A Lady Bought with Rifles (26 page)

Reina!

It didn't seem likely that soldiers, without definite evidence, would search the house of a gringo mine superintendent, but I got Sewa and Raquel to help me move Cruz into my room, instructed Sewa to bolt the door, and went to sit with Court.

In spite of my threats, once Reina and the soldiers came, he would have me at his mercy. Would he keep his word? Darting him a troubled glance, I could read nothing on his calm face.

“Reina is with the troops,” I said. “She's still my guardian. At the least I suppose she'll try to take me back to Las Coronas.”

“At the least,” he agreed. “Though seeing what you've done to me may cause her to think twice about your desirability as an unwilling guest.”

“Oh,” I blurted, “please don't—” I would beg but it wouldn't do any good.

Court's voice was rich with sarcasm. “You blew a half-inch hole right through me, beloved. Shall we pretend I have a fever?”

What else could I expect from him, even if he kept his word about the refugees?

“There's a way I'll lie for you,” Court went on. “One way only. Otherwise, your precious Yaquis, including that crippled brat, are as good as dead or slaves in Yucatán. And what good is a slave with one foot? The troops might use her for target practice.”

The room seemed to heave. I hated him with a ferocity that seemed to wrench my entrails into knots. “You,” I choked, “you unspeakable—”

“Save your breath,” he advised. “You have one chance to save the girl and all the others. If you hurry.”

“What do you want?”

“Get Dr. Trent.” Court's eyes traveled slowly, possessively over me, as a potential buyer might sum up desirable qualities. He smiled with his lips, but his gaze was cruel. “Tell him we wish to be married. At once.”

“Court, I'll sleep with you. I promise. But please—”

“You'll marry me. In the next few minutes.”

My thoughts whirled crazily. Court had restrained himself in order to have a virgin bride. If he knew I had been Trace's, I was sure he wouldn't marry me. I was equally convinced that if I told him that now, he would vent his outraged fury by giving away the Yaquis. At last he had me trapped.

What he would do when he learned I'd given myself to Trace was a nightmare I couldn't even think of now. I must protect Cruz, Sewa, Domingo, all the others. After the soldiers left—if they left—I would be confronted with a man who could make my life hell. But first …

I stumbled to the door.

“Hurry, love,” said Court. His laughter curled after me. I pressed my hands to my ears and ran.

Dr. Trent pronounced the time-hallowed beautiful words in a whiskey-slurred voice. I stood by Court's bed, responding when prompted, inwardly screaming that it was a horrible mocking travesty: In my heart and soul and body I had become Trace's wife on the mountain.

But the words were said. I had promised to love, honor, and obey a man I hated and meant to thwart in any and every way I could. Court must have guessed my thoughts. His hand tightened crushingly on mine as he slipped the signet ring he wore on his little finger on my third one.

With his other hand he brought my head down, held me to a taunting voracious kiss, a hard mouth that forced mine open, let his tongue thrust deeply, avidly. The display must have shocked even the befuddled Dr. Trent.

Mumbling his thanks for the gold piece Court tossed to him, the old man left as the sound of hooves became insistent, accented by the cadence of many marching feet.

Court released me with a complacent smile. “Try not to be impatient, darling. We'll have our whole lifetime.”

Trembling with outrage and fear; I crossed to the end of the room. In that moment came footfalls. My sister stood in the doorway, her hair a glory, though her clothes and face were dusty from riding.

Her green eyes went wide when she saw me. “You! I thought Lío had slit your throat.”

“No thanks to you, he didn't,” I retorted.

She whirled to Court. “Why didn't you inform me? I'm this foolish child's guardian, responsible for her, even if she did repay my concern by running away.”

“Concern?” His eyebrows crept almost to the thick fall of coarse golden hair over his forehead. “Is that what you call it?”

She advanced almost to the bed. “What do you mean?”

“Ordering a vaquero to loosen a cinch so the saddle turns under a rider is concern of a sort, perhaps. As was sending word to the commandant that he could execute the prisoners you knew your sister stood hostage for.”

“Supposition,” she said, regaining her calm, though her fingers bit white at her riding crop's handle. “Anyway, she goes with me when we ride out of here.”

