Love by Dawn (18 page)

“What did you say to the dumb beasts?” Blake
asked foolishly.

Blue Thunder chuckled. “They are not as
stupid as you think. I rubbed their noses reminding them that there
were nine of us against only one pussy cat.” He lied down and gave
the men his backs.

Blake simply looked at him bemused. “That
Apache is an enigma all right.”

“Well, then,” chuckled Hunter, “I guess we’re
safe.” But still, he slept fitfully and before dawn he heard the
big brave rise for his run. He returned in what he assumed was a
half hour later as the sun rose and nudged Blake with his toe and
barked, “Rise sleepy heads.”

Casey was alone with Moon Glow and her
children. She adored Blue Moon and Gray Wolf and hope someday to
have children of her own. That notion surprised her because she had
never given it much thought before. The child came to her and the
dog, Licks Too Much wasn’t far behind. The canine licked her leg
making her think it was dubbed with the right name. Placing the
little girl on her lap and curious, she asked, “How long have you
had your pet?”

Blue Moon ordered the animal to sit and he
obeyed. “I found him when he was a pup. He followed me one day when
I wandered into the woods. I wasn’t supposed to leave my mother’s
side, she was feeling sad because we had to leave our camp and burn
our old houses. I got bored and went to investigate our new camp. A
small dog scampered out from around a rock and began licking me. He
followed me back to camp, but his mother didn’t like her cub
leaving her, like my mother who scolded me later.” She sighed. “I
didn’t know the mother was a wolf and she growled at me and I was
in danger, so my father had to kill little Licks Too Much’s mother
to save my life. I regret that.”

“Oh my, what a remarkable story, honey,”
Casey intoned. It still amazed her how well the child spoke two
languages.

“Blue Moon,” her mother called to the child
from outside. “Come and watch your brother.”

The girl leaped from Casey’s lap. “Yes,
mother.” She hurried along and Casey was amazed how the child
quickly obeyed. She had noticed that the Apaches never scolded or
punished their children and they were very well behaved.

“Come Casey,” the adorable child took her
hand. “Mama, knows many fables, do you know any?”

She was taken aback by Blue Moon’s request.
She stopped to think. “Why yes, before my mother went to live with
the angels, she told me her favorite story.”

“What is an angel?”

“Well, honey and angel has wings and lives in
heaven with…” She wondered if the child believed in the
Almighty.

“With God,” the girl answered her
question.

“Yes.” She sat outside with the children. “I
will tell you a tale about a young angel who fell to earth.”

“Oh, no,” cried Blue Moon. “Was it hurt?”

“No, but I’ll tell you what happened.”

Grey Wolf was still young but he sat quiet
sucking his thumb.

“Now, Angelica was playing one day, strolling
along the Milky Way when---”

“Do you get mother’s milk there?” asked Blue
Moon.

Casey blinked. “Well, um, I guess so.” She
figured that was easier to explain then the truth to a child. “Now,
the little angel was thinking pleasant things when the winds began
to shout and scooped Angelica up, tumbling her all about. She fell
through space and landed in a place where the air was cool and the
sun was warm.”

“I wonder if uncle Star Gazer ever saw a
falling angel. He is always looking up into the sky at night.”

“Well, I guess we just have asked him,” she
suggested.

“Now Angelica wanted to get back to where
she belonged and she tried but her wings were not very strong.
Tired, she fell asleep and when she awoke, she was not alone. Who
are you? Asked a creature. Oh, Angelica said, my name is Angelica
and I am an angel. The animal replied, my name is Fawn and I’m a
deer. You’re welcome on this planet. Where did you come from asked
Fawn? The angel informed the deer that she had fallen from the
heavens. Fawn then told Angelica that all animals were free to
roam. Angelica was now very curious and said goodbye to the deer.
She walked awhile until she met two raccoons. She asked then if
they could help her get back home. Sorry, they said but ask our
friend the giraffe, he has a very long neck and his name is Fred.
If you walk awhile you cannot miss him, he’ll have his head in a
tree.”

“Wow, have you every seen a giraffe?” piped
up Moon Glow.

“Not, a real one, but I have seen pictures of
them.”

