Wild Thunder (8 page)

“Can you hear me when I talk?” Tiny asked, watching Bird in Ground slowly, painfully, nod.

“Good. Bird in Ground, I know you have a wife and child,” Tiny said, smiling smugly. “I've seen you with your family.”

Panic leapt into Bird in Ground's eyes. He struggled to get up, but went limp from the pain and broken ribs.

“Now, listen closely to what I am going to tell you,” Tiny warned. “If you value your family's life, you will tell no one who did this to you today. If you do, your whole family will die. If not by my hand, by someone else's, for I have a lot of friends, Bird in Ground. All you need remember is not to tell who did this to you. Do you understand? Nod if you do.”

He smugly when Bird in Ground slowly nodded, then looked away from Tiny.

“I think we're finished here,” Tiny said, rushing to his feet. “Let's get out of here before someone happens along. I'm not quite ready for a noose around my neck.”

Leaving the brave lying at the edge of the road, bleeding and half-unconscious, the men rode away in a hard gallop.

Tiny sat smugly in his saddle, his eyes dancing. He let out a loud whoop and holler as he waved his hat in the air.

Graceful and useful all she does,
Blessing and blest where'er she goes.

—W
ILLIAM
C
OWPER

 

 

 

Hannah felt many eyes on her as she entered the wide gate at Fort Leavenworth. She drew a tight rein on her pinto before Colonel Deshong's cabin, not at all surprised when several soldiers surrounded her.

“Who are you?” one of them asked as he grabbed her reins. “What do you want?”

“I've come to see Colonel Deshong,” Hannah said, looking guardedly from man to man, wondering if they actually saw her as a threat.

“
I'm
Colonel Deshong,” Patrick said as he stepped from his cabin in his full uniform. His coat shone with brass buttons, the shoulders gold with cord and tassels. “What can I do for you?”

Hannah turned her eyes quickly to the man, finding him dignified in appearance. His complexion ruddy, he was stout, with neatly groomed reddish blond hair that hung to his shirt collar.

“I've come to speak in behalf of Strong Wolf,” she said. “I want to prove that he did not kidnap me. My brother was wrong to send his cowhands here with false accusations. Strong Wolf is innocent of the crimes he is accused of.”

She swallowed hard when she caught a look of surprise in the colonel's eyes, and then tightened inside when his brow knitted into a frown.

“First, my day is interrupted by Tiny Sharp, who seemed hell-bent in having Strong Wolf incarcerated,” Colonel Deshong said, twining his fingers around the handle of the saber that hung at his right side. “And now I have a woman coming to speak in the Indian's behalf.”

“And what is wrong with that, sir?” Hannah said, boldly lifting her chin.

“Nothing, nothing,” Colonel Deshong said, a slow smile tugging at his lips. He nodded toward one of his soldiers. “Help her down from her saddle.”

“Sir, I am quite capable of mounting and dismounting my horse by myself, thank you,” Hannah said, grabbing her reins from the man who held them. “And, sir, I didn't come to pay you a social call. I just need to know your plans for Strong Wolf. Have you, or have you not, sent a battalion of men to arrest him?”

“No, and I don't intend to,” Colonel Deshong said, clasping his hands together behind him. “You see, ma'am, I would trust Strong Wolf's word before I would trust Tiny Sharp's.”

Hannah sighed with relief. “Thank goodness,” she said, her shoulders relaxing.

“Come on inside and have a cup of tea with me,” Colonel Deshong encouraged. “I know your brother well. I admire the man. I would like to become more acquainted with his sister.”

“Thank you for the invitation,” Hannah said, her tone having softened since she saw Colonel Deshong as no threat to Strong Wolf. “But I'm sure I've distressed my brother terribly by having taken off so quickly on horseback to come and speak in behalf of Strong Wolf. I must hurry back and apologize to him, and set his mind at ease that I am all right.”

“I have to know, ma'am, how you know Strong Wolf?” Colonel Deshong asked, forking an eyebrow.

Again Hannah stiffened. She looked guardedly around her, feeling the men's eyes on her, awaiting her answer.

“I . . .” she began, but was reprieved for the moment when a commotion behind her drew all of the attention away from her.

She looked over her shoulder and paled when she discovered Chuck entering the courtyard. A cowhand was driving his horse and buggy too recklessly through the crowd of gawking soldiers.

