Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (86 page)

Three white men. Josh was sure the men he pursued numbered seven. Perhaps they had split up, or these were different poachers. Josh didn’t relish the idea of tracking down a completely new group of outlaws. He hoped when Kyle came back to the valley in a month or two, he would bring news that more men could be hired to uphold the laws within the park boundaries. Taking on this task by himself was proving to be too daunting. Especially now that he had a family to think about. His gut tightened, and he smiled.
Especially since you have a beautiful wife waiting for you.

Josh lengthened his strides, keen on getting home. Without a horse, he chose a shortcut through the Firehole Canyon. The terrain was rocky and steep, but it also shaved off several miles to his destination. The river roared loudly as he made his way north. The snow here in this canyon was still quite deep in places, and Josh questioned his decision. Too late to turn back and head for easier ground, he trudged on, shaking his head that a woman could have such an effect on his judgment. He would have never chosen a more dangerous trail in trade for a speedy return home.

By the time the canyon widened, and the Madison Valley stretched out before him, Josh cursed his stupidity. He had made good time, but he was drenched in sweat from the strenuous trail. Dani certainly wouldn’t want him anywhere near her, smelling the way he did. He eyed the fast flowing waters of the Firehole. Before he allowed himself time to think, he propped his rifle on a nearby boulder, and stripped out of his clothes. Without hesitation, he entered the water, and quickly rinsed off. Even though these waters were heated by the nearby geysers south of here, the ambient temperature left him shivering while he donned his clothes. He hoped Dani had a warm fire going. He grabbed for his rifle, and chuckled. Holding his wife in his arms would warm him up quick enough.

Twenty minutes later, he opened the door to his cabin. A welcoming warm blast of air greeted him as he stepped into the room. The fire in the hearth crackled loudly.  Josh scanned the room. Other than the fire, his cabin seemed eerily quiet.

“Dani?” he called. A warm smile spread across his face when she emerged from her bedroom. His heart quickened, then stopped. Close behind her stood a man in uniform. Josh’s eyes narrowed, and he raised his rifle. Lieutenant Douglas?

“Hello, Josh.” Dani’s cold voice froze his insides quicker than the plunge in the river he’d just endured. His eyes darted from her to the lieutenant standing behind her, Dawn in his arms. What the hell was going on here?

“Put that rifle down, Osborne. No need for violence,” Douglas said, his voice dripping with glee. “Why don’t you fill him in on what’s going on, darling.” He laid one arm around Dani’s shoulder, smiling brightly.

“Yeah, by all means, tell me what’s going on, Dani?” Josh could barely get the words out. His mind raced with possible scenarios. What on earth was Douglas doing here, calling her darling, no less? A sinking feeling swept over him, which was quickly replaced by an all-consuming rage.

“I lied to you, Josh,” Dani said, staring straight at him. Her voice was firm, and held no hint of warmth. “Jonathan is Dawn’s father. I didn’t shoot him like I told you. We had a disagreement many months ago, before he knew I was expecting his child. We were both very surprised a few weeks ago to see each other again.” She laughed sheepishly, and looked over her shoulder, smiling at Douglas. Josh clenched his jaw. His grip on his rifle tightened as he absorbed Dani’s words.

 ”He came back today, and asked for my forgiveness. We’ve reconciled our differences.  It’s best for Dawn, and for me, if I marry him, Josh. She needs to know her real father. She . . .  would always be ostracized with a . . . an Indian as her pa. I hope you can understand.”

“I’m beginning to understand all right,” he sneered. How could he be so foolish? His mind raced. Dani was a good actress. Who was she playing right now, him or Douglas? 

“Get out of my house,” he said in a low tone, his eyes on Douglas. The thought to put a bullet right through Douglas’ brain tempted him. He couldn’t do it. Not while the man was holding Dawn, his daughter. His daughter. He was the one who helped Dani bring her into the world, who held her for the first time, who took care of her when she cried and rocked her endlessly in the night. Had it all been a lie? Had Dani lied to him about being raped? Come to think of it, she sure hadn’t acted like a woman who would be fearful of a man’s touch.

“Ah, there is one other matter we need to discuss, Osborne,” Lieutenant Douglas took a step forward to stand beside Dani.

