Proud Wolf's Woman (38 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

How could he keep his attention on the matter at hand when Julia’s well-shaped buttocks loomed before him?

Neeheeowee let out a groan of despair as they sat around the fire in their evening camp. They had only been on the trail for seven days and already he yearned to feel her, to touch her, to make love to her. He turned his back on her as though this would help him regain control. It didn’t work. The action did him no good whatsoever. Her womanly scent reached out to him, begging him to kiss her; anything, if it meant feeling her body against his. She began to sing as she worked, her voice soft and pretty, and he wondered if he would go slightly out of his mind before this journey ended.

He’d spoken the truth when he’d said that a warrior refrained from sexual intercourse when on the warpath. Those that did it, those who shunned the teachings of their elders for the pleasures of the moment, had been known to die or to sustain a life threatening wound in battle soon thereafter. Neeheeowee literally knew of no Cheyenne or Lakota warrior who had sex before, during, or after a fight.

Which meant that he couldn’t touch Julia, though he knew she would welcome it.

It left him—what? Frustrated, eager for her company, and… He stared down at his body, not really needing to see the physical proof of his desire for her.

Well, he could not become a victim to his flesh. There were some things a man never did. There were some restraints that a man must place upon himself and this, he knew, was one of them.

Stifling a groan, he rose from his position within their evening camp and strode as calmly as possible toward the river, where he hoped the cooling freshness of the water would ease his passion. It was all he could hope for at the moment.

Julia bent down to hand Neeheeowee his bowl of stew where he reclined on the ground, just having returned from a lengthy bath. She saw his gaze move toward the cut of her dress, where a firm outline of her breasts could be seen. She drew in her breath in anticipation, but just as quickly let it out. Neeheeowee had meant what he’d said; he didn’t touch her, he didn’t kiss her, he didn’t even acknowledge her except with his glance, which strangely enough, Julia found focused upon her more and more rather than less and less.

They had been traveling about a week and the country into which they were entering now had become more arid, the prairie more inclined toward the shorter grasses, with long stretches to be found without a single tree in sight. She saw buttes and mesas in the distance, and she knew that soon they would leave the friendly country of the Lakota and Cheyenne for the more hostile hunting grounds of the Pawnee.

She hadn’t realized they would be traveling into the land claimed by the Pawnee. She had assumed the Pawnee still trespassed on Lakota ground, and she shivered at the thought of moving closer and closer to the territory of their enemy.

But she couldn’t complain. Though Neeheeowee ignored her for the most part, despite what he said, she awakened each morning to the feel of his arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly to him, and she gloried in the sensation. If this was all he could give her for now, she would be content with it.

She wasn’t certain why she’d become so intent on accompanying Neeheeowee on his journey. Just what she could do to help him settle this score, she couldn’t even fathom. She had no skill with a gun and less than that with a bow and arrow. And while it was true that she might be more burden than helpful mate, she was determined to change that. She knew she was needed here.

Neeheeowee had faced his nightmares alone for much too long. Now he had her. If he were to perish in this venture, then they would perish together. But if not, if he were to confront these ghosts, then he would have her beside him. And despite the careful teachings from her early life, Julia believed Neeheeowee: her man, her love, was haunted, if not by real people, at least by the past. And Julia knew it was time to do something about it.

She glanced at him now where he sat only a short distance from her.

“Are we close to the Pawnee now?” she asked.

Neeheeowee placed his right hand before him, the back out. He swung it to the right, palm out and thumb out, and then back. Julia frowned, having learned that this was the sign for “no.”

“Will we be there soon?”

He lifted his shoulders and said, “Within five or six days.”

“How will you locate the specific men that you want?”

He held back speaking for a while as though giving his answer much thought. After a short time, he said, “I have spent these last five years determining just who it was that attacked our camp that day. I have made inquiries into many camp circles, some who are friendly with the Pawnee. I know now the men that I seek. I also learned that these men usually hunt or war together. So it should be easy to set a trap and snare them all. It is what I intend to do.”

