Savage Summer (26 page)

“Come to me,” Wolfrunner ordered. “The longer you wait, the harder it will be.”

Danielle took a deep breath and quickly placed the smooth end of the spear on the ground. Without allowing herself time to think, she swung her body forward.

As soon as her feet left the ground, she felt the spear slip and knew she hadn’t cleared the stream! Frantically reaching out, she tried to grasp Wolfrunner’s hand but failed. She landed in the water, and the swirling force carried her toward the edge of the mountain!

Danielle could hear Wolfrunner’s voice calling out to her as the edge of the cliff yawned in front of her. Before she
could cry out, she was washed over the side and seemed to be suspended in the air for what seemed an eternity.

Danielle knew that if she didn’t save herself, she would be carried to her death in the deep crevice below. Reaching out her hand, she grabbed hold of a bush that grew out of the side of the mountain. Gripping it tightly, she held on with all her strength. The force of the water seemed to tear at her—she could feel her hands slipping. With a strength she didn’t know she possessed, she held on and swung her legs around so they touched on the ledge that jutted out above the crevice. When she felt the tip of her feet touch solid rock, she pushed herself forward and dropped down to the ledge.

Danielle’s whole body felt bruised and battered, but she was alive! Hearing Wolfrunner call out to her, she lifted her head and saw him peering down at her.

“Are you hurt?” he cried out.

She stood up slowly and gazed up at him. She was still too shaken to speak.

“Do not move. I will come down to you,” he called out. He needn’t have worried; at the moment she was too scared to move. Glancing over the ledge, she knew she had narrowly escaped death. Fear made her body tremble. Had she gone over the side, she would have been dashed on the rocks below.

Suddenly she remembered the baby rabbit, Cottontail. Earlier she had placed her in the fold of her skirt. Now she was gone! Dropping to her knees, she looked over the side of the ledge. She cried out in pain as she saw the tiny furry body that had been dashed on the rocks below. Tears blinded her as she buried her face in her hands. She had loved the rabbit because Wolfrunner had given it to her. But for the grace of God, she, too, would now be lying on the rocks below.

She rose to her feet and stared at Wolfrunner. His dark eyes were clearly visible, and she read the same fear in his eyes. Why should he care if she had met her death? Had she
died, he would be rid of her. In that instant she realized that he had only saved her in the first place to impress Windhawk. He didn’t really care about her.

She was about to voice that thought when she saw movement above Wolfrunner. It was Scar Face! He had his battle axe poised, ready to strike the unsuspecting Wolfrunner!

Her voice seemed ripped from her throat. “Wolfrunner, behind you!” she screamed.

She watched helplessly as Wolfrunner turned over on his back and assessed the danger immediately. He quickly grabbed the hand that held the battle axe. For a long moment the two men struggled at the edge of the cliff in a life-and-death struggle. Danielle could do no more than hold her breath and look on helplessly. After a time the two men were on their feet and had moved out of Danielle’s view.

Without pausing to think, Danielle started the long and difficult climb to the top. Fear for the man she loved wiped out any thoughts of danger to herself. She used roots, rocks, and anything she could to gain a hand-hold. She was unaware that her hands were cut and bleeding from the sharp stones. Several times her foot slipped on the upward climb, but that didn’t deter her. All she could think of was that Scar Face might kill Wolfrunner, and she had to try and help him.

As she made her way to the top of the cliff, she felt burning anger toward Scar Face. He was a savage—an animal who preyed on others to satisfy his lust for revenge. She prayed she could reach the top before he harmed Wolfrunner.

Pulling herself up to the top, she watched the struggle that was going on between the two men. They were locked in a struggle of strength, and she knew it wouldn’t end until one of them was dead. Neither man seemed aware of her as they each battled for supremacy over the other.

Wolfrunner seemed to have the superior strength, but Scar Face had the weapon. A scream escaped her lips as the Piegan warrior swung wide, catching Wolfrunner across the
shoulder. Blood flowed freely down Wolfrunner’s arm, and he fell to his knees. Scar Face took advantage of Wolfrunner’s momentary weakness and hit him with the butt of his battle axe, sending him sprawling backward. Scar Face then leaped on top of Wolfrunner and raised his axe to strike the final blow!

