Quicksilver Passion (212 page)

Waanibe looked at him in alarm.
I don’t have to go back to my mama, do I?”

Silver held her close.
No, honey, you don’t.” Later, she would tell Wannie about her mother’s death, but she had a feeling the little girl wouldn’t grieve much. Silver had been more of a mother to her than the Duchess. She thought about another child who needed parents back in Denver. Would Cherokee want another orphaned child? No, maybe she dare not ask. It was a lot to expect from a man.

Finally, they mounted up, Waanibe once again sitting behind Silver, hanging on for dear life. Cherokee took the reins of Jake’s horse.
I’ve got a use for him.”

They rode back to Denver, leading the spare horse. The town was quiet at this late hour, the Palace only a distant pile of glowing rubble. The gold was still there, mixed in the ashes, but it was cursed treasure. They wouldn’t want to sift through the embers for it. And they had most of the jewels.

So why had they returned?
Mystified, Silver kept her horse alongside Cherokee’s as he rode down the street. He reined in before the stable, and called out,
Keso! Keso, are you in there?”

Silver looked over at her love and her heart was full to bursting.
Oh, Cherokee, I had thought about suggesting it, but I was afraid you wouldn’t want another—”

What is it?” The Indian boy stumbled out of the barn, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Who’s there?”

Cherokee grinned.
Keso, I’ve come by this extra horse and I thought you might like to have it.”

The dark eyes grew round.
For me? A horse for me?”

Sure!” And he tossed the reins to the boy.

The smiled faded.
Boss, I—I can’t afford to feed no horse.”

You could on a big ranch that grew its own hay.”

The boy looked from one face to another.
I don’t know what you mean.”