Dust And Dreams (The Rivers Brothers Book 1)

by Lynn Landes

  The resulting blast rumbles through the mountain and Dalton can feel it in his chest. He leads the way, desperate to make it to Cathedral Peak before sunrise. He knows that this light show will bring all kinds of unwanted attention! Unfortunately, there are much worse things than Indians.

  This time when they reach the valley, they do not stop. Dalton pushes the horses and the humans to near exhaustion. Desperation can enable the human body to achieve great things against horrible odds. Ahead of them is Cathedral Peak, and this mountain is much more daunting than the last. Cassie looks up at the snowcapped peaks and moans.

  “Two miles, Cassie. We can do it! Follow me.” He guides the horses through snow covered trees, and the brush begins to grow thicker. This mountain is different than the last. It is rockier where the last mountain seemed to be made of slabs of granite stacked in vertical layers. As the sky begins to pour once more, Cassie follows Dalton blindly up the side of the mountain. This time the rain doesn't let up, and the wind picks up. Sharp pieces of ice strike at any bare skin it can reach, and lightning tears its destructive beauty across the night sky.

  “It's just ahead!” Carved into the side of the mountain is a cavern that seems to Cassie as grand as any beautiful hotel. They dismount and lead the exhausted horses inside the large cavern and Dalton immediately begins unloading them. Cassie helps to rub the animals down, and ground ties them, so they do not run off in the middle of the night.

  He moves to the back of the cavern and soon has a large fire burning. Cassie turns in surprise and delight. “How did you get dry wood?”

  “My brothers and I stock this cavern, for reasons just like this,” Dalton answers and begins stripping out of his wet clothes. He lays his duster over a large boulder near the fire and turns to find her doing the same thing.

  “It isn't the Palace Hotel, but in a pinch, it will serve its purpose.” He pulls his rifle out of his pack and dries it off then loads it again.

  “Are you expecting company?” she asks, glancing at the rifle.

  “Cassie, you did amazing today. I think we will be safe here for the night, but that explosion will be like a beacon to others. We need to be prepared for anything.” She sits heavily and puts her head in her hands.

  “I didn't realize, Dalton. I just thought of getting us to safety.” When she looks up at him, he is staring at her.

  “Cassandra do you know how many times you have saved my life now?” He sets the rifle down and drops to his knees in front of her. “I don’t know what I would have done without you. You are my lucky charm.” She leans forward and kisses his mouth softly.

  “Dalton for the first time in my life, my gift is being used for good. It's a blessing that I met you. I guess we were meant to be.”

  His smile could light the cavern. “Finally, you agree with me!” She laughs and shoves at him.

  “I want to get out of these wet clothes and eat.” She strips and wrings her clothes out, then stretches them out on a boulder near the fire. His eyes look her over, and he notices the purple bruises and limp.

  “Why are you staring at me?” she asks suddenly feeling shy. She pulls her day dress out and sighs. “Can I borrow a shirt?” He smiles and walks over and pulls a dry shirt from his saddlebag. Thankful she accepts it and when she smells it before putting in on, he smiles. “I love the way you smell, Dalton.”

  “I'm thinking about keeping you naked,” he jokes, but inside he wonders at her tenacity. Cassie has experienced so much loss, but she has a giving heart. When faced with a problem, she doesn't hesitate to find a way around it.

  “I was thinking the same thing about you,” she snaps back yawning. Standing in his shirt, she has never looked more beautiful. Cassie turns and rolls out the bedroll and stretches.

  “You need to eat and rest, Cassie. We will be pushing on when there's a break in the rain.” He pulls on a clean pair of denim jeans and shirt, when he turns around, he finds her asleep in his bedroll. Exhaustion wins out, and he covers her with their extra blanket before turning to the entrance of the cavern.

  With his rifle in his hand, he peers out across the valley and sees the rain has settled the dust on Warrior Peak. He wonders what they will choose. To go all the way across the top and down the canyon will take at least an extra day and with the rain, maybe two. They are no longer a worry, not as much as what might be waiting down the other side of Cathedral Peak. Glancing back at Cassie he prays that his brothers have gotten his message.

