Song Of The Warrior (24 page)

The lieutenant didn't show up the next day until dark, and he brought Rainbow with him. She seemed so ashamed, she wouldn't look at Bear.

Bear swore. “You bastard, that's no way to treat a woman! What did you do to her?”

Billy brushed the lock of curly hair out of his eyes. “I enjoyed her, that's what women are for. I'll do the same thing with Willow when I get her.”

Rainbow said, “Bear, he's just tormenting you.”

“Shut up!” the officer snarled. “You're sure no credit to your people; what have you ever done except play the whore and try to drink the saloons dry?”

She didn't answer, because there was no answer. She looked at Bear, feeling tears overflowing, knowing the lieutenant was right. She had never done anything for the good of her people. If the two white men found the gold, they would kill Bear; there wouldn't be any reason to keep him alive.

Now she smiled up at the bluecoat. “Why don't we go have some fun? Wait until you hear from Deek before you try to get more information from the warrior?”

Bear looked at her in dismay. “Why, you are a worthless slut! Have you no concern for your people?”

She forced herself to shrug. “After last night, I've decided I'd be better off looking after myself!”

Billy grinned. “Now there's a smart girl.”

Bear watched them leave together. Maybe he had had too much faith in Rainbow, expecting that she might try to escape and carry word to the Nez Perce that Deek knew the whereabouts of the gold. Yet, just like his brother, he had thought that there was some small bit of character still in her.

It was not far from morning with a bored sentry occasionally checking his cell, when Bear saw Rainbow stick her head around the corner.

“Rainbow! I thought you and the lieutenant—”

“Shh!” She held a warning finger to her lips. “He's drunk and asleep. I'm going to try to get you out of here.”

Bear saw the dim light flash on the knife under her skirt. “No,” he protested, “don't take the chance, I—”

“Who goes there?” the sentry shouted and Bear froze at the sound of his boots.

Terror crossed Rainbow's pretty features. “Get out of here,” Bear urged.

Rainbow shook her head and smiled. She had come here to free Bear and she intended to do it, even if it cost her her life. While she had behaved like a drunken white whore the last few months, deep in her heart, she was Nez Perce and she must regain her honor.

The guard came up and grabbed her arm. “Now, girlie, just what do you think you're up to?”

She knew this private with the missing tooth, she had slept with him before. “Hey, Joe, it's just me; I got a thirst and I got to thinking about you being here alone.”

She watched Joe grin, glance toward the cell. Bear had lain down on his hard bunk and appeared to be asleep. The keys to the cell hung from Joe's belt.

She smiled up at him. “What about it?”

He grinned. “Maybe later; this ain't the place or time. Besides, I'd be in big trouble if you was found here.”

She pressed her breasts against him. “Now, Joe, who'd tell if we just messed around a little and the Injun's asleep.”

“Rainbow,” Joe said, “how can you be such a shameless slut?”

“Just a talent for it, I suppose,” Rainbow purred and slipped her arms around the white man's neck, rubbed her breasts against his chest. “I have all sorts of skills, Joe, things no woman has ever done to you. You ever . . . ?” she whispered in his ear.

“I-no, never like that,” he said. She felt his breath quicken against her ear.

“Believe me,” she promised with a smile, “you'd like it.”

“Now you're talking, honey.” The soldier leaned his rifle against the wall, put his hand down the front of her shift, and squeezed her breasts.

She forced herself not to recoil in disgust. Rainbow was cold sober now, for the first time in months. She saw herself as she was; a worthless drunk who was no credit to her family or her people. Her little boy would hang his head under taunts of his mother's shame. She must get those keys for Bear.

Even as she looked up at the guard, she pressed against him so that he took a step backward to keep his balance. “Don't be so eager, honey.” He grinned. “We got plenty of time.”

She smiled, reaching down to touch and stroke him. His manhood was swelling and his breath quickened. Rainbow pressed against him again. “I don't know if I can wait.”

She had pressed him into taking another step backward and that put him almost within Bear's reach. Bear had grown quiet and moved to the bars as if he realized suddenly what she was doing.

Should she stab the guard or try to get the keys off his belt, hand them to Bear? Whatever she did, she wouldn't get a second chance. She kissed him long and lingering, putting her tongue in his mouth, rubbing her breasts against his chest. With a groan, he pulled her into his arms. “You hot little slut, I'll be off duty in a couple of hours; then we'll really get down to business!”

