Quicksilver Passion (93 page)

Cherokee groaned aloud. Ever since Lincoln’s election last November, Southern states had been slowly seceding, beginning with South Carolina. Still everyone had hoped that when cooler heads prevailed, the South would not take drastic action. But it had come to that. And despite everything, deep in his heart, Cherokee Evans was a Southerner.

He could forget all his plans, all his dreams. Everything he had fantasized with Silver was now ended. When he headed for the Nugget Saloon, excited clusters of people had gathered up and down the street, discussing the news. Shouts of the happening were aimed at newcomers as they came out to see what the ruckus was about.

When Cherokee entered the deserted saloon and Silver met him at the door, she still wore his gold nugget bracelet, but he knew by her face that she had already heard.

I’ve got some coffee made,” she said and gave him a long, searching look.

He sank slowly into a chair, his heart heavy.
I’m a Southerner, Silver, I’ll have to go.”

Why? You don’t own any slaves, do you?” She set the coffee down before him and he sipped it, grateful for the strong, bracing taste.

There’ll be a lot of men who’ll rise up to defend the South who don’t own slaves, who hate slavery.” He thought of Shawn O’Bannion.
We can’t stand by and see the South overrun by Yankee raiders, the women raped, everything destroyed.”

But it was the Southern leaders who stole the Cherokees’ land,” she argued.
You owe them nothing.”

He drank the coffee and looked at her anxious face across from him.
That’s probably true, and I reckon there’ll be Cherokees fighting on both sides. Both sides will want as many tribes as they can get as allies. Somehow I feel when it’s over, no matter who wins, the Indians will lose.”

Then why go?” She hesitated, looking down at her cup.
Is it—is it because of last night?”

How could he ask her to marry him now? He owed allegiance to his beloved South. More than that, he owed more than he could ever repay to Shawn O’Bannion, the good friend he had betrayed.
Yes, last night changed a lot of things, but we can’t discuss that now. I’ve got to go help my friend, Silver. His fine plantation will be one of those that will be overrun, sacked, and burned. Shawn raises some of the finest Tennessee walking horses in the world. The raiders will take them all if they get into Tennessee.”

I see.” She spoke so softly that he barely heard her as she toyed with the nuggets on her wrists.
Will you—will you come back anytime soon to see me?”