Against his better judgment, he reluctantly agreed. He hoped to teach Alisha firsthand that he spoke truthfuly and without bias. She quickly prepared the stew, gathered the soothing balm, a wash cloth and a pan of warm salt.w.a.ter.
cloth and a pan of warm salt.w.a.ter.
She and Thad went to the smokehouse almost unnoticed because most of the other people were eating dinner or preparing for bed. Horace was on guard duty that night and saw " the objects they carried. He immediately knew where they were headed and why. Hostility was clearly stamped upon his face as he stopped them at the doorway.
"Let the savage bleed and starve! He"s gonna die anyway."
He spit the words out harshly, adding sarcasticaly, "Surely you"re not gonna let Alisha near that filthy Injun, Mr. Greeley?"
Angry at his calous att.i.tude and interference, Alisha retorted quickly, "If you were their captive, Horace, wouldn"t you appreciate food and care? If you treat a man like a friend, then he might become one. On the other hand, treat him like an enemy and he"l react like an enemy. Stop being so blind and stubborn!"
"If I was their captive, "Miss Alisha," they"d not give a d.a.m.n about feeding or caring for me or any white man. They"d be too busy torturing me. You"re the one who"s blind and stubborn."
"Surely they can"t be that blackhearted, Horace. It"s probably because of the way men like yourself treat and view them. I didn"t see a single one of you try to help or befriend him this afternoon. As far as I could see you were too busy torturing him. You don"t even know who he is or why he was out there today. Just suppose he was on a peace mission. If he was, surely you changed his mind!"
Horace gaped at her with hardened eyes. He warned her before stalking off, "I only hope you never git the chance to see for yourself. If you do, it wil be too late to know you was wrong."
Alisha trembled as a cold, undefinable shiver ran down her arms and spine, nearly causing her to spil the stew. She told herself that Horace was only exaggerating. No one could be that bad or that Horace was only exaggerating. No one could be that bad or cruel. His words would come back to haunt her many times in the near future.
Thad unlocked the smokehouse door and lit the lantern hanging by the doorway. Its light filed the room with a soft, dim glow and she could make out Gray Eagle"s form staked to the ground. She turned a shocked face to her uncle. "He"s tied up like an animal! How could they do this? It"s inhuman."
Comprehending her uncle"s shamed expression and lowered gaze, she accused, "You knew about this? That"s why you didn"t have to bring a gun. How could you possibly be a party to something like this? Why, Uncle Thad?"
He interrupted her tirade to explain, "Lese, please ... the others felt it necessary for their safety and peace of mind."
"For their peace of mind!" she shrieked at him. "What about yours and his? Don"t his feelings and suffering matter to any of you?
I would never have believed you to be party to something so vile and disgusting. Does everyone here despise and fear him except..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Ben came to the door.
"Thad, I gotta see you right now! There"s important things we gotta talk about."
Thad explained to Ben that they were about to take care of the brave"s injuries and feed him. Ben shouted angrily, "He don"t need or deserve no help or food, the dirty, murdering savage."
Alisha spoke softly to her uncle, "You go speak with Ben, Uncle Thad. I can take care of everything here. How could he possibly hurt me tied up like that?"
Thad looked around in uncertainty. Ben began to argue anew about her intentions, but she told him matter-of-factly that she was going to help him no matter who objected or why. She tried to going to help him no matter who objected or why. She tried to shame him for his part in this intolerable situation. After al, he did have the lead role in the afternoon"s drama.
Ben muttered, "One day you"l be sorry you ever laid eyes on that or any Injun, Miss Alisha. You"l look back and.curse the day you helped him. Don"t say I didn"t warn ya."
To aleviate the mounting tension in the smokehouse, Thad took Ben by the arm and ushered him outside to talk. Ben continued to fume and fuss, but left with Thad. Gray Eagle had alertly observed the scene of the three people both times. He gazed at Alisha"s back as she stood staring at the closed door for a few moments in deep thought.
