“Nalyudi does not approve of your name,” Delshay said.
“Nalyudi? Is that the big one?”
“Yes.”
“He has become my enemy, hasn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Why? I have done nothing to him.”
“He wants to take you as his woman,” Delshay replied. “But I have forbidden it.”
“You have forbidden it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you a chief, Delshay?”
“For some, I am a chief,” Delshay answered. “I am not a chief of the people who stay on the reservation.”
“If you are a chief, then you can tell me why I am a prisoner.”
“You are a prisoner because you were not killed. Would you prefer death?”
“I would prefer to be free,” she said. “You are a chief. Your people must do what you say. Order them to set me free.”
Delshay shook his head. “I think, for now, I must keep you as a prisoner,” he said.
“But why would you want to keep me prisoner? I am of no value to anyone.”
“You have value to the white man.”
“Ha,” Cynthia said with a bitter laugh. “You saw how much value I had to my husband.”
“Your husband is a coward and a fool,” Delshay said.
“Do not be so hard on him,” Cynthia said. “He was afraid.”
Matt, Ken Hendel, Marshal Gilmore, and Sheriff Williams found Bixby on the road less than four miles from Phoenix. He was bruised and his clothes were torn and dirty, the result of his having fallen several times. He had been running, and he was out of breath, and his face was red.
“Oh, thank God!” he said when saw the four riders coming toward him. “You have come to save me! I knew you would!”
“Where is Cynthia?” Hendel asked. It did not escape Matt’s notice that he called her by her first name.
“Water!” Bixby said. “Please, give me water!”
Sheriff Williams handed Bixby his canteen and Bixby turned it up to his lips, then drank long and deep.
“Mr. Bixby, where is Cynthia?” Hendel asked again, more forcefully this time than before.
“They took her,” Bixby said. “The Indians took her.”
“How did you get away from them?” Marshal Gilmore asked.
“The axle broke on the buckboard we had rented, leaving us afoot. The Indians came upon us shortly after that. I fought them,” Bixby said. “I fought hard, but they captured us. Later, I managed to get away. I tried to save Cynthia as well, but I couldn’t, so I figured that the best thing to do would be to come back here for help.”
“That was probably the best thing for you to do,” Sheriff Williams said. “If you had gone back a second time to try and save her, you would have gotten yourself killed, and maybe her as well.”
“Yes, yes,” Bixby said, shaking his head. “That’s exactly what I was thinking. I see you brought no conveyance. Hendel, I shall require you to return to that accursed corral and secure another buckboard. But, as the first one broke down, I refuse to pay another cent for the replacement.”
“Mr. Bixby, you are within easy walking distance of town,” Hendel said. “I really feel that I should go with these men to look for Mrs. Bixby.”
“Nonsense. You are in my employ, your obligation is to me. Now I am directing you to return to Phoenix, rent a conveyance of some sort, and return for me. If you do not do that, you may consider your employment terminated.”
Matt could tell by the expression on Hendel’s face that he was about to tell Bixby what he could do with his job. But because he didn’t want Hendel to act hastily, he spoke up.
“Ken, if she is still there, we will find her,” he said. “I promise you, I’ll let you know what is going on. Why don’t you do as Bixby says.”
Hendel took a deep breath, then nodded. “Very well,” he said. “Mr. Bixby, I shall be back within the hour.”
“Leave me your canteen,” Bixby said.
Hendel took his canteen and handed it down to him.
“Mr. Jensen,” Bixby said as he took the canteen from Hendel. “I find it odd that you say you will keep Hendel posted instead of me. She is my wife, after all.”
“Of course I will keep you posted, Bixby,” Matt said.
Chapter Twenty-three
