A Home in Your Heart (Love in the Old West series Book 2) by McBride Bess

Author:McBride, Bess [McBride, Bess]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Bess McBride
Published: 2014-07-11T16:00:00+00:00

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The following day, they reached the easternmost entrance of the canyon. Beyond them, lay a sweeping valley leading to the Chiricahua Mountains. Their progress through the canyon had been slow, the Apaches seemingly in no hurry.

As Tall Joe had predicted, the Apaches appeared determined to continue on toward the Chiricahua Mountains. No torture had been inflicted upon the captives yet, other than near starvation and thirst. The Apaches had shared very little of their food and had given the captives even less water. They had been led with ropes around their necks by the Apaches riding the Cavalry horses. Daniel worried about Brownie, how his spoiled and well-fed Cavalry horse would fare given the Apache’s penchant for eating their horses if need be.

He continued to worry about Harry as well. The fort would not know that they had been taken, even now. What was she doing? How did she fare? He longed to see her, to look into her sparkling hazel eyes, to touch her cheek. Thinking about her kept him on his feet.

Perhaps the Apaches intended to sell them to the Mexicans. It was possible the Mexicans might ransom them back to the Army. Though the Army would not pay the ransom, Major Lewis might mount a party to search for them if he could get word to Captain Garner to return to the fort.

The Apaches hunkered down at the far entrance of the canyon at around noon, Daniel presumed to await the darkness of night for further travel. By his estimation, they had emerged from the Mule Mountains at a spot almost equally placed between Tombstone to the northwest and the other mining town of Bisbee to the southeast. The valley beyond would provide no shelter for the Indians with their booty of stolen horses and captives.

Several of the Apaches posted themselves on the hills above the canyon, crouching among the rocks to keep a lookout. Daniel and the other captives were tied down again and given sips of water. The water failed to ease the pain in his burning throat.

“Lieutenant, I don’t think I can do this no more,” Corporal Henson whispered in a raspy voice.

Daniel shot a quick glance toward their guard, the middle-aged Apache, who seemed more interested in the activities of the Apaches on the hillsides, and indeed, there did seem to be some sort of silent communication occurring among them as they gestured with their rifles.

“Do not give up, Corporal. This will pass, one way or another. Be brave and stay strong.” Corporal Henson’s leg had not in fact been broken but was only strained; however, neither Daniel nor Sergeant Smith could help him walk, and Daniel doubted whether the Apaches would let the corporal ride. More likely, they would simply kill him as a liability.

A rifle jab in his neck from their guard served to remind Daniel that there was no talking. He gave Corporal Henson an encouraging nod and turned to watch the Apaches on the hills. If he had to guess, he suspected that something beyond the canyon, something in the valley, troubled them.

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