To Tame a Renegade (33 page)

Suddenly a group of horsemen appeared through a curtain of blinding snow. They appeared almost ghostlike, and utterly frightening as they surrounded her. Her relief at seeing other humans turned to panic.

Indians!

They were close enough now for Sarah to see their dark faces. Wearing buckskins and wrapped in threadbare blankets, Sarah thought them fierce harbingers of doom. She’d seen very few Indians in her life, and those she had seen were pitiful creatures compared to these savage warriors.

“What do you want?” Sarah cried as they closed around her in a tight circle. They appeared not to understand so she asked again, more slowly this time. “What do you want? I mean you no harm.”

One warrior grabbed her reins from her hands, while another slapped her horse’s rear. Sarah clung to the pommel as the warriors took off through the trees, forcing Sarah’s horse along with them. They continued tirelessly, until Sarah feared she’d fall off her horse from sheer exhaustion. The passage of time was a blur. It could have been an hour, or five hours, before they reached an Indian camp situated at the edge of a spruce forest. The dozen or so tipis were partially obscured by swirling white masses of snow and tall trees.

The Indians dismounted. Pulled roughly from the saddle, Sarah landed hard. Her knees buckled and she fell on her rump. She picked herself up, expecting the worst. This couldn’t be happening, she silently lamented. Indians were no longer the threat they once were. For the most part, they lived peacefully on reservations. Something drastic must have happened to make them take up raiding again.

Sarah’s eyes burned, her cheeks were chafed raw from the wind, and she wished something would happen soon. And then it did. The crowd parted to allow an older man and a young woman to approach Sarah. The woman raised her head. Sarah gasped when she realized she knew the woman.

Spotted Deer!

Spotted Deer stared at Sarah, her eyes flaring with recognition. She turned abruptly to whisper something to the older man standing beside her. Sarah couldn’t stand the suspense. Her courage returned as she blurted out, “Am I a prisoner?”

“How did you find us?” Spotted Deer asked.

“I wasn’t looking for you. I’m looking for Abner. Freddie Jackson kidnapped him. Have you seen them?”

Spotted Deer conferred with her companion. They spoke at length in a guttural language Sarah didn’t understand. The Indian woman translated. “We have seen Fred-die.”

Incredible joy surged through Sarah. If Spotted Deer saw Jackson, then surely she’d seen Abner. “Was Abner with him?”

Sarah chafed impatiently as Spotted Deer spoke once again to the old man before addressing her question.

“You will remain here as Cunning Wolf’s guest.”

“What about my son? Please tell me about Abner.”

Spotted Deer’s expression softened. “The boy is well.”

Relief shuddered through Sarah. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I can’t stay here. I have to find Abner. I strayed from the trail and got lost, but if you’ll just point me in the right direction, I’ll be on my way.”

“The choice is not yours to make. My father is taking you hostage. He will trade you for cows to feed our people. And for warm blankets. Corrupt agents have taken what belongs to us. Father was forced to join other tribes who left the reservation to raid and forage for food. Soon our people will travel north to Canada, where we will be free to hunt where we choose.”

“I sympathize with your plight, but I have problems of my own. I may never see my son again.”

Gathering her courage, Sarah attempted to mount her horse. A harsh word from Cunning Wolf sent two warriors rushing forward. One forcibly prevented her from mounting while the other led her horse off to join those already being held in a makeshift corral.

“You can’t do this!” Sarah cried, struggling to escape her captors.

Suddenly a small boy burst out of a tipi, charging full tilt toward her. Sarah feared she was hallucinating when she heard the child call her Mama. Then he plowed into her, nearly tumbling her to the frozen ground. His little arms held her tightly, as if afraid she would disappear if he let her go.

“Mama, you’re here!” the little boy sobbed. “I knew you would come for me. Is Chad with you?”

“Abner? Oh my God! Abner! It is you. How? Why? I don’t understand any of this. How did you get here?”

“The Indians made us come with them,” Abner explained.

“Are Jackson and Sanchez here with you?”

