by Bobbi Smith
Though she was deep in despair, Cari glanced around when she heard the soft, lilting melody of a bird's song. She found herself gazing out across the pool where she'd first seen Silver Wolf on that wonderful, magical night. It seemed impossible that it had been less than a week ago when they'd made love there. So much had taken place since then that it almost seemed as if it had happened to someone else in another lifetime.
Since the moment she was told that Silver Wolf had murdered her father, Cari had refused to think about their night together by the stream. But now, as she let her mind touch upon those hidden memories, exquisite images of Silver Wolf came surging back and would not be denied. His passionate kisses and arousing caresses had shown her an ecstasy she'd never known existed. She thought of his tenderness when he'd loved her and of the fierce devotion he'd shown later in the face of her mother's vicious attack. She remembered, too, the terrible look in his eyes when their gazes had met just before he'd been forced to ride away with the posse, and her doubts of his guilt grew even more overwhelming.
Cari knew what she had to do. She had to go into town and talk to Silver Wolf. She had to look him straight in the eye and ask him for the truth. Until she did, she would know no peace.
Coming to her decision left her feeling better. She stood and hurried back toward the house, eager to ride to town. When she reached the top of the hill, she was startled to find Elliot coming her way.
"I've been looking for you," he told her.
"I had some thinking to do, and I needed to be alone."
"I was doing some serious thinking myself."
She glanced at him curiously.
"I was thinking about you and your mother, Cari. You know I've already made my plans to go home, but if you want me to stay, I'd be glad to, at least until the ordeal over your father's death is over. I don't want to leave you and your mother here to face the trial and whatever happens by yourselves." It hadn't been a difficult decision for Elliot to make. He knew Cari didn't love him, but that didn't change his feelings for her. Love her as he did, he wanted to protect her and help her in any way he could.
Cari was touched by his offer, and she put a hand on his arm as their eyes met. She saw the depth of his caring mirrored in his gaze, and she reached up on tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."
Elliot savored her nearness but did not fool himself into thinking it was anything more than friendship. They walked back to the house in companionable silence. When they told Elizabeth of Elliot's plan to stay with them a while longer, she was pleased and thanked him for his thoughtfulness. She secretly hoped that Cari would change her feelings for Elliot now that she knew what kind of man the half-breed was.
Cari's thoughts were far different from her mother's, though, as she pleaded exhaustion and retired to her room shortly before dinner. Cari had decided not to tell her mother of her intentions beforehand to avoid the argument that would surely follow. She went to her room and waited until she could slip away from the ranch unnoticed. Cari knew there was an element of danger in making the trip alone, but she was so desperate to find out the truth, she took the chance. She had to see Silver Wolf again. She had to learn the truth from him. Until she did, nothing else mattered.
Sarah Jane had worked for Ed at the Sundown for many years. She was statuesque by nature and flame-haired by plan; her hair color had become her trademark over time. She was immensely popular with the men. They loved trying to match wits with her, for she always had a quick comeback for them, but they knew better than to make her angry. Her temper was legendary, and as fiery as her hair.
When little Jenny had been beaten by the younger Larson, Sarah Jane was angered. She'd told Ed what she thought of him for not protecting the girl, but he'd only shrugged; the Larsons were influential in town, not to mention good customers, and she knew he didn't want to offend them. Since the girl had had no place to go, Sarah Jane had taken her in, and she was staying with her in the little run-down house she'd saved enough money to buy. Jenny had been closemouthed about what had made Larson so angry, but if he was prone to violence, it was best that he not know where Jenny was. Sarah Jane had told no one that the younger girl was recuperating at her house. She would do what she could to keep her safe, since Ed obviously wasn't going to help.
Sarah Jane left the Sundown a little after five to go home for a few hours. Business would pick up later that night, and she would be back by then, but right now, she just wanted to rest for a while.
"Things got pretty exciting at the saloon today," Sarah Jane told Jenny as she entered the house.