Danielle knew she must do something quickly or Wolfrunner would die! In her panic, her foot struck a hard object and she looked down to find Wolfrunner’s spear lying on the ground. Picking it up, she aimed it at Scar Face’s back, hoping her aim would be true. She knew she wouldn’t get a second chance, so the first one had to count.

Throwing all her weight into the thrust, she watched and prayed as the spear sailed through the air. She had not been trained to fight as a Blackfoot maiden might have been, so she had very little faith in her ability to hit the mark she had aimed for.

Her heart was drumming in her ears as she watched the spear enter Scar Face’s back. He seemed to freeze at the moment of impact. Then he turned slowly to gaze at Danielle with a puzzled expression on his face. Staggering to his feet, Scar Face stumbled toward Danielle with his battle axe now aimed at her.

Danielle’s eyes were wide with fear as he slowly advanced on her. There was nowhere to run. Behind her was the swift stream that had carried her over the edge of the cliff earlier, and Scar Face blocked her front exit. Helplessly she waited for him to draw near. His weapon was poised in the air, but he never launched the missile. Falling to his knees, he muttered something in the Blackfoot language. His eyes glazed over and blood flowed from his mouth. Tears of relief stung Danielle’s eyes as Scar Face pitched forward, his body twitched, and lay still.

Gathering up all her courage, Danielle walked toward him slowly. It was all she could do to force herself to touch the man who was her enemy. She jerked the axe from his hand and stepped back. There was little doubt in Danielle’s
mind that Scar Face was dead, for his blank eyes stared at the sun without seeing it.

Today she had committed murder, but she wasn’t sorry. She would kill a hundred men like Scar Face if it was to save Wolfrunner’s life.

Turning her gaze to Wolfrunner, she ran quickly to him. Going down on her knees, she took his hand in hers. His eyes were glazed with pain and blood was freely flowing from his shoulder. She didn’t know how badly he was wounded, but at least he still lived.

“I…owe you my life…” he whispered. “Can…not seem to move.”

“We are even now,” she answered. “From this moment forward, neither of us owes the other anything.”

Wolfrunner tried to rise, but he was too weak and fell backward into unconsciousness. She leaned forward to examine his wound. She knew she would have to do something to stop the flow of blood or he might bleed to death. His head wound didn’t appear to be serious, but she didn’t know about the other wounds.

Danielle tore a strip from her skirt and plunged it into the stream. She could do nothing beyond cleansing and bandaging the wound. She prayed that would be enough.

Danielle raised him up and rested his head in her lap to make him more comfortable. How strange it seemed for him to be so still. He had always been so full of life. Her hand rested against his cheek. She loved this man beyond anything she could imagine. Today she had killed so he might live. Surely God wouldn’t take Wolfrunner away from her now. She didn’t know how long she sat there holding his head in her lap, but the evening shadows were creeping across the mountain when she finally decided she had to do something.

Gently lying Wolfrunner’s head down, Danielle stood up. Her legs felt stiff and cramped from sitting so long in one position. Knowing she had to move him away from the edge of the cliff, she took Wolfrunner’s arms, pulling and tugging
with all her strength. Danielle made slow progress, but at last the deed was accomplished and he was safely against the face of the mountain.

As night began to fall, Danielle could hear the eerie sound of howling wolves in the distance. Gripping the axe tightly, she hoped her courage wouldn’t be tested further. It had turned colder—a chilling wind blew down the mountainside. Lying down beside Wolfrunner, she curled up against his body, trying to keep him warm.

“You cannot die,” she cried. “I will not allow you to. A brave warrior should not die at the hands of a coward.”

All through the night, Wolfrunner didn’t stir. Danielle held him, loving him with her whole heart. Deep inside she knew that a man with his strength and courage couldn’t die so easily. She would hold on to him, and by sheer will keep the flame of life burning within him.

When morning came, Danielle had fallen asleep from exhaustion. She wasn’t aware when Wolfrunner sat up and looked around. His eyes rested on Scar Face who lay facedown with the spear sticking out of his back. His dark eyes then moved to the lovely face of the woman he loved. Danielle had saved his life! He didn’t know how she had accomplished it, but then, did not the blood of chiefs run in her veins?