“Fred-die is my prisoner,” Spotted Deer said smugly. “He awaits punishment for his harsh treatment of me.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“It hasn’t been decided. Cunning Wolf wants to kill him quickly, before the army finds us and demands his return. But I wish him to die slowly and painfully.”

Sarah shuddered. “Your argument is with Freddie, not me or Abner. We were his prisoners, if you recall. Let us go. We’ve done your people no harm.”

“No. Cunning Wolf wants to make an exchange with the army, you for cows. You will not be harmed. A messenger will be sent to the fort with our demands for your release. Come, the weather worsens. I will take you to shelter.”

Grasping Abner’s hand, Sarah followed Spotted Deer. The Indian woman stopped before a tipi and held the flap open. Sarah ducked inside, finding the warmth a welcome relief from the biting cold. She gazed around in awe, never having seen or been inside an Indian dwelling before. She found it surprisingly warm and comfortable, and roomier than one would expect.

“You will stay here,” Spotted Deer said. “Abner will share my lodge.”

“No!” Sarah protested. “Why must you separate us?”

“You are less likely to escape without your son,” Spotted Deer said.

“Just let him stay with me a little while. I won’t try to escape, I promise.”

“Let me stay with Mama,” Abner begged, clinging to Sarah’s hand.

Spotted Deer crumbled beneath Abner’s pitiful plea. “You may stay for a little while. I will return for you later.”

A blast of cold air marked her departure as she lifted the tent flap and stepped outside. Having won that round, Sarah hugged Abner tightly, reluctant to let him go even for a minute.

“Have they treated you well?” Sarah wanted to know. If Abner had been hurt by either Jackson or the Indians, she’d find a way to make them suffer.

“Mr. Jackson wanted me to call him papa, but I wouldn’t,” Abner said belligerently. “He said he’d spank me if I didn’t mind him. I don’t like him, Mama. Neither do the Indians. They keep him and Mr. Sanchez tied up all the time. They know he’s a bad man. Are you sure he’s my real papa?”

“Oh, honey, I’d give anything if I could tell you he’s not your papa, but I can’t. The only good thing to come of my association with Freddie Jackson is you. You don’t have to like him. Lord knows, I don’t. Did the Indians hurt you?”

Abner shook his head. “They like me. Spotted Deer said Indians love children. Can we go home now, Mama? I miss Chad.”

“That’s not possible just yet. I’m not even sure I can find my way back to Dry Gulch without a guide. I became hopelessly lost in the storm.”

Suddenly the tent flap was thrust aside and Spotted Deer entered. She carried a bowl of steaming food, which she placed before Sarah and Abner. “Eat,” she said, indicating the bowl. “Food is scarce, if the hunters return empty-handed this will be the only meal today.” Then she departed in another blast of cold air.

Sarah stared at the unidentifiable mess in the bowl, wondering if she dared to eat it. Abner had no such qualms as he dug in, using two fingers to scoop the solid pieces into his mouth. Sarah gingerly retrieved a morsel that looked like meat and popped it into her mouth. She chewed slowly and swallowed, finding it not unpleasant but definitely not something she’d eaten before. Nevertheless, she and Abner managed to clean the bowl.

Darkness came early. Spotted Deer returned for Abner before Sarah was ready for him to leave. No amount of pleading could change the Indian woman’s mind as she dragged Abner away. Miserable and alone, Sarah fed sticks to the small fire, then she lay down on the pallet she found rolled up in a corner and tried to sleep. She had no idea how this would all end and prayed for intervention, divine or otherwise. And she longed for Chad. Hugging herself tightly, she imagined Chad’s arms around her, holding her, Chad offering her comfort. She fell asleep pretending that Chad loved her.

The next morning Sarah awoke feeling queasy and upset. She barely made it outside, where she lost the meager contents of her stomach in a clump of bushes. She blamed it on the food she had eaten the previous night and hoped Abner hadn’t been afflicted with the same malady. Making her way back to the tipi, she lay down again and lapsed into an uneasy sleep.

During the fiercest part of the blizzard, Chad blundered into the army bivouac area. He’d been headed back home, eager to see Sarah again, and concerned that Jackson was too close to the Delaney ranch for comfort. Chad was more worried about Sarah and Abner than he cared to admit.

