Reckless Destiny

by Teresa Southwick

  “They’ll be here. Don’t fret about that.” He picked up an ornately bound volume of Romeo and Juliet and flipped through it. He stared at her and his mouth tightened before he slammed the book shut and said, “A bloody waste, if you ask me.”

  “You’ve read the play?” She had the feeling the waste he was talking about had nothing to do with Shakespeare’s tragedy.

  “Yes, I’ve read it.” The dark look disappeared and a flirtatious expression replaced it. “Does it surprise you that I’d read Shakespeare?”

  “Frankly, yes. Kane told me you’ve got an instinct for tracking Indians and anticipating what they’ll do next.”

  “Never judge a book by its cover, Miss Tanner,” he said. “Just because a man enjoys a good book doesn’t mean he can’t hold his own with the Apaches.”

  “I’ll remember that,” she said, laughing. She sobered quickly when she remembered that Indians were the reason she’d been out in the desert with Kane to learn how to shoot a gun.

  “You’re very quiet all of a sudden. Something wrong?”

  “Not exactly. Just a feeling I have.” She recalled the look Mac had shared with Kane in his office. The silent communication, she was certain, meant they were keeping something from her. “If I ask you a question, will you tell me the truth?”

  “Depends on whether or not it’s fit for a lady’s ears.”

  “This is nothing like that. I want to know what you and Kane were talking about when I went to his office this afternoon.” He shuffled his feet and started to say something. “Don’t put me off. I know it was about Jack.”

  “Now, Miss Cady,” he drawled, “what makes you think that?”

  “You mentioned you’d just returned from the Superstitions, and that’s where my brother is. If it wasn’t bad news and didn’t involve him, there would be no reason to protect me. Call it woman’s intuition if you want, but I feel it. There’s something wrong. Tell me what it is.”

  He stared at her for a long time, so long she thought he wasn’t going to answer. Finally, he nodded. “Right from the first I thought you should know. I told the captain straight out: if Jack was related to me, I’d want to know about it.”

  “Is he hurt?” she asked anxiously.

  “No, at least not that I know of. And maybe the trouble won’t find him.”

  “Don’t play games with me, Mac. Just tell me what’s going on.”

  “There was an Indian raid on a miner’s camp up in the Superstitions.” He put his hand up to stop her when she opened her mouth to ask if Jack was all right. “He’s fine. No need to go all pale like that. Another miner was wounded, though. Jack saved him.”

  A feeling of familial pride swelled in her chest. “That’s my brother. But if the miner’s alive and Jack’s not hurt, what—”

  “He had to kill an Indian to save that miner. Jack doesn’t know the one he killed was Alchise, Cuchillo’s brother. That Indian is one mean son of a—” He stopped and cleared his throat. “He’s ruthless, and he’s got no love for the white man.”

  She pressed her palm to her chest and felt her heart pound. “That means—?”

  Mac nodded grimly. “Cuchillo has sworn to kill the man who killed his brother, if it takes the rest of his life.”

  Cady gasped and swayed toward him. He gripped her upper arms to steady her. “You all right?”

  “I’m fine. Does Jack know about this personal vendetta?”

  “No. The Indians were split into two bands. We only found out from survivors of Cuchillo’s raiding party.” His gaze turned dark as if those memories belonged in a hell he couldn’t forget.

  “Oh, God.”

  Mac squeezed her arms, not painfully but enough to get her attention. “I’ve never met your brother, but I hear he’s a man who can take care of himself.”

  “Not if he doesn’t know there’s danger. Why did Kane want to keep this from me?”

  “I’m not sure. But look at it this way. Your brother’s come face-to-face with Indians before, Cady. He knows better than anyone about trouble and how to take care of it.”

  “But he should be warned that Cuchillo has vowed to kill him. He’d be more careful.” She started to pull out of his grip.

  “Where are you going?” He held her fast.

