Deborah Camp (18 page)

“Who told you that Micah is living here?” she demanded.

“A friend of the Gros Ventre,” Feet Like Wind answered.

She issued a harsh bite of laughter. “Pierre Sartain is your friend, is he?” Copper noted the flash of surprise in the warrior’s damning eyes and knew she’d guessed correctly. “He’s a friend only to himself. He’s a gossipy old hen. Why is a great warrior listening to such stories? Pierre Sartain has sent you on a ghost chase.”

Feet Like Wind’s gaze flickered over Micah. “What is your name?”

“Micah McCall. You know me. I trap with Grizzly Gus sometimes.”

The Indian grunted. “You have a Lakota wife.” His black eyes knifed Copper with disdain. “She’s not Blood. Is she your whore?”

Micah stiffened and would have charged if Copper hadn’t placed a hand on his arm. She matched Feet Like Wind’s flinty glare and chanted softly in Crow. The words were probably not understood
by the Gros Ventre, but they recognized a song of vengeance when they heard one. The others glanced nervously at each other and took mincing steps backwards. Feet Like Wind’s chest expanded and he released a great, thundering roar.

“Stop!” he commanded. “I honor no Crow curse.”

Copper finished the chant. She switched to French so the others would understand. “Leave this land before my words fall upon you like hatchets and clubs. I want no war with you, Feet Like Wind. The man you seek is rotting beneath the ground. Go now before I curse not only you, but also your people. I’ll make your women barren. I’ll dry up the seed in your young men. I’ll send the waters to drown you just as they did my husband.”

The other tribesmen chattered nervously. One spoke urgently to Feet Like Wind. The tall, lean leader stood his ground, staring boldly at Copper. Three eagle feathers sprouted from his black hair, proof of his high standing among his people. His face was tinted red from past coats of warpaint. Symbols decorated his powerful arms to help him aim true and shoot to kill. He and the others hadn’t come to make war with her. They were on a hunting expedition for a particular scalp. Finally, Feet Like Wind cut through the air with his hand and the others fell silent.

“If you speak not the truth, I will be the one to bring curses on you. I will slit your throat and gut your baby.” He demonstrated, sweeping a finger across his own neck and mid-section. His smile was an evil grimace. “Yes, I have heard of your girl child. You will bring about her death if you make me your enemy.”

“You already are my enemy,” she said through gritted teeth. “The only dogs I befriend are the four-legged ones.”

He spat at her feet, then his black eyes shifted to
Micah. “And if you speak not the truth, I will hunt you down and take your hair. The white man has been seen. If he is not tall with black hair on his face, if he is not the trapper friend of Grizzly Gus and husband to the Sioux widow Rides In A Circle, then I will be back to finish this.” He whirled and motioned for the others.

The snow cushioned their footfalls. With their departure came the sun, breaking through the gray cloud cover. When Copper could no longer hear the crunch of snow under the warriors’ feet, she breathed easy. Her fingers ached and she realized she was gripping Micah’s forearm. Before she let go of him, she raised on tiptoes and kissed his furred cheek.

“Thank you, Micah. You climbed onto a shaky limb for me.”

Micah turned her to face him, catching her elbows and giving her a little shake. “Now will you listen to me, you hard-headed mule? Feet Like Wind ain’t bluffin’. He’ll come back in a few days and kill you and your baby.”

“No, he won’t. He’ll question Pierre and when he gives your description to that cheating Frenchman, Pierre will shut his trap because he won’t want to get on your bad side.”

“And what if Sartain doesn’t shut his big mouth? What if he tells Feet Like Wind that he’s been bamboozled? You can’t take that chance. I won’t let you take that chance.”

“You won’t let me—!” She clamped her teeth together as anger shot through her. When Micah’s gaze lifted from hers and he frowned, she knew that Tucker had come out of the stables. She heard his uneven footfalls behind her.

“You selfish bastard,” Micah bellowed, pushing Copper aside to confront Tucker. “You don’t give a damn that you’re going to be the death of this woman and her baby, do you? As long as your
precious hide is safe, you tell everyone else to go straight to—”

Tucker’s fist arced up and connected neatly with Micah’s jaw. Micah grunted and stumbled backward. He lost his balance and fell into a snowdrift that nearly swallowed him. Before he could surge to his feet, Tucker wrenched the Hawken out of his loose grasp and pressed the end of the barrel against Micah’s forehead.