“I see,” Julia said. “But, you are only one person; how many of
them
are there?”

“Three,” he said. “It will be a fair fight.”

“Ah,” she said. “I know it will be a fair fight, for you are a warrior to contend with, but do you not think you should teach me some skill with a weapon in case I am needed?”

“You will not go near the fight. You will stay way back, guarding the ponies as we agreed.”

“Neeheeowee,” she said, “I still think you should teach me to be of some use.”

He cast her a sulky glance, then he frowned. “Do you know nothing about fighting?”

“No,” she said. “Nothing at all.”

“Eaaa.
I see. You are right,” he said. “You must know something about fighting, for by following me, you may need some skill. I will teach you a little each night and you must practice. But realize that by carrying a weapon, if you do not use it well, that weapon can be turned against you. It is the first thing you must know.”

Julia smiled. “I will remember. I will look forward to our lessons. Is there any other way I can help you to overcome this enemy?”

He smiled. “Yes,” he said, looking meaningfully at her breasts. “Do not tempt me with your body.”

“I do no such thing!”

He chuckled. “You do not have to do a thing, just your being here is enough.” He looked down at himself, his breechcloth already straining against his need. “Do you see?”

Julia caught her lip between her teeth. “There is very little I can do about that.”

Neeheeowee laughed outright. “No, my love,” he said. “There is a great deal you
could
do about it, it is only that we cannot allow such things to happen between us right now.”

“Neeheeowee,” she began, “could we go to sleep tonight with you holding me? No lovemaking, just holding? Is that not allowed?”

He shook his head. “It could be done, I would say, if you looked like a bear and smelled like a rotting buffalo. As it is, though, I would never sleep.”

She chuckled, not missing the backhanded compliment. “But Neeheeowee,” she said, “I wake up each morning with you holding me. I am only asking to go to sleep that way, as well.”

He moaned. “I am afraid it would be painful for me: to have you in my arms, to want you and not be able to take you… I do not know if I am man enough.”

Julia didn’t know what to say to that and Neeheeowee, after putting out the fire, chuckled, lying down to sleep, and, despite what he said, he invited Julia into his arms and into his bed, putting his arms around her and holding her the whole night through.

Evidently, she thought, he was man enough.

She awoke to the sound of Neeheeowee flipping through the parfleches. And though it was dark outside, she could see that once again, a mess lay strewn out all over their camp.

She came up onto one elbow. “What is it you are looking for?”

He glanced over to her, then back toward the bags. “I thought that I had packed more food than this. I do not wish to spend the time this morning hunting for our morning meal. I had hoped to snack on some
wasna
and be on the trail before the sun rises. But if I cannot find this food, it will mean I have to hunt.”

Julia sat up, letting her sleeping robe fall to her waist. “I know where it is.”

He gulped, his attention suddenly diverted to her chest and the parfleche bag he’d been holding fell to the ground.

Julia came up onto her feet, shoving her dress over her head at the same time, and paced over toward Neeheeowee, who, now that she was dressed, seemed to have recovered himself…somewhat.

“I know where the food is,” she said, again. “I’m surprised you do not remember it for it was in a special spot—it looked to me as though you’d hidden it. When I had to repack our things several days ago, I found the food wrapped up within your clothing. I put it back the same way I found it, thinking you had reason to pack it that way. Ah,” she said, “here it is now.” She pulled the food out from underneath clothing.

Neeheeowee stared at it blankly. “I did not pack it this way,” he said.

Julia merely shrugged, but Neeheeowee thrust out his chin. “It is most strange,” he said. “That first day I left camp odd things happened to me. First all my supplies fell off my pack pony and then I became tired, so tired that I took down a blanket from my horse and threw it out on the ground. That is all I remember, except awakening the next morning to find you there and me with a severe headache.”

Julia tilted her head to the side. “Perhaps your water was laced with whiskey?”

