Love by Dawn (23 page)

Damn it! No!
She’d been through to much to lose him now. She
was glad she slept in her clothes as did Blake. Looking around the
hut, she spied a spear; well it was better than nothing. She
plunged on carelessly towards the challenge waiting for her.
Whatever it was, she was ready for it! Outside, the camp was in
chaos. Women and children were screaming and running into the
wilderness as dawn began to break through the darkness. A bastard
rode up to her and grabbed her by the arm lifting her onto his
black steed. The horse’s front leg lifted into the air at the extra
weight.

“Let me go you basted!” Casey wailed and
struggled, her anger became a scalding fury.

“What do I have here, a white squaw?” Cold
eyes mocked her. “Santa Maria! A gringo? Well my little chica
you’re to valuable to work as a slave in the silver mines of
Chihuahua. I keep you for myself. Brighten my hacienda, si?”

His evil laugh and lusty
leer infuriated her and a brief shiver rippled up her spine.
Keep me!
You wanta
bet!
She had no intentions of permitting
herself to be his or anyone’s slave.
Arrogant piss ant!

Casey squirmed around and bit his earlobe
making him howl and dropping her to the ground. Spinning quickly
around, she picked up the spear and jabbed him in his fat belly. He
looked quite surprised and the hombre’s black eyes blinked at the
weapon protruding from his stomach. With a curse, he fell off his
mount and she took no time on deliberating her next move. Swiftly,
she mounted his horse. It was impossible to steady her erratic
pulse as adrenaline ran rapidly through her giving her the edge she
needed to fight. Gunfire and screams enveloped the camp but she
noticed that the Spaniards were not shooting at anyone but firing
into the air. They wanted their captives alive.

In the corner of her eye, she spied another
Spaniard picking up a bawling child. Casey’s breath burned in her
throat like acid and she charged with a cry of mounting rage. Her
nostrils flaring with fury, she leaped from the horse onto the
unsuspecting Spaniard; they tumbled to the ground. The child ran
away crying and the sonofabitch stood, eyeing her with a sly smirk.
He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and lunged for her
but an arrow in his back stopped him. She looked up to see Fire
Arrow smile at her, but then a mounted man kicked the Apache with
his booted foot sending the red man flying to the ground.

“You dirty pole cat!” Pure rancor for those
animals sharpened her voice and she wailed, “You low life cowards
attacking women and children!” She raised her fist in anger and
conviction. The hombre merely grinned, but he soon lost his smile
when a shot rang out and the Spaniard fell from his horse. She
turned to see Blake holding a smoking pistol, looking none to
pleased with her. But there was no time to argue the point since
another rider was heading for Blake with his gun aimed at his
unsuspecting back.

Casey had but a spit second to lunge for the
fallen bastard’s weapon. Rolling over she fired and shot the
charging Spaniard. Another bastard hit the dust and she grinned at
Blake, as she jumped to her feet. He didn’t return her gesture, but
she saw the pride in his light blue eyes. It was all the gratitude
she needed.

He came to her. “Are you all right?”

Trembling she lied, “Sure.” Then she looked
down at the dead son-of-a-bitch and her stomach churned. She’d
never killed anyone before. Although Casey was glad it was the
Spaniard and not innocent people, it left her feeling empty
inside.

So much cruelty in this
world
, she reflected.

Blake hugged her. “I know it’s upsetting to
kill someone,” he proclaimed reading her mind. “But it was his
decision to come here to terrorize the Indians not yours. He had
put his fate into your hands and you didn’t have the choice that he
had. Come, get inside before you‘re in more danger.”

Then she saw the women and children were
throwing rocks, pot and pan, stick and anything else they could get
their hands on. It became a free-for-all until the last three
remaining hombres fled from the camp. The Apache’s suffered only
minor injuries but three Spaniards lay dead and two were sprawled
on the ground holding their bleeding heads.

When order came again in the tiny camp, Fire
Arrow explained how the Spaniards would raid their villages to
capture slaves to mine for silver in Northern Mexico. They in turn
would retaliate by raiding Spanish settlements to seize cattle,
horses, firearms, and captives of their own. Although Fire Arrow
claimed he and his clan never had been attacked before and it had
been quite, he suspected that the leader of this raid was a greedy
bastard who decided to take matters into his own hands. He believed
the Spaniards wouldn’t come back, thanks to her and Blake.

