Defiant Hearts

by Janelle Taylor

  Laura gripped the saddle horn as Jake led her mount away at a steady gallop. She realized they were heading north toward the Chino Valley area. Her arms were tired and strained from holding on by the time Jake guided them into Granite Creek, no doubt to conceal their trail. He walked them in the water for a long time, allowing the horses to rest as he took them farther from the fort and his action masked their tracks.

  Laura thought it unwise to leap from her horse to stall for rescue time or to attempt to escape on foot with her hands bound. Her uncle could easily overtake her, recapture her, and probably secure her to the horse. She had to bide her time and retain her sanity until the right opportunity arrived. Whenever she tried to reason with Jake, he turned a deaf ear to her, refusing to speak as he kept a close watch on their surroundings. She was certain they had left the fort over two hours ago, so she wouldn’t be missed yet, and probably not until after dark when they failed “to return from Prescott.” She also knew, with spring in full force, there were many more daylight hours left.

  After some more tense riding, Jake guided their horses from the creek onto a rocky bank. He ordered her to dismount and stand aside. She watched him take eight small furs from his saddlebags and secure them over the animals’ hooves with more strips of rope. He ordered her to remount, then led her away again. Laura glanced backward and discovered they weren’t leaving any tracks behind.

  “That’s right, my dear, no trail for anybody to follow. It’s a trick I learned from the Indians. Of course, if the ground was soft after a rain, we would still make depressions. Hard as it is now, we’ll pass unnoticed. If anybody rides the creek searching for where we left it, they’ll be fooled. Yep, they’ll keep traveling northward just like I want them to do.”

  Laura noted that Jake turned southeast and guessed his destination: the abandoned mine where his stolen cache was hidden. She scolded herself for not giving Jim the map or directions to it. If Jim was ignorant of that fact, no one except Reno would know to look there for them, and Reno wouldn’t disclose that fact, not with gold and money concealed there.

  For hours they rode through the wilderness, skirting ridges, passing through canyons, crossing hills, edging boulders, wading through streams.

  They finally reached their destination: an old Spanish mine, Jake told her. Their horses were hidden in a tunnel where water and grain awaited them and lanterns chased away the blackness. Jake leaned pine trees and cedars against the wooden frame at the entrance, disguising it from the exterior. He secured a dark blanket over nails in the top beam to prevent lantern light from being seen after dark.

  As he made a fire far into the interior, he said, “We’ll camp in here until morning, then I’ll take some of my loot and ride out. The rest is where nobody will ever find it. When it’s safe, I’ll come back for it.”

  Her uncle clearly had made his preparations well in advance of kidnapping her today. Yet, she could not surmise why he was losing valuable escape time by holding her prisoner, sleeping there tonight, and risking being caught tomorrow before he could leave the area. Since he had known the truth about her for a while, why was he still in Arizona when he and his stolen goods could be far away by now? She decided not to ask those questions too soon, as there was still a chance of bluffing her way free, a path that would be closed the instant she revealed the truth of his charges.

  Jayce and Jim reached the fort around six-thirty, after having learned the amazing news from a miner and calling off their Indian pursuit.

  As they unsaddled their horses, Jayce recalled all Jim had told him during their return ride about Laura’s covert work for the Union. Jayce realized he should have guessed the truth about her long ago. He was proud of Laura and pleased with her many skills, as it told him she would make an excellent partner in all of his future ventures. He was convinced she could take care of herself, their home, and family in the event he was called away after they married. She was a unique and special woman, his woman. He wanted to appease her concerns about him and his activities as soon as possible by confessing everything to her.

  During that talk, Jim had related to him what Laura had learned since coming to Fort Whipple, and explained why their true identities had been kept secret from each other. Unaware of his matching assignment, he was certain Laura must be worried and dismayed about what she had witnessed. He now comprehended why she had asked him strange questions and behaved oddly at times. Yet, she had not ceased to love and protect him; she had kept faith in him, as if her keen wits perceived he couldn’t be a real criminal. Blazes, how he loved, cherished, desired, and needed her in his life forever!

