Sagebrush Bride (50 page)

At least, Colyer hadn’t returned.

And Katie, having endured such a stressful night,
the night before, fell asleep even before the sun descended fully. After
tucking her into a blanket, the Indian came to sit beside the fire, keeping
Elizabeth company in silence, watching her keenly as she kept vigilance over
Cutter, and reviving the fire when it threatened to sputter out. In absolute
silence they sat together... until late in the night. And still Cutter’s fever
remained high, though the scarlet streaks on his leg actually receded.

Growing weary, Elizabeth bent over Cutter, laying
her head lightly upon his chest, listening to the erratic beat of his heart.
Only a few more hours and there would be light to see by. She had to hold out
till then... couldn’t sleep... mustn’t...

“
Ne-toneseve-he
?’’

Blinking when she heard his voice, Elizabeth
lifted her chin and met his gaze. “W-What?” she asked, shaking her head in
confusion.

“
Ne-toneseve-he
?”
he repeated, pointing at her. He pointed to himself suddenly. “
Na-tsesevehe Hestano- vahe
,” he said,
pounding his chest with a closed fist. “
Hestanovdhe
!”
And then he pointed toward Katie’s huddled form. “Kay-tee,” he said, repeating
the word he’d heard Elizabeth use to address her. And again to himself. “
Hestanovahe
!” And then he pointed to
Elizabeth. “
Ne-toneseve-he
?”

She nodded, understanding finally. “Elizabeth,”
she revealed. “My name is Elizabeth.”

“E-lis-ah-bet,” he repeated.

Elizabeth nodded, and then glanced down at Cutter.
Swallowing the raw ache in her throat, she placed her hand to Cutter’s chest as
she again met the Indian’s gaze.

“
Ne-toneseve-he,”
the Indian whispered, before she could speak. He pointed to Cutter and
enunciated slowly. “
Ne-toneseve-he
. “

Elizabeth had no idea what name he’d given Cutter,
but from the solemn way he spoke it, it was obviously one of great respect.
She’d thought her tears all used, but another slipped silently from her lashes.

The Indian came closer suddenly. Lifting her golden
hair into his hands, he fondled it with awe. “
Vehone- ma-kaeta
,” he whispered. He nodded and lifted her hair for
her to see. At the same time, he dug into a pouch, retrieving a shiny golden
object from it. A small medallion, which he then contrasted against her hair. “
Vehone-ma-kaeta
,” he said again.

Elizabeth tried not to appear shocked as she
stared at the medallion. Jo had one similar to it—a token of her father’s
Catholic upbringing—and she found herself wondering who had owned this
one previously. Certainly not the Indian. Vaguely she could see the raised
golden image of the Virgin Mary, holding her baby son. Her eyes closed as she
whispered a prayer for Cutter. She gulped back a sob, unable to speak for the
emotion that assailed her.

Seeing her tears, the Indian restored the
medallion into the pouch, and then moved to wipe them away. “
Naóotséotse
!” he said softly, closing his
eyes and cocking his head to one side. When she didn’t immediately comply, he
again cocked his head and closed his eyes, laying his head upon his hand. “
Naóotséotse
, “ he whispered.

He wanted her to sleep, she realized. Still unable
to speak, Elizabeth nodded weakly and laid her head down upon Cutter’s chest.

Satisfied, the Indian rose abruptly. “
Na-ase
,” he said, and turned away, and
Elizabeth thought he might intend to leave, because he lifted his canteen,
studied it an instant, and then set it back down again with a brief glance her
way. She was touched by the gesture. That he would leave her something so
precious as his waterskin.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth whispered hoarsely, her
throat raw with the salty burn of tears.

The Indian turned to walk away, and she knew
intuitively that he was, in fact, leaving her. “Thank you!” she called out a
little louder.

He stopped abruptly and turned to look at her, his
brows furrowing slightly.

Elizabeth wanted to ask him why he’d come... to
beg him not to go... not to leave her and Katie alone. But she knew that it
wouldn’t be in his best interest to stay. He would lose his life if someone
came upon them. Too many would hate him for his color. He must have known it as
well, and determined that the time had come for him to leave. She sensed it in
the wariness that had returned to him. Nevertheless, his coming had been a gift
that she would never forget, never question, and would always be grateful for,
and her mind searched for the Cheyenne word Cutter had taught her to say thank
you. “
Ne-esh
,” she repeated as
closely as she remembered.

