Gray Eagle was lying upon his back, staring up into the darkness of his tepee, catching glimpses of the full moon through the ventilation opening, noting the even respiration of his wife at his side, and listening to the muffled sounds of lovemaking from his son’s distant mat: such had been the pattern of his nights for the past four moons.
Rebecca’s constant presence in his tepee had taken a toll upon his peace of mind. His normally calm nature had suffered because of this girl and the danger which she could represent to them. Each day he feared some terrible secret would come to light. He had become restless and edgy. He could not bring himself to make love to Shalee while Powchutu’s daughter was in sight and sound of such a precious and private union. He could not speak freely and easily with his son while Bright Arrow’s eyes lingered upon his captive and his attention was upon her rather than on his father’s words. Eating was difficult, for he sensed her eyes upon him. How could he ignore her presence when she stood in his line of vision, when her voice touched his alert ears, when she “accidentally” brushed against him while serving him meals, when she was obviously working her way into the hearts of his son and wife? It had been a mistake to let her stay for even one moon! Yet, he could not go back on his word. He was trapped in this distasteful, perilous situation for three more moons.
In his moody and guarded state, his words were often abrupt and evasive. He seemed wary and remote. Yet, he could not explain these unnatural fears and apprehensions to his wife. Already she admired and respected this white girl. Shalee would never permit him to send Rebecca away if she learned the truth…At least he could be grateful for the timely raid tomorrow which would take him and Bright Arrow away from camp for two suns. He frowned as he recalled how his son had vainly argued against going with him this time; he mentally raged at the undeniable reality of Bright Arrow’s brazen attachment to Rebecca.
Yet, he could hardly fault him. Rebecca possessed a beauty and feminine mystique which could almost match Shalee’s. It was tragic that she carried the blood of the man who had been his worst enemy. He reluctantly admitted that she was a valuable slave, accepting of her captivity. Indeed she was clever, strong, and resilient. It was abundantly clear she was doing everything she could to coax his acceptance! She did nothing intentionally to insult or annoy. She was too good to be real or to be trusted!
Gray Eagle wondered: Was she cunningly preventing any visible reason to justify her departure? Was she craftily portraying the perfect woman and slave, knowing how it would look if he traded such a rare and valuable captive? Who would sell such seeming perfection?
His deductions alarmed him. Only a man who feared her allure! Only a man who was frantically attempting to protect himself from such dangerous traits! Only a father who wanted a deluding creature out of his son’s life to prevent his dishonor—or a father who secretly held powerful feelings for that girl himself! Yet, those feelings were not love or desire; they were foreboding and embittering. Even his loyal warriors failed to aid his cause, for they favorably remarked upon her beauty, obedience, and great value!
But if he dared to speak the name of her real father, many of his warriors would recall the dauntless half-breed scout who had almost challenged him before five thousand warriors just to protect Shalee from his capture! They would recall the vivid affection revealed between his wife and Rebecca Kenny’s father. They would recall how Rebecca’s real father had tried to kill him and to steal his Shalee, how the murderous scout had delivered his one and only defeat at any man’s hands! Powchutu’s demeaning and unforgivable deeds were abundant.
Only once had Gray Eagle carelessly allowed an enemy to take him unaware; he had recklessly allowed Powchutu to sneak up on him and to shoot him, to leave him for dead, then to run off with his wife! He would never forget or pardon the shame and anguish which Rebecca’s real father had brought into his life. It had been many torturous months before the sullen Eagle had accidentally found his wife again. Then, he had nearly killed Shalee with his bare hands, led to think her traitorous to him from the past words and taunts of Powchutu when the defeated warrior had lain bleeding at the scout’s feet!
If those foul deeds had not been great enough, in his turbulent distress, Gray Eagle had almost innocently destroyed his own son Bright Arrow as he had rested within Shalee’s body. He would never forgive how Powchutu had cunningly and wickedly led him to believe that Gray Eagle’s first child was his own! If not for Joe Kenny—the man Rebecca honestly believed to be her father—Gray Eagle knew that both Shalee and Bright Arrow would have died by the Eagle’s vengeful talons, a product of Powchutu’s treacherous betrayal and overpowering jealousy. In truth, Rebecca’s relationship to his old friend Joe was the only reason she was still alive. Otherwise, Gray Eagle would have sent her to her death on the first day!
