Savage Summer (16 page)

Skyler felt her whole body tremble with rage. How could she have thought she had any feelings for this man. He was not worthy of her love or her tears. Morgan was the kind of man her mother had warned her about. A torrent of feelings rushed through her body, and she didn’t know how to deal with them at the moment. She needed to be alone to think.

“If you will excuse me, I feel a headache coming on,” she said, running down the summerhouse steps and racing toward the house.

“Wait!” Morgan called after her, but Skyler didn’t
acknowledge him. She ran for the safety of the house as if her life depended on it.

Tag and Alexandria watched with troubled eyes as Morgan rushed after their niece. They both knew the young doctor had wounded Skyler—perhaps beyond repair. Tag started to go after her when Alexandria placed a restraining hand on his arm.

“Let them work it out among themselves, Tag. You can do nothing at this point.”

“He hurt her badly, Alexandria.”

“I know, but I fear if we interfered, we would only make matters worse.”

“Damn it, I never knew Morgan to be so merciless. How can he condemn a whole race of people, for the sins of a few?”

“Like many people we know, Morgan speaks out of ignorance. He has never had the chance to know the Indians as you and I have. Give him time.”

“I don’t think even time can help him now. If Skyler is anything like Joanna, she will never forgive Morgan for what he said today.”

Morgan caught up with Skyler and spun her around to face him. He saw the tears in her eyes and was at a loss as to what had caused them. “I need to talk to you, Skyler,” he said softly, aching at the sight of her tears and knowing he was somehow responsible.

“I have nothing to say to you. Release me this moment!” She was hurt and angry. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to him.

“I don’t understand what has come over you, Skyler. I kept thinking the whole time I was in Washington about how I would approach you. I have something very important that I want to ask you.”

“Whatever it is, I do not want to hear it, Colonel. You and I have nothing to say to one another,” she replied, jerking her arm free of his grasp.

His eyes narrowed. “I have a great deal to say to you. I came here today to ask you to be my wife!”

Skyler felt as if a sharp knife had just sliced through her heart. How ironic it was—moments ago he had voiced his hatred for the Indian race, and now he was asking one of that race to be his wife.

“I don’t want you, Morgan. Go away and leave me alone. You and I are not suited to one another!”

“Are we not?” he hissed, pulling her into his arms. “I can damned well prove to you that you are wrong.”

His arms tightened about her like iron bands and his lips sought hers brutally. The kiss was not one of love, but of anger and passion. Skyler tried to pull away, but the blood in her body seemed to run hot. She found her lips opening to receive his kiss. As when he had kissed her before, she felt her head spinning and her heart pounding. Her struggling ceased as she gave in to the wondrous feelings he awoke in her body. Her mind knew it was wrong to be in his arms—he and men like him were enemies to her people. Still, she couldn’t stop the tide of love that filled her heart.

When he raised his head, his eyes were fever-bright. “Tell me we aren’t meant for each other, Skyler. I know damned well I love you. If you say you don’t feel the same about me, I’ll know you are lying.”

“Leave me alone, Morgan. I don’t want to be pulled into your world, and you could never fit into mine,” she cried, turning away from him.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around to face him. “I don’t understand this talk about your world and my world. My God, don’t you know what has happened between us? Are you not aware that I—”

She clamped her hands over her ears and shook her head. “Do not say it. You and I can never be together. If you knew the truth about me, you would only hate me.”

“What is this secret that you try so hard to cover up? No matter what you have done in the past, I will love you. Nothing can change that.”

“I do not want you, Morgan. Men like you are the enemy.” Tears were streaming down her face as she looked into his
eyes. “Just leave it alone. It would be far better for us both if you were to just leave and never look back.”

“What could you have done that you are so ashamed of? I find it hard to believe that you could have anything in your past to hide.”

Her eyes seemed to gleam, and she raised her head proudly. “I am not ashamed of who I am, Morgan. I am proud of both my mother and father.”

He shook his head in exasperation. “I am not understanding anything about this conversation. What have your mother and father got to do with the way I feel about you? If you are trying to tell me that you are illegitimate, I can assure you it won’t make one damned bit of difference to me.”

Skyler turned her back to him and closed her eyes. What she really wanted to do was be in his arms and pour out her heart to him, but her secret must never be told. Would it not be far better for him to think she didn’t love him than to tell him the truth. She realized more than ever that she must not allow her secret be known. If she did, Danielle would have to live with the consequences.