She finaly turned and walked over to him, feeling slight qualms for the first time about her decision to help him. Warily, she knelt beside him and looked at him. She was acutely aware of the frigid glare from his eyes as black as the onyx her father had shown her. She avoided looking into them as she spoke softly, trying to stay the quavering in her voice, "I"ve come to help you ... to tend to your injuries ... I"ve brought some food and water..." Her voice trailed off to a near whisper.
There was no answer or indication that he even heard her. Only the icy stare answered her concern. "I"m not sure how to communicate with you or make you understand I"m only trying to help you." She waited and watched for any reaction from him, but there wasn"t any.
"I"m truly sorry about what they did to you this afternoon. I can"t explain why they acted that way because I don"t understand it myself. How can you hate someone you don"t even know or have never seen before? Is there something going on out here that I don"t see or know about? Can you answer me at al? Do you know any see or know about? Can you answer me at al? Do you know any of my words or meanings?" No response. "Do you not understand or just refuse to answer me?" Stil, no response. Her heart reached out to him in empathy. "I"m sorry," she murmured softly. She turned and took the cloth from the warm salt.w.a.ter. Her mother had instructed her that warm salt.w.a.ter aided healing and lessened pain. She gently rubbed the wet cloth across his chest. He made no moves. She was startled by a deep, cold voice which rent the silence, "Hiya!"
She jumped at the ominous tone of the command. She instantly met his gaze, but there was no change in his facial expression. She was sure she had felt vibrations in his chest, but it was as if he hadn"t moved or spoken at al. She looked confused for a few moments, then decided her tension was playing tricks on her ears. He certainly didn"t appear to want to speak with her again, if he had done so before. "Oh, wel..."
She put the cloth back into the water and picked up the salve. She began slowly to smear it onto the red, raw welts. Again, the deep, icy command seemed to fil the room, "Hiya!"
She stared at him in bewilderment. Was he teling her to stop or what? She asked, "Did I hurt you? Did you want to tel me something? I do not understand your words."
She held up the balm and said, "Medicine ... it wil make the welts heal and ease the pain. How can I explain medicine in sign language? Can you understand anything I say?" She answered her own question, "I guess not. Even if you could, you would probably be suspicious of people who beat you and then try to help you. You must hate and mistrust al of us. How could they have been so cruel to you? It was wrong for them to do this... wrong..."
Realizing the futility of trying to explain further, she picked up Realizing the futility of trying to explain further, she picked up the stew. Placing her other hand under his head to raise it up a little, she started to feed him. Halfway to his mouth, he violently jerked his head and body away. So sudden and unexpected were his actions, Alisha spiled the stew in the spoon onto his chest and the stew in the bowl to the ground. Startled, she froze and stared at him. Slowly, comprehension came to her and she nodded understanding.
She picked up the bowl and spooned the spiled meat and vegetables into it. She took the cloth and wiped the stew from his chest, noticing old scars from some past injury as she worked. He made no move this time as she spread more balm on his wounds. He refused to show pain or weakness before this woman. Alisha sat for a short time studying him. "I realize the anger and humiliation you must be feeling under these circ.u.mstances, but there is nothing more I can do for you. I am only one against many. They won"t listen to me. My uncle wil not let them kil you. He can"t ..."
She moved everything away, knowing he could not refuse food indefinitely. He would come to know she meant only to help him and would relent. Before leaving, she knelt beside him with a canteen of water and inquired, "Water?"
He lifted his gaze to meet hers and glared at her. The look in his eyes which bored into hers made her heart pound wildly. She halted the canteen in mid-air as chils ran up and down her body. It felt as if he reached into her very soul with icy fingers of hate and gripped her heart in its spel. She shivered at the intensity of it, but could not pul her gaze from his.
She whispered, "I"ve never seen such anger and hatred in a person"s eyes or face before. How can you possibly feel these person"s eyes or face before. How can you possibly feel these things so deeply? Who taught you to hate with such intensity?" Her face and voice softened as she added, "And yet, you"re stil the handsomest man I"ve ever seen. Never have I seen a man anywhere to compare with you..."
As her eyes searched his features, that heady, intoxicating feeling stirred and played on her senses once more. She longed to reach out her hand and touch him, to comfort him and his hurts. She was confused by this magnetic attraction to a total stranger. Her mind was troubled and her heart saddened by the way he had been treated. Her hand begged to touch and smooth that knitted brow and caress the tautness from his jaw. Her eyes kept straying to his lips. She found herself wanting to bend over and place a kiss upon them.