That night she and Blake gathered around a
huge fire and watched the natives dance. It brought back to mind
another time she watched Indians celebrate, filling her head with
bitter- sweet memories making her wondered how her friend, Star
Gazer was doing?

TWENTY-EIGHT

“Mama, mama!” Casey heard Blue Moon yell as
she rode in with Blake. The child’s parents raced out of their
wickiup as the entire tribe emerged from their homes. Moon Glow and
Blue Thunder were ecstatic to see them returned. For a second she
wondered where her brother was, she wanted to ask if he had married
Summer Wind in her absence, but she was so caught up with all the
excitement, she forgot to ask. Moon Glow grabbed her and hugged her
also. Then Blue Thunder took his turn. She was glad to see Star
Gazer and he greeted her warmly.

Casey was so touched by all this affection
and concern, it made her eyes tear. She was loved and she loved
these people whom she had known for such a short time. They were
the kindest folks she had ever known. Blake got his share of hugs
by the Apache’s and a hardy handshake from Hunter. Star Gazer
patted Blake on the back, which pleased her knowing they were now
friends again

Blue Thunder raised his hand. “We will hear
whole story tomorrow. My wife will see you both get a good meal
before retiring.”

Blake told the big brave about Hawk Nose;
that he was dead. There was a huge sigh of relief from both he and
his wife. She took Blake’s hand and led him to her lodge. When
noticing her brother’s things were gone, a smile formed on her
lips; they would be alone.

“Do you think Hunter and Summer Wind
married?” asked Blake.

Casey shrugged. “I suppose they did, his
belongings are gone.” She snorted saying, “He better be, or have a
good excuse for not being here. I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”
She snuggled against Blake and nibbled on his earlobe. It was still
too cold to make love the last few nights on the trail; their body
heat was all they had to keep from freezing.

The days were warmer, and they wanted to
make tracks for the village quickly. Now Casey was eager to make
love to Blake and she overjoyed that he shared her enthusiasm.

Clothes were torn away and they joined
quickly. When they lay in the afterglow, Blake teased her. “Well,
my little vixen, can’t keep your hands off me, huh?”

She giggled and punched him playfully, “I
didn’t hear any complaints, my virile cowboy.”

“Mmmm,” he took an erect nipple between his
teeth and nipped and tugged until she groaned. “Is that a protest,
my love?”

“My only complaint would be if you stopped,
so I’ll give you two hours to quit that.”

With his free hand, he stroked her womanhood.
“How long do you give me to stop that?”

She gasped and raised her pelvis higher,
letting him know he could give her pleasure until the cows came
home. “No complaints, darling,” her voice was hoarse with
desire.

He entered her, grinning knowingly, “And
this?”

“Oh, please never stop that!” And she met his
every thrust eagerly and neither had a thing to complain about.

The next morning, Casey’s sleep was forced
into consciousness by Summer Wind’s soft voice.

“Good morning, Casey. Good morning, Blake,
may I enter?”

Summer Wind asked for permission to enter.
She was uncomfortable by the fact that she and Blake were only
covered with a buffalo hide. Blake must have sensed her uneasiness
and whispered, his eyes twinkling with mirth, “Summer Wind knows
what goes on between a man and a woman. Besides, your tiny mouth is
puffy and red from our passionate kisses.”

He winked at her and then told Summer Wind to
enter. Casey pouted, pulling the blanket up to under her nose.
Summer Wind entered shyly, looking at her feet. She then handed her
teasing bed partner a bowl of stew and blushed. Casey could have
groaned out loud, the cowboy was right the girl did know what had
transpired between them.

“I am sorry, I hate to bother you but Blue
Thunder insisted I bring food since it was getting late, the sun is
high in sky,” she apologized. “I brought good meal to start day.
You both look as if can use more flesh on bones.” Her eyes
downcast, she mumbled, “And, everyone waiting to hear story.”

“Thank you,” Blake took the bowl. Casey and I
appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

Summer Wind nodded and turned to leave.

