Candice obeyed, daring to look at the men. They were all excited, she could see the animal hunger in their eyes. Even the redhead who had tried to defend her, but at least he wasn’t looking at her; he seemed embarrassed at his own reaction.
It will be at least another day and a half until we reach the fort, Candice thought desperately. Good God. How was she going to protect herself and Christina during that time?
And what would she do when she got there? Somehow, she would have to protect Jack too.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
“Won’t you sit down, Mrs. Kincaid?”
Candice stood with Christina in her arms, watching Major Bradley warily. She had waited outside his office for thirty minutes while he was closeted with Sergeant Holden. True to his word, they had ridden hard all day and had arrived at Fort Buchanan while it was still light. She sat, letting her Stetson drop onto her back.
“It is Mrs. Kincaid?”
What did it matter? Candice nodded.
They gazed at each other with equal intent. Candice was very much aware of the major’s regard, from the top of her head to the tip of her boots. There was, possibly, the faintest glimmer of male interest, but she wasn’t sure. He was lean, of medium height, about forty, quite attractive in a formal, military way. He smiled at her and sat behind his desk. “I hope the past few days haven’t been too trying on you, Mrs. Kincaid.”
“I was very lucky to have run across your men,” Candice said demurely.
“Indeed you were. Tell me what you were doing alone in the desert, Mrs. Kincaid.”
Candice was prepared to do whatever she had to to protect her child, herself, and Jack. She knew that if the major even suspected her feelings for Jack, or knew that Jack was Christina’s father, he would try and use her against Jack and the Apaches. The fact that word had already drifted this far about Jack’s killing Kincaid made it impossible for her to deny that she had been with him. And now she had to worry about the murders of the two men in El Paso. Any lies she told would have to be told very well.
“I was running away,” she cried passionately, a quaver in her voice. “He abducted me. He killed Virgil and kidnapped me. I fought him, but he tied me up. He knew I was with child. He kept me prisoner in the Apache camp. I finally pretended I was no longer interested in running away, and after Christina was born, I took the first chance I could get, and I escaped.” She willed tears to fill her eyes, and they did. She looked at him pleadingly. A vulnerable, helpless female. He did not seem moved.
He was studying her with great attention, but she could see the cold doubt in his eyes. “Who is this child’s father?”
She hated telling this lie more than the others. “Virgil was.”
He stared at her unblinkingly, and Candice blessed the fact that Kincaid had the physical attributes that could make him Christina’s father.
“I find it difficult to believe you could escape after being held prisoner all that time.”
She lifted her chin. “He had another woman, a squaw. And child. She hated me. She was happy to help me escape.” She began to cry. “I just want to go home. Back to my family.” She blinked at him. “Please help me.” She gazed at him with all the pitifulness she could muster.
He studied her, then poured himself a glass of whiskey, studying it before drinking it. “You were in Cochise’s stronghold?”
“Yes.” Careful, she warned herself.
“So you know where it is?”
“It’s in the Chiricahua Mountains,” she said honestly, but that was a commonly known fact.
“Perhaps you can prove your story by helping us locate the stronghold.”
“But I would never be able to find it!” She gasped. And it was true. “Jack brought me there almost seven months ago, and I never left it once.” A complete lie. “Until this time. Datiye—his wife—arranged for a guide. I don’t know how she did it. But we left before dawn, at dark, the morning after Jack went out scouting. When the sun came up I was in the Sulphur Springs Valley, and the guide left me there. I would love to help you, more than anything I’d love to see that bastard caught and hanged, but how could I ever find it again? The entrance, from what I’ve heard, is narrow and secret, impossible to find unless you know where it is.”
Her heart was pounding. He had to believe she hated Jack and the Apaches but knew nothing. If not, he could keep her as a prisoner indefinitely. Worse, release her and let her fend off the soldiers who considered her a breed’s whore. He was a soldier fighting against the Apaches, so the safest bet for her and Christina, she had realized since she had first been taken prisoner by Sergeant Holden, was to pretend she was on their side. But—wasn’t she?
Before, she had thought she was, and thought it was clear cut. Now she didn’t know what she thought. She only knew she would never want anything to happen to Jack, or Shoshi, or Cochise and his family. It was very fortunate that she probably never could find the stronghold, and that she knew nothing of their war plans.
“You must be tired,” the major said suddenly. “I will give you my quarters and have hot water brought for you. I would be honored if you would agree to dine with me afterward.”
So he does find me attractive, she thought, smiling brightly. Or is this another game? What is he thinking? “I would love your company for dinner,” she breathed. “After living with nothing but savages, and then your men … a real gentleman would be such a pleasure.” She fluttered her lashes delicately.
“Good. I’ll have my aide escort you to my quarters.” He stood.
“Major?”
