Steve McHugh - Born of Hatred

"No," Olivia admitted.

"But you don't think she did it?" Tommy asked.

"I've known Vicki for six years. There's no way she killed any of those women. Besides, she was besotted with Amber; she would never hurt her."

"Besotted people do stupid things," I said. "I need to see Amber's body."

"Why?"

"How many enchanters do you know who wouldn't enchant those they love with protection runes?"

"None," Tommy said immediately.

"Then how in the hell did someone get through them to kill Amber?"

Olivia looked pained at the realisation of my words. To get past any protection runes on a person meant removing those runes, unless the attacker wanted a very unpleasant surprise. And the only person who could remove them was the enchanter who put them there. The fact raised some very awkward questions.

"How long have Amber and Vicki been missing?" I asked.

"Vicki was assigned to another department to help with a case. She was supposed to report in twenty days ago, no idea about Amber. Could have been days or weeks, but I'm sure that Vicki would have said something if she'd been missing for weeks."

"Unless she was involved," Tommy said.

"I won't believe she is," Olivia's voice was hard and cold. "Not without evidence."

"Then we'd better go get some," I said. "Because I don't think Amber was the last victim."

"Why?" Olivia asked.

"Because," I said as I re-entered my home. "I think she was the first."

Territory of Montana, America. 1878

"Who are you?" Sam demanded, brandishing a revolver that wobbled slightly in his tight grip.

I tore another piece of fish from the stick I'd used to cook it and popped it into my mouth. "Want some?" I asked, ignoring the boy's question.

He looked hungrily at the three fish remaining above the small fire, before shaking his head and re-fixing his gaze on me. "I asked for your name," he said.

"I heard," I told him and ate some more fish. "But as I already told you what it was, when I saved your life. I figured I'd wait for a few minutes, until that gun becomes too heavy for you to hold. Then I'll take it off you, and answer your questions in a more civilised manner."

"Where am I?" he shouted, waving the gun around. His confusion was easy to read, especially since the wallop he'd taken had probably done a good job of shaking his head up.

"You're in a cave I found that was big enough for both of us and not already occupied. I've had my fill of Montana's wildlife," I said, tossing the now empty stick onto the fire. "If that thing goes off and you shoot me, I'm going to be really angry."

"Answer my question, God damn you."

I picked up another stick and ripped off a piece of fish. "I was just travelling through," I said. "Then you sort of fell out of the sky, and I found myself protecting you from two rather unpleasant deputies who wanted to kill you. Now, considering that I mean you no harm, can you lower that pistol?"

The boy was clearly exhausted, and I wondered when he'd last had a good night's sleep before being knocked out. But he was also distrustful, a trait I could hardly blame him for, given his position. "Eat some fish and get some rest," I said. "Sleep with the gun if it makes you feel better."

"You might kill me," he said.

"What would be the point in saving your life, watching over you for a day, and going out to catch enough fish for both of us to eat, if I only mean to kill you? Besides, if you don't sit down, exhaustion will claim that particular prize."

He glanced at the fish again and lowered the gun, replacing it in a holster far too large to sit properly on his hips.

"Take some food," I said. "There's plenty."

The boy moved to the fire, his hand darting to one of the remaining fish, before hungrily devouring it in the corner of the cave. His eyes were always focused on me, flitting back and forth whenever I moved to get more fish or stretched out on the thin mat I'd placed on the ground.

"Do you remember anything of what happened?" I asked after a few minutes.

"Running," he said with a full mouth. "And then nothing."

"Why were you running?"

Sam shrugged.

"The deputies told me that you were a murderer and thief."

That got his attention and for a moment I assumed he was going to deny everything. "That's right," he said slowly. "I'm a murderer, so don't mess with me."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I said, and polished off the fish I was eating. "I'll let you finish whatever's left on the fire. I'm going to see to my horse." I left the cave, pushing aside the ferns I'd place placed at the entrance to avoid too much of the wind creeping in. I wasn't worried about predators finding the cave. Valour standing outside would give me enough warning to get rid of them. Besides, I learnt long ago to sleep lightly when I was somewhere I considered unsafe.

I'd tied Valour's reins to a fallen tree near to the cave, giving her plenty of shade from the elements. She looked up from eating the grass as I got near and nudged my arm with her nose, a sign that she wanted to have her head stroked.

"What are you going to do with me?" Sam asked from the mouth of the cave.

"Wasn't planning on doing anything with you," I said without turning round. "You're alive, and without any lasting damage. I figure my part is done."

I moved to look at Sam. "Except that you're a murderer, and a thief. And I can hardly leave you to wander alone, what if you came across some little old lady and shot her?"

Sam's expression was one of outrage. "I'd never-"

"There's a ranch about four hours east of here," I interrupted. "I'm heading there in the morning. If you want to join me you're welcome to."

"And then what?"

"And then you tell me why two deputies wanted to kill you, and what it is was you're meant to have done."

Sam didn't even take a second to think about it. "And what do I get?"

That depends on your answer, I thought. "What do you want?"

"Revenge," he said, and re-entered the cave before I could reply.

"He's an odd boy," I said to Valour. "But odder still is why he was being chased. If he's the murderer of anything bigger than a rabbit, I'd be amazed."

Valour stopped eating, nudged my hand again and resumed her lunch.

"Thanks for the chat," I said, scratching her neck.

After a few hours spent outside, collecting some fruit for the morning, I headed back into the cave where I found Sam fast asleep. The fire had long since extinguished itself, and I didn't bother to re-start it. The meagre light offered from outside stayed with me as I ate some of the fruit before wrapping the rest in a bit of cloth and stashing it near Sam in case he woke hungry. I'd filled my canteen of water and now took a long drink, the liquid still cool from the nearby stream, before settling down to a night's sleep. Hopefully I wasn't wrong about Sam, and I'd wake up with all of my bodily possessions still intact.

My sleep was light, and more than once I woke with the remnants of unpleasant dreams lingering in my mind. I glanced over at a still sleeping Sam, half expecting to have a gun pointed at me. I wasn't used to sleeping in close proximity to someone who had been threatening to shoot me. Although I wasn't in Montana to sort out someone else's mess, I didn’t like leaving people to a horrible fate if I didn’t think they deserve it. And without help, Sam would die. I was certain of that.

With newly born sunrays breaking into the cave, I rolled to my feet and ate some more of the fruit. Sam was lying there, staring up at the ceiling, and for a moment I thought that maybe his head had been badly injured in the fall and it had taken its toll.

Sam sat up and took a handful of berries. "Will you help me?" he asked after a moment.