Another Dawn (57 page)

      
Less than half-a-mile from the execution chamber, Rosie went on strike. Luke begged, pleaded, coaxed, and he even smacked her on the rump, but the horse refused to budge.

      
She was old and he'd pushed her too far, too fast, too hard. Leaving her to forage, and hoping she’d survive until he could return, he took the gun and what supplies he could carry, and continued up the mountain on foot.
 

      
To Sofie. She had to be all right. Had to...

      
"Well, I'll be gol-durned," a familiar voice called from just ahead.

      
Luke looked up and saw the beautiful, gnarled face of Zeke Judson. The hillbilly grinned and started toward Luke.
 

      
"I didn't figger on seein' you in these parts again,
Padre."

      
Luke didn't have time to explain everything now, so he cut to the critical stuff. Sofie. "Zeke, am I glad to see you."

      
"Somethin's wrong."
 
Zeke's expression grew solemn. "Where's Miss Dr. Sofie?"

      
"She's been kidnapped."
 
That was true. "Remember Smith?"

      
"The burned fella?"

      
"Right."
 
Luke drew a deep breath, then plunged ahead. "He followed us to Denver and kidnapped Sofie. Said he was taking her back to where we were in that explosion."

      
"When her head got bunged up."

      
"Yeah."

      
"Why?" Zeke scratched his head.
 

      
Luke stared into Zeke's rheumy eyes. "Because he wants to kill me. He's using her to lure me there."

      
"What in tarnation...?" Zeke gave a brief nod. "Show me where."
 
He held his shotgun in both hands.

      
Luke pointed up the mountain. "At the top."
 
He looked around. "Are you alone?"

      
"Me 'n Ab was huntin', an' I been tryin' to talk him outta gittin' hitched."
 
Zeke aimed his thumb over his shoulder. "I'll fetch him."

      
"All right, but I can't wait. I'll meet you in the cave at the top of this mountain."
 
Luke grabbed Zeke's arm. "Thank you."

      
Zeke gave a quick nod, then jogged away to find Ab.
 

      
Luke had help now. With renewed determination, he continued up the mountain. Realizing Graham would be waiting for him, he moved into the trees, constantly watching the granite wall that shielded the execution chamber.

      
And the chair.

      
He tried not to remember the searing jolts of electricity plundering through his body. He tried not to remember the terror of being restrained in that chair, knowing he was about to die.

      
He tried...but failed.

      
Finally, the granite wall where he and Sofie had emerged that morning appeared. Still unaccustomed to the weight of a gun in his hand, Luke tightened his grip. The last time he'd held a gun was the night his life had been destroyed.

      
If necessary, he would use this gun. And if he had to die to save Sofie, so be it.

      
Graham wanted justice. Luke Nolan would give the bastard justice.

      
He ducked behind a tree near the opening and looked back down the mountain. No sign of Zeke and Ab yet. Something white floated by. Snow. The flakes multiplied quickly, and the wind whipped them into a frenzy.

      
Looking down the mountain again, Luke realized the sudden storm would delay Zeke and Ab, and possibly prevent them from finding the mountain at all.
Damn
. Then Luke glanced toward the opening again, realizing the snow would also make him more difficult to see.

      
He slid the saddlebags from his shoulder and left them beside a tree, then checked to make sure the gun was loaded. It was.

      
Walking boldly through the blinding snow, Luke faced his two greatest fears.
 

      
The electric chair and losing Sofie.

      
The former was acceptable, but only if it prevented the latter.

      
He pressed his back against the icy granite, inching his way along it toward the opening. Memories of the last time he'd been here threatened to interfere. He'd never seen a more beautiful dawn than that one, but tomorrow's would be even more beautiful.

      
With Sofie.

      
He squeezed through the opening and held his breath. The stench of decomposing bodies hit him like a missile. His execution chamber had become a time-traveling tomb.

      
Swallowing his nausea, he flattened himself against the inner wall. The chamber was almost completely dark and he waited for his heart to slow to a reasonable pace.

      
Lantern light suddenly appeared across the wide chamber, drawing Luke's gaze.
 

      
Sofie.

      
Tied to a chair with a gag over her mouth, she sat there staring at him. She shook her head violently, her eyes wide with fear.

      
Where was–

      
Something heavy slammed into Luke's skull. He struggled to remain standing, to hold on to the gun, but the floor rushed toward him.

      
Strong arms grabbed him from behind and the gun fell with a loud clatter. Luke blinked, trying to focus and reach for it, but a booted foot shot out from behind him and kicked the gun across the cement floor.

      
"Justice."

