Beyond The Horizon (41 page)

Blade had just finished his rather lengthy explanation when Goodman burst through the door. “What is this all about, Colonel? Why am I under arrest?”

Chapter Twenty-One

L
ieutenant Goodman’s eyes narrowed suspiciously
when he saw both Shannon and Blade sitting in Colonel Greer’s office. He guessed immediately that he had been found out and wondered how it had happened. He decided to brazen it out by pretending innocence no matter what the charges against him. He sincerely doubted there was enough evidence to convict him of anything.

His eyes widened in fear and disbelief when he saw the sacks of gold sitting on the Colonel’s desk. They should have been resting in their hiding place in the closet of his quarters.

A frisson of dread shivered down his spine as he repeated, “What is this all about? Why am I under arrest?”

“You’re under arrest for the murders of Major Vance and Clive Bailey,” Colonel Greer said with quiet authority. “Then there is the additional charge of selling illegal weapons to Indians.”

“What! That’s preposterous!” Goodman sputtered, stunned and flustered by the evidence against him. “You know me, Colonel, I’m not capable of murder.”

“It’s too late for denials, Lieutenant. The gold taken from Major Vance’s quarters was found hidden in your rooms. If further proof is needed, there were two witnesses to your meeting with Broken Lance last night.”

Goodman slid a venomous glance at Blade and Shannon. They hadn’t said a word since he entered the room. “That can’t be! The Smith’s Shop was empty when—” He stuttered to a halt, suddenly realizing what he had just admitted. His shoulders slumped in utter dejection as he lost all his bluster.

Until that moment Colonel Greer had held a slim hope that this was somehow all a hoax, that Goodman would offer a plausible explanation to clear his name. But that hope was dashed by Goodman’s fatal slip of the tongue.

“Both Shannon and Blade heard you and Broken Lance discussing weapons,” Greer said with grim resignation. “Somehow you learned that Major Vance and Stryker were working together to halt the illegal sale of guns to renegades and risked murder rather than be unmasked and charged with the crime. You killed Vance and neatly arranged for Blade to take the blame. It almost worked, but fortunately Blade escaped from the guardhouse and became friendly with Broken Lance. It wasn’t long before everything was finally brought out into the open.”

“They lie! The gold was deliberately planted in my quarters,” Goodman said lamely.

“Your feeble excuses don’t hold water,” Greer replied disgustedly. “How could you do this? You had a brilliant future ahead of you in the army. I approved of your marriage to my daughter. Why, Lieutenant, why?”

“I did it for Claire,” Goodman tried to convince the Colonel. “She deserves the best things in life and army pay allows for few luxuries.”

“Don’t blame your greed on my daughter,” Greer rebuked harshly. “Take him away,” he ordered, deliberately turning his back. Sargeant O’Brien moved quickly to obey, completely baffled by all that had transpired.

Goodman swiveled to confront Blade and Shannon before he was hustled out the door, his face mottled with rage. “You’ll pay for this. One way or another you will pay!” Then he was taken away, still cursing and spewing threats.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” Greer said, shaking his head slowly.

“It’s never easy when someone you trust betrays his friends and the uniform he wears,” Blade sympathized.

“Yes,” Greer said, clearing his throat as he put the matter firmly behind him. In his position he couldn’t afford maudlin sentiments. “What are your intentions now that this investigation is over?”

“I have plans for the future,” Blade replied, squeezing Shannon’s hand.

“Might I ask if they include Shannon?”

“I have no future without Shannon,” Blade stated simply.

“Do you intend to marry?”

“If Shannon will have a half-breed for husband.”

“Of course I’ll have you,” Shannon replied proudly. “You’re the man I love. Nothing else matters.”

“Since Shannon has no father or male relative nearby, I’m going to speak frankly,” Greer said. “For Shannon’s sake, I suggest you settle anywhere but near Fort Laramie. This is a small post and feelings run high against Indians and half-breeds. Once you marry people will lose all respect for Shannon. She’ll suffer because of it and I don’t want that to happen.”