He raised his brows curiously at her pronunciation
of the word; nevertheless, he seemed to understand, because the tiniest smile
quirked at his lips as he nodded his farewell. “
Ne-sta-va-hose-voomatse
,” he enunciated slowly. He glanced briefly
at Katie, nodding, and then walked beyond the campfire’s light, into the night.
And despite the fact that she couldn’t see him, couldn’t hear him, Elizabeth
sensed his presence for a long time afterward.

Somewhere, he was watching her.

Grateful for that act of kindness from a stranger,
she sank back down over Cutter’s still form, repeating the unintelligible words
as a listlessness enveloped her. She concentrated on the beat of Cutter’s
heart, the rhythm of his breath. Tears squeezed from her eyes as she closed
them. Seeing Cutter’s face, she imagined she heard him call to her, speak to
her. Finally she let go, and drifted...

“I
failed—miserably!”

“No you
didn’t, Lizbeth. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. The man was already
six feet under when he fell off that horse. I tried to tell you as much... but
you wouldn’t listen... There was nothing more you could have done. As my
mother’s people would have said, the shadow had long left him, he only
breathed—Chrissakes, woman don’t you know how proud of you I am?”

“P-Proud?”

“... Damn
proud!”

... Don’t
you know how proud of you I am?

There was
nothing more you could have done.

Nothing
more.

The shadow had long left him, and he only
breathed...

he only breathed...

only breathed...

Sobbing in her sleep, Elizabeth clutched at
Cutter’s sweat-soaked shirt, holding on to him as though to cleave him to her
with that desperate gesture. She couldn’t let him slip away, too... couldn’t
live without him. Her eyes flew open suddenly, to find that the fire had long
died, and once again, pink shaded the sky above. Cutter’s eyes were closed, but
his skin had cooled and his hair and clothes were soaked; a good sign.

Yet he was still. Too still.

The memory of Black Wolf lying so still in death
besieged her suddenly, and despite herself, panic found a foothold. Closing her
weary eyes in refusal, she began to hum, and when she realized what she was
doing, her face contorted and she yielded at last to the convulsive sobs that
shook her within.

“You can’t leave me,” she whispered,
grief-stricken. “You can’t—I won’t let you,” she told him, grasping his
sweat-soaked shirt firmly. With lips that trembled, she kissed his mouth,
tasting the salt of her tears as they slipped onto his wind-chapped lips.

Cutter’s eyes opened, but Elizabeth didn’t notice.
Her own eyes were closed, her lashes glistening with tears, as she pleaded with
him, savored his lips. The sight of her bent over him, kissing him with so much
tenderness, filled him with exhilaration.

He’d awakened earlier to find her sleeping
fitfully atop him, but bushed as he was, he’d let her sleep on. And within
minutes, he’d fallen back asleep himself.

“Who will help me raise Katie?” Elizabeth sobbed
brokenly. “I can’t do it alone... I need you, Cutter,” she implored. “Come back
to me... please. Katie deserves a father... I need a husband... ” She gave a
choked little laugh suddenly, burying her head against his throat, whispering a
kiss there. “Can’t raise her out of wedlock, you know... What will people say?”
she asked a little hysterically.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. Elizabeth must have felt
it and stiffened.

His throat thick with emotion, Cutter whispered,
“Shhh, bright eyes... don’t cry.” He reached out, touching a lock of her hair,
fondling it reverently between his scarred fingers, assuring himself that she
was real, that he hadn’t died and gone to heaven.

Startled by the sound of his voice, the unexpected
touch of his hand, Elizabeth glanced up, tears shimmering in her eyes. A cry of
relief broke from her lips. “Cutter?”

“You weren’t askin’ me to ride the river with you,
were you, Doc?”

Confused, Elizabeth shook her head softly,
repeating his words. “R-Ride the river?”

“Share a tepee,” he said with quiet emphasis.

“Share a tepee?” she echoed over the pounding beat
of her heart. A joyous tear slipped over her lashes and slid down her cheek as
she began to understand what it was that he was asking. “I-I don’t know how to
swim,” she replied recklessly.

