Dream Warrior: His Savage Kiss

by Bobbi Smith

  Lillian couldn't remember the last time she'd run anywhere. At her age, it wasn't quite the thing to do, but right now, she didn't care. It was too important that she hurry home. A man's life was at stake.

  Since she'd met Cari in church and learned of her troubles, Lillian had made it a point to follow what was happening. She'd attended the trial every day and had seen Cari's desperation grow as the prosecution had presented its case. Each night when she'd gone home, she'd casually mentioned the day's happenings to Jenny, but now, with the jury out and things looking bad for Daniel Marshall and Cari, Lillian knew it was time to confront the young girl. She believed Jenny knew the truth, and she was bound and determined to convince her to come forth with what she knew before the jury came back and it was too late to save him.

  She rushed into the house, calling Jenny's name.

  "Is something wrong, Mrs. Perkins?" Jenny heard the frantic note in her voice.

  "Something's very wrong, Jenny, and I've been quiet much too long about it." She confronted her in the hallway. As tiny as she was, when she was indignant, she was a giant.

  "What happened?"

  "What happened is, that poor man is going to be convicted of a killing he didn't commit! The jury has just gone to deliberate, and from the case presented, I would guess that it won't take them long to come back with a guilty verdict."

  "Why are you telling me this?" she asked nervously.

  "Jenny, I don't know what you're so afraid of, but I can tell you this. If you think you'll be any safer once Daniel Marshall has been hung for something he didn't do, you're wrong. You'll be in danger until the day you die, because you know something, something important . . . something that could save Daniel's life. You won't get another chance to save him, Jenny. The time has come to face up to your fears and tell the truth. You can't hide for the rest of your life. The truth will set you free, child."

  "But . . ."

  Lillian drew a sigh of relief as she saw the terror in the girl's eyes. It was the first crack in her defenses. Jenny did know something. She'd been right all along. "We'll go to the judge together. I'll be with you, and I won't let anyone harm you."

  Ben drew a shaky breath as he glanced at the clock and discovered one hour had passed. The spectators who'd gone to eat started to return, lounging casually in the courtroom as if this was merely a day of entertainment. He saw the Larsons sitting near the back, along with some of the other ranchers in the area. They seemed quite pleased. He thought they were all ghouls who were eager to see an innocent man suffer. Ben's temper frayed, but he controlled it.

  Cari sat stiffly in the chair as she waited for the news that would affect the rest of her days. Every fiber of her being was aware that at any moment the jury could come back in and announce that they had found Silver Wolf guilty of murder and had decided to put an end to his life. The thought brought a silent scream from her. It couldn't happen! She wouldn't let it happen! Closing her eyes, she begged God—Oh, please, don't let Silver Wolf die!

  The courtroom door opened and Lillian walked in, bringing Jenny with her. The girl's eyes were wide with fear as she stared about the room. When her gaze collided with Mark Larson's, she inhaled sharply and tried to pull free of the old woman's grip.

  "Jenny? What is it?" Lillian asked.

  Ben heard the name "Jenny" and looked around to see the girl he'd searched fruitlessly for standing in the courtroom. He was on his feet and beside the two women in an instant. Cari recognized her friend from church and ran after Ben.

  "Cari, Mr. Douglas, this is Jenny," Lillian said with pride.

  "Hello, Jenny. It's good to see you again. I've been looking for you." Ben couldn't believe that she was here. "Did you have something you wanted to tell us?"

  "Yes . . ." Her voice quavered, but she felt safe from Mark when she was with this man.

  Ben escorted her forward to see the judge who was still in the courtroom, while Cari hugged Lillian. The older woman sat with Cari as they watched Ben and Jenny.

  "Your Honor, I know it's late in the trial, but a witness I'd been searching for has come forward with pertinent new testimony."

  "Mr. Douglas," the judge said with exaggerated patience, "the jury is already deliberating."

  "I know, Your Honor, but Jenny—"

  Jenny interrupted him, blurting out, "I know what happened to the medicine bag!"

