by Bobbi Smith
"No, Rori. There's nothing wrong." Although she knew Rori meant well, she didn't want to talk about it. She just wanted to be left alone.
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Oh." Rori paused. The coolness in Nilakla's tone was unmistakable. "All right."
Rori took the hint, moving off in the darkness to allow Nilakla her privacy. Anger overtook her as she walked off with Big Jake, and when she was far enough away to talk to him without anyone hearing her, she grumbled, "I just don't understand it, Jakie! Why would Doug leave her when he loves her like he does? It doesn't make any sense. They've been together for such a long time, and now he's just going to pack up and go . . ."
For a moment Big Jake gazed up at her, his expression sympathetic, then suddenly he looked past her, cocked his ears, and growled. Rori knew he'd sensed someone coming, and she turned just in time to come face to face with Chance.
"Chance . . ." Rori gasped his name as she stared at him. Her emotions tumbled wildly within her. Despite her anger, her heart lurched and her pulse quickened. How she hated him, and yet . . .
It wasn't fair that he could still affect her this way. She didn't want to feel anything for him, but when he was near she couldn't seem to help herself. She'd managed to ignore him all day, letting the bitter memories of the night feed her hurt and anger. Yet, alone with him now under the stars, the memory of his passion returned full force. Rori fought it frantically with every ounce of her willpower.
"You! What are you doin' out here all alone? Aren't you afraid you might get lost?" she taunted.
Chance had been startled when he'd come across Rori. His guard was down and memories of last night jarred him. Vivid memories of how perfect their union had been ignited a flame within him. Her sarcastic challenge, however, cooled the unexpected and unwanted desire, and he was relieved.
"You don't have to worry about that, Rori," Chance replied evenly. "Doug showed me how to get back."
Rori gave a sharp, derisive laugh. "I wasn't worryin' about you gettin' lost, white man. I was prayin' that you would. Both of you, in fact. Where is Doug? Off packin' his bags already?"
"What the hell's the matter with you?" he demanded.
When he raised his voice, Big Jake bristled and gave a low, warning growl deep in his throat.
"Hush, Jake," Chance ordered, and the dog was silenced.
The anger Rori was feeling over Nilakla's hurt coupled with her own pain, and when Jake responded to Chance's command, she couldn't take any more. Having built to a crescendo her frustration and fury erupted into violence. Without another word, she threw herself at Chance, pummeling him with her fists.
Chance was caught off guard by her surprise attack, and Rori managed to land a few solid blows before he finally snared her wildly flailing arms and pinned them behind her. With a considerably amount of force, he slammed her against his chest.
The contact between them was electric. Anger vanished before the overpowering wind of passion that swept through them both. His dark-eyed gaze was glittering and dangerous as he stared down at her. A tiny, sane voice somewhere in the back of his mind warned him to release her quickly, to let her go, that it was foolhardy to hold her that way, but Chance ignored it.
Rori stared up at Chance, her lips parted as she gasped for breath against his rough handling. Her eyes grew wide as she saw desire flicker in the depths of his gaze and felt his body go tense against hers. She knew she should fight this. She knew she should continue to struggle, but somehow her body wouldn't obey her mind. Ashamedly, Rori felt her nipples tauten as the heat of him seared her even through all the layers of their clothes. She fought to keep from moaning as his thighs surged against hers.
Chance lowered his head without conscious thought, and his mouth descended over hers in an explosive caress. His tongue delved deeply between her parted lips, seeking her tongue in a dueling, sensual dance of arousal. Rori hesitated and then met him fully in that exchange. In an imitation of love, Chance began the pagan rhythm with his kiss, thrusting and retreating, coiling and coaxing, until Rori was moving hungrily against him.
It was only when Chance freed her hands and she looped her arms around his neck to draw him closer that reality returned. He went rigid, furious with himself for almost having forgotten his vow to stay away from her. Why was it every time he came within ten feet of her, all he wanted to do was lay her down and make love to her? What was it about Rori that drove him to distraction?
