White Shadows (19 page)

“When Dream Walker returns, we will leave and meet the others. Then we will end this.”

Winona stood. She wanted to cry in frustration. Clay refused to believe her. Even if he killed Hoka Luta, he was still in danger from her father.

Clay needed her to act first. Her father knew of Spotted Deer’s dreams, for they’d started again right after her parents—her adoptive parents—had died. She could not let him leave. She had to reach her father first.

When Clay dismissed her concerns by putting Jenny aside so he could stand, she had no choice in what she had to do. Gripping the fist-sized stone in her hand that she’d palmed, she banged Clay on the back of his head.

For a moment he looked stunned; then he slumped over onto Jenny’s lap. Jenny choked on her scream and looked up at Winona in horror.

“He will be all right. His head is harder than the stone. Now come on,” Winona said in a hiss, grabbing Jenny by the hand. She had to get them out of there.

Jenny glanced back at Clay’s unconscious form but didn’t protest. She knew Winona spoke the truth. They had to reach Hawk Eyes first.

“What about Dream Walker?”

Winona didn’t dare look back. If she did she’d never have the courage or the will to leave Clay. “Pray we do not see him or he us. Now hurry. We have to find Father. He is somewhere close by.” She led the way out of the cavern.

Clay woke to a pounding between his ears. Holding his aching head, he struggled to sit. The room spun, threatening to make him pass out again, so he dropped his head between his knees and groaned softly.

What had happened? His searching fingers found a large swelling at the back of his head. Had he been so weak that he’d passed out when he’d tried to stand?

With eyes closed, Clay sought to remember. Dream Walker had returned. And he’d brought Spotted Deer. He remembered hearing the two women talking—he’d been resting, dozing lightly, secure in the knowledge that the woman he loved was close—her voice had soothed him.

Then the dream of Jenny. He must have fallen asleep, for he always remembered his dreams of his sister. But this one had been different. It had seemed so real. And for the first time she’d called him Kaa. He’d heard it. He’d held her; he’d breathed in her scent.

His nostrils flared. The scent was still there. Was he out of his mind with fever? No. He slowly lifted his head. He’d been ready to go outside—to get water. Had he gone out and hurt himself? Turning his head to look around, he moaned as waves of pain shot through his head.

He closed his eyes again and waited for the pain and the sick feeling in his stomach to pass. This time he opened his eyes and kept them focused on the fur he sat on.

Still, his vision refused to focus. It blurred, and all he could see was a blob of red. He blinked but the redness didn’t go away. Slowly he reached out, and to his surprise his fingers closed around a small, hard object. He picked it up and stared at the ruby necklace in the palm of his hand. He felt suddenly lightheaded. This time he fought the weakness, shoved it from him. Slowly his eyes focused on the object in his hand.

Using two hands he pulled the tangled, blackened silver chain apart, finding the broken link. With shaking fingers he brought the warm stone to his lips.

His mother’s necklace. How? He glanced around and spotted a tiny leather pouch on the ground. Picking it up, he brought it to his nose. It carried the same scent as the Jenny he’d dreamed of holding tightly to his chest.

Sucking in a breath, Clay struggled to his feet. It had been no dream. She’d been here. He’d really held her, spoken to her. He remembered all of it. Spotted Deer and Jenny were one and the same.

His sister had been so close all this time. He’d even sat with her family—Winona’s family. But he’d never really noticed her. All his attention had been on Winona and his plan to take her captive.

Turning, he searched for the women. Then spotted the large stone lying where he’d come to. He picked it up and stared at it with disbelief. His arm hurt, his head hurt, but worse, his heart hurt.

Winona had done this to him, and Jenny had allowed it. The two women he loved and needed most were gone. He nearly doubled over from the gut-punch their betrayal caused.

He rushed out of the cavern. He had to find Winona and Jenny. Henry was out there. If Henry Black Bear learned who Spotted Deer was, both women would be dead. Rounding a bend, he ran smack into Dream Walker.

“Night Shadow. My brother. What is wrong?”

“No time. We have to find Winona. And Jenny.”

“You do not look so well.” Dream Walker followed Clay.

“You would not either if you had been bashed on the head with a rock,” he muttered.

Hoka Luta knew how to wait, how to blend and not be seen. They were here somewhere. He’d seen a Cheyenne warrior arrive with Spotted Deer and he’d watched from his high vantage point not far from the towers of granite. They went into the rocky area, but he could not see where they hid. But they were there. He smiled grimly and ran his finger up and down his bow. He would be here when they came out.

