Only 06 - Winter Fire

determined set of her jaw, swore under his breath, and tilted his hat back on his head.
    â€œNow that we’re at the so-called castle,” he said, “what do we do next?”
    â€œWe look for silver.”
    â€œDidn’t you tell me that the silver was buried at the base of a tall pillar of red rock?”
    â€œIt was supposed to be. I can’t say where it might be now.”
    â€œIf the treasure weighed in at a few hundred pounds, and your husband was too drunk to remember finding it, chances are he didn’t pack it out on his back.”
    Sarah had thought about that. A lot. On the other hand…
    â€œI’ve dug around all the pillars in this canyon,” she said firmly. “Now it’s time to go over the ruins.”
    â€œIf there’s nothing there, then what?”
    â€œI’ll try the next canyon.”
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œI’ll go on to the next canyon and the next and the next until I run out of canyons or find that damned silver.”
    Case looked at the worn, hard-used shovel that was tied behind her saddle.
    â€œWell, it beats digging graves,” he said.
    He dismounted and pulled the shotgun sling over his head. Then he tied the reins around Cricket’s neck, took the rifle out of its sheath, and turned toward Sarah.
    â€œAfter you,” he invited.
    â€œPlanning on starting a war?” she asked, dismounting.
    â€œI’d hate to disappoint any Culpepper who came around looking for a ration of lead.”
    His tone was dry but there was nothing amusing about the look in his eyes. He had looked like that when he came back to the cabin after the raiders attacked.
    Without a word Sarah hobbled Shaker, grabbed her own shotgun and shovel, and set off toward the ruins at a brisk pace. As she took each step, she tried not to remember how frightening it had been to wait with Conner inside the cabin and not know if Case was alive, dead, or dying alone in the cold darkness.
    Twice she had headed for the door. The first time, Conner had stopped her simply by putting his hand on her arm. The second time he had been forced to wrestle her to the floor and sit on her to keep her inside the cabin.
    Her brother might have found the minutes that followed entertaining, but she still felt both furious and chilled when she thought of Case lying helpless in the dark, perhaps dying when she could have saved his life.
    Shovel and shotgun over her shoulder, she scrambled up the slope. Thanks to Ute, her moccasins were new. Unfortunately, the sharp rocks would soon wear through the deer hide.
    Just before she went up the last, steep slope of the rubble mound that led to the ruins, she stopped to catch her breath.
    â€œGive me the shovel,” Case said.
    â€œYou shouldn’t be carrying—” she began as she turned toward him.
    Her protest ended. He wasn’t winded at all.
    She handed over the heavy shovel, keeping only the shotgun for herself.
    Without the shovel, the rest of the scramble to the ruins was a lot easier for her. If the long-handled shovel or his recently wounded leg bothered Case, it didn’t show in his speed. He was right behind her when she came up over the lip of the debris slope and onto the flat area where the ruins were.
    With speculative gray eyes, she looked over the ragged walls and piles of fallen stone.
    â€œWhere do you want me to dig?” he asked.
    â€œFirst let’s just look around. We might get lucky.”
    â€œMounds of silver shining in the sun?”
    â€œMore like rotten hide bags of bullion and coins tarnished by a few centuries of neglect,” she retorted.
    She turned on her heel and walked toward the first ragged room.
    â€œStay away from the walls,” he said.
    â€œI’ve done this before.”
    â€œJust stay clear of the walls. Looks like a sneeze would bring them down.”
    Her mouth flattened, but the memory of how easy it had been for her younger brother to restrain her was still vivid.
    Irritating, bullying creatures , she thought. Why can’t they just let a woman get on with her work? Why do they have to keep interfering?
    Pointedly she kept well away from the walls while she looked into and around each ruined room.
    Once Case was certain that Sarah was going to be sensible about exploring the ruins, he divided his attention between watching her and watching for raiders.
    Watching her was much more interesting. She had a female way of moving that