Quicksilver Passion (189 page)

She wept then and he held her close and kissed her, wishing he could tell her that he knew her secret already and didn’t care, but he was too afraid she would think it pity instead of love and run away, never to return.

Finally they dropped off to sleep.

Jake Dallinger had stood staring after the governess as she went down the back stairs.

Gawd Almighty! He must have been purdee blind not to recognize her! Of course she was wearing glasses and had her hair dyed and done up in a bun, but she was still purty as a speckled pup except for a few small scars on that face. He pushed his hat back and scratched the bald place on his scalp.

Her scared expression had told him she didn’t know she wasn’t wanted for murder and robbery in Chicago. Now what should he do about that? With a grin of pleasure, he lit one of the cheap, strong stogies he favored and sauntered down the steps and out into the back alley.

A rider galloped up.
Hey, Jake! I been looking for you!”

You found me. Whata you want?”

Colonel Chivington sent me to fetch you. The weather’s going to be turning cold and our old guide, Beckworth, has the rheumatiz so bad, he’s useless.”

So?”

So the colonel’s decided to march out to that Injun camp and wipe them out. It’ll take a few days to get there, but they won’t be expecting us in bad weather. We don’t know the shortcuts. Will you come?”

Tell the Colonel I sure as hell will!” He named the meeting place on the Plains.
I’ll come as quick as I kin get a good horse under me!” Jake stood smoking his cigar and staring after the rider as he galloped away. It was gonna be a plumb pleasure to ride out there and lead the Colorado Third Volunteers to that Injun camp on Sand Creek. They might find it eventually without him, but Jake knew the buffalo plains of eastern Colorado Territory well. He could lead them to that camp so quick, the Injuns might be caught asleep in their blankets. Killing Cheyenne would be more fun than rape—of course, they’d probably do some of that, too. He owed them redskins revenge for what Iron Knife and his father before him had done to Jake. But first he needed to see Lon Brett.

He walked briskly to the Progressive Hall Saloon, found Lon sitting at a back table playing poker, and signaled him that they needed to talk.

What is it?” Lon joined him at a small table against the wall.
You got something to tell me?”

I’m going off to help Colonel Chivington,” Jake drawled.
May not be back for a few weeks. There’s lots of folks out, some of them pretty drunk and rowdy, so you can move around easy without anyone paying you much mind.”

Lon’s handsome face frowned.
Get to the point.”