“It’s not my intention to remain at Fort Laramie, Colonel,” Blade revealed. “For some time now I’ve had my eye on a valley near Cheyenne. If it isn’t taken, I plan on homesteading there, building a house for Shannon, and buying cattle with the money I’ve saved. The land is perfect for raising Texas longhorns.”

Greer nodded approvingly. Shannon had a more difficult time coming to grips with the notion that Blade wanted to become a rancher. It was the first she had heard of it.

“Before you leave,” Greer continued, “I’d like to arrange with the chaplain to perform the marriage. If that is what you’d like,” he added hastily.

“Yes, I’d like that,” Shannon said eagerly.

“Then run along to the house and inform the women while Blade and I settle the details.”

Shannon left headquarters in a daze. She had dreamed so long about being Blade’s wife, but she hadn’t thought it would ever happen. Finally they would be together always, never to be separated again.

“It won’t be easy, Blade,” Greer warned once Shannon was gone. “No matter where you go, there will be prejudice—unless you go back East and live as a white man as you did during the war years.”

“There is nothing back East for me and Shannon,” Blade argued. “Wyoming is my home, and I’ll stay regardless of the way people feel about me. Shannon is a fighter. She’ll survive.”

“Then let’s go find the chaplain. You can be married tomorrow.”

By the time Shannon left headquarters, the fort was abuzz with rumors of Lieutenant Goodman’s arrest. Snippets of gossip and cutting remarks flew around her as she crossed the parade ground. People seemed to be more concerned that Shannon had spent the night with a half-breed than they were about finding a killer. Injun lover, white squaw and whore were among some of the choice words directed at her.

How could these same people she considered her friends turn on her so viciously? she wondered bleakly. With head held high, Shannon was determined no one should know how deeply their remarks hurt her. No matter what people said or thought, it was worth it to be with Blade. She sincerely hoped things would improve in Cheyenne, but even if they didn’t she would survive. Hadn’t Mama always preached that love had the power to conquer all adversity?

Molly Greer was staunchly supportive as she helped Shannon pack her meager belongings. If it made any difference to her that Shannon loved a half-breed, she wisely kept it to herself, though Shannon thought her enthusiasm overly restrained. When Shannon happily announced she was to be married soon, Molly had offered to help refurbish one of her gowns to make it more festive. Though the older woman offered no advice, Shannon knew by the expression on her face that she desperately wanted to say something.

“Go ahead and speak your mind, Molly,” Shannon encouraged her. “We’re friends. What is it you want to tell me? It won’t hurt my feelings.”

Sighing distractedly, Molly said, “Yes, there is something. I heard about Lieutenant Goodman. It’s all over the fort. It’s so difficult to believe he is capable of murder. The man ate at my table, courted my daughter. Are you certain, Shannon, absolutely certain the man is guilty? Could it be a case of mistaken identity?

“I know you and Blade are responsible for his arrest, but Lieutenant Goodman seemed like such a nice young man. He and Claire were to be married soon. The poor girl is devastated.”

“There is no mistake, Molly,” Shannon said as gently as possible. “Lieutenant Goodman has admitted before witnesses that he is guilty of cold-blooded murder. He also sold illegal weapons to renegades. Even if he hadn’t confessed, the evidence against him is overwhelming.”

“Oh dear, oh dear,” Molly murmured, rubbing her temples distractedly. “I think I’ll lie down a bit. I seem to have developed a terrible headache.”

After Molly left, Shannon continued sewing bows on her wedding dress, a soft pink silk that had seen better days but was the prettiest she owned except for the green ballgown, which was inappropriate for a wedding. Her thoughts turned inward as she dreamed about what it would be like married to Blade, living in their own house and raising their children. Suddenly the door nearly flew off the hinges as Claire burst inside.

“You bitch!” she spat accusingly. “You and your Indian lover spoiled everything. If not for you, I could have married Ronald and gotten out of this godforsaken wilderness. I hate it here! Ronald promised me clothes, jewels, everything I desired. Who cares if he sold guns to those nasty Injuns!”

