Dark Warrior: Kid (Dark Cloth Series Book 2) (8 page)

Gunman

Pete slid his horse up to the rail and threw the reins over it,
not bothering to stop and tie them down. It didn’t matter none, Kat thought, watching him from the train window. A well-trained pony didn’t move anyhow, once the reins had dropped.

She watched Pete head for the train. She knew he’d boarded, when she lost sight of him. He found the berth and stepped in, where he halted, Hawk right behind him. “Is she ready for this?”

The two large men crowded the tiny berth, with her and Mandy, making Kat feel a bit suffocated.

Hawk nodded at Pete. “Are you ready to head out with Cord?”

Pete nodded back at him.

Hawk’s nod, this time, seemed curt. “Well, thank you for coming to talk to her,” he said. “I think it will help her to hear this. Tell Kat what the wire said, when they put Kid back on the train in Omaha,” he told him.

Pete nodded at Kat, as she tried to keep her eyes open enough to peek at him, and he grinned at her for the effort.

The men loved Kat, and she knew that they’d want to know how she fared.

“They had Kid in irons, of course,” he told her. “My cousin got close enough to hear him give them a load of grief for it too.”

Kat couldn’t help but smile, though inside she still felt terrified for him. But she could only imagine the earful he’d be giving the men holding him prisoner.

Hawk grinned, too, nodding, then frowned. “Now, why do you suppose he hasn’t sprung himself loose?”

Pete shrugged. “Jake asked me that too. He said to tell you, he figured Kid’s got himself a reason for playing possum, with those no-accounts who took him.”

Hawk’s frown deepened. “That’s a dangerous game,” he said.

Pete nodded. “Course, this girl,” he nodded at Kat and earned himself a scowl, “might account for why he’d let himself get into such a spot.”

Hawk ran his hand along his stubbled jaw. “Hmmm,” he said, seeming deep in thought. “Get yourself some grub. And before you head out, could you get the horses on the train for me?” he said.

Kat winced at the gruffness in Hawk’s tone—as he glanced at Mandy. She knew he’d likely gotten an earful for leaving her behind, by the way he eyed her now. He had a problem getting his new wife to stay behind, but they had a young son, and a ranch to run, and someone had to stay back. They both agreed that someone hunted Kat—so that someone would get to meet Jake and Hawk.

Kat knew what it took to keep things on a ranch in order, so she also knew that by the time Hawk got things squared away, he’d probably, barely managed to get some grub, maybe even some sleep, himself.

An hour later, Kat felt the train pull out and felt relieved, though she’d given Mandy a tearful goodbye when the whistle blew. Even Meg had come to say goodbye. By the time the train left, Kat had gone back to fighting her tears.

They were miles down the track before the sun had fully made it high into the sky—thanks to modern inventions, she thought. She felt so elated to be moving, she hardly noticed the steady thrumming in her head, from the wheels hitting the track. They’d manage to press hard on Kid’s trail because of this old iron horse—and they’d still get to sit and eat.

As they rode the train, Kat warred within herself not to snap on Hawk because of the pain—and the fear she still felt for Kid. But mostly, she still felt that same old panic, raising its ugly head—letting her know that something unnamed still followed. She sensed, more than knew, that fate had pushed her in this direction—and, somehow, she knew she’d never have chosen this direction on her own.

Kat often found herself eyeing Hawk. She still couldn’t understand how he could be so calm. Kid mattered to him, as his kid brother. So how the hell did he always manage to stay so calm?

She barely managed to give civil answers to either man, when they tried to engage her in conversation. Each attempt left her trying to answer them—without tearing their head from their shoulders. She hated when the train stopped at every damn town along the way. Every moment felt as though ants crawled all over her skin—laying her raw and bare.

Several days later, Jake announced that he’d been getting reports they were getting close. By that point, Kat’s eyes felt like sawdust. Her body felt heavy with exhaustion from a lack of sleep, but she could barely stay put.

Hawk came in, but Jake had taken off somewhere in the town the train had stopped at this time.

