Yellowstone Heart Song (Yellowstone Romance Series Book 1) (14 page)

Aimee squirted her betadine mixture into the wound and wiped it out with sterile gauze. She did this several more times, and by feel, sutured the tear in the abdominal wall. When she was satisfied it was closed, she told Daniel to release his hold on the spoons. She dabbed at the wound again to wipe off the blood, then quickly and efficiently sewed the skin together. She poured a little betadine wash over the now-closed wound, applied some Neosporin ointment, taped a large gauze square over the incision, and wrapped her spare ace bandage around Elk Runner’s torso. 

Finished, she straightened her back and sighed in relief.  She’d done all she could.  She knew Daniel cared deeply for his friend. It would devastate him if he died.

When she looked up, three pairs of eyes were staring at her in utter disbelief. Elk Runner’s companions murmured excitedly, and pointed at her supplies that were now littered all over the ground. She heard them repeat the word
puhagant
, while motioning to her.

“I’m sort of a healer back home,” she offered tentatively as an explanation. She shot Daniel a sheepish look.  She figured in this time, she could run circles around any doctor, so the fact that she was only a nurse was an irrelevant little detail. She hastily gathered the trash, and threw it in the fire. Glancing around, she made sure nothing remained. She was not going to be able to explain all of this. Her only focus had been to save Elk Runner’s life, so discreetness with her modern supplies was forgotten.

“Tell them,” she motioned with her head toward the two Indians, “to keep an eye on him, and he needs to lie still and be kept warm.”

Aimee’s eyes swept the area a second time to make sure she hadn’t missed anything that should be thrown away. She repacked her medical kit and shoved it in her pack. With a final glance at Elk Runner on the ground, she stood to her feet. 

“I’ve never seen anything like what you just did.” Daniel loomed in front of her, and looked down at her intently. “Who are you?”

“You know who I am.” She avoided his stare. “Just a city girl lost in the wilderness.”

“This is what white healers do in the east?”

“Where I come from, we do,” Aimee replied vaguely.

“You speak with strange words sometimes, and you don’t behave or think as any woman I have ever met. One day you will tell me the truth, but I won’t ask again.”

“Thank you.” She gave him a grateful look. She was tired of the lying.

“Will he live?” Daniel nodded at Elk Runner.

“He’s got a good chance. As long as infection or septicemia, um . . . blood poisoning doesn’t set it, he should survive. I took all the precautions I can under the circumstance. The wound needs to stay clean now, and it should heal. Internally, there’s no damage to the vital organs.

****

 “They can’t move him yet!” Aimee shouted and ran from the cabin several hours later. She had gone inside to put her things away and remove her hiking boots. Her moccasins were definitely more comfortable. She’d set some meat in water to soak to prepare a meal for the men. To her horror, Elk Runner was getting up from the ground with the aid of his companions. He clutched his side, and his face contorted in a grimace. “It’s crazy for him to try and travel. He has internal injuries that need to heal. Tell them, Daniel.” Her eyes darted from the Indians to Daniel. She ran up to him, waving a hand toward Elk Runner.

“I can’t make them stay here against their will, Aimee,” Daniel tried to reason with her. “These people live in seclusion most of the time, and they want to return to their camp.”

“Then at least tell them to leave Elk Runner here with us. In a week or so, he should be okay to go.”

“He won’t stay.” Daniel shook his head.

“I can’t believe you people,” she ranted at the Indians, throwing her hands up in the air. “This is insane. First you think he’s going to die, then I save his life, and now you’re going to kill him after all!”

There was nothing she could do or say to keep her patient from leaving. She had to concede that this was a different environment; these were hardened people, not like what she was used to. It was either survive or die in these elements, no matter what got thrown at them.

****

  Daniel stood by silently as Aimee unleashed her temper on the Tukudeka hunters. They seemed to be too stunned by her behavior to react. Women rarely behaved disrespectfully around men. He chuckled quietly, and folded his arms across his chest. She reminded him of a mother grizzly protecting her young.

