Yes, nothing could make me part with them.” She hoped he wouldn’t ask about the bracelet. How could she tell him the Duchess now owned the gold nugget bracelet he had given her so long ago?
I dream of you dancing naked for me,” he whispered, clad in nothing but your silver shoes and your long blond hair.”
She would not tell him that her hair was dyed drab brown now; there was no reason for him to ever know. She would not think of tomorrow when the sun was bright; she would think only of these few hours they would have of darkness, before she fled Denver forever.
Then as she watched him, he took off his own clothes and came to her, kissing her face and holding her tenderly as if he would never let her go. She was wet with wanting him and she spread her thighs and pulled him to her.
Slowly,” he whispered. Slowly, Silver . . . I’ve waited too long not to enjoy this as long as I can make it last, like a child with sweet candy.”
He came into her so slowly that she found herself pulling at him, digging her nails into his flesh, wanting him now and deeper still. And then he lay on her a long moment, and she felt him big and surging and hot inside her like a virile stallion.
Give it to me,” she whispered. Oh, dearest, please . . .”
He put his hands under her small hips, tilting her up for deepest penetration. Then he began to ride her, slowly, rhythmically, thrusting deep within her as he moved faster and faster. In seconds, he moaned aloud and rammed into her one more time. They meshed and strained and blended together into one living, breathing form.
She remembered only the moment she felt him begin to give up his seed into her waiting, velvet vessel and then she was floating in a darkness that felt like a wondrous death.
They lay locked together, hearts pounding against each other, flesh dewy with the heat of love.
He lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her, oh, so very gently. And now that I’m sated, I love you still,” he whispered. Oh, Silver, if this could only last forever! If I could only tell you . . .”
She waited for him to finish, but he only kissed her again. Kiss me,” he said, as if it had to last me forever!”
How did he know that? Was he only talking or had he guessed that she never planned to see him again after dawn broke?
And he made love to her again and again, fiercely, then again tenderly until her lips and breasts were swollen with his kisses and her skin was smeared with his seed. Finally, with his body still locked into hers, they both slept.
It was almost dawn when Silver awoke with a start. She realized with horror that when he opened his eyes, he would know her terrible secret and would turn away from her with pity. Gently, she rolled him over and lay looking at him, brushing the black hair back from his forehead.
I must leave you now, my dearest, she thought with a sigh of regret. Then she remembered how he had taught her to part. She took his hand and kissed the palm, tenderly closing his fingers over it. Here’s a treasure to keep. Sometime when you are lonely, think of me.
Quickly she rose and dressed. Putting on her spectacles and pulling her hair back into its severe bun, she opened the door. He still lay asleep as she stood looking back at him. She loved him more than anything on this earth, but she couldn’t live with his pity, and more than that, she wouldn’t obligate him. Nor could she leave town because of Waanibe. At this point, she didn’t know what to do. Maybe she could simply refuse to see him if he came to the Palace, send a message that she’d changed her mind or found another man. Eventually he would go away, heartbroken. But wounded hearts sometimes heal and he would someday find another love—one whose face wasn’t scarred. She must leave him now. Steeling herself, she closed the door and fled back to the Palace.
Cherokee came awake, realizing Silver was up and moving around the room. Good God, it must be almost dawn. He panicked. What would he do when she realized he was almost blind? By damn, he didn’t want her pity. Last night, the consequences of the coming morning were the last things on his mind. He feigned sleep, keeping his eyes closed. For a long moment, he didn’t realize that the sound he heard was the quiet closing of the door.
Silver?” He opened his eyes and sat up. His vision was much better today, but still he would need assistance to do simple things, and it wasn’t near good enough to be able to handle a gun when he went after Jake Dallinger. There were still a thousand unanswered questions about everything, including the child, and maybe he would never have the answers. He sat up on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands. Time, that was what he needed—time to find out if his eyes would finally see well enough to seek justice against Jake Dallinger. More time to earn enough money so that he wouldn’t be a burden to Silver—if she would have him at all. Maybe she would laugh if he suggested she sell the saloon and go off and live a simple life high in the hills someplace.
