Sawbones (31 page)

“Victoria, though, she was too busy saving the niggers from slavery to give Billy much attention. Oh, I'm sure he played the grieving husband to the hilt, but I doubt the loss of Victoria was too profound. I'm sure Billy told you all about Victoria.”

I stood with my hands tied in front of me and stared straight ahead. Black's physical resemblance to Kindle was too keen. Black moved forward, his face inches from mine.

“You mean to tell me Billy was able to seduce you without telling you anything about himself?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Did he tell you how he got his scar? A pack of lies, no doubt. Billy always was good at making himself look like the good guy, like he's completely blameless.”

Black removed a gun from his holster and checked his ammunition. “I've been leaving little clues for Billy for a while.”

“Such as?” Anna asked. Her voice was animated, almost giddy, most like at the idea of freedom Black planted in her head. Or possibly she was merely adapting to the situation to survive, much as she had done with the Comanche.

Black loaded his gun. “Cotter Black was the name of a slave on our plantation. This was back in about forty-seven. Billy was twelve. Cotter Black escaped with Billy's help. I let Cotter get far enough away to make the chase fun and told my father. My father tracked Cotter down and brought him back. He beat him with his cane in front of everyone, slave and family alike. He made Billy deliver the final blows.”

“You brother sounds like a brave and stupid child,” Anna said.

I stared at buzzards circling the canyon floor a half mile away and nodded in appreciation. Anna would be fine.

“More stupid than brave.” Black snapped the cylinder into the gun and holstered it.

“Cotter got what he deserved. So did Billy. He never helped another slave, that's for goddamn sure. I knew when Billy heard the name he would wonder if it was me, come to seek my revenge.”

“Revenge for what?” Anna asked. “The war?”

Black removed the other gun and checked it, ignoring her question.

“Who's Franklin?” Anna tried.

“The sutler at Fort Richardson. That's not his real name. Loyal as a dog. I spared his life when I attacked his Army supply train. Nabbed a nice supply of Winchesters. They paid your ransom, Catherine.

“Franklin ran our malingering scam with Welch, among other things. Not a great moneymaker, but for a man like Welch it was enough. We needed Welch to get information Franklin couldn't. When you came along, Catherine, he wasn't useful anymore. Beating him with a cane was for Billy's benefit.”

Which is why Kindle had Sergeant Washington guarding me.

He holstered his other gun. “The day you saw me across the creek, Catherine, I was looking for you. It's true. Welch told me about the sawbones who saved Billy's life and I had to see you for myself. A woman doctor. You don't get to see one of those every day.”

He circled me, slowly, coming closer and closer with each turn. “You were a revelation, Catherine. Much too handsome to be a doctor.” He ran his hand down my arm. I shivered in disgust.

“A woman like you, alone on the frontier. It was plain from a hundred yards away you were raised to be a lady, marry some fat businessman, and have a houseful of kids before you're thirty.” He stopped behind me and put an arm around my waist. His breath was sour, rancid, as if he was rotting from the inside. He pulled me back against him. I closed my eyes to block out the sensation of his body against mine.

“I wondered if my luck would change,” Black murmured in my ear. “If Billy would finally reveal a little weakness. I've followed Billy across the West, waiting for a sign. Waiting for you.” I heard the scrape of metal on leather and felt the cold steel of a knife on my cheek. I inhaled a shaky breath. Urine trickled down the inside of my leg.

“When I heard you accused Foster of grafting…” Black nuzzled my ear. “I knew you would be my brother's type. And I was right.”

My jaws ached from grinding my teeth together against crying or screaming. Every breath was jagged with the effort to control my emotions. If I'd kept my distance from Kindle as I had intended, none of us would be here. Black wouldn't be able to use me as bait for whatever revenge he had planned for his brother.

I looked at Anna. But she would still be a captive. I took a steadying breath and thought of Anna's future, the one thing worth salvaging. She could move past this, have a normal, long, happy life. If I did what Black asked, he would take her to Jacksboro. Despite everything, I believed him.

“I've been on enough Wanted posters to ascertain what Pope showed you that day. You don't have as good a poker face as you think you do, darlin'. I had a pang of conscience about putting Pope out of commission like I did. He's only guilty of being a bad gambler and borderline drunk. Anyone in his position would have turned you in. It was harder than I thought, but worth it when I saw you and Billy on the road to Jacksboro.” Black's hand found my breast. I squeezed my eyes shut as he fondled me.

He traced the edge of my jaw with his knife. “I have a surprise for you. Do you like surprises?”