Reality dawned on Rori as she felt the sudden tension in Chance, and she blanched as she realized the terrible mistake she'd almost made. She jerked away from him just as he moved away from her. Her gaze clung to his face, and she saw there only a total calm. He seemed completely in control, and it infuriated her. She glared at him fiercely.
"I hate you, Chance Broderick," Rori swore viciously. "As long as you live, don't you ever put your hands on me again!"
"You're the one who attacked me, Rori," he drawled sarcastically. Without another word, because he was afraid he'd take her in his arms and kiss her again, Chance stalked away without looking back.
Neither Chance nor Rori saw Burr watching them from a short distance away. When they had both gone, Burr emerged from where he'd been sitting enjoying the quiet peace of the night. Now, however, he didn't think the night was so peaceful anymore.
Burr considered the kiss he'd witnessed and wondered how many other kisses there'd been and when they had started. It had obviously not been their first. He'd watched Rori after Chance had left her, and, knowing her as he did, he'd easily seen through the anger she'd projected. He realized solemnly that what he had feared most in the beginning had come to pass. Whether she acknowledged it to herself or not, Rori had fallen in love with the easterner. The only relief Burr felt about the whole situation was that Chance obviously wasn't in love with her. Burr only hoped that he was too much of a gentleman to have taken advantage of her innocence.
Sighing raggedly, the old tracker started back to the mine. He had agreed to relieve Doug at midnight and take the late watch, and if he was to get any sleep at all, he had to get it now. Somehow, though, Burr knew that he'd get very little rest that night.
"Look, it's simple," Hal told Tom in a whisper as they crouched not too far from the narrow track leading up to the hidden diggings.
"I'm glad you think so," Tom countered. "We don't know how many men are up there or anything."
"It don't matter if we can take 'em by surprise, fool. Now listen! We wait till after midnight when we know they'll all be asleep. Then we sneak in and get the drop on 'em."
"How can you be so sure we'll surprise 'em?"
"You think they're lookin' for us? You think they know we're around here? Believe me, if they even suspected we were this close they'd by out here lookin' for us right now," Hal said convincingly. "Listen, we got 'em. All we have to do is sneak up there and blow 'em all away!"
"After midnight?"
"After midnight."
They exchanged savage smiles and settled back to wait for the midnight hour.
All was quiet when Doug returned early from keeping watch. Burr had surprised him by showing up ahead of time, and he'd been grateful. He'd been longing to make love to Nilakla all night.
As was their custom whenever they came to the mine, Burr and Rori had bedded down outside, and Chance had joined them there. Assured now that they would be alone, Doug felt the heat of anticipation warm his blood at the thought of Nilakla waiting for him. He entered the mine and went directly to where she lay, seemingly asleep.
Doug hesitated, not sure whether to disturb her or not, but as he knelt down beside her, Nilakla opened her eyes and lifted her arms in invitation to him. He said nothing, but went to her, taking her in his arms and holding her close. His lips sought and found hers in a deep, seeking kiss.
Driven by her desperation, knowing that this would be the last time she ever loved him, Nilakla gave free rein to her emotions. She wrapped her arms around him and d
rew him near to her heart. With every kiss and caress, she let him know that he was her one and only love. Their clothes discarded, they joined together in a breathless union.
As Nilakla moved with Doug in perfect rhythm, she felt certain that her heart was breaking. For this moment and this moment alone, he was hers. When he left her tonight, he would be leaving her forever. She fought back the tears that threatened as she hugged Douglas to her, kissing him hungrily, savoring every second of their being together. Then, it was over as in a cataclysm of excitement they reached the peak as one, and spiraled slowly downward still clasped in each other's arms.
"You're wonderful," Doug whispered as he pressed one last, soft kiss to her lips and then moved away to sleep.
Nilakla did not answer, for her throat was burning from the effort to control her emotions. She wanted to cry out her love for him and beg him to stay. Miserable and feeling very alone, she wrapped her light blanket around her and stared off into the enveloping darkness. She remained that way, waiting anxiously to hear the steady rhythm of Douglas's breathing so she would know he was asleep. Only then could she leave without detection or farewells.
