Silver? Are you all right?”
She jerked alert, and she realized he was staring at her. Please, I’d feel better if I had some clothes on.”
His hard face softened. When I come back from feeding the burro, I’ll dig out some of Willie’s clothes for you and help you into them. Willie’s small. His clothes will still be too big for you, but they’ll have to do. Your boots aren’t hurt, but then you aren’t going to be allowed out of bed anyhow.” As he watched, he went out the door.
Silver thought about it a minute. She wasn’t all that weak and she didn’t want him handling her under the lame excuse of helping her dress. She would find the clothes and have them on by the time he came back in. She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The rough pine boards felt cold under her bare feet, and she was a bit dizzy. She’d better sit here a moment to make sure she wouldn’t faint when she stood up.
Taking a deep breath, she wrapped the blanket around her body and stood up slowly. So far, so good. If she didn’t hurry, he’d be back inside and she wouldn’t be able to dress without him watching her. Silver took about three wavering steps and grabbed the back of a chair. If she could just sit down again for a moment ...
What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He stood there in the doorway, big as a mountain.
Just getting some clothes and I don’t need any help.” But as she took another step, she realized she might not make it. She forgot to hang on to the blanket as she grabbed for the edge of the table.
The blanket fell to the floor even as Cherokee crossed the room and caught her as her legs gave out. You little fool, I told you to wait and I’d help you!”
She struggled with him, but she was no match for his strength. His hands were warm and hard on her bare skin as he swung her up against his rough, woolen shirt and reached down to grab the blanket.
She couldn’t do anything but press her face against him as he held her. His heart pounded strongly in her ear.
You’re cold,” he said softly, and he carried her back to her bed. She kept waiting for him to put her down but he only stood there, holding her, his hands burning into her bare flesh.
Drat it all! Then get me some clothes and get your damned hands off me!” she snarled at him and struggled, but it was futile.
He lay her down gently and paused, his gaze sweeping up and down her body before he threw the blanket down over her, walked to a trunk, and dug out a pair of pants and a worn but soft plaid shirt.
Here!” He threw the clothes on the bed. You can slip these on under the covers if you’re so damned afraid I’ll see you.”
It was awkward and the movement made her shoulder hurt, but she managed to slip the clothes on under the blanket. That made her feel a little more secure.
It was a long afternoon. Silver pretended to sleep while she schemed. She’d have to wait for darkness before she could do anything. The storm seemed to be letting up outside; the snow had slowed to a few flurries. It couldn’t be all that bad outside—he’d said that to make her think she couldn’t escape.
She looked around, noting that her boots lay by her bed and an old jacket hung on a nail in the wall.
She had already made her plans. Yes, it would be dangerous, but not any more so than remaining trapped at close quarters with that eager stud of a man who got hard just looking at her. She didn’t have any faith in all that nonsense about his word.” She knew men. Cherokee Evans was only waiting until he was rested and she was asleep. Then she’d wake up suddenly to find him on top of her, ripping the shirt down the front, forcing her thighs apart.
He looked exhausted from staying by her bed all night. No doubt he’d sleep like a rock once he dozed off. Better to take her chances outside in alluding him. That was better than waiting to get raped. As soon as he dropped off to sleep, she’d make her move. By the time he woke up in the morning, she intended to be heading down the trail, walking to meet Al and the rescue team that must surely be on its way!
Chapter Seven
By the middle of the afternoon on the day Silver rode out, Al was frantic. It had begun to snow heavily. At first he hesitated, thinking that any moment, he would see her riding up the street toward the livery stable.
But every time he pressed his face against the glass and looked out, hoping to see her riding in, he saw only snow flurries. His stomach began to hurt so badly, it was all he could do to keep from doubling over with cramps. Sweat beaded on his homely face and he went through two bottles of bitters before he gave up, grabbed a coat, and headed for the stables.
Miss Silver come in yet?”
The paunchy owner paused in pitching hay into a stall. Not yet. We been wondering where she was. Mighty bad weather for a lady to be out alone.”
Al felt a sense of impending doom. I tried to talk her out of it, but she’s headstrong. Wouldn’t listen to me.”
The other man scratched his head. Just where was she so dead set on going?”
Al’s belly began to hurt again. Something about a gold claim she wanted to see before she bought it.” He looked around the stable. Saddle me up a horse, I’m going out to find her.”
The owner leaned on his pitchfork. I don’t think I’d do that if I was you. As I recall, you don’t even know how to ride.”
Someone’s got to do something.” Al sighed and considered the alternatives. It’s late afternoon. No telling where she is.”
Now, now.” The other man made a soothing gesture. Could be you’re getting upset for nothing. The horse hasn’t come back without her, so maybe she’s stopped to take shelter with a friend someplace. You have any idea where she went?”
Said something about Mosquito Gulch.”
The owner shook his head doubtfully. That’s pretty lonely country. Does she know anyone out that way?”
How should I know?” Al snapped. When Miss Silver gets something in her mind, hell and a team of horses can’t hold her back!”
The other nodded in agreement. The men should be gathering in for a drink about now,” he suggested. “Why don’t you get a search party organized?”
