Comanche Moon (25 page)

“Did you?”

He grinned. “Yeah. Is it workin’?” Tilting her head back, she stared up at him with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. He was pushy. He was arrogant. But he had a certain rough charm.

“Not yet,” she replied with a reluctant smile. “But keep trying. You’re entertaining, at least.”

“Guess I should say thanks, ma’am.” Taking her hand, Diamond drew her to a flat rock nearby and brushed it off with his hat before seating her, a broad, gallant gesture that made her laugh. When Judith approached, her blond hair shining gold and bright in the sun and her blue skirts the same bright color as her eyes, Deborah made room for her on the surface of the rock. She saw Diamond frown slightly, as if disgruntled by Judith’s presence, and hid a smile.

“It’s beautiful out here,” Judith said, spreading her skirts over her crossed legs with a dainty motion. “Somehow, I thought this part of Texas was always dry and dusty.” Diamond shrugged. “It is. But even ugly has its moments, I reckon.” He pointed toward a line of rocky ridge. “There in Heuco Mountains and the Diablo Basin, you’ll find mule deer and pronghorn antelope, mountain cats, grouse, just about any kind of game you want. There’s trees and green grass and ice cold streams. As well as enough Comanche or Apache to give you hell.” He paused, hearing Judith’s strangled sound, and grimaced. “Sorry.” He flicked a glance toward Zack, and seemed to consider for a moment.

Deborah saw Zack stare back at him with opaque eyes, no sign of reaction, and Diamond shifted uncomfortably.

“I didn’t mean no offense there, Banning.”

“Why would I take offense?” No emotion, no indication of anger. Or absolution.

Diamond cleared his throat. “Well, uh, you bein’ part Injun and all, I don’t want you to think I meant somethin’ by it.”

“Like what?”

Deborah could see Diamond mentally squirm and almost felt sorry for him. He wasn’t a man accustomed to thinking about other people’s feelings, but it was obvious he didn’t want Zack Banning angry with him. And it was just as obvious Zack didn’t intend to let him off easy.

Irritated, but trying not to show it, Diamond growled, “Like anything at all, dammit. It was just a comment.” Zack shifted his feet, resting one hand on his hip and shrugging carelessly, his leg bent at the knee and his pose casual and unconcerned. The butt of his holstered pistol gleamed dully in the bright sunshine.

“Did I say anything, Mr. Diamond?” Looking thoroughly put out now, and slightly embarrassed, Diamond snapped, “No.”

“Then it didn’t bother me. It’s no secret that I’m a half-breed.”

“Yeah, and it’s no secret you don’t cotton to bein’ reminded of it.” Diamond stared at him narrowly. “You shoot quick enough when you don’t like a man’s comments.”

“Isn’t that why you hired me? Because of my reputation for being quick to shoot?”

“Quick and deadly. You’re the best, and I can afford the best.” Diamond shrugged, and glanced at Deborah. Some of his arrogance returned as he said with a grin, “Like this little lady here.” Deborah colored when Zack’s gaze shifted to her, and she felt it almost like a physical blow. “Yes,” she heard him say quietly, “she’s the best.” It was too much for her. She rose as quickly as if the rock had grown too hot and said the first thing that came into her mind.

“What kind of bird is that?” Diamond turned to look up at the sky, squinting against the light. “A hawk. Red-tailed, I think. Right, Banning?” Deborah wished she’d chosen another diversion, especially when she heard Zack’s agreement.

“Yeah, it’s a red-tailed hawk.” He stepped close, so close she could almost feel his body heat. “Comanche regard them as great hunters. The braves wear hawk feathers in their hair, or make decorations of them.” His words conjured up an entire range of images she’d tried to forget—Hawk with his ebony hair long and free, a hawk’s feather dangling against his cheek. Hawk, pointing out the regal bird of prey circling lazily above them, saying the name in a husky voice, the imprint of his lips still warming her mouth.

Feeling stifled by his proximity, Deborah took a few steps away. Her voice sounded strained to her as she tried to say calmly, “Yes, so I understand.”

Judith was staring at Zack, a strange, glazed look in her eyes. Deborah thought for a moment she would reveal his identity, tell Diamond he was the Comanche who’d kept Deborah captive. But she didn’t. But her voice was unnatural, high-pitched when she said, “Hawks are dangerous. They kill things.”