“Maybe,” he said. He narrowed his brow and looked at her. “No, I think someone put a medicine into my water or perhaps gave it to me in a drink I had before I left the camp. I think someone cut my rope and someone pierced a hole in my water bag. Julia,” he said, “I believe I have been tricked. Someone went to much trouble to slow me down.” All at once he chuckled. “And whoever it was, did a good job of it.”

Julia gazed over to him. “Why do you laugh if you think this?”

“Because,” he said, “it was done so well and because it means that whoever did it protected you. Someone wanted you to find me. It means someone in the Minneconjou camp cares for you. I am pleased with it. Did you find anything else like this?”

“Yes,”
she said, “I found your moccasins hidden beneath your paint. I thought at the time that it was odd, but I didn’t want to question the way that you arrange your things.”

Again, Neeheeowee grinned. “Show me,” he said, and when she did, she had the pleasure of hearing the deep, resonant beauty of his voice, for Neeheeowee laughed, and Julia after a while, joined in his with a chuckle of her own, their joy in one another’s company extending well into the night.

And when they fell asleep that night, he held her in his arms, Julia deciding there was nothing quite so wonderful as the feeling of his embrace around her. Contented now, she fell asleep.

It came without warning. Just when Neeheeowee thought he couldn’t be happier, it came to him: the dream. He saw his wife and baby again, alive, then dead. He heard their screams, he heard their pleas for pity, he listened to their voices now, demanding retribution.

He moaned in his sleep, he tossed, and cold sweat began to cover his body. He tried to call out to the ghost, he tried to explain about Julia, about the change in his life, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t talk, and she wouldn’t listen.

“Avenge my death,” she said. “Avenge the death of my child.”

It was all she said. It was all she would say. And she would not listen to his thoughts, or to his pleas, silent though they were. She wanted revenge; he was her instrument. She would not let him rest until it happened.

He tried to cry out his frustration, but nothing would come, and, at last, he had no choice, he awoke.

Julia awakened to the feel of Neeheeowee stirring beside her. He groaned in his sleep, his body twisting out of his sleeping robe. She sat up and leaned over, taking him in her arms, but he shrugged her off, reminding Julia that in an Indian culture, a man wanted no sympathy when he showed any sign of weakness. To do such was considered the ultimate of insults.

So she lay back down, listening to the sound of his breathing as it became more and more normal. At last he took a deep breath and shuddered.

“The enemy is close,” he murmured to her after a while. “We will have to be on guard at all times from now on during the day, most of our movements being done at night when there is a moon to guide us.”

“I see,” she said. “How do you know this?”

“I know,” was all he replied.

“Ma,”
Julia let go the Lakota expression. “How far away do you think the enemy is?”

“I am not certain of that. I will scout ahead tomorrow while you stay here well hidden. I will find out where the enemy is so that we can make plans to overtake him.”

Julia nodded in agreement, yet listening to him, envisioning what was to come, she felt her stomach wrench, fear sweeping over her. When she lay back down to rest, she was not at all surprised to find that the sleep which she needed eluded her.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Neeheeowee returned to camp the next day when the sun was at its highest peak. He looked weary, even a little downtrodden.

“They are less than a day’s ride from here,” he said in answer to her unspoken question. “We can intersect with them tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” she repeated. “So soon?”

“Haahe,
yes,” he said. “We will make our plans tonight, for we must take them by surprise. Because they are in their own country, they have become lax and I can use that to my advantage. They will not expect an attack so close to home. And Julia,” he said, looking at her closely, “I will show them no mercy. Expect none.”

Julia looked at him, understanding in her eyes, yet within her heart, she wished it could be different.

As it turned out, there were five of them, not three, and Julia grimaced, shutting her eyes when she discovered it. They were big men, all well armed with lances and bows and arrows, but all right now were asleep. The sun had not yet made its appearance in the sky, and Julia realized she was witnessing the darkness before dawn.