He squeezed her hand lightly, then wiped gently at her tears with his other hand. “And I’ll do right by you when I come back. That’s a promise.” He leaned down and kissed her once more, quickly this time, wanting one last taste of her. “Good-bye,” he said, the word filled with pain.
He suddenly disappeared into the darkness. Jenny wanted to call after him, but she feared she might be heard. She stood there feeling numb. Quickly his visit in the night seemed like a strange dream. She limped back to the fire, using her robe to shield her hand from the heat as she grasped the handle of the now-steaming kettle. She struggled into the house with it, her stomach and chest aching with sorrow and a terrible longing to be with Wade.
He was going back to Wild Horse. Did that mean certain death? She couldn’t let herself think it. She had to hope he was right that it could be worked out. She set the kettle on the stove, then sat down to the table, too shaken, too full of desperate, reawakened love now to bother fixing the tea. In one sense she almost wished he had not come at all until everything was over, but he realized she had to know he was all right—and he had been worried about her, worried he had got her pregnant.
She put a hand to her belly, remembering with sweet ecstasy what he had done to her, almost wishing his life had taken hold, married or not. In their hearts they were as married as anyone with a license. “Wade,” she whispered.
Enders concentrated to understand the Apache scout. The dark, wild-looking Indian stood in Howell’s office, explaining what he and the Apache man who scouted with him had discovered.
“Tracks come this way,” the man told Howell. “They make camp. Do not understand.”
“Don’t understand what?” Howell asked the man.
“Two men—Wild Horse’s brother and Aguila. They leave together—come close to fort—maybe two miles. One set of tracks come from camp to fort. Other man stay at camp. Now both men gone.”
Howell leaned closer, and Enders unfolded his arms, his mind whirling.
“Are you saying one of them came to the fort?” Howell asked.
The Indian nodded.
“But we’ve not seen hide nor hair of either man,” Howell told him.
The Indian shrugged. “Tracks come this way—to small white cabin. I follow. Two women there, washing clothes. Old one, she scream when she see me. Young one just stare. Old one, she calm down—she know who I am then—see me here before when I scout for her husband, she say. Then I come here to you.”
Enders frowned. “A set of tracks led to Alice Hart’s cabin?”
The Indian nodded again, and Enders looked at Howell. “What the hell could that mean?”
Howell scowled at him. “I don’t know, but I’d have a talk with Jennifer Andrews, if I were you.”
“Jenny?” Enders was having trouble believing what had to be the truth.
“Face it, Enders,” Howell told him. “Morrow saved Miss Andrews’s life, traveled alone with her, and nursed her for five days. He seemed awfully defensive of her when he was here. I didn’t want to think anything about it then, for your sake. But the fact remains that someone went to that cabin last night, and one of those two men is Wade Morrow. Now which one would have any logical reason to go there? And who would he want to see? Certainly not Alice Hart.” He sighed irritably. “You and Lieutenant Brown get a patrol together—fast!” He looked at the Apache man. “Both men kept going then?”
“Go back north. We must hurry to keep up now if we want to catch Wild Horse.”
“I agree.” Howell looked at Enders. “Get going. There’s no time to lose.”
Enders saluted. “Yes, sir.” He quickly left, his mind racing with the possibilities of why Wade Morrow would pay Jennifer Andrews a visit in the middle of the night. No one had seen him, and he had obviously deliberately hidden his presence. Why? The only explanation was that there was something between him and Jenny after all. Maybe that was why she had been so cold, why she wouldn’t give him any straight answers. If it was true, she’d pay, and pay dearly for putting on such airs! Any white woman who would have any affection for an Indian, especially a half-breed, was no lady at all, and sure couldn’t expect to be treated like one.
The thought brought a thousand possibilities. He could blackmail her into marrying him, threaten to expose her sordid secret to everyone and risk her coming to insults and bodily harm. Or he could take her himself whether she liked it or not. It would serve her right. He had to think about this, if his anger and damaged pride didn’t get in the way of being rational. He had intended to confront her with the news that Wade Morrow was apparently searching for his brother—that he would most certainly be killed. He was sure he would know by the look on her face if she cared.