  The storm picks up intensity and hail, rain, wind, and lightning prevented them from leaving for two days. Cassie is thankful for the break. Her body is beaten and bruised, and she sleeps for ten hours, not even waking when he climbs into the bedroll with her. Snuggled into his warmth, she curls her hands into his shirt and sighs. Protected by the storm, they sleep.

  Chapter 30

  Cassie wakes to the sound of peace. The sun filters into the cavern and the rain is completely gone. Dalton is gone, probably hunting or scouting the trail. She stretches and realizes that her body feels better. The rest did its job. She decides to get dressed and be ready to ride when Dalton returns. A sound outside has her moving to her saddlebag and grabs her pistol. Quietly she runs back to the darkest part of the cavern and cocks her weapon.

  The noise grows louder, and she realizes it's the sound of horses. “Oh, God.” Terrified, she waits in silence for the danger to show itself. Memories flash before her eyes, of her family waiting in terror as death takes them and she makes her decision. Never again will she wait for death. Dalton has given her a reason to fight, and she will fight with all she has to stay with him. The sound of male voices and laughter echoes out and the first of five shadows enter the cave. One, by, one, they step towards the fire and look around the cavern.

  Cassie steps from behind the rocks into the light and keeps her pistol trained on them. “You have to the count of five to get out of my cave.”

  Ten pairs of eyes swing towards her in surprise. Weapon cocked and loaded her hand does not tremble, and the jovial moods evaporates in an instant.

  “Cassandra, my mother would be upset with me if I let you shoot my brothers.”

  Cassie looks in surprise at Dalton stepping from the entrance towards her, but she does not lower the pistol. She stands like a goddess in the shadowed light of the morning sun, wearing only his denim shirt with her long wavy hair around her shoulders and terror in her eyes.

  “Dalton, you might want to warn me, or the next time I might shoot first and worry about who it is later.” tremors start when she tells him, “I will never wait in silence for death again!”

  A quick step and he is by her side. “I know, babe.” Slowly he takes the pistol from her now quivering hands and catches her before she faints.

  He holds her tenderly and moves towards the boulder closest to the fire. They all follow quietly and stare down at the beauty he holds.

  Steele grabs a blanket to cover her with, while Chase offers his canteen.

  “What the hell happened to her leg?” Harris asks, even as he moves to grab his bag. The oldest of the River brothers is a doctor. He moves closer to look at her injuries and snaps a smelling salt under her nose.

  “It’s a long story.”

  Cassie jumps from the strong odor and her ginger eyes fly open wide. Tears threaten, and she turns her head into Dalton's chest to hide her shame.

  “Brothers, give us a minute, please.” They quickly shuffle outside.

  “Are they gone yet?” comes her muffled reply.

  “For now. Are you okay?”

  She scrambles off his lap, and the room spins again. Dalton is quick to steady her.

  “Easy now. You’ve had a fright. Take a minute to rest and tell me what happened.” Dalton wraps her in a blanket and guides her to a boulder. Cassie hangs her head.

  “I’m sorry, Dalton. I thought it was the Indians or something worse and the fear just took over. Can you forgive me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. Your surviv
al instinct kicked in. I’m just glad it wasn’t a stick of dynamite this time.” Her gasp of outrage has him chuckling.

  “Easy tiger. I'm just teasing you.” His smile fades, and she recognizes the worry in his eyes. “Cassie, we don't have much time and if my brothers could find us anyone can.” The last part he says loud enough to hear them grumbling outside. She laughs and stands slowly. When the dizziness doesn't return, she moves to get dressed. Dalton moves to put the fire out and turns to find her strapping on her holster over her denim jeans.

  She quickly braids her hair and starts checking her pistol when Dalton calls the boys back in.

  “We come in peace,” Pierce calls out and enters with his hands raised. He is followed by Dalton's other three brothers.

  “Funny. Careful little brother or I will let her shoot you,” Dalton quips. He moves to stand beside Cassie and puts an arm around her shoulder as she holsters her pistol.