I didn't know what answer he wanted so I remained silent and didn't move.

“I watched the Comanche raid your patrol. When they rode away, I finished the lingering soldiers off.” Black pressed the metal against my bottom lip and pulled it down. “I also saved a couple of things for you. Things you will need to start your new life.” Black stepped in front of me. “Sherman's letter and a beautiful necklace.”

I inhaled sharply and tried to keep my expression passive. Black grinned, knowing he had stunned me.

“When I found my father alone,” Black said, “laying in his own shit before Antietam, he made me promise to make Billy pay for betraying and destroying our family. I'm sorry I didn't kill Billy then. If I would've, you wouldn't be here now. The Canadian would have never happened. I can't change that, but I will keep my word to you, and Anna, as I've kept my word to my father.” Black's eyes searched my face and lingered on my lips. “Will you keep your word?”

Fear gripped my stomach and twisted, but I nodded once.

Black stepped closer and put a hand behind my neck. His other hand held the knife. “Kiss me.”

I tried to pull away, but he held my head firm. The sun sat above his right shoulder, shining in my eyes and turning him into a looming shadow. Though I couldn't see her, I knew Anna watched and waited, wondering what I would do. I thought of her giving herself to Quanah to ensure my protection, and swallowing my disgust, lifted my mouth to Black. I pressed my lips to his and pulled back. He twisted my hair in his hand. “You have to do better than that.” The tip of his knife bit into my throat. I pressed my throat against the blade. I would rather die than kiss Cotter Black like a lover. He pulled the knife away, and I spit in his face.

He wiped away the spit and flicked it on the ground.

“You've got spirit, I'll give you that,” he said, with a chuckle. He flipped the knife around, and for a split second, I thought he was going to stab me. Instead, he hit me with his closed fist.

I grunted but did not scream or cry. Blood trickled down my cheek. I wiped it off with my hand and stared at it there before smearing it down the front of Black's shirt. He hit me again. My legs wobbled, but Black held me up by my neck, like a puppet.

“Do you think I'm going to rape you?”

I nodded.

“No,” he said, his voice full of pity. With light fingers, Black brushed my hair from my face. “You're tainted now, Catherine. I wish it wasn't so, but it is.” Black pulled my head to the side, exposing my neck, and kissed me softly behind my ear in the exact place his brother favored. I squeezed my eyes closed as memories of Kindle flashed through my hazy mind. “I'm sorry for what happened on the Canadian,” Black said, and I heard the timbre of Kindle's low, intimate voice. Black trailed kisses down my neck and back up to my cheek before resting his soft, bearded cheek against mine. “You didn't deserve it. It's a damn shame, a passionate woman like you being ruined like that.”

Black released my hair. “Look at me, Catherine.” I opened my eyes. Black looked on me with Kindle's eyes. He squeezed the back of my neck gently, as if massaging a kink from sore muscles. “You'll never kiss another man. My brother's nobility? It's an act. He may stay by you, but he'll never touch you again.”

I shuddered with the effort to keep from crying aloud. My tears flowed too freely and quickly for the gusting wind to dry them. The sense of numb hopelessness that overcame me after the massacre returned. I thought back to the image of Death riding toward me and wished, again, he had succeeded.

“Shh, don't cry.” Black kissed my cheek and the corner of my mouth. “I'm giving you a gift,” he whispered, his lips against mine, his hand stroking my hair. “A chance to forget everything you've been through. To let you be loved one last time.” When I didn't respond, his voice turned hard. “And, you made a deal. If you break it, I will sell you and Anna to the worst batch of buffalo hunters I can find.”

Black lifted my chin with the blade of his knife. “Think of my brother, if it makes it easier.”

Sobbing, I kissed him. His lips were soft, pliant, gentle, like his brother's. I turned my head away, my shoulders shaking from weeping. The cold metal of the knife pressed against my cheek as Black turned my face back to him.

“Catherine,” he said, his voice low and seductive. He pressed his lips against mine, opened his mouth and waited for me to deepen the kiss. Swallowing my helpless shame, I let him have his fill, participating enough to hopefully satisfy whatever desire he had, and longed for Kindle. After a time, Black pulled away. I kept my eyes closed, wanting to keep it inside, buried deep, hidden from the realization of what I'd done, and tried to focus on subduing my shaking body, and stifling my sobs. When I had control of myself, I opened my eyes. The wind hit my tear-filled eyes, blurring my vision further. I blinked the tears away and saw Black staring at me in smug triumph. “A goddamn shame.”

