Candace McCarthy (22 page)

His laughter was almost maniacal. “Daniel’s wife. Jane isn’t Daniel’s wife. She’s his sister!”

Amelia glanced past Milton to study the little girl. “I don’t believe you!” she hissed. She couldn’t believe him. Susie was Daniel’s daughter; she called him Pa. Amelia had referred to Susie as Daniel’s daughter, and Daniel had never corrected her.

Captain Milton had to be lying … or else Daniel had lied to her.

She stared at Susie, then looked at Richard Milton. There had been something vaguely familiar about him … but Susie’s father?
“No!”

“I believe we’re safe now,” Daniel said to Miriam and his sister. “We’re too far from the village for them to catch up with us—at least tonight.”

Black Hawk and his men didn’t have much to say. Miriam studied the Ojibwa leader, then focused her gaze on each of the braves. She felt safe among them. After her experience with the Sioux, she would have thought she’d feel afraid, but she wasn’t. Her glance fell on Sleeping Bird, who had shared his food and water with her. She smiled at him, but his expression didn’t change. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the tree, deciding that what she needed was rest, not to satisfy her curiosity about the Ojibwa.

“Sleep,” she could hear Daniel urging his sister. “It’ll be all right. I’ll protect you. Nothing is going to hurt you again.”

“How interesting that you should say that at this very moment,” a stranger’s dark voice said.

Miriam’s eyes flew open. She heard a gasp, saw Daniel and the Indians spring to their feet. She turned her head,
and felt a burning in the pit of her stomach. Indians and soldiers. And they didn’t look friendly.

Daniel cursed as his hand reached for his pistol.

“I wouldn’t try it, if I were you,” the soldier said.

There were four soldiers and at least ten Indian braves. Daniel caught Black Hawk’s glance and saw that what he’d feared was true. The Indians were Sioux. The soldiers, for reasons of their own, were the enemy.

“What do you want?” he asked.

The soldier who had spoken stepped out of the shadows and into the firelight. “You,” he said with an evil smile. “Every one of you.”

Susie woke up, screaming. Amelia scrambled closer to her on the pallet and pulled the child into her arms. Tears filled the woman’s eyes as she rocked the little girl.

“It’s all right, sweetheart,” she murmured. Susie’s pain made her throat tighten. “It was just a bad dream.”

Susie clung to Amelia and wept. Amelia’s gaze fastened on Captain Milton and hardened. He was responsible for Susie’s nightmares. That day, despite Susie’s tears and Amelia’s protests, the captain had made Susie ride on the saddle in front of him. He claimed it was his right as a father to have his daughter with him. Amelia wasn’t convinced that Susie was his daughter, although he seemed to know a lot about Daniel and Susie’s mother, Jane.

As she held the child tightly, Amelia debated what to do. She shouldn’t have come with the army. She didn’t even know if the captain was helping her as he’d said. She no longer trusted anything he said … no longer trusted him.

The captain sat by the fire, staring into the flames. Did the man never sleep? The rest of the men were sleeping, but perhaps for one soldier out there in the night somewhere keeping guard.

I don’t care what he says tomorrow,
Amelia thought,
I’ll not let him have Susie. I’ll not let him have this precious, frightened little girl.

Once Susie had quieted within her arms, Amelia lay the child on the sleeping pallet. Susie cried out, unwilling to be released, and with soft words of comfort, Amelia wrapped her arms about Susie and stretched out so that the two lay together side by side, Amelia holding Susie against her breast.

I’m sorry, Daniel. I should have listened to you. I should have stayed at the cabin.
She had lost her father; she hadn’t been able to bear the thought that Daniel might have been captured, too. She’d had to know. She’d had to help him.

But all I did was put Susie and me in danger. shouldn’t have listened to the captain. I should have gone with my instincts and left Susie with Jack.
Her tears filled her eyes to overflowing.

I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to Susie.
She would protect her with her life. She’d even kill if she had to. Nothing was going to happen to this child, she vowed silently.

A commotion woke her at first light. Amelia released the still sleeping child and sat up to see what was happening.

A young soldier walked by on his way to the bushes.

“What is it?” she asked him.

He gave her a smirk. “We’ve got company. Jed, Rob, and Mack and some Injuns with their captives.” Acting as if such visits were commonplace, the soldier continued on his way.

Captives?
Amelia thought. She rose to her feet and strained to see. The regiment had gathered a group. The captain was gone from his usual place by the fire. She assumed he was at the head of the regiment greeting the newcomers.
Who are Jed, Rob, and Mack?
she wondered.

Susie made a sound as she started to wake. Amelia
hunkered down to draw the child into her arms. She stood, holding Susie.

There was laughter among the men. The thought of the Indians bothered her, but she waited without moving, clutching Susie as if the child would give her comfort.

The sea of men parted and revealed the captain before the group swarmed together again. Amelia saw the captain heading in her direction. He met her gaze, and she didn’t care for the look on his face.

