My Desperado (23 page)

Katherine's breath came in short, ragged gasps. "Please!" She stumbled back a step. "Ryland!" Her voice broke. "What are you doing?"

"Go," he rasped.

"No."

"Goddamn it!" he swore, and cocked his gun.

A noise issued from the woods behind.

Katherine gasped and Travis twisted about, jerking the muzzle of his weapon in the direction of the sound.

Soldier stood, ears pitched forward, watching as his master's aim leveled on him.

Travis swore, releasing the hammer, and Katherine bent. Grasping a stout branch in both hands, she stepped up beside Ryland to swing with all her might.

The thick bough hit his wrist with numbing force, almost knocking the gun from his hand. He jerked about, grappling for control of the firearm, but the rapid movement seemed to disorient him. His head bobbled for a moment, and then, with painful slowness, his shoulders slumped to the earth.

"God!" Katherine covered her mouth with a trembling hand. "What have I done?" she asked, but before an answer could form in her mind, he moaned.

She scrambled toward him, easing the revolver from his limp hand and stepping quickly back. The moon was slipping toward the horizon, drawing away the last vestige of light.

"Don't panic," she whispered as Soldier shuffled closer.

Setting the gun quickly on the ground, Katherine hurried to Ryland's side. A pulse still beat at the base of his throat.

Scrambling through the underbrush, she grasped Soldier's reins to lead him quickly forward.

"Wake up, Travis. Travis!" She slapped his cheek, noticing blood in his hair and trying not to think of the extent of his wounds. "Travis!" Her voice shook, and she wanted to cry, for surely she could not get him onto his horse if he didn't awaken. "Please," she whispered, but now Soldier had drawn close and nudged her arm with his nose. Behind him Moondancer emerged from the woods, drawing Katherine's attention.

"That's it," she breathed.

Positioning Soldier just so, she begged him not to move as she untied his reins. Her fingers felt stiff and her heart hammered in her chest, but she finally got the knots loosened. Soldier stood quietly as Katherine tied a rein about Ryland's chest. She felt as if she had done this all before, in a past nightmare that still haunted her memories. Hurrying to Dancer, Katherine led the mare forward before tying the second rein about the mare's neck and removing the lariat. In a moment the lengthy leather rope was looped about the base of Dancer's neck and slipped over Soldier's saddle to be tied to the rein that bound Ryland.

A noise issued from the woods. Katherine held her breath.

A fox stepped into view, then stopped, poised, before dashing away.

Katherine closed her eyes, feeling her knees tremble. But there was no time for fear.

"Please, God," she prayed, and then, hurrying around Dancer, she took the mare by the dangling rein and led her slowly forward.

The lariat was taut in a moment, and Dancer stopped, shifting her weight backward.

"Come on, girl," Katherine pleaded, and pulled again.

Ryland's body was lifted from the ground slowly, but finally he was draped, unconscious, atop his saddle.

Soldier took a tentative step forward. Katherine dashed to his side to stop him, but now Dancer was left untended and shuffled back a step.

"No!" Katherine gasped, and scrambling to Soldier's far side, she heaved Ryland astride. "Thatta girl. Hold still now. Hold still," she pleaded, and, fumbling with the knot, set Ryland free.

With strips of cloth torn from a shirt found in the saddlebag, Katherine tied his feet to the stirrups and his hands to the horn. He slumped groggily over his stallion's neck, and with trembling haste, she secured additional ties to bind him more securely. Finally the one remaining rein was returned to Soldier's bit and the lariat to Dancer's head.

She remembered the gun at the last moment and unbuckled Ryland's belt, settled it around her own hips, and slipped the revolver into its holster. It lay heavy and solid against her thigh, and with another whispered prayer, Katherine leaped to her mare's back before urging both horses into the secretive darkness of the woods.

The night got blacker as the hours passed, but Katherine kept the horses moving, hoping she was heading north and listening to every noise that issued from the woods about her.

It was almost impossible to make any headway, for there was no trail and the terrain was rocky and steep, with no water to ease the horses' thirst. Nevertheless, she refused to stop, sure that she must put as much distance as possible between themselves and the outlaws that searched for them.