  “I’m going to talk to Kane.”

  He nodded to the table of books behind her. “But you’ve got this shindig starting pretty quick.”

  She looked up at him. “Will you greet everyone when they get here? Just tell them to browse through the books. If they see anything they like, they’re welcome to take it and read it.”

  “Me?” He pointed to his chest. “You want me to run a literary meeting?”

  “I won’t be long. In fact I’ll probably be back before anyone gets here. Please?”

  He let out a big breath. “I never could resist a pretty lady.”

  “Thank you, Mac.”

  He pointed to her in mock anger. “If you’re not back by the time this place fills up—”

  Before he could finish, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back before you miss me. I promise.”

  Kane had put off the inevitable long enough and was ready to go to the literary society meeting. Just as he was reaching for his hat, Cady stormed into his office without knocking. She slammed the door and marched over to him like a woman with a mission.

  She jammed her hands on her hips and glared at him so fiercely he was glad there was a desk between them.

  “Why didn’t you tell me Jack was in trouble?”

  “How did you find out?”

  “That’s not important. I had a right to know.”

  “Mac told you, didn’t he? I thought I could trust him to keep his mouth shut.”

  “It doesn’t matter who told me. The point is, I know. And—”

  “Isn’t it about time for your literary society meeting to start?” That was pretty important and might distract her.

  “Lieutenant Thorne is in charge until I get there.”

  “Mac?” He grinned. The thought of the hardened Indian fighter cheerfully pointing out books and pouring punch was as likely as Cady Tanner running a hog ranch.

  “Yes, Mac. Now quit trying to sidetrack me. I’ve come to talk to you about a matter of life and death.”

  She’d seen through his flanking maneuver. Now what was he going to do? Stall her.

  “Last time you were here you wanted me to teach you how to use a gun.”

  “And you did.” The lanterns mounted on the walls around the room highlighted the pink that suddenly covered her high cheekbones. Was she remembering what had happened after he’d shown her the basic points of the pistol?

  As long as he lived, he wouldn’t forget holding Cady Tanner in his arms, smack in the middle of the desert. With blue sky above and the smell of sage and sand around them, he’d kissed her senseless. It was the dumbest thing he’d ever done, and by far the most exhilarating. At least this time when he kissed her, they had been out in the open and she couldn’t back into the fire. He, on the other hand, was still burning.

  But bedding Cady would be the worst thing he could do.

  Standing behind his desk, Kane folded his arms over his chest. “So what is this life-and-death matter, rifle practice? Hand-to-hand self-defense? Explosives? I think R. J. could help you there.”

  “I demand that you send out a patrol to warn Jack that Cuchillo has sworn to kill him.”

  He wasn’t sure what he’d expected her to say, but that wasn’t it. “I can’t order my men to put their lives on the line for the sake of one or two people who may or may not be in danger.”

  Her green eyes filled with hurt and anger. “Can’t or won’t?” she asked, her voice filled with contempt. “Would you go? Or are you afraid?”

  He was afraid, but not of the Indians. He’d faced death so often it was like an old friend. He welcomed the challenge because that was what an army officer did. But Cady Tanner could harm him far more than the Apa
ches. The look in her eyes made him want to do whatever she asked, for her sake. But he didn’t have the manpower or supplies to send a patrol into the Superstitions to warn one man. It would be stupid and suicidal. He had to think of the men in his command first. He couldn’t believe he was giving her harebrained suggestion even this much consideration. Sighing, he offered a compromise.

  “Mac is taking a patrol out tomorrow. I’ll tell him to make sure Jack gets the word. That’s the best I can do.”

  “Is Lieutenant Thorne going into the Superstition Mountains?”

  “No. He’s heading in the other direction.”

  “Then how will Jack get the warning?”

  “Mac will pass the word. It spreads fast out here. Besides, Jack’s guard will be up.”