  Judge Englich looked at her sharply and saw the terror within her. "Why did you wait so long to come forward, young lady?"

  "I was afraid, sir. But I can't let Daniel hang . . ."

  "All right. This is highly irregular, but under the circumstances, since a man's life is at stake. . . . Bring the jury back in. We'll hear one more witness."

  "Judge Englich! The trial's over! You can't call another witness!" Mark shouted from the back of the room.

  "Mr. Larson," the judge turned an icy regard on him, "until the verdict is in, the trial is not over. This is my courtroom and a life-or-death situation exists. The jury will hear the girl's testimony."

  "Ben . . . what's going on?" Cari asked nervously when Ben returned to his seat. Jenny had remained at the witness stand and was being sworn in.

  "The judge is going to let Jenny testify."

  Cari and Lillian clasped hands, and their eyes shone with tears. Behind them the courtroom began to fill rapidly as word spread of the new witness. Elizabeth, Elliot, and George were quick to return and take their seats.

  The guard brought Daniel back in to stand beside Ben. Daniel's expression was black. He thought he was coming back in to hear the jury pronounce him guilty. Pain had been tearing at him with razorlike claws as he'd tried to come to grips with the idea of losing Little Snow forever. Then he saw Jenny, and he looked over at Ben in amazement. Ben put a hand on his shoulder.

  The judge called the court to order, then instructed his jury that they would hear one more witness. An eager quiet fell over the crowded room. Elizabeth, George, and Elliot sat nervously together, waiting . . . Sam, unaware of his son's sudden tenseness, sat confidently waiting . . . Ben sat beside Daniel waiting . . . Cari held tightly to the old woman's hand, waiting . . .

  Ben approached Jenny easily, wanting to make her comfortable. "Jenny, how is it you know the defendant, Daniel Marshall?"

  "I met him in the Sundown Saloon the night of the big dance."

  "What were you doing in the Sundown, Jenny?"

  "I worked there."

  "I see. What happened that night?"

  "Well, Daniel got pretty drunk. We went upstairs for a while, but when I started to unfasten his belt, he told me he didn't want to do anything but talk. He spent the evening with me—talking."

  Cari's heart swelled to near bursting with love for Silver Wolf as she listened to Jenny's testimony. He could have made love to this girl that night when she'd hurt him so badly, and yet he'd declined.

  "Did anyone come to see Daniel while he was with you?"

  "Yes, sir. A man named James did, and then you did."

  "What happened after Daniel and I left you in the bar?"

  "I went up to my room and I found his medicine bag on my bed. I looked through it and found this heart." Jenny pulled Cari's stone heart out of her pocket and held it out for Ben and the judge and jury to see.

  A murmur of surprise went through the court. It was just as Daniel had said earlier under oath.

  "While I was looking at it, Mark Larson came in. He hit me when he found out I'd been with Daniel. He hit me hard, several times. He took the medicine bag when he left."

  A rumble of shock reverberated through the crowd, and Mark, feeling trapped, lunged to his feet. Just as he reached the doors, they flew open, and Captain Greene strode in followed closely by Tall Shadow and Strong Eagle. A stunned silence gripped the court as everyone froze. Mark backed away, but the sheriff quickly grabbed him before he could run.

  "Sheriff Dixon, bring that man before me!" Judge Englich ordered, then turned to stare at the intruders in his courtroom. "What
is the meaning of this, Captain?"

  "I have important new evidence, Your Honor. May I approach the bench?"

  The judge waved him forward. "What is it?"

  "Your Honor, Chief Tall Shadow and Strong Eagle rode to the fort to get me, for they feared that their word wouldn't be accepted here. I have come with them to tell you that the missing McCord bull has been found."

  At his words, another explosion of shock erupted in the courtroom.

  "Where?" the judge demanded.

  Captain Greene turned to look at Mark, already in the sheriff's custody, and then at Sam who was trying to creep from the court. "The Cheyenne found the bull in a box canyon on the Larson ranch, Your Honor. Sheriff Dixon, please arrest Mark Larson for the murder of James McCord!"

