He would also have the advantage of height, and in the mountains, whoever controlled the heights controlled the territory. Ian could hold off an army here. "Well done, Havildar. This is perfect."
"No, huzar," the Pathan said. With a wave of his hand, he indicated the mountain above their heads. '"That is perfect."
Looking up, Ian saw a dark hole that must be the mouth of a small cave. A man stationed there would not only have a clear line of fire at anyone headed east on the track, but he himself would be almost impossible for the enemy to eliminate. Digging a badger out of a hole would be child's play by comparison.
"Excellent, Gulzar Khan!" Ian said. "With enough food and ammunition, a man in that cave could hold this pass forever."
"So we're going to climb up there and wait for the Afghans?" Laura said as she studied the cave.
"Not 'we.'" Ian braced himself for the argument he knew would come. "I'm going to sit up there with most of the ammunition, and you are going to take the horses and Gulzar Khan back through the pass to his village. Then you'll enlist an escort of his grateful kinfolk to take you into the Punjab until you find a British regiment, which you will lead back here."
Her head swung around, and she glared at him with feral golden eyes. "No! I won't leave you here alone."
"You will," he said in a voice that cracked like a whip. "I said you couldn't come unless you were willing to obey me like a subaltern. That time has come, and there will be no arguments. My duty lies here. Yours lies in going for reinforcements."
Smoldering, she said, "So I'm to leave you to face an army?"
"Save your sympathy for the Afghans. Their position is far more dangerous than mine." His voice softened. "Believe me, Larishka, my chances of survival are excellent. That cave is virtually impregnable. It's quite possible that the Afghans will retreat and try to force the Khyber Pass instead. Even at its narrowest, it's hundreds of yards wider than this."
"What if they decide to fight their way through you?"
"Then I might die here," he said coolly. "But even if I do, I may be able to hold off the Afghans long enough to stop the rebellion from starting. Remember, the Punjabis won't rise unless the Afghans come, and Rajiv Singh won't try anything alone. Isn't that more important than my life? Even, God help me, more important than both our lives?"
Tears stinging her eyes, she stared at him. Never before had she so clearly seen the core of steely strength that had enabled Ian to survive torture, starvation, and endless darkness. In his determination to do whatever was necessary, whatever the price to him personally, she had never loved him more.
Throat tight, she said, "I suppose that is worth more than either of us. Very well, I'll go without any more arguments. But how close do you think British troops might be?"
"If everything went smoothly—if 'Roaring' Rawdon took the bit between his teeth as soon as Zafir and David delivered the news—the advance guard could be here within a few days."
Laura didn't bother to point out that if things hadn't gone well, it could be weeks until reinforcements were sent to Jallalabad, for Ian knew that as well as she did. She looked up the steep slope to the cave and decided that she could climb it. "I'll help you carry up supplies."
"That will speed things up. If you start back soon, you can be out of the pass before darkness falls."
Laura went to her horse and unpacked the majority of the food and a full waterskin. As she did, Gulzar Khan, who had been slumped half-conscious on the back of Ian's horse, revived a little. "Your servant is talkative, huzar," he muttered.
"She's not my servant," Ian said dryly. "She's my wife."
The Pathan's head came up. "A woman?" he said, incredulous.
Ian nodded. "I rely on you to defend her, Havildar."
"With my life, huzar," Gulzar Khan said gravely.
Laura gave both men an exasperated glance. She wasn't sure if Ian was trying to insure her an extra measure of protection, or whether he hoped that responsibility would revive the wounded man, but it seemed obvious that she was more likely to defend Gulzar Khan than vice versa.
She slung the sack of supplies over her back and began climbing. It wasn't quite a cliff and there were a number of handholds. Even so, she was panting with exertion when she reached the ledge at the cave mouth.
Ian was just behind. Swinging up beside her, he set down his rifle and the heavy saddlebag of ammunition, then looked along the pass toward Afghanistan. "This is as close to an invincible position as I've ever seen."
Stepping a safe distance back from the edge, Laura followed his gaze. "If you build a stone barricade with gaps to shoot through, it will give you some extra protection."