White Shadows

by Susan Edwards

  Wincing, Night Shadow shrugged. “One of them saved my life.” And he’d never live his carelessness down.

  A hand slashing the air silenced him. “Do not defend them. You were injured and left to return alone.” She paused and glared down at him. “I will make my feelings on this matter very clear to whoever was responsible.”

  “Calm yourself, Golden Eyes. You were there.” Night Shadow basked in the warmth of her fury. He owed this woman his life. A thread of humor twisted its way through the pride rushing through him.

  He lifted one brow. “What names will you call them?”

  Winona whirled around. “You laugh at me!” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I will have my say.”

  Holding out his hand to her, Night Shadow smiled again. “I have no doubt, Golden Eyes. Now come sit down.”

  “There is much for me to do. I have other chores now.” Her voice trembled.

  “I am a chore?” He knew she referred to caring for him.

  Winona sighed and walked back to him. She took his hand and allowed him to pull her down. “You are a chore.” She gave him a half smile. “A very nice chore.”

  He saw tears gathering. “Don’t cry, Golden Eyes. I will be fine.” He’d rather have her yell and call him names. Anything but tears and sadness.

  Winona leaned into his good arm. “You promised to be back early.”

  Holding her tight, Night Shadow rested his chin on top of her head. “I know. I worried you, and for that I am sorry.”

  Relaxing, Winona threaded their fingers together. “So you should be.” She paused. “Who has Spotted Deer?” she asked.

  Relieved to be discussing something—anything—else, Night Shadow replied, “Dream Walker.”

  “Is he trustworthy?”

  Clay fingered a long strand of her hair. “He is like a brother to me. I’d trust him with my life…” His voice faded with drowsiness. “He will come soon, with your sister.”

  Winona rose up onto her knees and urged him to shift and lean back against a pile of furs and belongings so that he could sleep partially sitting. Then she rejoined him, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “I miss Spotted Deer.”

  “I know. I am sorry for that too. It was never my intention to take your sister. But…”

  “You couldn’t resist,” she finished.

  Night Shadow fought to keep awake, but the herb drink she’d prepared for him was making him drowsy. “I will have Dream Walker return her safely to your father. He will leave her in a place where she will be found.”

  “And me?” Winona asked hesitantly. “Are you going to send me away?”

  He should. He planned to send her away. But not yet. He couldn’t; he needed her too much, and he couldn’t blame that on the part of him that was Clay. Night Shadow, the warrior, needed her every bit as much as Clay, the man. Slowly the two men he’d kept in separate compartments of his mind were merging, becoming one.

  Tightening his good arm around her, he shook his head. “You are mine, Golden Eyes, but if you want to return, I will not stop you. I owe you for saving my life.” He closed his eyes against the pain of losing her. He wasn’t sure he could bear to lose another loved one.

  Winona snuggled closer and pulled a fur around them. “That is good, for I am not leaving. Ever. I have chosen you and will stick to you like mud. Now sleep. I will protect you.”

  Night Shadow made an attempt to sound outraged. “You have your duties confused, woman. Protecting is warriors’ work.”

  “Then you had best get well quickly. If you do not, I will think of more names to call you.”

  “Call me anything you want as long as you do not leave,” he whispered, running the fingers of his injured arm through the soft strands of her hair.

  Her hand stopped him. “Sleep.” Winona twined her fingers with his and Clay gave himself over to sleep. But he did not let go of the woman he loved.

  The next day Winona was back up in her high vantage point with her chin resting on her fisted hands. Brilliant blue water mirrored the rocks where she hid, and a warm breeze drifted around her while cold from the granite seeped upward through her body. The cry of an eagle pierced the air, as if tempting her to focus her attention on his majestic beauty.

  But Winona kept her gaze focused on the warriors far below her. Her father and his warriors were scouting the banks, looking for tracks. Knowing that he would come and explore the rock formation once again, she slipped back down to where Clay slept.

