Only in My Arms

by Jo Goodman

  His dry tone was enough to sober Mary. She stepped back and turned her gaze in the direction of the mining camp. "What happened?" she asked. Since Ryder was alive there was only one answer she expected. It wasn't the one Ryder gave her.

  "Rosario's trussed like a calf for branding."

  Mary's forest green eyes held her astonishment. "You didn't kill him?"

  "Not yet. Jarret's deciding his fate."

  "Jarret! Then he and Rennie were in the camp."

  Ryder nodded. "He'll probably never know for certain what roused him out of his cot or what made him decide to take a look around, but he had a lot more to do with saving my life than I did."

  Mary tried to take it all in. "Is the entire camp awake?"

  "No. Just Jarret. Even the posted guard's still sleeping. Jarret wants to kill him more than Rosario." Ryder took a bandana from his pocket and wet one end of it. Lifting Mary's chin, he cleaned the thin trail of blood from her neck. "Jarret clipped Rosario with the butt of his Colt and tossed him into one of the mining carts. We pushed it into the mine, then I came to get you. Jarret was going to keep Rosario in one of the abandoned shafts until we make our escape. If he sees the blood on your neck he may just push Rosario down it."

  Though he spoke lightly, Mary knew it was the truth. She supposed Jarret's interference had a great deal to do with saving Rosario's life, too. The flinty look in Ryder's eyes told her that he could easily take the scout's life for what he had done to her. "I'm fine," she said. "Really." Mary laid her hand over Ryder's wrist and forced him to stop attending her. She pushed his hand gently away. "Rosario came up behind me," she told him. "When you went to the corral. I didn't go looking for trouble." It was important to her that he know the truth.

  "I believe you." And he did. Rosario had probably been following them at some distance from the time they left the cave. Ryder blamed himself for not being more observant. "Let's go. Jarret's waiting for us." He thrust the bandana back in his pocket and took Mary's hand. "He has some place in mind for us to hide."

  The hiding place turned out to be the same abandoned portion of the mine where Jarret had made Rosario a prisoner. Jarret's torchlight flickered over the unconscious scout as he led Mary and Ryder deeper into the shaft. Mary saw that Rosario, bound and gagged, was not likely to stir anytime soon. "You won't let him die," she said to Jarret. When he didn't answer her she tugged on his shirt. "Don't ignore me, Jarret."

  "As if I could." He stopped because he had reached the end of the horizontal shaft. He thrust the torch into a crevice between the timber uprights and the rock wall. "No," he said plainly. "I won't let him die. But he has to stay there until we decide what's to become of the two of you." He pointed to the blankets he had already laid out on the ground. "It's the best I could do on short notice. You weren't exactly expected."

  "And certainly not invited," Ryder said, giving Mary an arch glance.

  Jarret said, "Oh, I know whose idea this was. It has that masterful Dennehy touch all over it. I'm only surprised you went along with it." He sighed and his voice lost the sarcasm that had marked it. "Never mind. I do understand." He raked back his hair in a weary gesture. "Get some sleep. There are a few hours left before sun up. You may as well rest until then. There's going to be quite a commotion in camp once I tell the miners their horses are gone."

  He left the torch behind and made his way out by touch alone. Mary and Ryder heard him swear softly as he tripped over Rosario's body. To her shame, Mary had to control the urge to laugh.

  "It's all right," Ryder said, quelling his own smile. "Rosario didn't feel a thing."

  "I was thinking more of Jarret's toes. He was barefoot, did you notice?"

  Ryder had noticed. "I don't suppose Jarret's had much cause these days to sleep with his boots on." He helped Mary down on the blankets, smoothing them out on the edges. He didn't even have his coat to lend her for a pillow. "Put your head on my lap," he said.

  "No," she said. "You put your head on mine."

  Ryder recognized the flat, dogmatic tone. If he argued with her they would both spend the night sleeping sitting up. He valued his own rest more than winning an argument with Mary. "Very well." He let her settle back against the wall, then lay down. When her fingers began to sift through his hair he closed his eyes. Her touch released the tightness in his scalp and the tension at the back of his neck. His mouth relaxed, then his shoulders.