"What happened?" Jenny asked her, glancing up from where she was sitting at the kitchen table.
The older woman still was not used to the sight of Jenny's battered face. She grimaced inwardly as she saw once again her bruised and swollen features. Larson had sorely abused her, and she knew it would be at least another couple of weeks before the girl would feel comfortable going out in public again. "Remember I told you the rancher, James McCord, was found murdered?" At the girl's nod, she went on. "Well, the sheriff brought in Daniel Marshall this afternoon. They arrested him for it."
"Daniel? But they were friends . . ." Shock shone on Jenny's face.
"I don't know that much about it. I'm sure we ain't heard the last of it. You should have heard all the talk down at the saloon."
"What kind of talk?"
"Some of the men are all riled up over an Indian killing a white man. There's even wild talk about getting a lynching party together."
"But they don't know for sure he's guilty!" Jenny stared at her. Though she'd only met Daniel for those few hours on that one night, in her heart, she was certain of his innocence. His Indian blood had nothing to do with it. She knew he wasn't a murderer.
Sarah Jane gave a harsh laugh as she thought of the hate-driven men in town. "He's half Indian, and to their way of thinking, that's enough to convict him."
Jenny was sickened by the realization that she was right. "The sheriff won't let them take him, will he?"
"Who knows? If there's enough of them, how's he going to stop them?" Sarah Jane moved off into her bedroom to lie down and rest for a while. She closed the door behind her, leaving Jenny alone.
Though Jenny hadn't left the house since coming there, the thought of Daniel being lynched spurred her to action. There was no way she could stand by and let him be hung for something he hadn't done. She had to help him.
It was starting to get dark outside, and Jenny was glad, for she didn't want anyone to see her in her present condition. She remembered that Daniel had told her she was pretty without her makeup, and she wondered if he'd still think so now, disfigured as she was by Mark's cruelty.
Jenny was desperate to help Daniel, but she knew Sarah Jane kept no weapons in the house. Frantically, Jenny searched the kitchen until she found a knife that looking threatening enough he could use it to save himself if he had to. She wrapped it in a piece of cloth, then donned a dark cloak and crept from the house. She didn't want Sarah Jane to know she was gone. Keeping to the back alleys, she finally reached the rear of the jail.
Silver Wolf was lying on the cot, his arms folded behind his head. He was staring up at the ceiling, trying not to think. When the first pebble rattled against the bars of his cell window, he paid no attention, but when there was a second, he sat up, suddenly alert. After glancing out toward the office to make sure the sheriff was occupied with his own business, he stood on the bed to try to get a look outside.
"Daniel?" Jenny called his name in a hushed whisper.
"Yes," he answered just as quietly. He had to strain to hear the voice and didn't recognize it at all.
"There's talk of a lynch mob. Take this and be careful."
The small parcel was tossed up to him, and he was relieved when he managed to catch it on the first try. "Who are you?" he called back softly.
"A friend . . ."
"But . . ."
Footsteps were all that came to him. Puzzled, he
quickly climbed down and sat on the cot. Thinking of the warning he'd just been given, he unwrapped the parcel and stared down at the knife with a mixture of relief and surprise. A knife. Who would have brought him a knife? Daniel knew it hadn't been Ben. Ben respected the law too much to even think of arming him. Then who? A friend . . .
Silver Wolf frowned as he hid the knife in his waistband, then stuffed the cloth out of sight under the thin mattress on the cot. He lay back down to wait. He hoped there would be no lynch party storming the jail tonight, but if there was, at least he wouldn't be completely defenseless.
Jenny rushed through the alleys back to Sarah Jane's house. No one saw her, and she was thrilled to find that the other woman had slept the whole time she was gone. Her breathing was ragged and her hands were shaking as she settled in, trying to look as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't left at all. She silently prayed that no harm would come to Daniel.
After sneaking away undetected from the ranch, Cari rode like the wind to town. She was desperate to talk to Silver Wolf. She needed to get to him as fast as she could. Once she reached the sheriff's office and tied her horse outside, she'd had to force herself to walk like a lady into the jail.