Today he would scout out the town with Keso and become familiar with it, so he could get around more easily and see if he could learn anything more about Jake Dallinger.
What his heart longed to do was go find Silver, laugh with her, talk with her. There was no way he could do that without her finding out about his sight. Last night was all he might ever have of her. He knew he would probably never again hold her in his arms.
Silver hurried along the deserted streets and through the front door of the Palace, just in time to bump into Jake Dallinger, who was coming down the stairs.
I—I’ve been out for an early morning walk,” she gasped.
Have you now, missy?” He grinned as he reached out and grabbed her wrist. In that wrinkled dress and your hair all mussed? You surprise me, gal, I thought you was a dull little gray sparrow and now I find out you may have blood pumping under that drab outfit after all.”
She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held on to her, his ugly face wrinkled in thought. I don’t forget folks I’ve met, and I swear I know you from someplace, missy. Sooner or later, it’ll come to me.”
She drew herself up primly. I’m sure you’re confusing me with someone else.”
Maybe.” He let go of her wrist and leered at her, making a game of her discomfort. I swear to Gawd Almighty, gal, if you’d do something about that drab hair and ugly clothes, a man might tend to overlook that scarred face.”
She forgot caution. The spunk of the old Silver came back and she slapped him so hard, his head snapped back.
The look he gave her caused her to tremble. He rubbed his cheek. You sassy little bitch! I ought to take you to bed! When I got through paying you back for that slap, you’d be begging me to stop.” He put his hand on the big silver handle of the whip on his belt.
I-I’ll tell the Duchess if you don’t leave me alone,” she said.
You just do that, missy,” he drawled and ran his fingers through his gray-streaked beard. I’m her partner now, and I plan to have a say in how things are done.”
She hadn’t run a gambling hall without learning to bluff at poker. You give me a hard time and I’ll quit. You know how hard it is to get a governess for a little girl? How would you like Waanibe running amok through the Palace at all hours?”
He smiled slowly and looked down at his hand with the port wine stain between his fingers. Feisty brat, huh? Wal, maybe that’s to be expected.”
May I go to my room now?” She said it stiffly and he moved and let her pass. She didn’t look back but she could almost feel his gaze like hot hands on her body as she marched upstairs.
Inside her room, she locked the door and leaned against it, trembling. She no longer felt safe behind her old maidish costume. All the old terrors of the things men had done to her came back with a rush. She knew from the gossip that Jake was sleeping with both the Duchess and any of the whores he chose. There had been whispering about what went on when he went into a girl’s room and closed the door. No one, especially the girls he chose, wanted to talk about what he did to them.
Worse yet, in the few days he’d been here, the climate at the Palace had changed. It h
ad always been a tough place, but Jake was adding all sorts of erotic and perverted ideas. Not that they didn’t bring in money. The Palace had customers they had never had before and there was whispering about what went on in some of the rooms upstairs ... for a price. It was being whispered about around town, too; Silver had heard the shocked words, the anger. Back in ’62, an angry mob had burned down the River House Saloon because its excesses had finally pushed even a tough boomtown like Denver to righteous indignation. Although if the truth be known, Silver wasn’t sure that the Duchess hadn’t had a hand in encouraging the mob to destroy her competition.
Could something like that happen at the Palace? It was the only frame building left on the street after the blaze had almost wiped out downtown Denver a year ago last spring. It was the sort of thing either the Duchess or Big Ed Chase would do to a competitor if they got the chance and they had been rivals a long time.
Still unsure what to do next, Silver went to the washbasin to clean up and get ready to face another day with the little girl she could neither steal nor desert. Wannie was holding her when, deep in her heart, Silver knew that for her own safety and her own happiness, she should leave.
