Sweet Savage Heart (21 page)

“Papa, are you listening?” she inquired, peeved at his lack of attention and affection. No matter what she did to please him or to win his approval, or what she did to annoy or to punish him, she could not elicit the desired response from this man who had sired her.

“I was thinking about roots, Clarissa. We both know Nate’s going to hand his ranch over to Travis. If you would put down a few roots with Kincade, I could kill Nathan and be done with all these tricky games and dangerous gunslingers. I want you to keep an eye on those last two Silas hired; they could be trouble if not handled properly.”

“How close do you want me to watch them, Papa?” she asked with deceptive calm. Carrying out his little deceits meant nothing to her, but she hated him for uncaringly asking her to whore for him. If he were truly so strong and smart, he wouldn’t need her! The only reasons she had done such things for him had been to exercise her power over men and to prove she could outwit them. Each assignment had taught her more about men and her father, lessons she needed in order to learn to compete in this “man’s world.” One day, she vowed coldly, he would pay for his vile treatment and lack of love.

“Close enough to make sure they don’t interfere with our plans, girl. As soon as we’re done with Crandall, we’ll
have everything we want. I’m going to strangle him out before winter.”

Yes, Clarissa thought dreamily, she would have everything she wanted by winter. As soon as her despicable father created one of the most powerful and lucrative spreads in the West, she would get rid of the old bastard, take over the Caldwell empire, and marry Travis Kincade. This was everything she had dreamed of, and she would do anything necessary to make it a reality. She knew her father’s evil secrets, past and present, for she had spied on him since the age of eight. If she had desired, she could have destroyed him with the truth, but that would have cost her her dream. She also knew Marissa’s dark secrets, all of them, even one that neither of their fathers knew: the secret that Raymond had used against her dead friend…

A knock sounded on the door. Wes Monroe and Jackson Hayes were invited inside and Clarissa was dismissed. Harrison shook each man’s hand, slapped each on the back, and complimented them on their defeat of James McFarland. “You boys did a fine job of running him out. Now, the Flying
M
Ranch is mine. The timing was perfect; nobody around to outbid me for it. I’ve got you boys a little bonus for working so fast and without any trouble. I like a good, clean job.” He handed each man a packet of money. He had been careful to be very generous, to retain their loyalty and interest. “I want you boys to hang low for awhile. Make sure you stay out of trouble. I got one more matter for you to take care of for me; I want you to run out Nathan Crandall as soon as he gits back from some secret trip he’s making.” While he was speaking, Harrison tried to remind himself not to use language that might be over the heads of these crude men, for he had found that educated speech often caused envy and dislike. He knew it was better to stay close to their level of understanding or education to avoid
resentment; “working in the gully,” as he called it.

“I’ll pay you ten times what’s in them packets,” he offered, planning to get rid of these dangerous men as soon as Nathan and Travis were dead. “Just make sure you don’t catch the sheriff’s or U.S. Marshal’s eye. I don’t want anybody connecting you boys to these crimes, since you work for me. I want this matter to look real legal.”

“Whatever you say, Mr. Caldwell,” Wes Monroe remarked genially. “Me and Jack could use us a little rest and fun. McFarland was harder to discourage than we thought. We was trying not to damage property which would soon belong to our boss. Hell, we didn’t have to kill more’n three men and forty steers. All you have to do is scare women and kids, and their men are forced to move on. When a rancher ain’t got no hands, he can’t run his ranch.”

After the meeting, as Wes and Jackson were leaning against the hitching post outside Harrison Caldwell’s office, Wes Monroe scoffed, “That old coot didn’t even ask how we scared them women and kids and got their men to running off like crazy. I ain’t had me that much fun since we rode with Cap’n Quantrill.”

Jackson Hayes teased, “Stop bulling, Wes, you just like to rape and kill. If’n I knows you, you got plans for robbin’ Caldwell and poking that bitch of a daughter. What’chu waitin’ on?”

“This plan he’s got going for Nathan Crandall. He’ll have lots of money in his safe to buy off that ranch after he does in Crandall. We’ll let him get his money together, then we’ll relieve him of it. He thinks he’s so damn smart and walking high over us. He’s mine, Jack. I’m gonna peel him like a juicy apple, and take ever’thing he’s got.”

