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"My name is Katherine Hightower and those people are not my people. My people lay there, under that magnificent tree…." She cried.
"Katherine I was sent to bring you back to them. By Burning Tree. That is the reason for the dreams, so that you would come willingly."
"Oh…no…please don't do this," she begged. "Those dreams were some kind of black magic or something. They weren't real…"
"Weren't they?" he questio
ned. "They were very real Katherine and we are bound together, no matter what you say or do."
"No…please…please, leave me alone…," she cried, putting her hands on her face and turning away from him.
"Is that what you want, for me to turn my back on the truth as you have?" he asked as he came behind her.
"Yes…" she cried aloud.
Chase looked down and realized whatever he sought to do, was futile and turned away too. "All right, Katherine…"
And he went away from her. Katherine stood there feeling more alone now than she ever had. As though part of her went with him. She didn't understand the pull. But she refused to accept what he insisted was the truth. She would not believe it.
And her heart broke a little more….
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fort Davis: Command Headquarters
"General, if you will but listen, I can explain a lot of this so it makes sense. Rivers didn't deny killing the Sergeant of Arms, sir, but the reason he did it was because the Sergeant was beating an old Indian Woman. The Sergeant beat her to death. So Rivers killed him."
The General gritted his teeth and puckered a frown on his fat forehead. "Then Rivers admitted he killed the Sergeant?"
"Well…yes sir, but I just explained…" The Captain insisted with impatience, "The old woman wouldn't be quiet. She wanted to go home. She didn't understand why she was there. She was harmless, but annoying. The Sergeant took pleasure in seeing her beaten."
"Nonetheless, she was nothing more than a squaw." The General chomped on his cigar in agitation.
"Well…yes sir…but," The Captain tried to explain.
"Captain Reynolds, we have an admission of guilt from a man who is sentenced to hang here at this fort, tomorrow at noon. And you bother me with details such as this?"
"Begging your pardon sir, but none of us would have escaped to the fort if it hadn't been for Chase Rivers, General. He pulled the Corporal himself, by hand on a travois he made himself. A feat unbelievable unless you saw it."
"I'm sure it was admirable of him, and it will go down in his military record, Captain, but with an admission of guilt, my hands are tied."
The Captain clenched his hands into fists at his side, and clamped his jaw together loudly. "Yes sir…"
The General looked up from the paperwork at the Captain and managed a sarcastic smile. "Captain Reynolds. It is admirable of you to speak up for this man. And it will be noted in his files. But I cannot do anything more than I'm ordered. I'm sure you understand. Now…" he moved his cigar to the other side of his mouth. "My wife and some of the others have arranged for a small party at the men's quarters this evening, in honor of you and Miss Hightower. I expect you to be there."
"Of course sir, I'll inform Miss Hightower," The Captain said with a tight lip.
"That'll be all, Captain, dismissed." The General went back to reading some papers on his desk and totally ignored the Captain who lingered for a moment, then saluted and left.
As he was walking out the General murmured, "Don't fret so over a breed, Captain, it's unbecoming…"
Captain Reynolds stood outside the quarters and swatted his gloves on his leg. "A breed…"
He saw Katherine on the other side of the boardwalk and went to join her.
"Miss Katherine…you look lovely." He smiled.
Katherine glanced at him and smiled back,(.) "Thank you Captain, you look rather handsome yourself."