  Once all four men are inside, Cassie forces herself to meet their eyes. They are varied in height and size, but all have the same shade of gray eyes that Cassie has come to love.

  “I’m terribly sorry about earlier,” she stammers out. “I hope you won’t let it color your opinion of me. I was… startled.”

  “Nonsense,” Steele argues. “You did exactly what a woman alone should do, Miss?” he inquires.

  “Boys, it is my pleasure to introduce you to, Mrs. Cassandra Rivers, my wife,” he announces with a huge grin.

  Her head whips towards him in shock, but before she can speak, they are surrounded in laughter and congratulations. Cassie is stunned speechless. “Dalton…?” she starts to say, but he is quick to interrupt her.

  “We need to save this for later. Chase, we left a band of pissed off Cheyenne on Warriors Peak. Cassie managed to stall them, but I am not sure for how long. Can you check it out?”

  “I'll go with you,” Steele asserts, and they leave.

  “So, is that where her leg injuries came from?” Harris guesses. Dalton smiles at his oldest brother and kicks more dirt on the fire to put it out.

  “No,” she recounts, “that was a mountain lion. Dalton, can I speak to you?” Her amber eyes are fuming, and he kisses her on the mouth.

  “Don’t be shy, sugar. Tell them how we escaped the Indians.” Pierce and Harris help him saddle the horses and wait expectantly for her response.

  “It's not important, now. Dalton, you can't just…” she starts to protest, but Harris interrupts her.

  “Mountain lions are deadly. That explains the leg, any other injuries Cassie?” His medical training is kicking in, and he walks closer to look her over. The scratches on her face are almost gone.

  “No.” she answers and turns to go, but Pierce is standing behind her.

  “Harris is a doctor, Cassie. If you need medical attention, you won't find better care,” Pierce asserts. He is the smallest of the group and looks to be around her age.

  “Thank you, but I am fine,” Cassie promises.

  “Harris, the cat, hit her from the top of her horse and she hit a tree with her shoulder and leg,” Dalton answers for her.

  Exasperated, she snaps, “The claws didn’t pierce my skin, Dalton. You should have let me shoot it!”

  Pierce laughs at the look on Harris’s face. “I guess he wasn’t kidding when he said she likes to shoot things.”

  The boys laugh, and Cassie blushes, as the other brothers return. “It was only to protect you, Dalton. He was trying to kill you, for goodness sakes!” she insists.

  “Sounds like she saved your life, Dalton,” Steele teases.

  Dalton looks at Cassie and the atmosphere shifts. The teasing evaporates, and Dalton steps to her, cupping her face, “More times than I care to count and now it is my turn.”

  Tears fill her eyes, and she sighs, “Dalton, we aren't keeping count.” He kisses her softly and turns away to look at his brothers.

  “Whatever happens today, she does not get left behind. Harris, I need a promise that you will get her to safety,” he demands.

  Her protests are ignored as Harris interrupts, “I promise, Dalton.” One by one, each brother echoes the sentiment.

  “Good Lord, I am outnumbered!” she moans. They all laugh until Chase speaks.

  “We need to move,” Chase prods. “They have reached the top of Warrior's peak. Once they reach the bottom, they will have to cross the plain. It will dry out fast now that the sun is up. You must have really done a job for them to go to such trouble.”

  “It was a real blast, wasn’t it, Cassie?” Dalton quips.

  “You're never going to let it go, are you?” she stomps over to her mare and snatches the reigns from him.

  He is laughing as they head outside to mount up. Her lips curl into an answering smile, and Cassie blinks against the brightness of the sun. She pauses outside and allows her eyes to adjust. Steele and Chase lead the way, followed by Dalton and Cassie. Pierce and Harris bring up the rear, and they begin to ascend the mountain.

  It is a steep climb, and the horses struggle under the crumbling mountain path. They ride for two hours until finally reach the trail. It’s like the other pass, and Cassie is looking up the side of the mountain when Dalton calls to her.

  “Do you think we should block it, Cassie?” She turns to look at him, and he is grinning at her.

