It seemed to Sam Marston that a gray mist had enveloped the world. Objects
seemed hazy to her eyes while people appeared and disappeared, their voices
hazy and indistinct. Only her brother's hand felt real, solid and warm in
her grasp as the two of them walked down the path to the street.
Major Rodney Ashley-Pitt walked beside them, occasionally nodding as Cal Torken remonstrated with him. "Your concern is most praiseworthy, Torken, but the lady and her brother are quite safe with me. I bear no grudge. By God, I can scarce believe it happened!" He shook his head sadly. "You think you know a man after so many years and he does something like this. Incredible."
The narrowness of the path kept Torken behind them as they walked. Sam found it hard to concentrate on his words and wondered vaguely what had happened to her fear and anger of only moments ago. It no longer seemed important what happened. Nothing mattered anymore.
"Now look here Major. There ain't no call for you to take Mrs. Marston to that army barracks and it surely ain't no place for a boy." It was not an original argument. Torken had used it in the front hall once his initial surprise had passed. It was not his only reasoning but he returned to it over and over, perhaps feeling that repetition would succeed where reason had not.
The major paid no more attention to it the fourth time than he had to the earlier entreaties. He waved a hand in sorrowful dismissal. "Mrs. Marston is certainly not going to be put in our jail. And nothing will happen to the boy. Now stop interfering, Torken. If you want to help, find the lady a good lawyer. She's going to need one."
Torken spluttered into argument again but Sam ignored him. They were steps away from the street now and over the small gate she could see at least half a dozen soldiers who had accompanied the major. They waited beside their horses, heads down in conversation, not looking at the group walking toward them. Their scarlet tunics looked like splashes of blood and she closed her eyes briefly in pain.
Niall's hand suddenly clutched hers with bruising strength. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. He was staring straight ahead, his breath coming in quick, rapid gasps. At the same moment Torken abruptly ceased arguing.
The major's hand touched her elbow. "Come along now, Mrs. Marston. We've got a horse for you but your brother will have to ride double with someone." He put his hand on the gate latch and gave her a sidelong glance; she was startled to see him wink.
The soldiers came forward to meet them. One of them reached for Sam's arm and pulled her firmly through the gate and over to the nearest horse. Still clinging to her hand Niall followed closely. There was the unmistakable sound of revolvers being released from their catches and then a voice she had thought never to hear again.
"All right Cal, it's over. Lift your arms over your head and Collins here will take your gun out of your belt. I don't pretend to understand your reasons but you'll have enough time to tell me - before they hang you."
The next moment she was being held tightly against a scarlet coat warm from the sun. She reached out and grasped an handful of fabric and embossed buttons to keep from sliding to the ground as her knees gave out. Through a sudden rush of tears she could make out Elliott Marston's face smiling down at her. "Some women just can't resist a man in a uniform. Now let's go back inside and get out of this heat. Ashley-Pitt has enough men to take care of Cal."
In a daze she allowed herself to be turned around and marched back to the house. Niall skipped beside her, running ahead and then returning to her side in excitement. Marston's arm encircled her waist, strong and firm, surely the only thing keeping her upright. She turned her head only once; to watch the major and his men heave Cal Torken into the saddle of the extra horse and begin their slow, relentless procession back to army headquarters.
Major Rodney Ashley-Pitt walked beside them, occasionally nodding as Cal Torken remonstrated with him. "Your concern is most praiseworthy, Torken, but the lady and her brother are quite safe with me. I bear no grudge. By God, I can scarce believe it happened!" He shook his head sadly. "You think you know a man after so many years and he does something like this. Incredible."
The narrowness of the path kept Torken behind them as they walked. Sam found it hard to concentrate on his words and wondered vaguely what had happened to her fear and anger of only moments ago. It no longer seemed important what happened. Nothing mattered anymore.
"Now look here Major. There ain't no call for you to take Mrs. Marston to that army barracks and it surely ain't no place for a boy." It was not an original argument. Torken had used it in the front hall once his initial surprise had passed. It was not his only reasoning but he returned to it over and over, perhaps feeling that repetition would succeed where reason had not.
The major paid no more attention to it the fourth time than he had to the earlier entreaties. He waved a hand in sorrowful dismissal. "Mrs. Marston is certainly not going to be put in our jail. And nothing will happen to the boy. Now stop interfering, Torken. If you want to help, find the lady a good lawyer. She's going to need one."
Torken spluttered into argument again but Sam ignored him. They were steps away from the street now and over the small gate she could see at least half a dozen soldiers who had accompanied the major. They waited beside their horses, heads down in conversation, not looking at the group walking toward them. Their scarlet tunics looked like splashes of blood and she closed her eyes briefly in pain.
Niall's hand suddenly clutched hers with bruising strength. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. He was staring straight ahead, his breath coming in quick, rapid gasps. At the same moment Torken abruptly ceased arguing.
The major's hand touched her elbow. "Come along now, Mrs. Marston. We've got a horse for you but your brother will have to ride double with someone." He put his hand on the gate latch and gave her a sidelong glance; she was startled to see him wink.
The soldiers came forward to meet them. One of them reached for Sam's arm and pulled her firmly through the gate and over to the nearest horse. Still clinging to her hand Niall followed closely. There was the unmistakable sound of revolvers being released from their catches and then a voice she had thought never to hear again.
"All right Cal, it's over. Lift your arms over your head and Collins here will take your gun out of your belt. I don't pretend to understand your reasons but you'll have enough time to tell me - before they hang you."
The next moment she was being held tightly against a scarlet coat warm from the sun. She reached out and grasped an handful of fabric and embossed buttons to keep from sliding to the ground as her knees gave out. Through a sudden rush of tears she could make out Elliott Marston's face smiling down at her. "Some women just can't resist a man in a uniform. Now let's go back inside and get out of this heat. Ashley-Pitt has enough men to take care of Cal."
In a daze she allowed herself to be turned around and marched back to the house. Niall skipped beside her, running ahead and then returning to her side in excitement. Marston's arm encircled her waist, strong and firm, surely the only thing keeping her upright. She turned her head only once; to watch the major and his men heave Cal Torken into the saddle of the extra horse and begin their slow, relentless procession back to army headquarters.