Zach raised the Hawken to his shoulder but lowered it again. What was he thinking? They were too far off. He must keep his temper in check for a little while longer.
He hoped Lou was all right, hoped the fall hadn’t hurt her inside. If she should lose the baby he would wreak bloodshed on the Heart Eaters a hundredfold.
God, how Zach wished the bay had wings. Presently he neared the lodgepoles and reined toward the spot where he had seen Lou fall. He saw a badger burrow and guessed the truth. He also saw a bare shallow circle of dirt, and then another, each about as big around as a washtub. Ruts led from the circles into the trees. He wondered what made them.
A loud snapping and crunching brought Zach to a stop. He looked up just as a boulder came rolling out of the trees—straight at him. He reined sharply aside, fearing the boulder would crash into the bay’s legs and bring down the horse. It missed by an arm’s length.
Then Zach understood. The circles of dirt were where boulders had been. He reined to the left to get out of there just as another boulder hurtled out at the bay.
The horse carried them clear.
Zach went to rein around. Suddenly scarred figures burst from cover and swarmed about him. For a moment he thought he would be riddled with arrows, but their bows were slung. They had large rocks and tree limbs, and one let fly with a rock that struck the Hawken and nearly knocked it from his hand. He tried to point it, but the blunt end of a thick limb caught him in the ribs and iron fingers grabbed hold of his leg.
Zach was unhorsed. He slammed to the earth on his shoulders. Before he could rise, before he could draw his knife or his tomahawk, they were on him. A warrior was on each arm, a warrior on each leg, another astride his chest. He was pinned flat.
Zach heaved upward, but their combined weight was too much. They made no attempt to stab him or beat him. All they did was hold him down and smile. Those smiles were like searing red-hot pokers driven into Zach’s gut. He felt a berserker rage coming over him, but he held it in check. All he would do was waste himself.
Two more warriors appeared, Lou held between them. She was limping, her face etched in pain. She smiled, a smile of such love and tenderness that Zach’s head swam.
“About time you showed up.”
Caught in an ebb tide of emotion, Zach said quietly, “I sure made a mess of it.”
Louisa yearned to go to him and take him in her arms. She had tried to shout a warning, but Skin Shredder had clamped a hand over her mouth. “We’re not dead yet.”
“How bad is your leg?”
“It’s not broken.” Lou gazed down the mountain. “Are you alone?”
“Shakespeare is tending Blue Water Woman.”
“She’s alive?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God.”
“Don’t give up hope. I’ll get you out of this or die.”
“Haven’t you heard?” Lou smiled. “I’m a King. A King never gives up hope.”
Skin Shredder was puzzled. He couldn’t understand how the two could be so calm about the breed’s capture. He’d expected the man to be in a frenzy and the woman to scream and fight. Instead they behaved as if it were of no consequence. “Tie his wrists and bring his horse. Do not let him get on it. Make him walk.”
Zach resisted when they hauled him to his feet and forced his arms behind him, but there were too many. It was humiliating, being bound by enemies.
They started up the mountain.
Lou walked beside Zach, her shoulder brushing his. None of the warriors objected until she made bold to reach out and gently clasp his bounds hands. The warrior behind her, evidently thinking she was trying to undo the knots, swatted her hands and said something.
Skin Shredder was in the lead. He glanced back when he heard Star Dancer tell the white woman not to touch the breed. “Watch her closely. They must not escape.” It had been many moons since a raiding party brought back two captives. His people would be overjoyed. They would sing his praises and dance and cut out and eat the man’s heart. The woman could wait until the baby was born. Then there would be two more to eat.
The thought made his mouth water. He could almost taste them.
Chapter Fifteen
Zach King trudged gloomily along, his thoughts as dark and ominous as a thunderhead. He had failed his wife, failed the one he loved. He had let himself be caught, and now their fate and the fate of their unborn child were in the hands of warriors with no mercy in their souls.
Not that Zach would give up. Lou had been right about being a King. Among the many lessons he learned from his parents was the most important: Never, ever give up or give in. No matter what life threw at him, no matter the challenge, no matter the peril, never surrender.
So as Zach trudged, he pondered. He must get Lou out of there. On horseback would be best, but if not then on foot. He must do it before they passed over the divide, while they were still in King Valley.
The Heart Eaters had taken his weapons. But they couldn’t take his mind, and the mind was the most useful weapon of all. A mind could scheme. A mind could plot. A mind could come up with a way to snatch life from the fangs of death. A mind could defy fate.
Zach studied his captors without being obvious. With him bound, they must figure he wasn’t much of a threat. None had arrows nocked to their bows. Only one kept a hand on the hilt of his knife. The others seemed to take it for granted that he would not give them trouble, not with his wife in their clutches.
Little did they realize that was all the more incentive for Zach to slay them. But Lou presented a problem. She had hurt her leg and limped with every step. She couldn’t run fast or far. So whatever he came up with must take her handicap into account.
Zach glanced at her and saw she was smiling at him. “What?”
“I am happy you are here.” Lou was near giddy with glee, in fact. She thought she had lost him in the slide.
“You’re happy they caught me?”
“No, silly.” Lou laughed. “I’m happy you weren’t killed.”
“If they have their way, we will be.”
Lou stared at the warriors on either side. “We’ve been in tight situations before, but this is one of the worst.”
“I’ll get you out of this or die trying.”
Lou touched his arm. “I’d rather you didn’t. I’m going to have a baby and she’ll need a pa.”
“There you go again.”
Lou hoped for a girl. Zach wanted a boy. The next nine months promised to be one long argument because neither—Lou caught herself. Here she was, thinking of their future, when it was very much in doubt they would live out the week.
Zach squinted skyward. They had several hours of daylight left. More than enough. The question was, when? He must pick the right time and place.
Louisa said quietly, “I want to tell you now, in case I don’t get the chance later, how much I love you. How much having you as my husband has meant to me. How proud I have been to be your wife.”
“You sound like you’re saying good-bye.”
“It’s just that there are things that need to be said and this might be my only chance.”
“I won’t let them harm you.”
“I know you’ll do your best. You always do. You’re as fine a man as any woman could ask for.”
Zach shook his head. “I’m a hothead. I don’t have much patience. I don’t always consider your feelings. I tend to do what I want when I want and the rest of the world be damned.”
Louisa grinned. “I didn’t say you don’t have flaws. Everyone does. But as flaws go, yours I can live with. You more than make up for them by being a devoted husband.”
“I don’t do any different than my pa.”