  He moved restlessly. She frowned and touched her fingertips to his forehead. No fever, but his sleep was not restful She carefully checked his wound. Luckily for him, the arrow had torn through the lower part of his upper arm. It would mend with no permanent damage, but it would take time for the muscle to completely heal. In the meantime he wouldn’t be able to use his bow or knife to hunt or protect anyone. That left the job to her.

  Leaving his side, she hurried to the cracks in the rock where she could watch. Her father’s warriors were closer now—so close that all she had to do was go to the window and wave her hands and her father would see her. Or she could just leave and go to meet her father.

  But she did neither. Guilt brought tears to her eyes. She desperately wanted her father to know she was all right. Better than all right. She was in love and happy with Clay.

  Well, almost. True happiness could not be had until Spotted Deer was returned, Hoka Luta was taken care of and Clay was out of danger from both Hoka Luta and her father. And if they found Clay’s sister, then their happiness would be complete.

  She searched among the warriors for Hoka Luta. The more she thought of what he’d done, the ease with which he’d deceived them all, the angrier she became. He was clever. Cunning. He’d hidden his past so completely that if Clay hadn’t survived no one would ever know of his true nature.

  Winona didn’t see him. With his red paint, he always stood out. She wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad. Had Sharp Nose or Crazy Fox killed him?

  No, they wouldn’t kill him. Hoka Luta was the only one who could tell them what he’d done with Jenny. She followed the line of warriors as they moved closer. Some were now below, at the base of the three towers. She listened but couldn’t hear much, just low tones.

  Another noise reached her: a soft moan. Jumping to her feet, keeping her head down so she wasn’t revealed in the window, Winona hurried to Clay’s side. He thrashed and moaned. Fearing another nightmare, Winona stroked his jaw.

  “Clay, wake up. You dream.”

  He muttered and swatted at her hand. “No,” he began.

  “Clay!” This time she pulled at his good arm. “Wake,” she ordered in a harsh whisper.

  Lost in his own world, Clay did not respond. Glancing over her shoulder, fearing that if Clay shouted out he’d be heard, she tried to reach him the only other way she knew.

  She kissed him, keeping her mouth over his until he responded. His eyes flew open and he reached out.

  “Golden—”

  “Shush, my father is below. You must remain awake so you do not dream.”

  The pain of the past cleared from his eyes. He nodded.

  “I need to go check on them, see if they are gone.” She hated to leave him, but he lifted his hand to her cheek.

  “Go,” he whispered. “Go, but come back.”

  “Always,” she promised.

  Winona went back to where she’d been sitting. She didn’t dare go up on top, so once again she peered through the cracks. Warriors swarmed everywhere below, some jumping across the white rocks, others directly below. Those she couldn’t see were reflected on the mirrored surface of the lake.

  She heard her name called. Had she missed a drop of blood? Did her father know they were here, hidden? She kept silent, and after what seemed like forever she saw them retreating back to the other side of the lake.

  Winona couldn’t stop the tears from flowing when she saw her father’s slumped shoulders. He’d never forgive her for choo
sing Clay over him.

  The child returned. This time the blue surrounding her was stronger. And a red light seemed to glow within. Calming her breathing, Seeing Eyes relaxed into the vision. She welcomed it, gave thanks for it

  The child stared at her solemnly. Seeing Eyes studied her. She knew this child, this quiet girl who screamed in the night. The child blurred and distorted until she became a young woman. The young woman raised her hands and the blue aura lifted and floated before her, forming a large lake.

  Seeing Eyes breathed in through her nose. She knew the lake. Yes, child. The lake. My daughters are there. She was about to jump to her feet to go after her husband, but Winona stepped into the vision with a handsome man at her side.

  His features were blurred, but Winona smiled and hugged the rugged warrior. She was safe. Both girls were safe.

  Seeing Eyes relaxed. But with a suddenness that left her sick, all three fell to their knees. Blood spluttered out of cuts and slashes and flowed into the lake, turning it from a place of peace to a place of death.

  “No!” She shoved aside the vision and the leftover drowsiness and jumped to her feet.

