“We have a good friend, Two Stones, who used to take my brothers and me exploring. We scouted out lots of caves and caverns, and saw plenty of strange formations. Not many as pretty as these though.”
Her brows gathered. “Two Stones? Is that a nickname?”
He shook his head. “He’s Salish. One of the best men I know. Like a brother to us all.”
She nodded. “Well then. Shall we go back?” She still used that cheery tone, as if Jedidiah were standing behind them, scrutinizing every word.
They turned and saw that the man was still speaking to the miner, and both were too far away for Gil to pick out any of their words. Either Jess was unusually cautious by nature, or she’d learned to be so from previous experiences. Most likely the latter.
Help me keep her safe, Lord.
They ambled back the way they’d come, her hand tucked around his elbow, his own hand covering hers. Just like a courting couple strolling in a park.
He slid a glance at Sampson without turning his head. His brother had dropped to his knees and was sorting loose stones on the ground. What had this Jedidiah man done to Sampson to make him pretend not to know his own brother? Anger twisted through him as possibilities flooded his mind. Whippings? Threats?
He forced himself to clear away those thoughts. He had to give the appearance of calm. Just an interesting outing with his new wife.
Jedidiah had stopped talking and now watched them approach.
Gil urged Jess to continue past the man. He offered Jedidiah and the other fellow a farewell nod as they stepped into the dark hallway. He slid a final glance at Sampson before the wall hid him.
Sampson was looking from the corner of his eye, though he hadn’t stopped riffling through the small stones on the ground. He didn’t quite catch his brother’s gaze, but at least Sampson had dared to look.
Was he keeping quiet so he didn’t get in trouble with Jedidiah, or was he doing it for Gil’s protection? Maybe he realized Gil had come into the mine on a ruse and was waiting for Gil to make the first move. That seemed a bit more calculating than Sampson’s normal manner, but maybe nearly two months of working for Mick McPharland had taught him to be shrewd.
His gut turned sour. He had to get his brother out of this place before something awful happened. The sapphires too. He’d promised himself he wasn’t leaving until he recovered the full load—assuming it was still here and not already sold off.
And Jess. Now he had to get her away too. He would do it. All of it.
CHAPTER 9
Gil wasn’t sorry Jess didn’t release him as they walked through the shadowy cave. It felt almost as though she’d forgotten that she held his elbow. He waited until they were nearly back to the smaller cavern, the pounding of pickaxes louder and louder, then leaned in close to talk.
She tightened her grip, and he hesitated. She turned a smile on him he barely caught in the shadows, but her eyes held a bit of a wild look, one that screamed,Don’t speak.
He pulled back, then gave a little nod. Did she think Jedidiah had followed them? It was possible.
Gil strained to hear the sound of footsteps behind, but the pickaxes drowned out everything except the swish of Jess’s skirts. He’d have to be patient and wait to ask his questions when they were away from this place.
They passed through the smaller cavern without stopping, though all the men there acknowledged them with a nod or a smile.
Gil wanted to stop and speak to Ezekiel again, maybe ask about Sampson. Surely the older man knew him. Maybe he’d even taken him under his wing, been a sort of father-figure. Sampson was only twenty, after all.
But Jess didn’t even slow her steps, like she was set on a course out of these caves.
He couldn’t deny the urge for daylight himself, and away from this deafening racket.
At last, they slipped between the boulders into the bright morning light. Was it still only morning? It felt like they’d been in darkness for two days.
Jess kept walking, her hold on him propelling him forward, as though Jedidiah marched behind her with a gun jabbed in her back.
He allowed himself a glance over his shoulder to make sure that wasn’t actually the case.
No one followed.
Gil kept silent as she led him away from the cave entrance, straight toward the edge of the trees lining the base of the next mountain over.
At last, when they’d taken several steps into the shelter of the woods, she slowed, turning to face him as she exhaled a long breath. "I'm sorry." She spoke barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect Jedidiah to be there." Worry lines etched under her eyes.