“You knew,” Shannon whispered, utterly stunned. “You knew about the guns. Did you also know about the murders?”

“I knew nothing,” Claire hissed, “and you can’t prove I did. You ruined my life, and one day I’ll ruin yours—just you wait and see.” Whirling on her heel, she flounced out of the room.

The needle poised in her hand, Shannon sat back, her mind working furiously. Claire was devastated all right, but not because she was shocked by Goodman’s cold-blooded acts of murder. Claire thought only in terms of material possessions and what she had lost. Shannon seriously considered telling Colonel and Molly Greer what she suspected but finally decided to let the matter drop. She hated to hurt and disillusion the Greers, who had taken her in and treated her with kindness. With Goodman behind bars, Claire could do no further damage.

The following morning, Shannon and Blade were married by the army chaplain in the small post chapel. Among the few people who attended were Colonel and Molly Greer. Claire Greer was conspicuously absent, but Shannon hardly noticed. It was the happiest day of her life.

Blade thought Shannon looked exquisite in her pink gown. It made her skin shine like pure alabaster and emphasized the dark blue of her eyes. Never would he have believed that he would be marrying so beautiful an angel. Half-breeds rarely aspired so high. That Shannon loved him at all was a miracle. As they exchanged vows, Blade promised himself that she would have nothing but the best; he would make her life perfect in every way.

Shannon thought Blade the handsomest man she’d ever seen. His bold, brooding looks might not be conventional, but his dark striking features and powerful frame were difficult to ignore and impossible to forget. He looked wonderful, she reflected dreamily, dressed in new clothes and his braids shorn to a respectable length.

In a surprisingly short time, the ceremony was over and Blade was kissing her, his dark eyes suspiciously moist and misty. Then Colonel Greer was wishing them well, with Molly adding her own subdued words of congratulations.

Once again Claire absented herself, refusing to appear at the sumptuous wedding dinner generously provided by the Greers. But Blade and Shannon were too entranced with one another to notice or care. Afterwards Blade loaded their belongings and supplies in the wagon he had purchased, tied Warrior to the back, and drove away from Fort Laramie.

“I didn’t want us to spend our wedding night with the Greers, or in my tipi,” Blade said as they left the perimeter of the fort. “I want it to be special, something we’ll always remember. That’s why I suggested we leave immediately. I’d rather celebrate the first day of our married life under the stars, where the Grandfather Spirit will shine his blessing down on us.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Shannon agreed blissfully.

They plodded south at a leisurely pace for a destination only Blade seemed aware of. At dusk they approached a winding creek, and Blade pulled the wagon into a glade of Cottonwood trees.

“Perfect,” Shannon sighed, raising her eyes heavenward where the stars played hide and seek among the cottonwood branches.

Blade grinned, lifting his arms to help Shannon down. Effortlessly, she slid into his embrace, their bodies touching and igniting a blaze that seared their senses. With a sigh of regret Blade set her aside. “Soon, Little Firebird, soon,” he promised in a low voice. “You build a fire while I find our dinner.”

Her heart beating with wild anticipation, Shannon soon had a fire started. Blade returned a short time later with two plump rabbits already gutted and skinned. Shannon expressed admiration as he spitted and set them over the fire. Soon delicious smells wafted through the glade, joining that of the biscuits browning in a large skillet.

Though she was starving, Shannon had great difficulty swallowing. Lord knew she had no reason to be nervous on her wedding night—she already knew Blade was the best of lovers, gentle, tender, yet fierce in his passion.

“Aren’t you hungry, Little Firebird?” Blade asked, putting his own food aside.

“Not very,” Shannon answered with a hesitancy not lost on Blade.

“I’m famished, but not for food. We can always eat later. Come,” he said, his urgency communicating itself to Shannon. “The stream isn’t deep, and the water is warm.” Snatching up soap and towels, he grasped her hand and led her toward the water.