Callahan's Gold (Southwest Desert Series Book 3) (16 page)

"Tory, listen to me," Ramona began gently. "If ... if Rex and Dodge are, uh, hurt, Yazzie will be back to take care of us. We have to be ready."

"Ready? What do you mean? I—I couldn't stand it if Dodge were hurt. Oh, Ramona, I love—"

"Listen to me, Tory." Ramona's voice was sharp and commanding. "We can't just sit here and let Yazzie decide our fate. We have to be prepared to defend ourselves."

"Defend? How? There's nothing here."

"I'll show you . . ." Ramona scrambled into the artifact room and Tory followed.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Tory and Ramona awaited their evil captor, armed to the teeth with Stone Age weapons, the only things available to the lost-in-time room.

"They might not be very sharp, but remember, Tory, we'll have the element of surprise."

"I'm so nervous, Ramona, I'm shaking all over. I'm not sure I can do this. What if—"

"Don't entertain thoughts of defeat. Imagine success. Picture us wrestling Yazzie to the floor and me holding a gun on him while you tie him up. We can do it! Didn't you ever watch western movies when you were a kid?"

Tory perked up. "I saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. But they lost in the end . . ."

Ramona groaned softly. "Forget that one. Think about John Wayne and . . . and Harrison Ford. We're going to escape by our wits, just like they did in Temple of Doom! Now, listen carefully. Yazzie has to bend over to enter this small doorway. That's when we jump him, while he's off balance. It's our only chance. The minute he appears through those rocks, you lunge for his back and hang on for dear life. That'll give me time to knock his gun away. We can do it, Tory. We have to."

"I've never done anything like this before, Ramona." Tory spoke with hesitancy.

"That's because your life has never been threat
ened. Just stay calm and it'll work."

"But, what if—"

Ramona raised a warning finger to her lips. "Shh, I hear someone coming."

The two women raised their weapons, poised for battle. The sight was almost ludicrous, but Tory knew their lives could depend on their ability to get the upper hand over Yazzie.

The noise outside the cave's entrance increased, then they heard a man's groan. Someone was definitely trying to come into their little prison. It was time for the showdown, and Tory gripped her ancient club with sweaty palms.

They held their breath in the tomblike silence until a familiar baritone voice roared on the other side of the rocks.

"Tory! Tory? Ramona? Are you in there? Are you okay?"

The shocking—wonderful—sound of Dodge outside the cave was met with wild jubilation. The women dropped their crude weapons and raced to the doorway, both shouting and cheering at the same time. "Yes! Yes! We're in here! We're all right, Dodge! Are you?" They pushed from the inside while Dodge shoved from the outside until the boulder shifted enough to admit him.

Tory flung herself into Dodge's arms. She needed to feel him warm and solid inside her embrace.

Dodge lifted her off the ground, his arms wrapped securely around her. He repeatedly murmured, "Oh, God ... Oh, God! Tory . . . Tory!"

Finally, they tore apart and included Ramona in a clumsy, three-way embrace. In their emotional release, the women were laughing and crying and nearly hysterical with happiness and relief. Then Dodge hugged Tory again and kissed her briefly on the lips.

Ramona watched unembarrassed with a grateful smile on her face. Their love was obvious but beautiful, and her heart swelled with joy that something good had come from all the tragedy surrounding Sharkey's death.

Tory refused to completely release Dodge and stood next to him with her arm curled around his ribcage. It was a good, secure feeling to know they were both safe in each other's arms. With Dodge close, she remembered to ask about the others. "Where is Yazzie? And Rex? Is anybody hurt? Tell us what happened."

Dodge shook his big shaggy head. "Everybody's fine. Except for Yazzie."

"Did you shoot him?" Ramona asked, a vicious gleam in her dark eyes. Her absolute hatred for Yazzie was obvious. "He deserves the worst."

"He's injured slightly, Ramona. In the shoulder."

"Where is he now?" Tory asked.

"In jail."

"Jail? Already?" She gave him a curious, unbelieving look. "How? Did the sheriffs patrol arrive already?"