Gray Eagle watched her with the feeling he was a prize of war being examined. As she raised her gae to meet his curious one, her look betrayed her reasons for her intense scrutiny. Her color heightened as she tore her gaze away in embarra.s.sment. She did not understand the emotions and feelings he was awakening in her. She missed the knowing smile that pa.s.sed his eyes and mouth. A thunderous voice broke into her jumbled thoughts, "You finished in there yet? Ya been in there long enough!"
At the sound of Ben"s grating voice, she instantly turned to the doorway. When her attention returned to the brave, he was staring blankly at the ceiling with vacant, empty eyes.
She arose from her kneeling position and gathered the items she had brought with her. Ben was scowling at her and fussing to himself, caling the Indian names and trying to shame her for her interest and concern in him. He grabbed her elbow so roughly that she dropped everything.
she dropped everything.
"You ain"t listening, Miss Alisha! I said I wants you to keep your hands off his heathern body! If given half a chance, he"d attack you and scalp you. These people out here are cold-blooded savages. We haveta get them before they get us. You ain"t seen the things them red bas ... them Injuns do to white folks. Best you stay as far away from them as possible. They"re devils, that"s al they are. People like that don"t deserve to live and multiply!"
She had been momentarily stunned by his verbal a.s.sault on her and the Indians. She jerked her arm free, crying out more harshly than she intended, "It"s att.i.tudes and treatments like those, Ben, that feed hate and mistrust and keep them growing and festering. Why must you hate so ruthlessly? Why can"t you try to get to know them and make peace? Surely they want peace and friendship as much as we do. He"s only a man like yourself and the others. This was their land before we came. Can"t you see that we are just as different and savage to them as they are to us? Have you ever considered they do the terrible things you spoke of because of the way they are treated by us, like he was today? How can you expect a man to trust or like someone who beats him or looks down on his way of life? I bet you they believe we are stealing their lands. Surely they wouldn"t resent our being here if we made truce with them."
Ben shook his head in disagreement. "You can"t make bargains with the Devil, Miss Alisha. You can"t make truce with savages who don"t know the meaning of the words truce and honor. They ain"t men! They"re like animals and that"s how we got to treat "em. They live like wild animals, running around half naked, kiling and scalping people, praying to rocks and trees and making slaves outa decent, honest folk. They"re good-for-nothing, lazy devils. I hear they make the women do al the work while they lay devils. I hear they make the women do al the work while they lay around smoking or hunting whites to kil and scalp. What kind of life and people live like that? Can"t tel me they"s civilized people."
"Ben, what am I going to do with you? Don"t you know al civilizations and people are different from each other? Look at him, Ben, and tel me that he has the body and muscles of a lazy man who lays around smoking al day. I"m sorry if it angers you and the others but I can"t hate someone simply because you al tel me I must. This argument is ridiculous anyway. Neither of us is going to change our minds. Besides, I didn"t help him. He wouldn"t let me."
Grinning broadly, Ben replied, "Fool! He"s too stupid to know you was trying to help him. I told you they didn"t want to be friends with us. I didn"t refuse help and food from you when me wife was ailing. I stil remember those many days and nights you brought my family food and did extra ch.o.r.es. You knows I"l never forget whatcha did for us. Yore like an angel, Miss Alisha. If"n you ever needs help, l be there," he vowed chivalrously.
She laughed and questioned in exasperation, "Why can"t you be just as understanding about other things, Ben? You know I didn"t help you for any thanks. I did it because you needed help and I was there to give it. I didn"t help the brave because his pride and mistrust wouldn"t alow him to accept it from his enemy. Stil, kind sir, thank you for your bold flattery and gesture." She smiled at him and knelt to gather the dropped items. She and Ben joked and laughed as they left the smokehouse together.