“What about that gal of his’n? Can I have her afore we move on?” his partner wheedled, for West was the brains of their outfit.

“Just make sure you leave me a little piece this time.”

“I’ll try, Wes. I just get so excited, I lose control.”

“I know, Jack. I’ve had to clean up some of your bloody messes. Just give me a spit of time with her before you have your fun. I been watching them skirttails swish for weeks while she’s walking away from me. That little bitch is coming down a few notches afore we leave.”

Wes looked down the dirt street and grinned wickedly as he watched Clarissa enter a mercantile store. He was tired of moving from place to place, one hitching post away from the hangman’s noose, with never enough whiskey and money and women to last long. And he was tired of taking orders from arrogant bastards like Harrison Caldwell. And he was tired of being strapped to a stupid partner like Jackson Hayes. He liked this town, and the Circle
C
Ranch. Maybe he would hang around a long time. Maybe he would kill Caldwell and Jackson, and marry Caldwell’s daughter. Being a rich, powerful rancher with a beautiful, helpless wife sounded mighty fine to him. He had too much on Caldwell and his little brat for her to go screaming to the sheriff. Yep, he decided with a satanic grin, he just might take Caldwell’s place in this area…

Travis, Rana, and Nathan had ridden for hours and had managed to avoid the violent storm that was currently attacking the Oglala camp. Travis kept glancing to their rear, praying that the storm would not shift and head in their direction and force them to halt their journey. He wanted as much distance as possible between them and the approaching Hunkpapa band. With luck, the storm would have delayed the hunting party’s arrival. He could not imagine what would happen if the Oglalas learned the truth about his past, but he knew what the Hunkpapas would do. The sooner they were out of Lakota
territory and their reach, the better.

Travis and Nathan were glad that Rana had not given them any trouble so far. Without a cross word or hesitation, she had ridden between them and had kept up with ease, making Travis proud of her. Earlier Travis had cautioned Nathan not to divulge any secrets around Rana, for a person often understood another language even if he could not speak it. He also warned himself to hold silent around her.

Rana had not spoken to either man since beginning the journey. She knew Travis was watching her with eagle eyes, ready to snatch her to his lap the moment she made a false move. She would prove how obedient and intelligent she could be, until it suited her to behave otherwise. She was aware of how often the older man’s gaze slipped to her and of the warmth that filled his eyes. He seemed such a strong, gentle man. Whenever she looked his way, he would smile encouragingly. Perhaps his presence was the reason why her husband refused to touch her. No, she quickly answered herself, her husband was in a hurry. The question was why. She had noticed Travis watching their backs and saw that his body was still tense. There was an air of apprehension and mystery about him; she could sense his deep concern.

Rana did not understand this handsome male, but she knew she was strongly attracted to him, and he to her. Her emotions were in turmoil. One minute she told herself she despised him and would battle him all the way to her new home. The next, she wanted to make love to him, and was determined to do so or be told the reason why she could not. She did not like the way he could so easily control his emotions and hers. Other men had always found her beautiful and desirable, and had had to struggle inwardly to keep their hands off her; some had found they could not until she prevented them. How
strange and infuriating that this half-blooded man had to be the one to stir her passions to life. How strange to want to possess and reject the same man at nearly the same time. Maybe he felt the same way, she ventured. Even if he was her husband, she could not allow him to play games with her feelings. Yet, as they rode swiftly, Rana plotted how to entice Travis while pretending to spurn him.

It was mid-afternoon when they stopped to rest and water the horses. Rana patted Cloud’s forehead, then hugged him. She looked at Travis and said casually, “I will return soon.” She headed into the trees, delighted that he did not stop her or question her.

“You don’t think she’ll try to escape, do you?” Nathan probed anxiously when she was out of hearing range and sight.

Travis removed his hat, wiped the moisture from his forehead, and replaced it. As he began unpacking something for them to eat, he replied in a playful tone, “For some curious reason, Nate, I don’t think she’ll try anything foolish, at least not yet. Right now, she’s more concerned about disappointing her people and shaming herself than she’s scared of us. If we can stay calm and friendly, maybe she will too. At least we’ve gotten her to accept the name Rana.”

