Authors: Kat Flannery
Otakatay laughed. "Those are fantasies of a little girl." His black eyes scrutinized her attire. "I would never sleep with a white woman."
"You're a liar. You've always been a liar," Elwood screamed. The sound reminded her of a cat in heat.
Otakatay cocked his shot gun and the click seemed loud enough to wake the dead. "Where is he?"
"I should've killed you back then," Elwood tightened his grip on her.
"Where is he?"
"He is dead."
Regret flickered across his black eyes, and he blinked.
Elwood fired his gun, and Otakatay dropped to the ground.
"No," she screamed, yanking herself from Elwood's hold. She ran to Otakatay and fell onto her knees beside him. Blood soaked his shirt above his forearm. He'd been shot in the lower shoulder.
Thank God.
Her hands heated and shook.
Elwood stood over them, his gun aimed at Otakatay.
"You will have to shoot me first," she said and sprawled across his chest.
Otakatay ignored the pain in his arm. He bit back the smile lingering at the corners of his mouth after Nora lay on top of him. She was quite the fighter, and he was proud of her. As he waited for the guard to die and dawn to approach, he'd watched her.
Elwood had hit her several times, and her pretty face showed the signs of his fists. She didn't cower from him, instead lifted her pert chin and challenged him, making the mine owner go even more insane.
He sensed Elwood standing over him now, about a foot from his legs. Nora was still stretched out on top of him.
"You stupid bitch." Elwood grabbed her hair, pulling so hard that she screamed out.
Otakatay flexed his muscles.
Elwood stood with his arm around her throat and aimed the gun at him.
Quick as a bolt of lightning, he kicked his leg out and tripped Elwood, sending both him and Nora to the ground as a shot went off.
He was on his feet, knife in hand, when he saw blood ooze from Nora's leg. Within minutes the front of her dress was soaked, and her bruised face lost all color. He let out a violent howl, and lunged at Elwood knocking him backward.
"I will enjoy this," he said between clenched teeth, and he pressed the blade into Elwood's throat.
A bone-chilling growl came from nearby. Otakatay twisted and was face to face with a black wolf.
"Attack, Savage. Attack," Elwood shouted, squirming beneath Otakatay.
The dog bared his fangs and growled as saliva dripped from his mouth. Black eyes narrowed in on Elwood, and he snarled, licking his teeth. The black hair on his back stood straight up, and he pawed at the ground.
Otakatay slid carefully off of Elwood, sensing the dog wanted nothing to do with him.
He went to Nora. She was passed out from the loss of blood. He ripped the bottom of her dress and tied it around her thigh to stop the bleeding. He pressed his head to her chest and was glad to hear the strong beats.
He smoothed the dark strands of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. She'd fought for him. She was willing to give her life for him. He observed her tied wrists, the skin red and swollen, her bruised cheeks and pink lips. She never cared that he was a half-breed, that he'd killed women like her, or that he'd said hurtful things to her. She still cast her body over his injured one, willing to take a bullet for him.
He'd been wrong all along. She was his match. She was his woman, and he loved her. He lifted her into his arms, bit back a curse from the stinging in his arm and carried her toward the house.
The sharp growl from the wolf as he bit into flesh and Elwood's loud screams faded into nothing, and Otakatay never turned around.
He kicked open the door and walked through the well-furnished home into the kitchen. He laid Nora on top of an oiled wooden table. A bucket of water sat on the counter. He dunked the cloth in and squeezed out any excess moisture. He pulled her skirt up and cleaned the wound. The bleeding had stopped, so he left her side to build a fire in the hearth.
When the flames had grown hot enough, he heated the knife until the tip was bright orange. He bit down hard and dug the blade into the wounded flesh, searching for the slug. He blew out a relieved sigh when, less than a minute later, he pulled the lead ball from her leg.
She stirred, and he needed to get moving before she woke. He heated the blade again and without hesitation, he pushed it onto the hole, burning it closed.