Sarah.

God, he missed her. He’d done a lot of thinking since leaving the ranch. After much soul-searching, he decided to accept his shortcomings and stop blaming himself for events he’d had no control over. Sarah had taught him that some women were worthy of love and trust.

Unfairly labeled a whore and ostracized, Sarah had made the best of an intolerable situation and persevered, raising her son alone and doing a damn fine job of it. Sarah had suffered disgrace, lived with a stigma she hadn’t earned, and became a stronger person for it. He could do no less than follow her example by accepting the good things in his life instead of dwelling on the bad.

Sarah. She was one of the good things.

He ached to hold her in his arms. To make love to her. To mold her responsive body to his and receive the incredible gift of her pleasure. Love was wonderful with the right woman, and that’s exactly what he was going to tell Sarah when he returned to the ranch.

Chad was taken to Major Dalton’s tent immediately after dismounting and voicing his request to speak to the commanding officer. He was eager to learn how long the patrol had been in the area, and if they had seen Jackson and Sanchez.

Chad introduced himself immediately. Major Dalton supplied his own name and greeted Chad with a mixture of wariness and curiosity. “What brings you out in this blizzard, Mr. Delaney?”

“I’m a bounty hunter, Major. I’m tracking Freddie Jackson, and a man named Sanchez. Both are notorious bank robbers. Have you crossed their path?”

Dalton rubbed his chin as he considered Chad’s question. “Funny you should ask about those men.”

Chad’s attention sharpened. “Why do you say that?”

“A woman turned up at the fort the day before we rode out. She wanted help to find her son. Seems the boy was abducted by a man named Freddie Jackson.”

Chad went still. “Was the woman’s name Sarah Temple?” When Dalton nodded, Chad’s worst fears were realized. “How could that have happened? My brother and ten armed men were on hand to protect the boy.”

Dalton’s brows rose sharply upward. “You know the woman?”

“I know her. She’s my… I’m going to marry her. What happened? Did you assign soldiers to help her? Have you any idea where they are?”

“I couldn’t spare the men. The fort is down to bare bones now. I told her to wait until we returned and I’d consider her request for help.”

“You what?” Chad shouted. ‘Jackson is a dangerous man. How could you
not
help Sarah?”

“Now see here, Delaney, I’m doing my best for the people who depend upon the army for protection. A group of renegade Indians left the reservation and are raiding ranches in the area. They may even be heading for Canada. My first priority is to stop the raids and send the renegades back where they belong.”

“And to hell with a small child who needs your help,” Chad spat with disgust.

Dalton shrugged. “As I said, first things first. We would have gotten around to him eventually.”

Chad struggled to rein in his temper. Losing it now wouldn’t help Sarah. “Did Sarah return home?” Though he knew the answer, he still had to ask the question.

“Damn stubborn woman,” Dalton said, shaking his head. “She said she was going to continue on alone. I warned her against it, but she wouldn’t listen.”

Not for an instant had Chad doubted Sarah’s decision. “Have you succeeded in your mission? Have you rounded up the renegades and sent them back to the reservation?”

“Not all of them. We’ve managed to intercept Yellow Dog and send him back, but Cunning Wolf and Snake are still out there somewhere. So far no one has been killed or hurt, but the longer they remain on the loose, the greater the danger that it will happen.”

His words sent fear racing through Chad. Sarah was out there somewhere in this raging blizzard, and so were renegade Indians looking for trouble. Dear God! The thought of losing Sarah when he had finally found the courage to acknowledge his love was unbearable.

“The Indians wouldn’t have left the reservation if the government hadn’t reneged on their promises,” Chad charged. “The poor wretches are probably starving and were forced to leave the reservation to hunt for food.”

“Indian agents I spoke with swore that the government cows and blankets had been delivered. I have no choice but to believe them. Don’t worry, we’ll have the Indians back where they belong soon. As for your fiancéee, she’s a very foolish young woman. However, we’ll keep an eye out for her. Feel free to share our meal and shelter,” Dalton said in dismissal.