“Kill things?” Diamond echoed. “Reckon they do, Miss Judith.” He smiled indulgently at her. “Just to survive, though. Animals don’t kill for sport. Man is the only animal who does that.” Deborah shuddered, and Diamond looked down at her. He frowned. “A bad choice of conversation, I think. Look, why don’t we ride over to that ridge? You can see halfway to Arizona from there.” Grateful for the diversion, Deborah avoided Zack’s eyes as she remounted. Her mare snorted and pranced sideways just enough to make her grip the reins a little tighter and give her an excuse to concentrate on something except him. Judith nudged her sorrel mare close to Deborah, her voice faintly shaken.

“I didn’t mean to upset everyone.”

“Are you all right?”

“Yes. I just—remembered things.”

“It’s all right,” Deborah said softly. “No one here will think less of you for what has happened. Dexter told me that he has only sympathy for women who were taken captive.”

“He did?” Judith’s eyes widened, capturing sunlight like a mirror. “Do you think he actually feels that way, even knowing—thinking—what could have happened?”

“I’m certain he does. And you know that Zack would not judge you.” Judith threw Zack a fierce glance. “He’d better not.” Deborah glanced at Judith’s pale face. Lately, she’d been different, either a whirlwind of vivacity, or so quiet it was unusual. Their months of captivity had had its effect on her, too. Maybe more so. There had been no one for Judith to turn to. She’d been starved, beaten, worked hard. Their release couldn’t have come too soon for her, while Deborah had been treated gently.

They rode quietly for a while, horses stirring up dust behind them in small clouds that drifted on the wind. Diamond spurred his mount between Deborah and Judith. He reined in, then pointed to a clump of sage and rocks.

“Look. There. In the shade of that rock. See the bird?” It took a moment, but Deborah finally saw the bronze-green bird with a sharp-pointed beak and bristle of bluish feathers atop its crown. Long tail feathers jutted out behind as it moved with quick, brisk movements.

“What’s it doing?” she asked, watching as the bird broke off small clumps of cactus with its sharp beak. It was making a small ring of sorts, it seemed, scurrying from the cactus to a chosen spot, carefully placing a snip of cactus, then retreating with swift, long strides.

Diamond chuckled. “Roundin’ up a rattler.”

“What?”

“Watch. See that dun-colored pile by the rock? That’s a young rattler.

Can’t be an old one. Old ones are too smart to sleep out like that. This one may wake up inside that chaparral cock. Or road runner, whatever you want to call it. Mexicans call ’em 
paisano,
 or friend, because they eat snakes and mice. Watch it eat this snake.” Deborah stared in disbelief at the small bird. “Is this a joke?”

“No joke, honey. Watch a minute.” The bird scurried about soundlessly, seeming to glide above the ground.

It busily surrounded the young snake with pieces of prickly cactus, then darted behind it. Lunging forward, the bird dove at the sleeping rattler and missed. The near miss alerted the snake, and its head snapped up, the tip of its tail twitching furiously.

Every time the agile bird darted in, the snake struck, and every time, it missed. Deborah could hear the 
chi chi chi chi
 of the rattles clacking together. It was a duel to the death, and for some reason, she felt sorry for the snake. Was there a double meaning in there somewhere, she wondered. She glanced at Zack, but his attention was on the struggle.

When she glanced back, it was just in time to see the nimble bird dart forward and impale the snake just behind its head with the sharp-pointed beak. In spite of herself, she jerked and cried out.

“Oh no!”

The sound startled Judith, who had been watching with intense concentration, and she gave a yank on her horse’s reins. The sorrel spooked, snorting and half-rearing, then executed a few crow-hops across the ground before anyone could react. It stumbled, and Judith tumbled off backward in a flurry of blue riding skirt and white-stockinged legs.

Deborah cried out again even as she tried to dismount, and before she knew it, she was at Judith’s side. Stunned, her cousin lay sprawled on the ground pushing dazedly at her skirts to cover her legs, her hair tumbling over her shoulders in a golden mass.

“My leg,” she moaned, biting her lower lip and wincing.

“Judith! Are you all right?” Deborah anxiously felt her arms and legs, but found no sign of broken bones. “Here. Let me help you up.” Judith accepted her help, clinging to her arm as she rose to her feet, then cried out and sagged earthward again.

“My ankle! Oh, I think it’s broken!”

“Are you certain?” Deborah checked again. Her ankle was already swelling inside the high-top boots she wore, and she looked up at her. “I think it’s just sprained, but I can’t be sure until we take off your boot. Does it hurt too badly?”

“Bad enough,” Judith muttered, wincing.

