Lakota Honor (18 page)

Nora's head spun as she clenched her muscles, feeling Jess's pain climb up her arms and slam into her side. She gasped while her ribs screamed in agony. Unable to stay upright, the pain too much, she hunched over and pressed her hands into the flesh. Nora's throat burned, and her vision blurred as she demanded the torn edges of skin close together.

She blinked.
Do not pass out
. Spasms shot across her chest and into her back, and she swayed to the side. Sharp talons ripped through her insides, stealing her breath and rocking her back onto her heels. She couldn't take the pain any longer and was about to remove her hands when she felt the wound close beneath them.

She fell to the side, laying on the dirt road and wheezed. Her hands shook restlessly, and she had no energy left to even lift them. Nora's stomach lurched. She turned her head and vomited until there was nothing left.

Every muscle in her body trembled, and her arms tingled, numb from the healing. A deafening silence surrounded her, and before she could remember where she was, before she could think of an explanation, rough hands jerked her to her feet.

"I told you. I told you all. She is a witch," Doctor Spencer shouted.

"He's telling the truth. We've seen it," a woman's voice called from somewhere in the crowd.

"She works for the devil," another shouted.

"I say we hang her. Tonight. Now," Doctor Spencer said.

Women screamed, children cried, men aimed their guns.

"Kill the witch," a woman in the crowd yelled.

The townspeople went hysterical and shouted for her life.

"She's all possessed, like," another yelled.

"Devil woman!" they chanted.

Nora's legs wobbled beneath her as each insult hit her like a bullet and punctured her tough exterior. She was so weak there was no way she could fight them all off. A tear slid down her cheek, and she had nothing left within her to even wipe it away.
Otakatay.
She didn't know why she silently called for him, but she closed her eyes and pictured his face. She sucked in gulps of air in an effort to calm herself and harness the fear as it ran rampant inside her. The doctor pulled her through the crowd as they spat and cussed at her.

"You damn fools she's not evil," Jess called from somewhere.

"Hang her, too. She's been touched by the girl," a man she'd never seen before yelled, and the crowd shouted as two men grabbed Jess and hauled her to a waiting tree with two ropes tossed over a high branch.

Pa had been right all along. He'd been right.
It didn't matter that she saved Jess's life, she was different and they were afraid of her. There was no one to protect her, no one to come to her aid, and now Jess would pay the price for being her friend.

"Please," she begged, as they dragged her to the tree. "Please this is wrong. Take me. Do not hurt Jess." But her pleas fell on deaf ears as they screamed for them to be hung.

She dug her feet into the ground as they pulled her toward the waiting ropes. Crazed people, ones she'd spoken to this afternoon, pulled her hair and ripped her dress. She spotted Fred and Willimena Sutherland standing away from the crowd, fear etched on both their faces. They were afraid of her, and she felt sorry for them. A woman reached through the crowd and scratched her, cutting her cheek. She placed her forearm over her face to try and shield herself from the angry crowd.

Two horses waited under the hanging ropes, and before she was lifted onto one, someone tied her wrists behind her back. Colors blurred before her, and she prayed she'd pass out. She didn't want to be conscious when they slipped the noose around her neck. She didn't want to feel the rope tighten around her throat as the air was sucked out of her lungs forever.

A gunshot rang out, and she flinched. The sheriff rode up on a black horse, his hand held high as smoke billowed from the barrel of his gun.

"There will be no hanging." He waved the gun at the crowd and women shrieked, clutching their children close. "Let them go. We will do this the right way when the judge comes through next week."

"You saw what she is. She's dangerous. What if she casts a spell? She could kill us all," the doctor shouted. "Your children, your wives, we're all in danger. She's capable of anything. Look at the power she holds. She's evil, and we invite that here if we don't hang her!"

The crowd fired up again, demanding Nora's life. She watched horrified as the sheriff put his gun down, defeat written all over his aged face. He looked into her eyes, and she read the apology within them. The two men holding Jess tossed her onto the horse beside Nora. She couldn't stop the tears as they fell from her eyes.

"You better hope I die, cause if I don't I'll be shovin' the barrel of my 22 up your ass, you rotten son of a bitch," Jess said to the man placing the noose around her neck.

