Part 2 (1/2)

I was born and bred out here and I know a Comanche when I see one. And I know a fraud when I see it, too.”

”You're saying a group of white men came out here and did this to theft own kind?”

”Yes, Lieutenant, how wonderfully perceptive of you. Why, you must have studied at West Point! That's exactly what I'm telling you.” Her lashes flicked again.

”Von Heusen masterminded this whole thing. You need to arrest him, Lieutenant. Arrest him for murder.” ”You said yourself, yon Heusen himself probably wasn't even here.”

Her eyes widened, her fury seemed to deepen, but she kept her voice low and controlled.

”You're not going to arrest him?”

”I'm not a sheriff to begin with, Miss. Stuart. And if I were, I'd have to have some kind of proof.”

”I'm your proof!”

”It would be your word against his!”

”He wanted our land!”

”Lots of men try to buy land. It doesn't make them murderers I ' She looked as if she wanted to scream, or at least gouge out another pound of his flesh.

”You're a fool!”

”Thank you kindly, ma'am,” he retorted.

She gritted her teeth. Tears stung her eyes again.

”Get the h.e.l.l off me.”

He realized he was still lying against her, still holding her down.

She wasn't trying to kill him anymore. She just looked as if she wanted to escape him, the touch of him, the sight of him.

”I can't go bringing in a man for something without some kind of proof!”

he told her furiously.

”And not at the word of a half-crazed girl.”

”Oh!” She raked out at him again. He caught her hand, then he rose to his feet, dragging her up with him. His jaw twisted hard against the loathing he saw in her eyes. ”Lady” -- ”Lieutenant!” Charlie called to him, walking around from the field of corpses.

”Shall I start a burial detail?”

She was staring past Charlie, staring at the white-haired man who had been hit by the arrow then shot through the heart.

”Oh, G.o.d!” she gasped. She stumbled forward, trying to reach the corpse.

The blood fled from her face, and her beautiful features became as ashen as the smoke-charred sky. She paused suddenly, unable to go any farther.

”Oh, no, oh, G.o.d. Uncle Joe,” she whispered, reaching out a hand.

She did not take another step. Even as she reached out, she was falling.

Her lashes fluttered over her beautiful eyes, and she began to sink toward the ground. Instinctively, Jamie rushed forward. He caught her as she fell, sweeping her into his arms. She was as cold as death itself, and remained every bit as pale as he stared down at her.

There was silence all around him. His men looked on. ”Charlie, yes!

For G.o.d's sake, yes! Get a d.a.m.ned burial detail going, and get it going quickly!” The men turned around, hustling into action.

And Jamie stared at the girl, wondering just what in h.e.l.l he was going to do with her. He needed to set her down, to let her lie somewhere. She was a slight burden, weighing practically nothing, or so it seemed.

Yet she was a burden. A definite burden.

He hurried toward her wagon, maneuvered up to the floor of it and laid her on the bed. He meant to turn around and leave her and call for the company surgeon, but for some reason he paused and found himself smoothing out her sun and-honey hair and brus.h.i.+ng her cheek with his knuckles. He felt a sensation down his back and looked up quickly.

Jon Red Feather was just below him, looking into the wagon.

”She's still out cold.”

I'll call Captain Peters. He doesn't have much hope, but he's still checking to see if there is any breath remaining in any of the bodies.”

”Maybe she's better off being out for a while anyway,” Jamie said softly.

”Yeah, maybe.” Jon hesitated.

”What are we going to do with her?”

”Take her back to the fort. Then someone can escort her on home.”

Jon nodded. He smiled suddenly.

”Someone, fight?”

”Yeah, that's fight. Someone.”

”She's your responsibility,” Jon said.

”Your burden-- she fell into your arms.”

”What? She's a burden I've just set down, Jon.” Jon shook his head.

”I don't think so. I don't think so at all. I think that you've taken something upon yourself, Jamie, and I don't think that you can ever really let it go.”

Jamie arched a brow.

”Yeah? Well, I don't believe you, Jon, and I don't believe her. This yon Heusen may be a carpetbagging monster, but I don't believe he can be guilty of this.”