So he waited. And watched. He controlled the rage festering in his mind. He kept the past distant. The future was more important. When he spotted movement on the rocks, he smiled. His smile grew wider when he realized that Winona and Spotted Deer had left the safety of their rocky hiding place.

As soon as the two women reached the white rocks, he moved to meet them. He’d learn soon enough what, if anything, they’d been told. The fact that they were alone was a good sign. Had they escaped? Could Winona lead him to Clay Blue Hawk?

He watched them jump down from the rocks onto the soft mat of grass near the edge of the lake. They turned and headed into the trees, toward him.

“Hurry, Spotted Deer.” Winona stopped. “Or should I call you Jenny? I do not know what to you!”

Spotted Deer wrinkled her nose. “I do not either,” she said.

Hearing them speak, Hoka Luta felt his rage build. Jenny? The key to the past, the proof of past deeds, had been so close all this time? And both women knew the truth. This was all wrong.

He clenched his jaw and tightened his hands into fists. Nothing had gone right. He’d been led by Clay Blue Hawk, had found the last message—the demands that Jenny be returned—and when he’d first seen the girls, had thought it was over. All he’d had to do was return the women and accept the gratitude of their family. But things had once again gone wrong. Now he would have to kill both women to keep his past secret. Furious, he forced himself to remain hidden as they walked past. Control. Power. They were still his. He just had to keep a clear. He followed silently. How easy it would be to just take his bow and two arrows and their lives.

But he did not dare. Using his own arrow was too risky. Ahead, the women were in talking low, hushed voices.

“We will figure that out later. Come on. Clay will come after us and he will be very angry.”

“How will we find your father?”

Hoka Luta cut through the trees and stepped into their path. “I will take you to him.” He paused. “The spirits led me here, led me to you both. This will be a day to celebrate.”

Winona and Spotted Deer looked startled, even a bit afraid. Then Winona smiled. “We are indeed fortunate.”

Hoka Luta knew she planned to take her tale to her father. What she did not know was that she would not live to speak of Clay Blue Hawk or his family or his sister, Jenny. Both women were about to die.

Winona stepped in front of Jenny. The appearance of Henry had startled her, but only for a moment. He knew where her father was and could take them right to him. She sent him a relieved smile. “The enemy is behind us. We escaped. Where is my father?”

Hoka Luta pointed to the ridge behind the trees. “He is close. Come, let us go.”

Feeling Jenny’s fingers biting into her arm, Winona knew she didn’t dare go with Henry. It was too risky. She needed her father. “Spotted Deer is ill. She cannot go far. We will hide and wait for him. You can travel faster and bring him before the enemy awakes and we have escaped.”

Hoka Luta appeared concerned. “If your sister is ill, I will carry her.” He reached out toward Jenny.

“N-no, I will walk,” she said in a croak.

Winona felt Jenny’s trembling and feared she’d break down. “She is afraid. Much has happened to her.”

“Surely she is not afraid of the man you will soon be married to?” Hoka Luta lunged and grabbed Jenny’s arm. He laughed when she screamed but quickly held out his knife to silence her.

“She is afraid. Why is that?”

Winona tried to free Jenny but Hoka Luta held her tighter. “Do not be foolish. You cannot hide the truth from me. You know more than you should.”

“What is it I know?” Winona challenged.

Hoka Luta laughed harshly. “You know who I am, what I did. Just as you know I cannot allow either of you to live now.”

He stared down at Jenny. “You have been so close all this time. Too bad. Clay Blue Hawk went to all this trouble to find you, yet you were so close and he did not recognize his own sister.” He laughed when Jenny whimpered.

“Let her go,” Winona demanded. She tried to charge Henry, but he just shoved her away.

“You never were very brave, Jenny.”

Jenny turned to Winona with tears streaming down her face. “Run, Winona. Get Clay—”

Hoka Luta’s harsh voice stopped her. “I do not think so. If Winona runs, you will die,” he said, bringing his knife to her throat.

Winona swallowed hard and stood still. Jenny’s eyes begged her to go, to save herself. She shook her head. “I will not leave you.”

Another satisfied laugh came from Hoka Luta. “Ah, that is better. Now move. Stay in front where I can see you.”

Knowing she had no choice, Winona did as told. She led the way, following Henry’s instructions. As they continued to climb, Winona grew more worried. “You will not get away with this. Clay will come.”

Henry laughed. “He will not arrive in time. You two will die, and if Clay Blue Hawk comes he too will die. Your father will believe that he killed you, or that the two of you jumped to your deaths. Either by my hand or your father’s, he will die.”

