Author’s Note: I am not going to make a note about the story
itself. I don't want to give too much away. I do want to thank my wonderful
beta, Alex, who smoothed out the rough edges for me.
The last of the gang high-tailed it out of town as the seven peacekeepers eased from their places of concealment to congregate in the street around the wounded gunman. Chris Larabee squatted down beside the man as Nathan quickly checked his gunshot wound. The black healer looked up at the blonde and shook his head. There was nothing he could do.Larabee looked into the fear and pain-filled eyes of the young gunman. "Why were you here?" he asked as calmly as he could manage considering the adrenaline that still coursed through his veins.
Josiah took a place on the other side of their young foe. "Son, are those men who left you here worth risking your soul for?" The preacher saw the confusion in the young man's eyes.
"Kid, you're gut shot. Now, I know you've been around long enough to know what that means." Chris watched the realization dawn in the fallen man's eyes and then he continued. "They left you. They didn't know if you were dead or alive, but they left you anyway."
"Son, there isn't anything we can do for you in this world, but you still have a chance to try to save your soul from burning in hell." The preacher saw that his words had their intended effect. "Why don't you tell us who you are and why you came here?"
The dying man licked dry lips and in a strangled voice he gasped. "Judge Travis. . ." He struggled to breathe and his eyes fluttered shut from the effort it had taken to speak.
"What about Judge Travis?" Josiah urged him to continue.
The tear-filled brown eyes opened and with his last breath he managed two more words. "Kidnap. . . Blackmail." The sound of the last of his breath leaving his body signaled his passing as his vacant eyes stared heavenward.
Fear sparked in Larabee's eyes when he pieced together the meaning of the dead man's last words. He surged to his feet and raced toward the Clarion's office. Chris was nearly there when Mary rushed out the door on her way to find out about the shooting for the paper, and she nearly collided with him in his headlong dash in her direction. He stopped abruptly in front of her and grabbed her by both arms. If the gesture hadn't conveyed his sense of urgency, the tone of his voice would. "Where's Billy?"
"He's visiting his grandparents." The young blonde woman instantly became alarmed. "Why? What's wrong?"
"You sure he's there? He got there safe?" Chris unconsciously squeezed Mary's arms as he spoke.
"Yes, I got a telegram saying he's there. Chris, What's going on?"
By now the other peacekeepers had gathered around. Larabee glanced around and decided it would be wise to get Mary out of the open, and he steered her back into the newspaper office, followed closely by the other six men. Once inside, he released his hold on her. "Someone is out to get to the judge," Chris informed her. He held up a hand to signal for her to let him finish. "That man out there," he nodded to where the undertaker was removing the body from the streets, "mentioned Judge Travis. His last words were 'kidnap' and 'blackmail'." He paused a moment while the words sank in for the woman in front of him. "The only ones here that could be used against the judge are Billy and you."
"Billy! I have to get to him." Mary became frantic when the man in black stopped her from rushing out the door. "Let go of me! I have to get to my son!"
"Mary! Stop it!" Chris held on tight and gave her a slight shake to stop her hysterics. When she was quiet and stood staring at him, Larabee spoke again. "If they were after Billy, they don't know he isn't here, or they wouldn't have tried today. Billy is safer with the judge, and if you go, you could lead them straight to him and risk yourself in the process."
Tears filled her eyes, and Mary slumped against him in defeat. Chris put one arm around her protectively and looked over to his men. "J.D. I need you to go send a telegram to the judge and tell him what's going on. Buck, you and Josiah go have a look around town and see if you see anyone who might be with those gunmen." He watched the three of them scatter to follow his instructions and then turned back to those who remained. "We need to come up with a plan to keep Mary safe."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Under cover of darkness two black-clad figures led their sleepy horses from the town. They were careful to avoid using the roads, and the pair walked until they were well away from the town before they mounted the reluctant animals and headed for the distant woodland. The horses picked their way slowly through the trees, creeping through patches of shadows as black as midnight. The slow pace was torture for the travelers. Instinct told them to get undercover as quickly as possible, but good sense told them stealth was more important than speed.
After four endless hours, the leader stopped and the two dismounted. Cautiously, they led the weary horses toward a patch of black on the side of the hill and continued forward allowing the yawning darkness to swallow them. A small flicker of light flared to life when a match was struck. The duo squinted to give their eyes time to adjust to the sudden light where there had been none only a moment before.
"Wait here." The words were whispered, but in the confines of the cave they sounded loud to the two who hadn't spoken in hours.
The match light flared out and the sound of feet cautiously shuffling away farther into the pitch black of the stony tunnel was the only sound for endless minutes. At last another match flared, followed by the larger glow of a small pitch-soaked torch. The sputtering torch was wedged into a crack in the stone wall and the man moved back to the front of the cave.
