Chapter 3
Travis dug his spurs into Chief's sides, hoping to make up for lost time. He was not in town when word came about the Alston home. Town gossip said bodies were found. He prayed it was only a rumor, but dread swept through him at the thought of losing the young woman he'd held in his arms last night.
Belle, please be alive.
Rainclouds crowded out the sun. Travis cursed as a few spattering drops became a drenching rain. The sky cleared by the time he arrived at the Alston home, but he knew the rain would wash away the chance of tracking anyone.
Travis flung himself from his horse. Even after the rain, the smell of smoke lingered in the air. As he walked up to the house, Travis could hear the hot embers sizzling from the rain. He surveyed the charred skeleton of the Alston home, of Belle's home, and a deep sadness yanked his heart as he considered the chance anyone survived the blaze.
"Travis!"
He turned to see Ranger Tom Greene walking up to him.
"Fill me in."
"It's bad, son."
"I know it's bad, Tom, now tell me what happened," Travis snapped at his boss.
"Travis, I know the Alston girl is the girl you told me about, the girl from the dance. Maybe you should let the sheriff's posse and a few of the other rangers here handle this."
"Is she dead?" Travis strained to control the quiver in his voice.
"No, son, I don't think so. We found two bodies. They were identified by Hank Black Hawk as Judge John Alston and his wife Martha."
"And what about Belle, their daughter?"
Tom shook his head. "We know she left the dance with the Pendergrass family. We have yet to question them."
"I'll do it," Travis replied. "I'll look for Belle; the posse doesn't need me."
"Travis," Tom sighed, "I don't think that's a good idea. I think you are too close to this case."
"Look, Tom, I know you are trying to protect me, but I can keep my personal feelings separate from my job."
"Can you, Travis? I know you, son, I raised you since you were sixteen. I know you don't let people in, and how quickly you developed feelings for the Alston girl has me worried, and, damn it, I have an obligation to the job, to her. I need a man who is thinking clearly to look for this girl."
Travis clenched his fists. A part of him knew Tom was right, but the other part didn't give a damn.
"All right, Travis, I'll let you question some of the people who can give you background on Belle, then we'll go from there. Start with her grandmother; she lives in town. Then question the Pendergrass family and anyone else they may suggest."
"Thank you, Tom."
"Don't thank me; I'm risking this girl's life on your skill, not on your emotions. Put those emotions away, son. I'm depending on you, but more importantly, Belle is depending on you."
It was late afternoon when Hank came back home. He found Little Dove in the kitchen, but there was no Fury.
"Did you talk to the sheriff?"
"Where is Bel—Fury? I will never get used to that name," said Hank
"She went to sit out by the pond after the rain. I took her some lunch, but she refused to eat. Hank, please tell me what the sheriff said."
"I met him at the Alston house, what's left of it. He has no new information. The sheriff formed a posse, but with the rain, there will be few tracks to follow. I identified the bodies. He promised to have them removed for a proper burial. The sheriff asked if I knew where Belle is, and I lied. I wanted to join the search for the killers, but he said my leg might make that impossible."
Hank hit his leg with frustration. "Damn leg!"
"Hank, it's all right. You will have your hands full caring for the girl. Are you going to tell the sheriff she is here?"
"I don't know yet. I want to talk to her first."
"She should still be by the pond. See if you can get her to come inside."
"I will."
Hank made his way to the pond and found Fury sitting on a rock by the water.
"Papa's favorite fishing spot," Fury said, keeping her eyes on the water.
"Yes, I remember when you were younger, John and I would bring you and my boys here to fish. We had some great times."
"Yes, we did, and Mama would make us a picnic lunch."
"Best fried chicken ever, but don't tell Little Dove," Hank said with a painful grin.
"Hank," Fury asked," did you go to the sheriff?"
"Yes, I did. They are forming a posse to look for—
"For the men who murdered my parents," Fury added.
"Yes."
"And what did you tell them about m-me…Belle."
"I haven't told anyone you're here, but they are searching for you too."
"Good."
"How is it good? There are a lot of folks who care about you, like your grandmother. Surely, they have a right to know you are all right."
Fury thought about the people she knew, her friends, but most of all, she thought of her grandmother.
"Grandma has always been special to me, but right now it's best she doesn't know where I am."
"Why? She loves you, and you two can help each other through this."
"No, she can't know where I am—not yet—maybe never. I have a duty, a mission I must complete."
"What duty? What mission?"
Fury's dead gray eyes penetrated Hank's sight. "I told you, I must find and kill the men who murdered my parents."
"No!" Hank shouted. "Fury, you can't; the lawmen will find them."
"No, they won't," she answered in a matter of fact tone. "Oh, they will hunt for them for a while, but they will give up. They have nothing to go on."
"And you do?"
Fury did not answer.
"How do you plan on doing this; you're a little girl. You're no match for these murderers."
"I know, but you are going to help me. You are going to teach me all I need to know."
"I don't think so."
"Hank, I don't mean to be rude, but if you weren't lame, what would you do?"
Hank drilled his fingers through his hair.
"Damn it, Belle, it ain't that easy to say."
"You mean you would let the posse find them, and my name is Fury."
Hank shook his head. "You know I loved your father like a brother. I would go after them. But there is a difference between you and me."
"What? Because I'm a girl?"
"Yes, that's part of it," Hank railed," but you ain't just any girl, either. You're my best friend's daughter. I need to watch out for you now that he is gone. And you are also too young and inexperienced."
"Don't you want my parents' death to be avenged?"
"Of course, I want justice for your parents. But not vengeance."
"Well, if you won't help me because of my father, know this. If I am taken from here, wherever I end up, I will run away and go after them on my own. So, you can teach me what to do or leave me to myself."
Hank shook his head. She would