Nathan helped Travis with their light meal. “That was a sly trick, son. How long should we wait before telling her the truth? She seems like a smart girl and not one to take kindly to deceit.”

“I’d say give her a week or so to get used to us before dropping it on her. That’ll give her plenty of time to adjust to the news before we reach home. We’re too close to the camp and she’s still a little peeved with me right now. If we get her dander up, she could go hightailing it back to her brother to find out why he tricked her.”

Travis explained how she had reacted to her mother’s
necklace and the name Rana Michaels, and he told Nathan about the nightmare she had experienced that first night. “The truth might confuse her and frighten her. We’re still strangers. We’ve got to give her time and patience.”

“You think she remembers part of the past?”

“My guess is yes. But something back there has her scared, Nate, so she doesn’t want to remember it. Lone Wolf told me she used to have those bad dreams lots of times. Maybe it’s nothing more than that she can’t allow herself to recall the good without recalling the bad. That’s how it was with me. I found it was better not to think about the past at all. Hell, you can’t change it, so why keep it on your mind and let it rub you raw inside?” he declared bitterly.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Nathan murmured, locking his softened gaze on the girl who was approaching them slowly. Nathan did not notice when Travis absently agreed and forced his longing gaze away from the fetching sight. “She’s got her mother’s spirit. She’s impulsive and daring, and she’s tough. I won’t let happen to her what happened to my Marissa. I’ll kill any man who goes near her.”

“Love isn’t something you can control, Nate. All you can do is pray she doesn’t meet another Raymond Michaels. But if you start pushing her and bossing her, I can promise you she’s going to rebel. That little vixen is the most willful and infuriating creature I’ve ever met.”

Nathan chuckled. “That sounds just like somebody I used to know,” he teased, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“With luck, you’ll be just as successful at taming her as you were with me.” Travis grinned and winked at Nathan.

“Who said I was finished with you, son?” Nathan retorted. “For a man who’s down on women, love, and
marriage, you sure do seem to know a lot about ‘em. Shame you’ve never met a good woman.”

Rana watched the two men teasing and laughing, and it made her feel good to see how close they were. She walked past them to the stream to wash her face and hands. She turned when Travis called her name but did not respond when he asked in English if she were hungry.

“Loyacin hwo,
Rana?” he repeated.

“Han,”
she replied, then joined the two men. She thanked Travis for the food he handed her, then wondered why he did not scold her for not handling this female chore. She ate slowly and daintily as she watched Cloud nibble on grass nearby.

Travis asked suspiciously, “Have you finished yet?” When Rana did not react to his words, he inquired in Oglala,
“Wanna lustan hwo?”

She glanced at him, praising herself for her quick and clever mind.
“Han,
Travis Kincade.”

The three packed their supplies and mounted, ready to continue their long journey. They rode silently and swiftly until dusk. When Travis located a spot in which he felt it was safe to camp, he told them, “We’ll stay here tonight, then leave early in the morning.”

Travis was pleased when Rana willingly helped gather wood and prepared their evening meal. When everything had been cleared away, the two men placed their sleeping rolls near the fire, then Travis unrolled Rana’s buffalo mat between them. He even smiled when he told her to go to sleep and explained that they would have a hard day’s ride ahead. He stretched out on his bedroll, knowing from past observation that Rana slept on her right side which would compel her to face him. He watched her surreptitiously.

Rana took her appointed place between the two men, lying on her back and staring at the star-sprinkled sky overhead. For a long time, she and Travis did not sleep.
She was very much aware of the ever-increasing distance between her and the Oglala camp, and how each day brought her nearer to her new destiny, one that she could not envision. She recalled Lone Wolf’s words: “You have trained and waited for the Great Spirit to return you to your destined path. Do not cower in fear or doubt and refuse to walk it.” She shuddered with apprehension.

“Are you cold, Rana?” he inquired softly in Oglala, noting that the weary Nathan was slumbering peacefully.