“Wait!” cried Casey.

Summer Wind turned. “Yes?”

“Did you and my brother marry?” Casey didn’t
mean to be so blunt but she didn’t get a chance to talk with Hunter
privately last night and she was eager to know.

Summer Wind nodded sheepishly. “We joined as
husband and wife for two moons. Hunter wanted sister here, but
after one moon we not know if you return and we....”

The shy Indian blushed again looking at the
floor. “My husband could not wait. When we received news of your
arrival late last night. Hunter wanted to leave our lodge, come
here but I said today will be better.”

Casey saw the love sparkle in Summer Wind’s
eyes when she mentioned Hunter’s name; her sister-in-law loved him
deeply. She was happy they had wed because two people that much in
love shouldn’t wait for anything, she told this to Summer Wind.
Light eyes met hers with a woman’s understanding.

“You and Hunter do not live here any
more?”

“Oh, no. A married woman stays with her clan.
We came early this morning to see you both.”

“Oh, so that’s why my brother wasn’t here to
greet me,” Casey blurted out before she realized it. She knew she
sounded annoyed and rightly so, but she hadn’t meant to sound so
condescending. She saw Summer Wind blush and she quickly apologized
for her thoughtless out- burst. “I’m not angry at Hunter; I was
just a little hurt that he wasn’t here. Please don’t tell him. And
welcome to the family, I always wanted a sister.”

Summer Wind nodded. “I will honor
sister-by-marriage request.”

Once she and Blake went outside, her brother
was waiting patiently for her. She ran into his open arms and wept
openly as they clung. Drying her tears, she proceeded to
congratulate him on his marriage and insured him that she was well.
Blake shook her brother’s hand and Hunter couldn’t thank her cowboy
enough for saving her.

“Oh, Hunter,” she sniffled, “I wish ma and
pa could see how happy and how handsome you are,” sniffle. “And a
married man with responsibilities,” she sniffled again. “I’m
pleased and proud of you myself. Take care of your wife; she is as
special, as you. I will miss you, brother.”

He wiped away a tear of his own. “I love you
Casey. I hope you and Blake will find as much joy as I have. And I
won’t be that far away. Summer Wind’s clan is just over that
ridge.”

She presented him with a very wet smile.

That day all gathered around to hear their
story. She listened to Blake unfold the tale, relieved that he
didn’t mention the love they had shared together those past months.
Casey learned from Moon Glow that once Hawk Nose and she had been
good friends, but he had mistaken her brotherly love for something
greater. She learned that Hawk Nose’s village had been raided by
greedy men and many Indians were killed. He had been shot twice and
Moon Glow was sure he would die, but the man’s sheer determination
made him live. Moon Glow told her how he used their friendship to
lead her from the safety of the village when she was carrying Gray
Wolf, Blue Thunder’s first son.

Blake squeezed Casey’s hand reassuring her
that he was there for her. She knew he had heard the whole story
but never relayed it, saying that he did not want to upset her
more.

“I was a fool to trust him,” Moon Glow said,
lowering her gaze. “I am still shamed of my stupidity. My husband
had gone with Star Gazer, Weeping Bird and some braves to revenge
the men who had slaughtered almost the whole village because there
was silver on the land.”

Moon Glow glanced at Blue Thunder and Casey
saw him frown, surely with the memory.

“I was so worried about my husband that I
neglected our daughter, Blue Moon.” She took a deep breath and
sighed. “Laughing Tree and Dasodaha scolded me for my disregard of
my daughter’s welfare and Laughing Tree took Blue Moon to her
dwelling to care for the child. My pregnancy was not noticeable but
Blue Thunder was gone so long I began to show and Hawk Nose tried
to comfort me.”

Moon Glow squeezed her husband’s hand
affectionately and her voice softened. “I couldn’t stand the wait
any longer and food was getting scarce. I believed if I was gone,
there would be more for Laughing Tree, Dasodaha and my daughter.
And Hawk Nose seemed so sincere in helping me find my husband.”

Blue Thunder snorted rudely. “As it was, Star
Gazer and I were captured by soldiers! We were going to be
hanged.”

Casey gasped.