“Where’s Jake?” she demanded.

Hawk eased down into a seat beside her. “Easy,” he said, in low tones. “He left to check for a wire. He hired some men, down the way, to meet up with us—and to try and find out where they’re taking Kid off the train.”

“And—so where is Kid now?” she snapped. She reined in hard on her wayward emotions. “I’m sorry,” she said, taking her hat and setting it off the back of her head, so that the tie hung down her back. “What’s happening?” she tried again, this time in more controlled tones.

Hawk frowned at her. “Are you sure you can do this?” he asked her instead.

Kat took a deep breath. Her hand shook, and she tried to hide it from Hawk’s piercing gaze. She’d never been so unsure of anything, as she felt right now. She couldn’t remember a time in her life when she’d felt so out of control. Rage warred with fear—and smashed around in her breast—sending her heart racing. She fought with herself, at every moment, not to snap on some poor unsuspecting soul—which usually meant a friend who’d only come to help her get Kid back. She’d never felt such overwhelming emotions.

How could she begin to understand what was happening to her?

A few minutes later, when Jake returned, she learned they’d taken Kid off the train, still miles outside of the city of Richmond. Jake told them they’d finally be getting off the train there too—and he’d already wired for a boy to saddle their horses.

Once in the saddle, Jake took off ahead, to find out where they were taking Kid. The waiting killed her, more than the pain in her skull. She never been one to sit and wait. Now, she continuously had to do just that. She’d swear she could hear the ticking of a clock inside her skill.

Within a few hours, they met up with some of the men Jake had hired, as they tracked him. They found his camp, later that day.

He had one of the men set up a make-shift seat for Kat. But she scowled at him for the effort.

“I’ve been following the caravan holding Kid prisoner, for several hours now,” he said. “There’s no doubt about it….” He stopped and looked at Kat. “He seems content to pretend he’s their prisoner,” he said, “and the only thing I can figure—is that he thinks that Kat, here, is dead—and he wants them to take him straight to the man who hired her killing.” He tore open a dried biscuit. “Why else would he do something so foolhardy?” he finished, turning his head to look at Hawk.

They were sitting under some trees, waiting while their horses took a long, cool drink. Hawk had found a fallen tree, and hunkered down to lean against it.

Kat didn’t like the waiting. Jake’s words only intensified the feeling. She felt anxious to get moving.

Hawk stared out across the water. “Why did they take him off the train this far from the city?” he asked.

Kat’s head jerked up at that.

“I think they have an estate, somewhere nearby, they’re taking him to,” Jake answered. “And, I’m reasonably sure they know I’ve been following them.” He stared at Kat, now. “They seem to be counting on that.”

She stared at him, frowning.

“They’re leading us somewhere,” he said. “They specifically set this up—so you would follow.”

Kat didn’t know if she felt relieved—because that implied one of two things she’d already been thinking. But, simply put, she knew that either—she would get to fight her unseen enemy—or she’d finally get to find out why they’d led her here. Either way, she’d bet she’d be getting some answers.

She just wasn’t ready to be told by Jake that he fully intended to hang back—and see where Kid’s captors were leading them—and she told him so.

“Kid seems to be waiting for that too,” he told her.

“Look, Kat,” Hawk said now, “we’ve been pushing for days. You’re exhausted. Hell, we’re all exhausted,” he amended, when she looked about to take exception to that. “Doesn’t hurt to watch.”

She relented at this and glanced up at Jake. “You really think he’s waiting?”

Jake nodded. “He’s had plenty of opportunities to leave. He just hasn’t. Maybe he’s angry. Or—maybe he’s curious.” Jake hunkered down against a tree. “Frankly, so am I. I haven’t seen them do one damn thing that’s the least bit threatening. They’re not even holding him prisoner. I have to wonder how they managed to get the drop on him at all—to get him here to begin with.”

Kat frowned. “That doesn’t make sense.” She stared off in the direction Jake had come. “Maybe, you’re right. Maybe, he thinks I’m dead,” she said.

