Candace McCarthy (25 page)

“You and Cameron seem friendly,” he said carefully.

She frowned. He didn’t appear to be jealous. “He’s been kind to me,” she said.

Daniel turned to her then, took her hand. She caught
her breath as she gazed at him, remembering the passion … the anger. Only the anger appeared to be gone. “Amelia, we need your help—Cameron’s help. We need Cameron to stage some kind of disturbance, so we can get away.”

She felt disappointment. “You want me to speak with Cameron.”

He nodded, seemed glad that she understood. She saw him try to gauge her reaction, but she must have hidden it well, as he waited politely for her answer.
So it’s come to this, Daniel. Now we are strangers
…
polite strangers.
She suffered a pang of pain that things had gone so wrong between them. She blamed herself. She was sure that Daniel blamed her, too. And that was what was difficult to live with.

“I tried talking with him once,” she said, her voice quiet. “He seemed … disinclined to believe anything ill of the captain.”

Daniel’s brow furrowed as if he hadn’t anticipated that. “He did, however, appear worried.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Do you think he can be convinced?”

“Perhaps,” she said. “I can try.”

He looked at her gratefully. “Thank you.”

She shrugged. “Considering our position, I agree … he may be our only chance of escape.”
And since it’s my fault that we’re all here
…

He rose to his feet. Something close to a smile touched on his lips, close to but not quite. “I’ll tell Black Hawk.” He glanced back to see if anyone was watching them.

“Will you tell me what he says?” he asked. “So we can plan what to do?”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Amelia, I just wanted you to know that I … regret what happened last night.”

“I do, too,” she said. She regretted his anger, the fact that she’d lost all chance of having a relationship with him. But then again perhaps she’d never had a chance, she thought.

He hesitated, as if he wanted to say more. She held her breath in hope. “Good night,” he said.

She forced a smile. “Good night, Daniel,” she replied. When he left, she lay back on her side, as he’d first found her, and cried. Again. For what would never be.

Everything was set. At least, Daniel hoped it was. Amelia had somehow managed to convince her soldier friend Cameron that the captain wasn’t stable, that Cameron needed to help them escape.

It was dusk, the day after he’d first spoken about this to Amelia. Daniel was amazed at how quickly she’d worked, how rapidly she’d been able to persuade the young man.

Gazing at her from his horse, Daniel realized with a pang that he knew why she’d been able to convince Cameron Walters. She was a beautiful woman. What man could resist giving in to the lady’s wishes?

Amelia rode, once again, with Cameron. It still bothered Daniel to see her within the young man’s arms, but he couldn’t very well complain … not given the soldier’s intended assistance.

He had learned of Cameron’s agreement only hours before, when she’d come to him during their midday meal stop. They’d not been able to talk long. His brother-in-law had been watching them, and Daniel had been afraid that once Milton recognized his interest in Amelia that the good captain would use Amelia next to make him squirm. So Amelia and he had barely spoken two sentences when Daniel had dismissed her with the harsh whisper that they’d talk more later. Daniel had been aware of two
things—Amelia’s hurt expression at his quick dismissal of her, then the sudden look of understanding in her eyes when she’d realized that Captain Milton had been watching them intently.

She’d been given the chance to say little earlier except to tell Daniel that Cameron had consented to help and that he had a plan. Daniel was waiting now for them to stop for the night, so that they could continue their conversation under the cover of darkness.

Miriam shifted in the saddle before him, and Daniel readjusted his arms to give her room.

“Tired?” he asked her.

He saw her dark head bob. “Exhausted.”

“It’s getting dark. It won’t be long now.”

He heard her sigh. “I hope you’re right.” After a moment’s pause, she said, “The captain has been acting oddly lately.” She turned to look at him. “Odder than usual, I mean.”

He gave her a nod. “He’s unstable.”

Miriam shivered and faced the front. “He’s like a powder keg, waiting to be lit.”

“Well, then,” he said, “we’ll just have to make sure that nothing enflames him.”

This time it was her turn to nod.

Normally, they stopped when it was still dusk, but in keeping with the commanding officer’s strange behavior, Milton forced them to continue, until it was well after dark. When one of his soldiers began preparing a fire like they usually did, Milton flew into a rage, telling them that there would no fire that night. They would camp and sleep with complete darkness. Milton also ordered his men to camp in a circle around the prisoners.

Daniel and Black Hawk had locked gazes at Milton’s announcement. The darkness would give them the cover
they needed to finalize their escape plan. Daniel wasn’t worried about the soldiers. He’d have been more concerned if Milton had decided to tie the captives. Grouped together in the center of the army, they could still whisper secrets, make plans.

After they’d set up camp, Daniel looked for an opportunity to talk with Amelia, but Milton’s continued sharp gaze kept him from approaching her. He went to Black Hawk.

“Walters will cooperate,” he told him softly. “Talk with Amelia. Milton’s been watching me.”

