Part 16 (2/2)

She looked up then. Her big eyes had lost their terror.

”I was fine until the candle went out,” she informed him. ”At leastapretty good. IaI recited Scripture and prayed. I even sangaa little bit. Butaafter I lost the lighta”

She shuddered and did not finish the comment.

”I'm sorry,” he said softly.

They sat silently. She was the first to speak.

”I can't believe itaafter all this time,” she began. ”I can't believe that I'm going home.”

He began to say something and then quickly closed his mouth.

”My mama will be soasoa” She lifted her head, framed by her tangled hair. In the near darkness her eyes looked deep and s.h.i.+ning. She pulled up her knees and wrapped both arms around them. The candlelight caught her face, making her eyes sparkle. Her soft buckskin clothing blended into the shadows of the walls. She could have been an Indian princess as she sat regally on her bed of furs.

Laramie cleared his throat. He hated to break the spell. Wasn't quite sure what he should say and how he should say it.

At last he took a deep breath and spoke with all of the gentleness he possessed.

”Ariana?”

It was the first time anyone had spoken her name in such a long time. She turned her full attention on his face.

He swallowed again.

”We won't be going home,” he managed.

He winced at the look that came into her eyes.

Chapter Sixteen.

At Last!

”What do you mean?” The words seemed to break as they rushed from her lips.

Laramie wanted to go to hera”as White Eagle had donea”but he did not stir. He was not sure he could have moved. Her eyes seemed to pin him to the spot.

”We can't,” he managed, his own voice hoa.r.s.e with emotion.

”But I thoughta””

”I know, I know,” he quickly cut in, ”an' I wish it was thet way buta””

He did move thena”but not toward her. He could not bear the look on her face. He turned his back slightly, his hand stealing up to push at the Stetson. When he had better control he turned back to face her again.

”I wouldn't dare take ya home,” he said evenly. ”Thet is the first place they'll look. And they will continue to watch an' wait for many days to come. I knowa””

”Butawhat aboutamy folks?” Her voice still quivered.

”Once we're out we'll git word to them,” he said simply.

He thought he saw tears slide down her cheeks in the light of the fluttering candles, but he wasn't sure.

She drew her knees closer to her chest and hugged them to her. Her head lowered toward them until he could no longer see her face. The tangled hair spilled about her, providing her with privacy in her deep hurt at his words.

”I'm sorry,” he managed.

He saw her shoulders tremble as she sat in silencea”and then she seemed to give her shoulders a little shake. Her head came up again, and though he was sure now that he saw tears on her cheeks, her eyes looked at him frankly.

”What is the plan?” she asked. Her inner strength had returned.

Laramie felt more confused by her calm than he had been by her agitation.

What was the plan? Beyond the fact that he needed to get her outa”away from the band that had confined hera”what then? Edginess suddenly took hold of him. He had been so busy preparing for the escape that he had not thought much further.

”Is there anywherea”anyone elsea”that you know?” The idea came to him suddenly. He would have to take her to someone. He couldn't just free her from her prisoners and leave her alone in a hostile world.

She seemed to give his question deep consideration. At length she answered, hesitantly at first, and then the words poured out.

”An unclea”my father's brothera”and his wife. I'm not surea”I've never met thema”but Papa spoke of them. In Montana. Farmers. They live near a little town calledaoh, dearawhat is it nowaPreston? Princeton? Oh, dear. It'll come to meaI justa””

”Montana,” Laramie repeated. ”Thet's a fair piece away.”

Ariana looked apologetic. ”They're the only ones I can think of. Ia””

He cut in quickly so she wouldn't feel he had vetoed her suggestion. ”Montana. Might be a good place to start over.”

The silence stretched out between them for several minutes. It was not an awkward moment. Each was busy with personal thoughts. The other was content to let it be so.

Laramie spoke again. ”You should git some sleep. It'll be a long day tomorrow.”

Ariana stirred.

She let her eyes travel around the small cave. Three tunnels led off from it. One had been the entrance through which the Indian had brought her in. One was simply a closet-sized addition to the room she used now. She had made use of it over the days of her confinement. She had no idea about the third opening. Perhaps it led to a bigger cave. Perhaps it wound this way and that, twisting deeper into the rocks of the mountain. Maybe it ended abruptly, going nowhere.

”You need sleep too,” she answered simply. ”Here, take some of the bedding.”

She stood to her feet and began to separate the furs and blankets. He started to protest and then realized how tired he was. Besides, it was easy to see that White Eagle had done his job well. The stack in the corner would serve more than one bed.

”This is plenty,” he said as he lifted a heavy buffalo robe.

”Take this blanket too,” she insisted, so he did.

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