"Let her go, she's done nothing wrong," Nora begged.

They ignored her, and the crowd chanted, "Kill the witch."

She turned to Jess, her face wet with tears. "I'm so sorry."

"Darlin', don't be sorry. I'll be seein' my Marcus soon."

"This is wrong. You're innocent," she sobbed.

"Hush now. You be strong. Don't let these bastards see your tears. Then they've won. Hold your chin up."

Nora took a deep breath and willed the tears to stop. She turned toward the crowd and glared.

"That's my girl." Jess looked down at the two men beside her. "You damn heathens can rot in hell." She glanced up at Nora. "I love ya, girly." She winked before the horse shot out from under her, and she dropped.

Nora screamed as she watched her friend wiggle on the rope. She sucked in a sob as the doctor placed the rope around her neck. She struggled, and he smacked her across the face.
Otakatay, Otakatay.
She chanted his name in her mind and closed her eyes.

"You all must die. Every last one of you. Like the bitch that killed my wife," the doctor sneered.

"I am not that woman. Please, can't you see? I cannot harm anyone. I can only help them. My hands only heal."

"She said the same thing, she begged for her child, for her daughter. I would've killed the damn kid too but the bitch hid her."

"Who are you talking about?"

"The woman who stole my life," he stared at her, and she didn't miss the hollow look, "She was supposed to stop the bleeding, she was supposed to save my son. Instead she killed them."

"What was her name? What was her name?" she screamed.

He didn't answer, only tightened the noose around her neck.

Nora struggled against the thick rope. "Please, please tell me what her name was."

"Hannah." He slapped the horse, and Nora fell.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Otakatay didn't have much time. He'd been in town to kill the wasichu when he heard the riot and went to investigate. Thank goodness he did. The horse under Nora had fled, and his heart stopped when he saw her dangling from a noose.

He let out a shrill war cry, and Wakina galloped into the centre of the crowd. He aimed his shotgun at the rope and fired. Relieved when it split and Nora fell to the ground. He glanced at the other woman swinging from the tree, when he heard the gun cock behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man raise his gun. Otakatay turned and threw his knife into the man's chest, knocking him backward.

He leaned to the right in his saddle, his hair almost touching the ground, as Wakina cantered through the crowd. People ran in every direction.

"The witch has brought evil upon us with this Savage! Run," screamed a woman to his left.

If they only knew how close to the truth she really was. He yanked his knife from the man's chest and threw it at another man intending to fire his gun at him. The knife pierced his neck before he fell to the ground.

Otakatay jumped from his horse and ran toward the doctor who had his hands around Nora's throat. He ripped him from her and punched him in the stomach. He grabbed the knife from his back and smiled at the surprise in the wasichu's eyes.

"Thought you killed me?"

The doctor went for his gun, and Otakatay sprang forward, knocking him over. They rolled on the ground as the wasichu's fists pummeled his face. Each blow fueled his rage.

He growled and drove his elbow into the doctor's throat, stealing his air as he kicked beneath him. He glanced at Nora. She wasn't moving. He needed to get to her. He glared down at the man beneath him.

"Tonight you die," he said and without a second thought, he sliced his throat.

Blood soaked the front of the doctor's clean white shirt as life faded from his eyes.

He stood leaving the evil man to his fate, and went to Nora.

The street was empty except for the Sheriff, and he ignored the lawman as he knelt beside her. He placed his head to her chest and blew a sigh of relief when he heard her heart. Dirt smeared into the blood on her cheeks, blending with scratches on her face and arms. She'd taken a beating. He'd watched from the trees while the people tried to inflict wounds on her pretty face. Anger filled him, and he clenched his jaw.

He peered up at the old woman swinging from the rope. He straddled Wakina and cut the rope, taking the weight of the woman in his arms. Nora saved her life only to have them hang her any way. He still couldn't understand what he'd seen. How she'd done it.
He closed the woman's eyes and placed her gently on the ground.

The sheriff cleared his throat, and Otakatay faced him.

"I will take care of her," he said motioning to Jess's body.