Jake seemed to think about that. He shrugged. “Sneak down there and take a gander for yourself.”

Kat stared at him, then her gaze followed the direction he’d nodded toward. Gathering her pony’s reins, she felt a sudden determination to do just that.

At the hill, she dismounted and crawled to the top of the knoll, and that was when she heard someone singing.

Imagine that, she thought. What kind of kidnappers would take the time to sing to their captive?

She peered down at the camp. Sure enough, she spotted Kid—walking around. She saw him stop and gaze in her general direction. Then, he said something to one of the guys and pointed her out to him.

Of all the.... Kat couldn’t believe her eyes—and after all the worry he’d put her through.

She saw him start off in her direction—alone.

Kat went from stunned—to spitting mad—by the time he broke over the hill, heading directly toward her hiding place.

When Kid came over the rise, she was waiting for him. And as soon as he reached her side—she hit him square in the jaw.

Not the Life of Her Dreams

Kat still hadn’t calmed down
by the time Kid got her wrapped up tight in his arms, to keep her from hitting him again. “Calm down, kitten,” he said. “I just want to look at you. They told me you were alive.” He turned her around, staring down into her face. “I knew they had no reason to lie, but it’s still good to see you’re really alright.”

She stared at him. “How long have you known I wasn’t dead?” she said.

He touched the scar that ran near her temple, where the bullet had grazed her head. “At first, I thought you were dead. I saw you get shot in the head, after all. And I wanted them to lead me to whoever had hired the gunman. But then—they said they’d spotted someone hauling you off to the doctor, and they kept telling me you really
hadn’t
been killed.” He gently ran his thumb along the side of her face. “They told me to let them arrest me, get you to follow them out of town—before that son-of-a-bitch
really
managed to kill you.”

She frowned at that. “Do they know
who
’s trying to kill me?” she spat out.

He shook his head. “No,” he said. “Or they have an idea—but they’re not completely sure. But whoever he is—they didn’t want him to succeed. Getting you to leave town seemed the safest way to get you out of the way of a killer, until we can sort it all out.”

Kat stared at him, her mouth hanging open. “Why on earth would they even care? And who, exactly, are
they?
” she demanded.

Kid smiled gently at her. “Your grandfather sent them,” he told her.

Her mouth fell open—and he reached up and tapped it. She closed it, then opened it once more. “My what?” She stared at him.
“My grandfather?”

He nodded. And the men who brought me here—are your grandfather’s men.” He pulled her to him, hugging her close. “I thought about going back, when I learned that. But then—I remembered your childhood memories. And I remembered that you wanted to find out about your past.... So I let them lead you here.” He kissed her softly. “Besides, if they’re right—you’ll be safer at your grandfather’s than in Cheyenne. They can’t just shoot at you as easily in the East—the way they can back in Cheyenne.” He touched the graze on her head for a second time. “I’d do a lot to make sure that gunfighter didn’t get another chance to take a shot at you.”

Kat leaned back and stared at him. Part of her wanted to hit him one more time, for scaring the hell out of her these past several days. Another part, though, realized she’d been set on this path—and would finally get the answers she’d been seeking. Maybe, then, she could get back to living her life—and planning her wedding.

Besides—hadn’t she sworn that if she found Kid safe—she’d never leave him again? She wouldn’t have to leave him now—though she still had an idea that this place would be very difficult for him.

She stared up at him. “Why didn’t you turn around and let me know?”

He smiled gently. “You were right behind me, kitten,” he said

Tears filled her eyes. By some miracle, she’d been spared that bullet—and Kid had returned to her. By some divine intervention, she’d be given the answers to the dreams that plagued her—the answer to the memories that had awakened in her.

Could she really ask for more?

