Elaine Barbieri (6 page)

Where were they?

Why had Shadow Walker brought her here?

The women of the camp walked out toward the sunswept rolling hills nearby. Young and old, they were intent on filling their empty sacks with berries sweetened by the sun. Observing, Spotted Bear had no thought for the rewards to be reaped from the squaws’ task. Instead, he watched Rattling Blanket where she lagged behind the others. He noted her limping gait and sneered inwardly. Rattling Blanket was old. She had outlived her usefulness.

Spotted Bear gave a deprecating snort. After Rattling Blanket was widowed by a white man’s bullet years earlier, Shadow Walker appointed himself provider for her lodge. Still a young brave, he had hunted with Red Shirt and shared his bounty with Rattling Blanket and others who were similarly deprived. In doing so, he had added to his
stature in the camp, with many saying he was noble indeed in providing for others as he had been provided for.

But Spotted Bear knew the true reason for Shadow Walker’s “noble” deeds. Shadow Walker had feared he would be unable to surpass him in their youthful rivalry so he had used the situation to best him in a way that he knew his rival could not match.

Spotted Bear’s jealousy flared anew. No, he would not pretend to serve widows and orphans, and for that he had suffered as Shadow Walker’s status within the camp had grown. The camp crier shouted Shadow Walker’s praises. Cheyenne maidens whispered their preference for him. Children called out his name.

There was only one person who cast a shadow on Shadow Walker’s image.

A bitter smile curled Spotted Bear’s lips. The camp still spoke of the mockery the girl had made of Shadow Walker’s gift to Rattling Blanket. All had watched as Shadow Walker marched the girl through camp to demonstrate that she had been chastised for defying him, but the people were not content.

Questions remained in their minds—questions Spotted Bear was determined to answer when Shadow Walker’s captive belonged to him.

The girl’s slight image appeared before Spotted Bear. Her arrogance drew him. He would enjoy teaching the girl obedience, and he would savor her submission while
proving to the Cheyenne for all to see that where Shadow Walker had proved weak, he was strong.

Dwelling on that confidence, Spotted Bear stepped up to Rattling Blanket as she drew abreast of him. He spoke her name.

Her hair still dripping from the pool and her oversized shirt plastered wetly against her, Miranda stood at the edge of Shadow Walker’s makeshift camp. She had returned moments earlier to see the campfire burning low with remnants of a recently devoured fowl lying beside it, and her stomach had rumbled appreciatively. She scanned the area briefly, seeing nothing else edible in sight, then looked at Shadow Walker. Her stomach growled more loudly, raising his gaze to hers.

Realizing that to deny the obvious was senseless, Miranda announced, “I’m hungry.”

His gaze holding hers, he made no response.

Miranda’s cheeks flamed as she repeated, “I’m hungry,” then added, “You brought me here. What do you intend to do now? Starve me?”

Shadow Walker stood up, crossed to a bundle lying across from the fire, and withdrew a leathery substance. He held it out to her in silence.

“What’s that?”

“Your people call it jerky. It will satisfy your hunger.”

Repelled by its appearance, Miranda replied, “Is that what you ate?”

He responded, “What did you eat when you were in Rattling Blanket’s lodge?”

Miranda raised her chin. “I ate whatever Rattling Blanket ate.”

“Rattling Blanket is old and her legs are weak, yet although you refused to help her, she shared the results of her labors with you.”

“I was there against my will.”

“Did Rattling Blanket treat you cruelly?” When Miranda did not reply, Shadow Walker continued, “Yet you treated her with little respect.”

Suddenly furious, Miranda grated, “No matter what you say, I have no intention of pretending that Rattling Blanket, any of the others at the camp,
or you
are anything other than what you are.”

His eyes narrowing, Shadow Walker took an aggressive step. “And what
are
we?”

“You know what you are!” Her heart pounding, Miranda spat, “You’re the enemy!”

