Free River Song by Sharon Ihle Page B

coffee stain spreading across the toe of his boot, Cole's mustache began to twitch, but even he couldn't be sure if it jerked with anger or mirth.
    Chancing a glance into her midnight-blue eyes, he said, "You expect me to accept the fact that a smart girl like you didn't think of the danger she'd be in crossing Arizona alone?"
    "I knew of the danger," she sniffed. "But if I had gone alone after my father, the danger would have been no less." Indignation gave way to anger and Sunny jumped to her feet. "I suppose you think I should have stayed at the farm, alone , wailing and weeping for the next two or three months until my father returned?"
    His ire rising to meet hers, Cole got up and stood facing her across the dying fire. "You might have at least gone to the sheriff and let him handle things."
    Sunny's laugh was bitter as she said, "You actually think the sheriff would go out of his way to find the murderers of another damned Indian?"
    With an inward groan, Cole shrugged. "Some might."
    "Not this one." Holding her head high, Sunny tossed her long raven hair over her shoulders, clearly signaling Cole to make the next move.
    Uncomfortable, he took a couple of steps around the outside of the smoldering fire, kicking pebbles and rocks out of his way as he went. "What about your mother's tribe? Don't you have some kind of leader who would have helped you?"
    "I thought of that," she bit off. "Our leader is Pasqual, a man of great vision. But if I had gone to him, if I tried to—" Sunny let out a long sigh and looked into Cole's green eyes. What she saw, either skepticism or disapproval, made up her mind for her. "You have the head of a pig-eyed goat. You would not understand."
    Sunny whirled on her boot heel and stalked off towards Paddy, mumbling over her shoulder as she kicked up the sand, "If I may have a minute, I will be happy to give you your rid of me and all the doubts plaguing your blitherin ' fool for a brain."
    Cole rolled his eyes and blew out a long exaggerated breath before he approached her. She'd managed to put him on the defense, and while he didn't understand that, or her solitary journey into the badlands, he knew one thing for certain. He couldn't just let her ride off alone again.
    "Don't be in such a hurry to run off, Sunflower," he began softly. "I'd like to understand, and could if you'd just give me a chance."
    Her back to him as she arranged her traveling sacks across Paddy's neck, Sunny gave him a sideways glance. This time, his spring-like eyes reflected only sincerity, honesty. Keeping her back to Cole, she stroked the pony's mane.
    She would try one more time because she really did want his protection on the trail. "If I had gone to Pasqual, it would have been a waste of my time."
    "I still don't understand, Sunny. Surely he would have sent some braves, men adept at tracking, after your mother's killers, and saved you the trouble."
    Sunny turned and faced him at this. Fighting to keep the hostility from her eyes, she said, "He would have wanted to track the men, of that I have no doubt. But," she lowered her head and stared down at the earth, "the cost would have been too great. If Pasqual sent a few braves after these men, they surely would have found then killed them as honor demanded."
    "As you set out to do. I don't see the difference, except you were alone and put yourself in grave danger."
    "And if Pasqual chose the same path as I, which he would not have, the entire Quechan nation would have been in grave danger. We are a peaceful tribe, and love our land and the relative freedom we enjoy." She turned a frosty indigo eye on him as she added, "Surely a man as smart as you can guess the price our nation would pay should a band of savage Quechans attack a couple of innocent white men."
    "Damn," he muttered under his breath. Cole shook his head then pulled his fingers through his wavy hair. "I suppose General Crook would pull some of his troops off Geronimo and send them after your people."
    "See