Silence now reached his alert ears and keen senses. He assumed his son and the white captive were finally asleep. He wondered if the same feelings of self-betrayal and shame which he had known long ago presently tormented his son. Surely it was impossible to avoid such unrelenting emotions when a warrior weakly clung to his avowed enemy. He could recall his own agony and ecstasy: agony in public, ecstasy in private. Gray Eagle frowned in bitterness, for he knew Shalee and Bright Arrow would rebel against sending her away even though they had both promised they would not. Only three more days…they could not pass quickly enough!
Gray Eagle was mistaken in his assumption, for each of the three people who lived in his tepee were awake. Each was ensnared by thoughts of varying kinds; each was caught up in this drama which demanded to be played out. Weary, soon Gray Eagle was the only one asleep.
Bright Arrow lay still and silent, trying not to disturb the white girl at his side. Gray Eagle was indeed accurate in his conclusions about his son’s feelings. Bright Arrow felt and knew that same agony and ecstasy which his father had discovered and endured. Everything within Bright Arrow resisted Rebecca’s loss; yet, he knew he must obey his father’s dictates. If only this girl wasn’t everything he wanted and desired in a female. If only she wasn’t white. Sadly, she was…
He had observed her for many days now. She appeared happy and tranquil here. She seemed to belong with him. She had been respectful and submissive, much to his relief. His mother had taken an instant liking to Rebecca; yet, his father often made his resentment lucidly clear to all of them. No matter how much Rebecca tried to please his father and to lessen his dislike of her, she failed. This futile ploy to win his father’s acceptance made her leaving an unyielding reality. Bright Arrow had no choice but to believe Gray Eagle simply could not tolerate a white girl in his life.
He sought to resign himself to their impending separation. Perhaps her departure was for the best. In truth, he could no longer deny that his hunger and affection for her grew with each passing day. As a noted warrior he could not permit himself to fall in love with his white captive. Anguish knifed his heart, for he realized it was too late to prevent such a reprehensible act…
Bright Arrow was plagued by the emotional battle which fiercely raged within his body. On one side was an entrancing white girl whom he craved beyond reason or control. But her skin proclaimed her as his avowed enemy. Already he had been too lenient and friendly toward her. On the opposing side were his people, his father, his friends, his undeniable destiny and duty: all scorned his attraction to this unique girl. They would never accept her, no matter how lowly her position.
He was savagely torn between these two conflicting forces, for he knew which side he must inevitably take. He cursed her magic which had compelled him to refute Standing Bear’s claim upon her. Their fatal challenge should not have been over a mere white captive. He could not quell the rage which assailed him as he recalled the playful teasings and humiliating ridicule by his friends and other braves. They would never grant Rebecca any chance to earn their respect.
Dread washed over him, for he recognized the signs of unrelenting hatred and jealousy in females. Agony joined that dread, for he resisted the belief that Rebecca deserved such cruel treatment. If only Rebecca wasn’t so special and submissive. If only she wasn’t white…
Rebecca was lying upon her left side with her slender back to Bright Arrow. She could just barely restrain the tremors of her body which would alert him to her wakefulness and tears. She did not want him to learn how deeply she loved and wanted him. She did not want him to know how much torture it would bring her to leave him in only three more days. It was clear to even her innocent mind that Bright Arrow wanted her, perhaps felt deep affection toward her. But it was also clear that he would follow his father’s wishes. Unless Gray Eagle changed his mind about sending her away, she would be out of Bright Arrow’s life in just a few days. Change his mind…She quelled her bitter laughter before it shattered the silence around her. She could not imagine that puissant warrior ever altering any decision he had made!
Why did Gray Eagle hate and resent her so much? Warriors took white slaves and squaws all the time. Why was her captivity to his son so disturbing? There was something about the way he looked at her; there was something about the way his aura emitted deep-rooted hostility. He despised her, but she realized it was not wholly because of her white skin or her enslavement to his son. Those things played a major part in his behavior, but his animosity was for a much deeper reason. What unspeakable horror did she remind him of each time he glared at her with those igneous, coal-black eyes?
She had tried in every way possible to dispel his resentment. She had obeyed every order and command. She had forced herself to be pleasant, meek, and industrious. She had helped Shalee with anything and everything. Yet, nothing seemed to please him; nothing seemed to lessen his inexplicable hatred.
Every time Rebecca accidentally touched Gray Eagle, he jerked away as if she had burned him! He contemptuously glared at her each time she demurely smiled at him, trying to let him know she did not feel that same hostility and repulsion. He seemed offended by everything she did. Why? her ravaged heart cried.