Rocked with sudden dizziness, she took an unsteady step backward. She swayed but was kept from falling when Shadow Walker slipped a supportive arm around her and drew her toward the blanket. He ordered, “Sit.”

Despising her legs’ betrayal, Miranda collapsed onto
the blanket. She sat in silence, striving to right her whirling senses. She looked down at the jerky that Shadow Walker had shoved into her hand and frowned as he ordered, “Eat.”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

Crouching beside her, Shadow Walker gripped Miranda’s chin and held her gaze level with his as he said, “You are weak from your injury and from hunger. Only a fool would refuse food when her stomach is empty.”

The truth of Shadow Walker’s words could not be denied. Tempted to throw the unappealing jerky back at him, Miranda instead pulled her chin free, took a resolute bite, and began chewing. Surprised by its pleasant taste, she took another bite, and another.

Realizing that she had eaten the entire piece, Miranda looked up at Shadow Walker and said, “Well, I ate it. Are you satisfied now?”

He responded, “It is your stomach that is gratified, not mine.”

Thirsty, Miranda reached for the water sack nearby, only to feel Shadow Walker’s hand close over hers, restraining her grip.

To her questioning glance, Shadow Walker responded, “You are not yet fully strong, and so you may drink, but I warn you now—eat while food is still offered. Drink while water is still available to you. Rest, while you still can, for tomorrow is another day.

“Tomorrow …”

Shadow Walker continued, his eyes dark with an emotion she could not identify, “Tomorrow you will not eat food for which you did not work. You will not drink water which you did not bring to the campfire. You will not ride if you neglect the animal which carries you, and you will not retain the freedom you now enjoy if you attempt to escape.”

His
game …
his
rules.

A sudden fury flushed Miranda’s face red. No, she would not submit to Shadow Walker’s threats!

As if reading her mind, he repeated, in a voice deep with promise, “I speak only once in warning.”

Responding in the only way she would allow herself, Miranda reached for the water pouch and raised it to her lips. She gulped it greedily, uncaring that the water ran out of the corners of her mouth down onto her shirt. She stared at Shadow Walker as he stood up and walked to the other side of the fire. She did not speak when he pushed another piece of jerky into her hand.

Instead, she ate, more determined with every bite.

“Rattling Blanket …”

Rattling Blanket turned toward Spotted Bear at the sound of her name. She glanced at the squaws walking ahead of her. The distance between them was widening. They would reach the berry patches long before she, and
she would need to walk farther to find the sweetest berries.

Realizing she had no choice, Rattling Blanket turned back to Spotted Bear. She scrutinized his face with familiar sadness. She remembered Shadow Walker and Spotted Bear as children. She recalled watching both boys grow tall and strong and pleasing to the eye. She knew even then that Spotted Bear compared himself with Shadow Walker at every turn, and that in his eyes he came up lacking. And she knew that Spotted Bear could not be satisfied with any accomplishment, however great, unless that accomplishment left Shadow Walker in its wake.

Those thoughts fresh in her mind, Rattling Blanket waited for Spotted Bear to speak.

His expression sober, Spotted Bear began, “The camp still laughs at the antics of Shadow Walker’s gift to you. The girl shamed you in front of all. I sorrow at the amusement others take at your expense, Rattling Blanket. The girl is difficult and willful. The squaws would have you turn her over to them so they might reprimand her.”

Rattling Blanket shook her head in spontaneous mute refusal, drawing Spotted Bear’s frown as he said, “Your heart is kind, but your kindness errs.”

Speaking up at last, Rattling Blanket countered softly, “Shadow Walker knows my thoughts. He will correct the girl in his way.”

“Shadow Walker’s way is ineffective.”

“All will see the result of Shadow Walker’s efforts
when he brings the girl back to me, and they will know that Shadow Walker’s way was right.”

Taking a step closer, Spotted Bear attempted a smile as he said, “I would save you from the trouble of difficult encounters to come with the girl.”

