Chase The Wind Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover Page

  Excerpt

  Other Books By

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter twenty-one

  Chapter twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Author’s Note:

  FROM JANELLE TAYLOR, THE AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SEVEN NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS, COMES A NOVEL OF ENTHRALLING ADVENTURE AND EXTRAORDINARY ROMANCE…

  Copyright

  NO TURNING BACK

  His hand reached out to caress her flushed cheek. “That kiss wasn’t just practice for our mission, was it?”

  Beth’s fingers trailed over his lips as she shook her head. She leaned against his bare chest and whispered in a ragged voice, “I’m sorry if I was forward and shameless, but you disarm me so unexpectedly at times. I’m afraid you’re a very desirable man, Navarro Breed.”

  He bent forward to kiss her cheek but she turned her head and their lips met once again. Her mute beckoning cut the leash on his weakened control. His arms locked her against him. Then he felt her respond, and he was lost…

  Iaylor—made Romance From Lebra Books

  WHISPERED KISSES

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  Beautiful Texas heiress Laura Leigh Webster never imagined that her biggest worry on her African safari would be the handsome Jace Elliot, her tour guide. Laura’s guardian, Lord Chadwick Hamilton, warns her of Jace’s dangerous past; she simply cannot resist the lure of his strong arms and the passion of his Whispered Kisses.

  KISS OF THE NIGHT WIND

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  Carrie Sue Strover thought she was leaving trouble behind her when she deserted her brother’s outlaw gang to live her life as schoolmarm Carolyn Starns. On her journey, her stagecoach was attacked and she was rescued by handsome T.J. Rogue. T.J. plots to have Carrie lead him to her brother’s cohorts who murdered his family. T.J., however, soon succumbs to the beautiful runaway’s charms and loving caresses.

  FORTUNE’S FLAMES

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  Impatient to begin her journey back home to New Orleans, beautiful Maren James was furious when Captain Hawk delayed the voyage by searching for stowaways. Impatience gave way to uncontrollable desire once the handsome captain searched her cabin. He was looking for illegal passengers; what he found was wild passion with a woman he knew was unlike all those he had known before!

  PASSIONS WILD AND FREE

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  After seeing her family and home destroyed by the cruel and hateful Epson gang, Randee Hollis swore revenge. She knew she found the perfect man to help her—gunslinger Marsh Logan. Not only strong and brave, Marsh had the ebony hair and light blue eyes to make Randee forget her hate and seek the love and passion that only he could give her.

  Available wherever paperbacks are sold, or order direct from the Publisher. Send cover price plus 50¢ per copy for mailing and handling to Penguin USA, P.O. Box 999, c/o Dept. 17109, Bergenfield, NJ 07621. Residents of New York and Tennessee must include sales tax. DO NOT SEND CASH.

  Chase

  the Wind

  Janelle

  Taylor

  Dedicated to:

  Michael, my husband and best friend for thirty years, who did so

  much of the on-site research for this book.

  The Native Americans of San Carlos Reservation, whose

  legendary leaders and history evoked a challenging story.

  Geronimo III, for his verbal account of olden days and for an

  interesting insight into his legendary grandfather.

  The many people of Arizona and Texas—two of my favorite

  states for visits and story settings—who aided my research and

  were so generous with their time, knowledge, materials, and

  friendship.

  Ronn Moss, a talented actor, who was the inspirational image of

  Navarro Breed in Follow The Wind and in Chase The

  Wind. Thanks for the photos and your approval of how I

  depicted one of my favorite heroes.

  “This is my home. Here I stay. Kill me if you wish, for every living thing has to die sometime. How can a man die better than fighting for his own.”

  —Goyathlay—“Geronimo”

  Chapter One

  Sunday, April 4, 1886

  Tucson, Arizona Territory

  Daniel Withers looked his friend and subordinate in the eye and said, “I have to order you to do something that’s going to be difficult for both of us. Lord knows I wouldn’t do this if I had any other choice. It’s about your next assignment.” He paused, sipped water, and prayed he wasn’t about to make a terrible mistake.