  Jayce and Jim had planned to arrest Jake and his culprits immediately upon their arrival, but the two officers soon learned from Jake’s aide of his and Laura’s departure.

  In the Wrights’ quarters, Emmaline related the news about her talk with Laura yesterday, surprising both men. “She knows he’s dangerous,” Emmaline explained, “but she had to go with him or he would become suspicious. Colonel Adams is in Prescott visiting with Charlotte.”

  “Em’s right, Jayce. If you go galloping into town to get Jake, he could panic and hurt Laura or Howard. We should wait here for them to return; then we’ll arrest him and tell the colonel everything.”

  “I don’t like Laura being with that snake; he is dangerous and sly.”

  “He’s also her uncle, and he has no reason to be suspicious of her. I’m sure she’s fine and she’ll be home soon.”

  “I don’t know, Jim; I got me a gut feeling that says otherwise. I’ll give them a while longer before I go after her. That’s my future wife we’re talking about.”

  “Congratulations,” Em said, not letting on Laura had confided the happy fact to her.

  When the sun set and Laura and Jake weren’t back, Jayce’s worry heightened. He also was annoyed because Bart Reno had vanished before his arrest along with the other criminals. He knew from working with the gang that no one except Reno knew the hideout’s location, which was probably where Reno was at that very minute. With so many tracks around the fort, Jayce realized that finding and following Reno’s trail would be near impossible. Then Jayce remembered a helpful clue…

  “I shouldn’t have waited, Jim,” he lamented. “I know something is wrong. Now it’s too dark to search for her. I’ll head out at first light. If that lowlife’s harmed her, I’ll kill him.”

  “Let’s ride into Prescott and make sure she and Jake aren’t there before you get yourself all worked up over maybe nothing.”

  In town, Jayce and Jim learned that Howard was with Charlotte and neither they nor anybody else had seen Jacob Adams and his niece that day.

  As the four sat at Charlotte’s kitchen table having coffee while Jayce related the situation to Laura’s father, he reasoned with the frantic man who wanted to send out a search party immediately. “If you do that, sir,” Jayce reasoned, “they could endanger Laura’s life if your brother panics and starts shooting wildly. It’s best if I go alone. I have a feeling Captain Reno is with them. If not, he can lead me to Jake’s hideout. I’m sure that’s where Jake is holding her prisoner; he’s probably planning to use her as a hostage.”

  “That sorry excuse for a man and officer! I had a suspicion Jake wasn’t being honest with me, but I wanted to believe him; he’s my only brother.”

  “I know, sir, and I’m sorry things turned out this way. Laura was hoping and praying she could prove he was innocent, but he wasn’t. I know she was worried about how this situation would affect you and how you would feel about her involvement in it.”

  “She did the right thing, and I’m proud of her. I’m glad she didn’t refuse the President and General Grant’s request. She’s a real patriot, a true heroine. I knew she was smart and brave, but I underestimated her.”

  “She’ll be glad to hear you say that, sir. She loves you and she’s proud of you, and she didn’t want to do anything to hurt or disappoint you.”

  “She hasn’t. I’ve known Jake all o
f his miserable life, so this doesn’t shock me. I admit it wounds me deeply, but that injury will heal in time. How will you find Reno, and what if he refuses to talk?”

  “He’ll talk if I have to beat the truth out of him. A week ago, I examined Reno’s horse and discovered that one of its hooves has a nick in it, so he’ll leave a distinctive trail. That was what I was planning to do after our next raid. Years ago, an Indian scout taught me all about tracking. I can find Reno, sneak up on them, and rescue Laura before they even realize I’m there.”

  “Make Laura’s rescue your first priority, Durance. We can deal with Jake and Reno later. I just want Laura back.”

  “I’ll get your daughter back for you, sir, you can count on me. I love her and want to marry her.”

  “Does Laura feel the same way about you?”

  “Yes, sir. You see, Colonel Adams, we’ve known each other for a long time,” Jayce began, and revealed surprising news to the man, news, which to Jayce’s delight and relief, appeared to please Laura’s smiling father.

  Far away in the mine, Jake and Reno sat by a fire and talked as Laura watched and listened, alarmed by the captain’s arrival, which would make escape even harder, and angered by his lustful stares.