Then, there were those strange stares of his. Every so often she would find his piercing eyes upon her. He possessed a powerful gaze which could strip a female naked. She trembled at the way his eyes leisurely travelled her entire body. Could it be possible that he desired her as a woman? Could that be the source of his resentment? Could he hate her for stirring unwanted lust within his body? Surely not, Rebecca thought, for he already possessed the most beautiful, desirable woman alive!
Didn’t Gray Eagle realize it was his striking resemblance to his son which caused her to stare at him? Rebecca pondered. She often wondered if this was how Bright Arrow would look in twenty years. They were so much alike! Without a doubt, Bright Arrow could easily be a youthful Gray Eagle. Thankfully, Bright Arrow also possessed many of his mother’s traits and qualities…
Having been raised in the wilderness, there had been little for Rebecca to learn after coming to the Sioux camp. She knew how to gather wood and to make a competent fire. She knew how to tan hides and skins and how to sew. She knew how to wash clothes in a river and how to cook over an open campfire. She knew how to prepare meat and to gather vegetables and fruits which were edible. She knew and did such chores every day at the side of Shalee.
Shalee…Rebecca knew how lucky she was to be in the Indian princess’s gentle hands. It had not taken long for Rebecca to note her good fortune. She would do nothing to dishonor or to displease this special creature who was so patient and cordial. In fact, Shalee’s acceptance encouraged Rebecca to work even harder. During these past few days, they had become friends of a sort. They clearly respected each other. They got along well. They even enjoyed each other’s company and assistance. Shalee was tolerant and instructive. She was satisfied with Rebecca’s skills and knowledge. Very few times did she give orders, for it was unnecessary. Rebecca was quick to anticipate her wishes and to perform them. Rebecca’s lack of rebellion and insolence had inspired a truce between them.
Much to Rebecca’s surprise and joy, Shalee was trying to teach her Oglala. With her knowledge of signing and her astute mind, these lessons were stimulating and helpful. Frequently the two women would burst into laughter as Rebecca attempted to repeat some word which was extremely difficult to say, for Sioux was a guttural language. How she longed to remain here with Shalee and Bright Arrow, for she knew she could easily fit into their life. But Gray Eagle was the unmovable barrier in her road to happiness.
Rebecca’s troubled thoughts darted down a different path. She suspected those Indian girls had placed that snake in the leather bag she had been using the day before. It was doubtful that squirming snake had crawled inside a closed parfleche. She could close her eyes and clearly envision that scene. She could almost hear the girls’ malicious laughter as she had opened the bag to place some buffalo berries inside.
Why were they being so cruel to her? She wasn’t responsible for the conflict between the white man and the Indian. Neither was she to blame for being Bright Arrow’s personal captive: the real motive for their spitefulness. Yet, she had suffered her fears and anguish in silence. To tell Bright Arrow or Shalee about their spitefulness would be futile. She knew she had to learn to ignore such vindictiveness. Somehow she needed to prove to them she was not their enemy, not a rival for their beloved warrior!
Shalee lay awake hours after the other three people were fast asleep, her troubled mind reflecting upon many contradictions in the past few days. She retraced them to discover what was alarming and plaguing her so deeply that she could not lose herself in restful slumber. Bright Arrow was behaving just as she had predicted, but Rebecca and Gray Eagle were not! At first, things had unexpectedly gone smoothly and peacefully for everyone. She had even come to like this vulnerable white girl. Rebecca had gradually become a perfect slave. Perhaps too obliging and perfect?
Shalee analyzed her turmoil. Rebecca was smart for a girl of her tender years. She had quickly and easily obeyed each of their orders. Desperately wanting peace and naturally feeling a kinship to this white girl, Shalee realized she had naively drawn many erroneous conclusions. Rebecca had not revealed any defensive rebellion at all! She had not resisted her intimate place upon Bright Arrow’s mat. She had presented friendship and demure acceptance. How was this possible so quickly and easily? Was she too willing and eager to accept her captivity? Was she really guileful and devious? Was Rebecca only pretending with her and Bright Arrow?
Having once been in a similar situation, Shalee could not comprehend Rebecca’s agreeable conduct. It was only natural to experience some amount of resentment and defiance. Yet, Rebecca had not. Shalee involuntarily recalled how she had futilely resisted her enslavement to her intrepid warrior, now her husband. How was it possible for Rebecca not to experience those same types of instinctive emotions? How was it possible for Rebecca not to defy them in some small way? How could Rebecca simply behave as if she felt no hatred, humiliation, anguish, or bitterness? Was it all a charade until she could win their trust and somehow escape? Was she eagerly and desperately attempting to remain here forever with them? Surely she realized how lucky she was to be enslaved by her son! Perhaps she was only feigning the perfect slave in order to say with them…how could she blame Rebecca for such a ploy?