“And what would that be?” Josh ground out. Dammit! Why was that man holding the baby? If not for that, Josh would have choked the smirk from his face permanently by now.

“My men found fresh bison pelts in your barn. I think the authorities would be mighty interested in knowing that the man the government hired to protect the park’s animals is the very same person killing them.”

Josh balled his free hand into a fist and took a step toward Douglas. He laughed. “You son of a bitch,” he snarled. “You know damn well those pelts aren’t mine. I just returned from finding twelve fresh bison carcasses to the south of here. You explain to me how they ended up in my barn.” His eyes darted to Dani. She quickly averted here eyes.

“You know damn well he’s lying, Danica. Teaches me never to trust a
white
woman again,” he added with disdain. With satisfaction, he took note of her quick intake of breath.

“I’m afraid my men are going to have to take you into custody,” Douglas gloated.

Josh laughed. “The army has no authority here,” he said.

“That’s about to change. Plans are in place to build a fort to the north of here soon, in an area called Mammoth Hot Springs. The army is about to take control of this park, to keep criminals and filthy savages out.”

“Get the hell off my land,” Josh roared. He regretted his outburst instantly. His loud voice had startled the baby, and she began to cry.

“Hand her to me, Jonathan,” Dani said, her voice pleading.

“I’ve got her, darling,” Douglas refused to hand the baby to her mother. “As her pa, she needs to get used to me, too.” Turning to Josh, the infant held stiffly in his arm, he commanded, “Now lay down your rifle, and cooperate.”

“The hell I will,” Josh said, his eyes staring at Dani. What was going on here? Was Douglas truly Dawn’s father? Josh didn’t know what to believe.
Think, Running Wolf, think.

“Very well, you leave me no choice,” Douglas said, sounding cheerful and glad that Josh wasn’t simply going to roll over. No sooner had he uttered the words, and several soldiers stormed into the cabin. Josh had no time to react when one of them rammed the butt end of a rifle in his gut. He bent forward, the wind knocked out of him, and coughed. Quickly, he turned to take a swing at his attacker. Another hard object came crashing down over his skull, and Josh fell to the ground. He fought to remain conscious, the pain at the back of his head excruciating.

“Tie him up.” Douglas’ voice sounded distant and far away. “Let’s go, darling Danica. We have to go meet your father in Virginia City.”

Josh tried to raise his head. Rough hands pulled his arms behind his back. The heavy boot of a man on his spine prevented him from getting up. His hands were roughly tied with rope, the twine biting into the flesh on his wrists. He focused his blurry eyes on the skirt swishing past him. Dani stopped.

“Come, darling,” Jonathan’s insistent voice resonated in Josh’s mind. He blinked again, fighting the darkness that swept over him. Groaning, he fought the ropes that tied his hands behind his back. The soldier’s boot pushed down on him heavily, making breathing difficult.

As he slipped into unconsciousness, Dani’s softly spoken, barely perceptible words echoed in his mind. “
Nu suuntsa nian kuhma
.”

Chapter 22

“Well done, darling,” Lieutenant Douglas said, holding Danica’s arm in a firm grip. He led her toward the group of four soldiers waiting in the yard. Three sat astride their mounts, rifles in hand, while a fourth held several horses, saddled and ready.

“You planned all this well,” Danica said coldly.

Douglas smiled at her, and she felt sick. “My men had orders to make a good show of killing those bison. We’d seen that pitiful group of Indian beggars already, and I knew they would be too cowardly to do anything on their own. I counted on them to alert your dear half-breed. I needed him out of the way so I could come for you.”

“You’re nothing but a coward,” Danica hissed. “Using a baby as a shield. You could never face Josh on even terms. You know he could kill you in the blink of an eye.”

Douglas shrugged carelessly. “Why take chances?” he said. “I was counting on his noble side, that he wouldn’t dare shoot me or attack me while I was holding your brat.”

“Hand me my daughter,” she demanded. “You got what you wanted. Now give her back to me.”

“Get on the horse, Danica, and I’ll hand her over.” He stopped, and turned her to face him. “You make one wrong move, or try and run, and you have my word, I will kill you and the baby.”

