Echoes of the Heart (31 page)

Cash and John hit
the edge of town just before dawn, prisoners and corpse in tow.
 
Bone tired, their pace remained slow.

           
He
spotted a rider in the distance waving a rifle, as he cleared leather.
 
He reined Rabbit out of the line of
fire.
 
He recognized Diane’s voice
shouting his name.
 
The panic caused a
lump in his throat.
 
Gun holstered, he
urged his mount into a gallop and met her half way.

           
He
knew before she spoke.
 
“Cash, its
Rae.
 
She’s been abducted.
 
We’re going out now to search.”

           
His
heart dropped in his chest but he maintained his composure.
 
John pulled up beside him.
 
“You take care of these men.”
 
He galloped full speed to the livery, jumped
off Rabbit as she skid to a stop and ran all out and crashed through the door,
yelling, “Watts, wake up.
 
I need two
horses,
now
.”

           
He
ran back, yanked the saddle off Rabbit, and let Watts
gear up the horse while he filled his canteen.
 
The second mount on a rope in tandem, he raced to talk with Diane and
Mike.

           
All
agreed, the riders left headed due west.
 
“I need both of you to stay here.
 
I’ll travel much faster alone.”
 
He vaulted onto the saddle and reined the restive horse due west.
 

           
Diane
called after him.
 
“Be careful, Cash.”

           
He
shouted back, “Always.”

           
First
light rose in the eastern sky casting eerie shadows along his path.
 
He made a stop to give the animal a breather
and check signs making sure of his quarry’s direction then pushed the lathered
animal until he thought it would buckle, gripped with fear as he slowed to a
stop.
 
He transferred the saddle and
bridle to his relief horse, leaving the other to find its own way then urged
the animal forward continuing his pursuit.
 
Unimaginable thoughts concerning Raeden’s fate raced through his mind,
forcing him to drive his mount harder.
 
He hoped it could continue a bit farther until a stop became mandatory
for its survival.
 
Blood pulsed through
his veins, pounding in his temples while horrid pictures seared his mind.

           
The
sun continued to climb overhead.
 
The
horse gasped for air and lather flew from its sides.
 
He had to take a break or he would not have a
ride.

           
A
small heap on the ground caught his attention.
 
Recognition sent chills up his spine.
 
Dismounting, he dropped on his knees to her side pulling the listless
figure into his arms, inhaling deeply when he found her alive.
 
Relief turned quickly to anger while he
gently brushed blood-soaked tangles from her battered face.
 
His head dropped back, eyes skyward, his
primal scream escaped into the vast valley of despair.
 
The dangerous deceit he should have saved her
from this torture corrupted his thoughts.
 

           
Removing
his duster, he wrapped her inside.
 
A
knife of anguish plunged into his gut as he viewed the blood pool beneath.
 
He rinsed her face with water and dabbed her
bruised lips.
 
Protective arms held her
close while the horse revived, his thoughts dripped with venom when he pictured
the horror she must have endured.

Once more in the
saddle, he turned eastward.
 
They moved
at a slow steady pace while he watched the rise and fall of her chest.

           
The
sun showed high noon when he stopped and gently lowered Raeden, positioning her
petite fragile frame on his blanket.
 
Canteen in hand he urged her to drink and a sputter escaped when liquid
reached her throat.
 
Vacant eyes
shimmering with tears stared past his face while quaking sobs escaped her and
filled his ears.
 
His voice cracked when
he finally found words.
 
“Rae, sweetheart
can you hear me?”

           
There
was no look of recognition in her wide green eyes.
 
When she struck out screaming, he did not
attempt to ward off the blows.
 
She
favored one arm, it looked broken and her face grimaced in agony.
  
The idea of the retribution he would inflict
on the culprits offered the only relief from this anguish.
 
He had seen firsthand the effects of torture
in the wake of Apache raiding parties and he knew they would be in great pain
before they died.

           
“It’s
me, Cash.
 
I’m right here, honey.
 
Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
 
He felt worthless and helpless.
 
He couldn’t even touch her without causing
pain.

Cognizant eyes
peered through deep pools while searching his face.
 
“Our baby, Cash.
 
Something’s wrong.”
 
Retching while crying she grasped her ribs
for a moment then her hand lifted to his cheek.
 
His eyes stung while he listened to the pitiful wail knowing he would
sacrifice his life this instant to remove her pain.

Jaw tight and
pulsing, his fists clenched until the knuckles turned white when the impact of
her words sunk in.
 
He sucked in a breath
then eased her upward.
 
Her muscles went
rigid when she cried out in agony, the unbearable sound breaking his
heart.
 

“I’m sorry, Rae,
but I have to move you.
 
I’ll do what I
can to ease your discomfort, but the ride won’t be smooth.”
 
Once in the saddle, a frail arm wound around
his neck, her head lay on his shoulder, and he cradled her next to his heart.

           
He
spoke to her while the time inched by, his frustration mounting as each mile
passed.

Midday
sun spread warmth over the prairie
casting a mood Cash did not feel.
 
When
Raeden’s body sagged motionless in his arms, the gnawing fangs of sorrow he had
felt only once before when he lost his family, chewed at his soul.
 
Desperation flushed caution as he pushed the
mount to a faster speed until the exhausted animal stumbled and nearly buckled
to the ground, forcing still another delay.