  Hours later Mary raised a finger to her lips as Rennie and Jarret entered the area from the mine passage. The torch Jarret had left behind had long since burned out, but Rennie was carrying another. Mary squinted to adjust to the onslaught of light. "Is it morning already?" she asked softly, loath to wake Ryder. He had slept deeply, rarely stirring.

  Rennie knelt beside her sister. She touched her face as if to assure herself it really was Mary—and in one piece. "Are you all right? What are you doing here? Don't think for a minute that I believe all that nonsense Jarret reported after he found you. I know you didn't help plan Ryder's escape. You told me about finding Mama's habit, remember? You weren't pretending to be hurt or angry. It was all very real. You didn't plan that."

  Mary rolled her eyes. She had forgotten how wearing Rennie's energy could be. "Of course I didn't plan to wear it, you ninny. That just came about because it was the better idea." She saw that she had momentarily confused her sister. "Stop trying to guess at things it's better you don't know. What does it matter what I've done when I'm here to talk about what I intend to do?"

  Rennie's mouth clamped shut.

  "That's better," Mary said firmly. She glanced down at Ryder. His eyes were open, and there was a barely suppressed smile on his lips. "See?" she told Rennie. "He's awake now, and I'm certain it has something to do with your chattering."

  Ryder pushed himself upright. "I distinctly heard two jays squawking."

  "Jays!" Mary said.

  "Squawking!" Rennie said.

  Jarret hunkered down in front of Ryder and handed him a tin plate with scrambled eggs, corn meal, and bacon on it. "As long as you're eating you can't get in the middle of it."

  Ryder saw the wisdom of it immediately. He tucked into his food and let the Marys carry on.

  Rennie passed the next plate from Jarret to her sister. "You're safe enough here. The miners have no reason to come down this passage, and Jarret and I weren't followed in. Most of the men left when Jarret raised hell about the horses being gone. They're walking to where the track is being laid, hoping to get a ride into Tucson where they can get new mounts and raise a ruckus about the Apache raid."

  Jarret added, "They know they're lucky to be alive, but they still want to ride out. They don't think the Army's doing enough to stop the Chiricahua. At least not the band Geronimo's leading."

  Ryder's brows lifted a fraction but he said nothing. Mary stared at her plate.

  Rennie looked from one to the other. "So it was Geronimo." Unconsciously her hand went to her hair as if to check the placement of her scalp. "The men were right."

  "I didn't tell them anything," Jarret explained. "Around here these days it's a matter of two and two is four. The only thing that puzzled the men is why they're still alive. I didn't tell them that either, but I suspect it has something to do with you." He leveled a hard look at Ryder and saw once again that the man did not flinch easily.

  It was Mary who spoke, giving the details of last night and then including in her story their departure from the Cavern of Lost Souls.

  Rennie put her arm around Mary's shoulders. The affection between the sisters ran deep, and admiration formed another bond. "I could not imagine being half so brave as you," she said, real awe in her voice. She shook her head slowly trying to take it in. "To exchange words with Geronimo. What was it like?"

  Mary's smile was modest. "Not half so bad as exchanging words with Mama."

  Chapter 13

  Ryder and Mary spent the day waiting for night. The details of the escape had been mapped out at breakfast and the arrangements made by
lunch. That left little besides anticipation and apprehension to fill the time until dinner and departure.

  Rennie thought the tension was almost tangible. "Here," she said, dropping a valise at Mary's feet. "I've brought you both a change of clothes. It's time you were out of trousers, Mary. You'll raise suspicions dressed like that, not reduce them."

  Mary had come to appreciate the advantages of trousers. Her agreement was reluctant.

  "Do as your sister says," Ryder said. "She's right."

  "I know she is," Mary snapped. "That's why I agreed."

  Rennie looked over her shoulder as her husband entered the area. Her eyes warned him about the emotional climate. Jarret nodded, understanding. "I have horses for you to ride," he announced. "A half dozen of the miners just returned, and they have two horses between them. I told them Rennie and I wanted to ride to Fort Union, and they'll let us have them. We'll ride out and meet you just beyond sight of camp. You'll be on your own after that. One of the private cars has been brought as far north as the track's been laid. You shouldn't have any trouble there." He pointed to the clothes Rennie had brought. "Once you're wearing those, there'll be enough resemblance to fool people at a distance. You only have to stay inside and give your orders through the door, just like we planned."