Danica stared into his cold eyes. “If you kill me,” she said slowly between clenched teeth, “there goes all that money you hope to inherit from my father.” She smiled smugly. “And if you dare lay a hand on my daughter, you might as well kill me, because at that point there won’t be anything holding me back from killing you.”

Douglas laughed scornfully. Danica clenched her fists at her side to keep herself from striking him.

“The baby is of no use to me, Danica. With or without it, I’ll get your daddy’s money.”

“You lay one hand on my child, and you’ll wish you had never been born,” she said heatedly, her eyes narrowing on him. She wasn’t going to show how terrified she was at the thought of losing her daughter to this madman. For the time being, she had no choice but to cooperate. Danica had no doubt he would kill Dawn without batting an eyelash.

Douglas continued to laugh, and pushed her toward the horse. “Big threats from such a little lady,” he said. “Now get on that horse. We’ve got a ways to go before dark.”

Danica held her tongue, and reached for the saddle horn. Placing her left foot in the stirrup, she pulled herself onto the horse’s back. The soldier holding the animal’s reins leered up at her, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Make sure to keep your filthy pack of coyotes away from me.” She glared at Douglas when she was seated in the saddle, and leaned down and took Dawn from him. She tucked her securely in the sling she’d fashioned from a blanket, and held her close to her chest. She tucked the small bundle of clean linens she’d grabbed from the cabin in haste around Dawn for added warmth.

The lieutenant didn’t respond. He turned to mount his own horse. “Let’s move out,” he shouted, and kicked his horse to the front of the group. Danica was not given the reins to her horse. The soldier, who looked at her like a mongrel ready to pounce on a piece of scrap meat, pulled her horse along close to his own. He leaned over his saddle and spat tobacco juice onto the ground, some dribbling down his chin.

Danica closed her eyes in disgust. She grabbed hold of the saddle horn with one hand, and kept her other arm wrapped snugly around her daughter. Good thing the baby was asleep at the moment and didn’t fuss. She glanced over her shoulder toward the cabin that had been her home for the last six weeks, a place she had grown to love. What was happening to Josh? She fought back the tears welling up in her eyes, and swallowed back the bile in her throat.

Watching those men beat him to the ground had been the most difficult thing she’d ever witnessed. Harder than watching her friends fight for their lives last summer. It had taken all her willpower to remain next to Douglas while the man she loved was brought to his knees. Fear for Dawn and Josh’s life kept her rooted to the spot.  She had no choice but to do what Douglas had told her, or risk her baby’s death.

What if the three soldiers who had been left behind killed Josh? She would have no way of knowing. Danica couldn’t prevent the tears that spilled from her eyes. Josh’s last conscious thought of her was that she had lied to him and betrayed him. She’d tried to make him understand, quietly uttering the words of love he’d taught her in Shoshone. Did he even hear her? Had she said the words correctly? He hadn’t moved, lying there on the floor, his hands tied behind his back. She refused to believe she’d never see him again. Fate had brought them together again after their one encounter five years ago. Surely, this was not how their short-lived happiness would end.

They rode until sundown, when Douglas finally ordered his men to stop and make camp along a shallow creek. Danica glanced around at her surroundings. The forest closed in on them all around the little clearing where they camped. It was not a very sheltered area, and Danica feared her daughter might be unable to bear the cold during the night.

Refusing the soldier’s help who kept ogling her, she cautiously dismounted the horse, and stretched her sore legs. Dawn squirmed in her sling, but didn’t wake. Danica quickly untied the bedroll tied to the back of her saddle. Wordlessly, she headed toward a pile of large boulders near the creek that were arranged in an almost U-shape. She spread the blanket on the ground. This spot seemed the best place to offer her some protection from the wind and cold. It would have to be enough, she thought with some worry. Keeping Dawn warm through the frigid night was her main concern.

“Lieutenant, I would appreciate it if one of your men could build me a fire over here. I need to keep warm tonight,” she called. All men’s heads turned in her direction. Douglas’ eyebrows shot up in surprise, and his mouth widened in a false smile.

“I’ll keep ya warm tonight, if ya’d like,” one of the men shouted. The rest laughed.

Danica glared at Douglas. “If anyone so much as comes within ten feet of me, I’ll kill him.” Everyone roared with laughter. “Or myself,” she added coldly. “Since you seem to think I’m your meal ticket, lieutenant, you’d be wise to keep the filth away from me. And that includes you.” Her eyes didn’t waver, and she held her head up proudly.