When he
dismounted, Raeden’s arms floundered down past her sides exposing her
chest.
 
Her head dangled over his arm,
allowing long tangled tresses to reach the ground before her corpse-like
frame.
 
Finding her still breathing, he
let out a sigh of relief when he knelt down lowering his lips to brush a tender
kiss across her cold damp forehead.
 
To wake
and find this only a nightmare would be the only way to douse the torment flaming
in his heart and his mind.
 
Tears fell
from the corners of his eyes; he sucked in a breath refusing to cry.

Standing erect he
moved to loosen the cinch strap on the heaving animal drooped before him.
 
The horse’s nostrils flared wide to suck in
more air.
 
Over its back, he spotted his
original ride grazing in the distance then unbuckled the saddle
completely.
 
A small cloud of dust rose
when it dropped it at his feet.
 
With the
bridle removed, the horse went to its knees then lay prone on its side.
 
Chest expanding wide, the horse released its
last heroic breath into the air.

Bridle in hand, he
ran full-bore, earth crunching beneath boots.
 
He slowed only when a small distance remained.
 
After the catch, he rode bareback, stopping
at the saddle then slid down to make ready for the miles still lying ahead,
praying Raeden could endure the rest of the journey.

Her eyes flashed
open for an instant.
 
She flinched but
did not cry out when he raised her to his lap and continued on their way.
 
She sighed and sank deeper into his arms when
he feathered a kiss on her battered cheek.
 
He spoke soothing words into her ear while his mind continued to reel
with vengeance knowing he would find the felons and feel no remorse when he
blew them away.

With the streets
of Chamberlain in sight, Cash urged the horse to a faster pace, relieved Raeden
still lived.
 
They arrived in late
afternoon.

***

Mike dozed in a
chair while Diane paced the floor glancing up the street nearly every five
minutes for a glimpse of Cash riding with Raeden, afraid it might prove to be
her corpse.

           
Pouring
the last mug of coffee, she drank while she walked.
 
Mike stirred then opened his eyes and jumped
out of the chair.
 
“Any news?
 
I guess I fell asleep.
 
How long since I dozed off?”

           
Diane
gave her husband a weak smile.
 
“About
ten minutes, and there is no sign of Cash.”

           
“Honey,
why don’t you sit for awhile?
 
I’ll pace
for you.”
 
He reached out and pulled her
into his arms.

           
She
relaxed into the embrace suddenly exhausted and enjoyed his warmth while he
stroked her back.
 

After a few
moments, they walked outside arm in arm.
 
Diane blocked the late afternoon sun from her eyes with a hand and
spotted a horse and rider.
 
It must be
Cash.
 
She nudged Mike and they ran down
the street together, halting dead in their tracks when Cash called out.

           
“She’s
hurt, get the doctor!”

           
Panic
nipped at her heels as she dashed through the street.
 
If she let her guard down now, she knew she
would go to pieces.
 
Dr. Hathaway sat at
his desk and jumped out of his chair when she barged through the door.
 

           
“Doctor,
its Raeden, she’s injured.
 
Cash is
bringing her in now.”

           
He
rushed into the adjacent room to get a bed ready.
 
Diane stepped out to meet Cash.

           
Cash
carried his burden as if it weighed nothing and placed Raeden gently on the bed
then stood back while the doctor moved in shaking his head.

           
“Good
God.
 
Cash, what happened?”
 

Diane stared
wide-eyed in disbelief at the swollen bruised face and the dried blood matting
her tangled hair.

           
“She
was abducted then beaten and apparently raped then left like this to perish
alone and in agony out on the prairie.
 
I
swear I’ll kill them for this.”

           
When
the doctor spread the coat open, Diane gasped in horror at the broken contused
body.
 
She held her stomach and ran
toward the door gulping air into her lungs and fell into Mike’s open arms.
 
He gave her comfort while she sobbed against
his chest.

           
Cash’s
stomach turned before he spoke.
 
“Doc,
she’s pregnant.
 
Do you think the baby
will survive?”
 
He swiped his eyes with a
shirtsleeve, removed his hat and ran long fingers through his hair.

           
“Cash,
why don’t you step outside and let me examine her?
 
I’ll let you know when I’m finished.”
 
He waved smelling salts under her nose.
 
When her eyes blinked open, Cash stroked her
hair then at the doctor’s bidding, walked into the waiting room.

           
He
grimaced, sympathy laced with rage when she cried out in pain.
 
Ashen-faced, Diane looked like she had seen a
wraith.

           
It
seemed forever before the door opened.
 
Upon entry, Dr. Hathaway spoke in a calm even tone.
 
“Raeden should recover in a few weeks.
 
I had to keep her conscious while I set the
arm and sutured those cuts.
 
I didn’t
want her going into shock.”
 
He looked
distraught.
 
“I wrapped her rib
cage.
 
Several are broken and she has
lost a lot of blood.”

           
Cash
breathed a sigh of relief knowing she would be all right.
 
If he lost Raeden, he didn’t think he could
bear it.
 
Until she had come into his
life, he’d almost forgotten what it was like to live without loneliness and
despair.

           
The
doctor continued to walk through the room.
 
“Lots of bed rest and she should be fine, at least in a physical way.”
Diane let out a sigh of relief and Mike pulled her close.