"There is a small dead-end passage just up ahead where we can leave the horses." He took back the reins of his horse and led the way in. As they picked their way back, they reclaimed the torch. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the walls, but the light was welcomed for its relief from the darkness that had enveloped them since they left the livery hours before.
The cave passage curved to the left and then split into two. By the torchlight it was possible to see that the one to the right wasn't much more than a room-like extension off the main tunnel, but there was more than enough room for the two horses. They would even have room to move around. Considering that they had no idea how long they would have to stay here, the welfare of the animals was almost as high on their list of priorities as their own needs. The horses were settled in and they strung a rope across the opening as a boundary marker, so they wouldn't have to hobble the horses.
The pair carried saddlebags loaded with supplies, bedrolls, and canteens of water into the main passage, slightly in front of the room where the horses were already dozing. Setting up their camp between the animals and the opening of the cave served a dual purpose. If the horses did push past the rope they would be there as a second obstacle to overcome on their path to the outside. Also, the air moved back into the cave and they wouldn't be upwind of the odors created by two large animals in a confined space.
"What can I do to help?"
"If you would hold this, I'll get us a fire started." A few minutes later, a small fire crackled. "I need to go gather some more firewood before it gets light out. I won't go far, but whatever you do, don't go outside."
A small hand grasped at the sleeve of the black coat in an effort to stop him from leaving. "Ezra, wouldn't it be quicker if we both gathered wood? It will be daylight soon."
"Precisely why you must stay undercover. I will not take any unnecessary risks. We need only enough to supply us until it is dark again, and then I will make another foray out to procure a more adequate supply." He kept his tone level and confident even though he didn't really feel so sure of himself. He knew he would be able to keep himself hidden and safe for an indefinite time, but Mary was so strong-willed it was going to be very difficult to get her to stay concealed. "If you insist on assisting, it would be beneficial if you would carry some back from the front of the cavern."
"Of course; I want to help in any way I can." She paused and looked down at her clasped hands, which Ezra noticed for the first time were visibly shaking. "I am used to doing for myself, and…" she faltered.
"You are not used to being out of control of your own life," the gambler supplied.
Mary nodded and shifted uncomfortably. For the first time that he could remember, Ezra saw the fragile side of Mary Travis, the side she kept so carefully hidden behind the façade of the confident newspaper editor. He reached out and folded one hand over her two smaller ones and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him and saw him smiling reassuringly. "Thank you, Ezra."
The southerner tipped his hat and nodded gallantly and squeezed her fingers once again, before he turned to go out for the needed firewood. Outside, he tried to keep to the shadows as he gathered deadfall from the surrounding area. It was made more difficult because he had to take care not to stir up the ground litter too much, so he wouldn't give away the fact that they were nearby. It took several trips to gather enough to keep a small fire burning through the day. The cave would be cold and damp, and they would need what little heat it would provide. He knew they couldn't allow the fire to get too big or, the scent of the wood smoke, if it found an opening to escape the cave, could be their downfall. He made every trip count. Each load was piled as high as he could carry it, and he deposited it far enough inside the cave to ensure that Mary would not have to come too close to the mouth of the cave. Each time he returned with another load, the previous load had vanished back into the depths of the earth.
The sky was just starting to show a hint of gray when he carried in the last load for the night. He met Mary at the drop-off point. "This is all there is for tonight. We are rapidly losing the cover of darkness."
"So that's it then. Now we just wait?"
"As soon as I set up some sort of warning system, I suggest that we both get some sleep. There will be a lot to do during the hours of darkness, and we will both need to be alert." Ezra dropped the armload of wood on the stack and picked up his saddlebag and headed back up the tunnel. A few minutes later he returned with a smug look on his face. "I do believe it is now safe for us to attempt some sleep."
Mary unrolled her bedroll and looked for a place that was free of loose rocks to spread out the bottom blanket. She eyed the hard cavern floor and thought that there was no way she would be able to sleep on that. Sleeping on the ground was one thing, but stone was another. She used her saddlebag as a pillow and settled under the second blanket of the bedroll.
'Cold' was the first thing that entered her mind as she drifted up from sleep. Mary shivered under the wool blanket and realized the small fire had gone nearly out. Quickly, she scrambled from under the meager cover and added a few small twigs to the fire to get it going again. Once it caught well, she added several bigger pieces. Just as she started to add another somewhat larger piece, a gentle hand stopped her.
"That is enough for now, Mrs. Travis," Ezra instructed.
"But, it is so cold in here. I thought we could use a little more heat."