Court smiled. “But, dearest Reina, she's not your ward anymore.”

“Of course she is! You can't change her birthday. Until Miranda is eighteen, I have her in charge.”

“Not if she marries.”

“What?” Reina's voice rose incredulously.

“She is my wife.”

Reina whirled from Court to me. “You—you sneaked off and married him? Why, you little idiot, he's only after your money.”

“At least he wasn't trying to kill me. When I got away from the Yaquis, I had to go somewhere and Mina Rara does belong to me.”

“I suppose Court pointed out to you that you could evade my guardianship by marrying?” Her lips curled. “Did your honeymoon raptures put him to bed? Is your love so fierce that you injured his shoulder?”

“Reina, what I do and why is no longer your affair.”

Nostrils flaring, she tapped the whip against her boot. “It's my business, as a citizen, if you're harboring insurrectionists. Lío's outlaws went somewhere. Did you buy your release from him by promising refuge if his rebels ever needed it?”

“That wouldn't have been a bad idea,” I said admiringly. “In fact, I was bought with a price, but it wasn't that.”

Her eyes blazed. “Trace got you out. Where is he?”

“I don't know.” That was true enough. “You've no right to ask me questions. Take those soldiers and get off my property.”

“Not till we're sure the bandits aren't hiding here.”

A uniformed officer, wiry and tall with a trim black moustache, loomed in the door, several men behind him. “The village is being thoroughly searched,” he said, dark eyes going over me slowly before he bowed.

“Good,” said Reina. “And, Major Ruiz, you had better search the house.”

My heart lurched as I thought of Cruz in my room. I stepped forward.

“Major Ruiz, I own this mine and this house. I resent this invasion. While some excuse may be made for hunting through the village, there can be none for rifling my private dwelling.”

“My wife is correct,” said Court. “It is not valiant of you, Major, to ransack the house of a lady whose husband is in no physical condition to defend her rights.”

Ruiz wavered. Reina strode forward, confronting him.

“This is my sister, who ungratefully ran away from Las Coronas and was seized by Yaquis. I thought they had killed her. Since they didn't, she must have bargained for her release, perhaps by offering the mine as shelter. Search the house, Major. You know your orders from the colonel.”

He glanced unhappily from me to Court. “I crave your pardon,” he said. “I have orders from my colonel to follow this lady's directions. I assure you there will be no damage.”

“I cannot assure you there will be no damage to your career, Major, after I report this discourtesy to my friend, General Lobos,” said Court. Ruiz winced.

“Señorita?” he appealed, turning to Reina.

“Lobos is in Mexico City.” She shrugged disdainfully. “The colonel is in Guaymas. Conduct the search at once.”

He spread his hands, bowed, and turned, began issuing instructions to the half-dozen soldiers at his heels. A desperate hope flashed through me. I swayed against the door.

“Court, dearest,” I said loudly. “All this has made me faint. I have the start of a fearful migraine. You will for; give me if I retire to my room?”

“By all means, love,” he said, frowning with worry.

As I moved down the hall, I heard him say in a man-to-man tone, “My wife, Major, is in a delicate state of health. I think you understand me? Her constitution is fragile anyway and now it is vital that she maintains serenity.”

“I will be as considerate as possible, señor,” replied the major stiffly; “Please comprehend that I only do my duty.”

I went quickly into my room, decided against shooting the bolt since that would compel me to get up in case Ruiz absolutely demanded entrance. Tearing off my dress, I whispered to Sewa, who had come to her feet, flute in hand, Ku on her shoulder.

“Sewa, slip down to the mine and tell Domingo that if the soldiers start into the mine shaft, he must dynamite the passage. You must stand guard and tell him if they're coming. Stay with him. As soon as it's safe, we'll dig through and bring you all out.”

“But, Miranda—”

“Hurry, darling.” I gave her a quick hug. “I hope the soldiers go away or that Lío comes, but an explosion can protect the people in the tunnel. Go out, fast, through the patio. Soldiers are searching the house.”

She took her cane and fled, still holding Ku and her flute, limping only slightly. These soldiers were bound to make her remember the slaughter of her family. I hoped that they wouldn't stop her, that she would seem to them only an insignificant child.