“Pictures?”

“I’ll draw you one in the sand later,” she
promised.

“Oh, goody,” the child clapped her hands.

“Now, let’s see. Oh, yes, Angelica found Fred
eating his lunch, chewing on leaves with a loud crunch. Excuse me,
sir, but I need your help, she said. Fred looked down and bent his
long neck. Well, who are you, he asked? She told the giraffe her
name and why she needed help. He told the angel to climb up his
neck and he stretched it as long as he could. Angelica flew and
flew but her tiny wings grew tired and she returned. I see you are
back said Fred. I’m sorry you did not make it but maybe Oscar can
help you. He’s a mighty bird who lives in that mountain that almost
reaches the sun. Again Angelica had hope and she searched for the
bird near a slope. She called out and the bird answered,” Casey
lowered her voice to sound disturbed. “Who is so foolish to climb
way up here? Or are you so brave you do not have any fear?”

Blue Moon giggled. “The angel was brave,
right?”

Casey nodded. “Yes she was and she asked the
bird for help to fly home. He said that he would and Angelica held
onto Oscar as he few high and when he tired, he said goodbye.
Angelica continued on her way, believing that she would soon be
home. But sadly, again her wings grew tired and weak, so she glided
to earth tired and sad. She mad it back safe and sound but fell
asleep on the ground.”

“Poor, Angelica’s, all alone.”

“Oh, but she was not alone because the next
morning many animals came with plans to help her fly back home.
Even an elephant blew through his trunk into the air, causing
powerful winds but nothing worked so she thanked her new friends
and went to sleep again.”

“Can you draw me an elpant?”

You mean elephant?”

“Ah, huh.”

The girl’s brown eyes were big with innocent
curiosity and Casey again said she would. By now Grey Wolf had
dozed off and other children were beginning to gather around, so
every time Casey said anything, Blue Moon echoed her words in
English. They were all bright eyed and curious.

She continued. “The next morning, Angelica
felt different and began to cry. Why are you crying asked a wolf?
You are too pretty to be so sad. The angel then realized that it no
longer mattered if she returned home because she had a new home
with many new friends. So you see, Blue Moon, home is where your
heart is.” She tapped the child’s up-turned nose.

“Oh, that is a wonderful fable and I will
tell all my friends.” She began to speak Athabscan and the children
now gather around the girl.

After her chores, Casey walked down to the
lake to do some solitary thinking. The day had begun exceptionally
mild for that time of the year. She decided to take advantage of
the warm sun and bathe. Humming, one of her mother’s favorite
songs, she stripped and before walking into the cold stream she
look around having an eerie feeling that she was being watched. A
large lizard leaped from the foliage, looking at her as if she had
beaten him to the water. She giggled and said that there was plenty
of room for them both. She waded in and quickly, she splashed the
water over her body. The melting snows filled the creek with frigid
water but she had grown used to bathing in it, as did the
Apache’s.

Shivering and her teeth chattering, she
dressed. As she bent over to put on her last moccasin, a hand
snaked out and covered her mouth. So startled, she froze. A
terrible smell accosted her nose, a mixture of whiskey and what she
believed was bear grease. Instantly, she believed it wasn’t a bear,
but it was certainly a dangerous animal, the two legged kind. She
gasped at the pungent odor, realizing what was happening.

Casey struggled, groping with her hands
flailing behind her, hoping to strike her attacker’s face. She
managed to tug an ear causing the Indian to emit a painful yelp. At
the same moment he loosened his grasp she turned quickly breaking
the hold. Fear terrorized her and she gaped into the darkest,
coldest eyes she had ever seen. Her attacker was there to harm her
and she turned to run but before she could flee a sharp pain
rendered her unconscious.

TWENTY-THREE

When Hawk Nose arrived at the stream for
water, he heard humming and parted the bushes to get a better look
at the maiden. But what he discovered was a blonde beauty. He could
not believe his luck. It was her, Moon Glow and the white woman’s
body was just the way he had remembered it for many moons. Time did
not age his love a moment. Her hair still shone like the moon and
her body still had that soft golden glow.