His vision was definitely improving, Cherokee thought with relief as the Indian boy came to take him to breakfast. If this kept up, in a few days, he might not need Keso anymore.
They had breakfast and then went outside into the cold November morning. Anytime now, the blizzards would blow through the Rockies. Keso said there was already snow in the high country; it shone on the mountaintops.
Cherokee imagined cold winter days with himself at the head of the dinner table in a cozy log cabin. There would be a wild turkey, quail, or venison he had shot. Silver and the little girl would be making biscuits or maybe pies from berries and tart sand plums.
Keso took his hand and Cherokee smiled at a sudden thought. They might make room for Keso, too, but probably the boy would think a settler’s life out in the woods dull after living in Denver.
Keso said, Boss, there’s a crowd gathered on the street corner, and some man is speaking. It looks like Jake Dallinger.”
They walked closer.
Is it?” Cherokee whispered.
Yes.”
Cherokee hesitated. What was Jake up to?
The big man cleared his throat and continued haranguing the crowd. Gawd Almighty, folks, like I was telling you, the army is protecting those red devils out there at Fort Lyon! We good folks of Denver need to help Colonel Chivington.”
Some of the crowd murmured agreement. A prospector yelled, What do you think we should do?”
Jake cursed. Those damned Cheyenne have about starved us out, cut off our mail and supplies. What would you like to do about it?”
A roar went up from the crowd. He’s right,” someone shouted. All able-bodied men ought to go out and join up with the colonel on his campaign. We’ve had enough of these Indian attacks, of our women raped and children carried off!”
More cheering.
Recollect,” Jake drawled in his unmistakable Georgia accent, the colonel was a real hero two years ago when the South tried to capture the West for our gold and silver. He done a mighty good job of stoppin’ them in their tracks and whippin’ them!”
Keso pulled Cherokee’s sleeve and whispered, He’s trying to get them to attack the Cheyenne. I thought my people just asked for peace.”
Jake’s got a personal reason to hate the Cheyenne,” Cherokee whispered. If only he could see well enough to do something about Jake, he thought, maybe in a few more days ...
Someone in the crowd shouted, Hey, redneck! You sound like a Johnny Reb your own self!”
Jake guffawed. Gawd Almighty, folks! The reason I’m in Colorado right now is I ain’t a Southern sympathizer. Tell you what, I know this country like I know my own belly button. Used to be an army scout. I’m thinkin’ of offerin’ to scout for him!”
There was a roar of approval from the crowd.
Wait a minute!” A new man with a distinct Boston accent pushed through the crowd. Wait a minute, men. I’m Todd Shaw from the Rocky Mountain News. It’s my understanding that Black Kettle’s people have turned over their captives and are now under the army’s protection because they’ve asked for peace.”
Listen to that Boston accent,” Jake drawled. You can tell Shaw don’t have no experience with Plains Injuns! You speakin’ for your paper?”
Well, no, it’s my own opinion. As I suppose most of you know, the News thinks more along your lines. An Indian scare cuts back on new immigration and town growth and newspapers are usually in favor of growth so they can sell more papers.”
Then, greenhorn,” Jake drawled, his voice full of contempt, listen to us who know about Injuns! Any frontiersman can tell you that the tribes have a habit of being peaceful in the wintertime when their ponies are lean and the snow is too deep to travel, then in the spring, they go back on the war path.”
Ain’t that the God’s truth!” someone in the crowd shouted. And don’t forget the murders of that poor Hungate family right outside town!”
I have powerful friends in the East, Dallinger,” Shaw said, and Colonel Chivington has powerful enemies right here in Colorado who may see this campaign as something to further his political ambitions.”
Shaw, you overstep yourself,” Jake said. Like all these other good folks, I want to protect women and kids, and see this Territory finally become a state. That won’t happen as long as the mail gets stopped by murderin’ savages for six weeks at a time and new settlers are scart to move here!”
