Quicksilver Passion (181 page)

Iron Knife turned with his hand on the door handle.
That would be bad news. Dallinger is a skilled scout who knows the country well. The troops would be at a disadvantage without him.”

Then maybe I can keep him from joining up with Chivington’s forces, if he’s a mind to. I owe your people that.” He paused.
Iron Knife, there is something I’ve wondered about—I found a stray Cheyenne boy here in town. Why isn’t he with your people?”

The big half-breed looked blank.
Who?”

His name is Keso. Just a kid, maybe ten or twelve. I’m not sure what he’s doing here.”

Iron Knife scowled.
He’s not Cheyenne. He’s the pup of one of our most hated enemy, the Ute. I feel for the boy, but he would be killed if he returned to the Cheyenne and I wouldn’t be able to stop it.”

But why?”

Iron Knife shook his head.
It’s a long story that many of my people know. Just take my word for it, he’s a Ute, although he may not even know that himself.”

That left the kid no one at all
, Cherokee thought. Keso would live on the streets the rest of his life, maybe. There were so many things he wanted to ask, but Iron Knife seemed impatient to leave.

The big Cheyenne held out his hand.
Good-bye, my friend. Someday maybe we will meet again. I will ride out and tell my people what you and Todd Shaw have said. Maybe I can convince them that they are not safe and that we should move our camp. But it would be a lot of trouble to move right now and my people feel safe with the fort close by.”

They shook hands solemnly and then Iron Knife slipped out the door and was gone, swift and quiet as a shadow into the dusk.

Cherokee was left staring at the door. He had promised that he would take vengeance on Jake Dallinger. Now just how did he go about doing that without losing Silver when she found out he could see?

Silver played with Waanibe in the nursery while the afternoon passed, but her thoughts were on Cherokee.
There were only two kinds of women in the West and she was the wrong kind. Hadn’t she known that from the beginning?
She had hoped he wasn’t like the others, but his hesitancy about the subject of marriage told her he was.

They played Wannie’s favorite game, dress-up. Silver let her wear the silver shoes and showed her how to dance, but she made sure the child didn’t bother the Duchess’s jewelry.

Later they ate supper together. The noise from downstairs was growing louder, but then it always did on Saturday night. With Thanksgiving just past, some of the prospectors were still celebrating the holiday. In fact, Silver was sure some of them hadn’t drawn a sober breath since the beginning of cold weather.

She heard arguing coming from the Duchess’s office and wondered about it as she got Waanibe ready for bed in her favorite flannel nightgown with the pockets on it.

As she tucked her in, the dark child smiled up at her.
Give me a treasure and I’ll go to sleep.”

You rascal!” Silver smiled and kissed the chubby palm, then closed Waanibe’s fingers over it.
Now put that in your pocket until you need it.”

Waanibe nodded.

And go to sleep.” Silver closed the door and went down the hall, paused only a moment at the Duchess’s door, and realized the owner was talking to Jake. Could it be about Silver? She paused to listen. Sooner or later, Jake was going to figure out where he knew Silver from and then she would be arrested for murder and robbery. What should she do? Even if Cherokee didn’t love her enough to marry her, would he care enough to at least try to help her a little? She would wait until it was dark out and then would go to Cherokee’s room.

Jake laughed and watched the Duchess pace the floor.
What do you mean, ‘this can’t go on’? Appears to me it’s worked out just fine.”

The Indian girl frowned.
I’m almost to the point of throwing you out, you redneck bastard, and taking a chance on what happens if you tell the world everything you know about me. At least you might pack your things and get the hell out of my saloon!”

Should he play his secret card now?
That ain’t a nice way to talk, lady. Besides I might decide to take my kid with me.”

He could tell she was only half listening.
What kid?”

He grinned.
Waanibe”

Don’t be a fool! She’s not yours, she’s—”

Iron Knife’s?” He saw the fear in her face.
You don’t think I didn’t know that you thought the brat was his? If she was, I’d have already killed her. She ain’t his’n, but I’ll bet even you didn’t realize that.”