Ezra sighed. "Mrs. Travis, it is important that you do not second guess me. We do not want to chance alerting anyone who may be looking to our presence here."
"Oh, I didn't realize…" She started to explain and then decided against it and went back to her blankets. She sat with her knees drawn up against her and the blanket wrapped snugly around her.
Ezra saw a shiver run through the pretty blonde woman who sat near the weak fire. Without a second thought, he got up and wrapped his blanket around her along with her own and then sat down beside her.
"Ezra, I can't take your blanket," she protested.
"Indeed you can." At the first sign of protest he insisted, "I will be fine." He sat there beside her in silence, just staring at the flickering of the small yellow flames. Mentally, he cursed himself for not thinking to add extra bedrolls to the supplies. Even very dry caves were always cold and he knew this one was not completely dry. Farther back in, there was an underground stream, and in the deeper areas the walls were wet with condensation and the ceilings dripped with water that leaked through the cracks in the stones overhead. That stream was part of the reason that he had chosen this place to hide Mary. They might have to ration food supplies if their stay was too long, but no matter what happened they would have more than enough fresh water.
"Why are you doing this for me?" Mary asked suddenly.
"Why? I don't understand. Why wouldn't I?"
"I haven't always been very supportive of you in town. I wouldn't have blamed you if you had said no when Chris asked you to hide me."
Ezra snorted, and started to respond, but stopped himself.
"What were you going to say?"
"It is unimportant. Let's just suffice it to say that I would have been doing a great disservice to the town had I refused." The gambler would not meet her eyes because he wasn't sure that he would not give away what he was really thinking.
"Please tell me. . . I would like to know."
Ezra sighed and shook his head. "I do not think this would be a wise course of action." He chanced a glance at the pretty blonde and decided she had a right to know just what was on his mind. After all, she had never completely trusted him, but now she was trusting her life to him. "I am doing this for a number of reasons; the obvious ones being removing a possible source for the coercion of Judge Travis and protecting a young boy's mother. However, I am also doing this so that perhaps you will finally stop looking at me like I am a cad every time you lay eyes on me." With that said, Ezra moved back to his remaining blanket and rolled up in it with his back to her.
Mary curled up on her pallet, wrapped cozily in her blanket and his, and felt a sadness settle over her. She had hurt the man she now looked to for her safety, but yet here he was. Yes, there were times when he had fallen back into his old ways, but he always had come through when it really mattered. She had misjudged him, and now she wondered just how many others she had done the same thing to, and how many others had suffered for her mistakes because of her influence in the town. She finally slept again, this time dreaming dreams in which she saw faces. Faces that taunted her, but remained just shadowed enough that she couldn't make out who they were. She woke for the second time, shaking, but this time not from the cold. In her heart she knew these were the faces of all those she had misjudged throughout her life, and the sheer number of them unsettled her.
Across the fire, Ezra saw Mary show signs of waking, and noticed her shivering despite both blankets. "I have built up the fire as much as I dare. Perhaps you would be more comfortable a bit closer."
She didn't say anything, but scooted closer to the warmth of the flames. A warm coffee cup was pressed into her chilled fingers and she wrapped them around it gratefully. "Thank you."
"I am afraid that breakfast will have to consist of some day-old biscuits and jerky. Once we are more adequately established here, I will endeavor to provide a more suitable repast." He handed her a large biscuit and the pouch of jerky.
"This is fine, Ezra. Maybe the cooking is one thing that I can help with." She looked at him hopefully. It would drive her nuts to be here indefinitely and not have anything to do to pass the time.
"My dear lady, I accept your offer, for I am well aware of the woeful inadequacy of my culinary skills."
Mary grew suddenly quiet and squirmed a bit where she sat on a low rock. She blushed at the thought of having to ask Ezra just what they were supposed to do about those necessary calls of nature, while they were confined to the cave. Just as though he had read her mind, the gambler spoke up. "At the risk of seeming indelicate, I have taken the liberty of preparing a…" He ducked his head slightly and blushed, and then looked back up at his charge. "…a privy pit just a bit farther back in the cave. I located an area where there was dirt floor instead of stone."
With a sign of relief, Mary set aside her breakfast for the moment and stood to head back into the cave. "Will I need to take the torch?"
"It would be wise. It would be most unfortunate if you were to injure yourself on loose rocks or if you were to fall. I give you my word that I will remain here."
