A Journey of the Heart Collection (25 page)

“Sarah!”

Her green eyes widened and she gasped as Rand started toward her. “Rand?” She ran into his open arms.

Sarah burrowed her face in the rough fabric of Rand's shirt. His strong arms encased her, and she never wanted to leave this embrace she'd thought she'd never feel again. “How did you find me?”

“Rooster.” He touched the bruise on her cheek, then frowned when she flinched. “Who did this to you? And how'd you get away from the renegades who had you?”

Just past him, she saw Isaac staring at the two of them. What was he thinking? She pushed away from Rand. “I–I came to a cabin.” He wouldn't understand. Last time Ben had tried to force her to marry him, Rand jumped to the wrong conclusion. “Later,” she whispered. She turned to the two Sioux standing silent behind her. “I would have died if it weren't for my friends. I'd like you to meet Little Wolverine and White Dove.”

Rand held out his hand to the two Sioux. “I don't know what to say—how to thank you.”

The girl smiled. “Sarah is friend. We miss her. You leave in morning for soldier fort but first we have feast.”

Rooster and Isaac crowded close and hugged Sarah. Isaac's hug was brief, and he quickly stepped
back. She hated to see the hurt in his eyes. “Thanks for saving me.”

“I'm glad you're all right.” He moved to the side of the teepee and folded muscular arms over his chest.

Rooster grabbed her in a bear hug. “No how were we going home without you.”

She hugged him back, unashamed of the tears of joy that trickled down her cheeks. “Thank you, Rooster. They couldn't have found me without you.”

She wanted to get Rand alone, to find out what Ben had tried to do to him. And how did she tell him about Jessica's role in her capture? Was it even true?

White Dove motioned to Rand. “Your wound. I will heal.”

He sat down and let her smear an ointment on his wound. The stench made Sarah wrinkle her nose, but Rand endured the young woman's ministrations.

Sarah glanced at Isaac, who continued to stare at her as if he was trying to puzzle out something. This ordeal had shown her how deep her feelings for Rand still ran. How could she marry someone else when she knew she'd never get over Rand?

She joined Isaac by the teepee opening. “You have questions. I can see them in your eyes.”

“I think the answers are clear. I'd hoped you'd find me a suitable substitute for Rand, but I can see that is never going to happen.”

She looked down at the dirt floor. “I don't think so either. I like you, Isaac, so much. I'm sorry.”

“Don't be. Better to find out now. I think he knows his own heart now too.”

Her pulse throbbed in her neck, but an ache settled over her heart. “I wish that were true, but even if he realized he still loves me, he's a man of honor. He won't go back on his word to Jessica.”

Reeking of something that smelled like rotting flesh, Rand joined them. “Sounds like a lot of commotion outside.”

Sarah heard it then, the noise of horses and voices. She motioned to White Dove and Little Wolverine. “What's going on?”

The two Sioux walked nearer. White Dove glanced at Sarah, then back to Rand. “We go to make war with Red Cloud at Powder River.”

Rand shook his head and looked hard at the young warrior. “Don't go, Little Wolverine. I don't want anything to happen to you. Tell him not to go,” he appealed to White Dove.

The boy drew himself up straight and taut as White Dove translated. “He say, ‘Should Little Wolverine stay in camp like dog and let others fight for his family? Soon people have no hunting grounds. Whites take all. Red Cloud say Indians must fight or be forced to farm.' ”

The boy spat in the dust. “He say, ‘Lakota not dirt diggers.' ” Little Wolverine's face softened as he spoke again and White Dove continued to translate. “But he say, ‘Rand and Little Wolverine brothers. They not fight.' ”

“No, my brother.” Rand laid a hand on Little Wolverine's shoulder. “We'll not fight. And someday I hope we meet again.”

The boy clasped his hand over Rand's large, square hand as though he understood his words before White Dove translated them. His dark eyes were warm with friendship.

Sarah's heart squeezed at the thought of the hardships coming to her new friends. There was nothing she could do either. Nothing any of them could do. The fight for western lands would not be over anytime soon.

EIGHT

A
melia watched the hills surrounding the fort every day, anxious for word of Sarah. The main detachment had returned, hauling Jacob home two days ago, but no one had heard a word from the three who pushed on after Sarah. Her husband paced their small quarters as he waited for word of his brother. When she'd first seen his wound, she'd shuddered, but Jacob was recovering much better than she'd feared.

After breakfast on the third day of Jacob's return, Amelia sat on the porch, watching as the cavalry
prepared for maneuvers. Joel sat listlessly beside her, and she put her hand on his arm. “Hang on to your hope, Joel. Maybe Jacob will have news when he gets back.”

Tears hung on his lashes. “He has to find her. He has to!”

She touched his cheek. “He will.”

“Boots and saddles.” Captain Brown shouted the familiar command to mount, and the cavalry swung up onto their horses and rode out of the fort.

Jacob limped across the parade ground to join her and Joel. “The commander says there is still no word. They haven't shown up at Fort Caspar or the Platte River Bridge Station.”