Yet, Shalee finally admitted what was truly bothering her. It was those subtle, powerful, confusing undercurrents which passed between Rebecca and her masterful husband! In the beginning, she had assumed Rebecca was only trying to win his friendship and acceptance. But after today, Shalee’s opinions had altered drastically.
Out hunting with other braves, Bright Arrow had not been present for the midday meal. While she had been putting away the wild vegetables which she and Rebecca had just gathered for use at the evening meal, Rebecca had been commanded to serve Gray Eagle’s food. Shalee had glanced over at them just as the young girl had handed the dish to Gray Eagle. Shalee had frozen in shock at the look which passed between her son’s captive and her virile husband.
As Rebecca’s and Gray Eagle’s gazes had met and joined, the brazen girl had not released her hold upon the dish, nor had her husband pulled it from her tight grasp! He had simply drilled his ebony gaze into her tawny ones, seeming to forget his surroundings and even reality—just as the stunning captive did! For what had seemed an endless lapse of time, they had stared at each other. Then to Shalee’s disbelief, Gray Eagle’s eyes had calmly roved over the girl from auburn head to slender ankle. Simultaneously, the girl’s gaze had boldly surveyed her husband’s virile torso and handsome features with the slowness of a snail! Then, their eyes had locked once more, this time glowing with a mysterious gleam which Shalee had witnessed and still raged against.
In fury and anguish, Shalee had torn her panicked gaze from the treacherous sight before her. It had required some minutes before she could control her volatile emotions. She could not trust herself to speak or to look at either of them until she could regain her poise. Traitorous suspicions screamed accusations against both of them. She felt betrayed.
Was there some irresistible force drawing them to each other? Was this mysterious magnetism the evil which Gray Eagle had sensed and wanted to prevent? Did he secretly desire this white girl for himself? Was he envious of his son’s possession of her? Was his resentment based upon sweltering lust for Rebecca? It couldn’t be true!
Shalee envisioned that dramatic scene once more. She recalled how Rebecca had looked at her husband, how she had been unable or unwilling to look away from his probing and appreciative gaze. Shalee scolded herself. Had she been blind? Was this girl encouraging her husband to lust after her? Was she cunningly attempting to seduce Gray Eagle? Did she honestly believe she could steal him away from his wife, could entice him into keeping her here? What vile and wicked mischief was Rebecca practicing upon the man she loved!
After lunch, Shalee had made it a point to watch them closely yet furtively. She had no way of knowing that her husband was testing Shalee’s theory for himself. She had no way of knowing that Gray Eagle was covertly trying to trick the girl into exposing her true feelings for all of them. She had no way of knowing that he suspected Rebecca of crafty seduction upon him. All Shalee noticed was the intense way in which her traitorous husband kept observing the slave girl who belonged to their son! She also witnessed the way in which Rebecca warmly responded to Gray Eagle’s guile.
Tragically, all were misled and mistaken. For Rebecca only reacted with naive attempts to win Gray Eagle’s friendship and acceptance; she responded to the similarity in looks to his son. As the day had progressed, Rebecca had become disquieted by the smoldering way in which that indomitable warrior kept staring at her. Each time she had uncontrollably glanced in his direction to see if he was still watching her, her artless looks were misread by both Shalee and Gray Eagle…
Lying there for the fourth night without the solace and affection from her husband’s arms, Shalee mistakenly assumed Gray Eagle was gradually losing interest in her and was steadily desiring this younger female who rested upon Bright Arrow’s mat. Indignation and jealousy chewed viciously at her. She should have allowed Gray Eagle to send Rebecca away that first day! She had been a fool to speak out for her! Rebecca was nothing like her! Shalee fiercely admonished herself. She had been a sentimental romantic and a wide-eyed idealist to help this girl who was obviously making a brazen play for her husband! She had befriended Rebecca; she had helped and comforted her. And this was to be her payment! Now she comprehended why Rebecca was portraying the perfect slave: she wanted to catch Gray Eagle’s eye and heart! How dare she! If Rebecca initiated a battle for Gray Eagle, then she would most assuredly find one: a very bloody and costly one!