  "Won't your workers think that's a little odd?" asked Mary. "Why would either of you stay inside the car and shout your orders through a closed door? That's very strange behavior."

  Rennie's mouth pursed in exasperation, and she gave her older sister a frank stare. "You can't be that naive, Mary Francis." Just to make certain she understood, Rennie added, "Some mornings Jarret just can't get out of bed."

  Jarret came up behind his wife and slipped his arm around her middle. With a low, playful growl he nuzzled her ear. "That's right. Blame it on me, you lusty wench."

  Rennie flushed to the roots of her hair. She poked Jarret in the ribs with her elbow. "Let's get out of here so they can change. I think Mary's been made to understand, thank you very much. And you have to give our prisoner something to eat anyway."

  "Very well." He let her go and pointed to the things he had carried in and dropped just inside the entrance. "I collected the saddlebags, Army jacket, and canteens that were left up in the rocks. If you want any of those items, fine. If you don't, I'll take them to our tent later and eventually get rid of them."

  Ryder nodded. He knew Jarret was trying to eliminate their trail and also reduce the chances that he and Rennie would be pegged as accomplices. "You haven't been to the fort yourself today?" he asked.

  "No. There's been plenty of activity between Fort Union and the mine, though. Since word reached the fort of the raid, they've had patrols all over the place. Jay Mac and Moira and the rest of the family know we're fine here."

  "It's a wonder Jay Mac didn't come himself to make sure," Mary said. "That would be just like him."

  Rennie nodded in agreement. "We understand that General Gardner won't give any civilians permission to leave the fort right now. Ethan and Connor can't be any happier about that than Jay Mac. That's why we're returning to the fort as soon as you're safely off." There was a small catch in her throat. Tears glistened unexpectedly in her eyes. "And I want to see my babies."

  Mary flew to her sister's side and embraced her. "Of course you do. Dear, dear Rennie, how will we ever thank you?" She looked to Jarret over Rennie's shoulder and held out her hand for him to take. "And you," she said, squeezing his hand gently. "You've done so much. There's no repayment ever that will be—"

  Jarret shook his head. "Finish this business in Washington," he said. "And invite all of us to your next wedding." His glance at Ryder was significant. "There'll be hell to pay otherwise."

  Ryder nodded once, acknowledging the point. It was clear Mary's family thought she deserved a more conventional ceremony. "If she'll have me," he said quietly.

  Rennie took control of the embrace with her sister, holding Mary by the shoulders and giving her a steady look. For once, she didn't say anything. She was satisfied with what she saw. She released Mary and took her husband's arm. "Let's go. I'm as anxious to be gone from this place as they are."

  Mary and Ryder changed clothes quickly once they were alone. Her gown was a serviceable blue and white gingham, while he exchanged his Army uniform for jeans, a clean white shirt, and a brown leather vest. One of Rennie's bonnets covered Mary's short curls, and Ryder tucked his long hair under the hat Jarret lent him. When the transformation was complete they bore a more than passing resemblance to Rennie and Jarret.

  Ryder actually began to have some confidence that their scheme just might work.

  They passed Rosario as they were leaving the mine. He was still bound and gagged and sleeping peacefully. Rennie and Jarret had fed him well but they had also drugged his food. Ryder didn't spare the scout a glance, though Mary said a brief prayer over him.

  Mary and Ryder were able to leave the mine without incident. Crossing the camp unnoticed was more difficult, however. The miners and track laborers who had returned were milling about, not so eager for sleep as they had been the night before. They sat in small groups of two and three around several different fires. Someone was playing a fiddle, and the mood was such that even that happy instrument was given a mournful sound.

  "Thought you had already left," a miner called to them as they crossed the encampment.

  Ryder simply raised a hand. The gesture worked as well as a verbal response.