Winona continued to climb. When they reached the narrow ridge she stared down at the steep rocky slope on the other side. She swallowed her fear.

“Why do you hate Clay? It was your father who killed his father. He was only defending his mother. You know the truth.”

Hoka Luta stopped. “Yes, I know the truth,” he bit out.

She had to stall him. “Then tell me. Convince me that you were justified in your actions.” She saw movement down below. To her shock, Clay stepped out of the trees directly below them.

“Henry Black Bear!”

Henry whipped around and used Jenny as a shield. “Clay Blue Hawk. At last. Come join us.”

“No, Clay,” Winona cried out.

Clay held his ground. “Let the women go. This fight is between us.”

“Ah, Clay Blue Hawk, you are wrong. There is no fight. You will all die.” He took a couple of steps back, dragging Jenny with him.

“Come join your sister. Prepare to die.” He held Jenny tightly before him.

Winona knew Jenny was paralyzed with fear. That left her—she had to do something. But what? Seeing Clay starting to climb up to join them, she shook her head. “No, Clay, stay away.”

He ignored her. Sweat shone on his chest and back and dripped down the sides of his face. He looked pale. He had to have been in pain yet when he met her gaze she only saw black anger there. Winona swallowed. If they got out of this alive, she’d have some explaining to do. She just hoped he’d forgive her.

“Move to the edge,” Hoka Luta instructed Winona.

She moved closer to Clay.

Hoka Luta reached out with one hand and yanked hard on a strand of hair. “Not that way. Here. Over here.” He pointed to the opposite side with the tip of his knife.

Winona moved slowly and stared down at the long, rocky slope. “You think I will jump?”

Laughing, Henry nodded toward the lake on the same side of the ridge as Clay. “You will jump—and before your father arrives.”

Seeing her father moving along the lake, Winona felt nothing but fear. All Henry had to do was get rid of them, and if Clay was still alive it would be his word against Henry’s. Clay didn’t stand a chance.

“You will not get away with this,” she said, hoping to stall. Please, she begged the spirits. Let her father spot her alive and know the truth.

Henry held the knife tip to Jenny’s throat “Now move. We do not have much time.”

Winona saw Jenny’s eyes widen, then narrow. “No,” she said to Winona. “If you jump I will never forgive you. If I must die, so be it. But not you—” Her protest died when Henry yanked her head back and drew a bead of blood.

“I can cut her throat and still shove you over. I have nothing to lose.”

Sick to her stomach, Winona knew Jenny was right. No matter what she did, they would both die, and so would Clay. She glanced at Clay. What were they going to do? She tried to get him to meet her gaze but he kept his eyes trained on Henry.

Where was Dream Walker? Where were his other friends?

Where was her father? Beneath her feet she felt the rocky ground crumble.

Seeing Eyes, White Wind and the two boys were hidden down in the trees, watching the drama unfold. Afraid, Seeing Eyes didn’t know what to do. Her husband was not here.

He’d left the women behind to go search the lake area one more time. Seeing Eyes’s visions meant that their daughters were there, somewhere. Seeing Eyes had wanted to go with him, but he’d refused to take her. And no sooner had he been gone than another vision had come to her.

She knew there was no time to wait for her husband to return, so she and White Wind had drugged the two warriors left to guard them. After several long hours of searching, she finally spotted the rocky ridge she’d seen in several visions.

Beside her, Striking Thunder whispered, “I will go save them.”

Her heart nearly stopped. “No, child. You must stay here.”

“I can sneak close. I am small.”

“Then what would you do, my grandson?”

He held up his small bow. “I will shoot him.”

“You have not shot at a man before.” She didn’t dare allow him to go. She glanced over at her daughter-in-law, who was biting her lower lip.

The boy squared his narrow shoulders. “My aim is true. Those are my aunts. My father and grandfather are not here. It is my duty.” With that he stepped away, dodging his mother and grandmother as they tried to grab him.

“Oh, heavens,” White Wind said. “We are going to hear of this.” She reached down to hold back her younger son. “You have no bow and arrow.”

White Wolf looked grim. “I will go find my father and grandfather and bring them quickly.” Then he too slipped away.

White Wind let him go. “Big trouble, my mother.”

Seeing Eyes held her gaze. “You are right, daughter. But I am proud of my grandsons.”

White Wind started forward. Seeing Eyes followed. “Where are you going?”

“You do not think I am going to just sit here, do you?”

Seeing Eyes groaned. She’d have some explaining to do, but she’d come this far. She could not just sit here and hope that her husband arrived in time to save their daughters.