That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” Al agreed and took off, shoulders hunched against the cold.
By the time he got enough men organized, it was almost dark and the weather had worsened. At first, as the men stood around at the Nugget and talked about it, everyone was enthused. Then the wind picked up, the snow blew thicker, and the crowd was more and more reluctant to leave the warm stove and the good whiskey.
I’ll go,” old Hank volunteered.
Al shook his head. Thanks, Hank, she’d appreciate it, but you’re too old and we may have to go a long ways.”
The prospector glared at him. You don’t look so chipper yourself!”
Look,” Zeke began, motioning for silence. We ain’t sure anything bad’s befallen the lady yet. Her horse ain’t come back without her, has it?”
There was a murmur of agreement among the miners.
Al frowned in exasperation. That don’t prove nothing. The horse could have fallen and broke a leg.”
One of the others leaned back against the ornate bar on both elbows. We all care about her, Al, but with the wind blowing the way it is, there’s no trail to follow. Mosquito Gulch is a big place to search.”
Damn it!” Al slammed his fist on the bar. Enough of this talk, I’ll go alone if no one else will go—”
You mean well,” old Hank said, but we all know you can’t even ride, Al.”
Zeke nodded. It’s going to be dark soon. We can’t do nothing in the dark. Why don’t we get organized and start out at first light?”
Al slammed his fist on the bar again and swore. She could be froze to death by morning if she’s layin’ out there in the snow somewheres.”
Doc pulled at his mustache. That’s a possibility, Al, but if we go stumbling around in the dark, some of us may get lost and freeze to death without doing her much good anyways.”
All Al could think of was Silver out there
helpless in the snow. You damned cowards can stand here and jaw all night if you want to, but I’m going looking for Silver!”
He started for the door, almost doubled up with pain from his stomach. He heard a movement behind him, half turned, and threw up an arm, but he barely felt the blow on the back of his head. The floor came up to meet him. Al knew he needed to get up, but his limbs wouldn’t work.
From what seemed like a long ways off, he heard Doc say, Zeke, you shouldn’t have hit him.”
I couldn’t help it, Doc, he was fixin’ to get hisself lost out there in the weather and that’d be a waste. We’ll make plans, and when the weather clears at first light, we’ll start out.”
The weather didn’t clear. When Al gradually came to in the early morning hours with his head aching, the storm blew even harder and the snow swirled down the streets and piled in big drifts. He got up and stumbled to the window, looked out, and began to curse. We should have started last night.”
Doc sighed. We’d hoped it would clear, but now we’ll just have to do the best we can. Everyone get their gear together and we’ll meet at the livery stable.”
Enough men cared about Silver to gather there, but they hadn’t gotten a mile out of town when even Al began to realize how hopeless it was. The snow was deep enough in spots to lose a horse and the men on foot bogged down helplessly. The wind whipped ice like sharp needles into their faces.
Zeke yelled above the howling wind. Al, we’ll have to go back, we ain’t gonna be able to make it clear out to Mosquito Gulch!”
No!” Al shouted. Hell, no! We can’t leave her out here to freeze to death!”
Maybe she found shelter,” Doc suggested over the wind. If not, we won’t find her alive anyway, Al.”
The thought almost stopped his heart. He couldn’t imagine Silver dead. He only lived to look at her every day. If you cowardly bastards want to quit, go on, but I’m going up to Mosquito Gulch!”
Then a man came out of the storm, walking toward them and leading a horse.
Hey, ain’t that Tom who lives near the Gulch? Ain’t that the horse Silver rode?”
Al’s heart beat harder but he hardly dared to hope. That was the horse, all right, with two riders slumped on its back and Tom leading it. He’s found her! He’s found Miss Silver!”
A cheer went up as the man led the bay through the white blizzard toward them, the gelding’s black mane and tail blowing wildly.
Then the cheers died as he got close enough to see that neither of the two slumped on the horse was Silver.
Al crunched through the drifts to meet him, stared up at the two old men on the bay’s back, and yelled at Tom, Where’d you find it? Where’d you get Bill and Willie?”
Tom yelled back, Long story. They say she’s all right! Let’s get out of this wind and I’ll tell you what I know!”
Where is she?” Al demanded again, but the other man gestured toward the stable. There was nothing Al could do but join the others wading through the snow back to town.
He and Zeke helped the two old men slide off the horse. They looked half-frozen.
Doc frowned. We better get them into warm beds and get some whiskey in them.”
Never mind.” Al leaned over Willie. Where is she? Is Miss Silver all right?”
Willie opened his eyes. Made it to our place.... She’s okay, plenty of food and firewood, but . . .”
Doc looked down at him. These two are in pretty bad shape. We need to get them in where it’s warm. Tom, where’d you find them?”
The prospector rubbed his hands together. They said they was about give out when they found the horse in a windbreak and struggled through the drifts all night long. They did tell me Miss Silver’s at their cabin. Something about needing a doctor.”
Al wiped his forehead on his sleeve. In spite of the cold, the pain in his gut made perspiration run down his face. For who? Who needs the doctor?”
Tom shook his head. I told you all I know.”
