Love by Dawn (3 page)

Her brows knitted. Fort Tate? Why would they
take a prisoner so far west of Georgia? And a federal fort? Were
they afraid some southerners would try to free him, especially if
they heard that one of their own boys was captured? Many folks
hated the abolitionist and what they were doing. Whoever was in
charge of prisoners was not taking any chances, she thought with
anger, but luck was with her that day. Rolling the paper into a
small ball, she threw it to the floor and turned quickly on her
heels. She was probably a day or two behind her brother, if he was
the prisoner. She could only pray he was. Casey trusted her
instincts, they were usually right; it had to be Hunter.

Two days later, she found herself wearily
camping by a tree-shaded lake. She had pushed herself hard and was
gaining on them fast. The two riders left good clues along the way
and thanks to her father’s insistence that she learn to track. She
unsaddled Sadie and removed her clothes. A quick dip in the cool
lake was just what she needed and she didn’t waste any time in
doing so. The water made her shiver but it eased her aching bones.
Not wanting to chance catching a chill, she didn’t wash her hair
for fear it wouldn’t dry in the cold night air. Hand picked wild
berries were her main diet since the jerky she took from her
father’s saddlebag was finished. She hated leaving the saddle and
turning his horse loose but there had been no other options.

Glad her father never traveled without
coffee and an old pot, she brewed the last of the beans. A small
fire relaxed her and soon she was asleep with a rifle by her side.
She woke before dawn serenaded by a meadowlark. Since the cheerful
bird made her mind up for her, she got an early start and covered
about a mile before Casey saw smoke in the distance. Unsure whether
it was Hunter and the man taking her brother to the fort, or
drifters; she was cautious and walked through the thickets quietly.
Dry leaves crackled under her boots and a few twigs snapped in her
wake; other than that, it was quiet.

Carefully, she peeped over a bush and noticed
a young cowboy who rose from a bedroll and lazily stretched. He
slept in buckskin pants and his chest was bare and she couldn’t
help but admire his long form and muscular arms. Curiously, she
watched sinewy arms extend. His broad chest made her skin crawl
with peculiar sensations. Casey shook her head and wondered what
was wrong with her. It wasn’t as if she never had seen her father
and brother many times in their long johns. But this man before her
was a magnificent specimen. He flexed his muscles and her throat
went dry. As he moved around to limber up, she saw his back ripple,
drawing her eyes to his narrow waist and hips. She knew it was evil
to spy on him but she couldn’t take her eyes from gazing down his
long lean legs. She had not yet looked up to see his face wondering
if she would dare but she suspected he would be handsome.

Peeking up higher, he quickly looked over in
her direction and she hastily ducked back down. Breathing in
shallow gasps, she crossed her fingers that she wasn’t spotted. It
seemed as if hours passed as she sat nervously on the ground
wondering if he detected her presence. Would he pounce on her? But
to her embarrassment, she heard him relieve himself nearby. She
waited until it was quiet before she risked peeking again. He went
over to a sleeping form and nudged him with his foot.

The stranger helped his captive sit up and
there was no doubt that this was her brother. She watched with
acute and loving anxiety but gasped seeing Hunter’s bandaged head
and bound hands. This angered her but she was pleased to see he was
not seriously wounded.

Immediately, Casey returned to her horse and
stuffed her long hair under her hat and put dirt on her face hoping
to fool the stranger into thinking she was a boy so she could put
her plan into action. With the heel of her boot, she kicked her
mount into the clearing, noticing that Hunter was already sitting
by a tree watching the tall cowboy build a fire. She took a deep
breath, praying her brother wouldn’t give her away.

“Hello!” she called out, making her voice as
deep as possible, which was easy for her since her voice was quite
low for a female. She kept her head bent hoping Hunter wouldn’t
recognize her right away.

The cowboy stood and curiously eyed her.

Casey forced her nerves to settle down.
She’d always prided herself on being strong. And it wasn’t the
predicament that put her nerves on edge, but the way the stranger
gazed at her. He had clear, observant eyes and she feared he could
see through her disguise. She swallowed the lump in her throat
hoping for the best and inquired, “I’m looking for Fort Tate. Do
you know if I am headed in the right direction?”

