Quicksilver Passion (97 page)

Cherokee smoked and shook his head.
I think we’ll see an end to this way of life. I’m afraid we’re going to come out on the losing end of this fight.”

Shawn’s handsome face saddened.
We’re a pair, aren’t we, lad? Both opposed to slavery, yet fighting for the South because we love her. You’re right; our side can’t possibly win.”

If England or France needs our cotton badly enough to come in on our side—”

The English?” Shawn shuddered and then laughed.
They do say politics make strange bedfellows. Still, by gorrah, I never thought the son of an old sod like myself might end up fighting on the same side as the hated English.”

He looked into his glass.
We’ll do the best we can with what we’ve got, Cherokee, but we’re outnumbered and outgunned. And I’ll tell you a little secret; I don’t think the English want our cotton badly enough to fight on the side of slavery. I don’t think her people will stand for it!”

Cherokee smoked and studied the man who meant more to him than a father.
I’d follow you into hell, Shawn, you know that, and so would anyone who knows you.”

Before this is over, I’m afraid that’s exactly what you will do,” the Irishman said gravely.
But enough of this. I’ve got to get you into uniform.” He stood up, went to the door of the tent, and called out.
Private Dowdy?”

The big redheaded boy came in, and saluted.

Shawn smiled.
Cherokee, this is private William Dowdy, lately of Bedford County, Tennessee. He was a blacksmith there and now he’s shoeing horses for the Confederate states when he’s not my orderly. Private Dowdy, meet my old friend, Cherokee Evans, and see that he’s taken care of. We’ve got a war to fight!”

Cherokee stood up. Regret it as he might, he had made his choice. His loyalty to the man who had raised and trusted him, and saving his homeland, had to be the uppermost priority in his mind right now. The beautiful blonde whose heart was as hard as the metal of her name would have to remain only a moment in his past—like Savannah. Saloon girl or wealthy plantation wife—there wasn’t a nickel’s worth of difference, no matter what his heart told him.

For Silver, one day blended into another as spring passed slowly and summer came on. For a while, she thought she could not live with the pain of having given her heart to a man who was no better than the rest after all. To him, she had been only an evening’s conquest, a pretty toy to amuse himself with. Why hadn’t she remembered that in the West, there were only two kinds of women as far as men were concerned and she was the wrong kind?

Still she didn’t take off the bracelet and sometimes she dreamed that he made love to her again, kissed her palm and closed her fingers over it.
A treasure to keep
...

The war brought an even bigger boom to the Rockies with the Union needing Colorado’s gold and silver to pay for guns and uniforms. Silver’s Nugget Saloon did a profitable business. She still danced and sang for her adoring customers and checked her features every night to make sure her face was as flawless as ever.

She intended to throw the silver shoes away because they reminded her too much of the man she had given her heart to, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so, any more than she could take off the gold nugget bracelet. She left the lamp burning at night by her bedside because of the nightmares that plagued her again now that he was gone.