Simply Heaven (7 page)

"I didn't think Indians worried about things like that. Most of the ones I've seen are half-naked. That shirt you've got on is way too big for you anyway. You' 're bound to be miserable with all that cloth wadded up around you."

"No. I'm fine."
Dear Lord, make him stop!

"What's the matter?" he teased. "Ashamed of your scrawny body? Come on. There's just us, and it doesn't make a damn to me what you look like naked."

Yes, it would
, she thought with panic,
oh, yes, it would.

"Does he have a family?" she repeated, feeling desperate now, fighting to keep her voice even and deep.

Steve gave up. If the boy wanted to hide his body and swelter, so be it. "His wife is dead. He has a son and daughter." No need to explain Lisbeth and Julius weren't really Ned's. He was only making conversation to pass the time.

Raven fumed inwardly. So he had married. That was why he had not kept his promise. Maybe all along he had a wife and children and had just used her mother to help him get well so he could go back to them.

"It's my turn to ask questions," Steve said, suddenly curious about a few things himself. There was something weird about the boy, like the way he wore heavy clothes in the hottest weather and allowed his hair to fall down as if he didn't want anyone to see his face. "How is that you speak such good English? How old are you anyway—fifteen? Sixteen?"

"Eighteen. Before my parents died, I was educated at a mission school." That was true, but there was no need to add that Seth had also taught her to speak his language flawlessly.

"So why don't you do something with your life besides go around smelling like a horse and letting your hair grow down over your face like a wild animal? Get some clothes that fit and take a bath. The way you look, you're never going to find a wife."

"I... I don't want a wife," Raven said shakily. He was really upsetting her now.

"Well, I can understand that. I don't either. But what about a woman in your bed once in a while? Even a whore likes a man who's halfway clean. When's the last time you had a bath?"

"I bathe," she replied chokily. "You just don't see me."

"You really baffle me, Little Crow. Why are you so ashamed for anybody to see you naked? A man is a man, for God's sake. It doesn't matter if you aren't big in certain places. Hell, I've always thought that was ridiculous anyway. It's not a man's size down there that matters to a woman, and —"

"Can't you find something else to talk about?" Raven could feel beads of perspiration running down her cheeks and swiped at them, seeing the grime on her fingers and knowing her face would be streaked.

Steve was wickedly enjoying how the banter made the boy squirm. Obviously, he was not experienced in the ways of manhood. "I'll wager you've never even had a woman, have you? Well, I'll tell you what I'm going to do for you. Surely there are some whores on the reservation—women willing to give you a tumble for a few dollars. I'm going to make you a present of one when this is over. I'll have you bed you down for a whole week with the wildest little filly we can find. She'll make you so glad to be a man you'll want to run around naked and show off your—"

"Shut up!" Raven cried, kneeing the mustang into a gallop. She would not listen anymore. In the past, when the scouts or soldiers would say such risqué things she had just gone away. Here, it was different. She could not escape.

Steve did not immediately catch up. He was too lost in thought, wondering what caused Little Crow to be like he was. Something had sure made him shy, and he needed to get over it if he was ever going to make anything of himself, especially since he could speak English so well. And while the men at the fort seemed to regard him highly when it came to horses, he didn't need to hide in the shadows of a stable the rest of his life. It was also wrong for him to go around so dirty and unkempt all the time. Steve made up his mind that before their time together ended, he would try to reach him, somehow, and make him understand all that.

Raven saw Diablo was working up a lather, which he didn't need in the sweltering weather. Spotting a creek up ahead, she reined him in to drink.

Steve followed. He was thirsty himself, and, after splashing cool water over his chest and face, he put his shirt back on, because he could feel his skin starting to burn.

"That's a nice horse," he said, making his first attempt to ease the tension between them. "Where did you get him?"

Raven experienced a rush of pride. She was only too glad to talk about Diablo. "He was rounded up and brought in to the reservation. I knew right away he was special, because the best riders tried to break him and couldn't. The braves were getting angry and threatening to beat him to break his spirit, but the Indian agent would not allow it. He said it was wrong to beat a horse into submission."

"I certainly go along with that."

She was glad he felt the same. "The agent decided that the man who could ride him without whipping him would own him."

"And you were the one to do it?"

Raven smiled. "Just because I'm little doesn't mean I can't ride. Besides, that had nothing to do with it."

He was amused. "Really? Then how
did
you break his spirit?"

"I didn't." She wished she could look at Steve full in the face and see his reaction but did not dare. Keeping her head turned, as though watching Diablo drink, she explained, "He still has his spirit, because he sensed that it wasn't my intention to take it away from him, and that I was determined he wouldn't take mine from me. We understood each other. We still do. And that's the way it should be for animals and humans, to give each to the other without taking anything away."

Steve was impressed and could well understand what Captain Puckett had meant when he said Little Crow seemed to have an uncanny way with horses.

"Would you like to try to ride him?" Raven could not resist challenging.

If what the boy said about the horse was true, Steve was not about to give him the satisfaction of seeing him thrown. "No, thanks. I've known horses like that. As a matter of fact, Mr. Ralston has one that nobody has ever ridden except him. The horse has almost killed anybody that tried. He threw one man up against the barn and broke his shoulder and tried to trample another one. But he's never thrown Mr. Ralston. Who knows? Maybe he's got the same gift you have."

Raven felt a chill to think the ability she was so proud of might actually have been handed down by the father she loathed.

Since Little Crow seemed to be warming up a little, Steve wanted to keep the rapport between them growing. He began to explain the attributes of the racking horses. "Starfire is a stud. He's sired some real beauties, and—"

Suddenly, a demoniacal shriek ripped through the air, and they whipped about to see the Indian running toward them. He had dropped from an outcrop bordering the creek, where he had been hiding.