Rattling Blanket responded directly, “The girl acts in ignorance of our ways, but her heart is good. She has only to learn.”

“I would teach her.”

Her gaze burning deep into his, Rattling Blanket replied, “The girl is Shadow Walker’s gift to me. I must respect it and his word that he will bring her back to serve me well.”

“Shadow Walker is a fool!”

Noting the trembling that had begun to overtake Spotted Bear, and the hatred he could no longer conceal, Rattling Blanket responded simply, “The girl is Shadow Walker’s gift to me. I cannot offend his good intentions by giving her to another.”

Abandoning all pretense, Spotted Bear grated, “You will do well to consider my offer, for if you do not, the day will come when you will regret it deeply.”

Her voice heavy with the sorrow of the encounter, Rattling Blanket responded simply, “I have given my answer.”

Turning away from Spotted Bear without allowing him the opportunity of a reply, Rattling Blanket walked on,
following the squaws who had already left her far behind. But she had no thought for the berries to be gathered that day, for she knew that Spotted Bear’s hatred followed her every heavy step of the way.

The shadows lengthened as the day came to an end. Having made camp for the night, Shadow Walker sat in the silence, looking toward the mountains in the distance. The red-gold of the setting sun flowed down the slopes in a last glorious display of daylight and he smiled in wonder, knowing that in the valleys there, buffalo still roamed freely, and that smaller game was abundant. It was a place of beauty that he knew well.

Finished with his evening meal, Shadow Walker glanced across the campfire toward the spot where the girl lay asleep. The strength with which she had awakened that morning had quickly faded, and she had slept much of the day. He had allowed it so that she might regain her full strength for the journey to come.

Shadow Walker scrutinized the girl’s still face. Her skin was pale, but of a tone that softened in the sun to a golden hue. Her hair lay in unruly strands about her face, the heavy golden locks seeming to hold the sun’s radiance even in the limited light remaining. He remembered that her eyes were large, and the color of the sky, and that her finely shaped lips formed a brilliant smile that he had glimpsed only briefly.

His gaze lingering on the girl’s outline beneath her blanket, he recalled the night past when they had slept side by side.

Shadow Walker sobered. He also remembered the girl’s anger when he spoke of the manner in which his camp would be conducted. She had not responded, but her expression had been revealing.

Walking Bird’s words returned unexpectedly to stir Shadow Walker’s ire. The girl was pale and weak now, but she had been neither pale nor weak when she had insulted Rattling Blanket’s generosity and angered the camp. He knew her defiance would return with her strength, and that the purpose to be served in undertaking this journey still remained.

He stared at the girl moments longer. But he was not a fool. He knew that what had begun as a challenge to his authority had become something else, something that stirred him deeply.

Suddenly frowning, he lay down and wrapped his blanket around him. The girl was difficult She would continue to fight him with all her strength. Yet he knew that in the end, no matter the course their journey took, victory would be his.

CHAPTER SIX

“No, I won’t do it.”

Miranda stood her ground. She was exhausted. Shadow Walker had awakened her at dawn. They had eaten a meager meal of jerky before she was ordered up onto her horse to continue their journey. They had traveled through another long day making only periodic halts that had provided little relief During that time, Shadow Walker had treated her coldly, speaking little, seeming intent on his own thoughts.

It had occurred to her during the endless sunlit afternoon as the ache in her back had become relentless and exhaustion had reached its prime that Shadow Walker looked somehow stronger with each mile they traveled: that he sat his mount even straighter as her back sagged, that he easily held his head erect as hers nodded, and that although her eyelids grew increasingly heavier, his gaze remained alert and clear.

She didn’t like it. She didn’t like being at the mercy of an enigmatic Cheyenne who had spent the first day of their journey caring for her, only to utter soft-spoken threats later. She didn’t like the realization that he thought his
warnings would cow her. She didn’t like the uncertainty of not knowing when … where …
why
they were traveling.