Agnes and the Renegade (Men of Defiance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Stands With Horse asked what was happening, why had the white men come for Chayton?
    “They say my mother’s mother has ransomed me and that I must return to my mother’s people.” Chayton looked around at the weeping people, seeing the shock and horror and fear on their faces. “I am with my mother’s people. I am where I belong.”
    “You are Lakȟóta . And you will always be Lakȟóta . But you are also white. You must go with these men.”
    “Never.”
    “Look at what has happened here, Hawk That Watches. See what has happened today.” His chief lifted his hand and showed the destruction. “If your mother’s mother is wealthy enough to pay a ransom, she is wealthy enough to send much worse trouble to us. You have to go.”
    Chayton stared at his chief, uncaring of the tears drawing streaks on his filthy cheeks. “I cannot live without my people.”
    “And your people will not live if you stay.”
    Chayton wiped his cheeks. The pain of that memory was as raw today, almost a year since his departure, as it had been the day it happened. He’d left with the white men that day. For four days, he’d traveled with them. On the fifth day, he’d slipped away and returned to the only refuge he knew: the Valley of Painted Walls. He’d hidden there for months, never showing himself to Logan when his friend came looking for him. Logan had seen his pony among the herd and knew he’d come to the valley. It wasn’t until the autumn that Chayton had sought Logan out, bringing meat for his daughter and skins to trade for winter supplies.
    Logan had been relieved to see him, then. And though their friendship wasn’t as it had been before Chayton’s world had collapsed, Logan offered Chayton trades for his skins that were heavily skewed in Chayton’s favor. Logan had been a true friend, white or not.  
    Chayton had no choice but to respect his wishes with the white woman now in his valley.

    * * *

    While waiting restlessly for Mr. Taggert to return, Aggie went out to the small corral to have a look at the horse he’d brought her. He was a handsome sorrel gelding that did not shy away from greeting her. She filled his water trough and gave him some hay, then returned to the house to put it to rights after last night’s invasion. She straightened the splintered wood that had spilled across the floor and piled the broken table and its pieces outside the front door. When everything was back in order—as best she could make it—she made herself some breakfast, then took her sketchpad out front and sat on the bench.
    The drawings she’d made of Chayton in no way hinted at the murderous inclination he’d displayed last night. In her sketches, his eyes were bright, illuminating the fevered activity of his mind, full of curiosity, determination, and even anger. It was curious that she’d noted his capacity for violence when she’d first seen him in town, but she had not drawn him that way.  
    It was early afternoon when Aggie heard riders approach. Tamping down an instinctive flash of anxiety, she went outside to see the Taggerts accompanying a wagon with lumber and a couple of men.
    Mrs. Taggert dismounted quickly and hurried to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. Absurdly, Aggie felt a flood of relief. Mrs. Taggert took hold of her arms and leaned back to look at her. “I’m so sorry, Miss Hamilton. I don’t know what got into Chayton. I’ve never known him to behave like that. Life has not been easy for him since his wife was killed.” She shook her head. “Were you hurt?”
    Mrs. Taggert was slim and seemed so fragile; Aggie didn’t want to cause her any undue stress. “He scared me. Terrified me, actually. But he didn’t hurt me. He broke your table, though.”
    “We brought you a replacement table.” Mr. Taggert nodded toward his men. “Sam and Wylie are going to rebuild your door. While they do that, I thought Sarah and I could show you around the area and point out geography you might find