“Call off your woman, White Wolf,” one of the men finally called to Daniel.

His grin widened. “I can no sooner call her off than I can call off a blizzard in the winter.”  He gently tugged on Aimee’s arm. “Let them go, Aimee. They can’t stay.” Turning to Elk Runner, he said, “Perhaps it would be wise to stay.”

“Have you followed my advice, brother?” Elk Runner asked weakly.

“No,” Daniel said quickly. This was one conversation he wanted to avoid.

“She is a brave woman, White Wolf. She will make a good wife and give you strong sons. She also has powerful medicine,” he said in awe. “Tell her I am forever grateful to her for my life. And if you do not take her as your wife soon, I may take her back as my second wife, no matter that she is too small.”

Daniel laughed, and so did the other two men. “I will think about what you have said.”

Aimee remained quiet as the hunters left the valley. Daniel thanked the heavens that she didn’t direct her temper at him.

“What does
puhagant
mean?” Aimee asked when they were once more alone. “I heard them use that word over and over again.”

He studied her for a moment before he answered. “A
puhagant
is a person who has been favored by the spirits. Such a person is one of the most powerful of the warriors among the Shoshoni. It is said that they possess powers no other man has. Many warriors go on vision quests to attain this status, but few succeed. What you did today was powerful medicine, and they believe you are blessed by the spirits as a great healer.”

“Oh . . . well, I don’t know about being favored by any spirits.”

“Perhaps Elk Runner was right, and you did fall out of the sky.” A grin spread across his face.  “You are most definitely a great mystery.”

“What else did Elk Runner say?” Aimee’s eyes narrowed.

“He said he is grateful for what you did for him, and he considers taking you back and making you his second wife.” He could barely maintain a serious facial expression.  “Even though you are too small for his taste,” he added.

“Oh, you men are just infuriating.” Aimee spun on her heels and disappeared into the cabin.

Chapter 12

Aimee had the time of her life in the days that followed. She soaked up all the knowledge Daniel threw at her about the mountains and forests. While he was gone on his trapping expeditions each morning, she prepared the meal that she would cook in the evening, and looked forward to their forays into the woods. He was a patient and able teacher. He seemed more talkative with her now and more relaxed, and she enjoyed every minute she spent with him. She was especially relieved that he no longer questioned her about her past. She sometimes caught him looking at her in a way that made her heart do flip flops, but not once did he make the slightest attempt to touch her, whether intentional or accidentally. He was truly a man of his word.

Her feelings for him grew with each passing day. Daniel was an amazing man. As gruff and surly as he had seemed a few weeks ago, he acted mostly kind and friendly now. She often lay awake at night, fantasizing about being held in his strong arms, being kissed by him, or what kind of lover he might be. It was for the best that nothing happened between them. Her heart would ache enough when she returned to her own time.

“Today you will learn how to load and shoot a rifle,” Daniel announced one morning while they shared a breakfast of leftover venison and cornmeal mush.

“Why do I need to learn to shoot?” she asked, a little shocked. She had seen and treated enough gunshot victims at the hospital to know that she didn’t want to have anything to do with guns.

“You’ve done well learning the deer trails, so now it’s time you track one and make a kill,” Daniel said enthusiastically. “You have earned this privilege.”

“No way!” She shook her head. “I am not going to kill Bambi, no way.”

“What’s a bam bee?” Daniel asked, confusion in his stare.

“Bambi is a deer. I can’t kill a deer, Daniel.”

“You eat meat,” Daniel stated, his incomprehension as to her logic clearly visible on his face.

“I know that. I should really be a vegetarian, but I do like a good steak. But that doesn’t mean I have to be the one killing it.”

“Vegetarian?” The skin between Daniel’s eyes couldn’t furrow any deeper.

“It’s someone who doesn’t eat meat,” she explained hastily. “Please don’t ask me to shoot and kill something. I just can’t do it.”

“I have given up some time ago to understand your ways.” He shook his head with a smile. “I’ve seen you catch fish, but you won’t kill game?”