  Mark struggled frantically against the lawman's hold.

  "Chief Tall Shadow, bring in our witnesses, please. Judge Englich, two of the Larsons' ranch hands were guarding the bull, and they are more than willing to testify to what happened that night. I think the court might find what they have to say quite informative."

  Two more braves entered the courtroom dragging the terrified cowboys with them.

  "Mark Larson did it!" one of them shouted as soon as he could see the judge. "He shot McCord!"

  "Why you . . . !!!" Mark tried to break free and attack him, but Dixon held him.

  "You're under arrest, Larson."

  Judge Englich looked over at Ben and Silver Wolf. "Mr. Marshall, the case against you is dismissed. You are free to go, and you have the deepest apologies of this court."

  A roar went through the room as Mark was dragged away, his father following.

  Ben and Silver Wolf stood. They were numb, but happy. Finally, Ben turned toward him. Their eyes met in thankful understanding, and then they threw their arms around each other and embraced, slapping each other on the back.

  "Thank God!"

  "Indeed, thank God," Lillian echoed as she hugged Cari and then went to Jenny.

  Williams crossed the room to speak to Ben, and Captain Greene came forward to shake hands with Daniel.

  Silver Wolf turned away from the lawyers to see Cari making her way around the bar toward him. Tears of happiness were streaming down her face, but she had never looked more beautiful to him. He took a step toward her, then opened his arms to her.

  Jenny watched from Lillian's side as Cari and Daniel embraced. She started crying, too. Her tears were joyful. Daniel was alive. "Thank you, Mrs. Perkins," she said in a soft, emotion-filled voice.

  Her eyes sparkled with mischief and love. "If you really want to thank me, child, you'll forget all about working at the Sundown and stay with me. I like having you around."

  The happy old woman and the redeemed young girl started to leave the room.

  "Jenny!" Daniel called to her.

  He broke apart from Cari for a moment. Still holding her hand, he brought her along with him as he went to speak to the young woman who'd just helped to save his life.

  "Thank you." He lifted his free hand to touch her cheek. He could see the faint bruises and realized the horror that Mark must have put her through. "You really are beautiful without all that paint." He smiled at her.

  Jenny went to him and looped her arms around his neck. She kissed him sweetly on the cheek. "Be happy, Daniel, my friend."

  "You, too, Jenny."

  "Jenny?" Cari knew she owed this woman Silver Wolf's life and more.

  "Yes?"

  "Thank you for helping Daniel."

  The two women shared a secret smile, and then Jenny and Lillian started on their way.

  Cari gazed up at her love, her heart filled with joy. Only moments before they had faced the possibility of his death, and now . . .

  "I love you, Silver Wolf."

  "I love you, too."

  She went straight into his arms and was enfolded in his loving embrace.

  Epilogue

  Cari stood with Silver Wolf before the cave, gazing out across the land that stretched for miles in a moon-drenched vista before them. The night was warm and heavenly.

  "I love coming here," Cari said in a soft voice as she relaxed back against his chest. They'd decided to make it a ritual to return to the cave at least once a year.

  He slipped his arms around her thickening waist and held her close. The thought that she was bearing his child filled him with awe. "This place has always been very special to me."

  Cari turned to face him, lifting her hands to frame his face. She gazed up at him, still thinking him the most handsome man in the world even after a year of marriage. "Any place is special to me as long as I'm with you, my husband."

  Silver Wolf bent to her and kissed her tenderly. "You know I feel the same way."

  They'd married with her mother's blessing shortly after the trial and had spent the last year working together to make James's dream come true. Their hard work was paying off, for the Circle M was gaining the reputation for having the finest stock in the territory. Elizabeth had gone back East to recover from her husband's death, but when she learned of Cari's pregnancy, she promised to return for the birth of her first grandchild.

  Cari and Silver Wolf stood, locked in each other's arms, enjoying the intimacy of being alone, together.

  "Do you suppose Ben and Star Blossom will marry, too, and be as happy as we are?"

