Charmas kept to the gray drizzled shadows of the compound until he reached the corral where his buckskin huddled against the stable’s overhanging shelter. At the softest of whistles, the horse, tossing his head, trotted over to the fence. Minutes later the buckskin was fully saddled and Charmas mounted, heading across the river to Bent’s Flat.
He kept his thoughts on the men he was to meet, knowing they might not be waiting. But then, he knew he had what they wanted. Huddling deeper into his jacket, he refused to think of Jenny. She was life with all its promise … and he rode to vengeance.
The night brings many sounds to a man who has spent his time running. A man who intended to see morning learned to be aware.
He didn’t like the feeling of unease that sat heavily upon him. He had angered the man during his escape, for he had refused to kill the young soldier guarding him.
Now holding the worn butt of his gun in the palm of his hand, the fact of having killed before—killed in cold blood—came over him in a rush. He closed his eyes and Jenny came to him. Life.
The closer he got to the settlement, the more he smelled trouble. A wry smile teased his lips. Trouble had a breath all its own. It could be Jenny’s warm, flowering scent, the kind of trouble the true man buried inside Charmas had looked for all his life, longing to find it, or it could be the kind of trouble that strung his gut in tense knots as he thought about meeting and killing Jonas Latham. His breath stilled, his body tightened, and he slowly eased both. Whichever way trouble was coming, he was willing to face it.
It went beyond what he owed Jenny to free her as he promised from the nightmare Jonas made for her. It was Mave Allison, too lovely and young to have died by the animal lust of one of five men. No, he corrected himself, now there were only four left. He spurred his horse and rode into town.
The muffled sound of breaking glass woke Jenny with a start. Disoriented, she sleepily sat up. There was no outcry, nothing that explained the sudden tension filling her. The fire had died to embers and she groped her way to the door, listening.
“Gran, is that you?” she called softly. Silence came in answer. Had Robby … Her thought remained unfinished. She tore down the dark hallway.
Candlelight lit the room, and she forced herself to look at the rumpled bed. Robby’s bed. But now it was empty.
Rain and wind gusted through the broken window and all Jenny could do was stand there, staring at the place where she had rocked her son to sleep.
Gran’s face was stricken. “I was too late, Jen. I heard a noise, but—”
“Don’t. Don’t blame yourself.” Her shoulders sagged in defeat. “This is my fault. I should’ve taken Robby and run when I saw Jonas.”
“Jonas? You think he’s got Robby?”
But Jenny didn’t answer. She ran for her room. Jonas couldn’t be trusted. She had to go after him. And this time, she vowed, grabbing clothes, this time she’d make sure he couldn’t come back.
“Jenny, think a minute before you go off half-cocked,” Gran cautioned. “It’s too late to try and track him. Let me call in some markers owed me. Major Allison could help you.”
Jerking on her shirt, Jenny didn’t glance up. “No. This is between Jonas and me.”
“But if the major thought Jonas helped Charmas escape, he would send out patrols to find them.”
“But he wouldn’t stop him from taking his son. No man would.” Jenny sat, impatiently tugging pants on, reaching for her boots. “What I don’t understand is why Ben betrayed me. He let me think Robby and I were safe all this time.”
“Ben? Jenny, what—”
“I tried to kill Jonas.”
“Don’t make a pile of horsefeathers to me. But what’s this ‘bout Ben?”
“He knew. I wondered what Ben had done with his body, but he never said and I never asked.” Her voice shook, but her gaze was direct. “If you still want to help me after what I’ve told you—”
“Killing him was the only choice you had. There’s no time for pity or regrets, Jenny,” she stated in her practical way. “We’ll take what you’ll need from the store and see you gone.”
“I need a horse and my rifle.”
“Couldn’t you ask Charmas to help?” Gran asked, a fearful look on her face.
“Oh God, he went to meet the men that killed Mave Allison and Jonas rode with them!”
Gran followed her out the door. “Did you tell him about Jonas?”
“Most of it. The rest doesn’t bear with anyone ever having to know. I wanted to beg him to ride back to the mountains with me, but now I think I sent him to die.”
“Fool’s talk,” Gran snapped, handing Jenny her poncho. “If he knew he had you waiting, he’ll fight to live.”
“Don’t you understand!” Jenny raged, grabbing up her rifle. “He’s riding with Jonas. Robby will say something. If those other men killed Mave and set Charmas free, then Charmas is a killer too.” Tormented by her own thoughts, Jenny voiced her desperation. “Since he left me, I’ve been wondering how I could love a man who kills. I hated Jonas enough to pull the trigger on him, and he was the man who created my son. And I’ll do it again. But what if Charmas was helping Jonas? What if he’s just like Jonas and betrays me?”
“You’re a strong, levelheaded woman, Jenny. Jus’ remember what your pa taught you.” Gran managed a reassuring nod before she closed the door and stared out at Jenny in the rain-swept dark.