He let go of her with a little snort of laughter and muttered, Suit yourself, then stepped away. She was left clinging to the saddle, feeling weak-kneed and childish.
Am I allowed to go to the bathroom? she asked, teeth clenched.
His reply came from the other side of the gray mare. Doubt if youll find a bathroom, but youre welcome to use a bush.
Her heart pounded. Was this the moment? How quickly could she mount up-more quickly than he could grab the reins? Dont be stupid. Hes got a faster horse than you have, and he knows the terrain. Be patient, Lauren. This is not the time.
As she stalked into the brush she heard Bronco call, Id check real good for rattlers if I were you.
Chapter 4
The phone call came that evening during dinner at the gracious brown-brick Georgian home of Pat Graham, in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., where Rhett and Dixie had gone to await developments out West. The attorney general left the dining room to take the call in her study, and when she returned her face was grave.
Rhett reached for Dixies hand. News? he asked quietly.
That was Vernon, Pat said as she seated herself. Her movements were slow and careful, and her eyes didnt quite meet those of her guests. She placed her napkin across her lap. They heard from the Navajo Tribal Police. A sheep-herder named Billie Chee reported finding your daughters truck and trailer around noon today abandoned on the Big Reservation near Window Rock. Vernons people are going over it now.
Rhett nodded; hed been prepared for something of the sort but felt as if hed been kicked in the stomach nonetheless. From what youve told me about these people, I doubt theyll find much, he said flatly. Any word from McCulloughs ranch? Do they know where hes holding her? Curled inside his, Dixies fingers felt like ice.
Pat Graham picked up her knife and fork, stared at her plate for a moment, then carefully laid the utensils back down. Vern and Henry both have their people out there in force. Theyve had the place under surveillance since about eight this morning, local time. Rhett made a sharp sound. The attorney general glanced at him. Nobodys gone in or out since then, but that doesnt mean much. McCullough would have been expecting something of the sort, Im sure. He wouldnt keep Lauren there-most likely moved her out during the night. They could have her stashed just about anywhere by now-theres a lot of wide-open country out there.
Dixie clapped a hand over her mouth. Unable to sit still, Rhett pushed back his chair. I need to be out there, he muttered, driving a hand through his hair. I cant justsit here, while my daughters out there somewhere-God knows where-held hostage by some damnmilitia! He was standing, now, gripping the back of Dixies chair. He wondered why it didnt snap in his hands.
Pat rose, too, and leaned toward him, bracing her hands on the white linen tablecloth. Rhett, I know how you must feel. Her umber eyes were intent, her voice low and earnest. But I can only advise you very strongly not to do that. We cannot have the media getting hold of this. Wed be putting your daughter in grave danger if we do. SOLs instructions were very emphatic on that point. You must proceed with the campaign schedule as if nothings wrong, right up till the convention.
Rhett expelled a breath. Where I will regretfully decline the nomination for president.
Pat nodded. Once youve done that, your daughter will be released unharmed. So they say.
Pacing, Rhett uttered a profanity. They cant be al lowed to get away with this, he growled. Think what it would mean-hell, it amounts to a coup! The end of our political system as we know it, the rule of law, the will of the majority-
Rhett. Dixie caught his hand and held on to it.
He halted and passed a shaking hand over his eyes. Shes my child, my little girl. I dont know what Id do if He sought Dixies eyes, like chips of an autumn sky, and clung to them as if they were the light of hope.
Were going to get your daughter back, the attorney general said with quiet conviction.
Rhett threw her an angry look. Seems to me youve got to find her first. Is Vernon certain shes not at McCulloughs?
She hesitated a beat too long. Not absolutely certain, no. And theres no way they can be until they get in there. But rest assured, he and Henry will take no overt action until they know your daughter is out of harms way.
Pat, this isnt a damn press conference, he snapped, then immediately followed that with a heavy, Im sorry, Im sorry. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
Only once before in his life had the future seemed so black, so terrifying, ironically also a time when hed feared his children might be lost to him forever. Sixteen years ago, and it seemed like yesterday. Back then, too, it had looked as if he might be forced to make an unthinkable choice. Back then the choice had been between his children and Dixie, the woman who had become as essential to him as the air he breathed. Now, as then, the stubbornness inherent in his nature insisted there had to be another possibility. A third choice.
