Enchanted Ecstasy (5 page)

Kane obeyed and followed her across the camp to the big teepee that Mangas had entered only moments before.

Inside, Kane saw the huge buffalo robes that covered the floor, and he was immediately impressed with the cleanliness of the teepee. He had also observed earlier how neat and clean the women and children appeared. It did not fit what he had been told about Indians.

Mangas was seated with his legs folded. He motioned for Maleaha to sit beside him and indicated that he wanted Kane to sit across from him.

“Tell the lying white eyes to speak,'' Mangas told Maleaha.

Kane saw the black eyes boring into him, and he felt the man's contempt.

"Mangas asks you to speak, major."

Mangas laughed. "Why did you not translate exactly what I said, Little Flower?"

She smiled in response. "It is the white side of me that will be your translator, my chief."

He looked at her with an amused smile. "This should prove interesting."

Kane took a deep breath, "Tell Mangas I come to him on behalf of the American Government, and in the name of peace." Kane paused and looked straight at the chief. "Tell Mangas I am honored to meet the mighty chief of the Jojoba."

Maleaha spoke to Mangas, not bothering to translate since he understood every word spoken by the major. "I believe this man to be honest and sincere, Mangas."

"I have found no white man who speaks the truth, but your father, Little Flower.''

Maleaha turned to Kane. "Mangas says you are welcome in the Jojoba village, major," she said daringly.

Mangas laughed deeply. "See, Little Flower, you prove my point. The white side of you lies to the major."

"Not so, Mangas, I merely anticipated what your next words would be," she said, giving him a mischievous smile.

"You have grown into a beautiful woman, Maleaha, as I always knew you would."

Maleaha looked at Kane. "Mangas asked if you had a pleasant trip, major."

Kane saw the way Mangas was looking at Miss Deveraux, and in any language the look would have been the same. He was admiring her, his black eyes were almost caressing as he stared at her.

"Tell him the trip took one day longer than it should have, due to the roundabout way you escorted me to his camp," he said bitingly.

"Mangas, I was very careful to bring the major a way that he would never be able to trace."

"I have always been fascinated by the color of your eyes, Maleaha. Never have I looked into eyes that were so lovely, so open, so desirable," said Mangas.

"Major, Mangas wonders if you would like something to drink?"

Kane was becoming angry. It seemed that Miss Deveraux was playing some kind of game. He was not a fool, he knew the chief was speaking passionate words to her.

"Tell him I want nothing but to talk," he replied angrily.

"Please hear him out, Mangas," Maleaha said, hoping Mangas would not continue his bold conversation, for he was making her feel very uneasy.

Mangas frowned. "Have him state the reason he is here. I confess I am curious."

"Mangas asks that you tell him the reason you are here," she said to Kane. Mangas no longer probed her face with his dark eyes, but looked at the major instead.

"Tell him that the raids on the ranchers must stop or there will be bloodshed, and many people, both white and Indian will die."

"Mangas, did the Jojobas raid the ranchers? I cannot believe you would be a party to such mischief.''

He frowned. "I would not consider it wrong had I raided the white man. They are the intruder, they take our lands and treat us with contempt, but in this I am not guilty. I do not know what he speaks of, believe me, Little Flower."

"Yes, I believe you. The Mangas I know would never sneak around under the cover of night to wreak mischief and steal a few horses. He would meet his enemy face to face, giving them even odds. I remember your kindness one summer to a half-white girl." She had spoken with such conviction that he stared for a long time into her eyes.

"I am pleased that you should believe this of me. I have often thought of you these past years. I have waited patiently for you to grow up, Little Flower."

Maleaha turned to the major. "Mangas says he is not responsible for the raids on those ranches."

Kane looked at her doubtfully. "Do you believe this man?"

"Yes, Mangas does not lie. What would be the purpose? He is safe from retribution; the army could never find him here. He is innocent, major. As are the people of the Jojoba tribe. You will need to look elsewhere for the guilty ones."

Kane considered her words. She seemed sincere in her beliefs. Was it possible that Mangas spoke the truth, he wondered?

"Ask Mangas if he knows who is responsible for the raids."

"Do you have any idea who is responsible, Mangas?"

"Yes, it is the Arapaho. They sweep down out of the Colorados to spread mischief, hoping the Jojoba will be blamed. As you know, they are our sworn enemies, and I believe the time will come when they will go on a bloody raid, hoping to place the blame on us. But I doubt you can convince this white man, or any of his kind that I speak the truth."

Maleaha sighed deeply as she turned to the major, fearing Mangas might be right. The white man was always suspicious of that which he did not understand. The Jojoba tribe had never conformed to what was expected of them. They were a nomadic tribe that followed the game trail, never bothering to put down roots, nor to plant corn, and they refused to live off the charity of the United States government, but only wanted to be left in peace.

"Major, Mangas says it is the Arapaho who are responsible for the raids. The Jojoba and Arapaho are enemies, and the Arapaho seek to implicate the Jojoba."

"There was overwhelming evidence that it was the Jojoba. I did not tell you this before, but there was an armband with the sun and the moon engraved on it, the Jojoba symbol, found at one of the burned-out barns. I assume your father told you about the knife that was found."

"You do not believe that Mangas is telling the truth, that the Arapaho deliberately implicated the Jojoba?"

Kane looked directly into the eyes of the chief, and in that moment he did believe that this man spoke the truth.

"Tell him that if he can convince me that he is innocent, I will do all in my power to see that the Jojoba tribe is exonerated of all suspicion, and will strive to see that the guilty party is punished."

Maleaha turned to Mangas. "I believe this man, my chief. Have you any proof?"