  “I’m glad you waited for me, Jake. As soon as we heard the war was over and Ole Abe had been killed, we headed for the fort like lightning. Cain’t nobody be suspicious of us or we’d be in jail about now. We’ll get the loot and ride out at dawn before they search for her.”

  “You shouldn’t have come here, Reno; it was crazy and dangerous,” Jake chastised. “As soon as it’s light enough to see, they’ll be following your trail straight here.”

  “Not a chance, Jake; not among all those tracks around the fort.” Reno nodded sharply in Laura’s direction. “So what about her if we don’t need her as a cover?”

  “I’m afraid Laura is going to have a little accident to silence her. She’s the only one who knows about me, so I can’t have her talking.”

  “In that case, how about I take my ease with her tonight? I ain’t had a woman in so long, my poker is as hard as a rock just looking at her.”

  “She’s my niece, you crude fool.”

  “What does that matter? Since you’re planning to kill her, cain’t be no love lost between you two. What if I give you my share of one of those sacks of gold in exchange for only one night with her squirming under me?”

  Laura was horrified as Jake seemed to ponder Reno’s offer. She almost flinched as the captain’s hungry gaze feasted on her. Her terror increased as Jake gave a wicked smile and nodded.

  “It’s a deal, Reno. First, get me the sack of gold so I can keep it separated from the rest. I might as well enjoy counting my nuggets while you have your fun, but I don’t want you hurting her like you do those whores in town.”

  “Suits me, Jake; I’ll be real gentle with her. Who knows, partner, maybe you’ll want a little piece of her yourself after you watch me poke her good a few times? I bet her body is as pretty as that face of hers; I’ll know real soon. My fingers are itching to get started.”

  “Before you do, get me what you promised.”

  As Bart removed timbers covering a shaft so he could retrieve one of the many bags suspended by a rope, Laura struggled to free her bound hands, but couldn’t even loosen the snug bindings. She was stunned immobile as Jake used one foot against Reno’s buttocks to kick the kneeling man into the deep and dark hole. She heard screams rise from the shaft as Reno tumbled downward, then a thud when his body hit the bottom.

  Though shocked by the cold-blooded murder and hardly aware she was speaking, Laura murmured, “Thank you, Uncle Jake.”

  “For what, girl?” he asked as he looked at her.

  “For saving me from him.”

  Laura listened to him chuckle wildly.

  “I didn’t do it to save you. He was trying to trick me; he woulda killed me during my sleep and taken all of the gold for himself. Now, nobody knows where this mine and my gold are hidden. I was never planning to share it with him; that’s why I’m still here; I was waiting for his return so I could do away with the bastard. There’s no way I can haul all of that weight to safety without being seen and caught, and I surely wasn’t going to leave Reno behind close to it. When I leave at first light, I’ll take some with me and come back later for the rest. With Reno gone, it’s safe where it is.”

  As Jake replaced the timbers, he disclosed, “After I got that letter about you day before yesterday, I realized I couldn’t wait for Reno to return with Major Wright’s troops. I figured I’d move the gold to where he couldn’t find it if he didn’t show up before I had to leave. I brought you along in case you were needed for protection, and for punishment.”

  Laura realized his words sounded contradictory to previous ones, but she didn’t ask for clarification. “There’s no reason to punish me, Uncle Jake. I can’timagine why your friend in Washington told you such a ridiculous lie.”

  “You could talk all night, Laura dear, but you can’t convince me that message is false. I’m tired of your jawing and whining, so hush up.”

  Laura changed the lethal topic. “What if Captain Reno isn’t dead? What if he’s just injured and he climbs out of the hole during the night?”

  “That fall probably broke every bone in his body. Besides, there isn’t any way out of that shaft; Reno himself made sure of that; he removed the ladder so nobody could climb down there and find our treasure. And it’s so dark, nobody could see those sacks of gold and money hanging on those ropes.”

  “But—”

  “No more talking, girl; my ears are tired and sore. I’m going to sleep, so don’t do anything foolish or you’ll be spending the night with Reno after all.”