Shalee fretted over a previous action of Rebecca’s which took place two days past. Had it truly been an accident or a simple error in judgment? Rebecca was intelligent; surely she realized certain berries were poisonous! Perhaps she had excused Rebecca’s mistake too quickly. Had Rebecca secretly and vengefully tried to kill them? Or had Rebecca only desired to remove her presence, to find some way to have both men to herself? Or perhaps to have Gray Eagle to herself?
When Shalee had noted the dull red berries in Rebecca’s bowl, she had instantly jerked it from the startled girl’s grip just before she added them to the wasna mix. But when she managed to get her alarmed message across to the wide-eyed girl, she had appeared shocked and distressed by Shalee’s reaction.
Since Shalee knew English, Rebecca’s anxious response had dispelled her suspicions. She had shrieked, “I’ve never seen these kinds of berries before, Shalee! I thought you put them in the bowl. Who would do such a wicked and dangerous thing? We could all have died! I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful,” she had promised.
But now, Shalee wondered at this suspicious mistake! What better way to get a man’s wife out of the picture? Perhaps his wife and his son? Did Rebecca wish all their deaths or only hers? If only she knew if this was an honest mistake…
Each of the three was caught up in an emotional triangle which existed only within their troubled minds…
Fear, sadness, and anguish weighed heavily upon Shalee’s frightened mind and tormented heart. Tears eased down her cheeks, for she remembered how she had once fascinated, bewitched, and ensnared Gray Eagle. Long ago, she had been in a similar state of youthful innocence. Her vulnerability, sensual appeal, and artlessness had inspired him to boldly capture her. Irresistibly drawn to him and powerless to refuse him anything, he had enchanted her beyond reason. Even while rebelling against his enslavement and cruelty, she had fallen in love with him, coming to desire him as she had no other man.
In those first days, she had been like a stimulating and intoxicating drug to him, an aphrodisiac which plagued and enflamed his virile body. Her helpless condition had filled him with a heady sense of power. She had unknowingly compelled and enticed him to possess her, body and soul. Her inevitable submission to him had assuaged his arrogance, determination, and prowess. With her final capitulation, he had proven his power. He had easily won their battle.
She bitterly recalled how he had defensively concealed his love for her until she had been accepted as Black Cloud’s daughter. But ever since the day of their first meeting, he had never looked upon another female with carnal desire. After becoming his wife, she had satisfied each of his desires and needs. Now her confidence and appeal were being threatened by this ivoryskinned girl who was a striking replica of the female who had once bravely and boldly invaded the indomitable Eagle’s domain…
Was Rebecca becoming a similar challenge to his ego and prowess? Was she evoking those same feelings of excitement, and daring? Was he at that vulnerable age where a man wanted and needed such enlivenment, to be shown he was still virile and irresistible, to prove himself as sensually potent and magnetic as ever?
Gray Eagle’s pensive mood and reserved conduct had increased Shalee’s fears and worries. Caught up in his own emotional conflict, he was totally unaware of his wife’s inner turmoil.
Shalee craved Gray Eagle’s touch and comfort. But each time she had made a romantic overture toward him, he had smiled regretfully and pleaded with her to wait until this annoying intruder was out of their tepee. If that refusal of lovemaking wasn’t distressing enough, he had even avoided her kisses, her caresses, even her gaze. This was unlike him. Before Rebecca had come to stay with them, he had been unable to have enough of her. Now, he didn’t seem to want or to need her at all! His unconscious withdrawal hurt Shalee deeply, for she misunderstood the reasons behind it. She wanted and needed her lover, and he was not there for her…
Shalee could not help remembering something she had said to Gray Eagle eighteen years ago: “One day you will recall I am all white, and you will turn against me. I would rather lose you now than later. I could not bear it, Wanmdi Hota, for I love you more than life itself.”
He had laughed heartily and hugged her fiercely, telling her, “It does not matter to me now, and it never will. From this day on, you are Shalee; you-will be mine forever.” But the enormous lie had always been there between them. It had coiled in hiding like a venomous snake waiting for the right moment to strike out and destroy her. It had hibernated for years; now, it had awakened in an irascible mood, wanting to attack whatever or whoever had disturbed its lengthy slumber. Enslaving her had been a huge and costly blow to Gray Eagle’s pride, one he had never truly forgotten or forgiven; surely this explained the look of guilt and resentment which filled his eyes before he could conceal it.