His hand gently brushed a tress of hair from her face. Surely she had been meant to be his woman. Why had the Great One placed her out of reach for him? He would never be allowed to step over the line to take an Indian princess as his bride. Wolfrunner knew he would have to be content to live on memories of the many days and nights he had spent with Danielle.

Sky Dancer turned her face to the sun and felt its warming rays. The very air she breathed was reviving her spirit and filling her with a renewed sense of belonging. She and her Uncle Tag had been traveling in Blackfoot country for two days—she was almost home. But would it still be home to her?

Her eyes drank in the beauty of the green grasses, the mountains, and the rivers. She was coming home to be reborn. This was where she drew her strength. This was where she would finally heal her mind and spirit.

Tag moved his mount closer to Sky Dancer’s and she noticed his hand was resting on his rifle. Her keen hearing picked the sounds of riders, and she watched as a dozen warriors topped the hill in front of them.

In a split second, Sky Dancer knew they were warriors from her own tribe. Her heart lightened, and she nudged her horse forward to join them. Riding up the hill with the wind on her face, she felt joy ripple through her heart.

When she drew even with the leader, she drew up her mount. Smiling brightly, Sky Dancer looked up at Gray Fox, her father’s best friend. “Has there been any word of Danielle?” she asked hurriedly, wishing with all her heart that her cousin had been found unharmed.

Gray Fox looked at Tag with sorrow in his eyes. “We have found no trace of your daughter, Night Falcon. Your sister, Flaming Hair, sent me to ride with you to the village. Windhawk would have come, but he is out searching for your daughter.”

It had been many months since Tag had been called by his Blackfoot name, and it seemed strange to him. “It is good to see you, old friend,” he said, speaking in the Blackfoot language. “How far to the village?”

“We will be there tomorrow,” Gray Fox told him.

“Let us go forward with haste,” Tag said, spurring his horse forward with an urgency, knowing the others would follow his lead.

That night they made camp in the pine forest. They were in the heart of Blackfoot country, so there was no need to fear an enemy would come upon them in the night. This was Windhawk’s land, and rarely did the Blackfoot’s enemies cross into his territory.

Tag was talking to a group of warriors, and Sky Dancer walked away from camp. Her eyes drank in the beauty of the forest. She quietly watched the abundant animal life that thrived in the woods. Across a small meadow, she watched a doe and its fawn drinking from a stream. There were no town noises here to distract one from the serenity—there was only peace and beauty. The other world, the white man’s world, was a lifetime away.

“It lightens my heart to look upon your face once more, Sky Dancer,” Gray Fox said, coming out of the shadows. “It was not the same with you away.”

She smiled at her father’s war chief. Gray Fox and Windhawk had grown to manhood together. He had always been a part of her life, and she had missed him.

“I am home to stay, Gray Fox.” She moved her hands to indicate the countryside. “This is where I belong.”

“All will be glad that you have returned. Your mother needs you right now.”

Sky Dancer watched the softness that came into Gray Fox’s eyes when he spoke of her mother. She had always suspected that the war chief secretly loved her mother. “This is a sad homecoming. My heart is heavy that my grandmother no longer walks the earth, and I am so frightened at what might have happened to Danielle.”

“Everything has stopped at the village. The warriors no longer hunt the buffalo because Windhawk wanted all available warriors to search for your cousin. I do not think
it is a good sign that we have not yet found any trace of her.”

“What do you think could have happened to her, Gray Fox?” Sky Dancer questioned.

Gray Fox raised his hands in a hopeless gesture. “It is hard to say. You know Windhawk has many enemies. The man who took your cousin must have planned carefully, perhaps for years. We have come to think whoever took her thought that they had taken you.”

Sky Dancer’s eyes widened in horror. “Poor Danielle. I am grieved that she should be mistaken for me. She has soft manners and is not accustomed to the Indian ways. I wish…I wish she could be found quickly. I will not allow myself to think that Danielle is…dead.”

Gray Fox watched the lovely face of his princess. Deep in his heart he couldn’t help but be grateful that Sky Dancer was not the one who had disappeared. Joanna was grieving now, but if she had lost Sky Dancer, her heart would break. In Gray Fox’s heart, anything that hurt Joanna also ripped him apart on the inside. He had loved her in silence for many summers. No one knew that he felt great love for the wife of his best friend, his chief. Gray Fox would carry that secret with him until he died.

