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charge harmlessly in the air, and before Rayna could recover from the
shock, the soldier had wrenched the gun from her hand and pinned her
arms to her sides.
Let her go! Raymond demanded, grabbing at the trooper who held
Rayna, but another soldier restrained him while a third seized Skylar.
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Captain, please! Collie shrieked, horrified by what was happening. Stop
this at once! She tried to move to her husband, but Greenleigh waved his
hand and a fourth trooper stepped forward to restrain her.
Put that squaw into the wagon! the captain ordered.
Greenleigh, you can t do this! Raymond shouted, straining against his
captor. You have no right! I have papers! She s my adopted daughter! Listen
to ah, ah Suddenly unable to breathe, Raymond clutched at a fiery pain
in his chest and collapsed, nearly taking the soldier down, too.
Papa! Clawing at her captor, Rayna finally wrenched away and flew to
her father s side. Someone help him! she screamed as she knelt, but Meade
was already there.
Corporal Lawton, get my medical bag! The buttons on Raymond s shirt
gave way as Meade ripped the garment open and began a hasty examination.
Is there a sharp pain in your chest, Mr. Templeton?
Too racked with pain to speak, Raymond nodded.
And down your arm?
Raymond nodded again.
Meade looked over at Greenleigh. Clear these men out of here, Captain.
And have that man release Mrs. Templeton.
You have no authority here, Major, Greenleigh argued.
This is a medical emergency, and that gives me absolute authority. Now,
do as I say! Get me a wagon so that I can take Mr. Templeton to the house.
That s an order!
Reluctantly Greenleigh detailed one of his men to fetch the Templetons
buckboard, which was tethered under one of the cottonwoods near the camp.
As soon as Collie was released, she hurried to Raymond and knelt beside
Rayna opposite the doctor.
What s wrong with him, Major? she asked, her voice surprisingly strong
despite her fear.
I believe he s having a heart seizure, ma am, he answered just as the
corporal returned with his medical kit.
Will he be all right? Rayna asked.
I ll do everything I can for him was all Meade could say. Stethoscope
in hand, he continued with his examination. Collie opened her parasol to
provide some shade for her husband until the buckboard arrived. Several
soldiers were enlisted to carry Raymond to the buggy, and Collie never left
his side.
Sickened with fear and still trembling from her scuffle with the soldiers,
Rayna hung back, knowing there wouldn t be room for her in the buckboard.
Stricken, she watched as the major climbed aboard and took the reins.
Seconds later the carriage pulled away.
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Knowing it would be futile to ask for the loan of a horse to carry her to
the house, she looked around for Skylar so that they could go back to the
house together. What she discovered made her blood boil anew. Greenleigh
had used the moments of chaos after Raymond s collapse to have his men
shove Skylar into the wagon with the Mescaleros. The wagon had been
pulled some distance away, and a dozen soldiers now formed a close guard
around it. With a hoarse cry of anger and frustration, Rayna flew toward her
sister, but the soldiers blocked her way.
Tears were streaming down Skylar s face as her sister struggled uselessly to
get past the armed guards. Rayna! Is Papa dead? she cried.
No! No, he s not dead. He s not going to die! She shoved at one of the
guards, but he used his rifle like a staff to keep her at bay.
That s quite enough, Miss Templeton, Greenleigh said as he stalked
toward her leading his horse. You ve created enough trouble for one day.
Rayna whirled on him. You bastard. This is all your fault. Let my sister go!
Sister or no sister, that squaw is coming with us.
But I told you, she s not a Mescalero. My parents got her from Mexican
slavers nearly twenty years ago. She was raised as my sister, Rayna told
him desperately.
That doesn t change the fact that she s an Apache, and all Apaches are to
be confined to the reservation.
But we have legal papers to prove that she was adopted.
That s a matter you ll have to take up with General Whitlock, miss. My
orders are clear.
Rayna took a step back. Nothing she could say would make a difference to
this arrogant ass. You really are enjoying this, aren t you, Captain? she asked
with disgust.
Actually I am, he said with an unconscionable smile.
Rayna s hands knotted into fists. And if my father dies because you ve kid-
napped his daughter? Will you enjoy that, too?
Greenleigh s smile faded. Your father s illness is regrettable, Miss
Templeton, but his poor health is not the fault of the United States Army. If
it s any consolation to you, I will be leaving Major Ashford here to tend to
your father until another physician can be located. The major can rejoin the
company as soon as it is convenient for him.
How very generous of you, she said sarcastically. However, you re over-
looking one important detail: You re not leaving here with my sister.
And just how do you propose to stop us? Any further resistance on the
part of these Apaches or anyone on this ranch will be met with force. He
fixed her with an arrogant gaze. Now, do you want to be responsible for the
resulting casualties?
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