"Miss McCord? Why are you here? Did something happen out at the ranch?"
"No. I'm here because I need to talk to Daniel." She could tell that Sheriff Dixon wasn't pleased by her request.
"But this is—"
She interrupted him. "It's important."
The look on Dixon's face was one of misgiving, but he slowly stood up. "All right."
He picked up the keys and led the way back toward the cell area.
"Marshall!"
His secret visitor had warned him of impending trouble over an hour before, and since then, Silver Wolf had lain tensely on the cot. At the sound of the sheriff's call, he sat up quickly, expecting trouble.
"You got a visitor!"
Relief swept through him. He expected it to be Ben. He glanced toward the door to the office, and the sight of Little Snow coming toward him brought him automatically to his feet.
Hard emotions pummeled him as Silver Wolf stared at her, drinking in the sweet sight of her. Joy surged within him. For just one fleeting moment, it reflected in his eyes, and then his sanity returned and he quickly masked it. He didn't know why she'd come, but he told himself that she wasn't there because she cared about him. He would never forget the way she'd looked at him at the ranch.
"Miss McCord wants to talk to you, Marshall. Stay away from the door while I open it," Dixon told him.
Silver Wolf fought to keep his expression carefully blank as he remained where he was, unmoving as the lawman unlocked his cell to let her in.
"You can go on in now," he said as he held the barred door for her. "Are you sure you want to?"
"It's important that I speak with him, Sheriff. I'll call if I need you," Cari assured him.
"Ten minutes is all you get. I'll be right outside, Miss McCord."
"Thank you, Sheriff," she answered politely.
Dixon shot his captive a threatening look as he started to lock the door behind her.
Silver Wolf didn't know why Little Snow had come, but certainly, her timing was perfect. The sheriff was alone in the office now, and there would never be a better opportunity to escape. He reacted on instinct. Moving with blinding speed, he grabbed Little Snow at the same time he knocked the door out of his jailer's grip. Hauling her back against him, he brought the knife to her throat in one smooth savage move.
"What the . . . !!" Dixon started for his gun.
"Don't do it, Sheriff. I'll use this on her if I have to!" he threatened, pressing the blade against her tender flesh.
A look of panic crossed the lawman's face as his hand froze over his sidearm, and Silver Wolf was glad. It meant he was in control.
Cari was stunned by Silver Wolf's move, and she held herself rigid against him. She had come here to see him because she'd thought him innocent of her father's murder. Why was he doing this? Was she wrong? Had he really shot her father?
"Don't say a word or try anything, Cari," he ordered sharply. "Sheriff, get in here and sit on the cot. Then shove your gun across the floor toward me! Don't make any fast moves. I'd hate for anybody to get hurt."
The sheriff stared at Cari's ashen face and knew, as much as it infuriated him, that he had to do what he was told. "All right. Just let the girl go, and everything will . . ."
"Nobody's going to get hurt as long as you do exactly what I say!"
The sheriff never took his eyes from Silver Wolf as he inched over to the cot and sat down. His movements were slow and deliberate as he drew his gun and then carefully slid it across the floor to him. Silver Wolf kicked the gun out of the cell and then backed out, too, dragging Cari along with him.
"If you don't want to see him die, go get a rope and something I can use to gag him," Silver Wolf told her as he let her go.
Cari jerked away and turned on him. Her gaze was wild as she frantically searched his stony expression for some sign of the man she loved. But there was no warmth of any kind in his hardened features.
Torn by his coldness, yet knowing she had no choice but to obey, Cari rushed to get what he needed. In the outer office, she stopped and stared at the door that beckoned to her to safety. It was unlocked, and she knew there was no one to stop her if she wanted to go for help.
In that moment when freedom was hers for the taking, she made her choice. There was no logic in her decision, for logic told her that he wasn't the man she'd believed him to be and that she should run from him while she could. Her choice was based on a deep, gut-wrenching terror that any help she sought would end up in bloodshed and possibly death. Silver Wolf's . . .