Like the day she’d first laid eyes upon him, his
eyes were dark, insolent, teasing her even now. “Blind as a bat, too,” he
remarked baldly, “and can’t shoot to save your life... but I’m willin’ t’ teach
you the one... overlook the other.”

Seeing the flicker of amusement in his eyes,
Elizabeth managed a choking laugh, hot tears slipping down her cheeks. Her
fingers brushed reverently over his beard, her eyes growing dreamy, full of
yearning. “I can shoot,” she whispered, “and I believe I see very clearly, too,
Mr. McKenzie—does that mean you’re accepting?” She smiled tentatively,
the beat of her heart stilling as she awaited his reply.

For a moment he studied her intently. “Depends,”
he replied huskily, a weak smile tipping the sensuous corners of his mouth.

“On what?” she asked breathlessly.

His eyes grew openly amused, challenging her. “On
whether you’re asking.”

Elizabeth stared at him, not quite believing what
it was they were speaking of—that she was actually asking him to marry
her. She was actually asking... She couldn’t stop herself. Nothing could have
stopped her in that moment. She felt as brazen as she likely sounded.

For an instant his eyes turned sober as he
reminded her, “Won’t be easy... being a half-breed’s wife. Be more like ridin’
the rapids.”

Elizabeth choked on an elated sob. It didn’t
matter. Nothing mattered except for the fact that she loved Cutter McKenzie...
wanted to spend her life with him... wanted to bear his children. “I... I
believe I’m asking,” she murmured, half laughing, half crying. Hot, exultant
tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Believe?”

“Am.”

A satisfied gleam came into Cutter’s eyes
suddenly, and his husky whisper reached into her soul. “Then I reckon I’m
acceptin’, Miz Bowcock.”

With a joyous cry, Elizabeth surged forward,
kissing his mouth passionately, sobbing without restraint. “I love you, Cutter
McKenzie!” She withdrew suddenly, laying her forehead against his chin. “But
you frightened me!” She lifted her anguished gaze to his. “Why didn’t you tell
me you were hurt?”

“Reckon I thought I was too tough to be brought
down by a little-bit scratch,” he told her honestly.

Relief washed over her to hear that it wasn’t a
lack of trust in her. “It wasn’t a scratch. Don’t ever do that to me again.
Promise me you won’t!”

He nodded.

“Promise!”

“I swear it,” he whispered fervently, urging her back
for another silky taste, intending to seal his vow with a kiss.

She sighed breathlessly, whimpering as he kissed
her chin and then her lips. “I couldn’t bear to lose you,” she confessed.

Cutter responded with an oblivious groan, covering
her mouth with his own and kissing her with all the emotion he’d locked away
for so long, giving it all. Lacing his fingers behind her neck so she couldn’t
withdraw if she’d wanted to, he thrust his tongue possessively into her mouth,
reveling in the sweetness and warmth she offered, his arms going about her...

“Are ya gonna make me look away now?” a little
voice interjected with dismay, startling them both. “Granpa always makes me
look away!”

Elizabeth jerked away in alarm, and Cutter
released her promptly. Somehow they’d managed to forget Katie’s presence.

Cutter cleared his throat suddenly.

Rushing at Katie’s words, Elizabeth stared at
Cutter in shock a long moment, not certain she’d understood correctly. And
then, as she remembered Miss Mimi’s impromptu speech, and Cutter’s insight, her
jaw slipped and her lips parted to speak.

No words came.

Cutter gave her a long look and arched his right
eyebrow, as though to say, I told you so, and then suddenly let out a peal of
laughter at her expression.

Unable to contain it, Elizabeth burst out laughing
as well, holding her arms out for Katie.

Katie flew into them, squeezing Elizabeth with all
her might. And then her head popped upright as a dog’s bark reached her ears.
“Look!” she shouted suddenly, pointing over Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Look! It’s
Shifless and Granpa!” She surged to her feet and began to run toward them.

Cutter lifted his head to watch her, along with
Elizabeth. And it dawned on him in that instant, as he watched Katie run
through the tall grass toward her yapping dog, that Elizabeth had saved his
life, as well as Katie’s and her own. Without Elias, because Elias was
obviously just returning. He turned to look at Elizabeth in amazement.

She was watching Katie, too, her profile beautiful
from where he lay. Her eyes sparkled with love, and he thought in that instant
that he might be the luckiest man who ever lived.