She pressed him a little farther back, but he was too aroused by her wanton body to realize that he took another step backward. It was close enough. Bear's big hands snaked out through the bars, grabbed the man by the throat, holding him against the bars, throttling him.

He must not be allowed to scream out for help. Rainbow's heart pounded hard as she attempted to pull away from the struggling man who hung onto her, his breath rattling in his throat as Bear choked him. He was holding her so that she couldn't stab him.

“The keys!” Bear whispered hoarsely. “Rainbow, get the keys!”

She reached for them but the guard was thrashing about, fighting for his very life as he hung onto her and tried to take the knife from her hand. The struggle among the three of them continued for what seemed an eternity, the only sounds, the man thrashing and choking, struggling to break free.

Abruptly, the desperate guard twisted the knife from her hand. Too late, Rainbow tried to pull away, but he brought it back and stabbed her. She felt the cold steel plunge deep in her side, but even in her agony, she bit her lip until it bled and did not cry out. She must not bring more guards running. She staggered backward even as the soldier went limp, fell to the floor, dead.

“Rainbow?” Bear put his face against the bars. “Are you all right? What happened?”

She tried to stay on her feet, but her legs were collapsing under her. The stone of the floor felt cold and hard against her face.

“Rainbow? Are you hurt? Can you get the keys?”

She managed to turn her face to look around. The guard lay in a blue heap like a bundle of discarded rags. She looked up at Bear's anxious face, tried to speak, failed. Her insides felt as if they'd had molten fire poured in them. Very slowly, she reached to touch where the knife was buried to its hilt, held her hand up and stared at the warm, scarlet stain on her fingers almost as if she could not comprehend what it was.

Bear gasped. “Rainbow, oh, Rainbow!”

“The keys,” she gasped, “on his belt.”

Bear reached through the bars but the guard lay too far from the prisoner's reach. She must get the keys and free Bear. It was so near and yet so far across the floor to the body. She couldn't do it; she must do it.

Rainbow began to crawl across the floor an inch at a time, leaving a wet, scarlet trail. Every movement was agony and her sight was blurred. All she wanted to do was lie here and let the light fade out slowly like the sun setting gradually across lavender and gray horizons. No one could expect any more than that from her; to die with as little pain as possible.

She stared up at Bear's anxious face and paused. He was watching her as if he did not know what to say. With one hesitant, shaking hand, she reached to take the keys from the body.

She attempted to stand; couldn't. She looked from the keys to Bear.

“Toss it to me,” he whispered.

She tried, but she was weak. It sounded as loud as a cannon, the metal clattering against the iron bars of the cell as she tossed it. Bear grabbed for it, but he missed and it fell back on the stone floor and bounced out of his reach. She struggled to pick the keys up again and looked at him. Her vision was blurring except for a bright light that seemed to be coming at her down a long tunnel. Funny, it was more brilliant than a lantern and it was drawing her like a moth to a warm glow.

“Rainbow,” Bear whispered, “please try; please....”

It wasn't fair. She was in agony and she was dying, she knew that, but she felt no panic, only the terrible urgency of helping Bear before the bright light went out forever in her mind. She knew that if the soldiers came and found the dead man, they would execute Bear; put a rope around his neck and hang him like a dog, jerking and gasping on a string. She couldn't let them do that.

Her hand closed over the keys again. How far was it? It might as well be across the length of the Lolo Trail, she couldn't raise herself an inch off the floor. Yet she looked up at Bear's face, saw the terrible need there and knew she must do it somehow. It took time to pull herself into a sitting position and the warm red blood ran down her side and soaked her clothes as she did so. Even the bright light was fading now. The only sound was her own agonized breathing as she struggled up. For a moment, she was not certain she had the strength to put the key in the lock, turn it.

She used her last bit of energy, was only dimly aware of the sound of the key turning. Then Bear swung the door wide, bent to catch her as she fell. “Oh, Rainbow, I'm sorry.”

She managed to smile at him. “I—Tell them ... tell them I was brave and did honor by my people,” she whispered.
“Kuse timine,
go with a good heart, great warrior . . .
Taz alago....”

Gently, he kissed her cheek.
“Taz alago,
goodbye, brave Nez Perce girl.” Bear held her close a long moment, listening to her breathing more and more shallow. Abruptly, she smiled and died in his arms.