“Well, Miss Dempsey, it seems we have one problem solved, at least.”

“Problem?” she echoed, feeling uneasy.

“Daniel Trahern.”

She felt a rush of relief so great she became lightheaded with it. “Daniel? You know where he is?”

Without a change in expression, Captain Milton nodded.

“Why, that’s wonderful!” she gushed. “How did you learn of this? By some of your men?”

The officer nodded slowly, and Amelia didn’t like the sudden slow smile that curved the man’s lips as he glanced back to his regiment.

“Where is he?” she asked, wondering if she had reason to be grateful to this man after all. “When can we rescue him?”

“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”

Her heart tripped. “Excuse me?”

“He can’t be rescued.”

Horror balled in throat, waiting to be released. “Why?” she cried.

Richard Milton removed his hat and studied the brim as he ran a finger around the felt edge. “Because, Miss Dempsey, like you and Susie, Daniel Trahern and a few others are now my prisoners.”

“Your prisoner!” she gasped.

He turned, and as if he’d commanded it, the sea of men parted once again, and there stood Daniel, tied up and looking disheveled, but no less handsome … no less than the man she loved.

Her gaze flew to the captain. “I don’t understand.” She felt weak and stumbled, but she held on to Susie as she righted herself.

“It’s quite simple, my dear. You and your”—he glanced toward Daniel with a grimace—”blacksmith have bothered to stick your nose in where it’s not wanted. But now the cards are in my favor.”

Amelia felt herself pale as she looked at Daniel. He still hadn’t seen her at the edge of the clearing. When he did, she realized, he wouldn’t be happy.

Just then, he turned and found her. He stared a long moment at her and disbelief entered his expression as he slowly recognized her. His disbelief turned to shock, then to anger as he looked at the captain, before his hardened gaze fastened on Amelia once again.

“Daniel!” she whispered, and she started to rush forward.

Milton grabbed her arm, squeezed it until she cried out in pain. “I’m afraid not, my dear. I’ll not have you two together, not until I have what I want from each of you.”

Amelia shivered. And what was that? she wondered. As she turned back to gaze at Daniel, she found that the man she loved was studying her with a look that could only be described as hatred.

Her stomach burned. Her head spun, and she reeled with the dizziness. “No,” she gasped.

Milton grabbed Susie just as Amelia stumbled and fell to the ground. As darkness enveloped the world around her, she was conscious only of the sound of the man’s wicked laughter and the weeping of a little girl.

No, Susie, don’t cry,
she thought as her mind began to fade.
I’ll protect
…
you.

“Amelia?” a soft voice urged. “Wake up, Amelia.”

Amelia groaned softly. She had a splitting headache. She wanted to open her eyes, but couldn’t.

“Amelia.”

She recognized that voice. It was Miriam’s. Father must have a patient, she thought, and he needs my help.

She cracked open one eye. “Miriam?”

The woman’s face swam in and out of focus. As she struggled to see, Amelia was able to make out her nod. “Tell Father I’ll be right there,” she said groggily. She attempted to get up, but her head swam and she fell backward.

A warm feminine hand held her down. “Don’t move. Give yourself a few moments,” Miriam said.

Without opening her eyes, Amelia nodded.

“Is she all right?” The voice sounded as if it belonged to an Indian.
Black Hawk,
Amelia thought.

“She’ll be all right in a minute,” Miriam replied. “She’s had a terrible shock. I’m not sure, but I wouldn’t be surprised if her ordeal was as bad as ours.”

As ours.
Amelia frowned. What were they talking about? Ordeal? What ordeal? Why was Black Hawk here? Where was Father?

She allowed herself another second to regain her balance, then she opened her eyes … and understood instantly where she was and how she’d gotten here.

She closed her eyes again. “Daniel.”

“He is here, little one,” Black Hawk said, “but he is … busy.”

She lifted her eyelids and encountered compassion in
the Indian’s dark gaze. She shivered. Her gaze swung from Black Hawk to Miriam on the other side of her. Miriam’s expression was filled with pity. “He hates me.”

“He is angry,” Black Hawk said. Amelia looked at him. “He thought you were safe. It almost killed him to know that you are here … with the soldiers.”

With Susie, she thought. He would never forgive her for involving Susie.

Tears filled her brown eyes and spilled over. “I’m sorry.” Miriam touched her hair. Amelia grabbed her arm. “Please! Tell him that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t have brought Susie.”

How could she make them—him—understand that the captain could be utterly convincing when he wanted to be? The perfect picture of charm, he had swept away her fears and persuaded her that it was in her and Susie’s best interests to entrust their lives to his army regiment. How wrong she’d been to trust him, she thought as the sobs started to come from deep in her throat. How, oh, so, wrong …

Black Hawk stared down at the weeping woman, then slipped away to talk with his friend. He found Daniel un- ļ der a tree, gazing off into the distance. Captain Milton had untied him and all the other prisoners. It had amused the officer to see the main players interact with each other, to see the anger and the theatrics played out before him.