From a branch overhead an unseen bird chirped, causing Katherine to jump nervously. Another bird answered, and she realized dawn was approaching. She would have to find a place to hide, she knew, but closed her mind to that thought for a moment, for Ryland had not made a sound in many hours, and she feared she lacked the courage to look into his face. Nevertheless, she had no choice but to stop soon.

Dancer stumbled into a walk, and Katherine murmured an apology, knowing the horses were exhausted.

Morning seeped slowly over the rim of the eastern mountains, casting a grim light on Katherine's world. She could see nothing but trees and rocks, and she closed her eyes, wondering for a dismal moment if Travis had been right. Perhaps he would have been better off left to die where he was than to be dragged on this torturous trip through the Rockies with very little water, food, or hope of survival.

Dancer stumbled again as she reached the top of a rise where she shuffled to a halt.

Katherine's gaze skimmed the view ahead. More trees. Endless rocks. She felt a sob rise in her throat, but just then she saw the stream. It burbled along down the mountain at a rapid rate and seemed to Katherine to be a sign from God.

Dancer's ears pitched forward at the smell of water, and from behind, Soldier nickered.

Their descent was quick as the horses slid and scrambled toward the stream, but finally they reached their destination, allowing them to quench their thirst.

Ryland was still slumped over Soldier's neck, showing no signs of life.

Overhead a red-tailed hawk screamed as it took to flight. Katherine raised her face to watch, hopelessly following the bird's gliding motion with her eyes, watching until it disappeared beyond the yellow face of jagged rock.

Her gaze skimmed downward, half-noticing the bright color of the bluff and how the fir trees created black shadows against its surface.

Her attention wandered, but suddenly the shadows seemed strange, drawing her gaze rapidly back.

Beneath her, Dancer lifted her muzzle from the water, letting droplets fall back to the rushing stream, but Katherine was only vaguely aware, for already she was pressing the horses through the water toward the bluffs.

Ahead the shadow did not shift or lighten, but remained black and mysterious until they stood only a few yards away and Katherine could be certain it was not a shadow at all, but a cave.

"Damned if you ain't the luckiest woman on earth."

"Travis." She breathed his name, sliding from Dancer's back to hurry to his side.

His face was pale, but he was awake, alert enough to speak in a faint voice.

"Are you all right?" she asked, touching his leg.

He made a poor attempt at a smile. "I felt better, lady."

"I'll get you down," she said, seeing his shoulders sag toward Soldier's neck again.

The cave proved to be empty, perhaps five feet high and twenty deep. The floor was damp and mossy and smelled like a fruit cellar.

Soldier stood patiently by the mouth of the cavern while Katherine struggled with the knots and finally did her best to ease Travis from the saddle. In the end, however, his descent was rapid and painful, and he moaned as he landed half atop Katherine, at the buckskin's feet.

"Sorry," she panted, feeling crushed and bruised herself, but he shook his head.

"Swear."

"I beg your pardon," she said, struggling to bring them both to their feet.

"Gotta learn to"—he grimaced, but finally balanced unsteadily on his feet—"swear."

She moved him carefully toward the cave, staggering under his weight. "Why?"

"Helps." He tried to nod, but the movement was jerky.

"Really?" It seemed wise to keep him talking, for she felt safer with him conscious, less alone.

They fell together just inside the cavern's mouth, with Travis's buttocks hitting the rock first and Katherine trying unsuccessfully to slow his fall, so that she finally toppled down beside him.

"Sorry," she gasped again, but one look at his expression changed her mind. "I mean..." She bit her lip. "Damn!"

Travis lay back against the mossy floor and smiled wearily. "Sounds good."

She bit her lip again, watching his face and wondering dismally if she would give her own life to save his, as he certainly would do for her. "You like that?" she asked, not listening to her own words.

"Yeah." His voice was weak, but his chest rose and fell steadily, and the fingers on his right hand were moving again. "You got a knack."

There was silence for a moment, then, "Travis," she said softly.

"Umm."

"Please don't die." Her words were no more than a whisper as her fingertips touched his cheek.

"I'm sorry, lady," he murmured, and his eyes fell closed.