  Special Agent Navarro Breed realized his superior was stalling. “What has you so jumpy tonight, old friend? You know I’ve never refused any order from you or the Agency.”

  “This might be the first time, after you hear what I have to say.”

  Navarro chuckled and grinned. “I can’t understand what would make you so jittery. I’ve handled dangerous and trying missions in the past. Heck, almost every case I take on is like running barefoot over hot coals,” he jested. “Spit it out; what is it that has you pacing the floor? You’re sweating like it’s August and you’re staked over an ant bed under the noon sun. This isn’t like you.”

  Dan stopped pacing and looked Navarro in the eye again. “If you agree to accept this case, it’ll start here tomorrow and land you in Texas soon.” He clarified, “On the L/C Ranch with the Cordells.”

  Navarro’s heart pounded as he stared at Dan in disbelief. “The…Cordell ranch?” Dan nodded. “What would Matt and…Jessie have to do with a case of mine? With any criminal case?”

  “That isn’t the only crazy angle: you’ll have a partner this time, a female; her cover identity will be Beth Breed, your wife.”

  Navarro straightened in his chair. “Hold your horses, Dan; I’m not—”

  “Hear me out before you refuse. It involves Cordell’s younger brother: Charles is running guns to the renegades from San Carlos. He’s going to cause big trouble for everybody, including your friends in Texas, if he isn’t stopped before he can make delivery next month.”

  “What does that have to do with Jessie and Matt, and with me needing a wife? Tell me where he is and I’ll go after him and arrest him.”

  Dan sat down at the kitchen table in his home where they were meeting in secret under a blanket of darkness. “He’s on his way to their ranch for an alleged visit with his kin; that’s where you’ll catch up with him and start your investigation, because we’ll need indisputable evidence before we can move against him and his partners. After what happened between you and Mrs. Cordell years ago, you can’t go alone. Or go at all without a credible excuse and impenetrable cover. You have to marry Elizabeth Lawrence; it’s the only safe and successful way to carry out this tricky assignment. Geronimo and his braves have never been more determined. If they lay hands on Cordell’s weapons and bullets, they’ll be on the rampage until this entire region is b
athed in blood.”

  Navarro let out a deep breath. “The old fox thinks he’s right, and they’ve pressed him into a corner. You and I know San Carlos isn’t called Hell’s Forty Acres without good reason. The Government’s crazy for trying to corral different tribes and sometimes different nations on the same reservation. That’s asking for trouble. They have to realize all Indians aren’t the same, like all whites aren’t friends or allies or speak the same language or have the same customs and beliefs. Then, they treat and view ‘em as savage animals to be caged, trained, and mastered to suit the white man’s purposes. I’ve warned them over and over that will never work. Trouble is, the ones who can change things won’t listen to Navarro Breed because they think I’m only trying to get the Indians a better deal. You know me, Dan, I never let my Apache blood tell me what to do or think. I chose to live in the white man’s world where I can do the most good for both sides, so I follow its laws.” The gray-haired man nodded in agreement. “They have to realize they can’t take great leaders and proud warriors who’ve lived and ridden free as the wind, bind ‘em to a near barren wasteland, and expect ‘em to accept such shame and denial, even be grateful for handouts and being allowed to live.”

  “I concur wholeheartedly, but we’ve had no luck changing their minds. Now the Mexicans are demanding we do something soon about the problem, and our government wants to keep peace with our neighbor. I can’t blame them; it’s been only thirty-odd years since a bloody war with them, so we don’t want this ruckus to provoke new trouble and conflicts.”

