“It's just ahead!” Carved into the side of the mountain is a cavern that seems to Cassie as grand as any beautiful hotel. They dismount and lead the exhausted horses inside the large cavern and Dalton immediately begins unloading them. Cassie helps to rub the animals down, and ground ties them, so they do not run off in the middle of the night.
He moves to the back of the cavern and soon has a large fire burning. Cassie turns in surprise and delight. “How did you get dry wood?”
“My brothers and I stock this cavern, for reasons just like this,” Dalton answers and begins stripping out of his wet clothes. He lays his duster over a large boulder near the fire and turns to find her doing the same thing.
“It isn't the Palace Hotel, but in a pinch, it will serve its purpose.” He pulls his rifle out of his pack and dries it off then loads it again.
“Are you expecting company?” she asks, glancing at the rifle.
“Cassie, you did amazing today. I think we will be safe here for the night, but that explosion will be like a beacon to others. We need to be prepared for anything.” She sits heavily and puts her head in her hands.
“I didn't realize, Dalton. I just thought of getting us to safety.” When she looks up at him, he is staring at her.
“Cassandra do you know how many times you have saved my life now?” He sets the rifle down and drops to his knees in front of her. “I don’t know what I would have done without you. You are my lucky charm.” She leans forward and kisses his mouth softly.
“Dalton for the first time in my life, my gift is being used for good. It's a blessing that I met you. I guess we were meant to be.”
His smile could light the cavern. “Finally, you agree with me!” She laughs and shoves at him.
“I want to get out of these wet clothes and eat.” She strips and wrings her clothes out, then stretches them out on a boulder near the fire. His eyes look her over, and he notices the purple bruises and limp.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asks suddenly feeling shy. She pulls her day dress out and sighs. “Can I borrow a shirt?” He smiles and walks over and pulls a dry shirt from his saddlebag. Thankful she accepts it and when she smells it before putting in on, he smiles. “I love the way you smell, Dalton.”
“I'm thinking about keeping you naked,” he jokes, but inside he wonders at her tenacity. Cassie has experienced so much loss, but she has a giving heart. When faced with a problem, she doesn't hesitate to find a way around it.
“I was thinking the same thing about you,” she snaps back yawning. Standing in his shirt, she has never looked more beautiful. Cassie turns and rolls out the bedroll and stretches.
“You need to eat and rest, Cassie. We will be pushing on when there's a break in the rain.” He pulls on a clean pair of denim jeans and shirt, when he turns around, he finds her asleep in his bedroll. Exhaustion wins out, and he covers her with their extra blanket before turning to the entrance of the cavern.
With his rifle in his hand, he peers out across the valley and sees the rain has settled the dust on Warrior Peak. He wonders what they will choose. To go all the way across the top and down the canyon will take at least an extra day and with the rain, maybe two. They are no longer a worry, not as much as what might be waiting down the other side of Cathedral Peak. Glancing back at Cassie he prays that his brothers have gotten his message.
The storm picks up intensity and hail, rain, wind, and lightning prevented them from leaving for two days. Cassie is thankful for the break. Her body is beaten and bruised, and she sleeps for ten hours, not even waking when he climbs into the bedroll with her. Snuggled into his warmth, she curls her hands into his shirt and sighs. Protected by the storm, they sleep.
Chapter 30
Cassie wakes to the sound of peace. The sun filters into the cavern and the rain is completely gone. Dalton is gone, probably hunting or scouting the trail. She stretches and realizes that her body feels better. The rest did its job. She decides to get dressed and be ready to ride when Dalton returns. A sound outside has her moving to her saddlebag and grabs her pistol. Quietly she runs back to the darkest part of the cavern and cocks her weapon.
The noise grows louder, and she realizes it's the sound of horses. “Oh, God.” Terrified, she waits in silence for the danger to show itself. Memories flash before her eyes, of her family waiting in terror as death takes them and she makes her decision. Never again will she wait for death. Dalton has given her a reason to fight, and she will fight with all she has to stay with him. The sound of male voices and laughter echoes out and the first of five shadows enter the cave. One, by, one, they step towards the fire and look around the cavern.
Cassie steps from behind the rocks into the light and keeps her pistol trained on them. “You have to the count of five to get out of my cave.”
Ten pairs of eyes swing towards her in surprise. Weapon cocked and loaded her hand does not tremble, and the jovial moods evaporates in an instant.
“Cassandra, my mother would be upset with me if I let you shoot my brothers.”
Cassie