Neither of them noticed the watchful, keen eyes of the brave who had taken in the entire exchange. Gray Eagle remained motionless until they were gone. For the seemingly hundreth time, he strained against the bonds. He knew by now the bonds were too tight to stretch or break. He would have to think of some other plan tight to stretch or break. He would have to think of some other plan of escape. He cursed his carelessness which caused his capture. Nettled by his subjugation, he admonished himself angrily. He thought, Wanmdi Hota, son of Chief Suntokca Ki-in-yangki-yapi of the great Oglala tribe and their next leader, a kaskapi of these wasichus, these sunka skas. It is unforgivable and shameful that I, of al warriors, should have been taken prisoner. I am yuonihansni... I was not alert and on guard as I pa.s.sed so close to their camp. Soon I wil be free and they wil pay for their treatment of me and for alowing the wahmunkesa to escape. I wil have vengeance for myself and my father, if he stil lives. When my foot became entangled in the snare, there was not enough time to cut myself free before the wasichu reached me. It would have been foolish to fight so many armed with the mazawakan. The time for escape and vengeance wil come as surely as hunwi appears in the night sky. I have heard how the wasichu have kiled and taken the lands of other tribes to the East where Wi awakens and begins his day. They change and destroy the face of Makakin. They bring mniwakan to steal our minds and weaken our bodies and courage. They are lower than our worst enemies, the Ojibwa. What do they know of our ways? They do not accept or understand what they fear and hate. They look on us in shame. They put up wooden guards to keep land for themselves. They steal what is ours and cal it theirs. They kil the game Wakantanka provides for his children. They kil in sport and waste. They bring death and evil to our land and people.
Already some venture to our sacred lands in the Paha Sapa where the Thunderbirds live and the medicines grow. They search for the shiny, yelow rock which they l.u.s.t and kil for. We hear and see them coming... more and more... closer and closer... they see them coming... more and more... closer and closer... they must be stopped...
The wasichu do not love and honor the land as we do. It was not given to them, but to us, by the Great Spirit. When the harmony between the land and man is broken or destroyed, the man cannot survive. They do not see that al creatures, men and things have a purpose in life and must be alowed to fulfil this purpose. They know nothing of the great circle of life. Wi and the Thunderbirds feed Makakin; Makakin feeds the game; the buffalo and land feeds the Oglala. Al must honor and respect this and alow no man to break this circle. How can they look at the animals and lands and not see the work of the Great Spirit? How dare they destroy and take what He had given to us!
They speak evil of our women and warriors. My people know and accept their tasks and place in our tribe. They are happier than the ista skas who fight and steal amongst themselves. Their thoughts and ways are strange to us. They treat their families and friends cold and deal harshly with those who are different. They cal us the savages! They are fools...
With thoughts of families and women, came thoughts of the strange ska wincinyanna. He scoffed, she must be touched in the head, crazy, as the wasichu say, to try to help me. And yet, there was no dul, childlike stare in her eyes or her face. She spoke very strangely ... fool! Does she not know we can kil her and al her kind? Why did she stand up against her own people for me? Is this some kind of wasichu trick? I wil see and know more before I decide her fate. Even though her people like her, they did not like her trying to help me. She made them very angry with her, especialy the sunka ska caled Horace. He would have the girl for himself, but I can see she does not wish it so. Why should she care himself, but I can see she does not wish it so. Why should she care what happens to me? Why did she look at me that way? She is indeed strange and unlike the others. Stil, she is one of them ...
The harder he tried to convince himself she was mad, the more her soft innocence and beauty haunted him, teling him he was wrong. When he closed his eyes, he saw her face, soft and white with cheeks that went pink when he glared at her. He visualized her long hair as dark as his own which came to fiery light when the sunlight touched it. When she had stood before him this afternoon, she had only been chest high to his tal, lean body. He had been aware that the ful bloom of womanhood had not long since touched her. Her eyes and body tel me she has known no man, he thought. He could stil hear the musical tone of her voice or the trembling in it when she was afraid or unsure of herself.
He recaled her large, expressive eyes the color of green gra.s.s in spring with yelow flecks, much like the treecat"s. He could stil picture how her feelings and emotions shone openly in them. He was confused at how she looked at him as a man, not as an Indian or enemy. Could it be that she was stil unlearned in the ways of men and life? Could it be she did not seek to trick the Indian with her gentleness? If so, she would be hurt far greater than al the others when the red men returned to slay them.