Daniel didn’t turn when Black Hawk approached. The Indian took a place by his friend’s side. “She is awake, but crying.”

There was no comment from his friend, not that Black Hawk expected one. He knew how much anger simmered beneath the surface of Daniel, but he also realized that ļ some of that anger, whether the man liked it or not, was rooted in his concern for Amelia Dempsey.

“Susie is with her mother,” the brave said.

Daniel turned then. “How is she?”

“Both are doing well. Little Flower recognized her mother right away.” Black Hawk smiled. “They have not let go of each other.”

The blond blacksmith’s eyes became misty. “I never thought I’d find her, Hawk. She’s been gone such a long time.”

Black Hawk understood that his friend referred to his sister. It had been a shock for Daniel to see her, a reason for great joy. A knot of anger began to burn in the pit of his stomach. How could it have happened? He had not heard them coming … four smelly white men and a band of nasty Sioux. He had failed Daniel, failed his own men. Sleeping Bird had escaped, but how could he leave their rescue entirely to one brave?

“No,” Daniel said, touching Black Hawk’s arms. “I can read your thoughts, and you are wrong. I should have heard them, but I was tired.” He held Hawk’s gaze. “We were both tired.”

“It is no excuse. I have failed you, failed my people.”

“You found Jane,” Daniel said. “And Miriam.”

“But now we are all captives.” Hawk frowned. “Except Sleeping Bird.”

Daniel allowed a spark to enter his blue eyes. “This day is early yet, my friend. We will get away before the night is late.”

Black Hawk felt a flicker of shock. Since when did he—Black-Hawk-Who-Hunts-at-Dawn—give up so easily? Daniel was right. He was tired.

In the near distance, they could hear Amelia sobbing. From another direction, they could hear the satisfied laughter of the men.

“You will have to talk with her,” Black Hawk said,
drawing Daniel’s attention. It was then that Daniel realized that he had turned and was staring in Amelia’s direction.

He scowled. “I have nothing to say to her.”

“But she has much to say to you.”

“I’m not interested.”

Black Hawk raised his eyebrows. “Ah, but I think you are. A man’s heart does not stop beating for his mate, just because she has done something to displease him.”

“Displease me!” Daniel boomed. “For God’s sake, Hawk, she broke her promise. She put not only her life but Susie’s in the hands of these”—he grimaced—”men.”

“She did it with a good heart, Dan-yel.”

“She does not have a heart—just like Pamela. You think you can trust one, then you realize that you’re a fool to trust any of them.”

“You are a hard man, my friend,” Black Hawk said.

Daniel’s blue eyes glinted. “She has hardened my heart again, Hawk, and I’ll not allow it to soften for anyone but Jane … and Susie … and my Ojibwa friends.”

Amelia peered into the darkness to find Daniel. The day had turned into night. The soldiers had taken them west, toward the village from where the others had escaped. They’d been forced to walk, almost dragged behind the soldiers’ horses and the Indians’ ponies. Jane was allowed to ride. The captain put her before an Indian, while he took the woman’s weeping daughter. Susie had cried until she’d received a slap from her father. The child had whimpered for a moment, then become quiet.

Susie’s and Jane’s unhappiness along with Daniel’s intense anger and contempt for her ate away at Amelia’s heart. She loved Daniel and regretted what she’d done. She loved Susie. She didn’t know the child’s mother, but
felt that she and Jane could have been friends if circumstances had been different.

It was true. Amelia had learned from Miriam that Susie was, in fact, Richard Milton’s daughter, that Jane was Daniel’s sister and not his wife.

As she struggled to fight her self-pity, Amelia knew somewhere in the back of her mind was her own anger with Daniel. He had lied to her, made her believe that Susie was his daughter, that Jane was his loving wife. She had been led to think that the man she loved was so griefstricken over the loss of his wife that he’d never find it possible to love—or desire—another.

Oh, but he had desired her, Amelia thought, recalling the passion of his lovemaking. He had desired her, and he’d taken her … even if he hadn’t been happy about it.

Had Daniel been married? Or had that been a lie, too?

Did it matter if he had been? He didn’t want her; he hated her, because she’d broken his trust, put those that mattered most to him in danger.

Amelia rose to her feet to get a better view in the darkness.
My father is missing and may be dead, but all I can think of is you,
she thought.
You!

It had always been Daniel, she realized. She could have stayed in the cabin if she’d known that he was all right, but she hadn’t known. His continued absence had made her believe the worst … and she hadn’t been able to bear it. She would have gone again with the soldiers if she thought her going would give her a chance to find Daniel, to see that he was all right. Her biggest mistake was not in leaving, but in taking Susie with her.