"No!" She leaned closer, frantically clutching his sleeve. "Remember? No apologies. Travis?" she breathed, but he didn't answer. With a sob she pressed her ear to his chest.

His heartbeat was steady and rhythmic, and Katherine remained as she was, eyes closed, listening to that comforting beat until sleep took her.

Chapter 23

Katherine woke groggily, her head resting on Travis Ryland's chest. Bracing a hand on the floor, she pushed away to look at his face.

His eyes were open, but his expression was puzzled. "Who are you?" he murmured.

Katherine swallowed hard, feeling eerie sensations creep up her spine. "I'm Katherine."

He scowled then shifted his eyes. "Head hurts. Where am I?"

"You were shot." She shifted back a few inches. Panic would not help she reminded herself. "We were attacked by Dellas's men. Remember?"

"Delias?" The word came out in a gasp, and he shrank back as if he were a mere child trying to hide from some threatening evil. "Rachel?"

She drew a deep breath and took his hand. "It's all right now, Trav. We're safe," she soothed. Dear God, what was she to do? She'd planned to remain hidden during the hours of daylight, but what would it help to keep him safe from Delias if he died of the wound he'd already sustained? Or if he lost his mind forever?

That thought made her stomach lurch, but his fingers had tightened about hers, drawing her mind back to the present.

"It's all right," she said again. "But we have to get to Latigo's ranch. You remember that, don't you?"

Travis blinked and scowled, but shook his head finally. "Latigo?"

"Yes. He's a friend. Don't you recall?"

"No." His scowl deepened. "Why does my head hurt?"

"Here." She helped him to sit. "Let me have a look." She tried to sound cheerful and casual, and steadied him as she moved around to examine the side of his skull.

Blood was still caked to his hair. Katherine swallowed hard and closed her eyes, not touching him lest he feel her hand shake.

"Am I going to be all right, Rachel?"

"Yes." She opened her eyes and forced herself to lift her fingers to his head. "Of course you are." She swallowed again and pulled her hand abruptly away. "It should be washed. I'll be back soon," she vowed, and pushing herself to her feet, left the cave.

She'd neglected to hide the horses, but they had remained close, and grazed in a copse of aspen where they were probably as well hidden as was possible. Hurrying to Soldier, she took the remainder of Travis's torn shirt from the saddlebags and untied the canteen from the horn before going to the stream.

Though she dreaded the task ahead, Katherine could not long delay her return, and soon found herself in the cavern again, propped on her knees beside Travis, carefully bathing his wound.

It took a good deal of time to wash away enough blood to determine the extent of his injuries, but finally when the area was clean, she settled back on her feet and pressed her knuckles to her mouth, to stifle her sob.

He heard her nevertheless.

"Rachel? Are you all right?" he asked, trying to twist about to look at her.

Katherine swiped her nose with the back of her hand and nodded. "Yes. I'm fine." She drew in a shuddering breath. "The bullet just took out a furrow of flesh." She pressed her knuckles to her lips again and prayed a silent thank-you. "You're going to heal."

"But I can't remember..." He frowned. "What's his name?"

Katherine forced a smile. Blessedly the bullet hadn't entered his skull, but something had addled his wits, either the bullet or his subsequent fall. "Latigo." She nodded.

“That's all right. You will. But meanwhile, we'll have to start riding again."

He mounted with Katherine's help, but she tied him in place despite his consciousness.

It was difficult to tell which way was north, for it was impossible to be certain what time of day it was. But she couldn't bear to remain in the cave doing nothing, and so she made her best guess, put the sun on her left side, and urged the horses out of the valley.

They traveled for the remainder of the day and the next night, with Katherine setting her sights on what she hoped was the North Star. For the most part Travis was silent. Whether or not that meant he was unconscious, she wasn't certain, but she kept them moving, pushing them on until she felt herself slipping from Dancer's back. She awoke with a jolt, grabbing the mare's mane and breathing hard. She needed sleep.

Despite her fears of being unable to get Travis mounted again, Katherine finally found a quiet, sheltered meadow and helped him from the saddle. They fell exhausted onto the grass, not tying the horses or trying to hide, but merely tumbling mindlessly into sleep.