I lifted my hands and tried to scrub the lingering feel of Black's lips from my mouth. “It'll take more than that to forget me, Catherine.” I turned my head away and spit.

His stare shifted over my shoulder, and his face relaxed in relief. “Don't worry.” He winked, keeping his eyes on the trailhead behind me. “I won't tell Billy how much you liked it.”

He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around. His hand was in my hair and his knife was at my neck again before I registered what I saw.

Kindle stood at the top of the trail, his rifle nocked in his shoulder, his eye trained down the barrel at us. I trembled with relief and humiliation at the sight of him. I could still feel Black's lips on mine, his tongue in my mouth.

“John, let her go!” Kindle yelled over the wind.

“Soon, little brother,” Black called.

Kindle took two quick steps forward, his limp noticeable. I reached toward Kindle, but Black held me fast by my hair.

“You just have one more thing to do,” Black said in my ear. Black readjusted the knife, pressing the tip hard against my neck. I could hear the smile in his voice.

“You have to kill my brother.”

I screamed and shook my head and the sobs returned.

Kindle limped slowly forward, still sighting down the barrel of his rifle at us. “Let her go, John, or I'll put a bullet in your head.”

Black pressed his cheek against mine. My body shielded everything but Black's head from Kindle's shot. I felt my hair rip from its roots as Black twisted his fist harder, holding me in place. “You and I both know you aren't that good a shot,” Cotter Black laughed.

“You sure about that?”

“Take the shot.”

Shoot him and end this, please.

I tried to twist away from Black but couldn't. He chuckled in my ear. “He won't shoot. He loves you too much.”

Kindle gripped his rifle and moved another step closer but didn't shoot.

“Drop the rifle over the edge of the cliff,” Black called out.

“So you can kill us all? I don't think so.”

“I don't want to hurt Catherine, but I will.” Black jerked the hand holding the knife. The blade sliced through my neck, followed by the sharp pain of the cut. I gasped and raised my bound heads to my neck. They came away bloody. “It's merely a scratch,” Black said, voice low. My reaction and the blood had the desired effect on Kindle.

“Goddamn you, John,” Kindle said. He threw his rifle over the edge and held his hands up. “Now, stop hiding behind a woman and fight me like a man.”

No, I thought, the second before Black pushed me away toward Anna. I stumbled and fell onto the hard rock ground. With Kindle's leg and shoulder wounds, he wouldn't have a chance against Black. On my bound hands and knees, I looked up in time to see Black sheath his knife and the brothers run at each other. Just before Kindle was in arm's reach, Black dropped to one knee and punched Kindle in his wounded thigh. Kindle screamed and fell. Black rose and drove his fist up under Kindle's descending jaw. Kindle flew backward and landed on his back.

Black turned away from Kindle and walked a couple of steps toward me and Anna, an amused expression on his face. “I'm sorry he isn't much of a knight in shining armor, Catherine. You deserve better.” I kept my gaze squarely on Black and watched Kindle rise behind him in my peripheral vision. Kindle's hair was tousled, his clenched jaw was dusted with the stubble of days-old beard, and his eyes were full of murderous rage. I couldn't help myself; I grinned. Black stopped and turned, and met Kindle's fist squarely. Black stumbled backward, regained his feet, and went for his brother.

Anna was beside me. With fumbling hands, she worked at loosening the ropes that bound my hands together. I did the same for her to the sound of grunts and thuds of hits, the crunch of bone and the scrape of boots on rock. My hands free, I looked up. Kindle had Black around the neck with one arm and punched him in the face with the other, repeatedly. Black's boots scrabbled at the ground, but eventually went limp, as did his entire body. Kindle dropped his brother to the ground in a heap. Kindle kicked Black in the stomach five, six times, and finished the beating with a kick to Black's face. Kindle stood over him, chest heaving, his knuckles bloody and bruised, his clothes covered in red dust. Kindle nudged his brother with his boot. Black didn't respond. I stood on shaky legs and helped Anna stand.

Mechanically, Kindle removed his gun from his holster and pointed it at his brother's head. His white shirt was covered with red dust and droplets of blood, his and his brothers. With a loud screech a buzzard flew a few feet above Kindle, startling him. When he noticed us huddling together, the viciousness in his eyes evaporated. He holstered his gun and limped to me.

“Catherine!”

He held out his arms as if he wanted to hold me but was too terrified to try. “My God, Catherine. What did he do to you?”

How I wanted to talk, to tell him how sorry I was and how much I loved him. When I tried, all that came out was a hoarse, painful “Ahh.”

Anna said, “He punched her in the throat.”

