Sunflower (40 page)

“You have the power to arrest Hardy? Oh, Caleb, why don’t you go to the dance and get him now? The major can put him in the guardhouse, and we can forget all about this.”

“I do have the power to arrest him, Anja, but first I need proof that he is guilty. I have to set my own trap for Hardy before Red Dog or Zach can get hold of him. I want that man tried for his crimes. Then we can begin to round up all the others like him.”

Caleb pulled on his black shirt, the one he’d been wearing the day he rode into her life. He stood buttoning the shirt, his back toward her, the movement of his well-defined, powerful muscles visible even beneath the dark material, and spoke to her over his shoulder.

“Get me my black pants, would you, Anja?”

She moved to do his bidding and held the trousers out at arm’s length. As he shoved one leg and then the other into his pants, he looked up at her with a smile.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?”

“Ja.
You are not angry with me now?”

“No. I must admit, I was disappointed in you, and I know now that you can’t be trusted not to interfere with my work.”

“Oh, Caleb, please ...” His words hurt her, although she knew he spoke the truth:

“It’s all right. I figure this experience just served to show me that sometimes I move a little too slowly. Not you, though; you just take the bull by the horns and jump right on his back.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Forget I said that.” He reached for his worn leather jacket and mumbled loud enough for her to barely catch his words, “Next thing I know, she’ll be out looking for a bull.”

She followed close on his heels as he went to his trunk and opened it. Beneath a stack of folded shirts rested his gun and holster. Fear clutched at Analisa’s heart as she watched Caleb buckle the gun belt about his waist and tie the rawhide thong around his thigh. Absently he lifted the gun and felt its weight, as if he needed to reacquaint himself with the feel of it.

“Caleb, please ... tell me where you are going. What are you going to do? Shouldn’t you let me know before you walk out of here? What if something should happen to you?”

Frantic now with worry, trying to swallow her fear, Analisa stepped nearer and took his hands in her own. She forced him to slow down, to stop his movements and meet her gaze. “Tell me.

“I have to go, Anja. It may already be too late.”

She thought back over his words. “You said Red Dog had a woman for Hardy, a woman to trade ...”

“It’s just a trap. Red Dog means to trick him.”

“Are there any white women in the renegade camp?” She paused to be sure he was paying attention to her words. “Caleb, is my sister one of the captives?”

He seemed all too still for a moment. Although he did not look away, Analisa could see that he was somehow able to hide his thoughts, as if his mind were suddenly shuttered. The pause between her question and his words was too long, and too heavily silent. He knew something about Meika. She was sure of it.

As he looked down into her pleading, upturned face, Caleb knew he could not tell her he’d seen Meika, not until he was positive the girl really was Analisa’s sister, and certainly not until he could be sure of obtaining her release from the Sioux. He would risk telling her a lie and losing her trust in him in order to avoid leading her down a trail of false hope. Caleb’s fingers tightened around hers as he spoke.

“No.”

She barely heard the reply and yet knew that it was a lie, the first lie he’d ever told her. Analisa dropped his hands and turned away. She fought back tears, blinking rapidly. Perhaps she’d earned this, she thought. She’d betrayed his trust by going to visit Hardy. Now, to repay her, he would keep the truth from her. Could he do something so cruel, knowing how she longed to find her missing sister and brother?

“Anja, I’m ready ... I’m going.”

Did he expect her to turn and kiss him good-bye?

“Aren’t you even going to say good-bye?”

“Ja. Ja,
Caleb.” Whirling, she faced him, her fear for him heightening her anger. “Good-bye. Ride away to be killed. Ride away, knowing that my sister is out there with the Indians. Why not tell me the truth? You can’t. You are still angry and wish to punish me.” She had to turn away from him now; she could not face his closed look.
“Ja.
Go. Good-bye.”