“I’ve had about enough of you, McCall.” Tucker’s voice was quiet and unemotional. “I was going to thank you for what you did, but it would seem pretty dumb to thank you after that speech. I
do
give a damn about what happens to Copper and Valor. In fact, they’re the only ones on this earth I’d give my life for.” He removed the tip of the barrel from between Micah’s wide eyes. “That’s why I’m leaving tomorrow at first light, providing you loan me your horse and saddle. I have none of my own. I’ll leave it at the fort for you to collect.”

“No!”

Both men stared at Copper. She felt a trembling inside and strove to conquer it as she turned pleading eyes on Tucker. Her pride was a small pill to swallow.

“You can’t leave yet. We made a bargain. I’ll take you to the fort when the snow melts.”

“I appreciate your desire to honor our bargain, Copper, but I’m placing you in danger by being here.” He reached out to trail fingertips down the side of her face. “McCall’s right. I should go.”

“I’m glad someone around here besides me has come to his senses,” Micah grumbled, then lifted a hand. “Help me up, Yank.”

Tucker grasped his hand and hauled the big mountain man to his feet. Using the forward momentum, Micah aimed his fist and tried to push it through Tucker’s left eye. Stunned by the shock of
pain, Tucker sprawled in the snow, one hand shielding his wounded eye.

“You son of a bitch!” His moccasined feet scrambled, trying to find leverage on the slippery ground.

Copper stepped between the warring men and held her arms out from her sides. “Stop this now! I am sick to death of fighting! I want peace in my life. You’re worse than children with your taunts and bickering.”

Tucker removed his hand to reveal the patch of beet red skin. “You’re right. I’m leaving.” He pushed to his feet and started toward the stables. “I’ve caused you enough trouble. McCall, I’m saddling your horse.”

“Take him, and good riddance!” Micah shouted, and beamed at Copper. “It’s best for all of us that he makes tracks. I don’t think Pierre has enough sense to know that I’ll beat the living hell out of him if he keeps flapping his gums about you and this Yankee deserter.”

“He’s
not
a deserter!” she defended, and the intensity of her conviction took her by surprise. She whirled and raced to the stables, catching up with Tucker just inside. She grabbed his fringed shirt sleeve and jerked him around to face her. “You can’t leave me!”

He started to say something, but the desperation in her face robbed him of the words. He stared at her, afraid to believe what he saw and what he heard underlining her command. She gathered her composure and drew in a deep, shaking breath.

“I mean … you can’t leave now … yet. We–we struck a bargain. You can’t dishonor me by leaving before I can make good on my part of it.”

He started to inform her that her wanting him not to leave had nothing to do with a trade, but his throat contracted around his beating heart. He’d never been so close to heaven before. He waited, wanting to hear more.

“Don’t let Feet Like Wind scare you off. He doesn’t scare me.”

Tucker cleared his throat, but his voice came out husky anyway. “He should scare you. He wasn’t just whistlin’ Dixie, darlin’.”

Darlin
’. A thrill passed through her. She let go of his shirt. Shyness crept across her nerves. No man had ever called her that and meant it. There wasn’t a doubt that Tucker was sincere. The way he’d said it told her that he meant it.
Darlin
’. Was any word more precious? When he twisted to turn away, she clutched at his sleeves.

“Tucker, Pierre will keep quiet when he hears that Micah’s here. He fears Micah and Gus. If he does talk, I’ll put a curse on him that will make his flapping tongue dry up and fall off.”

Tucker chuckled. “You’re a prize, Copper.” He held her gaze for a handful of shattering seconds. “Have you any idea what it cost me to stay hidden while you and McCall fended off those Indians? Copper, I can’t let you take care of me anymore.” His voice dropped along with his pride. “It’s against my nature.”

“But you’re healing. You can do for yourself soon.”

“It’s not just that. If my being here brought any tragedy to you, I couldn’t go on. Do you understand? You’re important to me, Copper. I want you to be safe. You and Valor.”

“The winter will be hard without you. I need your help. Stay.” She rested her hands against his chest and her shining, cinnamon eyes won him over. “Stay, Tucker Jones. The fort will be there in the spring, too. By then you’ll be well healed, inside and out. Feet Like Wind won’t be back. He knows I have powerful medicine. He’s not as stupid as he looks.”