Now there would not be time. But he would find the time when he got back, and by then Wade Morrow would most likely be dead. He would have a lot more to discuss with her then, and there would be no Wade Morrow to come to her defense. Jennifer Andrews would be on her own, and she had better have some good answers for him when he returned. He only wished there was time to talk to her before he left.
The bitch! She had been lying to him, holding out on him, pretending to be so proper. He’d show her what he thought of her when he got back! He’d get more out of her than the $300 she owed him!
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jennifer watched from the doorway of Alice’s cabin as more than half the men at the fort mounted their horses and formed themselves into three rows. She sensed the urgent excitement of men who had been bored and restless finally having something to do, and she heard the name Wild Horse being passed among them.
She felt a growing dread, wondering what was happening and if Wade would somehow get involved and get hurt. She knew this sudden call to arms had to have something to do with the Indian scout who had wandered into Alice’s backyard earlier. He had frightened Jennifer at first, but Alice had staunchly challenged the man and learned the reason for his presence. He had said only that he was tracking someone, and Jennifer feared it was Wade. Now, suddenly, the fort was a bustle of whinnying horses and clanking sabers, some men complaining, others laughing, most apparently looking forward to whatever adventure lay ahead.
Sergeant Enders rode through the parade ground shouting orders. He glanced at Jennifer, and his look gave her a strange chill. Was Wade in danger? Did Tony know he had come to see her? She saw Alice then, walking hurriedly back to the cabin, after going to see the commander. A strange, worried expression showed on her face as she came closer.
“Get inside,” she told Jennifer.
Jennifer’s heartbeat quickened at the words, which were spoken gravely. She glanced at Enders once more, wondering why he didn’t come over to her and tell her where he was going and how long he might be. Again he cast her a dark scowl. She turned and followed Alice inside, closing the door.
“Alice, what’s happening? What’s wrong?”
The woman turned, her eyes showing near shock, and a deep disappointment. “That scout was following Wade Morrow, Jenny, and the tracks led right to my back door.”
Jennifer could not control the flush that came to her cheeks. She turned away, struggling to find the right words.
“He came here last night, didn’t he? Why, Jenny? What haven’t you told me?”
Jennifer swallowed back a lump in her throat. She felt as though her whole body was suddenly bathed in perspiration. She was not worried so much for herself now, but for Wade. “Where are those soldiers going?” she asked.
“You answer my question first.”
Jennifer breathed deeply for self-control, then turned, holding her chin proudly. “I’m in love with Wade Morrow, and I will be damned if I will show any shame in it, or let you or anyone else do the same! He’s one of the finest people I’ve ever known—strong, brave, educated, more civil than some of the white men I traveled with on that coach—certainly more of a gentleman than Tony Enders has ever been!”
Alice closed her eyes, giving off a deep sigh. She shook
her head and slowly sat down in her rocker beside the fireplace. “You should have told me, Jenny.”
“Why? So that you could throw me out sooner?”
Alice looked up at her. “No. So that we could talk about it. You aren’t from around here, Jenny, so you don’t understand the gravity of what you just told me—how dangerous that makes things for you. Now Tony Enders and Captain Howell both suspect.”
“I don’t care. It’s time people knew. I’ve hated pretending, hated acting as though I would be appalled at Wade Morrow’s touch. On the journey here I saw him insulted and ridiculed—and for what? Just because his skin is dark, just because he has high cheekbones and long hair! No one cares that he is college educated, that he is a wealthy man who will one day inherit one of the richest freighting enterprises in the Southwest! But that isn’t why I love him. I love him for the man he is inside, Alice, for his kindness and generosity and warmth and courage.”
She turned and walked to the window, watching the bustling soldiers outside. “Wade could have left me to die out there,” she continued, “or he could have done what the Comanche intended to do to me. I would have been helpless. But he risked his life to save me, and he stayed with me, doctored me, sat with me, encouraged me. He even gave me money so that I could pay off Tony Enders and still have enough to get by on until he could get back to me. He told me how to contact his family in case something happened to him, told me they would take care of me. I believe him, because I know by the kind of person Wade Morrow is that his white parents must be wonderful people.”
