Quicksilver Passion (199 page)

Silver was so very, very tired. It would be easier just to give up and sit down in the hall and close her eyes. If she could just rest a moment or two, then she could go on. But to stop was to die, she knew that. Clutching the little girl to her, Silver forced herself to put one foot ahead of the other as she felt her way blindly down the hall. She had to save this child and get some help for the Duchess. That alone kept her staggering blindly through the thick smoke toward the back stairs.

Finally, she stood at the top of the stairs, the child trembling in her arms.
Wannie, baby, we’re almost there. We’ll make it now.”

She wasn’t at all sure about that, but she had to keep saying it over and over to force her legs to work. The very steps were on fire as she started down them, the heat on the soles of her shoes almost unbearable.

Shoes
. She had left behind her beloved silver shoes that Cherokee had given her. No matter. What were things like shoes and jewelry worth compared to lives?

The trip along those stairs seemed almost like a descent into hell, the flames of the walls licking out at her as she staggered down them. Finally, she was out into the night. She and Waanibe took deep gulps of the crisp, life-giving air as she half carried, half dragged the little girl away from the building.

Silver turned to look back. The whole saloon was ablaze now.
The Duchess
. She had to get help for the Duchess.

She saw the man she recognized as a reporter for the
Rocky Mountain News,
Todd Shaw.
What’s happened? I just got here!”

Silver pointed without turning loose of Waanibe.
The Duchess is still in there. Up in her office! Get some men! She’s trapped!”

I’ll go!”

But she caught his arm.
No, you can’t move the safe alone. It’s too heavy! Get some men!”

He ran off into the crowd to find help. Silver held the child close, realizing Waanibe hadn’t asked about her mother once. She would take Wannie back to the hotel and Cherokee. It occurred to her that he wasn’t there. Where was Cherokee now when she needed him so badly?

Keso.
Keso would know where he was. Uncertainly, Silver turned toward the roaring blaze. Maybe she should try to go back in and see what she could do to help the Duchess although Silver was powerless to move the giant safe. Todd Shaw would get volunteers. But it would take a dozen powerful men to move it enough to get it off the woman’s ankle. Then even as she watched, the second story collapsed with a roar and a shower of sparks flew up into the blackness of the night.

Oh my God!” Silver gasped, hugging the child close and staring with horror at the pile of blazing rubble.
Too late
. It was too late. What to do now?

Cherokee. She had never needed him more than she needed the warm comfort of his arms right now.

Waanibe twisted her little face around to smile at Silver.
I got a treasure for you.”

Not now, baby, we’ll play later.” Silver never put her down as she started toward the stable. She wouldn’t tell Waanibe about her mother yet. Silver wasn’t quite sure what to do, but she didn’t want to lose the child. Probably some of the do-gooders of the town would try to separate them, and put Waanibe in an orphanage. Cherokee would know what to do.

It seemed like a long way to the stable, carrying the child through the crowds who were all running to see the fire. Even Keso had come out of the stable and stood in the middle of the street, his dark eyes wide.
Miss, what’s happened? Is the Palace on fire?”

The Palace is gone,” she sighed wearily, standing the little girl on her feet beside her.
Never mind all that now. Where’s Cherokee? He’s not in his room.”