"Ezra, I might have doubted many things about you in the past, but one thing I never doubted is that you are in all ways a gentleman." She picked up the torch and re-lit it from the fire. A stunned southern gambler watched her walk away into the depths of the passage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next five days and nights settled into a routine for the two. There was no way they could have carried enough supplies for themselves and for two horses, so the animals had to be taken outside to be able to forage for something to eat. There was a very nice clearing about 400 yards from the cave. It was nearly knee deep in a heavy carpet of grass. The horses balked at being dragged outside to eat at a time when they thought they should be sleeping, but their empty bellies overcame their drowsiness when they discovered the sweet grass. Ezra slipped the animals out under cover of darkness and while they ate their fill he gathered wood and bundled it into their blankets to form makeshift packs that he slung over the horses' backs.
Mary tended to the cooking chore and had proven to be quite a good camp cook. On the fifth night Ezra finally felt comfortable in asking her about this newly discovered talent. "How is it that you happen to be so proficient in the art of camp cuisine?" he asked her after their meal.
"Truthfully, my husband taught me. I used to go out camping with him, and he insisted that I learn. He always told me that I might need to know it in order to survive someday." Sadness clouded her light blue eyes as she remembered her loss. There wasn't a day that went by when she didn't still miss him, that she didn't still love him. She smiled weakly. "I guess he was right. He usually was." She swallowed the lump in her throat and moved to change the subject. "How much longer do you think we will need to stay here?"
"Mr. Larabee and I have established a way to pass a message so that I am apprised of when it is sufficiently safe to accompany you back into town. There is a point on the normal morning rounds that is about a half-hour from here. Mr. Tanner will leave a message there on the seventh night. If there has been no resolution at that time, he will leave a message and additional supplies every seventh night thereafter. Mr. Tanner can cover considerable more territory during the daylight hours than we were able to accomplish in the dark. In all honesty, we are approximately two hours’ normal ride from the town. It will appear that he is simply going about his normal routine." He hoped that she wasn't too upset at the prospect of a couple more days without word from town.
"I could handle this waiting if it were just me to worry about, but I can't handle not knowing if Billy is alright." A lone tear escaped to roll down her cheek, and she didn't bother to wipe it away.
Ezra watched and wondered if his own mother had ever felt anything even remotely like what Mary was now feeling in regard to her son; probably not. But, it was a nice dream to have that perhaps somewhere in the distant past his mother had cared for him that deeply. He slid over next to her and tentatively put an arm around her shoulder to try to comfort her. That simple action was her undoing. Ezra heard the first sob and it broke his heart. He hugged her close, felt her lay her head on his shoulder, and felt the tears soak through his shirt. Absently, he stroked her hair as he rocked her gently, while she succumbed to the stress of the past several days.
Sleep eluded him that day. Seeing such a strong woman as Mary so distraught had unnerved him somewhat. There had been times in the past when he would have liked to have seen her taken down a peg or two. He didn't want to see her harmed, but it would have been good to see that smug, holier-than-thou attitude adjusted a little. Now that he had his wish, he wished he could recant it. It was not something he wanted to ever be witness to again.
He watched her as she slept on the other side of the small fire. The worry was clearly visible in her face, even in sleep. A shiver ran through him, and he realized that he was probably going to end up sick if he didn't get warm. It wasn't a thought that he liked to consider. It had been foggy out during the night when he had taken the horses out and gathered wood. The fog had seeped into his clothing making it cling to him with dampness. The chilly, moist air of the cave had not allowed his clothes to dry completely and now he just could not stop shivering. Ezra decided he would have to break his own rule and build up the fire enough to dry out. He said a silent prayer to whatever deity might be listening that no one would be near enough to smell the smoke should it find its way out of the cave.
Mary opened her eyes and blinked at the brightness. "Ezra? Is something wrong?" Then she saw him shudder and knew that he was cold, very cold. "Ezra?"
"It is alright. I got a bit damp from the night air. I need to get dry is all."
"No, that isn't all. You are freezing." She got up and brought the blankets over to him. "Take off your jacket."
"I beg your pardon."
"Take off your jacket and wrap these around you." She tried to look determined and she must have succeeded because he shrugged out of the damp garment and allowed her to drape the blankets around his quivering body.
He almost sighed with relief as he felt the wool blankets, still warm from her body heat, settle over him. He watched as Mary took his jacket and used a couple long sticks wedged between some rocks to hang it near the heat of the fire to dry. "Mrs. Travis, I cannot in all good conscience deprive you of the warmth of these blankets." He started to pull them off to return them too her.
"Ezra Standish, you keep those around you." She pulled his hands away from the edges of the blankets and wrapped them snugly around him again. She busied herself turning his jacket first one way and then another to dry it thoroughly. "Are any of your other clothes wet?" she asked. When he shook his head no, she wasn't satisfied with the answer. "I doubt that you would admit it if they were. Let me see." She reached inside the blankets and felt the fabric of his shirt and then bent to check his pants legs. They were dry. Most likely his body heat had dried them but the jacket was too heavy to dry that way.
