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"Your brother is very wise. This is not the place for you. You will both come with me," Chase demanded, leaving no room for argument, seeing the determined set of the woman's jaw and admiring her stubborn will.
Katherine banged his plate down in front of him and he couldn't stop a smile as she quickly spoke her mind.
"I will not leave, sir." She eyed him for a moment.
In that moment Chase Rivers felt a stirring that bothered his soul.
"More soldiers will come," he announced watching her put a spoonful of beans on her own plate.
"Yes, I'm sure they will." She nodded dully.
"They'll ask questions. They will want to know the truth," Josh said.
"No!" She banged her fist down on the table. "Not the truth. They'll want lies not the truth."
Joshua shook his head,(.) "It doesn't matter, they'll take us to prison or hang us one."
"They will not." She refuted that possibility.
Joshua frowned and replied, "When they find those soldiers are dead, they'll—"
"They won't find them dead. They won't find them at all." Chase glanced from one to the other.
Chase put down his fork, wiped his mouth and nodded, then stared at Katherine, "No, they won't. I'll take care of the bodies. I'll take the stage out and I'll make it look as though Comanches attacked them. They'll figure it out, but we'll be gone by then."
Katherine looked at him. Her face lighting a bit with each word he spoke, as though he provided hope for her.
"Yes, that's a wonderful idea. They will never know." Hope flared in those warm brown eyes.
"And what about him?" Joshua pointed to Chase.
"We can hide him—"
"No. I will not hide." Chase pushed back his plate.
"But you must," she persisted. "They won't think twice of killing you."
"I will protect you, both of you," Chase offered almost in another breath. Why was he doing this, taking a woman who didn't want to leave to a people she didn't know was her own? But his own mother might come down with the sickness, then what would he do? And this woman, according to Burning Tree had powers to help them. He must take her there. Whether she wanted to go or not. Besides, she belonged to him, or soon would.
How could he tell her she was not white? He could not do that. Not yet anyway. If the time came, he would tell her. But still, would she believe it?
"You will hide." Katherine flashed her brown eyes at him.
Joshua looked from one to the other. "What if we cut his hair, and gave him some of Pa's clothes."
As Katherine's eyes became large and a beautiful shade of golden brown, Chase Rivers gasped at his sudden need to kiss those full lips and touch her beautiful face.
What was wrong with him? Ever since he met her he wanted to touch her and be with her? It wasn't natural. He
had loved White Dove, hadn't he? So why did his loins warm when he looked at this woman? Why did he desire her? Was this magic that Burning Tree used going to last a lifetime? Or would it wear off and then he would be stuck with her? Still, when he looked into her eyes, he saw heaven and couldn't imagine not wanting her. If only she weren't so stubborn.
As though Joshua's arguments seemed logical, Katherine was nodding and skittering about the room nervously looking anywhere but directly at Chase. It was almost as if she read his mind. Could she somehow have the same feelings? No, it was crazy. Unless…Burning Tree….?
Although he had no intention of letting Katherine cut his hair, he did not argue. He ate in silence. He would think of something tomorrow. He felt too weak to offer much help today.
When it was time for bed Katherine made her pallet in front of the fireplace, while her brother had his on the other side.
Chase took her by the arm and shook his head. Then he shoved her gently in the bedroom.
