Authors: Georgina Gentry

To Tame A Rebel (24 page)

BOOK: To Tame A Rebel

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“I say we ought to let the officers enjoy her and then get rid of her,” Captain Big Horse said.

Jim gritted his teeth to hold back his anger at the thought of her being passed around the officers' tents. “Captain, I'd think better of that remark if I were you.”

Before the other could answer, the old man threw down his pen. “Enough. See what I mean? She's already causing trouble between my officers, and I don't need that. I'm wishing you had never captured her.”

“Give me a chance, sir,” Captain Big Horse said. “If she knows anything, I'll find it out if I have toâ”

“Enough, Captain.” The old man held up his hand for silence. “Somehow, the Yankees seem to know all our maneuvers, and I'm desperate enough to try anything to solve this leak. Give it a shot, Lieutenant Eagle. Do whatever it takes to find out what she knows . . . if anything. You're both dismissed.”

Jim saluted, turned smartly on his heel, and started to leave the tent, followed by the captain.

“Oh, Lieutenant, one more thing,” Big Horse said.

“Yes, sir?”

“If she is a spy, you know what you'll have to do. We can't have her carrying information about our troops back to the enemy.”

Jim glared at him. “With all due respect, sir, I don't think I could kill a woman.”

The other glared at him. “Remember, a lot of Confederate lives might be at stake if that pretty little tart manages to carry information back to the Union.”

“I reckon you're right, sir.” Jim nodded.

“Good.” The other smiled without mirth. “Then we understand each other, don't we?”

Jim didn't answer. He saluted and strode away, his mind in turmoil. What in the hell had he gotten himself into? He had no idea if the sultry beauty was truly a whore or a spy; he'd only been intent on keeping her to satisfy the hunger she'd built in him. He didn't want to think any further ahead than tonight.

General Stand Watie stared after the two young officers long after they had left his tent. There had been bad blood between the two for a long time, and now it was obvious they both lusted after the girl, which only added to the general's problems. He didn't need disharmony in the ranks over a woman when the Confederates were having such bad luck.

He stood up and paced his tent, deep in thought. Things hadn't been going well for his troops for weeks. They always seemed to be riding into ambushes or being outflanked at every turn. It was almost as if there were a spy in the Confederate camp. Stand Watie shook his head. It was unthinkable that one of his own men might be a traitor.

Then he remembered that only four years ago, as his troops chased the Union Creek tribe that was fleeing toward Kansas, a whole regiment of the traditional Keetoowa Cherokee troops had deserted and gone over to the other side. In fact, one of them had been Jim Eagle's own brother. The general paused and rolled an unwelcome idea over in his mind, then shook his head. No, he'd stake his life that Jim Eagle was as loyal as he was brave. On the other hand . . .

He shook his head to clear it. He was old and tired and didn't know what to believe anymore. Besides, half his soldiers had relatives who were members of the so-called pin Indians, who were now fighting for the Union.

Well, there were many others in the camp coming and going all the time: troops, traders, scouts, and even an occasional camp follower. It wouldn't be that difficult to sneak out and meet with a Yankee informant.

Stand Watie paced some more. The capture of that Yankee boat had been the only good luck his men had had in weeks. Maybe the Cherokee Mounted Rifles were just unlucky, or maybe they were being betrayed. Could this mysterious girl shed some light on this? If there was a spy in his ranks, General Stand Watie vowed silently that he would personally pick the firing squad.

Chapter 18

Jim Eagle strode through the darkness toward his tent, his mind on the beauty that awaited him there. Yes, he'd try to get information out of her, but that wasn't the main thing on his mind. He longed to finish what had begun hours ago. He wondered where Tommy was. His younger brother had seemed too interested in the girl, and she was smart enough to try to take advantage of him.

He detoured and checked Tommy's tent. With a growing uneasiness, he realized Tommy's blankets hadn't been slept in. The girl. Would Tommy try to . . . ? Well, she was beautiful. Jim hastened his step as he went to his own camp.

“Tommy, are you here?”

No answer.

“Tommy?”

The girl was gone, and he found Tommy just pulling himself into a sitting position and groaning.

“Tommy”âhe kneltâ“what in the hell happened?”

Tommy put his hand to his head. “Sheâshe was afraid of you, begged me to free herâ”

“And when you weren't looking, she hit you in the head and escaped,” Jim guessed.

“Uh, yes, that's right.”

Jim Eagle began to curse. “She's smarter than I thought. Why would she be in such a rush to get away?”

Tommy grinned sheepishly. “She said she feared what she thought you might do to herâ”

“The little bitch will be twice as afraid when I catch up with her. Are you all right?”

His brother nodded.

Jim swore and stood up, looking around. “How long's she been gone?”

Tommy's youthful face furrowed in thought. “It must have been just after dark.”