      
That grating voice jerked Luke back from the dark, welcoming void that called to him. He couldn't pass out now.

      
"Sofie," he whispered.

      
The warden chuckled. "Your chair awaits."

      
Luke was so weak he could barely move. His head swam and his gut heaved.
 

      
"Look, Nolan, there it is."
 
The warden dragged Luke toward the center of the chamber. "Open your eyes, you filthy murderer and
look."

      
Luke heard Sofie trying to shout through her gag, and he looked at her again. She was so close, but he couldn't wrench himself free of the warden's death grip.

      
"No, look there."
 
Graham grabbed Luke's head and aimed it toward something shiny.

      
The chair.

      
Firewood had been carefully arranged around the chair. So Graham had made a few modifications for Luke's execution. Steel didn't burn, but flesh did. His flesh.

      
Luke drew a deep breath and pulled one arm free. He twisted and fought, but Graham flung him to the ground and came down on him with his knee.

      
"Let her go."
 
Luke would do anything to save the woman he loved. Anything.
 

      
"She's a terrorist."

      
That made no sense. Luke shook his head and looked up at the hooded monster. "Free Sofie...and I'll do it."
 
Come on, Zeke.

      
Something heavy fell near the entrance. The ceiling was coming down. Luke looked up at the broken beams and crumbling rock.
 

      
Graham appeared to weigh his options, then moved his knee from Luke's chest. As he stood, he pulled a gun from his pocket. "In the chair."

      
"You'll free Sofie?"

      
"Get in the chair."

      
Luke had no options. Again. Graham had a gun and he held Sofie prisoner. Defeated, Luke turned to face the chair.

      
Sofie screamed through her gag, but he didn't permit himself to look at her now. The moment he touched the icy metal, Luke's body filled with the heat of electrocution all over again. He felt the pain as if the volts were raging through him at this very moment.

      
God help us.
 

      
Swallowing his fear as much as possible, he dropped into the chair and looked up at Sofie. She was frantically trying to get free.
 

      
"Don't...watch, Sofie," he said, still staring at her, even as Graham wrapped rope around the chair and Luke and tied it.
 

      
Once Luke's arms and torso were secure, the warden tied Luke's ankles to the chair as well. Then the bastard walked away and released Sofie from the chair. She leapt up and hurried toward Luke, her hands still tied behind her back and her mouth gagged.

      
"Terrorist," Graham shouted from behind her, shoving her into Luke's lap.

      
"No!"
 
Luke's roar echoed through the chamber, and another shower of stones and steel beams fell from the ceiling. "Let her go."

      
"Terrorist," Graham repeated as he tied Sofie to the chair with Luke. "Burn with the murderer."

      
Luke met Sofie's terrified gaze. She sat sideways in his lap, and her arms and shoulders were securely tied to the chair. The gag prevented her from talking.

      
He craned his neck to reach her mouth with his, using his teeth to pull the gag away. She gulped air into her lungs.

      
"Luke, I remember," she said breathlessly. "I remember why I was here that morning."

      
Graham walked around the chair, igniting the firewood in several places.
Hurry, Zeke.

      
"I love you, Sofie," Luke whispered. "I'm so sorry."

      
"I'm not a doctor."

      
"Terrorist," Graham muttered.

      
"I came here to stop your execution and an activist group helped me get inside the prison. In here."
 
A tear trickled down her face. "They said I looked like the doctor who was scheduled to attend the execution. They grabbed her and I took her place. I didn't know they planned to bomb the prison."

      
"Liar."
 
Graham struck another match and dropped it to the outer circle of wood, obviously wanting to prolong his pleasure.

      
"Sadistic bastard."

      
"Luke, listen to me," Sofie pleaded. "I don't want to die without telling you the truth."

      
And, barring a miracle, they would die. "Go on."
 
Smoke thickened and curled around them, spiraling toward the high ceiling of the chamber. "Tell me, Sofie."

      
"My brother..."
 
She bit her lower lip. "He died the night before your execution. He was shot by the police after a robbery."

      
"I'm listening."
 
Luke concentrated on her voice, on her face, and shut out the choking smoke and approaching death. They were bound so tightly, nothing could save them from the flames.

      
"Ricky, my brother–"

      
"Ricky?" Luke's head roared. "My God."

      
"Yes, as he was dying, he told me about the liquor store clerk," she said quickly. "And about you."

      
Luke gazed into her eyes. "Your brother?"

      
Sofie nodded. "He was a wild boy, always in trouble, and..."
 
She coughed in the thickening smoke. "But before he died, he begged me to stop your ex...execution."