didn't know yet that there was now no way he was going to get his hands
on the Stuart holdings. She wondered briefly about the other Slater
brothers and their wives. Would they come to Wiltshire to accept an
inheritance? When they saw what had been happening, would they pick up
her fight? Why should they? Because they were probably close. Because
Jamie wouldn't have taken the time and the care to see that things were
done the way they were if his brothers weren't willing to fight. To
fight for him. To avenge his death.
No, no, he couldn't be dead. Please! God in heaven! she prayed silently.
Don't let him be dead, don't let him be dead, don't let him' be. 'Let's
hold up here!' someone called out.
The horse she was thrown over ceased plodding. A second animal trotted
up beside it. The man spoke again.
'We've come far enough. Even if someone manages to find Slater's body,
they won't be able to track us. Not across the river. And we left plenty
of Comanche arrows behind. She still out, David?'
'Seems to be, Jeremiah.'
'Well, that's good. Still, let's stop here for the night. By tomorrow
afternoon we'll meet up with the Comancheros and turn the girl over to
them.'
Comancheros? Despite herself Tess felt a sizzle of terror sweep through
her.
They weren't exactly Mexicans, and they weren't exactly Indians; they
were a wild grouping of both who savagely lived off the land. They
raided, pillaged, murdered and raped without thought, and they made much
of their income by selling arms illegally to the Apache.
Von Heusen meant to have his revenge this time. He hadn't planned a
quick, easy death for her. He had consigned her to a living hell.
She couldn't let them give her to the Comancheros. Somehow, she was
going to get the best of these men. And if they had killed Jamie, she
had to see that they were brought to justice.
'Come on, let's get started setting Up a camp for the night,' the man
David said. He started to dismount.
'Boy, that did feel good, swinging that club against that bastard
Slater.
After everything he did to us out at the Stuart place the other night, I
just wish I'd had time to gouge out his eyes.'
'Or take ' '~' a scajp. Jeremiah suggested with laughter.
'Yeah--or take a scalp.'
'Do you think Hubert and Smitty have made it back with the good word for
yon Heusen yet?'
'Probably. I told them to head straight back. Someone will find Slater's
body soon enough. We want to make sure we can't be blamed for it. Come
on, now, let's get her down and tied up before she comes to.'
Jeremiah hopped off the horse. The one named David reached for her.
The one whose hands would be forever stained with the blood of Jamie
Slater.
Tess let out a wild scream when those hands touched her. She was ready.
He wanted to gouge out eyes? Her fingers were flying madly for his. She