The cowboy nodded, still scrutinizing her
suspiciously as he came up beside her and it was the first time she
got a good look at his face. He was indeed, God Almighty good
looking. She sucked in a long breath of air, for he was just as
handsome as she knew he would be and then some. Although, sporting
a few days growth of hair on his chin, which gave him a more manly
appearance, it was his incredible palest blue eyes that held her
spellbound; like the northern sky on a sunny day. His eyebrows and
hair was a sandy blonde, but not as light as hers. His nose was
long and straight and his lips were full and kissable.

She blinked.
Why on earth did she have such thoughts?
Then she cleared her throat, hoping he didn’t
notice her observing him.

“Where’re you from boy? And why are you out
here all alone? Kinda young to be drifting out on your own, aren’t
ya?”

“Well, I’d tell ya mister,” she drawled, “but
I don’t reckon it’s any of ya business. And I’m old enough to take
care of myself.” She knew she sounded harsh and hoped she didn’t
offend him too much. Not expecting him to question her on her
whereabouts, she didn’t have an answer for him. He looked at her
for a long time and although she was now sitting high on Sadie,
Casey felt very small for the moment. Did her voice betray how
nervous she really was?

“Snappy little type, aren’t you,” he spat and
then shrugged. “But as you say, it’s none of my business. The fort
is another day’s ride,” he answered.

Casey nodded, not trusting her voice anymore;
her throat was dry as sand. What was it about this cowboy that made
her uneasy? She took a swig of water from her canteen wanting to
splash the clear liquid on her face, but she didn’t wish to remove
the dirt. She watched the cow-boy return to his fire to pour
himself a cup of coffee. He opened a can of beans and her stomach
rumbled. Not wanting him to see the hunger in her eyes she turned
away to study her brother.

“I have a prisoner to escort to Fort Tate,”
the cowboy volunteered, “but you can ride with us. Stay clear of
him, he doesn’t seem dangerous, but I don’t want you talking to
him. By the way, I’m Blake January, what’s your name? That’s if you
think it’s my business to know.”

She didn’t miss the teasing smile on his
face and she wished she had because it was too damn sensual.
Swallowing, she nodded, “Casey.” She tried to maintain an even,
conciliatory tone. The cowboy offered her a small amount of beans,
then he fed the prisoner. She had a hard time swallowing the food
seeing the sad state of affairs her brother was in. Being hand fed
she knew was humiliating to him. After the light meal, they readied
themselves to depart. She watched Hunter’s hands being tied to the
saddle horn before Blake mounted his own horse. His palomino
pranced, ready to exercise its legs.

They rode off in silence, but Casey didn’t
miss her brother’s angry scowl. She ignored his thunderous
expression and smiled to cover her annoyance that he should be so
irked. Did he expect her to just leave him to his fate? He knew her
better that! Never mind how provoked he was towards her, she would
help him escape. Her mind was set and no amount of angry looks from
him would discourage her! Following behind the two men, her mind
continued to work up a plan but the handsome stranger’s face kept
breaking into her thoughts.

Very discouraging and damn right
provoking.

Stay focused, you cannot permit yourself to
fall under his spell!

But then, that’s easier said than done, she
scoffed inwardly.

At first Hunter hadn’t paid much attention to
the newcomer until he noticed that there was something familiar
about the voice. He turned his head to get a better look and
noticed the clothes and worn out hat. There was no doubt in is mind
who it was. His heart jumped into his rib cage wondering what the
hell his sister was doing out here alone and how she managed to
find him? He shouldn’t have been too surprised, knowing Casey was
capable of doing anything she set her mind to.

Hunter’s mind was jammed full of questions
about his sister and father. Why was she out here alone? There was
only one answer: his pa was dead. But it made no sense, he saw his
father ride away. And how did she know where to find him if his old
man died? Maybe their father wasn’t dead but he feared something
must have happened to him. He had to have told his sister what
happened for her to come looking for him. If that was the case,
then why wasn’t he here? His stomach knotted, his head smarted, but
most of all he was enraged at her foolishness.

