Page 17 of Heart of the Storm (Hearts Over Wyoming #1)

Seventeen

“The scouts are back!”

The words penetrated Tessa’s mind, instantly bringing her out of her restless sleep. Her heart gave a sharp, involuntary jolt. She straightened, gasping for breath as the announcement outside her tent ripped her from an uneasy dream, or rather, a nightmare. Rattler had been in her dream.

His sneer still flooded her mind, his twisted grin like a knife in her chest as he pointed his pistol directly at her. The echo of his mocking laughter lingered, hollow and menacing. It was the kind of laugh that didn’t just fill the air – it burned through her and left an icy chill behind.

“You can’t fire me and think you can get away with it. I’ll destroy you and your company, just like I took care of that Indian chief and his son. I’ll destroy everything you love, including that white Indian of yours.”

His imaginary words echoed in her ears as though they had been actually spoken. It seemed like Rattler had been here, tormenting her. The image of him dissolved in a misty haze, the last remnants of the nightmare fading away. But his words stayed. They made her heart pound harder and faster.

“I’ll destroy everything you love, including that white Indian of yours.”

Adrian.

The realization hit her like a rifle blast, knocking the air from her lungs. He’d meant Adrian. Tessa stared up at the canvas ceiling of her tent.

The pale light of early dawn shone through the fabric. Her heart still raced, but it wasn’t from the nightmare. It was from something else entirely.

I love Adrian .

Had it really taken a nightmare and the imagined threat from a man she despised to make her see the truth? She loved Adrian.

She’d known it all along, but hadn’t wanted to face the possibility. So much was happening all around them. So much had already happened. There was no time for love,

not with everything that was at stake. With the hunt for Rattler pressing on them and demanding every ounce of her focus, she had to be strong and stay in control. There was no time to waste on feelings or things that could be torn away in a heartbeat. Yet, despite all that, the truth was undeniable, and her heart didn’t lie. She loved him.

Outside, the camp came alive with energy as men scrambled around, their voices rising with excitement. A horse whinnied, and the sound of hoofbeats followed. Tessa pushed aside the blanket of her bedroll. The chill in the morning air seeped through her shirt, sending another shiver through her. The scouts were back. Had they found Victor Rattler’s whereabouts?

Her pulse raced as she dressed and strapped her belt around her waist. A dull ache in her side just above her hip was an ever-present reminder of why the return of the scouts was so important.

She reached for her new pistol and rifle that Josiah Butler had found for her. The eager murmur of the men and A’aninin warriors outside flooded her senses. Josiah was barking something in his usual gruff voice. The time had come. She would find out if they were going after Rattler today.

Her thoughts strayed elsewhere, pulled by the memories of Adrian’s touch, the lingering kiss, and her newly realized feelings.

“Dammit,” she whispered. There was no room for distractions right now.

With a determined lift of her chin, she pushed aside the tent flap and stepped outside. Bright sunlight greeted her, promising a warm day. She squinted to adjust her eyes, then made her way through camp to where two riders had dismounted their horses. They were surrounded by several trappers who were just as eager as she was for news. Adrian was heading in their direction from the A’aninin camp

Tessa’s knees went weak when he looked in her direction. He changed course and met her halfway.

“The scouts are back,” she said, as if he didn’t already know. She cringed at her own words. It was better than blurting out that she loved him.

Adrian cast her an odd look. He smiled, and together they joined the men surrounding the scouts.

“We found the wagons,” one of them was saying, glancing around. His eyes fell on Tessa, and he nodded. Murmurs erupted around him. “They’re abandoned,” he continued, a hard edge in his voice. “Empty. By the looks of it, they packed everything onto mules and horses. Rattler probably figured he can move faster without the wagons.”

Tessa’s stomach churned. A sense of urgency hit her like a rock. The wagons would have most definitely slowed him down.

“How great of a lead does he have?” she called.

“They’re heading north,” the scout answered. “Probably no more than three days ahead of us.”

“They’ll be headin’ to Three Forks,” Josiah called. “He’s lookin’ to reach the Missouri and take the furs by boat.”

Tessa felt her body tense, every muscle strung tight.

“We have to head them off,” she called.

Todd came up beside her. “We’ll catch them. Even without the wagons, they’ll be slowed down by pack animals. We have fresh horses and will be traveling light.”

There was a collective murmur of agreement among the men. A sense of excitement filled the air, and every man was eager to break camp.

Josiah called out orders, designating a few men to remain behind. Breaking down the entire camp would take too long. Others readied their gear and horses, and the A’aninin warriors appeared ready to go.

