Red West III.

Chapter twenty eight - Constraint

Nayati pushed himself up, but remained hovering above him, some strange shine appearing in his eyes. He leant down again, so close Kame felt his hot breath, and inhaled deeply, mumbling something in Indian language that Kame did not understand.

His anger was gone. Just pain, exhaustion and anxiety remained.

He returned Nayati's look, suddenly realizing there was something in them what he knew but did not want to name. The Indian eyed his face, then also chest and the whole body down and up again, his expression somewhat hardening. Kame held his breath, not sure what to expect, but prepared to fight back.

Nayati suddenly straightened and stood up, as if preventing himself from doing something he would regret. Tired and feeling helpless, Kame raised up on his elbows, trying to catch his eyes.

"Take me to Bozeman. I must get there. Please."

The Indian stood on the spot for a while longer, before he shook his head and turned away from him.

"Shit..." Kame whispered, lying on his back again.

Just how should he persuade this damn stubborn Indian that he just could not lie around here?

Before he could think of anything, Nayati returned. Carrying a rope in his hands...

***

"Where do you think you're going?" Cullen hissed, dragging Ryo back to stand by their horses. "You did more than enough. Stay here, I'm gonna check the situation."

With that, the old wolf of Black Riders pulled his hat deeper over his forehead and set off from the shadow of the butchery building. Ryo watched him gloomily as the man crossed the busy, late afternoon street before he turned to Leo and Jane, who were looking in the same way with identical cheerless expressions.

"I know I screwed up, but must he still be so bitchy?" Ryo complained. "Those idiots Botkin had sent after me did not detect anything about us after all."

Cullen had been right about him bringing along some uninvited guests. Fortunately, they had enough time to hide any evidence of more than two people living at Kame's house before they appeared on the driveway. They even let them search the property while Leo and Jane were hiding behind anxious Ukushi and very grumpy Kuro, who definitely seemed dangerous enough for the deputies not bothering to check their little stable.

Leo gave him a sideway look. "He wants you to remember your mistake."

"Bah, I assure you that's not necessary."

"You know Cullen, Ryo," Jane noted amicably.

"I do, but he should know me already as well," Ryo grumbled and sat down on the edge of a huge log.

"That's why he did not let you go and attract even more attention to yourself," Jane explained caustically.

The other Rider did not react on that.

Jane sighed and turned to her frowning fiancé. Following her instinct, she approached him quietly and pressed against his back, hugging him tight.

"Keep the faith, my love," she whispered. "If anyone can save Jin from himself, it's you."

Leo sighed, turned and took the beloved woman in his arms.

"I just hope you're right," he muttered.

*

Cullen returned sooner than they had expected and dropped in their hiding spot so suddenly it made both Leo and Jane reached to their gun belts.

"They've already left," he informed them before Leo could ask.