Love by Dawn (15 page)

After some tender kisses and small talk to
clear the air about the past months, they rose and went to the
lake. It was too cold for her to swim, but Blake drove in for a
quick dip. She stripped and sponge bathed her shivering body. As
she watched Blake, she knew that she’d fallen love with him. She
wondered what his feelings were for her.

He lusted for you didn’t he? And you gave
him great pleasure, responding to your touch.

Maybe so, but lust is not
love
, warned her conscience.

Well, it’s a good
beginning
, she argued back.

Yes, but could a man like him settle down
and marry?

The little voice in her heard had a point,
but when had she ever listened to her smart-self?

Never, so why should she start now when she
so wanted to yell to the tree tops of her feelings for Blake, but
was afraid of scaring him away. It might be too soon for such a
confession. She wished they could linger by the calm lake forever,
but she was certain the village would be stirring shortly and
others would be coming. As they walked back through the thickets
holding hands, she was still wondering what his true feeling were.
Entering the clearing, her thoughts were quickly forgotten upon
seeing the gathering of men and women. Casey gasped when the group
parted and she saw that Hunter was being carried into her lodge by
Blue Thunder. Forgetting Blake she released his hand and ran.

EIGHTEEN

Casey entered the dwelling close on the heels
of the Blue Thunder. Her heart quickened with fear because her
brother’s head was bleeding profusely. “Oh, Blue Thunder,” she
gasped, “what happened?” Tears flowed freely down her cheeks
thinking the worse. “Is he dead?”

Blue Thunder inhaled deeply and tenderly
placed a hand on her shoulder as Blake entered the wickiup. “He is
only wounded. It looks worse than it is because head wounds bleed
more. Moon Glow will tend to his wound and stitch the cut. She is
good with needle,” he assured her. “See,” he pointed to a zigzag
scar on his side, “this is wife’s handiwork.”

She had noticed the scar when she first met
Blue Thunder but never questioned it. Just then his wife entered
the hut with a bowl of water and a bag she placed by Hunter’s
side.

Without a word, she proceeded to clean and
sew the injury. Her brother groaned as she pushed, what looked like
a porcupine quill needle and thread into his flesh. Hunter thrashed
about but he didn’t regain consciousness.

“Come,” the big Indian said to her and Blake
as a pretty maiden entered and stood over Hunter. “He is in good
hands with Moon Glow and Summer Wind. Both women have helped my
people with their healing powers. No need to worry.” Also, an old
Indian entered, Casey assumed he was the shaman, their witch
doctor. He proceeded to sprinkled something over her brother and
chanted, waving his arms frantically about. Her eyes grew wide with
fear.

“Is he putting a curse on Hunter?” she
gasped.

“No, he is warding off evil spirits. It had
taken the shaman a while to accept Moon Glow and her magic; now
they work together. There can never be too much medicine,”
explained Blue Thunder. Casey sighed and followed the two men, but
not before glancing over her shoulder for another look at her
brother. She noticed his complexion was good and she believed that
he would be all right.

“What happened?” Blake asked, stepping into
the sunlight.

Blue Thunder shook his head and let out a
disgusted sound. “We were attacked by four white men on return
journey. We were lucky to find cover, but not before Hunter was
hit. As I circled them, your brother managed to stay conscious long
enough to hold them off. I killed two before others panicked and
fled.”

The Indian’s chest seemed to expand just a
little thought Casey before she folded herself into Blake’s arms
letting out a long needed sob. Dasodaha offered his dwelling for
her and her brother to rest and eat a meal that had been prepared
by Moon Glow for them. They happily accepted the security of his
home, but she didn’t feel like eating just yet.

That night Blake returned to Dasodaha’s
lodge, his temporary home, while she slept with Laughing Tree, Blue
Thunder’s aunt. She wanted to spend the night in her own wickiup
with her brother, but the others convinced her he was in good
hands. Too weary to argue, she accepted the kindness of Laughing
Tree. She slept, missing Blake’s arms, but his face filled her
dreams and awoke to the shuffling sounds of feet. Opening her eyes,
she saw Laughing Tree preparing the morning meal of ground
corn.