  White Wind rushed over. “What is it, mother of my husband?”

  Star Dreamer joined them. “She had a vision.” Her eyes still had a faraway look.

  Seeing Eyes took a minute to kneel. “As did you, my sweet one.”

  The little girl tried to look grown-up, but her lower lip trembled. “I don’t like visions. I want them to go away.”

  Hugging her granddaughter, Seeing Eyes smoothed her hair. “We have to accept the gifts the spirits give us. What did you see?”

  “A rock, but bigger than Gray Rock.”

  “And did you see your aunts?”

  She nodded. “They were inside the rock.”

  Seeing Eyes took her granddaughter by the hand. “Let us go tell your grandfather what we have learned.”

  Hoka Luta moved cautiously through the trees. He’d been so close he had nearly killed Clay Blue Hawk, but his first shot had missed. He sneered. Not his second. A third would have found its mark, but someone had been close enough to allow Clay to escape.

  Angry at his own impatience, he stared at the arrows lodged in the trunk of the tree. He should have waited, followed Clay Blue Hawk to be sure he was alone. But he’d allowed his elation to cloud his judgment. He’d lost control, and now he had no choice but to report to Winona’s father.

  If he did not show up as planned tonight, Hawk Eyes would wonder. Staring up at the arrows too high for him to retrieve, Hoka Luta didn’t dare give the chief any reason to doubt his loyalty.

  Tired from nearly constant travel with little sleep, he made his way around the lake, keeping to the deep shadows among the pines until he reached the white mounds of stone.

  It was too risky to go any farther, so he went deeper into the foliage. He’d been hiding in the bushes high on a hill when Hawk Eyes had unexpectedly returned to the area and spotted Clay Blue Hawk’s trail, then the blood on the ground.

  He scowled. The old man was supposed to be camped a short distance away. Hoka Luta had waited for them to leave so he could look around on his own. Lifting his head, he stared at the towering rocks.

  His old friend was there somewhere. He felt it. Knew it. But he didn’t dare explore on his own. There were far too many places for an enemy to hide. So he decided to wait. And as he waited, memories from his past circulated. But instead of bringing regret or sadness, they fed his feelings of betrayal.

  Clay Blue Hawk’s father had betrayed them all, and destroyed Henry Black Bear. His battle had never been with the man who’d once been his best friend—not until Clay Blue Hawk had shot his father and brought about his death.

  With nothing but bitterness inside him, Henry had avenged his father’s humiliation and, ultimately, his father’s death. But he’d failed all those years ago. Soon, though, he’d take care of Clay Blue Hawk. Then he’d be able to live the life he’d spent so much time cultivating.

  And with Jenny far out of reach, there would be no other witnesses to his murderous past. He frowned. He should have killed the little girl instead of selling her. He hadn’t given her a thought until the reemergence of Clay Blue Hawk.

  Hoka Luta grinned. Even if Clay lived, even if he lost Winona and had to move on with his life or make a new life for himself, Hoka Luta had the satisfaction of knowing that Clay would never find Jenny.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Restless and edgy after two days of inactivity, Night Shadow dressed and reclaimed his knife. He was not going to stay in bed any longer—no matter what his bossy Golden Eyes said or threatened.

  “You are not strong enough to be up.” Winona refused to move out of his way.

  A few minutes ago she’d tried a different tack. He eyed her curves. Not even the lure of having her lie with him could keep him inactive any longer. His arm ached, but at least it was healing, and he would not suffer permanent damage.

  Night Shadow refused to look at her, afraid she’d talk him right back down onto the pallet. Truthfully, his knees were wobbly, and his arm ached fiercely, but he was a man, a warrior, and there were things that needed doing.

  He’d enjoyed Winona’s tender ministrations over the past few days. For the first time in many long years he’d felt cherished. But it was time to take charge.

  “You question my abilities?” He grabbed the water skin, then strode around Winona to where his weapons rested against the wall.