It was two autumns since he had been
banished from the tribe. He had lost face, but not a day went by
that he did not think of his love for her. From their hideout in
the foothills, he had spent several years raiding with his friends.
Every time he looted and raped a white woman, he pretended he was
ravishing his only love, Moon Glow. Now, all his friends had been
killed by the army and he returned alone once more to claim the
white woman’s heart.

Hawk Nose looked down at the beauty. His mind
still locked in the past he saw his love as young as the day he
first saw her. He let out an animal howl as he pounded his proud
chest.

She was finally his.

TWENTY-FOUR

Late that afternoon Moon Glow watched as the
men returned with a bride price that would make all other fathers
envious. “You return so soon, my husband,” she declared. “I thought
you would be gone for at least three days.”

“The gods were with us,” declared Blue
Thunder. “We have returned with six magnificent animals,” he
proudly told her and she kissed him soundly. Hunter said he wanted
to tell his sister the good news and he ran joyously to his
dwelling. He returned to tell them that Casey was not in the
wickiup.

“Where’s Casey?” inquired Blake.

Moon Glow pulled herself from her husband’s
embrace and frowned. “I don’t know,” her brows forked and she shook
her head. I have been so busy with my duties and children that I
lost track of the time. She had been with Blue Moon and Grey Wolf
for a while telling them a story. Then the girl had gone to the
creek but it had been a while since she left.”

She pulled her brows together in anxiety and
she didn’t like the queasy feeling making her stomach knot. Ashamed
that she forgot about her new friend, Moon Glow put her hand on the
concerned man’s arm. “She’s probably still down at the stream
enjoying her time.” Trying to reassure Blake, she touched his arm
with a light squeeze.

He sighed, “I hope you’re right. I’ll go and
get her.”

Moon Glow gave her husband a worried look.
“The girl knows better than to go there alone,” she said frowning.
Her husband hugged her again saying, “Do not fret, my love. You
cannot keep your pretty eyes on friends and watch our children
also.” He was correct, but she still didn’t like the feeling that
something was wrong and she was right.

When Blake returned he looked pale and
worried. Before she or anyone else could question Blake, he
shouted, “She’s gone!

“Who could have taken her?” Hunter
questioned.

Blake shook his head. “When I ran down by the
creek there was no one there, my heart nearly stopped. But, I saw
signs that there had been a struggle and I thought that a wild
animal had dragged her off, but… there were no signs of blood or
paw prints. Studying the tracks more closely I concluded that she
was taken by another Indian. But who and why? Upon further
searching I spotted a small red object in the dirt. I picked it up
to discover it was a small earring covered with blood. After wiping
it clean with my thumb the object appeared to be a metal hawk with
an animals paw in its mouth.” He showed it to Hunter shaking his
head. “I don’t know who could have taken her, but this is the
earring I found,” declared Blake.

Moon Glow watched Hunter study the object in
Blake’s hand, his brow creased with worry and confusion. She had a
suspicion about the object, but she prayed that she was wrong. She
walked over to Hunter with Blue Thunder behind her. Upon noticing
the object in Blake’s hand reflect the sun, her legs weakened. She
definitely remembered the earring and all the horror that she
suffered by the crazed Indian who wore it. This was something she
could never forget. Gasping, she faltered and would have fallen,
but her husband caught her in his strong arms. The knot in her gut
just got tighter.

“I knew I should have killed that evil brave
when I had the chance,” growled her husband in his Athabscan
tongue. She did not miss the terror in Blake’s eyes or the pulse
leap into his strong bronzed jaw. Hunter looked bewildered.

She interrupted her husband’s words and
added, hoping to explain. “His name is Hawk Nose and one time he
tricked me. I was swollen with my second child when Blue Thunder
had gone to the neighboring village to kill the men responsible for
almost slaughtering another clan: his people. Hawk Nose was badly
wounded and I cared for him but he took my kindness for love. When
Blue Thunder was gone for so long, Hawk Nose promised to help me
find my husband, but he took me in the wrong direction. When the
winter snow fell in the mountain, I had no choice but to stay with
him.” She sighed. “There’s more to the story, but I’m sure you want
to go and find her.”