Steve reached for his gun, but Raven was faster, grabbing his wrist and whispering, "Don't." Steve had seen the rifle the Indian was pointing with his right hand and figured to drop him before he could pull the trigger. Now he condemned Raven with a fiery glance for ruining his chance.

Raven saw he was a Lipan Apache, dressed in breechclout, leggings, and moccasins. The hair on the left side of his head had been cut off even with the top of his ear, and the hair on his right side hung to his waist. He was a large man, and only a trace of warpaint was still on his face, but nonetheless it made him look fierce. Noting the strip of bloodied rabbit fur wrapped around a wound on his left arm, she had a good idea of why he was alone and how they happened to stumble upon him and quickly explained to Steve. "He's been shot, probably during a raid, and lost his horse. The other braves had to leave him behind, so he's hiding here, near the water, hoping they'll come back for him. Let me try to talk to him. Keep your hand away from your gun."

Grimly, Steve argued, "If I do, he's going to kill both of us."

"If he wanted us dead, we already would be, but he didn't shoot for fear he might hit the horses, and the horses are what he's after, so he can get out of here and try to catch up with his band. Now he's probably wondering whether he can get both of us before one of us gets him, because he's only got the full use of one arm."

"Then try to get his attention so I can make my move. I won't miss."

"Gunfire will bring the others if they're anywhere near." She focused on the Lipan and swallowed against fear. Seth had not only insisted she learn to speak English well, he had also made sure she understood the language of all the Plains tribes. Now she was grateful that he had, for it might be the only chance to save them.

Speaking in the Lipan tongue, she began. "Your women did not have a victory dance when their men returned to your camp last night. But if you will listen to me and do as I say, tonight they will chant while you undergo the Lipan ceremony to cleanse you from the contamination of the enemy." She knew of the tradition of his people.

While still wary, his expression softened, but only a little. "How is it that you know the ways of my people and speak our language? You are not Lipan. And why do you wear the blue leg pants of the pony soldier?" He nodded scornfully to her clothes.

"I work as a scout, but I am Tonkawa, and I know how my people and yours have always had peace between them. I also know of how your great Lipan chief helped us many years ago when there was much trouble with the white chief, Sam Houston. I have always considered the Lipan Apaches my friends, and it will bring much grief to my people, and shame to you and yours, if you harm either me or my companion."

The Lipan sneered. "You care about the life of a white man?"

"Once he saved mine," she lied, then added, "as I am trying to save yours now."

He hooted. "Save
my
life? I am not the one in danger. As you can see, I hold a long gun."

"And if you fire it, the soldiers will hear and come, because they are not far away. You see, my friend is also a scout, and we rode ahead of the soldiers.

Steve growled under his breath, "What's going on? How do you two find so much to talk about, for God's sake? Just get him out of here, or so help me I'm going for my gun and blast him to hell."

"Be patient. If you make a move for that gun, we're both dead." To the Lipan, she said, "Let me help you. Take my pony and go quickly, before the soldiers get here."

The Lipan was still leery. "It is the bluecoats you help. That makes you a traitor to your people."

"No." Fighting to keep her knees from knocking together, Raven managed to smirk. "I lead the army in circles and make them look like fools, as I am doing now. Why else would I tell you they are close by?"

He matched her smirk with one of his own. "To save your life."

"Perhaps. But if you heed my warning, you will save your own. Now go. Quickly." She motioned to Diablo. "He is faster than the white man's horse."

The Lipan thought a moment and decided the Tonkawa was right. It was best there be no shooting. With a nod towards Steve, he ordered, "I do not trust him. Bring me his gun. Hold it backward, pointed toward you."

Raven braced herself. The Lipan might laugh in her face for asking, but she had to try. "If I help you, if I hand over his gun to you, will you swear on the souls of your children that you will not harm either of us?"

He gave a slow but sure nod.

Raven breathed easier. She knew the Lipans did not give their word easily, and when they did it was kept. But convincing Steve was another matter. "Please listen to me carefully. He wants me to give him your gun."

"No way." Steve kept his eyes on the Lipan.

"You have to let me take it. If you don't, he's going to kill us both."

"Are you crazy? He's going to do that anyway once he has my gun."

"No, he won't. He gave his word. He won't harm us."

"And you believe him?"

"Yes. And you have to believe me when I say this is the only way."

"This is what I get for depending on a boy," Steve grumbled as he handed his gun over to Little Crow to carry it to the Lipan.

The Lipan, meeting Steve's steely gaze, ordered Raven to get a rope and tie him. "I have a bad arm, as you can see, and he might try to attack me as I mount. But you are scrawny. I do not worry about you." He snickered.

Doggedly, Raven took the loop of rope hanging from the saddle on Steve's horse.

Shaking with fury, Steve said between tightly clenched teeth, "If I get out of this mess, so help me I'm going to break your neck with my bare hands, Little Crow. I should have known you'd turn traitor. Hell, why don't you ride on out of here with him? Indians are all alike anyway."

"Trust me." She quickly bound his hands behind his back.

Steve bit back a torrent of curses amid a sudden flare of hope as he saw the Lipan walk toward the mustang, "Did you tell him to ride Diablo?" It seemed prudent to whisper, even if the Lipan could not understand English.

Raven nodded proudly, fighting to keep a stern expression on her face, rather than grin in anticipation of what was about to happen.

"Then untie me," he cried, struggling futilely against the rope. "I can grab him when Diablo throws him. Why did you tie me so tight, damn it?"