Her hear pounded so fast, it almost drowned out the sound of horses as the Cheyenne rode past the windmill. She could see them now out of the corner of her eye.
Red Feather signaled his band of men to halt. Though their ponies stood at the edge of the clearing, Maddie could hear their voices. She couldn't make out the words, but it was obvious that they were arguing among themselves.
The sun was so hot, beads of sweat formed on her forehead and ran down the side of her face.
The argument continued. At last, one brave rode away, followed by another. She felt a surge of hope. Maybe her crazy plan would work. Maybe the Indians would be afraid to cross the circle of death. Another Indian left and finally a fourth. Just one more…Lord, one more.
But Red Feather was not so easily fooled.
Chapter 37
Go, dear God, please go!
She pleaded silently. Don't let this be the end. A dozen thoughts tumbled through her mind like spinning wheels. She thought of her father and all the dangers he'd survived, of her mother back home, peacefully filling her days with social teas. And Luke, oh, Lordy be, Luke--lying inside, most surely dead, lost to her. The last thought would have been enough to make her surrender to Red Feather had it not been for Matthew.
But she had promised Luke she'd save his son. No matter what it took or what it cost her, she would protect Matthew.
Determination flowed through her, and her earlier resolve was restored, only to be shattered a moment later when Red Feather dismounted.
With pounding heart, she watched the Indian walk up to the nearest animal, a jackrabbit, one of her best works.
Red Feather examined the rabbit closely, then checked the prairie dog next to it.
The sun was so hot, Maddie felt as if she were going to faint or melt away, or both. Her mouth felt stiff and dry, her tongue swollen. Rivers of sweat ran down her back.
It was the sweat that was bound to give her away. As soon as he reached her, he would know…
His dark skin glistened with war paint, and his whole appearance was formidable. His eyes glinted dangerously as he gave the soddy a cursory glance. He then followed the circle of animals toward Maddie.
There was something menacing in the way he walked, his moccasins soundless against the hard sod, his body tense and alert. Maddie's mind raced. There was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. What a stupid thing for her to do, putting herself in such danger. She should have taken Matthew and run. Anything would have been better than waiting here to be slaughtered. Red Feather stopped some two feet in front of her. For a moment it seemed as if the world stood still. Not even the sound of a bird broke the silence. He knew it was a trick. The others in his tribe might be fooled, but not Red Feather
She was shaking so hard, she was sure he could hear her bones rattle. Thinking of Matthew and Luke, she forced herself to hold on for their sakes. She held her eyes still, refusing to blink, and they burned from lack of moisture. She held her breath until her chest felt ready to explode. She grew dizzy, and the ground seemed to waver.
Desperate for air, she inhaled. Almost at once, Red Feather grabbed her, his lip curled in an ugly, hateful sneer.
A high, shrill sound that was neither human nor animal but a combination of both pierced the air.
Startled, Red Feather released her. She flew backwards and scrambled madly to her feet. Red Feather had hold of Matthew and was shaking him.
Snapping into action, Maddie attacked the Indian like a wildcat. "Take your hands off him!" she screamed. She surprised Red Feather with a well-aimed kick, and in the instant it took him to recover, she pulled Matthew away.
"Run, Matthew. Run!"
Red Feather grabbed Maddie's arm and pushed her to the ground. He raised his tomahawk. "White woman die!"
Fear gripped her like steel chains. The metallic taste of terror filled her mouth.
At first, she thought she'd imagined the woman's voice. It wasn't until Red Feather drew back that she realized the crackling, high-pitched voice was real.
Picking Bones stood only a few feet away, confronting Red Feather. She looked like an angry magpie protecting her nest as she pointed her finger at Maddie and gave free rein to her displeasure.
Red Feather tried to argue with the woman, but anything he said only made Picking Bones raise her voice that much more. He finally turned on his heel and angrily stomped away. The old woman continued to scream after him until he had mounted his horse and ridden away.
Completely drained, Maddie tried to still her quivering heart. It wasn't until Matthew threw his arms around her neck that she could find her voice.
"Matthew, was that you who cried out?" He nodded, and she squeezed her eyes tight. She held him at arm's length. "Can you say something? Try. You must try."
Matthew's lips quivered as he struggled to make a sound and failed.
"From the throat, Matthew." She touched him on the throat. "You can do it."
Matthew strained. "I--"
She inhaled. "That's it. Don't stop.
I what
, Matthew? Tell me."
"I--" His face turned red as if to speak required the use of every muscle in his body. "I…was…scared."
"Oh, Matthew." She hugged him close, her eyes filled with tears. "Your father will be so--"
Luke!
Fearing the worst, she looked for Picking Bones, but the woman was already some distance away. "Wait!" She jumped to her feet and ran after him. "Picking Bones. Wait!"
The fire was so close that she could actually see the flames. A buffalo bull was running in circles as if confused. Upon closer observation, however, Maddie realized it must be injured. A short distance from it a small herd of buffalo stood grazing, oblivious to the two elk that bounded by in an attempt to escape the advancing fire.
"Picking bones. Please. You must help me."
Maddie wasn't certain that the old woman could hear her. Feeling desperate, Maddie shoved her fingers into her mouth and whistled. The shrill sound carried across the prairie.