  "I think it's a distinct possibility. I heard him singing one day when I went into town and stopped at the office."

  "Singing?" Cari didn't understand the significance.

  Silver Wolf chuckled. "A warrior courts the woman he loves by sitting outside her tipi at night serenading her."

  "Do you think he'll have any luck?"

  "Not if that's the only thing she picks her husband by," he laughed.

  "You're mean! First, you make fun of your best friend, and second . . ."

  "Yes?"

  "You never sang to me," she pouted prettily.

  Silver Wolf was about to bravely offer her a rendition of an old love song he remembered from his time East, when the sound of a wolf's call came from afar, drifting to them on the night breeze. As they stood motionlessly, listening, an answering call was heard in the distance. The wolves' songs blended as one in the beauty of the night. Powerful feelings surged through Silver Wolf, filling him with more happiness than he'd ever known in his life.

  "The wolf's song is my love song to you, Little Snow," he told her, lifting a hand to caress the silken glory of her hair as it shone like silver now in the moonlight.

  Cari thrilled to his words, and when he lifted her up in his arms to carry her back inside the cave, she linked her arms about his neck. He lay her upon their blankets, and they came together in a blaze of passion. They reached the rapture together in breathless splendor. Silver Wolf knew no more perfect bliss than to love Little Snow . . . his wife.

  Cari's eyes drifted shut as she surrendered to the paradise she found in her husband's embrace. She listened to the thunder of his heartbeat, slowing now in the aftermath of their loving. The babe within her womb stirred, and Cari smiled into the night. They would raise their children to be loving and kind, generous and forgiving, brave and gentle. They would teach them to become a bridge between their two worlds. Then perhaps in the future, no one would have to suffer to be together as they had. Cari sighed and nestled closer to Silver Wolf. She knew this was where she belonged, at his side, with him forever.

  The End

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  WANTED - THE HALF-BREED

  Prologue

  Two Guns, Texas

  Young Wind Walker rode in silence beside his white father across the rugged Texas terrain. A sense of unease filled him as they neared his father's ranch, but he fought it down. Having lived his first ten years in the Comanche village with his mother, he knew true warriors never showed fear. He glanced
over at his father, who was watching him.

  "We'll be at the ranch soon," Paul Stevenson told him.

  Wind Walker only nodded in response. Upon his mother's death some weeks before, he had gone on a vision quest in search of the strength and healing he needed to deal with his future. The message he'd received from the spirit had been powerful. A vision of blood had come to him, and the voice of the spirit had told him that he was to go and live with his blood father. It had warned him of the dangers he would face in the future, of betrayal and hardship, but it had also told him that there would be love and friendship in his life. As the vision had faded, a single eagle feather borne on the wind had drifted down to the ground beside him, and he knew it was a sign. He'd taken the feather and the small stone it had landed upon as his medicine, and he carried the charms with him now in the small spirit bag he wore for strength and safety on a leather thong around his neck.

  Paul understood his son's stoic reaction to the news. He knew what a hard time the boy was going through. When word of Star Cloud's death had reached him at the ranch, he'd immediately made plans to bring Wind Walker there to live with him and his family.

  As hard as he was trying to make things better for Wind Walker, Paul realized it wasn't going to be easy for any of them. His wife, Elizabeth, had known of the boy's existence when they'd married and had tolerated his occasional trips to the village to see his son, but she had not been happy with the prospect of having Wind Walker coming to stay with them. Only his young daughter Stacy had seemed open to the boy's coming to the ranch. In her innocence, she had loved the idea of having a big brother.

  The thought of Stacy brought a half-smile to Paul's face, and he urged his horse to a quicker pace. There was no way he could make things easier for his son, but he was going to do all he could to help him fit in. With his mother dead, the boy belonged with him.

  Wind Walker kept pace with his father, knowing that soon his life was going to change forever. His father had told him of the ranch during his visits, but up until now, he had never imagined a time when he would live there. He had always thought of himself as a Comanche, but now he was going to live in the white world.