“Chuck,” she said in a loud gasp.

“Hannah, damn it, you've got to quit doing these reckless things,” Chuck scolded as he squinted up at her through his thick eyeglasses. He waved his cane at her. “Get in here with me. You can take the reins. Adam will take the pinto home for you.”

Colonel Deshong stepped down from the porch and went to Chuck. He placed a gentle hand on his arm. “And besides being angry at your sister, how are you doing, Chuck?” he asked, his voice filled with concern. “Your eyes. Have they worsened?”

“I wish I could say no to that question, but the truth is, Patrick, I can scarcely see one inch ahead of me,” Chuck mumbled as Hannah climbed into the buggy beside him and took the reins.

“You've got quite a spirited sister there,” Colonel Deshong said, chuckling. He smiled over at Hannah. “I don't believe I got your name, ma'am.”

“Hannah,” she said, returning the smile. “Please call me Hannah.”

“It's nice to make your acquaintance, Hannah,” Colonel Deshong said, reaching over to take Hannah's free hand. He squeezed it affectionately, then dropped his hand back to his side. “Chuck, you've got to tell your sister the dangers of riding alone. Not all Indians are as peace-loving as Strong Wolf and his people. And most certainly she can't trust all white men. It's dangerous as hell for her to be taking off on her own like she did today.”

“Yes, I know,” Chuck said. “What about Strong Wolf? Have you sent men to arrest him?”

“Do you think your sister would be sitting there all calm and collected if I had?” Colonel Deshong said, laughing softly.

“And so Strong Wolf isn't going to be arrested?” Chuck said.

“Naw,” Colonel Deshong said, again clasping his hands behind him. “And let me tell you something about your foreman, Chuck. He came here with a pack of lies about the Potawatomis leader.”

“Lies?” Chuck said, forking an eyebrow. “What lies?”

“He said something about Strong Wolf blowing up a dam, and about Strong Wolf having abducted your sister,” Colonel Deshong said, his voice filled with sarcasm. “You'd best tell him to watch his mouth or it's going to get him in trouble.”

“Patrick, I sent him here,” Chuck said thickly. “I was scared to death that something had happened to Hannah, because she didn't arrive home when I expected her to. I . . . I . . . should have known better than to think that Strong Wolf would have anything to do with her disappearance.”

“By God, Tiny wasn't lying after all?” Colonel Deshong said, eyes widening.

“Not this time, Patrick,” Chuck said, nodding. “Nope. Not this time. And I feel lousy as hell for having shown that I don't altogether trust Strong Wolf.”

“Chuck, I'm going to tell you what I told Tiny,” Colonel Deshong uttered. “I told him that
if
you
did
send him to me about your sister's possible abduction, that you should not jump to conclusions so quickly. I absolutely knew that Strong Wolf wouldn't abduct a woman, especially not your sister. You and Strong Wolf have a history of being friends. How could you accuse him of such a thing?”

“Well, now, Patrick, that is a good question,” Chuck said, scratching his brow. “One I thought I had an answer to.”

“And that is?”

“Strong Wolf threatened me, that's what.”

“He threatened you?”

“About the dam that was built across the stream close to my ranch.”

“Then, Tiny didn't lie about that, either?”

“No. Afraid not. You see, Strong Wolf
did
blow up the dam, and with dynamite he stole from my very own shed.”

“But this dam—” Colonel Deshong crossed his arms. “It's against what is set down in law, Chuck, when treaties were signed with the Potawatomis. No streams, creeks, or rivers can be dammed up. You know that as well as I. I'm surprised that you authorized Tiny to do that.”

“I didn't, Patrick,” Chuck said, his shoulders suddenly slouching.

“Then, I'd say you'd better get you a new foreman, or set the law down on the one that works for you,” Colonel Deshong said, placing his fists on his hips.

“Yeah, I see that some changes must be made,” Chuck said, nodding.

He reached over and patted Hannah on the knee. “Honey, take me home,” he said, his voice weary.

Hannah lifted the reins. “Good day, sir.” she said, smiling at the colonel as an ally, for it was obvious that he despised Tiny as much as she did.