Hours later, Kat still couldn’t get over how much she’d learned, since Kid had first muttered the words that changed her life. But she still hadn’t gotten control over her anger, by the time they’d reached the edge of the city a few hours later. She’d never been so afraid in her life—nor so confused—and that made her simmer. How could some man, she’d never known, possibly be her grandfather? That made no sense. And what could he possibly want with her anyway? She’d been gone from him, from the time she’d been a small child.

She’d asked herself that question at least a hundred times, now. And she’d asked the men, who’d taken Kid, at least a dozen. But, each time, she’d been told that an old man sat in his house, waiting to answer her questions. And this did nothing to calm her rising fear—or the anger that kept following close on its heels.

What did this old man want with her? Why did he think he was her grandfather? And why did she get the feeling—that she didn’t really want to know?

The size of the city of Richmond did nothing to allay her fears. She’d never seen anything like it—and nothing she’d been told could have prepared her for such a place. They were taken to someone’s home, just on the outskirts, and instructed to put away their guns.

The size and beauty of her grandfather’s home didn’t help to calm her panic either. She’d never get use to such riches. The grounds were immaculate, the home large, sprawling across the well-kept yards. Some man, dressed in a black suit, met them at the door—and the ladies that cleaned the place wore fancy, black outfits.

Unnerved, Kat’s hand had fallen to the skinnin’ knife, she now kept tied to her leg. Kid quickly took it away from her, laughing. He told her she couldn’t use it here—or she’d find herself in jail. She glowered at him—and the man in the fancy, black suit quickly left the room. It would seem that he’d been just as unnerved—and sought someone in the house to get rid of her.

She felt naked without her knife. She knew Kid might be right—she shouldn’t need it here—but what was she going to do without her skinnin’ knife? And how could she cope with a town that didn’t carry weapons?

Worse yet, the woman who’d been brought to the house, that morning, had brought Kat a dress. Now, she stood there, holding it out to her. Kat had eyed her—then the dress—one of those lavish, lacy things she hated, causing her to glower. The woman’s hand trembled, and Kat tried to stop glaring at her.

She’d scared her for heaven’s sake.

“Why do I have to wear that thing?” Kat nearly snarled.

The older woman gave her trembling smile. “You cannot go into the city—dressed like that,” she said.

To which Kat immediately took offense.

Hawk had to step in and rescue the woman, when Kat started for her, fully intending to shred the dress—though the woman couldn’t have known that. She appeared to think that Kat had intended to skin her, instead.

“She’s right,” Hawk had said in low tones, standing between the older woman and Kat.

The older woman smiled now. “Good,” she said.

Mistaking what she’d meant by that, Kat took the dress and allowed herself to be ushered into a room. When she emerged a half hour later, she looked up, surprised to see Kid, Jake and even Hawk had been given a similar task.

The three of them were dressed up like smart gentlemen.

Her discomfort forgotten, Kat dissolved into a fit of giggles. She could barely stand up. Even Kid sat, glowering at her. She pointed at Hawk. “I wish Mandy were here....” she managed to get out, laughing so hard that not even Hawk’s thunderous countenance could detour her. Although, somewhere in the midst of it, she did notice that the older woman, and the other gentlemen, had left to go back the direction they’d come.

In the end, she did get Kid to give her back her knife. And, right now, it sat warm, where she’d strapped it to the inside of her leg. She felt better already—even if she did have to promise Kid she wouldn’t use it unless she found herself in immediate danger. She looked over the banister, now, peering down into the foyer, she figured there had to be some
danger
around here somewhere.

And Kat went off to look for
that danger.

What Kat couldn’t have known was the affect she’d on Kid, when he’d first seen her in that fancy dress and for the rest of the ride it took to reach her grandfather’s estates. He’d smiled as Kat had been as equally put off by the carriages that had been sent to fetch them, and she’d fussed about them for much of the ride.

Although Kid had seen her in dresses before, thanks to Mandy, he’d never seen her in such beautiful attire. The older woman had expertly pinned up her blond curls into a mass of ringlets, which bounced around her neck with her laughter. The sight of her face, lit up in her glee, and flushed with her laughter, struck him in his middle. Her full, pink lips, gave way to her natural white and beautiful smile. Kat was absolutely beautiful, dressed up like that.