  “The Apaches and Mexicans have always hated each other, worse than with the whites. You know as well as I do, Dan, that the Mexicans tried to wipe out the Indians, had bounties for their scalps, and sold hundreds of women and children into slavery; and the Apaches did the same to them, so they’re all to blame. Geronimo thought he’d made truce with them years ago, but a Mexicano band raided his camp while he and his braves were on a trading visit with others. He lost a mother, wife, children, and friends in that sneak attack. That’s when a sacred vision told him he couldn’t be killed by guns and bullets. True or not, he and his people believe it, so they follow wherever he leads.”

  “His many escapes from San Carlos and returns to aggression have made it obvious he thinks he’s invincible,” Dan concurred. “Everybody has his eye and ear on this new turmoil; they expect—no, demand—we clean it up pronto. All of the other nations have been defeated, even the mighty Sioux in the Dakotas. If we can settle this Apache issue, our country will finally be at peace from border to border. It’s serious, my friend, so we have to succeed in a hurry. If not, there’ll be hell for innocents to pay.”

  “Peace is what they want, too, Dan, but an honorable peace we’ve denied them. They yearn to return to the way of life we stole from them.”

  “I understand. But General Miles is on his way to battle them with orders to ‘capture and destroy’ if they refuse to surrender. General Crook had them in his pocket below the Mexican border last week, after two scouts entered their Sonora stronghold and persuaded them to surrender. Crook got them to the border but they panicked and bolted again. I can’t fault them for being mistrustful when we’ve broken every promise we made, and I can’t blame them for not wanting to live on San Carlos or any reservation. At least Nanay, some warriors, and one of Geronimo’s wives didn’t escape. They were sent back to San Carlos under guard.” Dan stroked his thick gray mustache before adding, “Victorio’s successor was a powerful warrior and leader so it’s good to have Nanay’s influence removed from that powder keg. But that canny and fearless Geronimo is another story, the big problem for us.”

  Navarro set aside his coffee cup. “What’s the Army gonna do?”

  “Miles is en route to Fort Apache to plan his campaign; they’re giving him five thousand soldiers—a fourth of our Army—to go after those Chiricahuas. He’ll have thirty heliograph stations at his command for tracking and quick pursuit. Mexico is providing three thousand men, and Indians will add hundreds of scouts and fighters. But I have no doubt Geronimo will lead our joint forces on a long and bloody chase. He could teach our side plenty about fighting and escaping enemies.”

  “What were Crook’s terms of surrender? What made ‘em bolt?”

  “Two years imprisonment in the East, then back to San Carlos Reservation if the government didn’t change its mind after he was in custody and hang him. There’s plenty of talk in that direction, and it makes me nervous. If they dare put a legend like him on the gallows, another uprising will definitely occur. Obviously, Geronimo suspected lies and a trap, probably more from the Mexicans than from us. After he fled last week, he went back to raiding. No doubt that promise of weapons next month keeps his hopes alive.”

  “How do you know he’s the one buying the arms? It’s not like him to deal with whites. Take ‘em in a raid, yep. Trade for ‘em, nope.”

  “It has to be him; nobody else is famous or strong enough to coax a bargain with those culprits. A big supply is the only way Geronimo can arm enough braves to stay loyal and on the loose. Until the shipment’s in his grasp, he’ll raid and rob to get money to pay for them. Afterward, Lord help us, it will get worse if we fail. If we can unmask their contact and prevent delivery, he’ll have to surrender. But we can’t move against Charles Cordell without proof, something we don’t have yet. Besides, we need to learn who all’s involved and why, or the boss will find another gunrunner. If I live to be a hundred, I’ll never understand how some men can be so greedy and cold-hearted. I wouldn’t want to face The Maker with the blood of women and children on my hands.”

  “What happened to General Crook? Why is Miles taking charge?”