She kept her back to Alice, brushing at tears. It felt good to admit her feelings. She had wanted to shout her love for Wade Morrow for over two weeks now. She was glad it was in the open, no matter how dangerous it was for her.
“You and Tony Enders and everyone else can think what you want,” she said firmly. “I know Indians killed your husband, but that’s no more reason to hate all Indians than it is to hate all white men when just one of them kills someone you love. The Comanche are what they are, and nothing can be done about it. Wade has discovered he’s Wild Horse’s brother, but just because he’s related to the man doesn’t mean he’s like him. He’s just Wade Morrow, a fine man.”
She heard Alice’s rocker creak. “You knew he was going to find Wild Horse, and his own mother, didn’t you? You knew he would try to come back here and see you.”
“Yes.” Jennifer remained turned away. “And you haven’t answered my question about the soldiers.”
Alice rose wearily. “Captain Howell suspected what Mr. Morrow would do once the man knew he could be Wild Horse’s twin. Howell left word at the reservation to let him know if Mr. Morrow showed up there. When he did, the Captain ordered him to be followed when he left, hoping the man would lead the scouts to Wild Horse. He left with a Comanche man, and one of them came here last night. Howell has no doubt it was Wade Morrow. The Apache scouts are out tracking again, sure that now Mr. Morrow and the Comanche man will go to Wild Horse. Those soldiers out there are preparing to follow. There is nothing Howell wants more than to capture Wild Horse.” She looked up at her daughter’s picture. “I hope your Wade Morrow doesn’t get caught in the cross fire. Even if he lives, he’s in trouble either way. Howell is furious that the man lied to him and refused to help him find Wild Horse. And when Wild Horse sees the soldiers, he’ll think Mr. Morrow brought them deliberately. The man has no friends on either side, Jenny. It looks bad for him.”
Jennifer’s throat ached with a need to cry. Wade! Alice was right. He was surrounded by enemies. “All he wanted to do was find someone of his own blood,” she said quietly, her voice shaking. “He knew…Wild Horse might be his brother. How could he tell Captain Howell where he was going? He didn’t want to bring harm to his own brother. And he had a right to find the woman who might be his mother. He did find her. She died only a couple of days later.” She turned to Alice, a tear slipping down her cheek. “This is a very personal thing for him, Alice. Captain Howell has no business getting involved!”
Alice rubbed at her eyes and faced her. “You might be glad that he does get involved, Jenny. If Wade Morrow goes back to Wild Horse alone, it will mean certain death.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I’ve been out here long enough and heard enough stories from my husband to know quite a bit about the Comanche. Twins cannot be allowed to live. Now that they are grown men, Wild Horse will want Wade Morrow dead. There will be no room for compassion or brotherly love. It won’t matter to Wild Horse. Maybe your Mr. Morrow thinks he can reason with the man, but he can’t. A born and bred Comanche will follow the law at all costs, personal and physical. That’s the way they are. They’re superstitious, and twenty-odd years of believing in bad omens and such won’t change overnight. Wade Morrow won’t be able to change it either, and unless he’s damn good at handling himself, he’ll die.”
Jennifer struggled to control an urge to scream. Alice’s words cut like a knife. “What if…what if he refuses to fight Wild Horse,” she asked.
Alice shook her head. “You have a lot to learn, Jenny. I hate to tell you these things, but you should know. Wild Horse will find a way to make him fight. He’ll goad him and torture him until Wade Morrow is mad enough to kill him. Wild Horse won’t want it to be easy. It will be a test of strength and skill—which one of them has the strongest spirit. Wild Horse believes that once he kills his brother, he will be even stronger. That’s what he wants, so that he can be even more successful in fighting for his land.”
Jennifer just stared at her, her face pale. “What should I do?” she asked weakly. “I…have to believe Wade will survive. I have to wait for him.”
Alice came closer and put a hand on her arm. “There’s no use waiting, Jenny.”
“I have to!” Her voice broke. “Nothing will matter…if something happens to Wade. Nothing!”
