Free Woman of Three Worlds by Jeanne Williams Page A

wheels.”
    Brittany shuddered. “Forgive me,” O’Shea said. “I’ll make the story short. More troops came to Bascom’s aid. Cochise killed his prisoners, including his friend, Wallace, and vanished into the mountains. Bascom has been blamed for hanging the hostages, but the decision was made by two newly arrived ranking officers. The Apaches were hanged near the graves of the slaughtered Americans and the troops went off to their various posts.”
    â€œI’m surprised that Cochise ever made peace again with the whites.”
    â€œHe didn’t till it was clear they were in the country to stay, and he did his share to make southern Arizona a bloody place during the sixties. It’s a mistake to blame all that on this Apache Pass affair, though. What really happened is that the Civil War began that spring. All troops were pulled out of what’s now the Arizona Territory, which left miners and settlers exposed to raids by both Apaches and bandits.”
    They rode on to the mouth of the canyon, where O’Shea pointed out the Dos Cabezas Mountains and Goodwin Canyon, where Cochise’s band had had their rancherías .
    â€œBeen more people killed around here than will ever be known,” said the lieutenant. “A Texas wagon train back in the fifties was attacked by Cochise’s father and thirty were killed. Captured women were carried down to Mexico, but only two could be sold. The rest were murdered.”
    â€œLieutenant O’Shea!” cried Brittany. “Please! I already knew this was a dangerous place!”
    â€œNo more Apache stories for today,” he promised. “To make amends, may I treat you to sarsaparilla at the trader’s?”
    â€œNo, thank you. I fear it’s getting late.”
    Sighing, he reined his horse about. “I hope you’re not put out at me, ma’am.”
    â€œIndeed not. I want to know the history of the place. But—well, I think I’d prefer to hear it a little at a time.”
    A dazzling smile erased his woeful look. “That’s easily done! If you’ll continue to ride with me, I’ll tell you a bit each day. Anyway, that finishes the worst massacres.”
    He was handsome and gallant and made her spirits rise, though he didn’t have Tyrell’s devastating effect on her. Surely that was a good thing. She smiled back at him as they rode along the wash. “I’d be happy to ride with you, Lieutenant, when you have the time.”
    â€œI’ll see that it’s often.” He rode nearer. “Miss Brittany, may I have the honor of escorting you to the dance Saturday?”
    Zach’s face rose between them for a moment, but she banished it. He’d brought the little Apache boy in, but hadn’t spared a moment to visit her. Besides, it was no thanks to him that she wasn’t the scandal of the post. So she smiled at O’Shea.
    â€œI’ve never danced, Lieutenant.”
    â€œYou’ll have to learn! It would be cruel not to at this lonely post, where all the men need their spirits raised.”
    His tone was so persuasive that she laughed. “All right, Lieutenant. But when I tread on your toes, remember that I warned you!”
    She rode with him once more before the dance. This time, pausing at Apache Spring, he told her about the battle that had led to the establishment of the first Fort Bowie.
    â€œA small force of Confederates occupied Tucson during the war, but they were driven out by California volunteers under General Carlton, who advanced eastward to contest the Confederates for their remaining outposts in New Mexico. It was July of 1862 when an advance command reached Apache Pass. They’d marched nineteen hours through deep mud on only a cup of coffee each and were eager to drink deep.”
    Brittany glanced up at the two hills above the spring. “But Apaches were guarding the water?”
    O’Shea nodded his bright