“Bronnah!” Chase rushes over to support her. Pain and confusion flutters across her face, but her blade does not tremble as she pulls away from him.
Kimani rushes to help, but Harris grabs her before she can interfere, “No, let them be.”
"Why is he still alive, Chase? He's a murderer!" Bronnah takes a step to move around him, but Chase blocks her.
"Bronnah-mine, you are free now. Don't become what you despise," he whispers beside her.
“They’ll never stop hunting me," a tear slips free, and she sidesteps around him, this time he lets her go as the Indians move in closer to watch.
“They need to be destroyed, I will make it painless, mostly,” Bronnah snaps.
Cleveland grins at her, "You will never be Free, girl! Don't listen to him. He's a liar."
“Shut up, Howe!” Chase hisses.
“I’ve grown weary of running, Chase…” her tears flow freely now.
“I promise you, no more running. Give me the knife.” Her beautiful eyes meet his, and she snarls at him.
"He likes to torture women, Chase. He killed those girls you found in your family train, and hundreds more have been shipped using your railcars. Don't you get it? He used your family business to traffic women and children!” Bronnah steps forward only to have Chase grab her arm.
"They will be held accountable for his crimes. Now give me the knife, luv." Bronnah yanks her arm away and slips the blade back in her belt.
“I’ll keep it, thank you.” Gathering her composure, she wipes her eyes and looks around her. “I’m sorry if I interrupted you. I wasn’t prepared to see them.” Pain flickers, registering once more and she looks for Kimani. “Kimani?” she calls for her new friend.
Kimani pulls free from Harris and rushes to her side. “I’m here.” Together they walk slowly back through the camp. No one speaks for a moment as they watch the women retreat.
“Chase is it true?” Harris demands.
“Yes. My wife was hunted by these monsters, and she’s in need of a doctor. Will you look after her for me and take her home for me? This isn’t over. I have to leave tomorrow and finish this, or they will return."
“Wife?” Harris looks into his brother’s eyes and sees the fear and worry, behind the rage. “Of course.”
Chase nods and turns to stare at the man he called a friend. Cleveland's eyes follow Bronnah's retreating form only to fly open wide in shock and fear when Chase grabs him by his bound hands.
“Is what my wife said true?” Chase demands as he drags him away from the Chen.
“Wife? Is that what you call your Irish whore?” Cleveland sneers.
Chase’s eyes twitches as he thinks of all the ways he can kill him slowly. He straightens and tosses him towards the nearest downed tree, Cleveland grunts and rolls over with a laugh.
"That's right, your bitch squealed good while I gave it to…" his voice fades when Chase grabs the ax from the stump. His tribesmen circle them and Harris lights a cigarette not bothering to try to stop his brother.
"I believe you kicked my wife with that boot, didn't you?" Cleve tries to back up and desperately begins backtracking across the dirt.
“No! It was the Chen, I tried to stop them, Chase.” Spittle sprays from his mouth.
“And judging by the bruising on her beautiful face, both your hands were involved.”
“Chase, get serious. You’re a man of the law, for God’s sake.”
Chase snaps an order to Nootau, and two braves grin and grab Cleveland and stretch his leg over the stump. Horror fills his eyes when a third brave steps forward and just as he starts to inhale to scream a gag is shoved in his mouth.
An orange flame reflects off the silver blade as Chase raises the ax and swings it down sinking it into the stump beside Cleveland's leg. Cleve sighs in relief until the ax in Chase's hand is replaced with a stone-head war club.
“It is only because of my badge that you will survive tonight.” Chase swings and this time his aim is true.
Later, when he tosses the club beside the ax and starts to walk away, Cleveland's voice rings out. "You Rivers are all the same," groaning he rolls over and pushes with his one good foot sliding back up against a tree.
"Two swollen, broken hands, and one broken foot and the idiot still keeps talking," Harris grumbles.
Chase turns to look at Cleveland. “You think you know everything, but you don’t. Your bitch is right, they will never stop hunting her.”
Harris steps over and kicks Cleveland in the face, knocking him out. Chase laughs taking the bottle of whiskey his brother offers. “You showed him mercy, Chase. I’m proud of you,” Harris teases.
Trembling hands hold the bottle as he swigs from it. "Don't be so sure, brother. Tomorrow he will walk, and I will savor every second of it."
Bronnah is sleeping fitfully once more when Chase returns two hours later. Harris has already checked her wounds and agreed that it will be a few more days before they can ride for home. Her ribs are bruised if not cracked and he isn't willing to risk a jarring horseback ride yet.
Kimani leaves when he returns and after washing in a pan of water Chase strips and joins his wife beneath the furs. "Chase?" she rolls into his chest, and he gathers her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“I’m here,” he whispered.
“Hold me,” she weeps against his chest until she falls asleep.
“They will never hurt you again.”
Chapter 37
Early the next morning, before the sun is up Chase wakes Bronnah. They make love beneath the fur, taking time to savor each other before the day