This man Henrys got on the inside-the one he says is going to keep my daughter safe. What have you heard from him? Seems to me if anybodyd know where Lauren is being held He paused at something in the attorney generals eyes. What?
The womans face was a study in mute sympathy. I wish I knew. At last report he hadnt checked in since the night before Lauren was taken. Henry hasnt heard from him in almost forty-eight hours. We dont even know if hes-
The womans face was a study in mute sympathy. I wish I knew. At last report he hadnt checked in since the night before Lauren was taken. Henry hasnt heard from him in almost forty-eight hours. We dont even know if hes-
Alive? Rhett finished for her.
Pat shrugged and looked away.
They arrived at the entrance to the camp around midnight, by the light of a full moon. Bronco suspected Lauren had been dozing in the saddle for the past hour or so, but she came wide awake when he spoke to the sentry. As they rode close together through the barbed-wire gates, she murmured in a voice slurred with exhaustion, Where are we?
He allowed himself a wry smile, knowing she couldnt see it in the moonlight. Welcome to Liberty.
Liberty? Though her face was turned toward him, its expression was hidden from him by shadows. He could only hear her confusion in her voice.
He didnt even try to keep the irony out of his. Thats the sovereign and independent nation of Liberty. The laws of the oppressive and totalitarian regime known as the United States of America have no dominion here.
You people have your own country? She had missed the irony. No longer sounding the least bit sleepy, her voice cracked on the last word.
He gave it some thought, debating whether to point out to her that, as a matter of fact, his people were indeed a sovereign nation. Well, now, Im not sure whether you could call Liberty a country, at least not yet, but we have declared our independence from the U.S. of A., yes, maam.
Why?
He intoned, We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights-
Youre quoting me the Declaration of Independence? Lauren squeaked, edging toward outrage before adding sourly, And, anyway, its inalienable rights. At least get it right!
You sure about that? Bronco pretended surprise.
Yes, Im sure. Its inalienable-everybody knows that.
Her tone-huffily superior-amused him. Well, now, he said somberly, maybe you ought to look it up before you go and bet the farm on that.
Bet! Who said anything about a bet?
So, youre not sure.
Of course Im sure-Im a lawyer, dammit! Dont you think I know the Declaration of Independence?
And Im a revolutionary, Bronco countered in an even tone. We take our creeds pretty seriously. And by the way, it goes on to say that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to those ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new governmentas shall seem to them most likely to effect their safety and happiness. End of quote. Thats all were doing here-exercising our rights as set forth by our founding fathers.
Your founding fathers! You just said you people declared yourself independent of the U.S. of A. What, you get to pick and choose what parts you want to keep? She was wide awake now and becoming more and more incensed by the minute. So incensed, in fact, that Bronco wondered if maybe it was some kind of protective mechanism kicking in, so she wouldnt have to think about the position she was in and how scared she was.
He, on the other hand, was enjoying himself more than he had all day. More, in fact, than since hed had the in credibly bad judgment to dance with the woman at Smoky Joes.
He watched the dark shapes of rabbits bounding through the silvery meadow like fish jumping in a moonlit ocean, and said serenely, Thats about the size of it. Throw away the stuff that doesnt work, keep what does. Whats wrong with that?
Wellsure. Her tone was grudging. But you dont do it with violence!
Who said anything about violence?
Oh, I suppose Im here because you asked me nicely to please come and help you blackmail my father out of the presidential race! And what about that guard back there? You think I didnt notice he had a gun? A very big gun.
The shadow of a hunting owl brushed silently past them and the rabbits vanished. But an instant later Bronco heard a high-pitched squeal, cut ominously short. He has a gun, he said mildly. Hes exercising his constitutional right to bear arms.
Apparently too preoccupied to have noticed either the owl or the rabbits, Lauren turned her face toward him. In the moonlight her eyes looked like soot smudges on blue marble. Thats what this is all about, isnt it? she said in a cold contemptuous voice. Thats all you militia types care about. Guns. You know what my father stands for. Swearing angrily under her breath, she shifted around to face forward again.
A moment later the gray mare broke into a gallop. Not as if the woman was seriously trying to escape, Bronco realized. More likely her horse had picked up on some unconscious need to blow off steam. It was a condition he more than understood, but even so he wasted no time catching up with her. Hed hate for the sentries tracking their progress across the meadow with infrared cameras, high- powered binoculars and night-vision scopes to get the wrong idea.