She felt someone kneel beside her and looked up to see Zack. His knife was in his hand, sunlight glittering along the sharp edge.

When he reached for Judith’s foot, she screamed, a high, shrill sound that shocked Deborah and made Zack freeze in place. Runnels of light splintered from the blade, and Judith screamed again before Deborah recovered.

“Judith, Judith—he’s just going to cut off your boot,” she said calmly, but felt a tightening in her throat at the look of terror on her cousin’s face.

“No, no, I don’t want him anywhere near me!” Judith cried out, shuddering. “Please—make him go away!” Distressed, Deborah looked at Zack. He gave her an understanding nod, and said, “Diamond can do this. I’ll try to catch your horse.”

“Catch my horse?”

His mouth twisted. “It took off when you did. Diamond went after it.” He rose to his feet and sheathed his knife, glancing at Judith. “Calm her down while I go after him.”

Deborah shifted, smoothing back Judith’s hair and wiping tears from her face. “It’s all right,” she repeated in a litany of comfort. “He was only trying to help.”

“I know,” Judith whispered. “Or, part of me does. But he looks so fierce, so— 
savage
—that he makes me think of them. I keep seeing all those Indians, screaming, yelling—I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.” Deborah pushed her hair out of her eyes and tried to smile reassuringly. “We’ll get you back to the house so you can put your foot up. In a few days, you’ll be out dancing again.” She heard cursing behind them and half-turned to see Diamond dismounting and stalking toward them. He looked angry and frustrated, and she cleared her throat.

“What’s the matter?”

“Damn bad luck, that’s what. Your bobtailed nag is halfway to Arizona by now, and your cousin’s horse broke its leg in a snake hole.” Deborah stared up at him. “What are we going to do?”

“Reckon we can double up. We’ll have to. She can ride with Banning, and you can ride with me.” He grinned suddenly, his eyes raking her boldly.

“Might be kinda worth all this at that.” Rising, Deborah said softly, “May I speak with you a moment privately?”

“Sure thing, sugar. Miss Deborah,” he corrected at her quick frown.

They stepped away from where Judith huddled miserably. Putting her hand on his arm, Deborah said, “She won’t ride with Mr. Banning, I’m afraid.”

Diamond looked surprised. “Why not? Has he—?”

“No, no,” she said hastily. “It’s just that she’s afraid of him. See, he reminds her of . . . of our ordeal. He looks a lot like a Comanche, you must admit.”

“Yeah, guess he does. Didn’t think of it that way. Must be why she’s so skittish around him. Sorry. I wouldn’t have had him come with me today. Just thought he’d be the best to have around.”

“I know you meant well.” Deborah managed a smile. “You’ll have to let Judith ride with you.”

Slapping the ends of his reins against his thigh, Diamond regarded her for a long moment. “Banning doesn’t scare you?” She met his gaze steadily. “Not like he does her. I wasn’t treated as badly as she was.”

“Right.” Sweeping off his hat, he ran a hand through his thick blond hair, then tugged the hat back on and adjusted the brim to shade his eyes. “All right, sugar. I’ll take your little cousin back to the hacienda. You wait here on Banning. Doubt if he catches that spooked hoss of yours, so he ought to circle back soon.”

“You’re going to leave me alone out here?” Irritated, Diamond pointed. “See Banning? He’s circling back already.

Besides, your cousin don’t look like she’s doing too well.” That much was true. Deborah nodded. “You’re right. I’ll wait on Mr.

Banning. You just take care of Judith.” He grunted. “This wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I asked you to go ridin’ today.”

“Nor I. I’m certain you’ll forgive me if I say that you seem to have your priorities confused. My cousin’s welfare should come ahead of your desire for a pleasant afternoon.” Swearing softly, Diamond grabbed her by the shoulders before she realized what he was going to do, and yanked her to him, kissing her full on the mouth. He tasted hot and wet and salty; it wasn’t unpleasant, but it left her cold. When he lifted his head, his brown eyes were narrowed.

“You taste good, sugar.” His voice was rough, guttural. He cleared his throat and grinned. “I’m gonna taste you again soon, when we can be alone.” Deborah shivered at the heat in his tone, and managed to free herself from his grasp. “Please,” she murmured. “This isn’t the time or place. Not here.”

“No, not here, that’s for sure.” His palm slid down her arm to grasp her hand, and when Zack rode up behind them, he was still holding it. “Banning, I’m gonna take the little lady back before her leg swells too bad. You take care of my woman for me.”