What had she seen in that last moment? Her dead warrior husband coming for her? “I will tell them, Rainbow,” he promised softly, blinking back the sudden moisture in his eyes. “I will tell them.”

Very gently, he lay her on the stone floor. There was nothing more he could do for her. He took the guard's rifle that leaned against the wall, but Bear could not bring himself to touch the knife sticking in her side.

 

 

Now he slipped from the stockade into the darkness, remembering that the lieutenant had said he had Bear's stallion, War Paint, pastured somewhere close. Should he go after Deek or ride to join his people? It would take many days of hard travel to find the Nez Perce, but waiting for him would be his loyal brother and his beloved Willow. With renewed hope, Bear sneaked through the darkness. He was free!

Deek Tanner reined in and stared at the raging water, then glanced up at the hot summer sun. Yep, all he had to do now was swim his horse across the river, find that treasure's hiding place in Rocky Canyon.

He grinned as he nudged his horse into the current. That stupid Billy might think Deek was going to return, but if he found that gold, Deek intended to hit the road for some high-on-the-hog living; maybe San Francisco or Chicago. He certainly didn't intend to return and share with that green young officer.

Damn, the water was high and the current strong. Deek felt the swift water pulling at his legs as his horse swam. For just an instant, he wondered if he should have come alone? If he got in trouble here, there was no one to help him. Then Deek shook his head and urged his mount deeper. He didn't trust anyone and he didn't want to share the gold. Besides, Deek was a survivor ever since he'd come out of that wagon train massacre as a boy and been raised by Injuns. He'd be okay. It seemed like a long way across the river with it running at flood stage from the ice melting high in the mountains, but the horse swam well. Maybe he should have waited a few weeks until the river level dropped.

Deek shook his head and clung to the saddle horn as the horse swam. If he had waited, it would have been safer, all right, but in the meantime, Billy Warton might double-cross him, figure out how to steal the gold before Deek could return. Also, that Injun, Bear, might have told someone else who would come after it.

The gelding's hooves touched bottom as it finally reached a shallow place and began to walk out, breathing heavily. Deek took a deep breath of relief himself as he guided the bay up on the bank and dismounted. His clothes were soaked and he was exhausted, but none of that meant anything to him; all he could think of was gold.

Taking a big chaw of tobacco, Deek rode the horse toward the canyon near the lake. When he reached it, he tethered his mount where it could graze and began searching the rocks of the canyon walls. Could that Injun have lied to him? Deek spat tobacco juice and grinned, shook his head. Bear was too noble and worried about Rainbow to lie, Deek had read that in his dark eyes. That was where Billy Warton had erred. By the time Billy figured out that Bear had told the truth, Deek would have found that gold and be long gone.

He must have searched for almost an hour before he saw the odd-shaped rock; it was just the size and shape Bear had described. If he hadn't been a big man, Deek wouldn't have been able to move it. As it was, he had to find a stout tree, use it as a lever to roll it away from the cave opening.

God, it was hot out here in the sun. Even though his clothes were still damp, the sun was drying them fast. Deek stuck his head in the cave. It was dim at the entrance, but cool, and smelled dank. Deek stepped in, moving gingerly, waiting for his eyes to become accustomed to the cool darkness.

Near his head, he heard the sudden rattle and a shape blurred, moving fast. Deek jumped backward, pulse racing as he grabbed for his pistol. The big rattlesnake lying up on the rock ledge had missed his face by a fraction. Deek was close enough to smell the rank scent of it as he aimed and fired.

It fell at his feet, writhing around his boots, its head blown away. God, that had been a scare! If he'd been bit by a rattler that big, Deek would have died before he could get back across the river for help. Well, he'd always been a lucky bastard! He was meant to have that gold, that's all there was to it.

His eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, and Deek scratched his beard and looked around. The dim light revealed an iron kettle over by a rock. For a moment, as his heart pounded, he didn't dare hope. Yet here it was. After all these years, he'd found the legendary Nez Perce gold. It had been worth the trouble to risk his life to return to the West for it.

Even though he was stronger than an ox team, he could barely lift that kettle. Deek had to use all that strength to half carry, half drag that kettle outside into the sunlight. When the sun hit those gold nuggets, it reflected so brightly, it almost blinded him.

“Hot damn!” Deek stopped to run his hands through the nuggets, plunging his arms into the kettle up to his elbows. “Gold! Real gold! I'm rich! Oh, God, I'm richer than one of them New York bankers!”