The lawman should've stopped the hanging, but he'd not been strong enough to go against the frantic crowd. Otakatay had seen the defeat written all over his aged face. The sheriff had watched as they strung the women up and never did a damn thing. He failed as a lawman, and Otakatay had no respect for him.

He opened and closed his hands, squeezing them until they hurt. He wanted to lash out at the old man, inflict pain on him, pain like Nora had felt. But the guilt of what he allowed to happen today was worse than any flesh wound he'd receive. The sheriff would replay this night over and over in his head for the rest of his life.

Otakatay went to Nora. The skin on her neck was red and swollen where the rope had bit in. She'd need some salve to heal the burn marks.
She'd need more than that.
He grazed the side of her face with his finger. She didn't deserve to be treated like this. She was kind, soft and sweet. She was white, the same color as they were, and yet they turned on her as though she were a killer, a murderer,
a breed.

He lifted her into his arms and faced the sheriff.

"Go," the man said with sadness in his eyes when he glanced at Nora. "Take her somewhere safe."

Otakatay nodded.

The sheriff held out his arms, and he was reluctant to hand her over. Not after the man did nothing to save her. The monster within Otakatay shadowed his face, casting any illusions aside that he was agreeable.

The sheriff took a step back.

He walked toward Wakina, who knelt so he could get on without putting Nora down. He didn't spare the sheriff another glance, just kicked his heels into the horse's side and sped off into the forest.

Otakatay travelled the better part of the night to the cave nestled in the side of the mountain. After he laid her on the ground and covered her with his blanket, he made a fire to keep them warm. She hadn't stirred since he rescued her, and he wondered if she was ever going to wake up. He placed his head on her chest. The beat was stronger than before, and he exhaled.

He doubted she'd be able to talk for a few days, because of the noose. He cringed. He knew what it felt like to have a rope around his neck—to be tied up as if you were a dog.

He poked the fire with a branch and watched as the orange flames licked the air. He was so close to finalizing his plan. To seeing retribution for the years of suffering he and the others had gone through.

Little Eagle
.

He stroked the feather in his hair. He'd never forgive himself for what had happened. He was supposed to keep him safe. Despair crawled through his veins to circle his heart and squeeze. There was no way he could take it back. No way to save him from the fall. He hung his head.

He escaped when the others hadn't, and he'd promised to return, to come back and save them. He ran his hand down his face. But he'd been gone so long. Would they remember? Would they still hope he'd return? He didn't know, and with each passing day he grew more restless.

He needed land and the money to buy it. They'd have nowhere to go, and he wanted to bring them somewhere safe. After years of killing outlaws, he'd built up a substantial amount of cash, but it was nowhere near the amount he required for his plan to work. For a while he thought all hope was lost, until he came upon the white man searching for someone to kill the witkowan.

He gazed out into the darkness and sighed. Desperation pushed him to do the things he'd done. The nightmares reminded him of the vengeance he carried and gave him the will to go forward. There was no choice but to throw aside the person he once was. He chose another name, one that was fitting to the beast he'd become, and he embraced the evil that it brought.

He forced himself not to care, not to love, but instead only to hate and to kill. He looked at Nora. To kill ones like her. He couldn't take back what he'd done. He couldn't forgive himself for it either. The wrongs he'd committed, and the lives he'd left behind haunted him. Blame and remorse filled him, and he gnashed his teeth together. Misery pooled inside his lungs, drowning him, and he sucked in a painful breath.

Nora stirred.

He wondered if the power she held was real.
It had to be.
He
watched the old woman rise after being shot. He tried to wrap his mind around how she'd done it. How she was able to close the wound as if it hadn't been there.

He glanced down at his chest
.
He'd known all along she'd saved his life, but didn't understand it. He still couldn't. How was it possible? A low whimper grabbed his attention, and he watched as she slowly sat up. She was in pain, and he poured water from his canteen into the metal cup. He placed the cup on a rock beside the fire to heat.

"What happened?" she asked her voice no more than a whisper. She brought her hand to her throat.

"Your voice will return. Try not to talk."

The water boiled, and he sprinkled some of the ground witch hazel into the cup. The bark was good for many ailments, including a sore, inflamed throat. He wrapped a red bandana around the cup and handed it to her.

