Through the Fire (The Native American Warrior Series) (6 page)

She dropped the bundle to the ground in a fluttery heap of linen and lace.
“I loathe being ordered about.”

“
Dress, Rebecca Elliot, or I will dress you myself.”

“
Why bother? I’m only making it easy for you to find a buyer. Some Frenchman will be so eager to have me he’ll take me right in front of you.”

Disgust filled his eyes.
“I have no wish to see this.”

Rebecca cast him a contemptuous glance and turned away.
“No? Maybe he’ll wait until you are gone.”

****

Shoka had had enough of Rebecca’s disdainful obstinacy and her flaunting herself at him. She exuded feminine appeal, her every glance a torment, each seductive curve searing him. Grasping her shoulders, he spun her back around. “Hear me.”

She gulped in his tight hold and her defiance seemed to lessen.
“I’m listening.”

He lightened his grip.
“I want no man to molest you.”

She eyed him as though he
’d taken leave of his senses. “What other purpose could a man possibly have for buying me?”

Shoka cast about for anything besides the obvious. There had to be something else a man would want from this beauty, even though all he desired was to lie with her, repeatedly.
“To cook?” he suggested, doubtful he sounded convincing.

“
I don’t know how.”

He stared at her.
“I thought all women could cook.”

“
Papa had servants for that. Even John managed a few.”

“
What can you do?”

“
You needn’t look at me like I’m hopelessly stupid. I can read and write. Perhaps you can find a man who wants me to read aloud to him?” she said with her usual insolence.

Shoka rolled his eyes.

“What of you? Would you like to hear me read?”

“
Father Andrew taught me to read the scriptures.”

“
Ah, well. I’ve nothing left to offer, unless my skill with an embroidery needle might be of some use? Or dance lessons?”

Shoka didn
’t dignify her derision with a response.

Like a cloud darkening the sun, her face grew solemn.
“You have no idea what my life was like before Captain Elliot.”

“
I saw your back.”

A great heaviness seemed to weigh her.
“That’s only a part of what I suffered.”

Pity stirred in him.
“Tell me.”

She set her lips in bitter lines, parting them enough to ask,
“So you can despise me even more?”

“
I don’t.”

“
Really?” She let the blanket wrapping her slip to the ground, leaving only her shift and corset.

He drank her in like the most intoxicating liquor and steeled himself.

“What would you say if I told you I wore gowns that covered little more of me than what I’m wearing now?” she asked, “and was driven to endless dinners and dances where I charmed men, as you call it, and made them greatly desire me?”

He clenched his jaw, fists already tight.
“Why do this?”

“
Because if I didn’t, I was beaten upon my return home.”

“
What kind of father makes his daughter behave this way?”

“
One who wants generous offers of marriage yet will give her no dowry…no money or land, to gain these proposals with. I had only myself to use as bait.”

“
A dangerous game you played.”

She gazed beyond him to the stream.
“Indeed it was. I’ve been handled in ways no man would have dared if I’d had a sober father or a brother skilled with a sword.”

Without another word, Shoka knew.
“You were forced.”

“
Once. That cruel lesson taught me to fight back and see in men’s eyes what lies in their hearts.”

“
Warriors also must see this.”

She lifted her troubled gaze to his.
“What can you tell of me?”

He searched eyes blinking against the glimmer of tears.
“You speak the truth now.”

“
Then you know I’m not shameless?”

“
I know you have no wish to be. Yet, can one taught to behave as a fox become a dove?” he asked in turn.

“
Can you not believe in my innocence?”

“
I know not what to believe.”

Through trembling lips, she said,
“Believe as you like then. I’ll not plead for your good opinion.”

“
Does it matter so much to you?”

No answer. And she blinked harder.

Making no attempt to prevent her, he released Rebecca as she tore from him. She hurriedly picked her way across the stones to a large, flat rock and huddled on it, hugging herself for warmth.

He let her be for a moment then quietly followed and sat beside her. He gently pushed the blowing hair back from her face.
“I only know you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

“
But you trust me little more than the serpent you killed?” she sniffed.

He smiled slightly.
“A little. What must I do with you?”

She stared at the tumbling water.
“Sell me to a celibate priest.”

“
Perhaps he would no longer be celibate. A French family might take you in.”

Her eyes startled to his.
“As what? Daughter or servant? For the love of God, Shoka, help me reach my uncle.”

He was sorely tempted.
“Even if I risk my life guiding you near a settlement, you would not be safe there.”

“
Is anywhere safe on the frontier?”

“
No. Only a strong man with much skill can guard you. Rebecca, there is something you must know.”

She arched her brows.
“What?”

“
Today I saw footprints belonging to a white woman.”

“
Really?” She bent toward him. “How could you tell?”

“
The shape of the sole, depth of the mark. I think your sister made these prints. She is heading west deeper into the mountains.”

“
Toward the fort?” A warm light touched Rebecca’s eyes. “Maybe an angel leads her.”

“
I know nothing of angels. But we will find your sister,” he said with an assurance he could not define.