He reached out and took Sky Dancer’s arm. “Come, you must get some sleep. The hour grows late, and tomorrow we shall ride hard all day. I made a promise to your mother that I would look after you.”

Sky Dancer nodded. Tomorrow she would be home but everything was different now—she was different. She could hardly wait to be with her mother and father. They didn’t have to know she would never come all the way home. Sky Dancer would never tell them that she’d left a part of herself behind with Morgan Prescott.

The next afternoon it was a grim party that crossed the Milk River and rode into the Blackfoot village.

When the people saw Sky Dancer and Tag, they rushed
forward to greet them. Happy faces smiled at their returning princess. Many hands reached out to touch her with affection. There were many who sadly welcomed Tag home, knowing his mission was not a happy one. He had once been a part of this tribe and was still held in high regard.

Sky Dancer’s eyes were fixed on the big lodge in the center of the village where her mother and father waited. This was not to be the happy homecoming Sky Dancer had hoped for. There was too much sadness that hung heavily in the air.

As Sky Dancer drew even with her parents, her father reached up and pulled her into his arms. He said nothing as he held her tightly to him, but Sky Dancer knew that he was happy she was home. Joanna rushed to her brother and was enfolded in his embrace. The tribe members, knowing of the sadness that would be in the chief’s lodge this day, went to their own tipis, not wanting to intrude on their sorrow.

As Joanna drew her daughter into her arms, her eyes were wet with tears. “I have missed you sorely, my daughter. It is good that you are home.”

Sky Dancer gazed at her beautiful mother with an aching heart. There were so many things that she needed to share with her mother, but now was not the time. “I never want to leave again, my mother,” she said, feeling that she had come home at last.

As the four of them entered the lodge, a silence settled over the village. There would be no ceremonies of welcome for the returning princess tonight. There would be only sadness in the chief’s lodge.

Windhawk and Tag had ridden out with several warriors. They had decided to go to the Piegan Blackfoot village, which was three days away. Windhawk would now enlist the brother tribe in the search for Danielle.

Night had fallen—Sky Dancer and her mother were talking quietly while Joanna told her daughter about the death of
Sun Woman. They both cried softly for the loss of the woman they had loved so dearly.

As they drank the tea Alexandria had sent to Joanna, Sky Dancer talked of her life in Philadelphia. “There is happy news in all this sorrow, my mother. My uncle and aunt are expecting a baby.”

Joanna smiled. “I know. Tag told me.” Joanna searched the face of her daughter. There was something different about her, a deep kind of sadness, and she knew it had nothing to do with Sun Woman’s death or Danielle’s disappearance.

“You are troubled, my daughter. Would you like to talk about what is bothering you?”

Violet-colored eyes met violet-colored eyes. “I wasn’t going to tell you about what happened to me in Philadelphia, Mother. I thought it would not be right to talk of my troubles when there is so much sadness here.”

Joanna pulled her daughter to her. “I will always want to hear what is bothering you, no matter what. Can you talk about it now?”

Sky Dancer again met her mother’s gaze. “I have met a man called Morgan Prescott. He is a doctor and an officer in the United States Cavalry.”

Joanna pushed a tumbled tress of ebony hair out of her daughter’s face. “Are you telling me that you have some deep feelings for this man?”

Sky Dancer’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes, I love him. I never thought it was possible to love anyone the way I do Morgan. You never told me that love could hurt so much, my mother.” Sky Dancer had kept her feelings bottled up for so long that they now came out in a rush.

Joanna held her daughter while Sky Dancer told her about herself and Morgan Prescott. Her heart felt heavy that her lovely sweet Sky Dancer should have met with ugliness and prejudice. “Cry all you want to,” she said soothingly, rocking her daughter back and forth as if she were a baby.

Joanna had come to the same conclusion that her brother had earlier. It had been a mistake to separate the two girls from their worlds. She had no words of comfort to give Sky Dancer. All she could do was hold her and feel her pain in the depths of her own heart.

When they reached St. Louis, Morgan followed Farley’s direction and exchanged his blue uniform for a buckskin shirt and trousers. The old trapper had wisely pointed out that in his uniform he would be a sitting target for every Indian in the territory.