I’m more afraid of self-righteous citizens and government telling me the end justifies the means!” Shaw shouted with spirit.
There was an angry ripple of words through the crowd and Cherokee began to admire the Yankee from Boston for his bold comments.
Men,” Jake said, don’t pay no attention to the likes of that one. Get your gear together and go on. I’ll join up with you out on the trail onct I get some business attended to. We’ll leave the likes of Mr. Shaw to sit warm and safe by his fireside, armed with nothing more than his writin’ pen.”
The pen can be a powerful weapon,” Shaw said, if it’s accompanied by public opinion. Take care, all of you, that you don’t go too far.”
Too far?” Jake said. Shaw, it’s you Injun lovers and the Plains tribes who have gone too far!”
The crowd roared approval.
Now, men,” Jake shouted, let’s break this meetin’ up. We’ve wasted enough time. Tell the colonel that I’ll be joinin’ him later, ’cause he probably could use a good scout who really knows the country and Injuns.”
Cherokee stood with little Keso, waiting for the crowd to disperse. He watched the vague outline of Jake Dallinger’s form move down the street and realized Todd Shaw still stood there. He walked over to him slowly. Shaw, I’m Cherokee Evans.” He held out his hand.
You may have more guts than brains, but I admire you for it.”
The other shook his warmly and laughed. I have to say what I think, although it’s not a popular opinion to have right now. I see you have Indian blood. Are you by any chance Cheyenne or Arapaho?”
No, but a Cheyenne Dog Soldier saved my life, so I feel indebted to them.” Keso pulled at his hand. Oh, and this is my friend, Keso, who is helping me since I can’t see.”
I think I’ve seen you on the streets, Keso,” Todd said in a friendly tone. Can I do anything to help you, Evans?”
What can you tell me about the Duchess’s Palace?”
Shaw grunted. Not much. It’s a regular den of iniquity and getting worse since Dallinger came to town a few days ago. He’s been a silent partner all these years, or so the gossip says. Can’t imagine why the Duchess would be involved with white trash like him. If Denver gets enough of it, they’re liable to mob together and burn the place down. It’s happened before.”
Cherokee suddenly didn’t want to hear anymore. If you aren’t doing anything right now, I’d be much obliged if you�
�d tell me about Denver, show me around.”
Be glad to.”
And the three of them started off together, Cherokee holding on to Keso’s arm.
They spent an enjoyable day and Cherokee was careful not to mention the Palace or its owner again. If there was any scandal attached to Silver, if she had changed her personality and the way she worked, he didn’t want to know about it. He loved her too much to care about anything else. His sight seemed to improve more that day; but he still wouldn’t want to have to go up against anyone in a gun fight. At this rate, he’d be able to do without Keso in a few days, and yet, he’d grown fond of the kid. What to do?
Keso left the big half-breed at the Essex and went out into the night. He didn’t really have anyplace to go in this chill air, but he was too proud to admit it to his Cherokee friend. Keso didn’t want him to feel obligated and he would if he found out Keso was sleeping in the hay at the stable. That’s where he was headed now. But as he walked along the street, the governess came down the block.
Hello, there.” She actually smiled at him. You’re the one I’ve seen with Cherokee, aren’t you?”
Street-wise, he went on his guard. What’s that to you?”
I just wondered.” She chewed her lip as if she was trying to decide how much to tell him.
Keso stared at her in the moonlight. Her face wasn’t badly scarred. If she’d take off those glasses, do something about her hair and clothes, she might even be pretty. He turned to go but she caught his arm.
Keso, about Mr. Evans. I—I used to love him a long time ago.”
He felt both curiosity and scorn. If you care about him, why don’t you let him know? I feel sorry for him. He needs someone so much and there’s no one but me to guide him around—”
Guide him around?”
You know what I mean. Is that the reason you don’t go to him? You don’t want to be burdened by him?”
Quicksilver Passion Page 28
