Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (16 page)

Elk Runner waved a hand in dismissal. “When Tukudeka lose way, find answers from spirits. You are lost man, Chase Russell.”

“You can say that again,” Chase inhaled deeply. “But right now, you need to excuse me.” He jumped up before Elk Runner could hold him back or say anything else. He headed straight for Sarah, who sat with the group of women again.

Without saying anything he grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet.  “We need to talk,” he said gruffly, and pushed her in front of him towards the edge of the village.

“Let go of me.” She squirmed, trying to loosen his hold on her arm.  “What are you doing?”

“I’ll let go, but you’re coming with me, so we can talk in private.”

Sarah glanced behind her. Chase did the same. All eyes were on them. Her uncle still sat with the group of men, grinning broadly in their direction. Chase released her arm. He led the way into the forest, and only when they were out of sight of the village, did he slow down.

“What is going on?” Sarah asked, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged to be married?” Chase blurted out. Why did this bother him so much? He had to get an answer from her, to find out if Elk Runner was telling the truth, or if he’d simply tried to get a reaction out of him. Sarah’s face turned ashen. Apparently he had his answer. She hadn’t spoken yet, and he turned away from her.

“I…I didn’t even know myself.” Her soft voice prompted him to face her again.

“Explain yourself,” he demanded.

“Apparently Hawk Soaring came to see my father and asked for me before they went to rendezvous. I didn’t know. My father hasn’t said anything to me.”

“So, you’re not allowed to choose your own husband? Your father arranges the marriage?”

“I always believed he would allow me to choose.”

“Do you love the guy?”

Sarah looked stunned. “I . . . he’s a good friend,” she stammered.

“That doesn’t answer the question,” Chase ground out.

Sarah took a step back. Her eyes narrowed, and he saw the anger blazing in them. “How dare you!” she scoffed. “What business is it of yours whether I like, or love, a man or not? What has gotten into you?” Her hands were on her hips now. “I don’t need to tell you anything.”

Chase paced back and forth in front of her, his hand behind his neck. He inhaled and exhaled long and slow a few times, trying to get his jumbled emotions in check. She was right. He had no business asking her these things.

You’re jealous, Russell. What the hell?
This was new to him.

“We will leave in the morning. The other women will tend to Snow Bird now. It is too late to leave today. I hope you can be civil until then,” Sarah said, her tone icy. She turned and stormed off in the direction of the village.

Chase watched her march off. What was he expecting? Sarah had her life to lead. If she wanted to marry this Hawk guy, then so be it. But he didn’t need to stick around to watch it happen. He had to find a way back home, dammit. Sarah’s mother held the answer.

The Grand Tetons. Those snow-capped mountains were pretty hard to miss. If he headed south, he’d be sure to walk right past them. The great lake she had talked about could only be Jackson Lake. If there was some kind of big meeting being held in that area, he would find it. He made up his mind. He’d get some rest tonight, and before anyone else woke in the morning, he’d be gone from here.

Chapter 17

“You and your son are doing well?” Sarah smiled brightly at Snow Bird. The young woman returned her smile, but her eyes looked tired.

“My husband will be back soon. He said he will bring meat as a gift to the village in celebration of the birth.”

Sarah nodded. Snow Bird’s husband was Elk Runner’s and Little Bird’s youngest son, Touch the Cloud. The love he had for his young wife was unmistakable. Sarah had often seen the way they stole glances at each other. That’s how it should be between a husband and a wife. Her own parents still acted like that after many years of marriage.

Could she learn to love Hawk Soaring? They got along well together. If her father insisted on the marriage, she couldn’t refuse him. Chase’s smiling, handsome face flashed before her eyes. Her heart fluttered involuntarily. Her mother’s words the day before they left for rendezvous unexpectantly came back to her.

One day you’ll meet a man and fall in love. Time will stand still whenever he’s near, and the outside world forgotten when you’re with him.

Sarah inhaled sharply. Chase made her feel that way, she realized suddenly. Was she in love with him? How could that be possible? She had known him no longer than a week. Was it possible to fall in love with someone in that short amount of time?

“Your thoughts are far away,
Imaah
. “ Snow Bird’s softly spoken words startled Sarah out of her thoughts.

“When did you first know you loved Touch the Cloud?” she blurted out.

Snow Bird smiled. “I think I knew the moment I first set eyes on him. My family traveled to this village, and he’d just returned from a hunt. He was so proud of the bighorn he killed. His father introduced us, and I think he felt as I did right from the start.” She looked down at the infant at her breast. “And here is the first of many sons I will give him as proof of our love.”

Snow Bird’s eyes came up and met Sarah’s. “Do you have feelings of love for Hawk Soaring?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Does everyone know but me?”

“You didn’t know he went to your father?” Snow Bird’s eyes grew round.

“I just found out from Little Bird yesterday,” she sighed.

Snow Bird reached out a hand to touch Sarah on the shoulder. “You do not love him.” It was a statement, not a question.

“What am I to do?” Sarah bit back tears that threatened to spill. “I think my heart belongs to someone else.”

“Perhaps this man will approach your father as well,” Snow Bird offered. Sarah laughed.