"Nope. We did it. The self-appointed sheriff of Pyramid and his self-appointed deputy." Dodge patted his chest mockingly. "The town jail still works, so we locked Yazzie inside one of the cells. Deputy Rex Richardson is the official jailer until we head back down the mountain."

"In jail?" Tory repeated, laughing with hysterical relief. "How did you lock the door?"

Dodge shrugged his broad shoulders. "The walls are solid and iron bars block the windows. We just wired the locks together. Of course, the deputy is there, keeping watch with a gun on his knee."

"Rex?" Ramona smiled, in spite of herself. "I can't believe it."

"He's in his element." Dodge grinned and shook his head. "You should see him perched on the jail steps with a six- shooter in his one good hand and the other arm in a sling."

They all shared a good chuckle as Dodge finished the story. Then he gazed around the room for the first time. "What have you two found here? Looks like Indian ruins."

"Yes," Ramona said, smiling proudly. "It's grand, isn't it?" She showed him around the room, briefly explaining a few of the rare items. "Of course, Yazzie knew the value of all this. That's why he wanted us out of the picture. So he could sell it off for profit. His exclusive profit."

"He wanted more than the gold. He wanted it all," Dodge said bitterly.

Ramona nodded. Her voice grew hoarse as she continued. "We also found out that Yazzie killed Sharkey."

"I'll be damned," Dodge muttered through his teeth. "If I'd known that, I might have aimed lower than his shoulder. The bastard! All for this! Sharkey lost his life for this—and we lost Sharkey!" He tore from Tory's grasp and stalked around the room, venting his anger in loud expletives.

That's when she noticed the blood on his jeans, just above his left knee. "Dodge! What's that?"

He shrugged off her concern. "It's just a nick."

"Yazzie shot you?" Her voice rose shrilly.

"I told you, it's nothing. Just a graze."

She folded her arms. "What happened?"

"He shot at me. I shot back."

Tory glared at him. "I thought he had your gun?"

"I bought another before we left town. You can't travel in this country without some sort of weapon. There're snakes and mountain lions and . . . you never know what! Thank God I had it."

She glared at him for a moment longer, then sighed. Where would they all be right now if Dodge hadn't been able to defend himself? If he hadn't been alert and able to use a gun? It was just like in the old West days when the six-shooter was the law of the land. She didn't like it, but she had to admit its value right now. "I guess so."

"How did you find us here, Dodge?" Ramona asked.

"Yazzie said something about you being locked in a cave. I just started searching for it. The most likely place seemed to be up around these rocks. Come on. It'll be dark soon and I think we'd better go see how the deputy is doing with his prisoner."

"We have something else to show you, Dodge," Ramona said, leading the way to the hidden room. "Sharkey's gold."

They crawled through the narrow passageway, and Dodge examined the discolored vein in the wall. "Well, I'll be damned. A treasure to cherish." He beamed at them, his dark eyes aglow. "Ole' Sharkey knew what he was talking about, after all."

Around the campfire that night, they discussed everything fully with Rex. The four of them were partners, shareholders in a bizarre and dangerous search for gold. And now, for the first time since the journey began, the four looked at each other with complete trust.

Rex surprised them by pulling out a bottle of chardonnay. "I'd say this occasion deserves a little celebration," he said, pouring the wine into plastic cups and distributing them.

"Thanks, Rex." Ramona accepted her cup. "How thoughtful of you."

"My pleasure," he said, handing the next one to Tory.

She smiled. "Ever the gentleman, even in the wilderness and with your arm hurt."

"Someone has to keep us from becoming complete barbarians," he answered, winking. He handed Dodge a cup. "Here you go, partner. No more doubts about who our real friends are."

"You bet," Dodge agreed. Lifting his cup high, he said, "I'd like to propose a toast. To Sharkey's real friends, the remaining sun seekers who are gathered tonight around this campfire."

"To the sun seekers," they all chorused, touching cups.

"Now," Dodge sighed, settling down on a crude log bench, "what we have to decide is what to do about the gold."

"It's what we came after," Rex said. "Why don't we take an extra day or so and load it up."