Kindle found my damaged hands, paused as he realized what it meant for my future as a doctor, and lifted them to his lips. “I love you.”

I smiled and nodded through my tears—tears of shame and fear, relief and joy—and hoped Kindle understood. I knew Kindle would get us out of here, would keep me from having to choose.

“Can you walk?”

“Yes,” Anna replied. Tears had created streaks of pale skin amid the red dust covering our faces.

With great care, Kindle put his arm around my waist and half-carried me across the table of the rock formation. We were almost to the trail leading down the side of the cliff when Black called out. He stood crookedly, gun aimed at the three of us.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance, Billy.”

Kindle tensed. “Go. Someone is waiting halfway down.”

He turned to Cotter Black. “I should have killed you at Antietam. I'm gonna kill you here and leave your bones to bleach in the sun.” He walked toward his brother. Anna tried to lead me away. I wrenched my arm from her grasp. I pointed down the trail and mouthed, “Go,” before pushing her away. I turned and followed Kindle at a distance.

“You gonna shoot me with my gun?” Black said. He nodded to Kindle's holster. “Can't believe you're still carrying it. Does that mean you've missed me?”

Kindle glanced down at his holstered gun. “I always liked your gun better than I liked you.”

“Take it off and drop it on the ground.”

“No.” They walked around each other, prey ready to strike, waiting on the perfect time.

“He couldn't kill me back at Antietam, Catherine. Probably thought I would die in prison, save him the guilt of killing me himself.” I couldn't see Kindle's reaction, but the grin on Black's face told me he'd hit a nerve. Black flinched forward, as if pouncing, before pulling back. Kindle balked, but regained his composure.

“I got the better end of that fight. Your scar looks good, Billy. Gives you an edge of danger you never had before. I bet the whores
love
the scar.” Black did his best courtly bow. “You're welcome.”

Black had succeeded in walking Kindle around so he stood between us and Kindle. Kindle stood on the edge of the plateau, alone and vulnerable, halfway between the two columns of balanced rock.

“Catherine, come here or I will kill him right now.”

The wind whipped around us, almost deafening in its intensity. I didn't move. Black turned his head toward me but kept his eyes, and gun, on Kindle. “Catherine.” He voice held a note of warning. “Remember what I said to you; I keep my promises. It's time for you to keep yours.”

I started forward. “Not you, Anna. You stay right there.” I looked over my shoulder and saw Anna standing a few feet behind me.
Stupid girl. Save yourself and us. Go down and get help.

“You've been a good girl so far, Anna,” Black said. “None of this is your fight. Remember that and you'll make it to Jacksboro alive. Lay down on your stomach.”

Anna looked at me while she obeyed, her expression a pained combination of hope at being taken to safety and regret she hadn't left like Kindle and I ordered. I gave her an encouraging smile at odds with the fear in my breast and turned toward Black.

“On your knees, William,” Black said.

Black held his gun on Kindle as he knelt, and motioned for me to come closer. Black's eyes glittered in anticipation as I made my way slowly toward the two brothers. When I was ten feet away, Black stepped forward and kicked Kindle in his wounded thigh. When Kindle doubled over in pain, Black hit him in his wounded shoulder. Kindle screamed and fell to the ground. I rushed forward and grabbed Black's arm as he hit Kindle across the face with the butt of his gun, taking some of the force from the blow, but not enough to keep Kindle's scar from opening.

With a growl of anger, Black punched me on the wounded side of my head. I fell to my hands and knees. The ground pitched and rolled beneath me. Kindle reached his hand out to me and I crawled to him.

“How touching.” Black grabbed me by the hair and yanked me to my feet before my hand could reach Kindle. I screamed and grabbed at Black's hands to stop the pain. Black pressed the gun to the top of my head and I stilled. Through my blurred vision I saw Kindle push himself to a kneeling position. He sat back on his heels to steady himself and glared at his brother with a deep and abiding hatred. He spat blood onto the ground, the red of the blood blending with the red of the dust and rocks around us.

In that instant, Black's plan became clear; the last thing Kindle would see was the woman he loved betraying him, as Emma had betrayed John Kindle. I would win Anna's freedom, and have to somehow live with what I'd done.

No.

The bastard was going to have to earn his revenge. I struggled to get away from Black, and punched him as hard as I could in the ribs while stomping on his foot.

“Godammit, woman.” He pushed my head down and lifted his leg. My nose met his knee with a sickening crunch and he threw me back onto the ground. Pinpricks of light danced at the edge of my darkening vision. “You're making this much harder than it needs to be.”