Tessa’s gaze went to Adrian. He’d remained quiet and unmoved by the news, but his posture told her that he was just as eager to finally catch up with the man who had killed his family. His eyes narrowed as if he were already plotting his move.

At that moment, he turned to look at her, and the tension in his jaw eased. Tessa’s heart fluttered. She couldn’t tell him what she’d realized earlier. Neither of them could afford that kind of distraction, not now. How would he even react if she professed her love for him?

Before either of them could say anything, Todd strode up to them with an eager look in his eyes. “Your horse is saddled, Tessa. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that trying to talk you out of coming along on this venture would be futile.”

Adrian’s gaze lingered on her for another heartbeat, then he looked at Todd. “Leaving her behind would require a rope, a sturdy tree, and several warriors to stand guard.”

Tessa glared at him and at Todd. “You wouldn’t dare,” she said, narrowing her eyes.

Hushed voices broke through the stillness of the camp as the darkness slowly turned to faint gray. The sun hadn’t yet risen, but the urgency of the day settled over everyone like a heavy fog. Even Todd Baronette’s usual humor was absent this morning.

The scent of damp earth and pine hung thick in the morning air. The cold from the night still nipped at Tessa’s fingers and toes. There had been no campfires during the night. No coffee had been brewed this morning, and there was no warm food. The evening meal had been dried meat, and that’s what Tessa chewed on this morning as she checked her rifle to make sure everything was ready when the time came.

As she moved through the camp, her boots crunched over the hard ground. She carried her gear to Old Billy, who stood patiently, waiting to be saddled. Her mind raced with thoughts of what today might bring. In order to close the distance between them and Rattler’s group, they’d been on the move for three days, riding as fast as the horses would allow over some of the roughest – yet also most beautiful – terrain she’d ever seen.

Adrian and the Gros Ventre warriors had led the way each day, forming an odd alliance with Josiah Butler and his trappers, as well as Ike and the other survivors of Tessa’s brigade.

The endless travel had taken its toll on her, but she remained determined to see this through. Her wound was healing, but it still ached, especially after countless hours in the saddle and sleeping on the hard, cold ground. The long days on the move had given her ample time to get lost in thought about the man leading their coalition. He certainly looked like the fierce war chief the trappers talked about. How could she possibly let him know she loved him? He was meant for this kind of life, here in this wild land, while she had to return to St. Louis.

Today, there would be no time to ponder her feelings. They were getting close. That’s why they’d kept a cold camp all night. The light from campfires and the smell of smoke might alert anyone in the area of their presence.

Her gaze traveled over the men. As always, her eyes sought out Adrian, but he wasn’t in camp. He had left alone the night before to scout the area, and apparently hadn’t returned. A prickle of fear slithered down her spine, but she cast it aside. Nothing had happened to him.

As if just thinking about him had brought him back, Adrian appeared in camp, moving silently like a ghost. The men fell into a hushed silence and gathered around him to hear what news he brought.

Adrian’s eyes scanned the group before he spoke. His gaze lingered on her, and Tessa’s heart fluttered. She moved closer to the gathered men, and to him.

“Rattler’s camp is an hour away,” he said without emotion. “We break camp now, and we move quickly.”

The tension in the air thickened. The murmurs among the men began immediately. There were quick exchanges and hurried words as the trappers hashed out their plans for the inevitable confrontation. Some of the men exchanged knowing glances, fingers twitching around their rifles. They’d been in plenty of fights before, and everyone knew their roles. The warriors kept to themselves, discussing their own strategy for the ensuing battle.

Tessa moved to help with the horses. Her hands worked mechanically as she tightened straps and checked gear, but her mind was on Adrian. Her eyes kept darting toward him, but every time, he was already looking away. His expression was a mask of concentration.

When she was able to catch his eyes once more, he stopped to look at her. For just a moment, the world seemed to fall away, and he closed the distance between them.

"Are you ready?" His dark eyes bored into hers with an unreadable emotion.

Tessa forced a smile. "Yes, I’m ready. Are you?” She kept her tone even, but the weight in her chest was almost suffocating.

His lips pressed into a thin line. “I’ve been ready for this for a long time.” There was a long pause. “I pledged to protect you,” he said slowly. “When we face Rattler and his men today, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep you safe. You should remain in camp until this is over.” A silent plea lingered in his eyes.

Tessa shook her head. “I can’t stay behind while you, Ike, Todd, Josiah, and everyone else risk your lives. This is my fight as much as it is yours.” She attempted a light-hearted smile. “Besides, I’m a good shot. You won’t have to worry about me.”

He moved closer, and glanced around before bringing his focus back to her. She didn’t have to look to know that no one was paying attention to her standing so close to Adrian. He reached for her hands.

