To Tame a Renegade (38 page)

“Ransom?” Ryan asked, bewildered. “I don’t understand. Is Jackson asking ransom for Abner’s safe return?”

“I’d better start at the beginning,” Chad said. “I was returning to the ranch when I ran into a patrol from the fort. Major Dalton told me that Sarah had been to see him, and that he had been unable to supply men to help find Abner because Indian trouble in the area required all his troops. He said that Sarah ignored his warning and went on alone, despite the danger and recklessness of her venture.”

“I would expect nothing less from Sarah,” Ryan intoned dryly. “She’d do anything for her son. What happened next?”

Chad launched into the tale of how he had found both Sarah and Abner at Cunning Wolf’s camp, and backtracked to when he’d first met the chief’s daughter.

“Cunning Wolf plans to remain at his camp until the cows arrive, then he’s going to take his people to Canada. They’re in desperate need of food and warm blankets to last through the worst of the winter. He intended to ransom Sarah and Abner to the army for cows and blankets. I feared a confrontation and offered to pay the ransom myself.”

“How did you manage to get them to release Sarah?” Ryan asked.

“Sarah’s been ill. Cunning Wolf let her leave, but he demanded that Abner remain behind until I return with the ransom.”

“I’m surprised Sarah would leave her son behind.”

“Leaving Abner behind wasn’t my idea. Chad knocked me out and carried me away against my will.”

Three pairs of eyes shifted to the doorway, where Sarah, clad in nightgown and robe, leaned against the doorjamb. She looked ghastly. Chad jumped up to steady her as she lurched into the kitchen. He pulled out a chair and eased her into it.

“What are you doing out of bed?”

She stared deliberately at his empty plate. “I smelled food. I’m hungry.”

Cookie leaped to his feet. “How about a bowl of chicken soup, Miz Sarah? Made it specially for you.”

“Sounds wonderful, Cookie.”

Sarah devoured two bowls of soup and a cup of tea before she sat back, seemingly sated.

“Feel better?” Chad asked with concern. Sarah had survived an ordeal that would have defeated most women. Her pregnancy hadn’t made things easy for her.

“Yes, thank you,” she said coldly. Deliberately she turned away from him. “Have you heard about Abner?” she asked Ryan.

“Chad told us. Did my brother really hit you?”

Sarah turned her face so he could see the fading bruise. She opened her mouth to speak, but Chad forestalled her.

“I did it for her own good. I wouldn’t hurt Sarah for the world. She refused to leave without Abner, and you can see for yourself that she’s been ill. I was desperate to get her home. We’ll have Abner back with us in no time.”

“What can we do to help?” Ryan asked. “Damn, I wish I could go with you, but my leg won’t be out of this cast for several more weeks. Take as many men as you need.”

“I’m sending a man to town tomorrow to purchase every blanket he can get his hands on. The others can help me cut ten cows from the herd. I want everything ready the day after tomorrow. I’ll take two men with me to drive the cattle and another to drive the wagon containing the blankets, supplies, and feed for the cows. They might not be able to forage beneath the snow for grass. I have nine days in which to meet Cunning Wolf’s deadline.”

No one asked what would happen should Chad fail, but Chad could tell from their grave expressions that they understood the situation. Cunning Wolf might not kill Abner, but he’d take the boy away and they’d never see him again.

“I’ll be ready to leave when you are,” Sarah said, fixing Chad with a look that defied him to deny her.

“Like hell!” Chad shouted. “You’re not stepping foot outside this house until I return with Abner.”

Chapter 19

“C
ookie and I will leave you two to hash this out,” Ryan said as he adjusted his crutches and rose clumsily to his feet.

Cookie leaped up to help him and they left the kitchen together. Neither Sarah nor Chad seemed to notice as they continued to glare at one another.

“You’re staying here, Sarah, that’s my final word,” Chad bellowed. “I won’t have you chasing around the countryside in the dead of winter in your condition.”

“Leave my condition out of this, Chad. We’re talking about my son. Abner needs me. I want to be there for him.”

“You’re going to be here for him and that’s final.”

Sarah’s protest ended in a squawk when Chad rose abruptly, scooped her up from the chair, and carried her out of the kitchen, through the parlor, and up the stairs.

“Damn you! What do you think you’re doing?”

“You belong in bed. You’ve been living under harsh conditions for two weeks and you’re exhausted. I won’t let you expose yourself to danger again. There’s no way, Sarah, no way you’re going to leave this house until I say so.”

Chad kicked open the bedroom door, carried her inside and placed her on the bed. Then he backed away, sending her a look that begged for her understanding.

“What are you going to do?” Sarah asked, glaring up at him.

“Make damn sure you stay in bed where you belong.”

On his way out, he slipped the key from the lock and put it in his pocket. He didn’t lock her in yet, but he would when the time came. She’d left him no recourse. It was the only way he could be assured that Sarah wouldn’t follow. Despite her bravado, Sarah wasn’t strong enough to undertake another journey in the dead of winter.

“Have you and Sarah settled things between you?” Ryan asked when Chad joined his brother and Cookie in the parlor.

“Not yet,” Chad said grimly. “She’s determined to return with me to Cunning Wolf’s camp. The little hellion is too damn stubborn for her own good. A woman in her condition should be coddled. She shouldn’t be exposing herself to danger or running around in weather fit for neither man nor beast.”

“Exactly what ‘condition’ are you referring to, brother?”

Dropping into a chair, Chad, so weary he could have fallen asleep then and there, closed his eyes. “You may as well know. Sarah is expecting our child.”