She yawned and heard, “Sleepy head awake?”
She knew it was also a statement. Casey knew the Athabscan word for
awake and answered her. The Indian woman grunted her reply.

“You restless in sleep, call Blake many
times.” Laughing Tree, spoke into the bowl as she worked.

“Sorry if I disturbed your sleep.”

Laughing Tree mumbled something and Casey
excused herself to see to her morning toilet. She’d never get used
to not having an outhouse, especially having a terrible fear of
squatting in poison oak. How could these people live without such a
modern convenience?

Hunter opened his eyes to see Summer Wind. He
had seen the young maiden around the village many times, but she
had lowered her eyes shyly and fled whenever he neared her. Seeing
her sitting beside him, wiping his warm brow, he blinked, unable to
believe she was really here. He lay still as his eyes followed her
movements afraid to speak in fear she would run away again.

He winced when she removed the wrappings from
his wound to replace the dressing and add some smelly ointment.

“I am Summer Wind and I speak white man’s
tongue.” He believed the maiden thought it necessary to properly
introduce herself. “I am sorry I hurt you when removing bandage. I
am here to tend to your wound.” She spoke so softly that he had to
strain his ears to hear her; so taken aback by her presence he
couldn’t find his voice so he merely nodded.

“Are you thirsty? You not run fever,” she
said, lowering her eyes. “You lucky bullet only crease head.”

Hunter watched the firelight flicker across
her face, a face that glowed with beauty and warmth, heating his
very being. He wanted to go to her and plant a kiss on her
perfectly formed lips. Swallowing his urge, he found his voice and
said, “I can use something to eat. My stomach is rumbling like a
Northern sky ready to storm.”

Without further words, she left and returned
shortly with a bowl of buffalo stew. He forced himself to sit up.
At first the dwelling spun, but he would brave the dizzy sensation
if only to see the Indian maiden again. She had entered with her
eyes downcast. His stomach rumbled at the delicious smell. It had
taken him a while to get used to eating buffalo, but he drew the
line when it cane to eating unborn calf and the entrails of
animals, which they regarded as delicacies. Even mule flesh was
considered the best meat. But at this moment he would eat a bear
just to please her, but he knew eating a bear was out of the
question. He learned that bears or hawks were taboo to kill unless
to save a life. Golden Eagles were never hunted but their feathers
were plucked; they were considered a prize.

He looked at her and he made his smiling
muscles do their work.

Summer Wind sat cross-legged on the mat.
“Does Hunter need help eating?”

It was on the tip of his tongue to say no,
but his pride was not that important and he nodded. She smiled a
smile that went straight to his groin and he didn’t mind when she
spoon-fed him. He ate greedily, never tasting a morsel.

When Summer Wind first saw Hunter entering
her village some months ago, her heart fluttered at the sight of
him. He was so handsome. She had wanted many times to stop and talk
with him, but it was shameful for a maiden to flirt with a man.
There was no way she could tell him of her feelings so when she saw
him wounded, she instantly ran to tend to his injury. Moon Glow
taught her how to tend to wounds and she had helped in the past.
But now it was Hunter who was hurt and she feared for his life.
Would he die before she could tell him what was in her heart?

The next morning Summer Wind knew she’d get
in trouble with her elders, but she couldn’t resist sneaking down
to the lake after the two men. Blue Thunder helped Hunter tend to
his needs and he brought Hunter to the lake for a much needed bath.
Living with three brothers, she knew the body of a male and wasn’t
shocked at the sight of Hunter, but when she saw his tan, muscular
back, her breath caught in her throat. Not able to control her eyes
from roaming down, she put her hand over her mouth to stifle a
giggle at the sight of his half tan and half white body. She turned
quickly away hoping he did not hear her snickering.

Three days later Summer Wind was with other
women tilling the ground with little wooden implements. Her Apache
tribe obtained corn and melon seeds from the Mexicans. She stayed
behind not noticing the others had left.

“Summer Wind,” the deep voice spoke behind
her back causing her to jump and drop her basket of seeds. She
turned to see Hunter kneeling down quickly scooping up the
contents. “Sorry,” he apologized. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I
want to thank you for tending to my wounds and caring for me.”

