No. This wasn't the time to go in blazing away. He needed to play diplomat.
He stood at the periphery of the camp, his saber and his pistols at his side, but his arms relaxed. "Jesse. Jesse James!" he called out sharply.
They moved as one. As soon as he called out, the five of them were awake, staring at him down the length of their Colts and revolvers.
He lifted his hands. He saw five pairs of eyes look over his gray uniform jacket.
By the tree, Jesse stood.
"Malachi!" Shannon called out. "Malachi!" She struggled to rise. Justin jerked on the rope and clamped his hand hard over her mouth.
Malachi nodded toward Justin, trying to burn a message into Shannon's fool head with the strength of his eyes.
"Hey! It's the fool Reb who was taking on the whole of that Red Legs camp by himself!" One of the Younger brothers called out.
"Malachi. Malachi Slater," Jesse said. He walked forward, wary still, but a smile on his face. "You're Cole Slater's brother, right? Hey, they got a whole pack of wanted posters out on you, did you know that?"
"Yeah, I know it. But thanks for the warning."
"What are you doing here about? Heading south? It might be best if you were to take a hike into Mexico."
"Well," Malachi said, "I can't rightly do that yet, you know. I got to tie up with my brothers somewhere. And the Red Legs have got Cole's wife. That's what was going on when you fellows showed up there today. Those men report to a man named Hayden Fitz, and he wants my brother dead. We Slaters stick together; I can't leave yet."
One of the Younger brothers stood up. "Hey, Captain Slater. I seen Jamie. About two weeks ago. He knows about the posters, and he's making his way south. Thought you ought to know."
"Thanks. Thanks a lot. That's real good to hear."
Malachi smiled at the Younger brothers, then turned his eyes on Justin. He strode across the clearing between the trees and lowered himself down on the balls of his feet, staring straight into Justin's eyes.
"I've come for her."
"Well, now, Captain Slater, I'm rightly sorry. She's mine."
Shannon bit his hand. Justin let out a yelp, freeing her mouth, bringing his sore palm to his own mouth.
"Malachi—"
"Shut up, Shannon."
"Malachi—"
"Shut up, Shannon," he said again, smiling with clenched teeth. He stunned her by sending her a smart slap right across the face. She gasped. Tears that she would never shed brightened the blue beauty of her eyes.
"Justin, I don't prowl the countryside for just any woman. This one is mine. We're engaged to be married."
Shannon gasped, and Malachi glared at her.
Justin laughed crudely. "That won't wash, captain. That won't wash one little bit. I know all about this feisty little Yank lover. She hates Rebs. I don't think she even knows the difference between the bushwhackers and the regular army, captain. She just hates Rebs. I thought that I should give her a good taste of Johnny Reb, how about that, captain?"
There was no respect in his tone. There was an underlying hint of violence.
"She'll get a good taste of Reb. She's my fiancee, and I want her back now."
Malachi leaned across Justin with his knife and quickly slit the ropes holding Shannon down. She leaped to her feet, rubbing her wrists, and ran behind him. Malachi stood quickly as Justin leaped to his feet. The men stared at one another.
Malachi reached his hand behind him. "Come here, Shannon. Shannon—darlin'!—get your sweet…soul over here, ya hear?"
He grabbed her hand and jerked her up beside him. "Tell them, darlin'."
"What?" she whispered desperately.
"Tell them that you don't hate all Rebs."
She was silent. He sensed the turmoil in her, even as he breathed in the soft sweet scent of her perfume, still clinging to her despite the dirt that smudged her face.
He was ready to strangle her himself.
"Tell them!"
"I—" She was choking on the words, really choking on them. "I—I don't hate all Rebs."
"She ain't your fiancee!" Frank James said.
"She is!" Malachi insisted, his frustration growing. He swung Shannon around, none too gently, and brought her into his arms. "Darlin'!" he exclaimed, and he pulled her close. He stared into her sky-blue eyes, his own on fire.
Her eyes widened; it seemed that at last that she had discovered her own predicament, and realized that her freedom might well hinge on her ability to act.
"Yes! Yes!" She threw her arms around him. Her breasts pressed hard against his chest and her fingers played with the hair at his nape.
And her lips came full and soft and crushing against his.
There was a curious audience before them, and their very lives were hanging in the balance.
And at that instance, it didn't seem to matter.
He locked his arms around her, setting his hands upon the small of her back and bringing the whole of her body hard against his. His lips parted over hers, and in the breath of a second, he found himself the aggressor, heedless of the men watching. He thrust his tongue deep into the sweet crevice of her mouth, feeling the warmth and fever of her reach out and invade him. He held her tighter and tighter, and raped her mouth with the sheer demand of his own. The tension of it seared into the fullness of his body. Then she brought her hands between them, pressing hard against his chest, and he finally lifted his lips from hers, and stared into her wide, startled and glimmering eyes.
Glimmering…with fury, he thought. He only prayed that she had the sense to keep silent until they were away.
If they did get away.
One of the Younger brothers laughed. "Hot damn, but I believe him. That was one of the most sultry kisses I've ever seen. Set me burning for a bit o' lovin', that's for sure."
Shannon's lashes fell over her eyes. Malachi heard her teeth grate together as he swept her around him. "Jesse, she's mine. And I'm taking her."
"You got my go ahead," Jesse said. "Frank?"
Frank shrugged. "The man is still wearing a gray uniform, and he says that the girl is his. Guess it must be so."
There was a sound like a growl from Justin. "Well, captain, I don't say that it's so. The girl tried to kill me. I got a score to settle with her."
"She tried to kill you?" Malachi repeated, playing for time. He didn't doubt one bit that Shannon had tried to kill any of them.
"That's right," Jesse said, sighing. "Why, Justin would be dead right now if Frank's gun hadn't been empty."
Malachi smiled, arching a brow. "What was she doing with Frank's gun?" he asked politely.
Every one of the bushwhackers flushed, except Justin, and he kept staring at Malachi with hatred in his eyes.
"I untied her," Frank James muttered. "I felt sorry for her, gagged and tied. She jumped me."
"She jumped you?"
"Captain, if you know that woman so well, you know that she's a damned hellcat, a bloody little spitfire." He swore again. "She's more dangerous than the whole lot of us."
Malachi lowered his head, adjusting the brim of his hat to hide the smile that teased at his lips. They weren't in the clear yet.
He looked up again, gravely, at Jesse. "Not much harm done, was there? I mean, the gun was empty. Justin looks alive and well and healthy to me."
"You ain't takin' her, Slater," Justin said.
Malachi inhaled deeply. "I am taking her, Justin."
"Maybe she ought to apologize to Justin," Jesse suggested. "Maybe that will smooth things over a bit."
"Oh, yeah," Justin said, tightening his lips, and leaning back with a certain pleasure. "Sure. Let's see this. You get her to apologize, captain."