  “It didn’t sit well with Crook’s superiors and others that it was taking so long to defeat those renegades, or that he let Geronimo escape. Nor did they care for the terms he offered the Indians. Here’s a copy of Crook’s report; I’ll read part of it to you: ‘Though tired of the constant hounding of the campaign, they were in superb physical condition, armed to the teeth, fierce as so many tigers. Knowing what pitiless brutes they are themselves, they mistrust everyone else. We found them in camp, in such a position that a thousand men could not have surrounded them with any possibility of capturing them. They were able upon the approach of any enemy to scatter and escape through dozens of ravines and canyons which would shelter them from pursuit.’ After Crook talked with Geronimo, the old chief told him. ‘Once I moved about like the wind. Now I surrender to you.’ But not for long he didn’t! That devious warrior is chasing the wind again.”

  Dan put aside the report. “As soon as it was filed, Sheridan fired off an insulting telegram to him. Crook decided if he couldn’t be in full charge of his military mission, he’d hand it to another officer. He was replaced on Friday but it’ll take a spell for the new commander to arrive and get his plans made and in motion. That gives you and Beth an opportunity to work on this matter from another angle. As I said, even if the Army stops Geronimo’s current rampage, we need to know who’s been supplying them with arms for years and who keeps inciting them to escape and fight.”

  “Maybe there’s more to the ringleader’s motive than greed.”

  “Surely nobody wants the San Carlos land. Not even the Indians want it.”

  “But the Apaches aren’t staying put or being peaceful. Maybe their raids are trampling somebody’s plans or business. Or maybe somebody just hates Indians and is using a sly ploy to force the Army to get rid of them.”

  “You could have something there, Navarro. Needless to say, too many Arizonians would like to have the Apaches removed from this territory, particularly those ranchers, miners, and settlers surrounding San Carlos who are the targets of raids when the Apaches are on the loose. But what kind of white man would provoke and support bloodshed to get the Indians killed or exiled? Whatever his motive, we must expose him and stop him. If Cordell places arms in those Chiricahuas’ hands, it might persuade more braves to leave the reservation and join
them. As long as we have trouble, Arizona will never be given statehood. ‘Course, hostile renegades aren’t the only obstacle: outlaws, Mexican bandits, miner feuds, and shoot-outs also give us a lawless reputation to easterners. You and Beth have six weeks maximum to help prevent a crisis.”

  “I understand, but this is no job for a woman. Watching out for her could be a dangerous distraction. She’ll only get in my way, slow me down, and cause me trouble.”

  Dan Withers shook his head and chuckled. “Beth is almost as skilled as you are, my friend, so you two will make a fine team. She’s worked undercover plenty of times; been with us years longer than you have, but you’ll be in charge. She comes from a family of excellent agents. Her father and her husband were two of our best men. It’s a shame you’ll never get to meet them, since both were killed in the line of duty—on this same type of case a year ago when Geronimo and his boys broke from the reservation. We still haven’t learned who sent them weapons and supplies. Maybe it was Charles Cordell. I wouldn’t assign the two of you to this case if it wasn’t imperative, but you have the best skills, knowledge, and contacts for the mission. I was hoping Jake could solve it back East; his loss was bad timing for us.”

  “You sure his death was an accident? Sure they weren’t on to him?”

  “Positive. A second agent was shadowing them and saw Jake’s horse throw him and break his neck. We had no time or way to get another man in cahoots with Cordell before he headed west, and I doubt he’d hire anyone while en route. It was a stroke of luck Jake got as close to them as he did, but if he gathered any hard evidence, it was lost with his death. He did pass along the date when Cordell would be on the move. We also know Cordell telegraphed his brother in Texas that he’d be arriving at the ranch about the twenty-sixth. He called it a ‘visit during a business trip to Mexico.’ We figure he’s either planning to rendezvous with Geronimo in Sonora or they’ll meet up after he reenters the country. If the latter’s his plan, he’ll probably recross into Arizona or New Mexico after he’s used the border to lose any tail we have on him. It’s no secret both governments are keeping a sharp eye out for renegades, so he’ll be cautious.”