Tess, who had despised David, nearly gasped aloud. She clenched her
chattering teeth, managing to remain immobile and silent as she watched
the red stain flare out on David's shirt.
His eyes widened, and then glazed over, and he crashed down from his
horse.
He had deserved it. He had savagely, heinously attacked Jamie. He had
nearly raped her. And yet the cold brutality of his shooting sent waves
of shock rippling within her. 'You--you shouldn't have done that,'
Jeremiah stuttered, shocked.
'Mr. von Heusen, he' -- Jeremiah's words broke off in a scream as he saw
Chavez lowering the still smoking pistolin his direction. Chavez was not
a man of mercy. The pistol barked again.
That time Tess did scream. She catapulted from the pinto horse and threw
herself against Chavez, clawing, raking, pummeling him. He swore,
dropping the pistol, ducking her blows, trying desperately to seize her
wrists.
Finally he had her. His heavy arms locked around hers, and she was
assailed with the scents of onion and sour breath and unwashed human
flesh. A sickness nearly overwhelmed her, and she locked her jaw,
standing very still as he stared into her eyes with his own coal-black
ones.
'Don't be too dangerous--Miss. Stuart. You see how I deal with people
who can no longer serve me. You will behave until we have delivered you
to Nalte.
Do you understand?'
'No, I do not. I do not, because I do not give a damn!' He swore again,
savagely. His arms tightened around her as if he intended to break every
rib in her body, but as suddenly he released her, thrusting her into the
dirt.
The dust rose high around her. Tess started to cough and choke. Chavez
wrenched her up and helped her onto the pinto pony. The horse protested,
letting out a shrill sound and prancing back and forth.
'You will ride!' Chavez yelled, his eyes black upon her. Trying to
maintain her balance, Tess reached for the reins.
She wanted to protest; she wanted to fight.
But she said no more. She held the reins and leveled a glare at Chavez.
She didn't want to be bound once again. At least she was not tied, and
the pinto pony was sound and sturdy. Her dreams had escaped her, but now
they were finding a rebirth. There were a hundred men surrounding her,
but feeling the power of the horse beneath her, the determination
reawakened within her that she would escape. She would survive.
'Ride!' Chavez roared again. She was going to obey him, and he knew it.
He started to laugh.
'Miss. Smart. Yes, Miss. Smart, you must ride! Nalte is waiting!' The
Comancheros shrieked again. Men lifted their rifles in the air; some
chanted.
Horses pranced around, and their hooves hit the dust. Then they were
off.
Tess found herself holding tight to the pinto lest she be thrown and