“I can tell you no more, Morgan. This is the last time I will ever see you. I am going home before too long, and I will never come back to Philadelphia. This is good-bye for us.”

Without giving him a chance to digest what she had just told him, she turned and ran into the house. Morgan stood as if turned to stone, and his mind was in a turmoil. If that was the way Skyler wanted it, then so be it. He didn’t need her in his life.

After a time, he walked to the front of the house, mounted his horse, and rode away without a backward glance.

Skyler stood before her bedroom window, looking out on the lawn. Her heart felt so heavy that it actually ached. Her family had been right in this pretense to protect her from men like Morgan Prescott. Had she come to Philadelphia as Sky Dancer, she would probably have been shunned in the streets.

What kind of race was it that preached Christian charity,
and then condemned a whole race, just because its people had different beliefs.

Oh, Morgan, Morgan. I don’t want to love you. You will destroy me, and yet…I cannot help myself.

Danielle woke when someone lifted her to a sitting position. It was still dark, and she couldn’t see very well. Her first thought was that it was Scar Face whose insistent hands shook her from her sleep. She flung out her hand and caught her tormenter with a stunning blow across the face. As Danielle came fully awake, she saw the red handprint on Wolfrunner’s face and felt ashamed. Fearing he would retaliate in kind, she scrambled to her knees and moved back away from him; after all, this wasn’t the first time she’d struck him. She remembered his anger on the other occasion when she’d lashed out at him.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were—”

His face was grim and his dark eyes flashed. “I know what you thought,” he cut in, touching his cheek. “You look to be but a weak woman, but you deliver a powerful blow.”

“I said I was sorry.” He seemed almost amused, but she couldn’t be sure. She still watched him carefully for any sign of anger.

He stood up and moved away. “I am glad to see your spirit has not been broken by Scar Face and his friend.” She saw the smile now playing on his lips. “You are much stronger than you appear.” He reached up and touched his cheek once more.

She staggered to her feet, finding she wasn’t as strong as he thought her to be. Her legs felt shaky—she was weak from hunger, and she wasn’t sure she could stand for very long. “I’m glad you killed Tall Bear, and I wish you had
killed Scar Face as well. I detest them both—they were revolting.”

“You may have much cause to wish for Scar Face’s death. We have not seen the last of him.”

Danielle looked at her rescuer. “Do you mean he will come after us?”

“I am sure of it. He has a powerful hate in his heart. He will think he has the advantage, since I have you to slow me down.”

Danielle felt his insult hit home. “If you feel I am a burden, why did you come after me?”

“Do not think I came after you for your sake. For my part, Scar Face and Tall Bear would have been welcome to you. What I have done was for Flaming Hair, since she was suffering over your disappearance.”

Danielle turned away, not wanting him to see how his words wounded her. She couldn’t blame Wolfrunner for feeling as he did. She had said some horrible things to him that she now wished she could retract. There had to be a way for her to show him she had changed. She was no longer the spoiled little girl who had always insisted on having her own way in everything. Suddenly a thought came to her. In all her troubles she had almost forgotten that her grandmother was dying.

“How is my grandmother?” she asked.

“Not that you would care, but Sun Woman now walks in the spirit world.”

Hot tears burned her eyes. She
did
care about her grandmother’s death. When she had first come to the village, she’d been angry because she had been forced to come against her will. She’d struck out at everyone wanting to punish them because she was miserable. Danielle would always have to live with the fact that her grandmother had died thinking she didn’t care about her.

“Come, it is almost daylight and we must be on our way. I would not like to be caught in this valley when the sun comes up.”

“Are we not going to eat?” she asked.

“I fear all the food I had was on my horse, and Scar Face has it now.”

Danielle sighed heavily. There was no need to complain about her plight. Was she not better off now than she had been this time yesterday? She walked along behind Wolfrunner, thinking she could sleep for a week without ever waking. Visions of roast turkey and buttered bread danced in her head. She remembered the times Alexandria had tried to coax her to eat, and she had refused. She doubted that she would ever take food for granted again.

Wolfrunner set a steady pace for Danielle to follow, and she was determined to keep up. Many times she was so weary she thought she might drop, but she dared not complain. For some strange reason she found herself wanting to win Wolfrunner’s respect. She also feared that if she didn’t keep up with him he’d leave her behind.