Alice’s eyes showed surprise. “You really do love him, don’t you?”
Jennifer took a handkerchief from a pocket on her blue calico dress. She wiped her eyes. “Is that so hard to believe? Is it so wrong?”
Alice sighed. “Maybe not. I’ll agree Mr. Morrow was well-spoken, and he did save your life. I can’t imagine in my own mind loving an Indian, but you don’t come from the same background as army people, or people who have lived in Texas all their lives. People in St. Louis don’t know anything about Indian trouble. I’m not condemning or judging you, Jenny. I’ve just come to care very much about you, and I think you’re asking for more than you can handle when you admit to loving an Indian man. Perhaps if you had more time to think about it, if you hadn’t been hurt and confused—”
“It had nothing to do with that. How can I make you understand? I simply love the man. I was attracted to him before I was ever hurt and stranded with him.”
Alice put a hand to her waist. “Come and sit down.” She led Jennifer to the rocker and sat down across from her. “If Wade Morrow told you to contact his family, then I think you had better do so right away.”
“His brothers or some of his father’s men are supposed to come through here soon. They’re on their way to Galveston to pick up some supplies from New Orleans.” Jennifer blew her nose. “Wade said they would help me if I explained.”
“Then you’d better go with them when they come through. Pay off Enders and just tell him you’ve decided against marrying him. Give him a little extra. Maybe that will pacify him. Even so, the men around here will lose their respect for you, Jenny. If Mr. Morrow hadn’t come here to see you last night, you wouldn’t have been involved at all. He must not have known he was being followed.”
“He never would have wanted this. That’s why he came at night. He didn’t want anyone to see me with him. Oh, Alice, I don’t want him to die!” The tears came harder then. Now nothing mattered but that Wade would come back to her.
“Tell me how to get hold of Mr. Morrow’s family, Jennifer. I’ll send a wire for you so you don’t have to go out there and b
e stared at by the other men. Maybe by the time some of his family gets here, you’ll know what has happened to Mr. Morrow.” Jennifer only cried harder, and Alice put a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t understand all of this, Jenny; but I do understand how it feels to be in love. Lord knows it’s the most wonderful and sometimes the most painful thing there is for someone young as you. When you get older, you’ll look back on all of this and realize life goes on. You’ll love again, child. Maybe it’s better this way. Life for a white woman with an Indian man is not an easy one.”
“I don’t care,” Jennifer sobbed. “I would put up with anything to be with him. And…once we were with his family in California…it would be easier. He has friends there…a family who loves him.”
Alice touched her hair. “You talked that seriously? You talked about marriage?”
“Yes.” Jennifer realized she could not tell the woman just how far things had gone between her and Wade. How could she explain it, especially since she had been with Wade such a short time. She looked over at Alice, her eyes swollen and red. “He loves me, Alice, and I love him. There was nothing ugly or wrong about it. I don’t see him as an Indian at all. He’s just a man, a good man who deserves to be loved like any other.”
Alice shook her head. “I don’t know about that, Jenny. I only know loving an Indian man will only bring you trouble.” The woman rose. “I’ll get some paper and you can tell me how to wire his family.”
Jennifer watched her walk away, feeling the woman’s disapproval, although she knew Alice still cared about her. The woman surely thought she was just young and foolish and didn’t know her own mind. But she did. She loved Wade Morrow, and nothing anyone said was going to change that! She didn’t care what problems this was going to bring her. She only prayed that Wade would not get hurt, either by the soldiers or by the Indians. She wished there were some way to warn him, but she was helpless. She could only sit and wait.
The Comanche scout rode hard into camp, his long hair and his horse’s tail flying in the wind. He rode directly to Wild Horse’s tipi, which had been offered him by Bright Flower, a widowed Comanche woman who gladly accommodated the handsome Comanche leader in any way he needed. There were some now who doubted Wild Horse’s wisdom and power, although he had always proved himself a great warrior. But now they knew he shared his spirit with another. He had been born under a bad omen, and only his death or the death of his brother would bring renewed strength to the Comanche nation. Surely then the others could come here from the Red River and be strong again.
Comanche Sunset Page 34