Cari knew how the townspeople felt about him, and if they found out that he was trying to escape, there would be no second thoughts on shooting first and asking questions later. She turned her back on the door and went back to her warrior's side with the rope and gag.
Silver Wolf had armed himself with the sheriff's revolver while he'd awaited her return. When she came back to him with the rope and gag, he gestured her back into the cell.
"Get in there, and tie his hands behind him and bind his ankles. Then gag him tight. I don't want anybody to find him right away. We need time to get away."
"We?" she repeated, staring at him in shock.
"You're coming with me," he stated flatly.
"That's insane!" Cari argued.
"Tie him up." It was an order.
"Marshall, you already killed her father! What do you want with the girl? Leave her here!" Dixon shouted at him, wanting to protect Cari if he could.
"She goes with me," he repeated, his resolve strengthened by the sheriff's certainty that he'd murdered James.
"Silver Wolf, don't you realize what will happen if you force me to go with you?" Cari pleaded with him as she finished tying the sheriff's hands and feet. "I'll just slow you down. If you go alone, you have a better chance to get away."
"I'll take the chance," he answered curtly.
"You're making a big mistake, Marshall!" Dixon shouted at him, wild-eyed, as Cari prepared to gag him. "They'll hunt you down like the mad dog you are!"
"They already did that once." Silver Wolf's smile was savage as he glared at him. "Only that time, I didn't know they were after me. This time, I'll be ready."
"They'll shoot you on the spot for this!" he promised heatedly. "Leave the girl here!"
"Gag him," Silver Wolf repeated.
Cari stuffed the gag in his mouth.
"Good, now get out of there," he dictated harshly.
Dixon feared for Cari's life, and he twisted and fought his bonds, trying to break free. She had tied him too well, though. Frustrated, he could only watch as his prisoner made his escape.
Silver Wolf locked the cell door once Cari had come out. "We'll go out the back door."
Cari stopped and faced him, looking up at him with an imploring gaze. She was
afraid—desperately so—and terribly confused. She knew what was going to happen to him if he ran and the posse caught him again. There would be no quarter given this time. They would be out for blood . . . his blood, and they wouldn't care how they got it. "Don't do this, Silver Wolf. It's like the sheriff said. They'll come after you. They'll hunt you down . . ."
"They won't do anything as long as I have you with me." His gaze met hers.
Cari shivered, for she could read no emotion in the hard silver of his eyes.
"Go by yourself! You can travel faster alone. You don't need me with you."
"You're my insurance," he said, taking her by the arm as he started for the back door. "Just keep quiet and nothing will happen to you."
Cari could see how implacable his expression was and realized there would be no changing his mind. She went with him.
Seventeen
Silver Wolf and Cari went out into the alley behind the jail. It was deserted, and he was grateful that at least that was going his way. Drawing Cari along with him, they made their way to the street and stood in the shadows unnoticed by passersby. He could see her horse tied up in front of the sheriff's office.
"Get your horse." His tone brooked no argument. "But don't get any ideas about trying to get away. Remember, I'm watching you and I've got the gun."
His threat chilled Cari as she moved away from him and headed to her waiting mount. She managed to appear calm as she walked down the street. Her hands were unsteady, though, as she untied her horse. She mounted and rode quietly away from the jail. No one could tell she was involved in a jailbreak and being held hostage at gunpoint.
When Cari reined in before Silver Wolf, he swung up behind her and reached around to take the reins. Dressed as he was in his warrior clothing, Silver Wolf knew his appearance would draw attention if anyone saw them, so he kept to the dark backways, avoiding any and all light as he took the shortest, quickest route from town.
Cari's heart was pounding as Silver Wolf made their way out of town. She was terrified that someone would find the sheriff before they had enough time to escape. Every fiber of her being was tense with the expectation of being discovered too soon, and she held herself rigidly before Silver Wolf, struggling to stay in control.