“Damn!” Ryan swore. “Had I known, I would never have left the ranch that day. No wonder she’s ill. I won’t let you down this time, brother.”

“Neither will I,” Cookie promised. “Are you sure Jackson is no longer a threat to Sarah?”

“As sure as I can be. I told you that he and Sanchez are Cunning Wolf’s prisoners. Spotted Deer didn’t strike me as a forgiving woman. She won’t forget what he did to her. Now if you’ll both excuse me, I’m going to bed.” He heaved himself to his feet.

“What are you going to do about Sarah, brother?” Ryan wanted to know. “She’s having your baby.”

“I know, and I’m going to fix things as soon as I return. I’ve asked Sarah to be my wife.”

“She didn’t look none too happy with you tonight.”

“I can’t blame her,” Chad said as he headed for the stairs. “She objected to leaving Abner with the Indians. I’ve never seen her so angry. She’ll come around once Abner is back home where he belongs.”

Chad climbed the stairs slowly. He paused before Sarah’s closed door, then opened it quickly and stepped inside. Glowing embers in the hearth provided ample light as Chad settled his gaze on Sarah’s face. He saw that her eyes were open and he stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “Are you all right?”

“I could be better,” Sarah said sullenly. “What do you want?”

Chad crossed to the bed and sat down beside her. “Don’t be angry, sweetheart. Not when I’ve finally buried my demons and realized how much I love you.”

“You have an odd way of showing love, Chad Delaney. I’ll never forgive you for taking me away from Abner.”

Chad sighed tiredly as he pulled off his boots and dropped them one by one to the floor. His stockings followed.

Sarah stared at him, alarmed. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready for bed. We’re both tired. This bed is going to feel mighty good after sleeping on the cold ground for so long.” He stood abruptly, shed his shirt and trousers, and pulled back the blankets. “Scoot over, love.”

Sarah opened her mouth to protest, realized it would do her no good, and moved to the opposite edge of the bed. “I don’t want to sleep with you. I don’t even like you anymore.”

Chad paid her scant heed as he climbed into bed and pulled the covers over him. “I want to be near you. Don’t worry, all I’m going to do is hold you in my arms. I wouldn’t dream of disturbing you tonight, not after everything you’ve been through.” His voice lowered to a husky whisper. “I can’t bear the thought of sleeping apart from you. After we’re married…”

“We’re not going to be married,” Sarah said, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

She turned her back on him, stiffening her spine against the powerful seduction of his words. She had no willpower where Chad was concerned. When his arms closed around her, she made a weak effort to escape the comfort he offered, but he wouldn’t allow it. Sarah sighed in reluctant surrender. The knowledge that she didn’t want to escape made submission all the more galling.

“Go to sleep,” Chad whispered into her ear.

Sleep proved elusive for Sarah. She was too worried about Abner and too angry at Chad to relax. What if Cunning Wolf had taken his people elsewhere and Chad couldn’t find him? So many things could happen to her son before Chad’s return to Cunning Wolf’s camp. Just considering the consequences should Chad fail to reach the camp within the allotted time was frightening.

Thoughts of Abner’s plight sent tears flowing down her cheeks as she sobbed quietly into her pillow. She should be with him, comforting him as only a mother can. Chad had prevented her from protecting her son and she couldn’t forgive him for that After all the disappointments she’d suffered in life, she thought she’d finally found a man worthy of her love. But her future no longer looked promising. Trusting Chad had been a mistake. Loving him a tragedy.

Chad was gone the next morning when Sarah awoke. When she dressed and went downstairs, Cookie told her that Chad and the hands had gone to round up the cows he had promised Cunning Wolf. She was pushing her breakfast around the plate with her fork when Ryan hobbled into the kitchen.

“Did you and Chad patch up your differences?” he asked, lowering himself into a chair.

“What Chad did was unforgivable”, Sarah said, laying her fork down and frowning at Ryan. “And then he’s going to make it worse when he leaves in the morning.”

“I reckon it’s for your own good, Sarah. He’ll take good care of Abner.”

“Abner’s a little boy. He needs his mother.”

“Traveling in wintertime is dangerous. You’ve another child to consider now.”

Streaks of red colored Sarah’s cheeks. “Chad told you about the baby?”

Ryan had the grace to flush too. “There is little Chad and I don’t share. It was the same with Pierce before he married. You have to admit that having a baby is a serious undertaking for both you and Chad. That’s one reason I’ll never marry,” Ryan contended. “I don’t want the responsibility of a wife and family. Playing the field is more my style.”

Sarah barely listened as Ryan rambled on. She was still seething at the callous way Chad had revealed her secret to his brother. The least he could have done was ask her permission to divulge her secret. She hoped Ryan didn’t expect her to marry Chad. She’d already had one child out of wedlock. She supposed that having another couldn’t do any further damage to her reputation.

Suddenly Sarah turned a peculiar shade of green as the same vile morning sickness she’d been experiencing the past couple of weeks returned with a vengeance. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed convulsively.

“Would you be needin’ this, Miz Sarah?” Cookie asked, noting her sudden pallor. “Chad asked me to brew up some of them herbs he gave me yesterday in case you needed them this morning.” He handed her a cup.

“Thank you,” Sarah said as she took a sip of the soothing tea. “It does seem to help.”

“Now you know why Chad wants you to stay home,” Ryan contended. “You can’t travel while heaving your guts out every morning.”

“Your concern is gratifying,” Sarah said sarcastically. Ryan made her sound weak and incompetent. She’d managed fairly well on her own until Chad came along and disrupted her life. “Pregnancy is a natural condition, the sickness will pass in a few weeks.”