"Why should I prove that I am innocent in this? I have done nothing wrong. This white dog will pay for his insult!" Mangas's eyes were blazing dangerously and Maleaha saw the danger to the major.

She placed her hand on Mangas's arm and spoke softly. "It is not the fault of Major Benedict. He is merely the instrument of the United States Government, and while I, like you, do not think the army deals fairly with the Indian, there is nothing much we can do to stop it."

Mangas looked down at the delicate hand that rested on his bare arm, then into her beautiful green eyes.

"My heart often overrides my good judgment, Little Flower. Were it within my power to drive the white man from this land I would do so, but your grandfather, in his wisdom, convinced me that soon the white man would have all this land. Where then will the Jojoba tribe go? Where will my people live? What will I feed the women and children? I will never go begging to the white man for his handouts."

Maleaha was moved by his words and his sadness. "I do not know, Mangas. I wish I had the answers for you, but I do not."

Mangas stood up. "Tell him I will deal with the Arapaho in my own way."

Maleaha stood up, and Kane also rose to his feet. "Major, Mangas says he will deal with the Arapaho himself."

"No! Tell him that is exactly what he must not do. The army will not stand by and watch two Indian tribes wage war among themselves. Tell him it would lead to serious consequences."

Maleaha turned to Mangas, who did not wait for her to speak. His voice was quiet, his tone menacing, "Tell the white eyes I do not answer to the army.
I
will decide what I do. I am the chief of the Jojoba. It is my people who have been falsely accused."

"Major, Mangas will not allow the army to dictate to him. He will handle the Arapaho."

"Try to convince him otherwise, Miss Deveraux. It would be foolhardy and dangerous to start an Indian war where many people would die."

Maleaha did not speak to Mangas, but answered on her own, her anger very apparent. ' 'The Jojoba people do not need the army to tell them what to do. How do you suppose they survived all those hundreds of years before the white man came to this land? We are a proud people and we shall do as we must, and not you or anyone else can tell us any different!"

Maleaha had not been aware that she had spoken as if she herself was a member of the Jojoba, but Kane noticed, and Mangas did too.

Mangas was smiling as he watched her green eyes spark angrily. He felt pride in this small girl who was beautiful as well as loyal. He had thought of her so often, and he knew at that moment why he had never taken a bride. Lamas had kept him informed on Maleaha's life. He had known that summer when he taught her to swim that he wanted her for his wife, and now he was more sure of it than ever.

"Ask Mangas if that is his final word?" Kane said, ignoring her outburst.

Maleaha looked at Mangas and then lowered her head in shame. "I am sorry, my chief. I spoke without thinking."

His dark eyes caressed her face gently. "Tell him I have nothing more to say to him. Tell him since the hour is so late he may stay the night, but I shall expect him to leave in the morning."

"Major, Mangas will talk to you no more, but if you will go with Lamas he will find you a place to sleep for tonight. We must leave early tomorrow morning."

"But nothing has been settled."

"Mangas will speak no more to you," she repeated.

Kane looked as if he would like to object but had thought better of it. He had noticed the way Mangas looked at Maleaha and felt anger because of it. He turned to leave the teepee and Maleaha followed him until Mangas put a restraining hand on her arm. "Stay a while and talk with me, Little Flower," he said.

Kane heard the tone of his voice and looked angrily at Maleaha. "It is not hard to see where you will be spending the night, Miss Deveraux."

Maleaha opened her mouth to protest, but the major had already left.

Mangas's eyes narrowed as he stared after the white man. "What is that white man to you, Maleaha?"

"He is nothing, I only met him three days ago."

"He wants you," Mangas said.

"No! You are mistaken. He does not even like me, and I do not care for him at all."

"You are mistaken, Little Flower. He would like to be with you, but he does not want to show his feelings. I wonder why?"

"No! You are mistaken." Maleaha said, feeling very upset by Mangas's observation.

He looked down at her and smiled, "I do not wish to speak of the white man. I would rather speak of you. Sit beside me, Maleaha," he said as he lowered himself to the buffalo rug and held out his hand to her.

Maleaha sat down hesitantly. She had been aware of the deep undertones in Mangas's voice. He had said some rather personal things to her this afternoon, which she had tried to ignore.

"Tell me, are you glad to be home, Maleaha?"

"Yes, I never want to go away again."

"And is there no man in your life, Little Flower?"

"No, I am still too young to be thinking about marriage."

"Not for an Indian maiden, Maleaha. I was proud of you today when you stood up to the white man. Tell me, do you think of yourself as Indian or white?"

"It is hard to separate the two. I feel pride in my Indian blood, but I am also proud to be my father's daughter."

"That is as it should be. Do you think you could be happy living here with me, Little Flower?"

Maleaha tried to avoid his eyes. Was he suggesting that she become his wife? Fear and uncertainty nagged at her. She did not know how she felt at the moment. Maleaha only knew she wished she were safely home at Deveraux Ranch.

"I do not know, Mangas. I have not thought about living anywhere but with my father," she said, hoping he would not pursue the matter.

"One day you will have to leave your father's house, Maleaha. A maiden has to look to the future. I would like for you to be the mother of my sons. We could have strong sons, Maleaha. You have the blood of a Jojoba chief in your veins."

She stood up slowly, "I . . . I do not wish to be married at this time; I am not ready." Maleaha knew that if the chief of the Jojobas wanted a woman of the tribe for his bride he could take her whether she was willing or not. Fear gripped her as she raised her eyes to his, wondering if it was his intention to force her to be his wife.

Mangas read the fear in her eyes and touched her face softly. "Do not fear, Little Flower, I will not force you to be my wife just now. I would much rather you come to me willingly. I believe we would be happy together. You are a beautiful woman and I desire you."