As they made their way across the seemingly neverending prairies toward the great wilderness area, Morgan began to experience a way of life that he never dreamed existed. He began to enjoy Farley’s wit and humor and to realize that there was a highly intelligent man behind the bushy hair and colorful manner of speech.

They rode hard and made good time. Often they would be in the saddle before sunup and ride until long after dark. Farley knew the country so well they would sometimes ride on with only the moonlight to guide them.

A few days after they left Fort Leavenworth, Morgan set his sights on the tall mountains in the distance. His heart grew lighter each day, knowing he was getting closer to the woman he loved. He didn’t know what he would say to Sky Dancer when he saw her, but he hoped he could convince her to be his wife. First, he would have to prove to her that he was sorry for his rash statements about the Indians—that would be the hard part. She might never forgive him.

They were camped by a small stream and Farley handed Morgan a cup of his thick coffee. Over the weeks Morgan had become accustomed to the strong brew with the coffee grounds floating in it, and even welcomed it now.

“How many more days until we get to Blackfoot Country, Farley?”

The old man leaned back against his saddle and smiled. “You ask me that near every day.”

“Do I? I wasn’t aware of it.”

“We’ll sleep in Blackfoot Country tomorrow night,” the old man said, pulling his wide-brimmed hat down over his eyes. “I’m gonna get some shut-eye. You might want to douse that fire and keep your eyes peeled. This here’s Arapaho land, and they ain’t none too friendly to white folk.”

“Farley, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I am puzzled by something. How can it be that Danielle and Skyler look so much alike.”

The old man sat up and eyed the young man. “ ’Cause Tag was married to a Blackfoot princess, Morning Song, when he was younger, and Danielle was their daughter.”

“I didn’t know. What happened to Danielle’s mother?”

“She were killed by white men. She were also Windhawk’s only sister.”

“What is Skyler’s mother like? I have seen her portrait hanging in the Jameses’ house. She was very lovely.”

The old man sighed wearily, knowing he wouldn’t get much sleep tonight, since Morgan was in a talking mood. “In the first place Sky Dancer don’t want to be called Skyler no more. And I don’t know how to tell you ’bout Joanna. She ain’t like no one you’ve ever seed afore. I think I’ll just wait and let you judge her fer yourself.”

“I am trying to figure out why a well-brought-up young lady like Tag’s sister would turn her back on her way of life and live as an Indian.”

“You are making the mistake so many folk make. You think the way you live is the only, and best, way. That just ain’t so. There is a strong peacefulness and brotherhood among the Blackfoot. They take care of one another. When you meet Windhawk, you’ll be meeting more than a man. You’ll be meeting up with a legend. He is…Windhawk!”

“I keep trying to envision the kind of life Sky Dancer has led. It was apparent to me that she was very well educated. Her manners are above reproach, her speech impeccable. I
realized when I first saw her that she was different from all other young ladies I had ever met.”

“Sky Dancer owes her manners and her education to her ma. Joanna always insisted that she know about both the Indian and the white world. I knowed she wasn’t too happy in the white world. You may just have to face the fact that she won’t go with you. I think I should warn you that there is unhappiness in the Blackfoot village. Danielle has disappeared.”

“Danielle is staying with the Blackfoot?” Morgan said in amazement. It was hard for him to visualize the spoiled girl he’d always known living among the Indians.

“We don’t knowed where she is. That’s why her pa and Sky Dancer had to return to the village. Now douse that fire and let me get some sleep,” Farley said, rolling over to his back to indicate their conversation was at an end.

Morgan threw dirt on the campfire, and then settled down to ponder the old man’s words. Somehow, someway, he had to convince Skyler of his love for her.

As he listened to the stream washing over the rocks, he felt an urgency within himself. All he wanted to do was take Skyler in his arms and tell her how sorry he was for hurting her. Would she ever be happy living in his world? he wondered. Could he convince her that they would overcome any obstacle that stood in their path?

He picked up his rifle to make sure it was loaded, then leaned his back against a tree. What a strange twist his life had taken. He had been forced to rethink much of what he had been taught. He was ashamed that he had condemned a whole race of people just because they were different from himself.