There was only one way to test her terrifying conclusions. Tomorrow she would seek him out in private. If he rejected her touch when no eyes were upon them, she would know the truth. If he was finally turning away from her, she needed to know immediately. Then, if this girl was excessively appealing to him, she had to find a way to get rid of her; she had to find some way to restore the happiness and tranquility which Rebecca had vanquished. Tomorrow…
Gray Eagle gazed down into the pale face of his sleeping wife. The telltale signs of salty tears were still visible upon her cheeks and in the dampness of her hair. The blue smudges beneath her eyes told of a restless night.. He fretted anxiously. Was she becoming aware of his deception? Did she sense he was withholding critical facts about Rebecca from her? Or was she simply caught up in this drama from the past which haunted him too? He should not have relented to her pleas to keep Rebecca here. In time she would have forgiven and forgotten his blatant refusal. Now, he feared she was becoming too involved with this girl. Was she hurt by his inability to make love to her while Rebecca watched and listened, just as he saw and heard Rebecca’s lusty bouts with his virile son? It was even difficult to look Shalee in the eye for fear she might read his deception there. He hoped this awful distance would cease once Rebecca was gone.
Gray Eagle arose, careful not to disturb Shalee who needed to sleep a while longer. He would join his son who had left only moments ago. As he stood up, he absently glanced over at Bright Arrow’s mat. Rebecca was sitting up, watching him. He glared at her, then left his tepee.
Rebecca lay down upon her back, wondering how she could ever win the approval of that valiant man who held her destiny in his callous hands and heart. She had not noticed the alert eyes of Shalee upon her, nor the annoyed scowl which lined her lovely face. She did not realize that she spoke aloud and Shalee heard her agonized prayer, “Please make him accept me. I could not bear to leave here. Melt that icy heart of his. Do not permit him to send me away…”
Shalee waited a while before she left her mat. Ignoring Rebecca completely, she headed for the stream to freshen up. Afterwards, she returned to her tepee to face the witch whose evil eyes were focused upon Gray Eagle.
Rebecca was patiently waiting for her daily orders. She wondered at the abrupt change in Shalee; it struck terror and sadness into her heart. Shalee’s eyes revealed scorn and mistrust when they lingered upon her. Shalee did not smile at her, nor did she speak to her unless it was to give a command.
She wondered if Shalee was still angry about the berry incident. Rebecca instantly decided she should be very careful in the future. Someone had placed those berries in her bowl, someone who wanted it to appear she had done it intentionally. But who? If Shalee hadn’t caught that vicious mistake, they could all be sick or dead.
Mistake? Joke? She scoffed to herself. It hadn’t been a simple mistake or a playful jest. Someone had cunningly planned to entrap her. She resolved to be alert and cautious from now on. She had enough problems without others spitefully handing her more! Apprehension filled her, for she speculated that Shalee doubted her innocence.
The silence and tension became apparent to both men by midday. When Bright Arrow questioned his mother about her aloof behavior, she smiled wanly and said she was just overly tired that day. She curiously reminded him that Rebecca was a slave, a slave who would leave them in two more days. Strange, but she now seemed to want that departure.
After his mother left them, Bright Arrow turned to study Rebecca with inquisitive eyes. But Rebecca’s misty eyes were observing the steady retreat of his mother.
He approached Rebecca and” questioned, “Shalee, Rebecca hiya kodas?”
Tears flowed down Rebecca’s cheeks. She shrugged her slumped shoulders and sorrowfully said, “I do not understand why she has turned against me. I have done all she asked. I have tried to be obedient and helpful. Have I caused some breach between them? Perhaps your father commanded it,” she suggested, then sighed dejectedly. “I forget you cannot understand me. Kodas?” She echoed sadly and shrugged confusion.
Bright Arrow smiled into the luminous eyes which pleaded for comfort and love. He caressed her cheek and kissed her lightly.
She returned the kiss and the smile. At least he had not changed. Perhaps Shalee was ill. The best thing she could do was behave in the manner which had previously been pleasing to Shalee…
Bright Arrow seized her cold hands and pulled her to her feet. “Ku-wa,” he called to her, swaggering out of the tepee into the fresh air and warm sunshine. Without a thought to refusal, she meekly followed the self-assured warrior with a lowered head and listless spirit.
Neither attempted to make conversation as they headed to a secluded formation of rustcolored boulders which arose from the dirt, pitted and scarred by the forces of nature. They gingerly avoided the prickly cacti which grew sparingly in this arid location. Gentle winds raced through the slender blades of bunch and buffalo grasses. The terrain steadily became rocky and hard. Only an occasional tree offered shade to the warm earth beneath it.