  "Mrs. Sullivan," someone else begged for attention. "You promised you'd give me those plans tonight."

  Mary could hear the footsteps behind breaking into a new rhythm as the Northeast laborer tried to catch up with them. Thinking quickly, she pulled on Ryder's sleeve and stopped him. She could tell he was questioning her judgment, uncomfortable with having a face-to-face confrontation with anyone.

  Mary slipped the saddlebags off Ryder's shoulder. "Go on," she encouraged him. "I'll be there in a moment." As Ryder strode away she quickly opened the bag and withdrew one of the maps. She had no idea which one she was handing over when the laborer finally caught her, but she kept her head low and thrust it into his hands. "Just as I promised," she said in a credible imitation of Rennie's huskier voice.

  "Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan." He took the paper she gave him, tipped his hat, and let her go, satisfied with the exchange.

  Mary's own heart was slamming hard in her chest when she came up behind Ryder. She returned the saddlebags.

  "Don't take a chance like that again," he said tightly. He was furious with her and didn't care if she knew it.

  "What would you have had me do?" she asked in the same harsh whisper. "Run away? That would have raised a few eyebrows and called attention to us."

  It didn't make it any easier that she was right. He wasn't used to being impotent in challenging situations. "I could have given him a map, the same as you."

  "He asked for me. Rennie is the one who is the engineer, after all." Mary clamped her mouth shut before she said something she would regret.

  Without their being aware of it, their angry tandem stride kept anyone else from calling out or approaching them. In a few minutes they were beyond the mining camp and the light from the fires dotting it.

  Rennie and Jarret were waiting for them in the prearranged location. Rennie gave her sister a brief hug and then began counting instructions on her fingertips. "It's already arranged for the car to leave as soon as you arrive at the work site. Don't forget to tell them in Tucson that you want to go to Santa Fe, not to California. That will be different than the route they're used to Jarret and me taking. I'll telegraph ahead to Santa Fe and lay out your journey from there. After you're safely on your way we'll be able to communicate by telegraph—though I think caution is in order. Perhaps Pittsburgh would be a good place to send messages. If the rest of us stay here a while longer, no one will suspect that we've arranged for you to leave. If Jay Mac will only cooperate it will be brilliant. We'll confuse the Army."

 
Jarret and Ryder exchanged glances, but both of them were wise enough not to comment. Confusion, they had both learned, was a peculiarity of all the Marys' plans. They had no doubt that Mary Margaret and Mary Michael would fall in easily, even approve. And if Mary Schyler had been around the whole thing would have only become more elaborate.

  Farewells were kept brief to ease the ache on both sides. Jarret and Ryder shook hands. Rennie kissed Ryder on the cheek. Mary embraced both her sister and her brother-in-law.

  When Mary could steel herself to look back at Jarret and Rennie, night hid them from her view.

  Out of the corner of his eye Ryder saw Mary hastily brush away a tear. He doubted it was from sadness. Tonight Mary was more likely to cry out of gratitude. He understood perfectly.

  * * *

  Their arrival at the work site was uneventful. A guard waved to them and sauntered over to take their horses when they dismounted. Mary simply leaned against Ryder in a posture of weary affection, and conversation was effectively eliminated as the guard saw they seemed eager to retire.

  The private car that Rennie and Jarret used was really more of a workstation. It had fewer creature comforts and more utilitarian items. Earlier in the day Rennie had removed all the essential items she needed to continue her work on the rail line, leaving the car bare of the charts and surveys that normally were scattered across every flat surface.

  The wide desk still held a heavy glass paperweight that served only an ornamental function now. A small armoire, bolted to the floor and the side of the car, was filled with clothing and personal items—a razor, strop, shaving soap, and combs. Clearly Rennie's intention had been for Mary and Ryder to freely use whatever they needed.

  Mary ran her fingertips across the dresses and shirts hanging in neat array. "She thinks of everything," she said softly.

  Ryder was looking at the bookshelves that were built in under the bed. "Everything," he agreed.

  Mary followed his line of vision, trying to decide if he was looking at the narrow, neatly turned-down bed or the leather-bound volumes below it. Either way, she supposed, his agreement fit.