  Laura knew he was deadly serious. What calmed her was the fact Jake wasn’t planning her extinction tonight, and as long as she was alive, escape or rescue was possible, however gloomy those chances.

  Early the next morning, Laura tried to stall Jake by revealing, “It won’t do you any good to flee, Uncle Jake, I’ve already filed a report, so the authorities will search for you until you’re apprehended. They’ll place guards everywhere in this area, so you’ll never be able to return and take that gold and money.”

  “Just what do you think you know, Miss Laura?” he scoffed.

  “I witnessed those two recent robberies and that man’s murder. I saw Reno leave the others behind and meet with you in secret. I saw you hide the money in here after the first theft and saw Reno help you the second time with the gold. I made a map and recorded everything.”

  Jake’s eyes bulged wide. “Who has the map and information?”

  Laura had to protect her father, Jayce, and the Wrights, so she said, “I sent them to my contact in Washington. President Lincoln and General Grant asked me to come here and investigate this matter. I did it for them.”

  “If that’s true, somebody would have arrested me by now. Besides, Lincoln is dead and Grant’s too busy to even read your alleged report, if it’s reached him by now. If Major Wright’s involved, he ain’t got no proof against me or you wouldn’t be here trying to gather it.”

  Since that ploy hadn’t succeeded, Laura tried another one. “-You’re right, Uncle Jake, I haven’t filed a report or told anybody what I’ve learned. I was waiting for Major Wright’s return, so I could tell him what I was doing here and get him to arrest you and the others. Since you’re the brother of the post commander, I didn’t want to ask Father to handle the matter. I didn’t suspect you knew and would do something like this, so I thought it was all right to wait for the major’s return. We can make a deal, Uncle Jake: I can say you only pretended to be involved so you could hide and protect the gold until the case was resolved and you returned it.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I don’t want Father hurt and humiliated by another betrayal and scandal involving you. He truly believes you’ve changed and that you were getting back together again. Better sti
ll, I’ll claim Reno did it and not expose your involvement at all. Besides me, he’s the only one who knew about you, and he’s dead and can’t refute me. I wish this situation didn’t exist, Uncle Jake. I was certain you weren’t guilty when I was asked to take this assignment. I actually agreed and came here to prove your innocence, but, much to my dismay and sadness, I discovered I was wrong about you. How could you do this, Uncle Jake? Who talked you into it?”

  “Ah, still probing for evidence at the last minute?”

  “Since you’re going to kill me anyway, what difference does it make if you tell me? Who in Washington betrayed me to you?”

  “General Marks,” he revealed smoothly. “He got it from Lincoln before he was assassinated; it just took his letter a while to reach me. Ain’t it a real shame when a man, even a President, can’t trust his own friends?”

  Laura didn’t argue the point that a traitor wasn’t a true friend. “You said you also had a contact in the South. Who? Where?”

  “Lieutenant William Gaines in Atlanta, until Sherman stomped through there. For all I know, he could be dead and buried or rotting in some gully somewhere. General Marks only pretended to be a Unionist; he loved and sided with the Confederacy. I met him before I was reassigned here, so he knew all about my troubles; that’s why he figured it was safe to approach me later with their scheme. Marks sent Gaines to see me last August and Gaines told me what they had in mind. I guess Gaines would have killed me if I hadn’t agreed after I was enlightened. I realized their idea would work, but not to profit the Rebels. I talked Reno into helping me try it out; he hired two ruffians to help us take our first payroll and gold shipment. We did away with them in November after we tricked those stupid ex-Rebs into doing the work for us. I figured I could fool Marks and Gaines long enough to get rich. I had Marks believing I was sending gold and money to Gaines starting the end of February so he wouldn’t hear about the robberies and expose me; that’s why he warned me about you. I knew I could always claim it must have been stolen or captured before it reached Gaines, and they couldn’t prove otherwise. Since Gaines sort of vanished during the ruckus there, Marks had no way of learning about my deception. As for Reno, he was eager to help from my first word because he thought I was going to share the takes with him; he was as stupid as those Galvanized Yanks. Now, that’s enough talking; we’ve both said our piece.”