"Well, it won't be quite that easy," Dodge told him. "In fact, it'll be real tough hauling it down from that cave."

"I'm willing, if the rest of you are," Ramona said. "How do you feel, Rex? Do you think you could wait a few more days before getting medical care?"

"It isn't so bad that I couldn't wait a little longer." He grinned devilishly. "Anyway, with the golden opportunity at hand, how could I refuse?"

Tory sat beside Dodge. "What about Yazzie's injury? Can he wait?"

"I think he'll be okay, especially if we douse his wound with plenty of antiseptic," Dodge said. "I don't think a day or two will hurt him."

"Then let's try," Tory responded with a little smile.

"Everybody in agreement?" Dodge asked.

They nodded, their eager faces glowing in the firelight.

"All right, sun seekers"—Dodge stood up— "we're going for it!"

Everyone shook hands and clapped each other on the back and ended up hugging each other.

"It'll be a long, hard day tomorrow. We'd better hit the sack," Dodge advised.

Ramona touched his arm. "Rex and I will sleep here, close to the fire. You two go on over there by yourselves."

Dodge smiled gratefully. "I think you'll be safe now, with Yazzie in jail." Wrapping an arm around Tory, they ambled over to the makeshift room they had cleared for themselves the first night they arrived. For the first time, they were alone. Sort of.

As they snuggled down into the sleeping bag together, Dodge pulled Tory to him with a fierceness he couldn't hide. Kissing her long and hard, he finally lifted his face to murmur, "I can't believe I almost lost you today."

"I had the same feelings, Dodge. It was so scary to be locked up there and hear gunshots. And not know what happened."

"I was frantic to find you, Tory."

"Dodge, did it matter that much to you?"

He framed her face and kissed it all over. "You matter that much to me. More than any woman ever has. More than anything."

"Oh, Dodge . . ." She succumbed to the delight of being in his arms.

And he held her close to his lean, hard body and allowed their natural responses to take over, capturing them both. Desire slipped in, creating a beautiful magic between them, leading them to love. Love . . . implied and sensitive. Love . . . seeking and touching. Love . . . encircling and encompassing and . . . overwhelming.

She lay very still beside him, not wanting to lose a moment with him. The message their touches communicated were loud and clear. I love you . . . love you completely. Tory had never been so filled with love . . .

The sun seekers took an extra day to mine the small placer vein the women had found in the Indian ruins cave. No one could be sure about its value until it was assayed, but it was definitely gold. Sharkey's gold. And they decided to take as much as they could and still leave the Indian ruins intact.

As Dodge had predicted, it was quite a difficult job hauling the diggings down from the cliff cave. But the four of them managed. When sunset colored the surrounding mountains deep purple that evening, they had loaded the saddlebags as full as possible.

By the fireside that night, the four partners agreed it was time to leave.

At the next dawn, the sun seekers gathered on the side of the triangular hill overlooking the lost city of Pyramid. Streaks of pink and pale orange heralded a glorious sunrise, another sun-filled day. In the distance loomed the ripple of mountains they must cross before returning to civilization. Their journey was not yet ended.

But now they had to finish the unpleasant task that brought them there.

The group was serious. Rex cradled his injured arm against his chest. Dodge held the brightly painted Indian pot. For the first time, he looked uncomfortable holding the container. Ramona was tight-lipped and somber, staring with sad dark eyes at the horizon. Tory stood back a little, the years of hating a father she never knew finally erased from her expression.

Dodge stumbled over his words. "I, uh, I'm not sure how to do this. I've never conducted a funeral before."

"Well, neither have we," Rex assured him. "Just say a little something."

"Like a eulogy?" he asked dubiously.

"Like a message," Ramona said softly. "To him."

"Oh." Dodge looked around at the others, then took a step forward. "Well . . . hey, Sharkey, if you're listening, I want to thank you. For introducing me to this beautiful territory and for the privilege of knowing you. For the friends around us. For your little girl, Tory." His voice grew thick and raspy. "For giving us the chance to be sun seekers with you for a brief time. And for, uh, the touch of gold we have with us."