Yet there seemed something else about the man that made her uneasy. It was the way he stared at her, as though he was trying to read her thoughts. And she had to believe that it was because of her obvious devotion to Strong Wolf. She knew to expect more questions from the colonel later.

“Come sometime when you can have that cup of tea with me, Hannah,” Colonel Deshong said.

She nodded, then slowly turned the buggy around.

“And, Chuck, you come, too,” Colonel Deshong said, giving them a half salute. “We've much to get caught up on.”

“I don't get out much, anymore,” Chuck shouted back at him as Hannah rode off toward the wide gate. “But I'll think about it. I'll come if Hannah will.”

Adam followed on the pinto.

“I guess Tiny should be back home by now,” Chuck said, sighing. “I wish I hadn't mistrusted Strong Wolf all that quickly. We've had such a special friendship.”

“He probably won't even ever know about what you did,” Hannah said, giving him a soft look. “And, Chuck, I'm so sorry that I gave you cause to worry. I know that I shouldn't have taken off like that. I'm here to make your life easier, not to make more of a hardship on you. Will you forgive me?”

“There's nothing to forgive you for.” Chuck said somberly. “It's me, I've got to relax more. I've got to quit being suspicious of everything everyone does. But when you didn't come home when I expected you to and the dam had been blown to bits by Strong Wolf, I couldn't help but think that just maybe he kidnapped you to spite me for having not removed the dam.”

Hannah swallowed hard and looked away from him. She knew that he didn't see well enough to see her face, to see that she was uneasy every time he mentioned Strong Wolf possibly having abducted her. He
had
. But only she and Strong Wolf would ever know. She wasn't about to tell anyone. Most certainly Strong Wolf wouldn't.

He frowned over at her. “And, Hannah. I want you to listen to me, and pay attention to what I say,” Chuck said, his voice drawn and angry. “Patrick was right in telling me to warn you about the dangers in riding alone, especially for so long a time. You are too foolhardy. Too daring. I forbid you to go horseback riding again. I'll send Adam with you. And don't you argue, Hannah. After what happened today, my mind's made up.”

“Chuck, I can't do as you say,” she blurted, aware of him emitting a gasp of horror. “I just want you to be patient with me, to try and understand that I need to be alone. I need to go horseback riding. I need to feel free.”

Knowing that he had no choice but to sit back and allow Hannah to do as she wished, he sighed, then squinted over at Hannah. “All right, sis,” he said somberly. “I do understand. If you will recall, I used to feel the same as you.”

Hannah wrenched her eyes from him. She was so sad for him, yet her thoughts drifted now to Strong Wolf.

She was so glad that Colonel Deshong had trusted Strong Wolf. And because of his trust, Strong Wolf was free.

Smiles, that with motion of their own,
Do spread and sink and rise,
Oh! Might I kiss the mountain rains
That sparkle on her cheek.

—W
ILLIAM
W
ORDSWORTH

 

 

 

Strong Wolf rode beneath a shadow of trees toward his village, glad that he had chosen not to abduct Hannah, after all. Now they might have a future together . . .
if
he would allow himself to love a woman.

Always when he thought that he might, his past came to him in flashes. The ugly secret that he carried around with him, to haunt his every waking hour, might still keep him from this woman whose very presence caused his senses to swim with passion.

“I must have her,” he whispered, then drew a sudden light rein when he spied something up ahead beside the road that sank dread into his very soul.

He was stunned at the sight for a moment longer, then sank his heels into the flanks of his horse and rode onward in a hard gallop.

When he drew light rein again, he hurriedly slid from his saddle and knelt on one knee beside the silent, bloody form of a Potawatomis brave from his village.

“Bird in Ground,” Strong Wolf whispered, lifting the brave's face from the ground. He leaned low over his brave, and placed his cheek against his mouth, glad to feel the hot breath of Bird in Ground on his flesh.

“He is alive, but ah, just look at him!” he cried aloud, causing birds to stir in the trees overhead and fly away.

“Bird in Ground,” he said, trying to arouse him. “You must awaken and tell me who did this to you.”

Bird in Ground did not stir.

Strong Wolf looked around for the brave's horse. He saw no steed, but caught the shine from the barrel of the brave's rifle as it lay just partially exposed from a thick bed of grass about a foot away.