Amelia burst into tears and jumped up to bury her face against Jacob's chest. “I have a terrible feeling she's dead. And we'll never know for sure.”

Jacob held her close, and she tried to take comfort from his strength. She had a dreadful feeling she'd never see any of them again.

Joel stood suddenly and pointed west. “What's that?” Jacob turned and looked, then grew still, his gaze scanning the slope to the west of the fort. He pulled Amelia away. “Wait here.”

“What is it?”

She shaded her eyes with her hand and saw four riders coming down the rocky incline toward the fort. And one of them, dressed in buckskin like an Indian maiden, had sunny red-gold hair. With a sob of relief, she picked up her skirts and ran after Jacob.

“They've got her!” a sentry to the west of the fort shouted as soldiers ran from the mess hall and barracks to greet their beloved Sarah. Amelia wasn't the only one who had just about given up hope.

Soldiers lined the road and cheered as the four travelers, tired and dusty, rode into the fort.

“Sarah!”

With a sob of joy, Sarah slipped off her mare and fell into Amelia's arms. Laughing and crying, she hugged Amelia, then Joel as soldiers cheered and whistled and slapped each other on the backs. Even the post commander was out to greet them.

Amelia looked up at Rand. “I knew you'd find her.”

He grinned down at her. “Always. I'll never let her go.”

Amelia caught her breath. Did he mean what she thought he meant?

Joel clung to Sarah as they walked home.
Home.
She'd never thought to see this modest house again. Rand laughed as he tried to tell their story. But the true story still had to be told.

Amelia sent Joel out with the men, then heated a kettle of water and poured it into a hip bath as Sarah peeled off the dusty, stained buckskin dress. She poured cold water into the bath and tested to make sure it wasn't too hot, then as Sarah eased in with a sigh, Amelia began to comb the tangles out of her friend's red-gold locks.

A half hour later, hair washed and clad in clean clothes, Sarah curled up on the sofa while Amelia stood over her, plaiting Sarah's hair into a long braid. “You have so many bruises. But of course the Indians are notorious for their brutality.”

Her friend's sympathetic touch and voice broke the dam on Sarah's emotions, and she burst into tears. She had to tell someone—she couldn't hold it inside any longer. “It wasn't the Indians, Amelia—they helped me. It was Ben.”

Amelia's fingers in Sarah's hair stilled. “Ben Croftner? He beat you?” Her voice was incredulous, and she curled her hands into fists.

Sarah nodded. In a flood, the horror of her ordeal gushed out. Amelia sat and held her as she choked out the truth.

“Did you tell Rand?” White with shock and disbelief, Amelia pushed the hair out of Sarah's face, then held her close again.

“No. But I know I have to.” Sarah pulled back and laced her hands together. “I–I just couldn't face it. He'll hate me, I know it. You know how jealous he is of Ben.” She shuddered. “What if he thinks I encouraged him? What if he doesn't believe me when I tell him I got away before Ben could—?”

The words hung in the air. Amelia placed her hand over Sarah's hands. “Oh, Sarah, he'll believe you. He's learned to trust again these last few months. And I'm sure he doesn't blame you anymore. It wasn't your fault.”

The front door banged open, and they both turned as Rand, Joel, and Jacob strode into the room.

Rand's face brightened when he saw Sarah. “You look much better.”

“Well, I'm starved. How 'bout you, honey?” Jacob pulled Amelia to her feet. “Let's go get some grub at the mess hall.” They started toward the door. “Come
with us, half-pint,” he told Joel. “We won't be late,” he called over his shoulder.

The ploy to leave them alone was too obvious to be missed, and Sarah suppressed a smile. “I'll fix you some flapjacks.” Rand stared at her arm, and she pulled her shawl over the bruises there.

“I'm not hungry yet. We need to talk. I want to know what happened. You've been avoiding my questions. And I have some things to tell you too.”

Sarah sat back down abruptly. She was tired of worrying about his reaction. There was only one way to find out. “I was afraid you'd blame me, but I swear to you I had no idea he would try something like that.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Ben. He hired some Laramie loafers to grab me,” she blurted the words out in a rush, then hurried on as his face darkened. “When I came to, I was in a locked cabin by myself. Ben showed up—” She drew a ragged breath. “He—he said we should have been married by then. He . . .” Her words trailed away at the irate expression on his face.

“That no-good skunk. So that's what he meant.” Rand leaned over and touched her arm. “He gave
you those bruises? Did he—did he hurt you in any other way?”

She shook her head. “I hit him over the head with a stool leg and knocked him out cold. Then I took off and got away while he was out. Labe was there too, but he wasn't watching the cabin. What did you mean, ‘that's what he meant'? When did you talk to him?”

Rand drew a couple of deep breaths, then grabbed his hat.

“Where are you going?”

“To find Jessica. I have some unfinished business to take care of.” He came back and kissed her quickly. “Don't go outside the grounds. I might not be lucky enough to find you a second time. Don't look so worried. I'll tell the whole story when I get back.” He gazed down into her eyes, then stroked her cheek. “I know it wasn't your fault, Green Eyes.”