His Indian friend had nodded and waited for the right time.

Black Hawk came back to him later. “Walters is going to create a disturbance. We won’t know if it’ll be tonight or tomorrow.”

The two men quietly discussed what they’d do, which man would be responsible for which woman and child. They had to break off their conversation abruptly when Milton came into the circle to stare at his prisoners, especially Daniel.

“I’ve got my eye on you, Trahern,” the captain said. “Your sister will pay if you try anything funny.”

Enraged, Daniel sprang to his feet. “Don’t you be threatening me, you bastard!”

Even in darkness, Milton’s eyes gleamed. “Private Holton! It seems my brother-in-law is having a problem with his behavior.”

The young man appeared instantly at his side. “May I have your rifle please,” the officer said politely.

Watching from a short distance away, Amelia’s heart leapt in fear.
No, Daniel,
she thought.

The man took the rifle from the soldier and raised the gun to Daniel’s temple. Amelia gasped, then felt a hand
clamp firmly onto her arm. She glanced over, saw the brave Thick Head’s warning glance, and nodded in understanding. With a silent shuddering sigh, she closed her eyes and prayed.

“I could kill you, Daniel,” Milton said. “I could kill you as easily as I kill the enemy.” He smiled grimly. “But then you are the enemy, aren’t you?”

“Richard,” a soft quivering voice said, “please let him alone. He’s done nothing. It’s me you’re angry with, not him.”

Milton smirked as he looked at his wife. “You overestimate yourself … and your charms, my dear. Still, you do have your uses.” A quick move of his arm and the gun was now trained on Jane, his wife. He glared at his brother-in-law. “One wrong move, and I’ll kill her, Trahern—and I won’t bat an eyelash.” His gaze narrowed. “You know I’ll do it.”

Daniel held up his hands and lowered himself carefully to the ground. “Just don’t hurt her.”

Amelia could hear the aching in his voice; she wanted so desperately to take him into her arms and comfort him. A flutter of pain in her breast reminded her that he wouldn’t want her comfort. He didn’t want her.

Milton was grinning. She could see the flash of teeth in the darkness, for even without the fire, it wasn’t all that dark.

“I could hurt you,” Milton said. Daniel nodded. “I’m smarter than you. She preferred me over you, and it was so easy … so damnably easy.”

Daniel’s gaze went to Jane. He frowned. “It wasn’t a question of preference, Richard. You married her. She loved you.”

Richard Milton’s grin widened briefly. “Oh, she loved me all right, but I didn’t marry her.” He paused as if to
allow the effect of what he had to say next sink in.
“You
did.”

The captain’s eyes glistened as he smiled again. “You didn’t know, did you?” He shook his head. “Idiot! She said you’d never guess. That you were a fool, and she was right.”

Amelia saw that Daniel had become very still.

“What are you saying, Richard?” he said in a quiet voice.
Too quiet,
Amelia thought.

“You don’t know? You still haven’t guessed?” In his feeling of power, he lowered the gun away from Jane. “You are stupid, aren’t you? Pamela said you were, but I thought she’d underestimated you.”

Pamela.
Amelia froze with shock. Something was happening here, a revelation of some kind.

“Pamela?” Daniel kept his voice light and even. He didn’t let on that he understood, that there was rage building inside of him. At all costs, he must control his anger.

“Pamela.” A flicker of something changed Milton’s expression.

Love? Regret? Pain? Daniel wasn’t sure what he’d seen, but he realized that it was connected with Pamela, his late wife.

“Yes, Pamela,” Milton repeated. “Your wife. My lover. The mother of my child.”

“You bastard,” Daniel growled angrily. Some display of anger was expected of him. And he was angry, but not because of Pamela. He’d long gotten over her lying, cheating heart. But because of James. He had misjudged his best friend, had believed the man had cuckolded him.

The captain laughed. “You thought it was that goodfor-nothing friend of yours, James Beck!” His amusement faded abruptly. “He killed her.” His mouth tightened; his gaze glowed. “He killed her. They said it was an accident,
that the carriage went wild before it crashed into the tree, but I don’t believe it.” His gaze glistened with madness. “James Beck loved her; he must have. How could he have not? He loved her, so that when she went to him for help, he gave it to her, hoping she’d turn to him … stay with him when she was coming to me. But she didn’t want him. She loved me!”

“But you were married to Jane!” Daniel said.

His vision clearing, the captain shrugged. “And you were married to Pamela, but that didn’t stop her from lying in my bed …” An evil grin. “Beneath me.”

“You’ll burn in hell, Richard,” Jane hissed, surprising Daniel with her strong outburst. He saw no fear, no horror, just anger … and something else he recognized in her gaze, but he had trouble believing it of his sister.
Murder.

Richard laughed as he handed Holton back his gun. “Watch them,” he said. He grabbed Jane by the hair, dragged her to her feet, and toward the place where he’d set his bedroll. “Susie!” he’d barked. “Your momma and I want you to come over here.
Now!”

