Judy Christenberry - Randall Renegade

Obviously she’d matured.

“So what do you think?” the general asked. “Care to join our crusade?”

“I wouldn’t mind wintering with you, but I can’t promise more than that. It depends on what happens next spring. Some of the lawmen I’ve met can’t leave well enough alone.”

“It’s the power, my friend. It goes to their heads.”

Jim nodded in agreement, thinking all the time that power had already gone to the general’s head.

Suddenly Patience spoke. “Joseph, I want to take Tommy back to Rawhide.”

Kane glared at her. “Absolutely not. The boy must learn to be a soldier!” he snapped.

“But he can’t take much more.”

“Restrain yourself. I do what I want with you and my child!” The general’s voice was ragged now and his cheeks flushed.

“Whoa!” Jim said, feeling his way carefully. “I don’t hold with hurting women and children.”

The general looked at Jim coldly. “This is a family matter. Besides, she’s too easy on the boy.”

“Women are like that,” Jim said casually. “How old is the boy?”

Patience answered. “He’s three.”

Jim frowned. “That is a bit young. They don’t even try to teach kids to read until they’re five. Maybe you should send him back to town, General, until he’s a little older.”

He kept his tone bland, steadily eating his steak. But he waited tensely for the general’s response.

“I’ve thought of that,” Kane said after a moment. “But I want to keep him here. I will keep Patience here to care for him.”

“Against her will?” Jim blurted unthinkingly. But the general didn’t seem to notice the slip.

“Of course not. You’ll see. Patience, you may go home tomorrow.”

“Not without Tommy.”

“You see, Jim? She stays willingly.”

As much as he hated doing it, Jim nodded, as if he was satisfied.

One thing was clear. As Patience had said, the general was crazy, a madman, who had no business raising a child. If—no, when they got back to Rawhide, he would recommend Patience ask his cousin Nick to help her get legal guardianship of Tommy. The general couldn’t possibly convince a judge he should keep the child.

As soon as the meal was finished, Patience withdrew, rising without warning and leaving the tent, not waiting for the general’s consent. She’d never been one to submit to someone else’s control. Jim hoped the general could convince himself that she was being compliant. Otherwise, there was no telling what might happen to them all.

“PATIENCE,” SHE HEARD someone whisper just outside her tent.

Lying awake next to Tommy, she quickly sat up and whispered in return, “Yes?”

“I’m going to slit the tent here in the back. Don’t make any noise.”

She turned to face the back of the tent. She saw a blade pierce the material. Then a hand parted the edges and Jim’s face appeared.

“Oh, Jim! Thank you for coming.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously when you called. I’m so sorry, Patience.”

She blinked hard, hoping to disperse the tears. She’d needed him so badly she couldn’t believe he was here. “Thank you.”

“What the hell is Kane thinking, bringing a child up here?”

“I keep hoping he’ll realize Tommy is too young to be a soldier. He’s very rough with him. I don’t know what to do.”

“Tommy doesn’t like him?”

“No!”

Jim shushed her, afraid they might be overheard.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “But the man is insane.”

“Yes, I can see that. Look, let’s play this out as long as we can, but if it goes bad, we’ll escape.”

“Do you think we can?”

“Sure. I’m going to get you out of here, one way or another, Patience, I promise you.”

“Jim, I… Be careful. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

He grinned and her heart raced. She’d dreamed so long of his smile. It held everything she loved about him.

“I don’t, either,” Jim said cheerfully.

Then he extended his hand into the tent to stroke her cheek. “You take care of yourself and Tommy.”

“I will.”

Then he was gone.

Patience cupped her cheek, wanting the feel of his warm skin against hers to last. Could he do as he promised? Without getting hurt? She feared Kane would shoot him, or order him shot, if he discovered Jim had come to rescue her.

She did not want Jim Randall’s blood on her hands.

“Mommy!”

Patience came awake with a jolt. She stared at the little boy. “What? What is it?” she whispered.

“The general didn’t come get me this morning. And they’re making a lot of noise.”

He was right. Patience could hear the sound of guns being fired. She was amazed they hadn’t woken her. “Stay here,” she said, and crawled the couple of feet to the tent opening and peeked out. Five men were lined up, their backs to their tent, firing at a target, a tin can, perched on a log about fifty yards away.

To her surprise, Jim was walking among the men, giving them tips on improving their aim. Kane was watching them, a satisfied look on his face. His lieutenants, who were always near him, didn’t look happy. Maybe they were jealous of Jim, she thought.

Then she saw Roger approaching her tent, carrying a tray.

“Miz Anderson, I have some breakfast here for you and the boy,” he said. “I have to clean up the breakfast things, and I’m afraid you won’t get anything if you don’t take this.”

She immediately pushed the tent flap wide. “Thank you, Roger. You’re very good to us.”

He grinned shyly. “Yes, ma’am. If you’ll give me your cups, I’ll bring you some water, too.”

She hurriedly handed him the tin cups she and Tommy had been given. “Thank you, Roger. Much appreciated.”

“No problem, ma’am.”

He returned in moments with the water, and Patience remained at the opening of the tent as Roger moved away, her gaze focused on Jim. He didn’t exhibit any of the pompous authority Kane employed. He moved among those learning to shoot as a friendly helper, and it was obvious he was earning the respect of the men in a way Kane could never do.

As if her thoughts had conjured him up, she heard Kane’s harsh voice. “Patience! You and the boy should be out of your tent. We have things to do.”

Patience’s gaze swung to where Kane was standing a few yards away. He’d caught her staring at Jim. Not good.

“We’re eating now,” she replied. “We’ll be out after we’ve dressed.”

She withdrew from sight. Could she keep Tommy hidden from his father for the day? The boy wouldn’t like being trapped in a tent all those hours. The storm had passed during the night, and he’d want out to run in the snow.

“Tommy, here’s some breakfast. Some eggs and meat.”

“I don’t like that. I want pancakes.”

Patience took her small son by the shoulders. “Listen, Thomas. We’re in danger. If we’re ever to get back home to Grandma, we need to be strong. To be strong we’ve got to eat. There’ll be time for pancakes when we’re safely back home.” She knew she sounded stern, but it was important the boy understand.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tommy said softly, his head down.

“Roger brought us some toasted bread, too,” she said encouragingly. “It’s probably cold by now, but it’ll still taste good.”

They sat together, trying to stay warm, and ate silently. She took a swallow of the water Roger brought them and then offered the cup to Tommy. He didn’t complain about not having milk to drink and dutifully took a few sips. Then they brushed their teeth with the water in the other cup and the toothbrush she’d brought from home.

“What do we do now?” Tommy asked.