It was less than an hour later when Nilakla made her way from his side. She stood over him in the darkness, watching him sleep, memorizing that one last sight of him before she crept from the mine. Nilakla paused at the opening to study the clearing, and when it appeared that Rori and Chance were both sound asleep, she headed toward the horses. She saw no sign of Burr, and she wasn't worried. Usually when the men kept watch, they stayed up at the lookout point a fair distance away.
As Nilakla started toward the small corral where the horses were kept, Big Jake stirred and his restlessness caused Rori to sit up and look around. Sleep had been impossible for her tonight. Her fight with Chance and their subsequent kiss had wreaked havoc on her senses, and she'd been tossing and turning ever since she'd lain down.
"Nilakla?" she whispered as she saw her friend.
"I'm just going to . . . " Nilakla lied, hoping Rori would just lie down and go back to sleep.
"I'll go with you," Rori replied in hushed tones so as not to disturb Chance. The last thing she wanted to do was to awaken him.
Almost screaming her frustration at Rori's unexpected companionship, Nilakla kept on going, needing to get away from the men before she could explain what she was really going to do. They walked together in silence, with Big Jake trailing after them. Rori only spoke when she realized they were heading for the horses.
"Why are you going over here?"
Nilakla turned to her friend in the early-morning darkness and knew there could be no lying. "I will tell you if you will keep what I tell you only in your heart."
Rori frowned. "What is it?"
"I'm leaving, Rori."
"You're leaving," she repeated dumbly. "Now? In the middle of the night?"
"It's the only way. Douglas is going home. There is no reason for me to stay here any longer. I am going back to my village to my people. I will be happy there."
"But . . ."
"Don't say it. There is no more to say. This is the way it has to be." Nilakla turned her back on her then and entered the corral to get her horse.
Hal and Tom crept ever nearer, guns ready, trigger fingers itching for action. Tonight was the night they'd been waiting for.
"There!" Hal told Tom excitedly. "Did you hear the horses?"
"Yeah, I heard 'em! Let's go!"
They charged quietly ahead, making their way toward the sound of the restless mounts. They reached the corral and hid behind several big boulders near the back of the enclosure. They could hear voices, but they couldn't quite make out who they were or where they were coming from. All they knew was that they sounded a lot like women.
"There!" Tom pointed to where Nilakla was in the corral putting a bridle on her horse.
"It's a damned Indian woman and look there, Tom!"
"There's that little bastard! I'm going to get him right now. . ."
"Hold your fire for another minute," he cautioned. "One shot will wake the others up. Let's sneak in a little closer and see if we can get 'em without shootin'."
Eager to have it over with one way or the other, Tom let Hal take the lead as they moved in to trap the squaw and the half-breed.
"Hold it right there!" Hal leveled his revolver at Nilakla as Tom strode toward Rori with bloodlust in his eyes.
Nilakla only stood and stared at the two in bewilderment, but Rori recognized the two bandits and reacted instantly.
"You!! Get them Big Jake!! Kill!!"
The dog had heard the menace in the strangers' voices, and at Rori's order charged Tom without hesitation. Tom, however, was not about to be caught unawares this time. With a vicious swing, he clubbed the attacking animal on the head with the butt of his gun, and Jake dropped to the ground like a dead weight.
"Jakie!" Rori cried out as she saw him fall.
"Shut up, you red son of a bitch or I'll kill you right here!" Tom was about to grab her by the arm when Burr appeared out of nowhere.
"Hold it!" Burr hollered.
As Burr shouted his warning, though, Hal swung around. Nilakla threw herself at his gun in an effort to push it out of the way, but he shoved her to the ground with little trouble and fired. The bullet struck Burr, and he fell, collapsing as his own rifle discharged harmlessly into the night.
"Grampa!!" Rori screamed. In the space of a few seconds, she had seen the person she loved most and her beloved pet murdered before her very eyes. "No! No!" She tried to run to Burr, but Tom grabbed her roughly by the arm and started to drag her with him.