He began to dance around, playing with the nuggets, kissing them. Oh, it was better than his fantasy! Already he could imagine himself duded up, a diamond stickpin in a red cravat, maybe a silk top hat. A fine hat, pulled low on his forehead, would hide the ugly scar made long ago when he'd lost that duel with shovels on a Missouri chain gang. Deek would live like a king with the best of everything. However, first, he had to get his find safely out of this canyon. Easier said than done, Deek thought as he took off his hat and scratched his tangled, greasy hair. How to do that?

Good sense told him to take a little and hide the rest, come back for it later. But suppose in the meantime, someone else found it? Even though a fraction of it would allow Deek to live in luxury the rest of his life, he wanted all of it and he wanted it now. Maybe he could take the whole treasure if he stuffed his pockets full, filled his saddlebags, too.

There was too much gold for that, Deek soon found out. He went to get his horse and quickly loaded his saddlebags so that he could barely heave them across the back of the saddle. Mighty heavy load, Deek thought, for a tired horse. Oh, hell, the nag would manage to cross the river all right. What about the rest of the gold?

Deek surveyed it. No, there was just too much of it to take at one time; he'd have to cross the river again to bring out the rest. In the meantime, he could carry some more in his pockets and vest. Deek grinned as he began to stuff the nuggets in every pocket. Wasn't this his favorite fantasy; finding so much gold he could barely walk under the weight of it? It was going to be a major undertaking to mount up, as laden as he was with gold, but he wasn't about to take it out of his pockets. By loading himself and his saddlebags, he could probably get it all out in two or three trips. It was an ordeal to get up into the saddle, but he managed it, then rode to the river. Deek nudged the horse into the shallows. The horse hesitated, reluctant to swim again with the weight it carried, but when Deek spurred it savagely, it plunged into the current and began to swim for the other side.

The gold really did weigh a lot, Deek thought, but he had a good horse, they would make it. The tired horse fought the current, but it swam slowly, the cold water lapping at Deek's legs. “Come on, hoss, keep going!”

He spurred the horse again. Finally, he felt its hooves touch bottom and it staggered up the bank, winded, sides heaving. “God, I'm one lucky bastard!” Deek chortled and struggled to dismount. It was difficult with all the heavy gold in his pockets, but he made it. He'd pile this up, go back for more. Deek emptied his pockets, and the saddlebags, piled the gold behind some rocks.

He turned and looked back across the river. The distance looked farther now, but that was only because he was tired, Deek thought. He ought to quit for the night. Hell, if he had any sense, he'd ride out with what he already had. It was plenty to keep a man in whores, whiskey, and good cigars the rest of his natural life. As tired as he and the bay gelding were, he ought to forget the remainder, take what he had and leave. But Deek was greedy; he wanted it all.

He squinted, looking up at the late afternoon sun. His common sense told him to at least wait until tomorrow to cross the river again. He could let his horse rest and graze, he himself could camp and eat.

“Naw.” Deek shook his head. He didn't want to camp in this ghostly canyon all night; his Blackfoot upbringing told him there might be spirits here, or at least, bad medicine for anyone who disturbed the Nez Perce treasure. Besides, suppose Billy Warton came riding up with a troop of cavalry or them Injuns returned?

He intended to get all the gold across the river tonight. Then he would take what he could carry and ride out. The rest he would bury to dig up later. With a weary sigh, Deek swung up on the horse again. The gelding was tired, too. It balked when Deek rode to the river, plainly reluctant to plunge in again.

“You damned hunk of carrion!” Deek spurred it savagely and forced it into the shallow eddies. At Deek's rough insistence, the gelding plunged into the river and began to swim for the other side. The horse was tired; Deek could tell because it took so long to make it across the river. And also, they came ashore downstream from the first place they had crossed because the horse was too weary to swim strongly. Well, maybe he would forget about making a third trip over.

The horse was too weary to do anything but stand, head hanging, sides heaving as Deek loaded the saddlebags again and threw them across the back of the saddle. He stuffed his pockets again, grinning at the old fantasy of having so much money, he could barely walk under the weight. In fact, Deek had so much gold in his pockets and vest, he couldn't mount up without taking some of it out, returning it to the kettle. Maybe he would wait until tomorrow to make that third trip across, he decided. He dragged the kettle to hide it behind some bushes. A fella couldn't be too careful about hiding gold.