“Fish are different,” she argued. “Oh, don’t give me that look, like you think I’m high,” she added in exasperation. His “look” only intensified, with her unfamiliar phrases.

“Are all white women as difficult to understand as you?” he asked in an exasperated tone.

“That’s what all men say.”

“They say you are difficult?”

“No, I don’t mean me personally, but women in general,” she huffed. “Men always complain that the minute they think they’ve got a woman figured out, the woman does something to completely confuse the man again.”

 Daniel nodded. “I would agree with that.”

“Well, that’s because men are simple minded and uncomplicated.” Why was she having this conversation with him?  “All a man needs is food and . . .” she stopped herself. Oh, she really didn’t want to go there! Why did she have to open this can of worms?

“Food and what?” Daniel pressed.

She took a deep breath. “Give a man food and sex” –
there I said it
– “and they’re as happy as clams.”

Daniel coughed and almost choked on a piece of venison. A split second later, a thoroughly devilish smile spread across his face as he intently peered up at her from across the table. She held her breath. God, why did he have to be so damn good-looking, especially with that heart stopping smile of his!

“Well, your cooking’s been real good so far,” he drawled. His eyes smoldered as he stared at her.

She waved her hands in front of her, palms out, and abruptly left the table. “Okay, this conversation has gone far enough. You are a typical man, Daniel, and it brings me to my final point,”

“Point?”

“Men are pigs.”

She grabbed her plate off the table and quickly left the cabin. Things had been so nice the last couple of weeks. Talk of sex would ruin all that. Or would it? She groaned out loud as she put some distance between herself and the cabin.

****

Daniel chuckled, and shook his head. He couldn’t believe where this conversation had led. He had to conceal the surprise he felt at hearing her use such a word. He could picture a dozen eastern women, his aunt included, who would absolutely faint if they heard that word spoken out loud. Aimee seemed fairly at ease with the subject, just as she was at ease with the way she dressed, and even sometimes undressed to a point, around him. She hadn’t acted shy or frightened since the day he had walked in on her in the cabin when she was wrapped in only that blanket.

The day he almost kissed her.

He inhaled deeply and followed Aimee outside. She cautiously knelt at the river’s edge and rinsed out her bowls. His insides grew hot at the memory of that day. What would have happened had she not pulled away?

He had given his word that he would not repeat his actions, and he had kept it. With every passing day his admiration and desire for her grew, but he’d kept his emotions well hidden and he never touched her. She needed to return to her own people in the big city, and somewhere out there was the man who could legitimately lay claim to her.

Admittedly, he enjoyed every moment he spent with her. She was adventuresome, determined to the point of being stubborn, and without fear of most tasks he put before her. His days had definitely not been dull with her around, and he was glad she was at ease in his presence again. The fearful way she had acted that day, which was not her normal way, had disturbed him greatly.

Movement between the trees to the west drew his attention, and he tensed. It was not the random movements of deer moving through the forest. He recognized the shapes of people walking along almost single file, some riding horses.  Reflexively, he reached for his rifle.

A distraction was good right now. He didn’t like where his thoughts led him. He knew that what he felt for Aimee was more than merely a man’s need to bed a woman. He cared for her as he never thought possible. But he could not allow himself to show his feelings. Once he took her back to St. Louis, she would be forever out of his life, and he hoped he would forget about her in time. He was selfish for thinking she might be able to live in these unforgiving mountains. His father had taught him better than that. Zach had loved his wife dearly, but in the end, love hadn’t been enough to save her life.

Before they emerged from the woods, Daniel recognized most of the group as Shoshoni. The women wore deerskin dresses that came past their knees, and the men all wore buckskin shirts and leggings. Their clothing and hair was unadorned with fur or feathers, yet the leatherwork was of the finest quality. Some women carried woven baskets on their backs, and a large number of dogs pulled travois behind them.

Daniel scanned the group. He hoped to see Elk Runner among them. It was past the number of days that Aimee had asked him to come back so she could look at his wound.