It was long after the noon hour when they finally did stop to rest. Danielle collapsed on the ground and closed her eyes, too exhausted to move.

It was quiet and peaceful among the tall pine trees. A steady breeze cooled her overheated body, and she felt herself getting drowsy. Moments passed, and suddenly Danielle felt a sensation like someone was staring at her. Opening her eyes slowly, she found Wolfrunner sitting nearby with his eyes resting on her face.

Moving to a sitting position, she realized her torn gown did little to cover the upper half of her body.

“I’m hungry,” she said, pulling the bodice together. She must not forget that she was alone with a savage, and if she wasn’t careful, there was no telling what he might do, Danielle cautioned herself.

“I have nothing to give you,” he said, turning away. “You will have to wait until I can kill some game. There are not even any berries for you to eat in this valley.”

She noticed he was whittling on a tree branch, and looked
at him questioningly. “What are you doing, Wolfrunner? Are you making a weapon?”

“I am making a spear. The only weapon I have is this knife. We will need a spear for protection before we reach my village.”

“Do you really think Scar Face will come after us? Perhaps you frightened him into never coming back.”

“He will come. I am the one who gave him the scar that earned him his name. He has never forgiven me for that. What I do not know is why he risked Windhawk’s wrath to capture you. He is a very foolish man.”

Danielle looked into troubled dark eyes and felt something like fear race down her spine. “Scar Face thinks I am Sky Dancer. He hates my uncle because he thinks Windhawk killed his father, Chief Running Elk.”

Wolfrunner shook his head. “Windhawk did slay Scar Face’s father many summers ago.”

“No, you are wrong. It was my father who killed Running Elk.”

“That is not what I have been told by the Piegan,” Wolfrunner said, looking at her doubtfully.

“My father was but a boy when he killed Running Elk, so it was decided to let the people think Windhawk killed the man. My father said Windhawk took the blame to protect him in case anyone wanted to seek revenge. Apparently that is just what happened. It’s strange, though, that Scar Face would wait all these years to act.”

Wolfrunner stood up and tested the point of his newly carved spear. “It does not matter who killed the Piegan chief. Scar Face thinks you are Windhawk’s daughter. Even if he knew you were only Windhawk’s niece, he would still come for you. His honor is at stake now. He fears I will tell the Blackfoot that he is a coward. He also knows he is a dead man if Windhawk finds out he was the one who took you. There will be nowhere he can hide to escape Windhawk’s wrath. That gives him two reasons to try and stop us from reaching the village.” Wolfrunner knew there was
also a third reason that Scar Face would come after them: Scar Face hated him almost as much as he hated Windhawk.

Danielle’s eyes fearfully searched the countryside. “I am frightened, Wolfrunner. How will we ever make it back to the village?”

Wolfrunner balanced the spear in his hand and then took aim and launched it through the air. The missile sailed through the sky and landed with its point sticking into a dead tree stump. “You need not worry. Scar Face will not harm you as long as I am alive,” he said, walking away to retrieve his spear.

Danielle’s eyes followed the man who had saved her from Scar Face. For the first time, she took a long look at him. He wore only a leather breechcloth, which did much to call attention to his hard lean body. A breastplate of porcupine quills rested against his wide chest. His ebony hair hung loosely about his shoulders and was ornamented with two black raven feathers.

Retrieving his spear, Wolfrunner turned to her and she studied his face. His dark eyes seemed to move past her with bored indifference. His cheekbones were high, his chin was stubbornly set. He would be considered handsome, she supposed, but not to her. She had never found dark skin appealing, and his eyes were too fierce to suit her.

Danielle owed this man her life. He had rescued her even though he barely tolerated her as a person. She was sure he was waiting for her to collapse into a heap, but she would show him that she could keep up with him if it killed her. She would prove to him, and herself, that she could last as long as he could.

“We must go,” he said, giving her a look she couldn’t define.

It took all Danielle’s strength just to stand. She wondered if she would really be able to keep pace with this man who was trained to withstand many hardships.

When Wolfrunner bent down in front of her with his knife drawn, she stepped back fearfully.

“I must cut the bottom of your gown. You will trip over it and slow me down.”

Danielle bit her lip and nodded, knowing he was right. Looking away, she couldn’t watch as he cut the material up to her knees, showing off her pantaloons. He stood back and gave her a dark look, then nodded.

“You must take off the undergarment. It, too, will only slow you down.”