“No one touches her,” Douglas growled at his men. Loud grumbling followed his order, but the men dispersed and set up camp. Douglas walked up to her.

“Bold words from someone who’d better mind her place,” he said quietly.

“I’m not afraid of you,” Danica spat, and leaned toward him. “I know you won’t hurt me, or my daughter. We’re too valuable to you.”

“Once you’re wed to me, you won’t be talking so tough anymore,” Douglas sneered.

Danica shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “How do you propose to marry me, lieutenant?” she asked in a mocking whisper. “I can’t be married to two men at the same time. Even if you do send Josh off to some reservation. He’s still my husband.”

Douglas laughed. “You’re probably already a widow by now, Danica.”

Danica’s mouth dropped open, and her heart skipped a beat. Was he serious, or simply trying to rile her? “You told me you wouldn’t kill him if I cooperated with your plan. I did exactly as you told me. Josh hates me now. He’ll have no problem signing papers to divorce me.”

“Do you really think I’d take the chance that he won’t, Danica?” Douglas smiled that cold smile of his. “I can’t risk him coming after you. From everything I’ve seen, he holds you in pretty high esteem.”

“You son of a bitch,” she hissed, and took a step back. “You lied to me from the beginning. You never planned to let Josh live.”

“Couldn’t risk it,” he shrugged. His face turned hard, and his lips clenched in a tight line. “Mind your place, Danica, if you know what’s good for you.” 

Danica inhaled slowly. It took all her willpower to remain composed. She thought she had saved Josh’s life by complying with Douglas’ demands. Instead, she stood by idly while the lieutenant’s men beat him into submission. They might have killed him by now. Abruptly, she turned away from Douglas. She didn’t want to look at the satisfied smirk on his face.

“I need that fire, and another blanket. Grant me at least some semblance of dignity,” she said stoically, and carefully lowered herself to the ground on top of the blanket she had spread out. Dawn would wake soon, and she’d demand to be fed.

 She had no desire to have five men leer at her while she nursed her child. She felt the Lieutenant’s eyes on her back, then heard his boots scuff the grass as he walked off. Minutes later, a soldier brought her another blanket, and built a fire a few feet from her. Wordlessly, he handed her some hardtack, and rejoined his companions at their communal fire.

Darkness descended, and Dawn stirred. Before the baby had a chance to cry, Danica held her to her breast. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, trying to find courage in her words to her daughter.  She shuddered involuntarily. What if Josh was truly dead? What if they had killed him? She swallowed several times, and wiped at her eyes. If he was dead, it would be because of her.

She refused to believe it. She’d gone along with Douglas’ demands to save her daughter and the man she loved. Josh would survive a forced trip to an Indian reservation. She’d planned to come for him as soon as she’d gotten rid of Douglas for good. She had planned to go to Helena and find Josh’s family. Kyle and Chase Russell had influence in the territory. They would be able to get Josh back. She wouldn’t even entertain the notion that she wouldn’t have an opportunity to kill Lieutenant Douglas.  She simply needed to bide her time. As much as she wanted to escape these men tonight, she couldn’t risk getting lost in the wilderness again. For now, she planned to cooperate. Once they reached Virginia City, she would figure out what to do.

Danica curled up on the hard ground. She wrapped her daughter protectively in her sling blanket and held her close to her own body, careful to keep the baby off the cold ground. She pulled the extra blanket over herself. Her mind wandered to the Madison Valley. She tried to tune out the loud and boisterous ruckus from the men around the campfire. She stiffened when she heard footsteps approach.

“Sorry to disturb you, ma’am. I was just adding more wood to your fire.” It was the first kind voice she’d heard since leaving the cabin. She strained her eyes, but couldn’t see the soldier’s face. She suspected it was the same man who had built her fire in the first place and offered her the dried biscuits.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

When the soldier left, she closed her eyes.  Josh’s face was as vivid in her mind as if he stood before her. He whispered soft words of love to her in his mother’s language, and his deep brown eyes beckoned to her. Danica squeezed her eyes shut.

“I love you, Josh,” she whispered into the darkness. “Dawn and I will always love you.”