Lindsay Buroker - Peacemaker

Kali huffed up the steep stump-filledincline behind Cedar. The airship had long since disappeared fromthe sky, but he seemed to know where he was going. Thanks to thesteepness of the valley wall, they’d had to leave the SAB by theriverbank below. For the first fifty meters, Kali kept glancingover her shoulder, making sure nobody was sneaking up to bother it.Fortunately, the boat traffic had dwindled with evening’sapproach.

After more climbing-and huffing-they reachedthe crest of the ridge. This time, when Kali looked back over hershoulder, the view gave her a start. A couple of years had passedsince she had reason to climb up there, and the difference in thelandscape was astonishing. Where verdant trees had once lined bothrugged valley walls, hillsides of stumps now stretched. Oh, a fewsturdy spruce and pines remained, those with trunks too thick toentice a miner searching for easy firewood, but the barrenness ofthe scene made Kali’s gut twist. Too many people were pouring outof the south, changing the face of the only home she had everknown.

She shook her head and reminded herself shewanted to leave anyway. Come winter, firewood would be scarce, andthat was a good incentive to double her efforts on her airship. Orto acquire an already-built airship that only neededmodifications….

“I smell a fire,” Cedarsaid. “We might be close.” He was not breathing hard. His longerlegs must mean he took fewer steps.

Ahead of them, the land rose more gently,and evergreens still stood, stretching for the sky.

“What’s the plan?” Kaliasked. “Wait until dark, sneak in, and look around theairship?”

He eyed her over his shoulder. “I wasplanning on dragging a guard away to question, not strollingthrough their craft.”

“There might be cluesinside.”

Cedar raised an eyebrow.

“What?” Kali smiledinnocently.

Cedar pointed through the trees to a fallenlog ahead and crept toward it. He stayed low, and Kali followed,mimicking his movements. She hadn’t seen anything yet, but Cedarseemed to think they were close.

Kali crouched beside him behind the log.“What do you think we’ll find when we reach the pirates? Were theyvictims, too, or could they be responsible for the murders?”

“Victims?”

“There are female pirates.Maybe one of them got a throat cut and the killer left that samefake talisman.”

His eyebrows drew together, and Kali guessedhe had not considered that possibility. It did seem unlikely. Thosethieving bandits had tried to kidnap her, and they’d killed atleast one person and probably stolen gold from countlessothers.

Kali shrugged. “Or maybe we’ll find they’rekeeping a bear on board for mauling people.”

“If they are responsiblefor the murders, that’ll make things simple.” Cedar jerked a thumbover his shoulder, at the hilt of his sword.

“You seem almost asdetermined to find this murderer as you are to deal with Cudgel,”Kali said.

Cedar said nothing.

“Do the girls meansomething to you?” Kali asked. “There’s not even a bounty out forthe murderer yet.”

“I don’t like seeing womenkilled.”

“Just in general-a notionwith which I agree, by the way-or because…? Is itpersonal?”

Cedar gave her a sharp look. “What do youmean?”

“I thought maybe there wassomething similar in these murders to that one in San Francisco.Something that’s haunting you.”

His gaze shifted away, back toward the trailand the top of the ridge. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Kali considered him for along moment. She wanted to pry, she admitted it, but it was for a goodreason. If she got the story out of him, she could fight for him,tell this Pinkerton fellow what really happened the next time hewandered into her shop.

“There,” Cedarwhispered.

With all the trees blocking the view, ittook a moment for Kali to figure out what he was pointing at. Thenshe spotted it, the wood of the airship hull among the greens andbrowns of the forest. From her vantage point, she couldn’t tell ifthey’d crashed or if they’d managed to land it somehow.

Clangs started up, someone hammeringmetal.

“Can they fix that fan outhere?” Cedar whispered.

“Not unless they happen tohave a spare case and assembly. I guess that’s a possibility.They’d know there aren’t any shops that supply airship parts uphere.”

“Are there anywhere?Airships aren’t that common, even down south.”

“I’m ordering my partsfrom a place in San Francisco, and I’ve heard New York has anentire warehouse dedicated to aeronautic supplies.” Kali sighedlongingly, imagining what such a place might look like.

“Is that where you want togo for your honeymoon?” Cedar asked.

Kali twitched an eyebrow.“I haven’t planned that trip yet. Lately, I haven’t even been ableto get a man to come back for a second date, despite what I thought was anenjoyable evening at the dance hall, even if some stepping on toeswas involved.” She thought he’d enjoyed himself too. He’d laughedand even tried to be witty, in his dry terse way. And she’d made itclear she was available for additional evenings together when hecould break away from bounty hunting. The way he’d massaged hershoulders earlier made her think he still had romantic inklings,but why the scarcity if that was the case?

“Sometimes men get busy,”Cedar said.

“I’ve noticed most peopleare only busy for things they consider an onerous task.”

“Kali, it’s not like that.It’s…” He looked away, not toward the camp or anything dangerous inthe area that could have claimed his focus. Just away.

Kali swallowed. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter.I’m not looking to get married any time soon. I want to see theworld and not be beholden to anyone or have a litter of hungryyoung’uns dangling from my…uhm, self.” Even with the correction,she blushed. She hadn’t known any proper ladies growing up, but shehad a feeling discussing teats with men was probably considereduncouth in most circles.

A hint of a smirk touched Cedar’s lips, buthe didn’t say anything.

Kali cleared her throat and pointed to theairship. “Should we get close or wait until dark to scoutabout?”

Cedar lifted his eyes toward the sky.“That’s hours from now. This is a pesky time of year for stealthilysneaking about.”

“Come in December. You cansneak in the dark twenty-four hours a day then.”

“Yes, I caught the tailend of winter. It’s also hard to be stealthy when your teeth arechattering and your bal-bear cubs are hiding in theirdens.”

“I didn’t realize bearcubs-” Kali snorted at his substitution; that was worse than herfumble, “-played a role in one’s scouting abilities.

“A robust man is a manconfident in his skills.”

Kali grinned. It was a silly conversation,but it reminded her how much she appreciated having him around. Alump formed in her throat, and she swallowed, trying to force itdown. They had more important things to focus on now.

Cedar pointed at a man walking into thewoods and unbuttoning his fly. “I’m going to grab that one forquestioning,” he whispered.

Kali barely managed a quick, “Be careful,”before he slid out and took a circuitous route toward thepirate.

On her knees, Kali braced her Winchester onthe log, found the pirate, and put him in her sights in case hegave Cedar trouble. She tried to keep an eye on the ship and thecamp as well, counting people when they walked into view. The treesmade it hard to get an estimate, but she guessed there were atleast twenty crew members. It would be hard to acquire the ship forherself with that many pirates loitering about.

Though Cedar might prefer night for skulkingabout, he did fine sneaking up on the fellow-indeed, even knowingroughly where he was, Kali had trouble keeping track of him. Astheir target was buttoning his pants, Cedar stepped out from behinda tree and placed a knife blade against the man’s throat. Thepirate’s hand darted for a holster on his belt only to find itempty. Cedar had already removed the pistol. He showed it to thepirate, then stuffed it into his own belt.