There was nothing left for her to do but listen for the sound of his footsteps as he left the room. The sound did not come. Analisa could feel him behind her, standing, waiting, perhaps weighing the meaning behind her outburst. Suddenly she felt his hands on her shoulders. Caleb forced her to face him once again. Before she could speak, he lowered his head and pressed a searing kiss on her lips. He held her so close she could feel the wide buckle of his gun belt cutting into her waist. He pulled her closer, his hands playing along her spine, and pressed his hips to hers.

His arms encircled her as his lips ground against hers, forcing her to open her mouth and welcome his insistent tongue. Without relinquishing his hold, Caleb stepped forward, pressing her backward, maneuvering her toward the bed. Analisa felt the mattress dip beneath her thighs as Caleb bent over her, forcing her down on the coverlet. She was helpless to stop him, nor did she want to. His touch set her senses reeling just as they had when he first held her in his arms. She could not hold on to her anger while his body worked its magic on hers. Analisa began to return his kiss full measure. Her tongue toyed with his, exploring, darting, exchanging the maddening sensations that caused her to feel the sudden delicious warmth that radiated from deep inside her. She moaned, pulled her lips away from his, and buried her face against his shoulder.

“Oh, Anja.” His voice sounded far away, unsure. “Nothing ever comes easy for you, does it?” He sighed, his breath teasing the column of her throat. “I would tell you everything if I thought it would help. But it won’t. For now, you will have to trust me.”

When she failed to respond, he gave her a squeeze. Analisa kept her eyes closed against his shoulder. She refused to believe he would not come back. Caleb would be fine. He could do anything.

“Are you listening?”

“Ja.”

“When this thing is all over, when Hardy’s on his way back to Washington, I’ll ask Ely for all the men he can spare. We’ll be in contact with posts all over the West. If your brother and sister can be found, I’ll find them ... but not now, Anja. Not now. One problem at a time is all I can handle.”

Her heart went out to him. She knew she was pushing Caleb too hard, asking for far too much, but she could not seem to stop.

“Are you sure, Caleb? Tell me you have not seen any white children who might be Meika and Pieter.”

Again he paused. “They are no longer children, Anja.”

“I know that, but—”

He began to pull away, to straighten his clothes. She watched him with regret, her eyes misting over with tears.

“They may not want to be found,” he said finally.

“I must try.”

“We will try together,” he assured her, and then added, “when this is all over.”

He pulled her toiler feet. Unable to resist, she linked her arms about his neck.

“You must go now?” she whispered.

“
Ja
.” He gave her a crooked smile and disengaged himself. He crossed the room. Caleb reached for his dark, wide-brimmed hat and put it on. His hair, still in a queue at the nape of his neck, was hidden by the lowered brim. “I’ll be back.”

God go with you,
she thought, as she watched him walk out the door. Suddenly, Caleb was gone. A helpless feeling settled over her like a sodden cloak, her worry compounded by the knowledge that he had lied to her.

Analisa tried to shake off her tension as she crossed the darkened parade ground, this time alone. It was time she collected Kase and took him home to bed.

She entered the commissary and searched the crowd for Ruth. The deep raspberry gown caught her eye, and Analisa hurried across the room to join her friend.

“It seems you’ve lost Don Ricardo,” Frank Williamson commented. Analisa noticed the familiar way the man’s hand now rested on Ruth’s waist. He was fairly beaming, his smile spread from ear to ear, his ruddy complexion flushed redder from the heat of the room as well, it seemed, as Ruth’s nearness.

Analisa smiled up at him. “He has retired for the evening. He must leave before dawn.”

“He is certainly devoted to his work. I’m afraid I’d find it hard to leave my wife—if I had one, that is—to go off digging up a lot of weeds.” The man shook his head as he smiled down at Ruth.

Caleb’s stepmother returned his smile and then added, “Well, I have only known Don Ricardo a short while, but I know he is committed to his cause. Is everything all right, dear?” Her eyes searched Analisa’s face.

“Of course. I have returned to collect Kase, as well as Ricardo’s hat and my shawl. It’s time Kase was in bed.”

“I’ll be happy to take him home,” Ruth volunteered easily, “if you care to stay.”