“That means she got a big head start. I've got to find her before word gets out I've lost the prisoner.”

Tommy looked down, shamefaced. “I'm sorry, Jim, I didn't mean to cause you any trouble.”

“That's okay, little brother.” He patted Tommy's shoulder. “She could make a man forget his duty, forget everything but her.”

Tommy stared up at him. “I never saw you act this way about a woman before.”

Jim realized it, too, and it angered him. “There's just some women that affect men that way, and she's taken advantage of it. There's no telling where she's headed.”

Tommy rubbed his head. “She said something about Fort Gibsonâasked a lot of questions about Will.”

Jim blinked, trying to block out the twinge of jealousy that flooded his soul. “Will? You suppose he's at Fort Gibson and she was trying to reach him?”

“She didn't say. What you intend to do, Jim?”

“Hell, what can I do? I'm going to find her and bring her back.”

“She may be a long way off by now. You're risking Yankee patrols if you follow her toward Fort Gibson.”

“You think I don't know that?”

“I'll go with you.” Tommy scrambled to his feet, swaying a little.

Jim shook his head. “You're in no shape to ride.”

“I wish you'd stop treating me like a baby,” Tommy snarled. “I'm a grown man and can take care of myself. Someday I'll show you. I'll be rich and important.”

“Sure, kid.” Absently he patted Tommy's shoulder.

“Why don't you let her go, Jim? Does General Watie really care if she gets away?”

Jim faced the truth. He didn't know whether it made any difference to the Confederacy what happened to the girl, but it did to him. He wanted her, desired her with an urgency that almost scared him. “Try to keep anyone from finding out I'm gone until I find her.”

“Suppose you don't?”

Jim began to gather supplies. “I reckon I'll deal with that when I get there.” He strode toward his horse, thinking: she'd probably follow the river if she was trying to reach Fort Gibson. Was Will there, and was she attempting to rendezvous with him? Was it something as simple as love, or was it something more? He didn't know which thought gave him the most discomfort. Jim mounted up and rode out, avoiding the sentries in the darkness as he headed the palomino toward the river.

It was a bright moonlit night, so he might be able to track her. Here and there, he got off his horse to look at a faint track or a broken weed where someone had passed. She was traveling along the river, all right. Maybe she hoped to find a canoe or an old raft there. Jim rode through the night, remembering his naive little brother's words. Maybe she wasn't a spy; maybe she was just a camp follower who intended to work both sides of the line, making money off the sexual appetites of Union and Confederate. He was getting farther and farther away from the Confederate forces. If he had any sense, he'd turn around and go back, get a patrol to accompany him. Jim thought about it a moment, then shook his head. He'd be in trouble for letting her get away, but worse, so would Tommyâand Tommy had plenty of demerits now.

Jim Eagle had been riding for hours when he dismounted to rest his horse. Leading it, he moved silent as a shadow through the trees along the river.

April had paused to rest at the riverbank, trying to decide what to do next. She was wearing ragged Union pants and an oversized Confederate shirt. That would make it impossible to sneak into Fort Gibson as a common soldier. She'd gotten herself into a big, dangerous mess without finding a single clue that she could trade to her mysterious Major Smith for gold. Maybe she should try to cross the river and keep walking until she found a town, and forget this whole adventure. April opened the little cache of supplies Tommy had given her, and began to eat.

She heard a noise in the brush and froze. In eastern Indian territory there were brown bears, an occasional bobcat, some wild tusker hogs, snakes, and prowling bushwhackers from both armies. She didn't have a weapon, so she was on her own. “Whoâwho's there?”

No answer. Maybe she'd imagined the sound. After a moment, she was satisfied that it was only the wind or some small creature like an owl. She finished her smoked jerky and hardtack and washed it down with water from the canteen. She wished she had some coffee, but even if she had some, she wouldn't dare chance a fire. Some sniper from either side might pick her off and ask questions later.

For a split second, she thought she heard a sound, and then a big form came running out of the shadows and collided with her. She fought back instinctively, and they rolled in the dirt as her assailant grappled with her. She made no sound, biting and clawing, but her attacker was bigger.

The moon came out suddenly, and she realized with horror that she looked into the wild face of a bushwhacker.

She screamed instinctively, and the man hit her, knocking her backward. April tasted blood as she fell, half stunned. She half heard, half felt him ripping at her clothes. He was going to rape her. The horrid realization gave her renewed strength, and she began to fight, but she was no match against his lust-starved strength.

“Stop it, bitch,” he growled, “or I'll kill you. I aim to have you, so save yourself the trouble.”

Not without a fight,
she thought, and screamed again. With a curse, he hit her across the face as she fought to get away from him. He might rape her, but he'd have to kill her first. She had never been so terrified in her life.