And Kid had never wanted to kiss her more.

Once they’d arrived and been seated in the home, Kid made sure he sat near her, but Jake was too busy talking to Kat to get the point.

Hawk realized it, because he nudged Jake hard, when Kid went from glowering—to staring. For a long moment, Jake appeared not to get the message. When he did, he turned to find Kid glaring at him. In spite of that fact, he turned, again, for a moment to look at Kat. Then, he seemed to collect himself—and the two men left the couple alone.

Kat sobered, seeing this—and the purposeful way that her fiancé had gotten up out of his chair—and now advanced on her.

“Oh, my,” she whispered, only a moment before Kid gathered her up out of the seat, and into his arms, kissing her soundly.

Kat only needed the breath of a moment to kiss him back, matching his passion. They stood that way, Kat’s arms stealing around Kid’s neck. For several long moments, neither of them came up, long enough to realize they were no longer alone.

Someone stood only a few feet away, openly staring at them. And when they finally did grasp this—they both turned, at the same time, to glare at their intruder.

A handsome man stood before them. So handsome, in fact, Kat caught her breath—the fact that Kid had noticed she’d done so, not lost on her.

The man came forward and took her hand. “My name is Liam,” he said. He’d bent at the waist, kissing her hand. Hawk had stepped into the room, just in time to save the young man’s life.

When Hawk succeeded in getting Kid to sit down on one of the fancy chairs, and they’d explained the custom to Kid—and to Kat—they finally got down to why he’d come.

Liam confirmed that he had sent for her, as the dying wish of her grandfather—that he’d wished more than anything to see her, once more, before he passed.

You could have knocked Kat over with a feather at that—even if they’d tried to save her life from the gunman in the doing. She just still couldn’t grasp what they’d been telling her, these past couple days, about her grandfather. “There must be some mistake,” she said. “I heard about this grandfather. But you have to understand—my grandparents are all dead.”

She had the man’s full attention now. “I assure you,” he said.
“There’s no mistake.”

Hours later, Kat stared out across the valley. She faced the West, but couldn’t help the terror that had taken over her insides. Somewhere, deep inside her, her fear amplified a hundred fold, all of her senses telling her that she might never get to go home. Somehow, she felt frightened that her life would never be the same again. And all of that, put together, told her that somewhere, locked inside of her, she knew the truth of what she’d been told. She might not remember all of it, but she had the sickening dread that the man who they’d called her grandfather, had found her and brought her home to do the bidding of his last dying wish.

Finding out about her grandfather had been one thing. But that also meant she’d been right, from the first terrifying dream, from the first moment she’d first begun to realize that her dreams were actually memories. That everything she’d known about her childhood—had been based on a lie.

How did she reconcile that?

How did one wake up one morning and live with that? If she let herself be led down this journey, and it turned out to really be true, she knew that it would challenge everything she’d thought she known about herself and her life. It changed everything—forever. There wasn’t a way to close that door—once it had been opened—and part of her wanted to run away while she still could.

If all of this really turned out to be true, what of her future with Kid?

Kid, himself, had come into the room, as she turned. She knew he recognized the wild fear in her eyes—because she saw that it mirrored the fear in his own.

Her eyes flew wide, as he pulled her head to his chest and just held her face against the beating of his heart. She heard the increased rhythm of his heartbeat there, and she knew it came from the recognition of what this might mean for her future—for their future together.

Her arms slipped around his waist, and she held him to her as tightly as he held her to him—as though they could anchor each other against the certain destruction of her past. A destruction they’d been launched into—that seemed destined to destroy both of their futures.

Kat wanted to shake her head, but Kid held her fast. She couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t allow anything prevent her from going home. She’d die if she stayed here. She had a wild spirit. One that would never survive here. And she knew Kid would never survive here, either.

She’d never let that happen to him. She’d never let anyone destroy their future.

Not even her grandfather….