Once Ezra got over the initial shock of Mary inspecting his clothes, he chuckled softly. "Satisfied, Mother?" he teased. He was rewarded with a smile, not one of those forced ones, but the kind that reached all the way to her eyes. The only thing that ruined the moment was seeing her wrap her arms around herself, a sure indication that the chill was getting to her too. "Mrs. Travis, if it would not be too forward of me, I might suggest that you sit here with me and we can share the blankets for a time."
Mary hesitated a moment and then felt another shiver run through her. When Ezra raised up the side of the blankets she quickly sat down beside him, and he wrapped his arm around her along with the blankets. The warmth was heavenly. As she warmed, she relaxed and without realizing it, she leaned against him and fell asleep. Fatigue was rapidly taking its toll on the gambler too, since the chills had finally subsided. The extra body heat of the woman snuggled beside him warmed him completely for the first time in days. He had just enough presence of mind to lean back against the stone wall of the cave and wrap the blankets more securely around them both before he let sleep claim him.
Ezra wasn't sure how it had happened, but during the night they had managed to slip down off of the stone slab they had used for a seat, and they now lay in front of it curled together in the warm folds of the blankets. They both lay on their sides spoon fashion, and Mary's back fit perfectly against him. He had one arm draped over her and her head rested on his other arm using it as a pillow. His face was so close to her neck that each time he breathed he stirred the golden strands, causing them to tickle his lips when they fluttered back as he inhaled. The gambler contemplated whether he should move from this compromising position, but decided that not only would it wake Mary if he tried, it would deprive him of this much longed for chance to hold her. For now, he snuggled closer and drifted back to sleep, lulled by the rhythmic sound of her breathing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary sighed softly as her mind started to push away the shadows of sleep. The first thing her mind registered was that she was warmer than she had been in days. The second thing was the feel of a body pressed closely to hers and the weight of an arm wrapped around her. She opened her eyes to darkness, darkness so complete that at first she thought she had gone blind, but then she remembered she was in a cave and the fire must have died out. So, the person she was snuggled up with had to be Ezra. She thought back and remembered letting him wrap them both in the blankets. After that, she didn't even remember falling asleep. It felt good to be lying wrapped in someone's arms again. She missed her husband in all ways, but she really missed the feel of waking up with him holding her and how that made her feel both loved and protected. This wasn't her husband who held her now, but for a few minutes she could close her eyes and remember.
She was lost in her memories when she felt Ezra stir behind her. His arm hugged her more tightly, and he nuzzled against her neck and sighed a deep, contented sigh. She stayed as still as she could, not wanting to wake him, or to lose the warmth of his touch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra woke for the second time and snuggled closer to the woman in his arms. He knew he should arise and build up the fire, but he wanted just another minute to dream that Mary was awake and that she wanted him to hold her like this. But, he knew those thoughts would get him nowhere, except into an embarrassing situation if his body betrayed him over such thoughts. Mary shifted slightly and pressed more firmly against him, causing him to stir to life, almost as if his body had been waiting for him to think those thoughts before it acted on its own.
Mary felt his reaction to her movement and knew that this quiet time was at an end. Softly, in case he wasn't truly awake, she whispered, "Ezra? Are you awake?"
"Yes, it does appear that I am. Although, I could not prove that by what has greeted my eyes upon awakening." The gambler still had his head resting against her neck and shoulder so he spoke softly. "I fear I must apologize for my actions during my repose. I meant no offense. I am quite sure I was merely seeking warmth for both of us."
"It's alright, Ezra. It feels good to be warm for a change." Mary tried to sound casual about waking up in his arms, and she was suddenly very glad for the darkness that hid her blush.
"I agree wholeheartedly; however, I fear that I must extricate myself from this cocoon of warmth and tend to the fire. Judging by the empty state of my stomach, it must be past sunset by now." Despite his words he still made no move to leave the snug nest they had made.
"You are probably right," Mary agreed. "But, I have a more urgent reason to get up, and I am going to need a torch so I can see." Reluctantly, she slid out of the covers and rolled to her knees to get up. She heard Ezra groan softly at the prospect of moving.
"You must give me a moment while I find one of the torches." The gambler felt along the wall for the item and finally found it wedged into a crack in the rock. "I suggest you close your eyes, or at least look away. Even the match-light will be painful to the eyes." In a few moments he had the torch burning and two rumpled, sleepy people stood squinting and blinking to accustom their eyes to the sudden brightness. Ezra lit a second torch from the one he had burning and handed one to Mary who wasted no time in heading farther back into the cave.