At that moment, another big shadow darted out of the woods. Oh, my God, he had a partner. She didn't stand a chance, but she fought anyway. Then in the moonlight she recognized the second man. “Jim! Oh, Jim!”

He didn't answer as he attacked her assailant, but she saw the fury in his dark face as he hit the man hard, sending him stumbling backward over a log. With a roar like a crazed beast, the man clambered to his feet and attacked Jim Eagle. He picked up the Cherokee in a terrible bear hug and held him off the ground.

From her spot on the edge of the clearing, she saw the pain and desperation in Jim's face as he struggled. She had to do something. April grabbed up a rock and attacked the crazed giant. He dropped Jim with a muttered curse and turned toward her. “You bitch, I'll kill you for that!”

Jim staggered to his feet, breathing hard. “Not unless you kill me first!”

The giant turned toward Jim, blinking and muttering.

“Look out, Jim,” she shrieked, “he's got a knife!”

She saw the sudden gleam of a pistol barrel as Jim pulled it from its holster, and the sudden flash as he fired.

The bushwhacker grabbed his big belly with one hand, lurching toward Jim with his blade. The moonlight flashed on the steel as he cut at the empty air. The Cherokee dodged away skillfully.

April took a deep breath and held it. The hot summer air smelled of gunpowder and warm blood as the giant lurched toward Jim and then collapsed and lay still.

“April, are you all right?”

With a sob, she ran into his arms without thinking, and he held her close. “Itâit was terrible. He was going to . . . ”

“I know.” He held her close and patted her hair. “Don't think about it; you're safe now.”

She looked up at him, and he kissed the tears from her face. Then she was returning his kiss while he murmured reassurances to her. “It's okay, Kawoni, I won't let anyone hurt you.”

Nothing mattered at this momentânot the war, not the spying, not the reward money. Nothing mattered but being safe in this man's embrace while he kissed and caressed her.

The kiss deepened, and Jim Eagle drew a sharp, shuddery breath. She clung to him, letting his tongue probe along her lips until she opened them in surrender so that he could explore the velvet depths of her mouth. “Oh, Jim, Jim . . .”

Her bare breasts were pressed against him in her torn shirt, but she was oblivious to everything except his hands stroking her flesh, and then he lifted her in his arms and kissed her nipples, so that she gasped and wanted more.

“I've dreamed of doing this a thousand times since the first time I saw you,” he murmured, and his breath was warm against the valley between her breasts.

She put her arms around his neck and urged him to taste and caress more with his mouth. Nothing counted to her anymoreânothing except finally meshing with this man she had loved since she was a young girl. “Take me, Jim,” she whispered. “Oh, I can't stand it any longer; take me!”

He seemed to need no further urging as he carried her deeper into the forest and laid her down on the soft grass. “I want you like I've never wanted another woman.”

She didn't even worry about what he would think when he realized she was a virgin. Her pulse pounded in her head, making a roaring sound that drowned out everything else but their mutual need. Then they were both naked in the moonlight and kissing and caressing as their heat built.

April arched her back, offering him her breasts as he came down on her, pushing her thighs apart. He hesitated just a moment, and she felt his big manhood rigid and pulsing with need. Then he plunged into her, deep and hard. The sudden pain almost made her cry out, but then his mouth covered hers in a deep kiss that muted her voice. He began to ride her hard, stroking deep into her velvet softness. She could feel the heat pulsating from him, and her own need rose. She wanted him deeper and deeper still. “More,” she whispered, “and faster . . .”

She put her hands on his lean hips and felt the power there as he drove into her rhythmically. She couldn't get enough of him. They were both covered with a fine sheen of perspiration as they locked in the eternal ritual of mating. He was panting and grinding down hard on her as her emotions built. She didn't know what was happening or what to expect; she only knew she never wanted this moment to end.

And at that instant, it built to a climax, and he paused, straining against her even as her own passion raced out of control like a prairie fire. She held him close, digging her nails into his back as they locked and strained together. It seemed like an eternity of pleasure, but it wasn't enough, she thought; she could never get enough of this virile man's arms. Then it was over, both of them still locked together in a passionate embrace, breathing hard and shiny with sweat.

“Oh, my God,” he gasped, “no wonder you charge so much. I never had a woman love me like this before.”

He still thought she was a whore. Anger and hurt flooded her soul, even though she knew she should feel relief that her secret was safe. She wanted to scratch his face and beat him on the chest, scream and bite.
I hate you,
she thought.
I hate you for thinking I'd do this with anyone else, especially for money.

Then the realization flooded over her. She'd just given her virginity to her captor out in the woods. In this bright moonlight, he would soon see the evidence of her virginity, and then she'd have to answer tough questions.

“Be quiet.” Jim Eagle tensed, still lying on her.

“What?”

BOOK: To Tame A Rebel

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