  “Can you guarantee that? He doesn’t know it’s personal with Cuchillo. Someone has to tell him so he’ll come out of the mountains until Cuchillo is caught.”

  “I’m sorry, Cady.”

  It nearly killed him to refuse, but Cady’s request was based on emotion, something an army officer couldn’t afford. He couldn’t put his command in unnecessary danger for the welfare of one man.

  So it didn’t make sense that he felt like a snake.

  He shook his head again. “Jack knew the danger when he went up there. He accepted it. I can’t endanger my men—”

  “I see.” Her chin lifted slightly. “Then I’ll go and warn him.”

  “Like hell you will!” For the first time since she’d walked in, he wanted to move around his desk and shake her. If he knew it would make her see reason, he’d shake her till her teeth rattled.

  As if she could read his mind, she took a small step back, but her voice was steady when she spoke. “There’s no need to swear, captain.”

  “The hell there isn’t!” He took a deep breath and tried to still his thundering heart and the blood roaring in his ears. “What kind of a harebrained idea is that? Why don’t you just wave a flag for Cuchillo and holler ‘Come and get me!’ at the top of your lungs?”

  “It’s not harebrained. I will study and prepare properly for the journey. I already know how to use a gun, thanks to you.”

  “And you think that will keep you safe from a band of bloodthirsty Apaches bent on revenge?” His hands curled into fists.

  “Planning is the key,” she said.

  He could almost hear her precious Miss Biddle spouting that platitude. If anything happened to Cady because that stupid woman had filled her head full of romantic bull….

  “Planning, my backside. You will not go out there on your own to warn your brother.”

  “Then send one of your men with me. Brewster would go.”

  “You could bat your big green eyes at any man on this post, and he’d drop everything to help you. But they won’t disobey my orders.”

  “What about one of the scouts? I bet Nathan Eagle would be able to find Jack.”

  “I’ll bust any man who helps you down to private. And if he already is one, I’ll see he never makes it to corporal. Is that what you want?”

  She bit the corner of her lip and shook her head. Then she nodded resolutely. “You leave me no choice. I’ll go by myself.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  He saw the stubborn, contrary gleam in Cady’s eye and knew there was nothing he could say to keep her from going out there on her own. That didn’t mean his hands were tied. There was one thing he could do. And if it was the only way he could stop her, he would do it in a heartbeat.

  He walked around the desk and stopped in front of her. “I’ll give you thirty seconds to change your mind about this.”

  “I don’t need any time. I’m not changing my mind. Jack is my brother. Tanners take care of one another.”

  “Don’t make me do something I’ll regret.”

  “If something happened to Jack and I didn’t try to protect him, I couldn’t live with myself.”

  As much as he wanted to wring her pretty little neck, he envied the family loyalty that drove her to put her life on the line. No one except his own soldiers had ever done that for him. How would it feel to have a woman on his side that fiercely? He’d never know—and neither would Jack. Kane knew her brother would applaud any means he took to stop her and save her from herself.

  “You leave me no choice. I’m sorry to have to do this, Cady.”

  “What do you mean?” Her eyes widened in alarm.

  “I’m putting you in protective custody.” He took her upper arm.

  She tried to pull free but he tightened his grip and headed for the door, taking her along.

  “What are you doing? Where are we going?”

  “The guardhouse.”

  “How dare you!” Outrage wrapped around every word. She started to struggle.

  When yanking her arm didn’t free her from his grip, she tried to pry his fingers loose, one by one. He took no satisfaction in using his superior strength to control her. Soon she was breathing hard from her efforts.

  Kane felt like the town bully. She had forced him to do this, he reminded himself. If she was one of his soldiers and he could trust her to follow orders, she could go about her business. She would be safe as long as she stayed under military protection within the perimeter of the fort.

  But Cady Tanner acted first and thought about it later. When he had met her two years ago, she had run away from her fancy eastern boarding school and showed up without warning in Arizona. This time she wouldn’t get her way.