Rebecca nodded and seemed to take comfort from him. She glanced up at a boisterous flock of ducks circling in the sky. Feathery plumes of lavender and rose-red shot through with gold streaked the horizon above the ridges. Nighthawks called, too, swooping in the blue twilight.

“Never have I seen a land more beautiful. Regardless of its perils,” she said softly.

“
Nor I.” He watched with her as the glorious display faded to pale mauve, and the deepening gray consumed all traces of rose until only the silver twilight remained.

“
The colors fade so fast. I wish I could capture the beauty somehow,” she said.  

Cupping his hand to her cheek, he stroked the dewy softness.
“The colors of the sky are in your eyes, your cheeks, your lips. The light of the sun falls in your hair.”

She nuzzled her face against his hand and sent a tingle pulsing through his fingers to his center place, where his innermost being lived, and straight to his groin.

“If I am day, you are night, and both meet at dusk,” she whispered.

He edged nearer, his lips a breath away from hers.
“Night passes and day comes again. What then?”

“
Keep me with you until the next dusk, and the next…”

Shoka drew back, his hunger for her at odds with years of hurt. Reason screamed in his mind.
“It is not so simple. You are an English lady.”

Rebecca
’s perfect mouth curled. “I do not wish to return to the company of English gentlemen.”

“
I want no wife. Women cannot be trusted. Beautiful women the least.”

She stiffened like an affronted dog.
“Is that so?”

“
Will a man twist a knife into my heart and call this love? Women are slow poison.”

“
Men are despicable. Most anyway. Captain Elliot was perfect.”

“
I cannot find you a saint.”

“
Not among the French. Meshewa will do.”

“
Oh no.” Shoka caught her softness to him in an explosive embrace. “He is not ready for such a woman. I say where you will go.”

“
Shoka!” an adamant voice intruded.

His annoyance doubled as he recognized Wabete.

****

Rebecca swiveled her head toward the solitary figure striding along the stream in the dusky light. The last man she wanted to see.
“No.” She burrowed her face against Shoka’s bare chest.

“
Wabete will do you no harm,” he answered gruffly.

“
I fear him most.”

“
It is not him you need fear.”

“
Who could possibly be worse?”

Making no reply, Shoka stood and drew her up with him. Despite his obvious exasperation, he kept a secure arm around her shoulders and walked with her back over the rocks to his brother. Wabete
’s muscular body gave every promise of strength, his manner of wrath. Despite her fear of him, his ears intrigued her in a morbid way. Silver ball and cone earrings hung from his split, wire-wrapped lobes and shook as he lashed out at his younger brother in Shawnee. “
Peh chena yeama tamseh
—
metchi
.”

She shrank against Shoka. He remained steady under the verbal assault, his tone sharp with dissent as he replied.
“
Yeama tamsah au paca. Miteakee au sequoy
.”

The older man tore into him with more alien words. After a brief scolding, his demeanor changed. His voice grew grave, as though a more serious matter had displaced his initial rebuke.
“
Peh chena yeama tamsah majuhn tei
Maka Manese.”

A tension seemed to grip Shoka, far different from the one she
’d provoked in him. “
NiSawsawh, keteia peh nee adanida
?”

Wabete was silent as he listened to what sounded like an earnest plea from his brother. He nodded and his earrings bobbed. Giving Shoka
’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze, he walked away. The fast-falling night swallowed up his retreating back and obscured Shoka’s face, but it couldn’t conceal his rigid posture.

“
What troubles you?” she whispered, fearful of his reply.

“
Wabete says I must take you before Maka Manese. Long Knives call him Black Knife.”

A shudder ran through her.
“Who?”             

“
The war chief.”

She swallowed hard.
“What does he want with me?”

“
Answers to questions the soldiers refuse to give. Questions I asked you last night. I know you did not speak the truth. Black Knife will also know.”

Cold fear knotted her stomach.
“He reads faces well?”

“
Also how you move your hands, your body. He is clever. Tell him what he wishes,” Shoka urged.

“
I’ll betray my uncle and his family. They may be sheltering in the fort. Maybe even Kate is there, or will be.”

Shoka
’s demeanor was deadly serious. “If you do not answer him, Black Knife will become angry.”

Waves of dread engulfed her, and she reached trembling fingers to him.
“Don’t make me go before him. Spare me.”

He enclosed her icy hand in his warm grasp.
“I cannot. Yet I will give all my strength to protect you.”

“
Then God help us both.”

“
Pray hard, Rebecca Elliot.”

God would have to hear a wordless prayer. She was too frightened to manage anything articulate and waited in paralyzing apprehension as Shoka recovered her clothes. Dazed, she stepped into the folds and stood while he tied the petticoats, then pulled on her gown. She took short breaths while he somehow did the hooks of her stomacher in the dark.

“You could let me escape,” she argued in mounting panic.

“
No. I could not.”

She threw her arms around his strong neck.
“I’ll go where you say. Wait there. Anything. I swear it.”

He held her tightly then put her from him.
“There is no other way.” Gripping her arm, he hurried her back along the water and up the bank.