ll be able to work closely with the People to bring about a lasting peace/1 Zach continued. “Have you forgotten that you are to confer with the governor as soon as you’re well enough to travel to Denver?”

  “I have not forgotten,” Ryder said. “And had I known beforehand about the conditions attached to my amnesty, I might not have accepted. The white eyes want no honorable peace.
They wish to annihilate the People. At the very least they want them confined to reservations where living conditions are dismal.”

  “Now you will have the opportunity to improve those conditions,” Zach reminded him. “You know yourself the day is approaching when all Indians will be living on reservations, or be killed resisting. If you want to help your adopted people, you must accept the governor’s terms.”

  “For the sake of the People I will accept the position, but I will not compromise my honor like some of these men who hold the same position. I will see that the People have warm blankets and food for their bellies. I will fight for what is right.”

  Zach slapped him on the back. “I expected no less from you. When the day arrives there is always a place for you with Mercer Freighting Company. And a piece of land waiting for you down by the river. Rest a few days longer, and when you are fully recuperated we will go together to call on the governor.”

  Ryder’s face hardened, ‘ì will see your governor, but in my own good time. First I must find Hannah. If you give me the supplies I need for a journey to Fort Laramie, I will bid my sister good-bye and go.”

  Zach shook his head. Never had he seen a more stubborn brother and sister. “Go if you must, Ryder, but I have to know if you really intend to return. It would hurt Abby if you rejected amnesty and returned to Powder River country.”

  Ryder sent him a disgruntled glare. “I will return, Zach Mercer. With or without Hannah, I will return to honor my promise to your governor. No one but my sister, who has experienced the same fears, knows the anguish and confusion I suffer because my skin is white and my heart is Cheyenne. We have both felt the despair of not knowing in which world we belong. But with your help she has bridged the gap and seems happy. I may not like it, but I will strive for the same kind of understanding. But first I must find Hannah and learn if she truly wants that blue coat.”