The injured bull threw his head back and bellowed loudly, startling the rest of the herd and creating a chain reaction.
In seconds, the peacefully grazing herd became a surging mass. Picking up speed, the herd trampled everything in its path. The ground shook and the air vibrated with the sounds of thundering hoofs and echoing cries. The animals raced blindly toward the fire, kicking up dust until they were all but invisible.
Maddie watched in horror, but there was nothing she could do to divert the panicked animals.
Picking Bones had stopped to watch the stampede. After the loud, rumbling sound had faded away, Picking Bones surprised Maddie by turning back toward the soddy. Apparently the old woman had decided that between the stampeding buffalo and the fast-spreading fire, she had best postpone her departure.
"Hurry!" Maddie motioned with her hand. Lord, don't let it be too late. Impatient, she grabbed hold of the woman's arms and literally pulled her the distance to the soddy.
Protesting loudly, the woman's contentious voice grew more intense when they neared the mounted animals. "They won't hurt you."
She guided the woman through the door and to the bed. "Red Feather…arrow…" She cupped her left hand near her breast. With her right hand, she made the motion of drawing an arrow from her left hand.
Lefty had taught Maddie well. Picking Bones nodded and leaned over Luke's still body. She spread her arms over him and said something in her native tongue.
Without another word, she scurried away from the bed like a little rodent and dashed out the door.
Thinking that Picking Bones' quick departure meant Luke was dead or nearly so, Maddie raced to his side and anxiously felt for his pulse. He was still alive--but barely. "Luke!" She shook him. "Please don't leave me, Luke."
"Pa…"
Matthew's plaintive cry made her fight back her panic. She swallowed hard, fighting for control. For Matthew's sake, she must be strong.
She drew Matthew to her side. "Say something to your father." Her voice shook, but it was the best she could do. "It'll help. I know it will."
Matthew leaned over his father. It was difficult for him to get the words out. And at first his voice was so hoarse that she couldn't decipher the words. But she encouraged him to keep trying, and at last he managed to make his meaning clear. "Papa, I don't want you to die like Mama."
Maddie hugged him. As much as it pained her to hear his plaintive cry, it was important for him to let his feelings out. "Keep talking, Matthew. I know your father can hear you."
Matthew continued to talk, his words hesitant and punctuated by long silences. Maddie nodded encouragement whenever he looked frustrated or seemed about to give up altogether. "Keep talking, Matthew. The more you talk, the easier it will become."
For the rest of the day and all through the seemingly endless night, Maddie sponged Luke's head with cool water. He felt feverish, and she feared the wound had become infected.
It was nearly dawn when the sound of a horse sent her flying to the door. It was Lefty. Never had she been so glad to see anyone in her life. She cried out in relief and ran out to greet him.
"Luke is hurt. Is there anything you can do? Picking Bones…heavens to Betsy, what's taking you so long?"
Lefty frowned. "Animals."
"The animals won't hurt you. They're for my museum. Now come. You must hurry." She grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged him to the soddy. He insisted upon knocking at the door before entering. He had never forgiven her for requiring him to knock, and today he glared at her as he did so. "Like woodpecker."
"Forget about knocking, Lefty. Please hurry!"
She waited impatiently for him to examine Luke's wound. "There must be something we can do?"
Lefty held up a buckskin bag. "Picking Bones heap big medicine."
"Picking Bones sent that?"
He nodded and set to work covering Luke's wound with what appeared to be wild mushrooms. He pointed to the stove. "Hot water. Drink."
She poured some hot water into a cup and handed it to him. He crushed dried leaves in his hands and dumped them into the steaming water.
"Him drink."
Lefty slipped an arm beneath Luke's shoulder and held him upright while she ladled the hot liquid down his throat, a teaspoon at a time, until the cup was empty.
Lefty nodded in satisfaction. "I go. My people wait for me."
"Wait?"
He looked defeated. "We go to government land."
She lay her hand on his arm. Her heart went out to him, to all his people. "I'm going to miss you, Lefty."
He patted his stomach. "Me do exorcists."
"I hope so. Lefty."
"Eat green stuff."
"Vegetables."
"And always remember Great Father's day." She glanced at Luke. "Is he going to be all right?"
Lefty made a circle with his hand. "You do. Me do. Now Great Spirit--" He corrected himself. "Great Father do."
She surprised Lefty by throwing his arms around his thick torso. "You're right, Lefty. It
is
in God's hands." She drew back. "Is this what you want? To live on government land?"
"Picking Bones say we keep fighting or we live in peace."
"What about Red Feather?"
"He go with us."
She thought about this. She supposed there would be those who considered this a victory. But she couldn't help but feel that something wonderful and precious was about to be taken away from this land known as Kansas.
"Be careful, Lefty. The fires…" She stopped. She had been so concerned about Luke, she'd completely forgotten about the fire.
"No fire," Lefty said.
"No fire?"
"Picking Bones say white woman talk to buffalo and buffalo put out fire."
"Talk?" Maddie tried to make sense out of what Lefty said. "You mean the buffalo…when they stampeded…they put out the fire?"