Cruz's eyes were, open and lucid as I got hastily under the coverlet. “Soldiers are here?” he murmured.

“Yes.” I caught his arm as he tried to rise. “Lie as close to me as you can and let's fix the sheet so maybe they won't do more than peek in and get out.”

“Miranda, you must not risk yourself.” His eyes shut and his breath was shallow as he stored energy to say more. “What am I without fingers? A trunk without limbs or leaves. Let them have me.”

“If they find you, they'll suspect the other Yaquis are here,” I protested urgently. I embraced him, fighting tears. “Oh, Cruz, please let me hide you.”

He didn't answer. His eyes had closed. I heard footsteps nearing, hastily arranged the bedclothes to disguise his presence as much as possible. The curtains were drawn so the room was dim.

If the searchers would only glance in and retreat in proper confusion from the sickbed of a lady …

There was a sharp rap. The door pushed inward. I raised on one elbow, holding my head as if it pained. I was, in fact, sick with apprehension.

“Your pardon,” said Major Ruiz. “If we may just observe under your bed and inside the wardrobe?”

He didn't look directly at me and I prayed his followers wouldn't either. “Do what you must, Major,” I complained. “But do be as quiet and quick as you can. This terrible headache—”

“I am unspeakably distressed,” he muttered. “I will inspect your room myself, señora.” He sent his men along the hall, bent to peer shamefacedly under my bed, then opened the wardrobe. Very little hung in it so he was immediately satisfied.

“Your pardon,” he said again, bowing as he retreated.

“Pardon?” Reina strode in, eyes raking me, fixing on the disheveled bedding. “What is that in bed with you, Miranda? Surely you don't sleep with dolls? Not of that size.”

With one strong jerk she flung back the covers. The pupils of her eyes swelled triumphantly. “So! You hide the Yaqui witch who must be a witch indeed. We left him for dead.”

“He is my friend,” I said, sitting up, shielding him. “He saved Sewa, if you remember. Of course I wanted to help him when he dragged himself to the mine.”

“Along with a hundred Yaquis?” jeered Reina. “Major, take this wretch to the space by the cantina and have your men bring the grown people, all of them, to watch an entertainment. If the old man won't talk I think someone will.”

“Don't!” I cried, holding Cruz as Ruiz gave orders and a pair of soldiers came toward us. “Can't you see he's almost dead? Look at his hands, you devils! Leave him alone!”

“Señora,” said Ruiz. “If you do not remove your arms from that renegade witch, I must.”

It was futile, but I clung to my friend. Ruiz, sighing, spoke to his men. He gripped my wrists while they dragged Cruz from my grasp, hustled him out of the room. Losing control, wild with fear, I struggled with the major. He laughed, eyes firing, and held me much closer then necessary to check my struggles, crushing my breasts on the buttons of his coat.

“Let my wife go,” commanded Court from the door.

Ruiz released me so abruptly that I fell against the bed. His face was flushed and he spoke hoarsely. “Perhaps you will explain to her that she has done a very serious thing in hiding a criminal. I am not a vengeful man, but I cannot answer for what my colonel may do when I report.” Bowing, he marched down the hall.

Reina smiled at me. “Well, Miranda? Will you hide under your pillows while we try to get some truth from that old scarecrow?”

“I will watch,” I told her. “And you will pay for it.”

Court's step was faltering as he came to me, but his good hand gripped my shoulder hard. “Stay here,” he said. “You'll really be sick if you go out there. And if you do anything crazy, I can't help you with my arm crippled.”

Wrenching free, dodging him, I snatched up my dress, struggled into it, and ran past my sister after the soldiers who half-carried the emaciated body of my friend.

Soldiers continued to scavenge through the village, though perhaps a score of them gathered to oversee the stone-silent group of people gathering by the cantina. Under orders, several miners had dragged up the pile of precious fuel, most of it chopped dry ocotillo and ironwood from each family's private supply. Cruz was tied to one of the paloverdes that had grown large from seepage from the watering trough. His eyes were closed. He seemed frail as a withered leaf, as if the vital part of him had already left his body. I knelt close by, heedless of the dust.