  “Shut up,” Cassie grumbles and refuses to smile back at him. “You didn’t complain a few days ago.”

  They stop for lunch on the other side in the shade of the mountain.

  “Exactly how did you block the Warrior Peak Pass?” Chase demands. As a soldier, he is curious how this small female stopped a band of Cherokee.

  Cassie looks at him and finds all of the brothers are looking at her expectantly. She glances at the curious faces and smiles. “Dynamite. Two sticks, perfectly timed. One in the air to cause a small rock slide, the other stick placed at just the right spot to crumble the larger boulders and cause a slide to block that narrow canyon.”

  They stare at her in shock, and it is her turn to laugh. “What can I say, I like to blow things up too!” she says as she moves away to find privacy for a moment.

  Steele is the first to respond. “Where did you find her?”

  “She found me,” Dalton answers proudly.

  “Lucky bastard,” Chase teases.

  Alone for a moment, Cassie takes care of personal business and then stands to stare in awe at the view from the side of the mountain. Beautiful mountains are in the distance, but the spread of land below is magnificent. Lush green, plains. Rivers twist and turn through the land, and a herd of wild horses runs wild and free across the land. Overhead a hawk floats on the band of air, soaring as though showing off.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dalton asks. “I was five the first time my father brought me here. He wanted each of us to see how beautiful this land truly is. We own five thousand acres of the Wyoming Territory. I want to share it with you, Cassie.”

  “It is magnificent, Dalton. From up here, I feel hope. Hope that my problems are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I don’t understand, why did you lie to your brothers about us, Dalton? We aren’t married.”

  “Who said I lied?” Before he can continue a whistle cuts through. Tension returns and Dalton spins to go back to his brothers.

  “What does that mean?” she wonders as she follows him.

  When they return, they find the brothers deep in conversation. “We have company, coming.” Steele points off into the distance. Cassie strains to see anything. On the horizon she sees movement, but she can’t clearly make it out.

  “Who is it?” Cassie asks? No one answers immediately, and her stomach drops.

  “Chase?” Dalton asks.

  He runs a hand through his dark hair before answering. “Two possibilities. Bandits drawn by the blast or Indians attracted for the same reason.”

  “Options?” Harris demands.

  Pierce looks down the mountain and then back at the brothers. “We have tw
o options, we make it to the foothills and try to outrun them, or we take a stand and fight back.”

  Everyone falls quiet, and Cassie waits, listening. Her mind is spinning while they begin to discuss plans. Monsieur Constant said her gifts would grow. Is it possible that she could influence their minds? If she could, she could make the men coming think they see something that isn't real? If so, how long could she hold it and how close would she need to be? Would Dalton's family be so understanding of her gifts?

  Dalton is worried. To be caught between two bands of Indians is the worst case scenario. He listens to his brothers before looking through the binoculars once more. “We make for the ranch. We are only thirty miles from home. We should be able to make it.” Dalton decides. Everyone mounts up, and they continue down the mountain. They make good time, and once on the ground, Cassie is shocked that the land is not flat. In the background are the largest mountains, with the smaller hills, which look like small mountains to her, rise up in front of them.

  Two of the brother's scout ahead and two bring up the rear, while Dalton stays by her side. At this pace, they should make the ranch by nightfall. The men push hard, aware that they are being closed in on all sides.

  Cassie feels the stress beating at her from all of them. They are worried about Indians, bandits, bears, snakes and how long till he can press his mouth to her…? Embarrassment ripples through Cassie and she jerks awake at the thought of Dalton's mouth on her body. Her eyes snap to his, and he is staring at her with a satisfied grin.

  “You are safe with us, Cassie. We are getting close now,” he encourages her and slows his pace for a moment to point out different spots on his land. They keep to the trees, but in the distance, she can see snow-capped mountains on one side and plains on the other.

  She takes a moment to drink from her canteen and just as she unscrews the cap, she gets a flash of Indians racing across the plains. They are behind them now and pushing their horses to the breaking point. Determined to catch up to them, they careen across the plains with a war cry.