Ezra busied himself rebuilding the fire while he waited for Mary to return. Once she was back, he took his leave for a quick trip to relieve himself. When he returned he found her putting the water on for coffee and for oatmeal. He was still surprised at times to see how well she coped with roughing it like this, but he was very glad that he didn't have to deal with an hysterical female. The gambler cautiously made his way to the mouth of the cave to check to see if it was dark yet. It very nearly was. Once breakfast was over, they could tend to the daily necessities. He had allowed Mary to accompany him out a couple times at night. As long as she was wearing the men's clothes she had worn during and since their flight from town, and she wore her hair up under her hat, no one would see her as a woman in the dark. There was no doubt in his mind that she had to have some relief from the imposed confinement of their hideaway.
Mary looked up at him when he came back to the fire. "Is it dark yet?"
"It is very nearly dark enough. Things are very still out there tonight. I am thinking perhaps we should wait a tad longer before we venture out." Something had him a little nervous and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. The woods were usually alive with bird and insect sounds, but it was oddly quiet when he checked.
"Do you think someone might be out there?" she asked more calmly than she felt.
"Perhaps, but more likely it is a wolf or another predator that has the animals spooked. It is most likely nothing for us to worry about. With our scents all over the cave, it is unlikely that it would venture inside." Ezra tried to sound confident and reassuring, but in truth he wasn't at all sure that was true. "However, in that event, I would not wish to leave you unattended with the horses while I go for firewood." He surveyed the stockpile of wood that they had. I think that perhaps you should stay in tonight, to be on the safe side."
"Ezra, you don't need to think that I am staying in here and not have any idea of what is going on out there. I would rather take my chances in the open with you," she said firmly.
"Mrs. Travis. . . "
"No, Ezra. I won't stay here alone. What if something happens to you? I would have no way to know it, or to prepare for being found. If you won't consider yourself, then consider me in this."
"Then we stay together. After the horses have eaten, we'll get as much wood as we can on the way back here, but we limit our time outside tonight as much as possible." His tone let her know there would be no argument allowed on this decision.
"Agreed," Mary said. "Now have something to eat." She handed him his share of the oatmeal and a cup of strong coffee. The two ate in silence but their minds were racing from one thought to another.
Ezra's hand brushed against Mary's when he handed the empty dish back to her. He heard a slight catch to her breath and didn't know how to interpret it. He decided they really needed to talk about 'last night'. "Mrs. Travis, I believe perhaps we should discuss our situation here," he said somewhat hesitantly.
The pretty blonde had a hard time meeting his eyes when she spoke. "I suppose we should."
"I must apologize for my appalling behavior last night. It was very improper of me to take advantage of the situation like I did. I must admit that it was very pleasant to wake up with a beautiful woman in my arms, but I should never have touched you in such a familiar manner without your consent." Ezra was clearly embarrassed by his actions.
"Ezra, it really is okay. I was just as much to blame as you were. Honestly, it was nice to wake up in someone's arms again. It has been a very long time, and neither of us did anything wrong. We just wanted to be warm." She was trying to convince herself of that as much as she was trying to convince Ezra.
"Indeed it was good to wake up and not be stiff from the cold," the gambler commented.
"Yes, it was, and I had most of the blankets, so I can only imagine how cold you have been those past several nights. I am sorry to be putting you through all of this." Her pale blue eyes showed a softness that he didn't remember seeing before, and it caught him unaware. His pulse picked up as he looked into those pools of blue and realized that she was letting him see the vulnerable side of herself that she kept hidden so well in town.
"My Dear; Mrs. Travis, I should be thanking you for coming to my assistance last night. I most surely would have caught a chill if you had not been so generous." Ezra let his voice convey the sincerity of his words, and he was rewarded to see the pretty blonde shift slightly in embarrassment at the indirect reminder of just how she had assisted him.
"Well then, I guess we should just leave it at that; we helped each other. Thank you, Ezra, and you're welcome." Mary felt somewhat uneasy with the discussion. It wasn't that she was ashamed or upset by waking up wrapped up in the blankets and in Ezra's arms, but that she was out of her element. She just didn't know how she was supposed to react in this situation, so it was best to just let it drop.
The gambler nodded his understanding and changed the subject. "Tomorrow night it will be time for me to go check for a message from Mr. Larabee. Perhaps we will find ourselves en route back to Four Corners the following day."
"I hope so. I need to know that Billy is okay." Mary wrapped her arms around herself and rocked slightly where she sat at the thought of her only child being in possible danger.