Analisa looked around the room. The crowd was thinning now, many of the couples content to chat while seated on the short wooden stools scattered about the room. She noticed Zach Elliot leaning near the side entrance, his hat in his hand, his usually unruly white hair somewhat tamed into place.

“No, I don’t want to stay.” She shook her head, pausing to remember the feel of Caleb’s arms about her as they waltzed together. Wanting nothing to detract from the memory, she chose not to dance with anyone else. “I think I’ll go home now. You come along whenever you are ready, Ruth.” Although she wanted desperately to talk to Ruth, Analisa did not intend to keep her friend from enjoying the major’s attentions.

Excusing herself, Analisa sought out Abbie at the refreshment table. The buxom woman no longer bustled to and fro, but was seated on a stool behind the table. The crumbly remains of cakes and pies gave testimony to the party’s culinary success.

“Abbie, is Kase with the other boys?” In her perturbed state Analisa had failed to notice him when she entered the room. Now she looked around apprehensively.

Abbie hefted her bulk off of the squat stool and pointed to a spot under the table. Analisa peered beneath the long tablecloth. The sight that met her eyes warmed her heart, and for a moment her problems were forgotten. Kase lay curled up beneath the table, his cheek resting on her folded shawl, his head covered by Caleb’s bowler hat. Typical of an exhausted child, he was oblivious to the noise around him and slept blissfully. Analisa bent down and gently pulled him toward her. She lifted him carefully and tried to disturb him as little as possible while Abbie retrieved the hat and covered the boy with the shawl.

“I’ll bring the hat with me,” Abbie decided, seeing that Analisa’s hands were full. Kase slept undisturbed against his mother’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Abbie. I’ll see you at home.”

Analisa turned to cross the room, choosing to exit through the side door rather than make her way among the dancers. As she reached the open door, she smiled at Zach. He seemed content to stand in the doorway rather than ask anyone to dance.

“You haven’t danced tonight, Zach?” she asked lightly.

“Naw. Ain’t no one going to want to get that close to this ugly mug, Miz de la Vega.” She noticed his mouth was free of the usual plug of tobacco. He looked as if he wanted to spit anyway, out of sheer habit.

“I would have, if I had known you would be here.”

He seemed to sense her sincerity, and a half-smile broke his usual stern countenance and played tricks with his scarred cheek.

“Well, if I’d a known that, I’d a sure been here earlier.” He turned to look out into the darkness behind him and then glanced at the sleeping boy before he spoke again. “I told Don Ricardo I’d take care of that pinto he brought the boy, but I been thinkin’ that mebbe we’d better not say anything to the kid about it. It’ll be a while before I can trust that pony not to hightail it back to wherever it came from. If Kase knows about it, he’ll be badgerin’ the hell outta me to ride it.”

“Pinto?” She didn’t understand the term. Her confusion was apparent to Zach.

“He didn’t tell you yet?”

“No, we have barely spoken. Don Ricardo was exhausted and went to bed early.”

“Well, he brought the boy an Indian pony. Traded his vittles for it. Got himself a fine deal, too. Only thing is, the animal’s half wild and sure to run back to his herd first chance he gets. It’s not even shod.” Zach looked fondly at the boy in her arms. “He’s sure gonna be excited when he does find out.”

“Can I carry the boy home for you, Miz de la Vega?”

Gratefully she nodded at Zach. “That would be very kind of you, Mr. Elliot. Thank you.”

She transferred her son to the scout’s waiting arm’s, and although he opened his eyes and looked about, Kase was soon asleep once more, this time with his head on Zach’s shoulder.

When they reached the front door, Analisa refrained from inviting Zach to enter and took Kase back into her arms. Bidding Zach good night and thanking him once again, she carried her son indoors. Soon he was tucked between the sheets of her own bed, and within moments, Galileo was kneading the quilt near Kase’s feet, preparing to sleep beside the boy, as usual.
It should be Caleb sleeping next to me tonight,
she thought as she stared down at the boy’s midnight-black hair.