Only 06 - Winter Fire

lurching around.”
    Pink flared on Sarah’s cheekbones, but she kept her eyes above his chin.
    â€œThe point is,” she said gamely, “that you’re still too weak to be hopping around, whether buck naked or dressed like a lord on Easter day.”
    â€œThe point is, pretty widow, that you won’t be safe from Ab Culpepper until I’m gone from here.”
    â€œI’m not pretty and I won’t be safer with you gone.”
    â€œI heard what Ab said. He came to Lost River ranch for me, not for you.”
    â€œYou didn’t hear all of it,” she said bluntly. “He threatened to castrate Conner.”
    Case drew a quick breath. “Judas priest. Why?”
    â€œI don’t know, but I can guess.”
    â€œI’m listening,” he said.
    â€œMy brother is…impulsive.”
    Case waited.
    â€œI think Conner tiptoed into the raiders’ Spring Canyon camp,” she said, “mixed up salt with the sugar, stirred fresh cow manure into the breakfast beans, and turned their horses loose to cover his own tracks.”
    â€œWould have been a damned sight more useful if he had slit some throats while he was at it.”
    Sarah’s breath came in sharply. “No! I don’t want Conner to have to live like that!”
    â€œThen you’re living in the wrong place.”
    â€œI’m not. He is. That’s why I’m going to send him East to school.”
    Saying nothing, Case looked around the cabin. Its sparse furnishings and dirt floor told him that money was rare on Lost River ranch.
    â€œConner is close to man-sized,” he said neutrally. “He might want a say in where he goes or doesn’t go.”
    â€œThere’s more to the world than a river running through a red stone wilderness,” she said, her voice tight.
    â€œIs that you talking, or your brother?”
    â€œLost River ranch is all I want of the world. Being here suits me all the way to my soul.”
    The intensity in her voice was matched by her eyes. They fairly burned with silver fire.
    â€œBut Conner is different,” she said fiercely. “He could be a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher. He could travel across the sea and meet kings. He could be anything!”
    â€œIs that what he wants?”
    â€œHow can Conner know what he wants?” she countered in a rising voice. “All he really knows is this narrow canyon. If he takes a look around the world and wants to come back here, fine. But so help me God, my brother will have the chance to look .”
    Because Sarah was still against Case’s side, supporting him, he felt the tension vibrating through her body. She was like a wire much too tightly drawn, humming with strain.
    Wires stretched that tight had a habit of breaking.
    â€œEasy, little one,” he murmured, turning her toward him. “These last ten days have been a trial for you.”
    â€œHang the last ten days! I just want—I just—”
    Her final, fragmented words were spoken against his chest. With a tenderness surprising in a man so powerful, he stroked her hair and back, gentling her rigid body.
    Slowly she became less stiff.
    â€œHow old were you when your parents died?” he asked quietly.
    â€œThirteen.”
    His eyes closed. He had seen young girls orphaned during the war. Some, the lucky ones, had kin nearby who took them in. Other orphans survived however they could, fighting with dogs for scraps of food. Too many of the children died.
    Somehow he doubted that Sarah had been one of the lucky orphans who found shelter with kin.
    â€œHow old was Conner?” Case asked.
    â€œNine.”
    â€œYoungest in the family?” he guessed.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSpoiled in the bargain, too, I’ll bet.”
    â€œHe isn’t spoiled,” she said instantly.
    â€œHuh. He has a smile that could get around Satan, much less a doting older sister.”
    Sarah looked up, meeting Case’s clear glance. Though she was pale, there were no tears shimmering in her eyes.
    â€œI was the second oldest of five,” she said. “And theonly girl. Mother was a long time healing from Conner’s birth. I rocked him, fed him, sang to him, kissed his hurts…”
    The clarity of Case’s glance became unbearable to her. It was as though he was seeing past her words right into her soul.
    She looked away.
    With great care he nestled her cheek against his chest. After a