"I feel certain that Mr. Larabee will be aware of your need for such information. If we cannot return at this time, I would be willing to bet that he will supply you with news of your son." He smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
"You would bet? How much are you willing to bet?" Mary smiled in return, letting a hint of amusement reach her eyes.
"I'll wager this ten dollar gold piece." The gambler held up the coin and grinned, showing his gold tooth in the flickering firelight. "What are you willing to put up if you lose?"
"Uh… I really don't have much here with me to bet with," she said as she looked around for something she could wager. She didn't usually gamble but she needed something to make things a little more interesting. Time seemed to be creeping along since they were forced to stay confined to the cave except for a few short hours during the darkest hours. "What would you suggest?"
"It need not be something that is paid at this moment. Perhaps something like a real home-cooked meal when we return to civilization. Unless you can think of something else you would prefer." Ezra secretly hoped she would consider this idea. It would be very nice to sit down at her table for dinner, and for one evening to be able to think he was just like anyone else, and that his company was actually desired.
"That doesn't seem quite fair against a ten dollar gold piece," she pointed out.
"It would depend on what value I happen to place on your offering, and I would consider it an equitable wager."
"Alright, it's a bet!" Mary held out her hand to shake on it. The formalities taken care of, she sighed and looked toward the front of the cave. "How much longer do you think we need to wait before we can take the horses out?"
"I shall endeavor to discover that right now if you will give me a couple minutes to do so." He rose and quickly made his way to the front of the cavern, and after listening and watching for a short time, he made his way back to where Mary waited. "I believe it is safe now, but we stay together tonight, and we must be doubly cautious."
Two black-clad figures paused just inside the cave entrance and watched and listened before they ventured out into the night, each with a horse in tow. They walked close to the large animals and patted them to keep them calm as they picked their way through the darkness toward the clearing. Ezra stopped them at the edge of the open area and once again listened intently before he moved the horses a short distance into the grass. There was a full moon out, and the clearing was too well lit from the moonlight to move farther out - out of the protective cover of the shadows. He hobbled the horses and had Mary stay with them while they ate. He moved a very short distance away to start stacking some firewood in an effort to save a little time after the horses had been allowed to eat.
Mary stood between the two happily munching equines and softly stroked their necks as they tore off the tender green blades down deep under the taller more sturdy stalks that had gone to seed. After several minutes she eased back toward the tree line, where she could lean back against a tree trunk and keep an eye on the animals.
She let her eyes drift shut for a few moments as she listened to the variety of sounds the night had to offer. Without warning, a hand clamped firmly over her mouth and she was pulled around to the backside of the tree, where a male body pressed her tightly against the rough bark of the trunk. There was no hope of struggling or yelling for help. She was held too tightly by the greater strength of her assailant; her heart pounded wildly with fear.
He felt her fear as he pressed into her, but he didn't dare let go yet. "Mary, ssshhhh.." Ezra felt her relax somewhat when she realized it was he pinning her to the tree. He had his mouth so close to her ear that she could feel the movement of his lips as he whispered. "We are not alone. Stay perfectly still."
Mary stared wide-eyed at her protector, and watched as he concentrated on the faint sounds he had heard. Finally, she heard it too. There was definitely something moving through the trees but it was impossible for her to tell what it was, yet. The sound grew closer and there was the unmistakable resonance of barely audible male voices. "Why not stop here?" Whiney voice said.
"I told ya, we need to put some distance between us and that town fer a day or two. One of them lawmen recognized me. I'm sure of it," Grumble voice explained.
"Seems like a waste ridin' all this way and then just havin' to ride back again," Whiney added.
"Well it's better'n getting' locked up fer gettin' caught. Now shut up; we'll stop when I say so," Grumble insisted.
Ezra leaned even more heavily against Mary and tipped his head so his hat would shadow their faces. Silently, they both prayed that the men would not see the horses and that the horses stayed quiet. The gambler was in a position to see what was happening, and he watched as the two men rode across the other end of the clearing, headed away from their cave. He could feel Mary trembling and wanted to calm her, but he knew he didn't dare move until he was certain they were well out of hearing range. Gradually their voices faded away to nothing, but he continued to hold her still. By the light of the moon he could see the question in her eyes. Once again he pressed his lips close to her ear and softly whispered. "Sound travels at night. We must wait." He felt her nod her understanding and finally released his hand from over her mouth. "Keep still." He cautiously moved enough to slip one arm behind her shoulders to help settle her fear. She leaned her head against his shoulder, but it took several minutes for the shaking to subside. "I am loath to attempt to move the horses just yet," he said very softly. "We can attempt to tread lightly, but they don't understand the necessity for stealth."
