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.Ephraim can do something, can't he? I'm afraid, Cord.The way she was - I'm afraid she isn't going to be Anne any more."Cord said nothing, rose and headed for the front door.Rob followed.As he openedthe door, Rob pleaded, "Please, tell me what you're going to do.Can Ephraim get her out?"Cord turned then.He had little feeling to spare for Rob, but it ran through his mind that after this, Rob Wells would either finally mature into a man with the sense and courage to think and act for himself or forever become a useless weakling.One way or the other there was going to be some well-deserved suffering.Viciously, he turned on the other man."You agreed with your father from thebeginning.I'm just a rutting savage who enjoyed your sister for a while when it was convenient.Why the hell should I care what happens now?"Standing in the open doorway, Rob watched the tall form disappear within a few feetin the swirling snow of the ever-increasing storm, then stood there staring as if Cord would magically materialize again with a different answer.The cold eventually broke through his trance.He shut the door, turned and went back to the warm kitchen, shuffling like a very old man.He collapsed into his chair, took a large gulp of whiskey straight from the bottle, then another.Until the whiskey brought a kind of peace, he remained haunted by scenes of his sister in his memory, but the pictures of the lean dark man on the bright red horse were gone.* * *CHAPTER 38GENTLY RUBBING KEEPER BEHIND THE ears in the darkness, ignoring stinging snowflakes numbing his face, Cord forced himself to calmly consider his options.There would be other towns to the east, north, and south with trains running tomorrow or the next day, but he didn't know the schedules.Any attempt by him or even by someoneoutside the family like Windon might result in a telegram to Chicago.If Wells had any inkling anyone would come for Anne, he could make it almost impossible to find her, and it sounded as if he had friends spying for him all over town.Denver lay sixty miles to the south and east.Trains would leave there daily.Without the storm such a ride would be unpleasant but not difficult; with it, it would be hell, and if the threat of blizzard materialized, impossible.The wind was howling out of the north now, making seeing more than a few feet difficult.The decision was his, and he would have to live with the consequences of a wrong choice.He stopped rubbing the gelding's ears, pulled his slicker free and shrugged into it.It would help break the knife-like wind.In seconds he and Keeper were swallowed by the storm, heading out of Mason - south.Even though the threatened blizzard never quite materialized, it was early afternoon, sixteen hours after leaving the Wells house, when Cord reached the slushy streets of Denver.He had pushed the big brown gelding to the limits of his strength, but the snow and killing wind had not let up until dawn.In places the drifts were so high the horse had had to lunge through.Snow and ice had encased them both, making just breathing aneffort.Although the road was well traveled, it had often been hard to find it, for visibility didn't improve until the snow stopped.Keeper was barely able to hold his head at knee level and was stumbling often.Cordhad been on the ground for over an hour.When he first dismounted he was so stiff he almost fell.Now the combined effects of hunger and exhaustion were almost pulling him off his feet.His bones felt like spikes of ice embedded in his flesh, and walking had not stopped his shivering.He had asked directions three times and was now walking south on Sherman Street,looking for a particular intersection and a particular house.The area was filled with stately homes on well-tended grounds.Surprisingly, no one had run from the sight he and the horse presented.Once again he covered the spent gelding with the slicker as hestopped in front of one of the big houses.His knock brought a maid complete with black uniform, white cap, and apron.Shewas contemptuous."The likes of you shouldn't be here at all, but if you have something to say, get around to the back door."Cord swung the rifle straight up at her chest.He had to try twice before he could get the words out."Get Howlett."The woman ran back into the house as Cord walked into the entrance hall.With anyluck, Paul Howlett would be at home, not at his law office, on a Saturday afternoon, and he would not have to deal with Marie.It was indeed Paul who rushed to the hall to see what the trouble was.Cord had seen Paul only a few times many years ago, but wouldhave recognized him instantly in spite of the silver now in his brown hair and extra lines around the brown eyes.Paul also recognized his wife's brother instantly."I don't believe it! Cord!"Before either man could say another word, Marie was there.The years had been kind.No one meeting the lovely Mrs.Paul Howlett would ever suspect she was half Cheyenne.From Marie there was no welcome."Get out, or I'll have you thrown out."Cord had had long, cold hours to decide how to force what he wanted from his sister."You don't know anyone who could throw me out.I need help, and you're going to give it.If you don't, everyone in this whole damn town will know exactly who and what you are before another hour passes, so help me God."Bright red spots appeared on Marie's cheeks.Before she could speak again, Paul laid a gentle hand on her arm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]