Nora tossed her head from side to side and cried out while reaching for her leg. He didn't know what to say to ease the pain as she whimpered beside him, so he pulled her close and held her instead.
He brought his forehead to Nora's and whispered, "
Techihila mitawin." He gazed into her sea-blue eyes and knew his heart would never beat the same again. "I love you, my woman," he repeated in English.
She gazed up at him, and her eyes watered.
"Nora, Nora," Joe called from behind them.
Otakatay helped her sit up.
"Joe, thank God you're okay," she said.
Otakatay released her and pivoted toward Joe.
It can't be.
The boy had been beaten, his white shirt was ripped and blood stained. A frayed rope bound his wrists. He leaned into one stick, and Otakatay's chest ached when he stared at Joe's deformed legs.
Elwood said he was dead
. His stomach lurched, and his throat worked as he tried to swallow. Tears filled his eyes, and he held out his hand.
Joe took a step and recognition danced within his own eyes. "Cetan? Hawk, Hawk?"
He'd waited years to hear those words, and before he could catch himself, before he could reign in his emotions, a loud sob burst from his lips. In two strides he reached Joe and hugged him tight.
"How I've missed you."
"Hawk, Hawk. You came back," Joe cried.
"I will never leave you again. I promise."
Nora cleared her throat, confusion written all over her beautiful bruised face, and he went to her.
"I'd like you to meet my brother, Little Eagle."
She smiled as tears shone in her eyes.
He stared at her. Nora amazed him. She was in pain, and yet she was smiling. He left her to search the kitchen for clean bandages and found some strips of cloth in one of the drawers. He pulled the leather pouch from his pocket and rubbed the slippery elm onto the burn before wrapping it tight.
Nora flinched, but did not cry out. The love he felt for her brought more tears to his eyes.
Joe stood beside him, as Otakatay lifted Nora from the table, cradling her in his arms. Together they walked out of the house and watched as the boys ran from the forest shouting, "Hawk, Hawk."
Nora pulled his chin toward her. "I love you."
He smiled and touched his lips to hers.
EPILOGUE
One year later
Nora stood on the porch and peered out at the land surrounding her home. It had taken them six months to get things in order on the ranch. The addition to the house was complete. The day Hawk rescued the boys, her life changed forever.
She smiled.
Sheriff Reid, Fred Sutherland and a few others from Willow Creek had shown up at the mine that awful day. They'd seen the smoke from the explosion and wanted to make sure everything was all right. The men were ashamed and mortified at what Elwood had done. They promised Hawk, Nora and the boys a place within Willow Creek. Most of the townspeople were welcoming, with apologies and tearful hugs when they saw the boys.
Sheriff Reid handed Nora the deed to Jess's ranch. Happy to have somewhere to go and pleased to be continuing Jess and Marcus's dream, Nora took the deed and wrote Hawk's name alongside hers. They owned it together. With the reward money Hawk had acquired they purchased more livestock and built onto the home for the boys.
"Our little one is hungry," Hawk said from behind her.
She faced him and smiled.
He held their daughter, Morning Star, bundled in the crook of his arm. At two months old, she was all her father. Black hair and tanned skin, but she did have Nora's blue eyes.
She was beautiful, and some days Nora sat staring at her for hours.
"You cannot feed her?" she teased, as she ran her fingers along the top of the baby's head.
He smiled, and she knew she'd never tire of seeing his face light up with joy.
"No, I cannot." He kissed the top of Morning Stars head and placed her into Nora's arms. "I don't remember, Wife, if I've told you yet today how much I love you?" he whispered into her ear.
Nora smiled. "Yes, my husband, you have, twice this morning. But I cannot remember if you've shown me."
His black eyes twinkled, and he kissed her neck, allowing her a taste of what was to come. "I will make sure to show you tonight."
She shivered in anticipation of their love making.
He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. "Wastelakapi—Beloved."
