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Her eyes followed his to the hemline of her skirt, where all manner of blood had splattered. She looked the Captain in the eye and replied. "Killed a rattlesnake earlier, and dug a bullet out of that man's chest not long ago," she replied steadily. "I didn't have time to change and I only have one other dress. It's for Sunday."
He stared then nodded, as though he had to distract himself from her.
"I'm sure you didn't want to give them your horses, miss, but it probably saved your life as the Comanche value horses more than people." He ate slowly almost methodically as though his mind and appetite were worlds apart; some of his men joined him at the table. "But the sad fact is, you gave them your horses and you cannot run a station without them. So your livelihood here is ruined by your own hands." All of them seemed hungry; some of them eyed her with interest. Katherine felt their stares. At least their stares were different from the other soldiers.
Her first contact with soldiers hadn't been a pleasant experience and she couldn't stop feeling the unease creeping upon her once more, only not for the same reason. Was he accusing her of something? It sounded so. The Captain was a suspicious man.
Chase Rivers barely moved, but the slits of his eyes followed them. He was watching, waiting. She could see the anger in his tensed muscles, she recognized it. It was like hers, slowly festering.
Not wanting any more blood shed, she felt she had to get rid of the soldiers. But how?
Soldiers came running into the station
. "Beggin' your pardon sir, but looks like we might have found the stage..."
"Where...?" The Captain demanded.
"About a mile down the road sir, looks like it's been attacked by Comanche, sir." One young soldier said.
"Very good, Corporal. Ma'am, I'm going to be taking the majority of my men up the road to investigate. I'll expect you ready to leave here by tomorrow evening." He tipped his hat and turned to go. "I'll station a couple of men outside."
"I'll try..."
"No ma'am, you will...." he insisted casting her a curious glance over his shoulder. "Now, exactly where is that stage, Corporal?"
He left a young soldier at the door, guarding it.
Katherine went to Chase's side, "They've left a guard outside." she whispered.
"Only one?" he asked.
"I don't know for sure," she answered going toward the window and glancing about the yard. Returning to his side she shook her head. "There's another at the barn."
He pulled his knife out and she gasped, "You can't mean to kill them".
"Only if I have to Katherine, I do not kill for pleasure," he replied looking intently at her. "If they get too noisy and ask too many questions, I will have to deal with them. The Captain should count himself lucky that I did not rip his acid tongue out."
She cast her glance downward, in regret, "I was so afraid I'd say the wrong thing. He kept needling me."
"And that is why he was almost a dead man. A man who cannot recognize the truth is a man to do battle with. Even his men are smarter. Did you really kill a snake?" Chase smiled.
"I did. I cut him into small pieces." She chortled.
How she had become an ally for this man she didn't know, but she trusted him instinctively. Perhaps because he saved her or perhaps because when she looked into his eyes she saw so much more there than a woman should see in a stranger's eye. As though he were no stranger at all.
The old soldier near the barn was helping Joshua and once he seemed satisfied with the work, he came inside. "You got some more of that grub, ma'am?" he called to Katherine.
"Y-yes, I'm sure you are hungry." She tried to smile, only the smile felt wooden. She wasn't sure who to trust but the old soldier seemed harmless.
"Been smellin' that stew for a spell." He chuckled and took his hat off at the table. At least this man had manners.
"There's plenty here," she smiled and served him. "How about the young soldier out there?"
"He's standin' guard right now; he'll have his turn though."
"Guard for what?" she insisted, her hand going to her hip.
"Injuns, ma'am. They see us in here, they'll be back for a visit, I expect. They are like dogs; they see a blue uniform they go to barkin'," The Sergeant said. "That's why we have to pack up as soon as he can travel." He cast a glance at Chase. "This place will likely go to flames by tomorrow."