“No! I will never remove my—No, it is unthinkable. What would people say?”

“You will do as I say, or I will do it for you,” he threatened. The dark look he gave her was enough to send shivers down her spine.

“I will do it,” she said quickly as he moved toward her. “You must turn your back though.”

He gave her a look that showed he didn’t care to look at anything she had to show. When he turned his back, she quickly stepped out of her pantaloons, and then tossed them behind a bush. Looking down at her appearance, she felt almost naked. Her blouse was ripped down the front, and her legs were showing all the way to her knees. If her friends in Philadelphia could see her now they would be horrified.

Wolfrunner turned back to her and looked her over. “Good, now you can move more freely. I warn you that I will not stop for you if you fail. You are nothing like Sky Dancer. She would know how to follow a warrior’s orders without question.”

He moved away, and Danielle knew he would indeed leave her if she didn’t keep up with him. She followed along behind him, mentally forcing one foot in front of the other. She had the feeling that Wolfrunner was right about her cousin, Sky Dancer. She would have very little trouble keeping up with Wolfrunner. But she imagined that if she were her cousin, Wolfrunner wouldn’t say such cruel and cutting things to her either.

Danielle was beginning to see how shallow and useless her life had been until now. Left alone, she would never
survive in this wild untamed wilderness. She had begun to examine her life, and she wasn’t at all pleased with the picture she had of herself. Danielle knew if she were to come out of this ordeal alive, she would be a different person—hopefully even a better person.

Danielle and Wolfrunner had been traveling southward all day. Danielle was aware that by late afternoon Wolfrunner had slowed his pace so he wouldn’t push her beyond her endurance. Not that he cared for her, she thought bitterly; he just didn’t want a sick woman on his hands.

As the sun began to set, he stopped and motioned for her to rest. Danielle leaned her head against a trunk of a tree and took a deep breath. She was exhausted, but proud of the fact that she hadn’t complained. Of course, she reminded herself, this was just the first day of traveling on foot. She had little doubt her strength and courage would be tested to the limit before they reached the safety of the Blackfoot village.

“Do you know how to use a knife, white woman?” Wolfrunner asked, breaking into her thoughts.

Danielle turned to face him and saw him watching her closely. “I…no. I have never had any need to use a knife,” she admitted, wondering why he should call her white woman. She had as much Indian blood in her veins as Sky Dancer. Now wasn’t the time to belabor the point, however.

His eyes narrowed. “I will leave the knife for you. Let us hope if the need is such, you will learn quickly to use it.”

She reached out her hand toward him. “You aren’t leaving me alone, are you?”

“I will not be gone long. You should be in no danger. You have but to call out and I will hear you.”

Danielle wanted to beg him not to leave her, but pride sealed her lips. Taking the knife he held out to her, she turned away. His movements were so quiet she didn’t hear him as he melted into the evening shadows. When she turned back, he had disappeared from sight.

Sinking down to her knees, Danielle felt alone for the first time in her life. It was so quiet, even the birds seemed to be silent. She felt as if she had been abandoned and was the only person left on earth.

She sat huddled in her misery, watching the night shadows move across the land. Strange sounds now came from the woods. Danielle laid her face against the rough tree trunk, trembling with fear.

“You are a coward,” she said aloud, hoping the sound of her own voice would bring her courage. “Sky Dancer wouldn’t be frightened if she were left alone.”

Clutching the knife in her hand, she stood up and leaned her back against the tree. What would she do if Scar Face came upon her? Suppose some wild animal were to attack her?

With the darkness came a cold wind blowing out of the north. Danielle kept her back to the tree while her eyes searched the darkness. Her hunger was all but forgotten, because it had been replaced by the stronger emotion—fear. Fear seemed to seep through every pore of her skin and dance down the back of her spine. The eerie sounds coming from deep in the woods seemed magnified, and she expected a bear or some other fierce animal to come charging out at her any moment. She shuddered, and her hand tightened on the hilt of the knife. She prayed that Wolfrunner would soon return.

Wolfrunner backtracked to find out if they were being followed. Finding no sign of Scar Face, he set out at a steady run to find food for the white girl.

So far the girl had surprised him. He had expected her to cry and complain. His jaw clamped into a grim line. She would cry out in anger and fear many times before they reached the village. She was soft, and he did not admire her. He would feed her and keep her alive, but should she fall behind or become too much of a burden, he would leave her.