San Antonio Rose (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page B

it up here."
    After she had retrieved the guns and rushed
down the hill to the horse, he spoke to Burt and
Gip. "Kick your boots over here."
    Again, both men did as he asked. But Gip found his voice. "What're you gonna do with
us?"

    "I thought about shooting you bastards after
what you tried to do to the lady, but you just
aren't worth the trouble. So I've decided to take
your horses, guns, and boots."
    Burt glared at Ian. "Then you'd better just
shoot us. Without our guns, we're as good as
dead."
    "That's about the way I figure it," Ian agreed-
"If hostile Indians, Mexican soldiers, or wild
animals don't get you, you will have a long,
hard walk to civilization without boots."
    "You son of a-"
    "Yes, I know," Ian interrupted Gip. "I don't
care that much for you either."
    Burt was looking Ian over carefully, as if
memorizing his face. I'd kinda like to know
your name, stranger, so I'll know who to come
looking for if I live through this."
    By now Emerada had ridden up, leading the
two other horses.
    Ian nodded. "I won't be hard to find. Name's
Ian McCain."
    Both men gaped at him. "The Raven's Claw!"
    "Some have called me that."
    "We're real sorry, Colonel. We'd never have
touched your woman if'n we'd knowed it was
you. Hell, we was on our way to join up with
General Houston and give him a hand."
    "Don't trouble about that," Ian warned them.
"Houston doesn't want your cut of man in his army. If you do get out of these hills alive, I'll
make certain that he hears about tonight."

    "But we was just funning. We didn't really
mean-"
    Ian turned away and mounted one of the
mens horses. "I'd walk to the west, if I were
you. Its of no matter to me, but the Mexican
army is swarming all over the place. They will
kill any Americans they find."
    He nudged the horse in the flanks, and he
and Emerada rode over the hill. It was some
time before distance and the wind drowned out
the curses howled by Gip and Burt.
    They rode until sunrise, then stopped to rest
the horses.
    "Ian," Emerada said, sliding off her horse.
"Thank you."
    "Forget it," he said.
    She trembled with revulsion. "I thought they
were going to...to..."
    He looked at her with compassion and concern. "I know. Its over-put it behind you."
    She was shivering, and her teeth chattered.
"Could we have a fire to make coffee? I would
love something hot to drink."
    Ian looked about him to estimate the safety
of their position. They were on a rise, and he
could see the valley for miles around. "I think
we can chance it. If you would gather wood for
a fire, I'll tend to the horses. Make certain the
wood is dry so it won't smoke much."

    She nodded.
    He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do I
have your word that you won't try to escape?"
    "That is a promise I will never give." She removed the saddlebag containing the food.
"You have my word that I will not try to escape until I have had something to eat and
drink."
    He laughed and led the horses away. Then he
went through the possessions of the two men
to see if there was anything they could use.
They were a long way from Houston's compound, and the Indians he'd warned Gip and
Burt about would also be a danger to him and
Emerada. He discarded everything except
foodstuff and guns. He then unsaddled one of
the horses, hit it on the rump, and sent it galloping down the hill. They would be traveling
fast and didn't need the extra horse.
    Soon he smelled the aroma of fresh coffee
and found Emerada humming as she presided
over several slices of fatback that sizzled in an
iron skillet. He rubbed his hands together and
held them over the campfire to warm. "So you
cook. I would not have numbered domestic
chores among your accomplishments."
    She blew a strand of dark hair out of her face
and smiled at him as she turned the meat. "Perhaps it would be better if you withheld judgment until you have tasted the food."
    "We had better eat fast and find shelter." He nodded toward the eastern