He had a hard time mounting, with his pockets and vest loaded, but he made it. This time, he had to really dig his spurs into the bay and beat it with a stick to get the horse into the river. It was plainly reluctant to swim against that strong current again. However, Deek raked his spurs across the animal's sides and the animal was forced to wade out into the swift water and begin to swim. It occurred to Deek that all this stress and cold water would probably kill the horse, but so what? Horses were cheap and he had enough gold now that he could afford to buy the finest mounts and ride them to death every day if he felt like it.

The horse was in trouble, Deek realized suddenly as it fought the current, and began to drift downstream. It was swimming lower in the water, too, as the cold water rose against Deek's legs. Once as it struggled, its head went under, then it came up, coughing and swimming hard.

“Goddamn it!” Deek cursed and clung to the horse. Damn horse was gonna drown when it was only a few more feet to shore. Deek dug his spurs in, urging the horse toward the bank. He didn't care if the horse died, but he didn't intend to lose that gold to the river.

He was a pretty good swimmer himself. He might make it, even if the horse didn't. Deek reached back and grabbed the saddlebags, lifted them across his shoulders with a mighty effort. If the horse was swept away, Deek didn't intend to lose that treasure.

The gelding struggled under him and the current took it, carrying it downstream. Deek came out of his saddle and was thrown into the raging river as the horse thrashed. He rose to the surface, sputtering and gasping, then the weight of the gold pulled him under. In a panic, Deek shed the saddlebags, and fought his way back to the surface. It was only a few feet more to shallow water and he was a good swimmer. Farther down the river, he saw the horse stumble ashore and stand there, sides heaving. Damn horse!

The weight of the gold in his pockets began pulling Deek under again in spite of his strong strokes. For a moment, he gulped water, then fought his way up to the air. He was panicking now, fighting to get the weight out of his pockets, his vest, throw it away.

He couldn't get rid of it fast enough. It was hard to empty his pockets while struggling for a breath. He fought his way to the surface once more, then the weight of the heavy nuggets pulled him under again and began to sweep him downstream. The water was dark and icy cold as he went down. He looked up toward the light and the life-giving air as he struggled to get rid of the gold. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get it all out of his pockets.

At the moment he began to gulp water, Deek would have given every ounce of gold in the whole world for one breath of air; precious air, but no one was bartering. He strangled on cold water and tried to throw away the nuggets, but their weight was pulling him to the bottom of the river. As in a dream, he noted how the smooth stones at the bottom looked as he was swept past. Here and there, a bright nugget glittered as it fell through the dark water from his numbed fingers. Gold. He had more than enough gold to buy a kingdom; but it wouldn't buy him a single breath of life-giving air. . . .

 

 

August 8. Colonel Gibbon wiped his dripping face and reined in his horse. “The Nez Perce should never have been allowed to get this far after they left the Lolo Trail. We hope to surprise them, gentlemen, while they are camped here at the Big Hole.”

The other officers looked at one another and back at the troops behind them on the march. “You don't think we should wait for General Howard to arrive?”

Gibbon shook his head. “The longer we wait, the more likely they are to discover us. We need to hit them hard at dawn tomorrow. Then we'll round up survivors, send them back to the reservation. The sooner this is over, the better!”

 

 

Willow had lost track of time and distance, she thought as she settled herself with the children to read to them. At this place called Big Hole, the people were short on everything except wounded and misery. It sometimes seemed all she had done for weeks now was trudge from one place to the next. Chief Joseph had turned his column south when they came off the Lolo Trail to avoid the soldiers coming from Missoula. The Nez Perce were innocent enough to think they might be safe in Montana, although Willow had tried to tell them whites on both sides on the Bitterroot Mountains were their enemies.

As usual, little Cub crawled up in her lap. She patted him absently and wondered what had ever become of his mother. At least, Willow was providing a little brightness to the children's lives with her lessons. “Now, children, we are ready for the end of the story.”

Even as she began to read, she was conscious that Raven had walked up, stood on the edge of the circle, listening. She read to them of Sydney Carton taking the place of Charles Darnay in the prison cell, knowing full well the other man was scheduled to be executed. She read of the crowd shouting at Sydney Carton as he rode in the cart toward the place where he would be beheaded, still pretending to be the condemned Charles, his beloved's husband. The drunken wastrel would make the supreme sacrifice, die in the other man's place because Carton loved the girl so much, he wanted nothing as much as her happiness.