If I truly see the winyan that lives beneath the white skin, Gray Eagle thought, then I wil take her for my own and keep her as my kaskapi. He grinned confidently at this last thought and decision. Surely, she wil prove to be a most valuable wayakayuha ...
Once again, he was glad he had forced the white schoolmarm he had captured years ago to teach him the wasichu tongue. She had foolishly believed he would use it to speak with her people for peace and friendship. He laughed sardonicaly as he recaled the peace and friendship. He laughed sardonicaly as he recaled the many times he had used it against them for spying and questioning captives. This was his weapon against their lies and deceit. He scoffed at how these wasichu had spoken so openly and freely around what they caled "that stupid Injun." We wil see who is the stupid one and who is the sly fox.
He knew there was no one who could give his guarded secret away to the wasichu. Al who learned of it were kiled instantly. This weapon was valuable only as long as it was unknown to his enemies. He would alow no man to use it against him or his people. He smiled a knowing, cynical smile as he vowed, they wil pay and pay greatly for their evil. He drifted off to a deep sleep, dreaming of the day he would be free.
The dim glow of dawn"s light slowly pushed away the shadows of night as birds chirped loudly to herald her coming. Gray Eagle stretched as much as the bonds would alow, vainly trying to free himself from them again. Al morning, plans of escape were reasoned out and then dismissed. He concluded he must bide his time until the best opportunity came along. When it did, he would strike swiftly and deadly and be gone.
It was as the day wore on into evening he realized he was very thirsty and hungry. Stubbornly, he admitted he must bring himself to accept food and water from the enemy to maintain his strength for escape. It would be easier to accept this help from the girl rather than from one of the men. They would humiliate the brave for accepting the food. Pride and anger flared in him and he knew he would accept help only from the girl. Never would he lower his honor to take help from those white dogs, even at the cost of his life or his freedom.
or his freedom.
Time pa.s.sed on and sunset approached. The heat and air were barely tolerable in the smokehouse. Stil, no one came. He was restless to be free, to return to the cool forest and his tribe. By this time, they missed him and would no doubt at this very minute be tracking him. Even though he had hidden his trail from the whites, his lifelong friend and companion White Arrow would find it and folow him. He realized he might not have to humble himself to take food and water from his enemy, for it appeared they were ignoring him.
He listened to the sounds of the night creatures and to the rustling of the leaves in the gentle breeze. He heard the hooting of the owl, the howling of the coyote and the wolf, the singing of the cicadas and the caling of the frogs and nightingales to their mates. His ears were sensitive to the sounds of the forest and nature. He could hear and sense things the common man did not. Fragrant odors from the settlers" dinners floated in the air and touched his nostrils, causing him to recal his hunger. He listened to the m.u.f.fled sounds from the nearby cabins as the people prepared to settle in for the night. Voices and laughter reached his alert ears and he cursed their freedom and happiness while he lay there hungry, thirsty and a kaskapi. Resentment and fury bubbled up in him like a spring of hot water.
Silence began to fil the night air. Did they forget his being there? Were they torturing him this way or did they simply not care to think about him at al? Would they just leave him here to die like some trapped animal? Even the Indian fed and gave water to his captives ... nearly al were alowed to die like men, not like.... His sensitive ears detected footsteps nearby.
Who came in secret with the night? An enemy to slay him? A Who came in secret with the night? An enemy to slay him? A friend to free him? His nose quickly told him it was not a koda. He waited to see who the foe was ...
The door silently and slowly opened. He watched as Alisha hastily looked behind her and stepped inside the smokehouse. She lit the lantern but was careful to keep the flame low. She closed the door quietly and looked hesitantly over at him. Her gaze flickered from him to the closed door several times in apprehension. He had the feeling she was defying orders to come there again. She carried some meat pressed between two hunks of bread and a canteen of water.
Slowly, she walked toward him and knelt at his side. Her expression was one of confusion, guilt and fear. Her eyes bespoke inner turmoil. Knowing the time of the night and watching her tension, Gray Eagle was positive no one had permitted her to come to him this time. He studied her curiously.