Rebecca became aware of their ever-increasing distance from the Oglala camp and the dreamy solitude of their picturesque surroundings. Yet, Bright Arrow silently continued his trek toward the lofty boulders. The moment they stepped into a small clearing which was enclosed on three sides by towering rock formations, he halted and turned to face her. He stopped so abruptly that she almost ran into him. Her hands went against his muscled chest to catch her balance. For some unknown reason, she noticed his smooth, firm body lacked the beads of moisture which the dazzling sun and her exertions had quickly brought to her shapely body. But then, he was accustomed to this arid climate and to strenuous exercise.
She hesitantly waited to discover why he had led her to this secluded spot. He stepped away from her to allow his gaze the unhindered ability to leisurely and thoroughly study her from head to foot. She quietly submitted to this intense scrutiny, trembling at its unsettling effect upon her.
Bright Arrow’s hungry gaze devoured the beauty and softness before him. She would belong to him for only one more day, for his father had insisted upon his presence away from camp for nearly two suns: two precious days which would be lost forever. He had vainly argued against going on this scouting mission. He had been left without an honorable refusal. But for the next few hours, Rebecca would be his.
Although she was new to a man’s mat and to the sweet joinings of two bodies, she had forced herself to withhold a special part from him and to deny both of them the exquisite pleasure of total surrender. Before she was lost to him, he desperately needed to have her completely. He must become as unforgettable to her as she was to him! He had felt the fierce restraint within her each night as he had possessed her body. In this private place, he would use all of his knowledge and prowess to destroy her remaining resistance…
His probing gaze started its journey at her auburn head which captured the afternoon sunlight and shimmered like a smoldering fire. It moved past her tawny eyes to linger briefly upon her pert nose, slightly parted lips and dainty chin. It engulfed her flawless complexion which was beginning to lose its tawny glow to become a deep bronze shade.
His igneous eyes roamed over her inviting frame with its gently rounded curves, clad in a doeskin dress which outlined her body in an appealing manner. Her graceful hands were tightly clasped together, revealing her apprehension. She unknowingly shifted from one moccasined foot to the other, bringing an engaging grin to his lips, softening his eyes and expression.
His gaze riveted to her panicked eyes. He came forward; she backed away, instinctively sensing some vital drama about to unfold. He chuckled mischievously when her back made contact with the rocks, preventing any further retreat from him and the inevitable. She gasped in surprise and swallowed loudly, fearing the bold intentions she was reading within those hypnotic black eyes which roguishly enticed her.
She held her breath as his hand came forward to stroke her silky hair and satiny skin. His touch was gentle, but disturbing. As if mesmerized, she rigidly watched as his face came toward hers. She trembled and tingled as his mouth claimed hers, tenderly plundering and deftly exploring it as never before.
She felt she should muster her strength and will to resist him, but she did not want to staunch the liquid fire which flowed over her and within her. There were no parental eyes or ears and no hostile warriors to remind her of her lowly rank as slave. As his kisses dispelled all previous reasons for denial, her arms encircled his narrow waist. Giving herself over to instinctive responses, her lips extracted the sweetness of his sensual mouth. A moan of desire escaped her parted lips as his mouth tantalized her ears with seeking, demanding nibbles.
His deft hands unlaced the ties at her neck and swiftly divested her of her garment. Before she could demurely react to her nakedness, he had imprisoned her swollen breasts against his compelling body and had fastened his intoxicating mouth to hers. When his devastating kisses had once again claimed her will, his hands began to explore and to caress her pliant body.
Helpless to extinguish the wild fire which enflamed her weakened senses, she yielded to him and his masterful onslaught. His mouth and hands steadily and deliberately quieted her last hints of resistance.
Soon, they were lying upon the earth, totally oblivious to its hard and rocky surface. She cried out in exquisite pleasure as his teeth gently teased at her taut breasts. Never had she felt such an urgent desire for him.
Time had deserted her. Reality had quickly receded with it. When he finally entered her, she arched upwards to willingly accept his full length. As he moved within her, blissful sensations increased. Her body demanded a fulfillment not yet shared or experienced. This time, there would be no desperate struggle to contain her rampant emotions and fiery passion; for once, she could allow them to run free and wild.
The intensity built to an almost unbearable peak before he carried them to the mountaintop of sublime ecstasy and mind-staggering release. He skillfully carried her over the heights of total satisfaction and into a beautiful valley of peacefulness and relaxation. She went limp in his embrace, sighing in contentment.