 His gaze fell on Aimee by the river. She was looking at the group as well. She had become much more alert to her surroundings in the last few weeks. His heart swelled with pride.

As they emerged from the forest, several families of strangers accompanied the familiar members of Elk Runner’s clan, but also several families of strangers. They were not Shoshoni. Several men rode horses, and most wore no shirts. Breechcloths, leggings, and moccasins made up their attire. The men’s hair was braided in two long braids, most adorned with fur and feathers. Several of them carried rifles. The women also wore their hair in braids, and their dresses showed obvious wear.

“Where are all these people going?” Aimee asked as she joined him in front of the cabin and waited for their visitors’ approach.

“They are on their way to higher country for the summer hunting grounds,” he explained.

“Is Elk Runner among them?”

Aimee’s eyes intently scanned the many approaching faces. There were about thirty adults, including old men and women, and at least a dozen children.

“Wow, they have a lot of dogs!” Aimee remarked. “There’s got to be at least twice as many dogs as people.”

“The Tukudeka don’t have horses. They use dogs to carry their belongings, and for hunting the bighorn. Those men,” he gestured with his chin, “on horseback call themselves the children of the large-beaked bird.”

“Large-beaked bird? I’ve heard of Crow Indians, but never large-beaked bird Indians.”

“I have not heard them call themselves that, but I suppose they could be referring to a crow. In their language, the word for their tribe is Absaroka.”

Remembering Aimee’s comparison of men to pigs from earlier, he couldn’t help himself, and added, “Their women walk and carry their belongings.”

“Typical,” Aimee scoffed. He grinned.

“Why don’t you have a horse?” Aimee asked suddenly, watching the progression.

“My father takes our horses to St. Louis. He needs one to carry the furs. I prefer to be on foot, because I can go places where horses can’t.” 

“I see.” Aimee nodded. “Oh, look, there’s Elk Runner!” She pointed to a man who broke away from the group and reached them before the others. He and Daniel clasped elbows in friendly greeting.

“How are you, brother?” Daniel asked.

“I am well, thanks to your woman’s healing,” Elk Runner grinned brightly, and nodded to Aimee. She held up a hand in greeting.

“We are on our way to the summer camp further north, and my wife wanted to bring your wife a gift.” Elk Runner paused for a moment, his eyes searching Daniel’s face. “She is your wife now?’

“Why are the Absaroka traveling with you?” Daniel asked evasively.

“Several of their men and women were killed by Blackfoot several days ago. They asked to travel with us for a while.” Elk Runner smiled knowingly and shook his head. “She is not yet your wife. You have more endurance than any man I know, White Wolf. Her man is not coming for her.”

Daniel refused to be baited by his brother. He greeted his foster mother, Gentle Sun, and the men from the group of Crow Indians.  

“Tell Elk Runner I’d like to look at the wound and take the stitches out,” Aimee called to Daniel, after he’d made his rounds. Daniel translated. Elk Runner held up his shirt to expose his abdomen. She touched and pushed gently against the incision, and seemed pleased with what she saw.

“I need to get scissors from my pack to remove the sutures.” She hurried off and disappeared inside the cabin, and reappeared moments later. She moved slowly toward the group, and had an uncertain look on her face. Her lips formed a smile, and all eyes stared at her. How would she handle herself around these people? Would she be afraid of them?

Two small boys ran up to him excitedly, calling repeatedly, “
Dosa bia’isa.
”

“These are Elk Runner’s sons.” He laughed, and scooped the smaller boy up and hoisted him onto his shoulders. The little boy squealed with delight.

Talking ceased, except for a few whispers. Daniel understood their curiosity. The only whites most of them had seen, other than his father and himself, were the occasional Frenchmen who wandered through this region. None of them had ever seen a white woman, let alone one with yellow hair.

His insides warmed, and he smiled at her in encouragement. She inhaled deeply, raised her chin, and walked up to Elk Runner. She gestured for him to lift his shirt again, which he did.