She tipped her head and kissed his chin. She knew the name he called her, and each time he said it she melted.
Since moving to the ranch, her husband had changed. No longer angry and bitter, he now had a different purpose—raising the boys and being a husband and father. His happiness overflowed onto her, and together they built a home filled with love and laughter.
"Hawk, Hawk. Come quick," Little Eagle called from the field.
He chuckled. "I must go and see what my brother wants."
"We'll sit and watch from here," she said.
He looked down at her, the passion and love vivid in the dark depths. He kissed her slowly, lingering a moment, before he ran down the steps toward his brother.
Nora's heart swelled while she watched her husband place his arm around Little Eagle and talk with him. He never tired of him, or his questions. Otakatay had found peace with his brother. She watched as Raven and White Bear sauntered over, and Hawk messed their hair affectionately. He'd taken the boys from the mine and given them a home.
Once a week, she taught them lessons from the school books she'd acquired by mail. She enjoyed the time she spent with them. Over the months Nora grew so close to each boy that they called her Mother. She loved each one as if he were her own.
Hawk was intent on showing them the Lakota way, but encouraged the white man's as well. He wanted them to be fluent in both worlds. He trained them to work with the horses. He showed them how to brand cattle and till the land surrounding their home. He taught them to take pride in what they had.
He worked long hours tending the livestock and the fields with the boys, and she missed him during the day. She counted the hours to when the house was quiet and everyone was asleep. In the privacy of their room, he'd take her in his arms and between tender kisses, he'd whisper in Lakota how much he loved her.
"Nora, Nora, Nora," Little Eagle shouted.
Pride filled her as she watched her brother-in-law run across the field without his sticks, his knees no longer deformed. She'd healed his legs a month after they'd come to the ranch.
"What is it, Little Eagle?"
It had taken her awhile to get used to his new name, but now she only saw him as such.
"A butterfly, a butterfly." He ran up the steps and stopped in front of her and Morning Star. Loud breaths came from his smiling lips as he opened his hand to reveal a squished orange and black butterfly.
"Oh, honey, I think the butterfly is dead."
His eyes watered, and his bottom lip trembled.
"It's okay, there are plenty more," she said and pointed to a yellow one flying around the oak tree in the yard. "Why don't you see if you can't find me another one?"
"Okay, okay." He dropped the butterfly onto the porch and took off into the field.
Nora picked up the pretty insect and sat back down in the rocking chair. She nestled Morning Star close and placed the butterfly on top of the blanket.
A dimpled hand reached out and touched the black-tipped wings.
The wings fluttered, and Nora smiled as the butterfly flew away.
~ * ~
If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Barnes and Noble. Reviews are very helpful to other readers and are greatly appreciated by authors, especially me. When you post a review, drop me an email and let me know and I may feature part of it on my blog/site. Thank you. ~ Kat
Dear Reader,
This story is very dear to me because of the emotions both main characters go through. Otakatay has been cast aside from his own people. He's grown up a slave where he fed his hate for white people and those around him. He trusted no one and relied on no one. There was never anyone there to give him guidance or to show him kindness.
Nora leads a very similar life in regards to her emotions. All she wants is the love of her father, who resents her for the gift she was born with. But Otakatay and Nora both took different paths in how they dealt with these situations. She has not allowed her father to alter her way of thinking. She doesn't care what color you are, if you're rich or poor. Everyone is equal to her, everyone deserves a chance. But she is still judged. She is still an outcast, who has experienced hatred at its worst.
When I see the way our world is, full of hate and anger, I cringe. I watch people, myself included judge others by the way they look, or how they behave. The old adage "Walk a mile in someone else's shoes" fill my head and bring me back to reality that I am no better than the next person.
It was love that healed Otakatay and saved Nora, and it is with love and empathy that we can look at those around us who are different and hold out our hand.
I hope you enjoyed LAKOTA HONOR.
Love
Kat