Chance had come awake when he'd heard Rori's cry, and he'd just started to get to his feet when the shots rang out.
"Doug! There's trouble!!" he shouted as he snatched his rifle and ran in Rori's direction.
Doug woke immediately at the sound of the shots being fired. He reached instinctively for Nilakla and was surprised to find her gone. He was already on his way from the mine with his own loaded rifle when Chance yelled his warning.
Chance raced toward the corral, keeping low and trying to hear what was going on.
"Tom! Let's get the hell outta here while we still can!" Hal shouted as he hauled Nilakla to her feet. "You takin' the little bastard with you or are you gonna kill him here?"
"He's goin' along for now. I want to enjoy what I'm gonna do to him! What about the woman? You takin' her?"
"Yeah. She's goin' with me," Hal leered. "Come on, we better move!" He pulled Nilakla along with him as he threw wide the corral gate releasing all the mounts into the night, then forced her to run beside him through the night to where their own horses were hidden.
Remembering how accurate Rori was with her knife, Tom stripped it from her and then prodded her in the back with his gun. "Move it! Now!"
Rori knew she was dead if she gave him the slightest provocation, but, oddly, it didn't faze her in the least. She wasn't afraid of either one of them. In fact, she felt nothing but contempt for them and a blinding fury that demanded revenge. Burr was dead . . . Jakie was dead . . . nothing mattered to her except getting even with these two for what they'd done. She didn't know how she'd do it, but somehow she was going to make them pay.
Chance made it to the corral just as the desperadoes led the women away through the rocks. He got off several shots, but they were already out of his range of fire. He started after them, but they returned a barrage of bullets and forced him to take cover. Doug, who'd come racing up, threw himself down beside him.
"Where are they?"
"They headed off up there with Rori and Nilakla!" Chance told him, indicating the direction they'd gone. "They looked like the same two I saw in town."
The news that they'd taken the women struck horror in Doug's soul. "Let's go! We can't let them get away!"
They raced after Hal and Tom, but they were too late. They heard them galloping off into the night as they ran through the maze of rocks trying to catch up with th
em. Swearing their frustration, the brothers hurried back toward the mine. Their only hope was to find Burr and get started after them as quickly as they could.
"Where's Burr? He had the watch, didn't he? And what about the dog?" Doug asked.
"I don't see them." Chance felt a terrible sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. He remembered hearing Rori's anguished cry for her grampa. "But I heard Rori call out to Burr right after some shots were fired . . ."
They exchanged solemn glances, their fear for the old man reflected clearly in their strong, handsome faces. Sprinting back to the corral, they began to search. Chance found Big Jake lying quietly near the corral, and he knelt down beside the dog believing him to be dead. He was thrilled to find that Jake was still breathing.
"Come on, you miserable hound! Wake up so you can growl at me some more!" Chance threatened the mongrel in a cajoling tone as he ran his hands over his body trying to find his injury. The lump at the base of his skull was the only wound he could find. He was about to go for water to try to revive Jake when Doug's call stopped him.
"Chance! Hurry!"
Still clutching his gun, Chance rushed to the sound of his brother's voice and found him kneeling over Burr.
"Burr . . ." Chance dropped down at his side. "How bad is it?"
"It ain't bad at all," Burr groused, struggling to sit up.
"Burr, you might want to rest a minute. That bullet grazed your head. It might make you dizzy or . . ." Doug was trying to slow him down, but he would have none of it.
"If you think I'm going to let a little thing like this stop me, you're a damned fool. Those bastards took my granddaughter!" He was oblivious to the pain the bloody gash on his forehead was causing. He was worried about Rori. He glanced at Chance for a moment, trying to judge his reaction to what had happened. When he could read nothing in Chance's inscrutable gaze, he turned a condemning look on Doug. "Hell, they took your woman! What are you two doing still standing here? Get the horses! We've got to find the girls and fast! Or maybe you two fancy city boys don't know what men like that do to beautiful young women?"