The more he tried to figure it all out the
more confused he became. He had a desperate need to speak with
Casey; so many questions plagued him? Apparently, she didn’t want
his captor to know she was a girl, which was understandable. He
twisted at the ropes that bound his wrists, but they only dug
deeper, inflicting more pain. He had to bide his time and trust
Casey. She was smart. He snorted to himself. She was wiser than he
was most of the times, but this was not one of them.

Still he trusted her, but he surely didn’t
want her risking her life for his mistake and was sorry he got
mixed up in his father’s business. He had never agreed with his pa
about selling slaves, but the old man had bragged about the money
he made. Hunter snorted to himself, a lot of good that money did
his family. Whenever his father came home with a fist full of
greenbacks, he would go into town and drink and gamble it away.
They had lived in poverty all their lives. But he thought this one
time he could make some money and take his sister away from that
life; start some place new and give Casey a chance for a decent
life. Now, he had made more of a mess for her and himself. Hunter
swallowed, forcing back tears. He was a man and he had to take
responsibility for his own stupid actions; he was just sorry he
dragged his sister into it, putting her life in danger by coming
after him by herself.

Alone in the wilderness anything could’ve
happened. She had always looked after him, even as children. She
was a mother to him when their ma died and a better parent when
their pa was away. His sister had to grow up fast and never had
much of a childhood. Now he had put a bigger burden on her
shoulders. For a small girl, she stood taller than any person in
his life.

Would he ever be able to make it up to her?
What a fool he had been. She would have been better off if he had
been killed.

Damn, he would tan her hide if he wasn’t tied
up like a steer. Just as he looked at her, she glanced from under
the brim of the hat with a warning gleam in her golden eyes but she
was stead-fast not to reveal her joy at seeing him. He had turned
quickly away so the cowboy wouldn’t see the expression on his
face.

His sister just made his predicament
worse…

FOUR

The only sounds that accompanied the three
travelers were from birds that freckled the sky, or a horse’s
whinny. But for Casey, it was just as well the rugged wilderness
was placid and still, for she was deep into her own thoughts. She
couldn’t shake the notion of what she felt when she looked at the
tall stranger. Something stirred in the pit of her stomach. She
rolled her tired shoulders trying to get the weight of her troubles
off them, but she only pushed the pressure down her stiff spine.
Although bone weary, she fought drowsiness and was determined to
free her brother, no matter what!

Before they stopped again to make camp, she
noticed Hunter had sagged in his saddle. Her heart went out to him;
she had yet to tell him of their father. Maybe her chance to free
her brother would come tonight. When they finally stopped, the
cowboy asked her to make a fire. He told her to get a can of beans
from his saddlebag while he and Hunter went into the woods to
relieve themselves. She nodded and turned her head.

“Like to join us first?” he asked, as he
continued eyeing her up and down suspiciously. Casey stiffened and
tried not to show her embarrassment. “No… err, no thanks, mister,”
she croaked. “Maybe later.” The truth was, she was ready to explode
and she almost peed in her pants.

The cowboy shrugged with indifference, “You
have a good bladder and call me Blake.”

“Err… yeah, mis…err, Blake,” she murmured
and swiveled quickly, giving him her back before she hurried over
to the thickets to gather up wood. Her body temperature must have
risen to a boil because her temples pounded. That sensation was
something new to her and she was annoyed at herself for letting it
happen. She had to be careful around that cowboy. After she made
the fire and heated the beans, she was desperate to relieve
herself, but was mortified at the thought when excusing
herself.

After relieving himself, Blake assumed that
the lad was just modest. The drifter was still young and probably
felt small compared to grown men; he chuckled, remembering being
young once. His mind had been on the young kid as they journeyed;
there was something strange about the lad that he couldn’t put his
finger on. Although, he couldn’t get a good look at him because of
the dirt and hat, he thought his features were too fine for a boy.
The dirt didn’t hide the twin dimples that appeared on the face
when it smiled slightly at the mention he was welcome to tag along.
Blake got a fleeting glimpse of the kid’s light brown eyes and he
marveled how big they were. He was uneasy and couldn’t understand
why the boy affected him so strangely.