When Mary didn't deny it he went on.

"You had also mentioned Ryder McKay to me before we ever reached the Fort." Mary nodded slowly.

It had happened just as Ryder had said it would. The odd circumstances of their first meeting gave support to their subsequent one six months later.

"There's the fact that you went to his cell and that you were wearing that habit. General Gardner believes you helped plan and carry out Ryder's escape. Your family is only a little inclined to believe it."

Mary was silent for a long time. She stared off at a point beyond Jarret's shoulder, thinking. A chill seeped through the flannel shirt she wore. She crossed her arms in front of her to ward it off.

Finally she looked at Jarret.

"Then you should make them believe it," she said quietly. Jarret's gaze narrowed.

"What?"

"Make them believe it," she repeated firmly.

"This way you can tell them you found me, I'm safe, and I refuse to abandon Ryder until his name is clear--for my own sake. After all, why would I come back to face charges of aiding his escape before I can prove his innocence?"

"Mary, if I take back that story you'll face charges whether Ryder's proved innocent or not. It's called obstruction of justice, and you're admitting your guilt."

"I don't care.

There's no other alternative I can accept."

"But it's a lie. You didn't help him escape." Mary's faintly sly smile touched her eyes.

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"I'm .. ." He broke off, studying her face closely. The inscrutable, serene expression was firmly in place.

"Oh, hell. I'm not sure anymore."

"Good.

Then you'll be especially convincing." Jarret didn't smile as he was meant to.

"I don't like it." Mary approached him, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"He didn't do it," she said quietly.

"You need to believe that, Jarret. The rest will come easily."

He looked up at her, wondering how she passed on the strength of her convictions so effortlessly.

"Mary-" She shook her head, stopping him before he could muster an objection.

"He's an honorable man. He respects tradition and values honesty. He married me in the Chiricahua manner because the ceremony was important to him. I didn't care if there was a ceremony at all."

Mary's faint blush made Jarret understand what she meant.

"He did it so there would be no shame in our being together. He did it to protect me from the consequences of my own rash actions. And without warning me at all, he risked a great deal to have Jay Mac and Mama brought to witness the ceremony." Mary's hand dropped away from Jarret's shoulder. Her eyes darkened and her voice took on a harder edge.

"I know what he's supposed to have been doing at the time of the Colter Canyon raid." she said. Jarret nodded.

"I.

wondered about that."

"Well, I don't believe it and neither should you. Anna Leigh Hamilton lied. I don't know why exactly, but I know she did. Whether by intention or coincidence, she helped set up Ryder."

"You're taking on quite a bit, Mary. What can you hope to accomplish here?"

"Not much," she admitted.

"But as soon as Ryder's better we're going to find the gold." Ryder knew instantly that something was different. Though nothing had moved, there was a shift in the air in the room that captured his attention.

He sat up. The throbbing in his leg was only a dull ache now, and he rubbed the stitches absently. He was alone in the chamber. Jarret's saddlebags and bedroll were gone, but the bottles of tinctures and liniments had been left behind. There was no sign of Mary. Closing his eyes briefly, Ryder rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

"You're awake" she said. Ryder's head snapped up and he stared at the entrance to the chamber. She was standing in the archway, holding a lantern in one hand and a rolled map in the other.

"You're still here," he said. Mary hung up the lantern and approached the bed.

"I'm going to choose not to be insulted by that." She placed the back of her free hand over Ryder's forehead.

"No fever at all. That's good."

"Hmmm." Expecting to see Jarret, he looked past her shoulder.

"Where's your bodyguard?"

"Bodyguard?" Realization dawned.

"Oh, you mean Jarret." He's gone back to Fort Union. I told him to wait until you were awake before he left, but he said it was better his way."

"Wise man," Ryder said. Mary looked at him oddly.

"Why's that?"

"Because I damn well would have insisted he take you with him." That rocked Mary back on her heels. She pitched the map on the bed in anger. She had a good mind to clip him on the jaw he thrust in her direction.

Ryder had no difficulty reading the bent of her mind. There was no sense giving her a clear target. He curbed the defiant angle of his chin.

"What the hell was he thinking, leaving you here?" he asked instead.

"He was thinking it was what I wanted!" She gritted her teeth.

"Oooh, when I think of all the breath I wasted convincing him, I could just... just." Words absolutely failed her as Ryder simply stared at her, his head tilted slightly to one side, his fascination total.

"Stop looking at me like that," she said, but there was no real conviction in her tone. He didn't stop, but the centers of his eyes became a shade darker.