"Drink this. It will help."

"Jess?"

He didn't answer her right away. The old woman didn't make it. He'd saved Nora instead.

"She is gone."

She nodded and bit her lip.

"Drink."

She took the cup, smelled the drink and made a face at the awful scent.

"It works." He pulled some pemmican from his sack.

She hesitated, but the pain must've been too much because she took a long drink, and her body trembled from the horrible taste.

"What happened?"

"Don't talk," he growled a scowl on his face.

"Please tell me."

He ignored her, hoping she'd stay silent.

"Otakatay—

He brought his finger to his lips. "Shush."

"How did you find me?"

He rolled his eyes. He should've known she'd not listen and be quiet. Hell, she never shut up.

He groaned. "I shot the rope."

"You were there?"

He nodded.

"You saw what happened?"

He nodded again. How was it that he could be quiet, but she couldn't?

"Did you see? Did you see everything?"

He knew what she was getting at, but if she wanted to talk and not listen to him, he'd bait her a bit.

"I did. You're a witch."

Nora's eyes grew wide, and he watched amused as her mouth worked but nothing came out.

Finally, she is quiet.

"I am not a witch."

Well, that didn't last long.
"I'd say you are by what I saw."

"I am not," her voice cracked, and she looked away. "I cannot confide in you."

"I saved your life. I'd say you can."

She was silent for some time, and he knew by the way her brow furrowed she was contemplating what he'd said.

"You owe it to me to explain."

Blue eyes watched him from across the fire, and he was sure he'd never seen anything as beautiful. He sat up taller and ignored the hammering of his heart.

"I am a healer."

"What's the difference?"

"There is a huge difference." She tried to shout, but it came out raspy and broken. She took another sip from the cup and shuddered.

It was awful stuff, but it worked.

"I am not a witch. I cannot cast spells or hurt people. I only have the ability to heal them."

He narrowed his eyes.

"I speak the truth."

He believed her, but it still didn't make sense.

"How do you do it?"

"My hands hold the power."

"You can heal anything?"

"No. I cannot heal the mind."

He nodded.

"Only flesh wounds?"

"Yes, and ones you cannot see, the ones inside."

He'd seen it with his own eyes. Hell, it was done to him and he still couldn't figure it out.

"You healed me?"

"Yes," she said with a loud sigh.

"So I was shot in the chest?"

"You would've died."

"Why didn't you let me?"

"Because I..." she averted her eyes, "because I could help."

He thought she wanted to say something else but changed her mind at the last minute.

"Why didn't you save your father?"

Nora's face changed immediately. Remorse shadowed her eyes, and she blinked away the tears he'd seen there.

"He didn't want me to."

He wasn't expecting her to say that. He took a bite of the pemmican he'd been holding, not because he was hungry, but for something to do. The space between them seemed to close in, and he moved back.

"Why not?"

"Because of me, we had to move from town to town all the time." She hung her head, and he had to lean in to hear her next words.

"He resented me for it."

Otakatay understood resentment, he understood the anger that came along with it, but what he didn't get was how anyone could resent her. She wasn't evil or horrible. She didn't hurt people. She healed them. She may be annoying, couldn't follow instructions even when her life depended on it, and she never shut the hell up, but those weren't reasons to hate her.

As far as he could see, her father was an imbecile. Hate came from deep within and if not careful it could consume a person, make them do things they never thought possible.
I would know.

"Your father was an ass."

She shook her head.

"No, he had his reasons, and I didn't make it easy on him. But..." She stopped.

He waited.

"But I wish he'd have let me save him. I miss him so much."

One tear slid down her cheek, and he wanted to wipe it away, but held himself still instead.

"Drink." He motioned to the cup and was thankful that she listened and took a sip.

Nora's body trembled. The drink Otakatay had given her was horrible, and with each sip she had to concentrate so she didn't throw up all over the place. Her throat hurt so bad she was sure she'd never talk the same again. Her tongue was swollen, and the scratches on her neck pulsed. A cool cloth would help, but there didn't seem to be any water in the cave other than what was in her cup. She grazed her fingers over the hot skin on her neck and was surprised when he handed her one of his shirts.