“He doesn’t know my feelings. He only arrived in the mountains a short time ago, and he wishes to return to his home. He is not looking to share his life with a woman.”

Snow Bird nodded silently. “In time, the answer will come to you. Many marriages begin as only friendship. Perhaps you can learn to love Hawk Soaring. He is a good provider.”

Sarah didn’t answer. After minutes of silence, she finally said, “I must be on my way home. I will visit again in one month when you are able to leave the hut. I don’t want to miss when you introduce your son to his father.”

“I don’t like to have to wait that long,” Snow Bird said. “But it is tradition, and it would be bad luck to break it. What will I do for one month in this wickiup?”

“Just what all the other new mothers do. Enjoy your son, make him a cradle, and clothing. You will be grateful for this time alone. Little Bird will no doubt spend time with you.”

Sarah gathered her belongings that she’d tossed along the wall of the hut. “Farewell, Snow Bird,” she said, and gave the other woman a quick hug.

“Farewell,
Imaah
. I am grateful to you for coming as my midwife.”

Sarah nodded, and stepped out into the bright morning light.  She sighed deeply, and glanced around at the other huts. Women were busy starting cooking fires. Men sat around, sharpening knives, or working on arrowheads. Elk Runner stood with Little Bird, watching her add meat to her cooking pot.

“Is Chase awake yet?” Sarah asked when she approached her aunt and uncle. The two shot quick glances at each other.

“He has already left the village,
paite
,” Elk Runner said. “I saw him leave before dawn. When I asked him where he was going, he would not tell me, only that it is his wish for you to remain here.”

Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth. “No,” she gasped. “I have to go. I’m sorry for leaving without a proper good-bye, but I have to find him. Please tell everyone I am sorry. And, Uncle, keep Grizzly here. He is not well enough yet to travel again.”

Sarah knew without a doubt that Chase had no intention of returning to the cabin. He was going to try and find the rendezvous.

******

Chase strained his wrists against the leather that bound his hands behind his back. His forehead beaded with sweat. He’d been left to stand tied to a pole for hours already, and the warm afternoon sun beat down on him relentlessly. He was glad to be wearing a shirt, or his skin would be cooked. He licked his dry and cracking lips. He’d give anything for a drink of water at the moment.

Russell, you’re such a flippin’ idiot!
Sarah had been right, of course. Amazed that he’d been able to find his way back to the cabin, Chase hadn’t stopped there. He’d trekked on, heading south along the Firehole at a jog for most of the early afternoon.

That group of Indians came at him out of nowhere. He didn’t even have time to pull his ax from his belt. If they’d have offered him a good bar brawl, he might have been able to do some damage, but they’d pointed their spears and rifles at him, and tied him up like a Christmas turkey. Sarah had said they’d kill him on the spot. He wondered now why they hadn’t done it. They’d forced him along through dense forest and an open meadow, to their village that was set up along a wide, fast-moving river. It was quite a bit different that the Indian village he’d just left that morning.

These Blackfoot lived in larger teepees covered in hides, as opposed to wooden huts. This tribe was also much larger than the small clan of Tukudeka that lived together. Women and children, and more men had shouted and cheered when the six warriors brought him in and paraded him to the center of the village. Gritting his teeth, Chase had imagined himself at the beginning of a football game, the crowd cheering as the team entered the stadium.

He hung his head. His arms throbbed from the unnatural position of having them tied behind his back all these hours. He used the tree trunk he was tied to as support to keep himself upright. Why the hell didn’t they just get it over with and end his miserable life?
You’ve failed again, Russell.
You’re just a sorry-ass loser.

At least the air seemed cooler now, with the sun beginning to set behind the mountains to the west. No one had approached him all afternoon. Just a few kids had thrown some dirt and sticks at him, which he had ignored.

A loud commotion startled him out of his half asleep state. His head felt heavy when he raised it to find out why the people were shouting once again. At the edge of the village, a large group had gathered, and someone was walking up from the river.

What the hell!
Chase squinted to see better. Goddamn her! What was she doing? Sarah marched among the villagers, her hands raised high above her head, showing her weapons meant no harm to anyone. A few of the warriors had rifles trained on her.

“No, Sarah. Why did you have to follow me,” he rasped. No one heard him. His heart slammed in his chest, afraid of what these Indians would do to her. No one tried to stop her, however. She was speaking to them, but he couldn’t hear it. Her voice didn’t carry all the way to him. She stopped suddenly, and looked right at him. She was too far away yet for him to see the expression on her face. Then she walked straight toward him.

“Angel, why did you come here?” His voice sounded pathetic in his own ears. She stood in front of him, her eyes filled with fear. Wordlessly, she uncorked her water bag and lifted it to his mouth. He gulped the cool liquid as fast as he could, half of it dripping down his face. Suddenly, the bag was yanked out of her hands. Sarah shot the offender a murderous glare, but the man only sniggered at her. He grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her away.

“Leave her alone, you son of a bitch,” Chase ground out.
What the hell are you gonna do, Russell? A man is supposed to protect the girl, not the other way around.

Sarah didn’t put up a fight as the Indian pulled her along behind him, and he watched as she disappeared inside one of the tipis. She hadn’t said a word to him.