“When this is over…” he said, but left the rest of his thoughts hanging.

Tessa raised her chin. “Let’s not think about anything else but doing what we came here to do.”

Her words were as much for herself as for Adrian. She could have easily told him right then that she loved him, but neither of them could afford that kind of distraction – not when they were so close to justice.

He nodded quietly, then stepped away when one of his warriors approached, and handed him the reins to his colt. Adrian gave her a searching look. There was a sense of pride in the way he looked at her, and a spark that spoke of something else. Something that was in her own heart.

“Stay close to me,” he said. He swung up on his colt’s back, then headed for his group of men.

Tessa stared after him, then walked on weak legs to Old Billy and climbed into the saddle.

The air was thick with anticipation, and a strange stillness hung in the trees like a veil. The sound of horses’ hooves had long since ceased, and the only noise now was the occasional creak of leather and the soft rustle of the men as they moved into position. Tessa’s heart beat loudly in her ears. The world felt like it was holding its breath, poised on the edge of something they all knew was coming.

Tessa crouched low behind a thick hedge of shrubs with her rifle steady in her hands and her eyes scanning the distant camp. Her pulse was like a drumbeat in her throat. Her body was coiled tight like a bowstring. Beside her, Adrian was silent, his focus unwavering with his eyes fixed on the distant campfire where Rattler and his men sat. They appeared oblivious to the storm about to descend upon them.

Out of nowhere, someone shouted, “Ambush!” Clearly, someone in the camp had been alerted to their presence.

Josiah Butler’s voice cut through the silence, low but clear, carrying across the distance. “You’re surrounded, Rattler!” he shouted, his gravelly tone filled with purpose. “We’ve come to take back what you stole.”

The words sliced through the quiet like a knife. The men of the camp ahead scrambled to grab their weapons, and all eyes darted toward the sounds.

“We only want the pelts back,” Todd Baronette’s voice rang out from somewhere behind them. He was only partially concealed behind a tree. “Put your weapons down and we can parlay.”

“Get down, ya greenhorn,” Josiah barked, his gruff voice cutting through the tension. Tessa’s grip tightened on her rifle, her body becoming perfectly still.

Time seemed to slow, every second dragging as each side waited for someone to make the next move. Her eyes flashed to Adrian again. Unlike Josiah or Todd, he and his warriors weren’t interested in talking. They were here only for revenge.

Images of Zeke and Shaky entered her mind, and how they’d been gunned down. They hadn’t been given a chance to parlay or surrender. Neither had any of the other men from her brigade who’d died in the attack, or Adrian’s father and brother.

The sound of a single shot split the air like thunder, sharp and violent. Tessa flinched, her pulse leaping into her throat as chaos erupted around her.

Gunfire exploded from Rattler’s camp. The crack of rifles and pistols echoed through the trees. Her heart raced as the men she fought beside returned fire from the safety of the trees. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of gunpowder. Tessa dropped to one knee, steadying her rifle.

“Hold steady!” Josiah’s sharp command called out over the battle. “Keep yer cover.”

Tessa’s eyes caught a flash of movement. Ahan was crouched behind a large rock. He stood and raised his bow at one of Rattler’s men. A shot rang out from the camp – a crack that reverberated through the air – and Ahan’s body fell backward as blood gushed from his side.

“Ahan!” Tessa’s breath caught in her throat as she watched his body crumple like a ragdoll.

Before she could move, Adrian was already there, dashing through the chaos. His movements were swift and sure as he threw himself down beside Ahan. Bullets whizzed through the air - somehow missing him - but he didn’t flinch.

Tessa fired off a shot to cover him, then another with her pistol. She quickly reloaded, but Adrian had safely reached his fallen warrior. He was at Ahan’s side. His hands pressed down on the bleeding wound, trying to stem the flow of blood.

There was nothing she could do to help as the battle raged around them. Then she saw him.

Rattler.

He was moving through the chaos, pushing through his men, and he was heading straight for Adrian. The memory of Tessa’s nightmare flashed before her eyes.

“I’ll destroy everything you love, including that white Indian of yours.”

Tessa’s blood boiled at the sight of him. This was the man responsible for so much pain and loss. He wasn’t going to get away, not after everything he had done.

Rattler raised his pistol.

“Adrian!” Tessa yelled. He was still kneeling beside Ahan and fending off an attack from a different direction. Without thinking, she rose to her feet, her rifle aimed and ready.

Adrian’s head spun around at the same time Rattler pivoted in her direction. His eyes flashed with fury, and a sneer cut across his face.

Tessa’s heart nearly burst in her chest. Her hands shook, but she aimed, and without hesitation pulled the trigger.