Tucker grinned and dropped a kiss on her forehead. He was pleased when she accepted the gesture. “Remember when we were hunting that
moose and you told me that someday the Indians would forget you and chase bigger game? Maybe I can be that to them. Maybe, if I leave, they’ll stalk me and forget about you and the baby.”

She shook her head.

“Put aside that stubborn streak for a minute and think about it. By leaving, I might do more good for you than I could by staying. Feet Like Wind sounded as if he has a mighty craving for my scalp. If he’s looking for me, he’ll stay clear of you.”

“Feet Like Wind and the other Gros Ventre will always be my enemies. You can’t change that.”

“But they’ll keep sniffing around here until they’re satisfied that I’m long gone.”

“Not if Pierre stops his tale-carrying. And he will.” She gathered the front of his shirt in her fists and her eyes implored him. “We’ll be safe here. Out there, they’ll track you down and kill you. I don’t want your blood on my hands, Tucker.”

Crunching footfalls announced Micah’s imminent intrusion. Tucker covered Copper’s tight fists with gentle hands. He couldn’t refuse her. Mutual attraction lashed them together—for better or worse.

“Very well, I’ll stay.”

She touched the swelling skin beneath his eye. “It will be black.”

“Maybe if you kiss it, it’ll heal by morning.” He gripped her wrists. “Come on, Copper. Sprinkle some of that powerful medicine on me.”

She pushed playfully at his shoulders. “You’re laughing at me.”

“I thought you were saddling a horse,” Micah said, bristling with belligerence.

“I decided to stay.”

“What? I won’t let you—”

Copper rested a hand on Micah’s arm. “I’ve asked Tucker to stay on and he’s agreed. I told you
that I traded with him, and I want to honor my part of it.”

“Even if it means you and your baby will be massacred?”

“Maybe you could speak to Pierre for me.”

Micah narrowed his blue eyes and then his mouth dropped open when he realized the import of her request. “You want him to stay and me to go? Is that it?”

“You’re welcome here. I only thought that you’d be wanting to travel soon. Moss doesn’t usually grow on your feet.”

“But … I … I thought …” He glared at Tucker. Taking Copper’s hand, he pulled her a discrete distance from the other man. “Copper,” Micah whispered, “I want to settle down here with you. I thought I’d made that clear as rainwater.”

She touched his bearded cheek. “And I’ve made it clear that I value you as a friend. I’m not hunting for a husband.”

Micah glanced toward the stables. “Then why is he stayin’ here?”

“I told you. I’ve made a bargain with him.”

“Copper, I’m not dim-witted. I know that him staying has little to do with that trade you shook on. He won’t stick around come spring. He’s not cut out for this life. You’re going to be one broken-hearted gal once he packs up and leaves you with a pocketful of dreams. His future days will be spent in a city, not here in this hard country.”

“I’m sure you’re right, and he won’t break my heart.” She stroked his bearded cheek. “I don’t want to break yours either, but I don’t want to marry you. I don’t want to marry anyone.”

“Ever?”

She started to agree, but something held her back, some negligible, yet vital stirring in her womb. “I don’t want to marry now. Who can say if tomorrow will be different?”

“Then you don’t mind if I keep hopin’ you’ll change your tune?”

“Hope is never a bad thing,” she hedged, then pressed a quick, friendly kiss to his lips. “Will you talk to Pierre for me?”

“I will.” He sighed. “Guess I’ll be takin’ my leave tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to go so soon,” she protested.

Micah smiled regretfully. “Yes, I do. I’ll be bunkin’ with Gus the rest of the winter, but I’ll be seein’ you. I’m not givin’ you up to him so easily.”

I’m not yours to give
. The words burned her tongue, but she didn’t release them, knowing they would hurt Micah, who had been a staunch friend when she had needed one. Instead, she squeezed his hand and forced a smile to her lips.

“I’ll prepare a special meal tonight. Roasted turkey and potatoes. And gingerbread!” She laughed when his eyes lit up. “Your favorite.”

“Wish we could share it alone.” He glanced at the stables again.

“But we can’t. I want all three of us to enjoy the meal and the company. Micah, it would mean so much to me if you and Tucker got along. No more fistfights and cussfights. Promise me.”

“Aw, Copper. That’s a tall order.”

“Not such a tall order for a big man like you. Promise, Micah.”

“All right. I promise.”

She rewarded him with a swift kiss and dodged his mouth when he sought to give her another. “I’ve got to check on Valor,” she said, sidestepping when he made a grab for her. She pretended not to hear his soft curse of frustration.