Al couldn’t decide whether to be elated or freshly fearful. But at least he knew Silver had found shelter where there was food and fuel. All he had to do was go out and bring her in. He said as much.
Doc looked askance. Are you loco, man? If she’s all right, there’s no use risking men’s lives. She can stay in their cabin and do just fine until this storm lets up!”
There was a murmur of agreement and Doc motioned again for some help in placing Bill and Willie on boards and carrying them to the saloon.
Nellie and the girls volunteered beds and Al offered drinks on the house to every man who had gone along. While he would still feel better when Silver was back at the Nugget, at least she wasn’t in any danger of freezing to death. When the old men came to, Doc would get some details from them.
It was late afternoon before Doc finally came downstairs again.
Al stepped from behind the bar and went to the foot of the stairs to meet him. Well?”
They’re both still half-froze and dazed, but they’ll be all right. Wonder they made it all that way without freezing to death.”
Get to the point, Doc,” Al said.
Can’t a man get a drink first?” Doc elbowed everyone out of the way and headed for the ornate bar.
Al went behind it and poured for him. Well?”
She’s all right, near’s I can make out.” Doc sipped his whiskey with a tired sigh. She was lucky enough to find their claim just after the storm moved in. It seems Willie and Bill actually came in to get me.”
Al’s heart almost seemed to stop. Why? She hurt?”
I don’t know.” Doc looked out the window at the swirling snow. That’s a moot question right now, I reckon. We’ll have to wait ’til the weather lets up before we can get out there.”
Al frowned. But if she’s there alone, she’ll be afraid—”
She’s not alone,” Doc said. The third partner is there with her.”
Al took a sip of his bitters. Partner? Who’s that?”
You met him,” Doc said, lighting a cigar, you know, that big half-breed who was in here the other night—Cherokee Evans.”
The images that came to Al’s mind were even more horrible than Silver being lost in the snow. You mean to tell me Miss Silver’s trapped in a cabin with that big ’breed . . . alone? No one else there?”
Doc looked at him, then looked away. That’s about the size of it, Al.”
Silver thought it was the longest afternoon she’d ever spent. Most of the time, she kept her face to the wall and pretended to be asleep when the big half-breed bent over her. But she felt him pull the blankets up gently around her shoulders, tuck them in, and brush her hair from her eyes. Each time, her mouth went so dry from fear, it was all she could do to keep from protesting. She was certain that he meant to crawl into bed with her, but he didn’t. When she sneaked a look at him, he sat before the fire, staring into the flames, a lonely and solitary figure.
At dark, he brought her some broth he’d made, apologizing that it wasn’t too good. Then as he prepared to go to bed, he paused at the window. Looks like it’s quit snowing, but the drifts are bad. We may be here alone for several days before a rescue team can make it this far.”
You don’t need to sound so damned happy about it,” she snapped at him.
Look, lady, my old partners are out in that somewhere, maybe even frozen to death because you were foolish enough to be up here trespassing on our claim.”
That gave them the right to shoot me?”
Okay, so it didn’t,” he conceded, but you might give some thought to poor old Willie and Bill.”
He had a heart after all. She softened a little toward him. I like the pair, too. I’m really sorry. If anyone had asked me, I’d have told them not to go; I’m not worth the risk of two lives.”
He looked at her a long moment. We all thought you were.” He went to the window again. I’ve half a mind to go looking for them, but then I’d have to leave you alone and you’re in no shape to take care of yourself or drag wood in f
or the fire.”
Her cheeks burned at the knowledge that he had been doing the most intimate things for her. She felt helpless and vulnerable. It was not a good feeling—to depend on a man when she didn’t trust any of them but Al.
As she watched, Cherokee gathered up a rifle, Al’s old shotgun, a couple of knives, and an axe, and laid them next to his bed.
She raised up on one elbow. What are you doing?”
He grinned at her, sat down on his bunk, and pulled off his boots. Just in case you get any ideas, I wanted all the weapons over here by me.”
Drat it all! She counted on taking some of those weapons with her when she slipped out of here after he dozed off. There wasn’t anything she could do but lie back and pretend to sleep while he blew out the lamp and crawled into his own bed.
For a moment, Silver almost panicked. In all these years, she had always had a lamp by her bed because she was so afraid of the dark. But the fireplace gave out a little light and the lamp might make it to easy for him to see her when she got up and sneaked out. She lay there in the darkness, fighting fear. Would he come crawling into her bunk when he thought she was asleep?
She turned her head and looked at him across the cabin, curled up in his bunk. He was a mountain of a man and she would be warm and protected in his arms, her face against that big chest. But then he would want to do something to her besides hold her. The thought made her shudder all over. Finally she heard his gentle even breathing that told her he slept.
Silver waited awhile longer to be sure, then sat up and swung her legs off the side of the bed. She was still a little weak but feeling much better, so she didn’t think she would have any trouble walking back to town. It couldn’t be as bad outside as Cherokee said it was. He was simply trying to discourage her from running away. She stood up slowly and tiptoed around, getting the jacket, her boots, and a little bread. How she’d like to have a weapon, but she didn’t dare risk taking one out from under his bed.
Quicksilver Passion Page 11