Kindle lunged forward weakly, holding the knife from his boot. Black grabbed Kindle's wrist and bent it back. Kindle screamed as the knife fell uselessly from his grip. Black punched Kindle repeatedly in the side of the head, and Kindle crumpled to the ground.

Black picked the knife up and threw it over the edge of the cliff. “Jesus Christ, you two are determined. Don't even think about it.” Black pointed the gun in Anna's direction. Anna had pushed herself halfway up. She lay back down.

Lying on my side I watched through half-open eyes as Black grabbed Kindle's leg and dragged him on his back toward the discarded saddlebags. He pulled out a strip of leather, jerked Kindle to his knees, and tied his hands behind his back.

Kindle mumbled something. Black removed Kindle's gun from its holster and tossed it aside. “What?” Black said.

“Incorrigible,” Kindle said. His eyes found mine, and despite his pain, he managed to grin at me. “We're incorrigible.”

Black pressed his gun to the middle of Kindle's forehead. “Take a long, last look at your lover, Billy. I knew you'd come to rescue her. Just like you tried to rescue Cotter Black. And my wife, who didn't need rescuing.”

“She begged me to help her get away from you, from our father.” Kindle was slumped forward and spoke in a resigned voice, as if he'd had this conversation before.

“Lies. Enough about Emma. She's dead because of you.” Black jerked his head in my direction. “Go on. Look what you've done to her.” Kindle's gaze settled on me. Black continued. “The Comanche, they weren't supposed to fuck her. But, she got a shot off during the attack, hit one of them in the leg. There's nothing worse than an angry Indian. They spent a day on the banks of the Canadian, taking turns with her.” Kindle looked away, disgust clear on his face. I closed my eyes, hoping to evaporate, to disappear.

“Father?”

Beau Kindle stood at the trailhead behind us. I pushed myself into a kneeling position and slowly rose.

Black squinted. “Beau? You were supposed to come alone, William.”

“Blame Franklin. He wasn't as sneaky as he should have been. Beau overheard our conversation and insisted on coming.” Though I was directly in front of him, Kindle looked everywhere but me.

“I thought you were dead,” Beau said, in a voice that sounded achingly young.

I turned away from the family reunion. Beneath me, the blood-splattered ground of Palo Duro Canyon swayed like the deck of a ship on a stormy ocean. I held my hand out toward the horizon, a beautiful, cloudless blue against the red canyon, and walked toward the edge of the cliff. The wind pushed against me, blew dust into my face and eyes, replacing the nature's beauty with the memory of Kindle's expression of disgust.

“Catherine, come here.” I looked over my shoulder. Black motioned to me with the gun.

Beau stepped forward, and with nervous resolve said, “Father, this is wrong. Let them go.”

Black sighed. “I should have known you'd be weak like your mother.” In a quick, fluid motion, Black turned the gun from Kindle's head, aimed at Anna, and shot. The ground next to Anna's head exploded and she screamed. Kindle flinched, but Black held the gun to his head before he could move.

“Take off your holster and throw it over the edge, Beau.” When Beau didn't move Black said, “Next time, I won't miss.”

Beau did as ordered.

“Now, lay down on your stomach.” He complied.

I faced the brothers. Kindle stared at the ground, unwilling or unable to meet my gaze. Not taking his eyes from Beau, Black said, “Catherine, come here.” I walked to Black, who removed his extra gun and handed it to me. It was heavy in my hand.

Black moved behind me and whispered, “You know what you have to do. You and Anna will get your lives back.” Black stood close behind me and pointed his gun at Anna. She would be dead before I would be able to turn around and shoot him.

Kindle's head rose slowly, and he finally met my gaze. Kindle's beautiful face was a mask of blood, bruises. Shame. Guilt. Pity. Regret. I lifted the gun and pointed it at him. His eyes widened.

“Dr. Elliston, don't!” Beau said.

“Shut up, Beau,” Black yelled.

The wind flowed around me, silencing everything. Black screamed in my ear to pull the trigger. Anna was sobbing, her eyes closed, her face bathed in tears. Kindle knelt before me in utter defeat. Blood dripped from a cut above his eye. Lips that had gently kissed my breast were split, swollen, and bloody.

I dropped my arm and closed my eyes and thought of our last night together. I heard Kindle whispering how much he loved me, promises of a happy life and home, a soft bed to share and make love on until we were old and gray. A dream lost to us. I tried to look forward and see a future. All I saw was pity and shame, guilt and misery. I focused on the love I'd discovered with Kindle, an emotion I never expected to be blessed with, and was grateful. I opened my eyes.