by My Desperado
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.
Hunger woke her sometime around midday. Ryland still slept, so she slipped quietly away, first checking on the horses, and then gathering dry, clean wood for a fire. She made biscuits and coffee, and did not tell Travis this would be their last meal, for he looked weaker and more disoriented.
Worry finally drove Katherine on, for even mindless travel seemed better than doing nothing.
Darkness came again. From behind, Katherine heard Ryland moan and pulled Moondancer to a halt.
“Travis?” She touched his arm gently, noticing how he braced his bound hands against the pommel of the saddle. “Are you all right?”
He didn’t answer at first, but spoke finally. “My head.”
She found a sheltered spot and removed Soldier’s tack, for there would be no hope of making a speedy getaway regardless of whether the horse was saddled or not.
From his place atop his bedroll, Travis moaned again, pressing the heels of his hands to his forehead.
Katherine knelt by his side. He lowered his arms, looking lost and dreadfully pained. “I hurt.”
He still thought he was a child, and Katherine felt a sob rise in her throat. Dealing with the pain of the grown man was difficult, but coping with the agony of the child seemed beyond her endurance. And yet she knew the boy would allow her to help, to touch him, to soothe, unlike die man.
“What can I do?” she asked, moving closer.
He took her hand in his and placed it carefully to his brow. “Tell me a story, Rachel,” he pleaded.
Sometime later he lay with his head upon her lap, his eyes closed and his expression peaceful. From somewhere in her imagination Katherine had conjured a story of a handsome knight and a maiden in distress, weaving a lively tale until she knew he slept.
The following days were filled with gnawing hunger and torturous worry. They rode endlessly, stopping only when Travis could no longer bear the ache in his head. Then Katherine would find a hidden spot. The stories she told Ryland to ease his pain became as important to her as to him, for they were a way to escape the terror of their hopeless future. For a short time she could forget her problems and be in a world where she would live happily ever after. Where the tall, handsome knight would love her in return. And during that time, in the hushed darkness, she could touch her knight, could smooth the hair back from his forehead, and know he would not draw away.
It was nearly dawn when Travis’s scream woke Katherine.
“Leave her!” He was kneeling with his fists flailing the earth and tears streaming unchecked down his face. “Leave her be!”
“Travis!” She scrambled to his side, catching his hands in her own. “It’s all right! They’re gone.”
“Katherine.” He breathed her name like a prayer. His fingers trembled as they touched her cheek, and his expression was hopelessly confused. “I thought they took you.”
“No.” She shook her head, feeling her throat constrict with the force of her emotions. He knew who she was now. “I’m safe.”
“And…” He wrinkled his brow and touched his fingers to the place where the bullet had dug a furrow across his skull. “Rachel?”
Katherine bit her lip. “You’ve been sick, Travis. We have to get you to Latigo’s ranch. Do you remember where it is?”
For a moment she thought he would answer, but finally he shook his head. “I don’t remember no Latigo, Rachel.”
All Katherine’s hope crumbled, and she closed her eyes in defeat.
“I’m sorry, Rach,” Travis whispered.
Katherine opened her eyes with a sob. “Don’t be sorry.” She pulled him gently into her arms, feeling the tears slip down her cheeks and letting them fall onto his neck. “I love you, Travis,” she murmured hoarsely.
His arms tightened slowly around her, cradling her with careful strength against his chest. “I love you, too, Katherine,” he whispered.
She saw a doe and fawn the next day, but dared not chance a shot at them, for she would surely miss and only succeed in alerting any pursuers to their whereabouts:
They rode on. Travis was unconscious most of the time, but Katherine was sure he was starving, as was she. Another day and night passed. They rarely stopped now, for hunger kept her awake despite her fatigue.
Cresting a ridge, Katherine stopped Moondancer to look about. There was nothing to encourage her. Not a building. Not a fence. Only mile after mile of rugged tree-covered mountains.
Travis moaned, and Katherine tightened her grip on Dancer’s rope. She would not give up, for she loved him, and in his foggy state he had said he loved her in return.
Her hand dropped slowly to the revolver she still wore on her hip. She had no choice. If she wanted to survive, if she wanted Travis to survive, they needed to eat.
Pressing Moondancer down the slope, Katherine refused to think of what she would do next. She would just do it! Because she must.
Finding a quiet place where aspen grew and a sparkling stream tumbled along, Katherine slipped from the mare’s back, allowing her to drink and graze.
“I’m sorry, Dancer,” she whispered, and slowly pulling the revolver from its holster, she aimed at the mare’s head.
For just a moment Katherine closed her eyes, trying to steady her hands and quiet the ache in her heart. The mare had done nothing to deserve death. Indeed, she had done much to earn her a long life on green pastures, but Soldier could carry two riders, and Travis would not live much longer without nourishment.
Carefully, and with shaking hands, Katherine eased back the hammer. But before she could shoot, a strange noise drifted up to her. Katherine opened her eyes, canting her head slightly and listening. It came again.
“Dear God!” She said the words in a whisper, then held her breath and listened again.
Nothing. She waited, closing her eyes to concentrate on the noises around her.
It seemed like hours before she heard the sound again, but she was certain now. It was the deep-throated bellow of cattle.
Katherine hurried through the mountains, pressing the horses hard toward the east. She’d set a landmark for herself, but it was dark now, and she could see little, so she listened, straining to hear every sound.
But the bellowing didn’t come again. Was she still traveling east? Katherine was no longer certain. Perhaps it had not been a cow at all. Perhaps it was a creature of the wild calling for its mate. Perhaps she had imagined the sound. And perhaps; even if there were cattle nearby, she would miss them in the darkness.
A sob sounded from her throat and she realized with some surprise that she was crying.
She swiped at the tears. Had she put them both through endless torture only for t
hem to die now?
What was that? Katherine’s thoughts bumbled to a halt. It sounded like a horse. She’d found them.
But who had she found?
Delias! The name slammed into her consciousness. Maybe the outlaws were very near, near enough to hear their horses. Katherine licked her lips, feeling her heart pound in her chest.
A whinny sounded from somewhere up ahead. She held her breath and waited.
Nothing happened but the passing of time.
Drawing a deep breath, she pressed her mare forward again, up a rocky incline and then down, only to climb again.
For a while she thought the fire was a star, misplaced in the endless wilderness about her. But her mind cleared finally, and she realized with numbing suddenness that she was looking down at a campground.
Murmuring a few words to Travis, Katherine left him atop Soldier, bound in the saddle, as she quickly tied the stallion to a stout pine.
Her hands shook as she pulled herself onto Moondancer’s back. The descent was sharp and rocky, but hunger and desperation made her choose the most direct course possible, so that they slid and bounced down the mountainside, coming to a halt where the trees thinned at the edge of the valley.
Slipping from the mare’s back, she peered through the branches toward the camp. The fire there made the night seem blacker and more desolate. Three men lounged around the lively flame, and the smell of coffee and bacon wafted toward her.
Katherine swallowed hard, feeling a sharp ache in her throat and mouth as the aromas tortured her. But she would not think of that yet.
Could one of these men be Delias? she wondered, straining her eyes to see better. One man was old, with white hair and a lengthy beard. She could see little of the other two, for they sat with their backs to her. But on the far side of the old men was a wagon of some kind.