She spoke slightly above a whisper as she held the food out to him with trembling hands. "Food?" she asked.
She was more than surprised when he lifted his head and bit into the meat and bread. He lay his head back down as he chewed, watching her as she sat there holding the remainder of the food. He noted the pleased look in her eyes. She was encouraged by this smal response to her offer of help.
Sensing her fear and tension, Gray Eagle relaxed the hard, cold expression on his face and in his eyes. He must not frighten her too much or she would not come to him again. The secrecy of her help made it more acceptable and tolerable to him. He would accept her help as long as necessary and let the others wonder at his great stamina. A light smile played across his lips at the thought of their amazement at his prowess.
of their amazement at his prowess.
She noted the change in his mood and the half smile. She misunderstood the reasons for them and involuntarily relaxed her own guard. He could not help but notice the smile that lit her green eyes and tugged at the corners of her mouth. As his eyes scanned her features with a strange look, she realized she was staring at him. She flushed a deep red and looked away. She struggled to bring these unfamiliar emotions under control.
Gray Eagle slowly ate the meat and bread, delaying as long as possible to observe her more closely. When he was finished, she held the canteen to his lips for him to drink. As he did so, his gaze captured hers and held it prisoner for a time. She tensed and averted her gaze to the canteen until he had had his fil. He tilted the canteen up with his chin to indicate he was finished. She replaced the top on the canteen and laid it down beside her. She reached into her ap.r.o.n pocket and produced the jar of balm. She held it up for his approval with the unspoken question in her eyes. He looked from her eyes to the jar of balm, then back to her eyes. Knowing it truly to be medicine, as it had eased the pain and redness of his wounds, he nodded his head for her to apply it once more to his chest.
Alisha removed the top and spread the salve across the red welts as gently as possible. She wondered at the two, perpendicular scars on the muscles on his chest and lightly traced them with her fingertips. His ease and cooperation were taking her off guard and she relaxed as she worked on the injuries.
She admired the hard tone and beauty of his body. She had never before thought of a man"s body as appealing and beautiful. She felt giddy and lightheaded touching and caressing the rippling, smooth firmness. His skin was silky and warm to her cold fingers. smooth firmness. His skin was silky and warm to her cold fingers. He observed the effect he was having on her and was secretly pleased. He found himself thinking, if I were not bound, I would take her now.
Just as she was finishing, they heard voices nearby. She stiffened and terror traveled her face. Her head quickly turned toward the door as she waited, quiet and stil to see if she were discovered. He read the panic and fear in her expression and wondered what they would do to her if they caught her aiding the enemy. Surely she must be aware of the danger of being caught with him. Stil, she had to come. He wondered how much his safety meant to her. Did she now fear for herself or for him?
She was unaware her hand had moved very close to Gray Eagle"s face... much too close.... As the voice moved away, she sighed relief and relaxed weakly.
Like the strike of the snake, Gray Eagle"s head came up and his teeth clamped tightly onto the side of Alisha"s left hand. Shocked by the surprise and pain of his attack, Alisha tried immediately to jerk her hand free. That only served to increase the pain and his hold. She stared at him with terrified eyes as tears began to rol down her cheeks. Why had he suddenly turned on her like this?
"Please ..." she whispered in a quavering voice, but heonly glared icily at her. Her other hand went to his face and pressed on his jaw, trying to free her hand from his teeth. He bit harder, tasting blood, feeling skin break and touching bone. Horror and pain were evident in her emerald eyes.
She pleaded with him as she puled gently on her hand. Gray Eagle watched the disbelief in her expression. He thought, I wil see just how far her protection for me wil go. As her silence continued, just how far her protection for me wil go. As her silence continued, he was amazed that she did not cry out for help even though the pain was great and she was only a winyan. He thought, she fears for my life and yet I am Indian and she is wasichu. This I do not understand.
She lowered her head as she wept silently. In an anguished voice she asked, "How long wil you inflict this terrible pain on me?
How long do you think I can endure this without crying out? If I do, they wil surely kil you for this. Don"t make me be the cause of your death. Please ... make your hate and anger go away. Release me...