She didn’t answer him. Couldn’t even recall
what he said as she stared mutely at the top of his head knowing
she shouldn’t be here alone with him, but she seemed rooted to the
spot. Her heart skipped wildly in her breast, no longer caring what
was right or wrong. Every night she had dreamt of Hunter and by
morning, there was this need to have him touch her when she was
awake. Handing her the basket, Hunter rose. She accepted it meekly,
noticing his long fingers. Fidgeting nervously, unable to look him
in the eyes, she gazed foolishly at her feet. Feeling uncomfortable
he took her hand in his and she hated the fact that she wanted to
scurry off like a scared rabbit.

“Hunter,” she said, but his name came out
like a soft croak. She tried to draw away but he refused to release
her hand and pulled her quickly into his embrace. He kissed her
tenderly and Summer Wind didn’t shy away when his warm lips touched
hers, inflaming her whole body. Then shame overcame her senses and
she stepped from his light hold and fled.

“Damn!” Hunter chided himself. He slammed his
fist into his open palm, convincing himself that she was gone for
good, and that he had made a mess of things. He walked back to camp
and released a long-suffering sigh.

Remembering the sweetness of her mouth, he
thought it was worth the risk he had taken kissing her.

NINETEEN

Four days after Hunter was wounded, Blake
learned that Star Gazer, Arapoosh, and Swift Arrow had returned
from their visit to the neighboring camps. Star Gazer was sent by
Dasodaha to speak to the other clan leaders about some of the young
bucks that had been raiding white farms nearby. The chief wanted to
keep peace in the area, but some of the young blood didn’t want to
take the advice of the elders. It had been quiet for a time and he
was upset that some of the braves from other tribes in the valley
were stirring up trouble. When Star Gazer and the other braves
entered the camp, there was much whooping and hollering as loved
ones greeted each other.

Blake held his breath when the flap opened
in Blue Thunder’s wickiup and Star Gazer entered. The brave had
grown tall in his absence and filled out from the thin boy he had
remembered; and as he saw, he was as handsome as his brother, Blue
Thunder. He wasn’t too happy seeing how vital and strong the brave
had become. Hell, he didn’t like this at all. Except for the badly
scarred leg from the bear attack, he was overpowering and pleasing
to the eyes. It was a miracle Casey didn’t fall for the
warrior.

You’re a lucky snake in the
grass.
Blake patted himself on the back,
but realized that he just might be a little premature in his
self-congratulations. He kept his silence as Star Gazer greeted his
brother and father then he came forward from the shadow.

“Blake!” Star Gazer bellowed, giving him a
bear hug. “It is good to see you again, my old friend!” He then
slapped him on the back taking the wind from his lungs. He coughed
trying to calm the turmoil that gnawed in his gut. “Star Gazer, you
grew strong over the years and don’t know your own strength.” He
inhaled deeply to replace some of the air then slapped the Indian
in return.

Star Gazer grunted, “You no weakling, my
friend.”

They both laughed and Star Gazer took a
second to study him. “My friend, you have grown into a fine looking
man and have added weight to your lanky form also. It is good to
see you after many moons.”

He didn’t miss the coolness in Star Gazer’s
dark eyes and he knew his friend wasn’t all brawn; he was highly
intelligent and spent many nights studying the stars, thus giving
him his name. Blake and his cousin had taught the brave what they
knew about the galaxy during the time they were here learning how
to track and survive in the wilderness. He owed all his skills to
Blue Thunder, Star Gazer and many friends in the village. Dasodaha
shook his head and Blake knew the old chief saw the tension in his
body. He knew what the Indian was thinking. There was going to be
trouble; two brothers in love with the same woman. In his heart he
prayed that he and his friend could resolve this problem, but his
head knew differently. He suspected his friend wouldn’t give up on
Casey; he dreaded when the truth would be revealed.

That night, Casey joined in the celebrating
as the camp gathered around a huge campfire. The good news Star
Gazer brought back that the other clan leaders believed as Dasodaha
and promised to see that the young bucks of their tribes obeyed.
They wanted, also, to live in peace.