  “How can you even think of going out? My father may not have left. Henry might still be out there. Wait for the others to come. It is not safe.” Winona followed him. Her arms were crossed across her chest, her eyes shadowed from fatigue and worry.

  “We need water.”

  “Then I will go.” She moved fast. She yanked the water container from him and stepped away. “You were nearly killed last time.”

  Night Shadow whirled around. “No! You will not.” He held out his hand.

  Winona battled silently with her eyes. He glared. She stared and held the pouch behind her back. “If you leave, I will follow.”

  Night Shadow narrowed his eyes. “You will stay here.” He paused. “I need you to keep watch from above. Warn me if you see movement.” He thought that idea ingenious. He’d never admit it to her, but already he was tiring, and the last thing he wanted was to argue with her or upset her. But he was a warrior, and it was his duty to provide.

  Since losing his parents he’d denied himself any relationships but a few close friends. He’d spent all his energies on surviving, then planning. Glancing around him, he saw the makings of a home. A few days ago that would have sent him running.

  Life had taken a new twist for him, a meeting and merging of paths. He was still getting used to the idea of those two paths, the past and the future, the man and the warrior, becoming one.

  Winona lifted her brows. “And what signal would I give? Shall I stand up and wave my hands and shout for you to come back or hide?” Sarcasm edged her voice.

  “Your word, Golden Eyes.”

  Winona refused to meet his eyes. Instead she walked around him and busied herself sorting through the supplies.

  “I am waiting.”

  “You will have to wait a long time,” she said, annoyed. “Do you forget that had I not disobeyed last time you would be dead?” She cleared the huskiness from her voice. “I will not give a promise I do not intend to keep.”

  “Yet you did just that, my sister,” a soft voice accused.

  Winona jumped up and whirled around. Spotted Deer stood at the entrance to the main cavern with a warrior.

  The young woman walked forward. “You promised to escape if you had the chance, yet apparently you did not.”

  “Spotted Deer!” Winona ran to her friend. The two girls hugged and cried. Winona pulled away. “Are you all right?”

  “I am fine.”

  Narrowing her eyes at the two men who were talking in low tones, Winona pulled Spotted Dee
r toward the back of the cavern where sunlight spilled over them. “He did not hurt or mistreat you?” If he had…

  Spotted Deer shook her head. “No. I was treated well. Like a younger sister,” she added, her gaze going to the warrior.

  Thinking of her own changed relationship with Clay, Winona frowned. “Do you care for him?”

  “He was kind. I do not think badly of him.” She took Winona by the hand. “And you?” Worry clouded her eyes.

  “I too am…well.” She cleared her throat. She didn’t want to go into just how well, or the fact that this might be the last time she and Spotted Deer were together. If Clay sent her back with Dream Walker, she’d never have this chance to be alone with him again.

  “Come.” She pulled Spotted Deer back to where the two men were talking. Clay still had his weapons in his hands. She picked up the water skin.

  “Now that your friend is here, he can get water and do whatever else needs to be done.”

  “I am no invalid,” Clay ground out.

  Winona reached out and grabbed his injured arm by the wrist. Clay jerked and bit back a moan.

  “I see how well you are. How do you think to climb down the rocks and back up again? If you cannot free yourself from my grasp without pain, then you cannot use your arm. You will ether fall, open the wound or get caught.” She paused. “Or get yourself killed.”

  She turned to Dream Walker. “If you are his friend, you will not let him go.”

  Dream Walker chuckled. “This captive of yours has a point. I will go for water and check to see who is around. Crazy Fox is following her tribe. Sharp Nose was following Henry Black Bear, who had separated himself from the others. He is the one who stopped Henry from killing you.”

  Just remembering how close she’d come to losing Clay made Winona’s heart sink. And to think she’d nearly married Hoka Luta. She had Clay to thank for preventing the wedding.

  “Where is Henry now?” she asked. She pointed to the bed of furs and silently commanded Clay to sit before he fell. Then she turned to Dream Walker. “You may sit as well. That way Clay will not feel intimidated that you stand over him.”