Then his eyes jerked around when he heard many horses approaching in the distance. Through the dust he saw soldiers on horseback riding his way. Were they headed for his village to arrest him for having stolen the dynamite and for having destroyed the dam?

Wanting to protect his brave from any more harm, and wanting to get to his village quickly, Strong Wolf lifted Bird in Ground into his arms and carried him to his horse.

After getting the brave positioned in his saddle, Strong Wolf mounted the horse behind him and held Bird in Ground in place as he twined a muscled arm around the injured brave's waist. He started to ride away but stopped when the soldiers made a sudden turn in a different direction away from his village.

Strong Wolf breathed more easily when he realized that they were not after him, after all.

Wanting to get Bird in Ground to the village for medical treatment, Strong Wolf did not take the time to search for his horse. He rode away, with Bird in Ground still unconscious in his arms, wondering who did this.

And when he found the guilty party, he vowed to make him pay in blood. When he got through with him, he would leave him way more bloodied than Bird in Ground!

Strong Wolf spied the log cabins of his village a short distance away, among the birches. He nudged his horse's sides with his knees and rode onward.

There was much wailing and crying when Strong Wolf entered his village with Bird in Ground. Strong Wolf drew tight rein before Bird in Ground's lodge, where his wife and children waited for him, desperation and fear etched on their faces.

“Who did this?” Proud Heart said as he ran up to Strong Wolf to help him take Bird in Ground from the saddle.

“He cannot speak now,” Strong Wolf grumbled as he gently handed Bird in Ground to Proud Heart.

Strong Wolf then dismounted and went with Proud Heart and Bird in Ground's family into the lodge. “But when we find the one who is responsible for this fiendish act against one of our own, pity him!”

“My husband,” Sweet Wind cried as she knelt beside Bird in Ground.

Strong Wolf took a basin of water and a cloth to Sweet Wind. He knelt down on the other side of the bed as she began washing the blood from his body. Proud Heart comforted the children beside the lodge fire.

“Awaken, my brother.” Strong Wolf said. “You must tell me who did this to you. A search party will be formed. We will find the one responsible. He will pay for the crime!”

Bird in Ground's eyes slowly opened, his lashes stuck together with dried blood. He gazed up at Strong Wolf, then looked slowly over at his wife.

“My husband, you are home, safe with your wife and children,” Sweet Wind murmured, gently stroking a cloth across his bloody and battered chest. “I am so sorry for you. Who could do this to you?”

“I . . . made . . . good hunt today,” Bird in Ground said, reaching a trembling hand to his wife's cheek. “Plenty meat. Plenty hides.”

He looked at Strong Wolf again. “Did . . . you . . . find my horse and travois?” he stammered out, each word paining him.

“No, they are gone, but we will send braves to search for you,” Strong Wolf said. He took one of Bird in Ground's hands. He gently clutched it. “My brother, tell us who did this. Time is wasting. We must go and find the guilty party before he gets too far.”

Bird in Ground closed his eyes. He recalled the threat about his family, that if he told who did this, they would die!

“I know . . . not . . . of their names,” he said, hating the lie as much as he hated the men he lied for!

“There was more than one?” Strong Wolf said, his eyebrows raising.

“Yes, that I can tell you,” Bird in Ground said, moaning when pains shot through his abdomen.

“Describe them,” Strong Wolf said.

Bird in Ground turned his eyes away and said no more.

Disappointment grabbed at Strong Wolf's heart, for he knew that this brave knew at least how to describe his assailants, but had been warned into silence.

“Bird in Ground, I will say no more now, but when you are well again and can see the logic of pointing out who did this to you, I will question you again,” Strong Wolf said, rising to his feet.

Bird in Ground looked in panic up at Strong Wolf. “Do not ask, for I will not tell,” he said, then again looked away in shame.

Strong Wolf stiffened. He looked over at Proud Heart, whose own jaw was tight with disappointment. Then he left the lodge. He was almost certain who was responsible. But he couldn't take action without having absolute proof!

Streaked with purple, opaque shadows, the world was red in late sunlight as Strong Wolf entered his lodge. He sat down before his fire thinking about the bitter disappointments he had been forced to face in his lifetime.

But most of all, he feared loving the white woman, for if she turned her back on him once she knew the secret of his past, he was not sure if he could endure the disappointment.

“Should I even chance it?” he whispered.