  When he tried to move her toward the door, Cady dug her heels in. “Wait, Kane.”

  He stopped, wondering what she had on her mind. Her voice was too calm, too controlled. But the tight set of her mouth told him what she was feeling and he couldn’t help thinking that she was planning some trick.

  “What?”

  Anger grew in her eyes. “You can’t put me in prison.”

  “It’s not prison.”

  “You’re evading the issue.”

  He kept trying, but she wouldn’t let him get away with it. “Unless you have something to say that will change my mind—”

  “If you lock me up, who will warn Jack?”

  “I’ve already told you, I’ll do what I can.”

  “Don’t you see that’s not good enough? Let me go!”

  “I can’t. You’ll die out there by yourself as surely as if someone put a gun to your head and pulled the trigger. I’d never forgive myself if I let you go off on this fool’s mission and something happened to you.”

  “So no matter what I say, you’re going to put me in prison?”

  Equal parts of guilt and irritation warred within him. “It doesn’t matter what you call it. I’d put you anywhere there was a lock on the door as long as I had the key.”

  “Why won’t you let me help my brother?”

  “I can’t. I’m damn well going to lock you up, and I’ll damn well keep you there for as long as it takes for you to calm down and come to your senses.

  “Any more questions?” he asked. When she didn’t say anything but just stood there simmering, he said, “All right. Let’s go.”

  She tried digging her heels in again, but one firm tug had her jumping forward. He opened the door and pulled her out into the cool night air.

  Cady couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Kane pulled her down the steps and into the sand. Maybe here she could get a grip and slow him down. She tried to make herself dead weight. He glared down at her. “Pick your feet up and march or you won’t like the alternative.”

  “I am not one of your soldiers. I don’t have to do what you say. I don’t have to follow orders.”

  “You do while you’re under my protection.”

  “You call this protection? This is an outrage!” She used all her strength to try to pull her arm away from him. “You’re the one I need protection from.”

  He stopped and scowled down at her. “I don’t have time for this. Just remember, you were warned.”

  He slid his hand d
own to her wrist, bent at the waist, and hoisted her over his shoulder. When he straightened, his shoulder dug into her abdomen, driving the air from her lungs. The ground suddenly looked very far away, and she realized he truly meant to lock her up. She should have kept her intentions to herself.

  She wanted to order him to put her down, but if angry words had had any effect, he would have released her arm after the fuss she’d made. She had to try another way.

  She lifted her upper body a little and tried to see his face. She only managed to get a better view of his broad back. The muscles beneath his uniform shirt flexed from his struggle to hold onto her. His sheer strength and size convinced her that words were her only weapon.

  “Stop, Kane. You win.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “I said you win. Obviously you feel very strongly about this. I’ll do as you say.”

  Kane stepped up onto a plank walkway and came to a stop in front of a door with wooden bars where the top part should have been. He bent at the knees until her toes touched the ground and then grabbed her upper arms to steady her on her feet.

  He stared down at her, assessing her. His look was skeptical. “You’ll do as I say?”

  “Yes. You’re right, of course, about the danger. I can’t imagine what I was thinking even to consider going off into the desert by myself.”

  He raised one brow doubtfully. “Is that right?”

  She nodded vigorously. Her hair, done up so neatly for the literary society meeting, was coming down around her face. She brushed it out of the way impatiently. “That’s right.” She smoothed her skirt and checked to make sure her blouse was neatly tucked into her waistband. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my meeting.”

  She had started to walk down the step when she felt his hand on her upper arm.

  “What do you take me for, a bloody idiot?” His tone was irritated, but she could swear beneath the surface he was laughing, or at least smiling a little. If she didn’t know differently, she might have noticed a touch of admiration there too.

  “Of course I don’t think you’re an idiot.”

  He opened the door to the guardhouse, put her inside, and shut it, sliding the latch into place before she could say fiddlesticks.