“Pa?” From the circle of Thick Head’s arms, Susie shot a fearful gaze at Daniel.

“Go on, sweeting. Just listen to what he says.” Daniel gave her an encouraging smile. “I love you,” he mouthed silently. “Hold on a little longer.”

“Susie!” Milton shouted impatiently.

The child scurried to her feet and ran in the direction of her parents.

“That’s better, little girl,” her father said, his voice turning pleasant. “Now come lie down here next to your mother.”

The fury rose within Daniel, making it difficult to breathe.

Amelia saw that Daniel was seething; she wanted to go to him, help him, even though there was every likelihood that she would become the focus of his anger. He needed to release his feelings. She would gladly bear the brunt of his fury one more time, something she’d sworn she’d never be able to do again. This would be different. This would be to help her beloved …

She glanced over at Cameron, caught the soldier’s gaze, and saw that he was upset by the scene that had just occurred. Frowning with concern, he nodded at her. She gave a slight nod in return. Cameron moved his lips.
Tonight,
he said silently.

Amelia felt a little thrill. She had to alert Daniel.

Tonight,
she thought. Tonight they would escape.

“Mr. Holton! Mr. Walters,” Captain Milton said. “May I have a moment of your time.”

“Yes, Captain,” Cameron Walters said, quickly approaching his commanding officer’s side.

“Yes, sir,” Holton said, hurrying to the captain with a gaze that was eager.

Milton glanced down at his man. “Cover these two prisoners, Barker. If they move, shoot them.”

“Aye, Captain.” The man grinned evilly at Jane and the little girl.

“Soldiers,” Milton said to his two waiting men, “come with me.”

Cameron followed the captain from the group, into the dark stillness of the night. When the captain halted, he waited for the man to speak, hoping that the officer couldn’t read his thoughts or his concern about his commander’s sanity.

“Holton, Walters,” Milton said. “You’re the only men
I can trust now. The others may do what I say, but as you might have guessed, they’re not regular army. They’re men my superiors have allowed me to recruit in order to serve a special purpose, to control and distribute supplies to the Indians.” Richard Milton smiled. “Sometimes, our measures may seem … questionable, but I assure you that I do have my orders … a master plan.”

Cameron nodded, and he saw Holton bob his head, his brown eyes gleaming with admiration for their commanding officer. He himself wasn’t convinced that Richard Milton was following orders issued by the US government, but he wasn’t going to put himself in a position to be beaten, killed, or court-martialed by a crazy captain.

“Sir, is there something specific you’d like us to do?” Cameron asked.

“I want you to keep a special eye on the prisoners, Mr. Walters, especially that one, Black Hawk. I can handle Daniel Trahern and his sister.” A gleam came and went in the man’s eyes. “Can you do that?”

“Of course, sir,” Cameron said. “It will be a pleasure to do so.”

“But at the same time, I want you to watch our men. If you note any trouble, hear anything out of the ordinary, I want you to come and tell me directly. All right?”

Cameron nodded.

“And me, Captain?” Holton gushed. “What shall I do?”

Captain Milton looked at the private with half annoyance and half tolerance. “You, Holton, I want to make sure that a special shipment of supplies I’ve been waiting for, and which should arrive shortly, is kept under guard until we can dispose of it.”

“Dispose of it?” Holton asked, and Cameron was glad it was the private who’d asked and not him.

Richard Milton’s expression darkened. “When I want
you to know all the details, Mr. Holton, I’ll tell them to you.”

A look of fear shadowed the man’s eyes. “Yes, Captain. Yes, sir.”

The captain’s features cleared and a smile curved his lips. “Good,” he said. “Now let’s get back to those ruffians before they do something we can’t hold them accountable for.”

Cameron managed a grin. His humor restored, Holton did also.

As they headed back to camp, Cameron thought of the conversation and realized that there was a lot about Milton that he didn’t know about or understand. He had a feeling that the captain was selling the goods meant for the Indians, and that he was on his own private quest for revenge.

He was glad now that he’d agreed to help Amelia and the others. Any doubts he’d had were banished earlier when Captain Milton had lost his temper, nearly killed an innocent man in cold blood, then had turned a gun on the man’s sister, the captain’s own wife. If that wasn’t the behavior of a man gone mad, then he didn’t know what was. Now it was up to him to do something about it … without alerting Milton to his own role in the game.

The soldiers back at camp had pulled out their food rations and were washing them down with whiskey.

Cameron had promised Amelia a diversion. He’d had no idea what it would be or how he’d arrange it … until now … as he caught sight of two soldiers who could barely tolerate the sight of each other, drinking rotgut whiskey. He knew the two’s drunken behavior well, knew it wouldn’t take much to induce a fistfight between the two men. And to involve the rest of the regiment in a drunken brawl, which would justify taking Cameron’s attention
away from his prisoner charges to the captain’s men, whom he was supposed to keep in line.