Mary sighed in relief. He had gone back to his more formal speech, so she knew he was starting to relax, and now she could too. The two stood there for what seemed to be a lifetime, listening to the soft sound of the horses breathing and chewing on the grass.
"Do you think it is safe yet?" Mary murmured softly.
"I think it would be wise to get you back inside… shhhh do not argue. This was a very close call. I'll come back out for wood, but I will not risk your safety again on this night." With that he put one hand on her back to guide her through the darkness and back to the cave. For the moment, he left the horses to continue munching happily, totally oblivious to the drama that had been taking place around them.
"Ezra, I...I don't think you should take time to gather wood tonight. We still have some inside."
"True, but it won't last until I can get more tomorrow night. We will have to use considerably more caution now that we know those men are in the area. It is possible that they are not the men we are avoiding, but whoever they are, they had to be talking about the lawmen in Four Corners, and that does not bode well."
"But what if they come back while you are still out there?"
"Rest assured, dear lady, that I will take no unnecessary risks. I will bring what I can in one trip with the horses. I will not venture out a second time this night. We will have to use the wood sparingly until I can obtain more." He turned her to face back into the cave and then paused. He stood behind her and leaned close. "Mary, I really need your help this time. I cannot take care of our needs and keep watch on you tonight. Please, stay in here."
"Alright, but you have to promise you won't stay very long." She didn't want to wait here alone, but she knew he was right. She would be putting them both at risk if she insisted on going along.
"I give you my word."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mary sighed deeply in resignation and walked back toward their campsite inside the stone tunnel. She knew she would not be able to relax until he was safely back inside again.
She busied herself straightening up their meager campsite and taking stock of what supplies they still had. Supplies were getting low even with them using extra care on the rations. It would help if they could get some game, but hunting was out of the question. Since they had to be this cautious, a gunshot would be too risky.
Time seemed to creep by, and after she had done all she could in their camp, she started pacing the inside of the cave. 'Everything is okay, you know it is. It just takes time is all.' But, no matter how much she tried to justify to herself that things would be fine, the worry and uncertainty remained.
She had no sure way of telling time, but she was reasonably sure it had been at least two hours since Ezra had gone back outside. The waiting was driving her half crazy, and she finally eased herself back toward the mouth of the cave in hopes that she could at least hear if he was near. Time dragged on and the night sounds that had been so soothing and hypnotic as she stood against the tree and watched the horses now took on new meanings in her mind. The crunch of a leaf became a footstep; the sound of a night bird set her heart to pounding. She nearly called out in relief when she heard him returning with the horses, but she managed to keep from shouting out to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ezra looked at the woman who stood waiting for him just inside the cave opening. "Why?"
"I got nervous, and decided to wait here."
"Very well, then if you would take your horse and go on ahead of me, we'll unload them in the back." He watched her retreating form and thought that perhaps she did care a little about his welfare. Her posture when he first saw her upon returning had held more than a case of nerves, it also held worry and anxiety. And, she had seemed genuinely glad to see him. He had seen those reactions before, but never in someone who might be feeling those things for him. It had to be that he was just reading too much into the situation, and maybe there were some of his unspoken wishes tossed in there too.
The two worked together unloading the overflowing bundles of firewood and getting the horses settled for the day. Mary busied herself fixing their supper, while Ezra picked the bits of bark and splinters out of the blankets he had used to bundle the wood. The meal passed quietly, both diners replayed the events of the night in their minds, and both hoped fervently that the men they saw pass in the night were not the ones they were hiding from.
"We will undoubtedly need to let the fire go out while we sleep in an effort to save fuel," Ezra stated.
Mary was just getting settled under the blankets and she looked across at the gambler. "If that is the case then it will be colder than usual in here."
"Yes."
"Ezra, I can't let you give up one of your blankets to me if it is going to be colder." She held up a hand to stop him from speaking. "We shared the blankets last night." She paused and felt her face warm from the blush that crept into her cheeks. "We both slept warmer than we had since we got here. There is no reason we can't share them again." She turned back the edge of the top blankets to show him that she did mean what she was suggesting.
"Mrs. Travis, your offer is very generous, but are you sure?"
"I am sure. Ezra, I am asking you to share blankets and body heat and that's it. In a similar situation would you hesitate to share a blanket with Chris or one of the others, if it would keep you from freezing during the night?"
"No, I would not, and I have not refused. However, they were not lovely ladies who I had been requested to protect." Ezra paused and considered her suggestion for a few moments, and then took his remaining blanket and added it to those covering the pretty blonde and eased in under them with her. The pallet of grass that they had fixed under her blanket on the second night cushioned and insulated them from the cold, hard stone. In a matter of minutes their combined body heat began to warm the chill from their bones. "Mary?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
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