I can"t scream ... I can"t..."
She gazed deep into his antagonistic eyes, pleading for mercy and release. Pains shot through her wrist and up her arm. "Why do you hate me? I have offered you friendship and help. I would only be punished for this, but you would die! Can"t you understand this?
How can I make you see you must let me go? They wil kil you!
Please..."
Determined to free her hand regardless of the pain or damage, she took a deep breath and flexed her arm. She clenched her teeth together tightly to avoid screaming. Alertly sensing her new intention, he abruptly released his hold on her hand. She puled it to her breast and held it there tightly with her other hand. She rocked back and forth on her knees, crying. He could not see her face which was obscured by her long hair faling over her forehead. He waited to see her reaction. It seemed a long time before she finaly raised her head and looked at him. Her tearstreaked face betrayed more than physical pain. She studied him for a few minutes, trying to find the answers in his face and eyes for his cruel behavior. Finding none, she looked at her injured hand for the first time. She saw the jagged, torn skin, her injured hand for the first time. She saw the jagged, torn skin, bleeding freely, and the swolen, bruised flesh. She tore a strip from the bottom of her ap.r.o.n. She opened the salve jar and rubbed some ointment on the torn skin. She painfuly moved her little finger to be sure it was not broken. Immediately, tears returned to her eyes and she winced.
Taking the strip from her ap.r.o.n, she wrapped it around her hand many times and tied the two, frayed ends with her teeth around her thumb. She picked up the salve and placed it back in her pocket. She picked up the canteen and arose.
She glared at him and said hoa.r.s.ely, "I wil never come here again. I won"t try to help you again. If you prefer hatred and cruelty, so be it. Maybe I was wrong about you. Horace said you were savage and cold-blooded, but I didn"t believe him. Maybe for once he spoke the truth." She thought she was speaking to herself for she didn"t know he heard and understood her words.
She left as secretly as she had come, never looking back. He watched her go and knew for certain he must have this girl with the courage of the mountain lion and the gentleness of the doe. Alisha didn"t realize the fierce determination she had instiled in Gray Eagle to capture and possess her, for she had only seen and felt his hatred and brutality.
Back in her cabin, she asked herself why he had wished for and tempted punishment and death. He must have a.s.sumed I would cal for help and the others would be furious and kil him, she thought. He seems so sure of himself, so daring and fearless. Why did he attack me so savagely like that? Couldn"t he sense I only wanted to help him, that I meant him no harm or contempt? Did he somehow know I wouldn"t cry out for help and was testing me?
Why?
Why?
For the first time, she had seen and felt the cruelty he was capable of inflicting. Soon, this incident would dim in contrast to what she would see and feel at his hands and mercy...
His hostility was like an aura surrounding him and stifling the air she breathed. Her body had felt cold and numb at its intensity and depth. When had he learned to feel these fierce emotions toward the white man? Had he been treated like this or worse before at the hands of other whites? Was that why he fought her touch and help? She knew she could not risk going near him again, so she would never know why he did this to her.
She trembled at the thought of her uncle and the others finding out about her nocturnal visit to the smokehouse. What if he had not released me when he did? she wondered. What if he had increased the pain? She shuddered at those thoughts and whispered, "I"l not go near him again. I can"t trust him... or myself..."
Returning from the late meeting in Ben"s cabin, Thad joked lightly, "Talking to oneself, Lese, is believed to lead to madness."
She jumped at the sound of his voice behind her. She turned and smiled up at him and quipped, "Maybe I"m already mad."
His eyes went to the bandaged hand and he asked, "What have we here?"
She looked away guiltily as she told him the lie. "Just a slight burn while baking bread, Uncle. No need to worry. I put salve on it and it feels better already."
"Be more careful, my child. I"d hate to lose the best cook around," he spoke lovingly. With a merry twinkle in his eyes, he joked, "Bet you"ve forgotten what day it is in al the excitement. But I remembered and I"ve a little gift for you. Been saving it for a long time."
time."
He went to his clothes chest, opened it and produced a bolt of emerald green material. He grinned mischievously and said, "Happy Birthday, Lese."