He rolled to her side, continuing his loving caresses and gentle kisses until every wave of passion had ceased to carry her. He propped on his elbow and stared down into her gaze. He tenderly wiped the glistening beads of moisture from her lovely face. He smiled at her, his eyes carrying a glow she had not seen before. He did want her! Could it be love she viewed in those onyx depths?
She returned the sensual smile, her hand coming up to trace the finely chiselled lines in his face. As her fingers moved over his lips, she whispered, “I never knew it could be like this, Bright Arrow. We have so little time to share these feelings.” The moment those words left her lips, she began to cry, her shoulders quivering as she pulled him down to her. She clung to him, sobbing as if her heart was shattering.
He gathered her shaking body into his powerful, protective embrace. A possessive feeling he had never known before swept over him. New fires and needs coursed through him and quickly spread to her as she fervently vowed, “I love you, Bright Arrow. How can I bear to lose you?”
They joined again in a savage and demanding union which devoured their energies. As he exploded within her, he vowed to never part with her. She loved him, wanted him, and needed him. How could he sacrifice such emotions which she also shared? Yet, undeniable reality soon returned. Would he obey his father’s orders? The answer, as always, was yes.
This time, he did not release her afterwards. Instead, he held her tightly and securely. She made no movement to leave his arms; she drew solace and courage from them. “I will never forget you. I can never love another,” she wretchedly vowed in a voice of intense anguish.
Dusk was approaching when he sat up, observing Wi as he made his way into the waiting arms of Mother Earth. It was time to return to reality. He glanced over his shoulder, his eyes savoring the creamy body of the white girl who had unknowingly stolen his heart and innocently endangered his honor. He had discovered a beautiful dream, only to be cruelly awakened to the demanding laws of reality and to his duties. He could not even confess or reveal his love or his torment to anyone, except his cherished mother who now appeared resigned to Rebecca’s savage fate.
Rebecca remained serene and still beneath his astute gaze. For the first time, she did not feel any shame or guilt about her love and desire for him. Deep and wonderful emotions washed over her, cleansing and vitalizing her. This previously unknown emotion called love was lucidly clear to her, for it filled her heart and consumed her body.
Their eyes fused in understanding and acceptance. Even if he didn’t love her, she knew he desired her beyond all reason. “Ku-wa, Rebecca,” he quietly commanded, wishing Wi would tarry for many hours, knowing he would not.
They pulled on their garments and made their way back to camp, taking a roundabout path in order to bathe in the stream. He left her at the tepee entrance, heading for his horse and some much needed diversion and solitude. Rebecca returned to her menial chores as Bright Arrow galloped out of camp to race with the wind and search his soul. Rebecca was to leave him soon. Did he dare to keep her within sight of his hungry eyes and ravenous body, to enable himself to furtively watch over her safety, to accept Broken Spirit’s offer for her?
Broken Spirit was growing old; his heart still suffered over the losses of his wife and only son. After his broken foot refused to heal properly, he had changed his name to reflect his troubles. In his tepee, Rebecca would be free of sexual abuse and she would be of great service to the aging warrior whose tepee and lance boasted of many brave and daring coups.
Bright Arrow’s hesitation came from two directions: Rebecca would be too tempting within his daily reach and sight, and Rebecca would be at the mercy of his heartless daughter Desert Flower. Her hatred of Rebecca was no secret. Bright Arrow was well aware of how Desert Flower used every opportunity to subtly harass Rebecca and to humiliate him with mockery and veiled insults. Bright Arrow wished he could cut out her baneful tongue, for too many of his friends listened and agreed with her opinions. It would be cruel and dangerous to sell his precious Rebecca to Broken Spirit. If he couldn’t keep her, it was best she be sent far away. His painful decision made, he headed back toward camp.
Things remained the same between the women for the remainder of the afternoon. Shortly after the evening meal, Shalee abruptly left the tepee without saying a word to any of them. She walked down to the stream, waiting to see if Gray Eagle would follow her. Time passed. Still, she remained there, mindlessly staring at the moon’s opalescent reflection upon the darkened water. When it seemed that Gray Eagle would not join her, she sadly turned to head back to their tepee. She inhaled sharply in surprise.
He was standing only a few feet behind her, watching her intently. Their eyes met and fused. Neither moved nor spoke. When her-need became overwhelming, she rushed into his arms and frantically clung to him. “Send her away tonight, Wanmdi Hota,” she tearfully pleaded. “I cannot bear your loss any longer. I need you so much.”