by Sandi Rog
White Eagle glanced down at Walks Alone’s face, half white, half red. A straight line stretched horizontally across one cheek, over her nose, and across the other cheek, dividing her face. The top, white as snow, the bottom red and sunburned.
“The Great Spirit of the Sun not only touches her hair, but touches her face,” Running Cloud said. “Maybe we should call her Stripe?”
“Then you may have the honor of telling the woman her new name.”
Running Cloud chuckled.
~*~
Anna awoke to find herself on the warrior’s horse and practically drooling on the man’s chest. She pulled away, her hair matted against her cheek from sleep. Heat crept from her neck to her face as she loosened her hold on the Indian. How dreadful. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to fall asleep on him like that. She had actually fallen asleep. In the midst of dangerous peril, she’d fallen asleep!
But she’d been so exhausted and weary from all that had happened, she shouldn’t be too hard on herself for losing what self-control and dignity she had left. Now that her headache was gone and the air cooled, she felt refreshed, despite the fact that she was still held captive.
She looked for Beth and found her still sitting in front of Running Cloud. Beth sat straight, chin high, and brushed a loose strand of hair from her face with surprising calmness. Why could Anna not muster the same?
Evergreens surrounded them, and they were no longer on the plains. The scent of pine filled the air as the horses’ hooves made their way over rocks and rugged terrain. Birds called to one another, and one swooped down close to the riders. The warriors wore solemn faces, seemingly unaware of the beauty surrounding them.
The recent events turned over in Anna’s mind. Earlier, White Eagle had spoken in English. Would he understand her? She cleared her throat. “Did you kill Bet’s husband?” she whispered, horrified at her poor pronunciation, nerves and fear having gotten the best of her.
“Non—no.”
So, he didn’t pull the trigger, but one of his friends certainly did. She wondered who. Why hadn’t they killed the rest of the settlers? And why had they taken her and Beth?
The Indians reined in at the top of a ridge surrounded by large boulders, between which a lovely view of the open plains came into sight.
A shame she couldn’t enjoy it.
White Eagle dismounted. He helped Anna down and set her in front of him, and it was then that she took in his large frame. She only came to his chest, and his broad shoulders hovered over her. She arched her head back to look up into the warrior’s captivating eyes. They were like none she’d ever seen.
He stared down at her, his gaze tracing her features with no evidence of emotion. Unable to bear his unrelenting stare, she looked past him at the trees and turned sideways to rub the soreness from her neck and shoulder as a means of occupying herself.
“Do you ache as much as I do?” Beth came to stand by her as White Eagle led his horse away.
Anna nodded and tried to put some order to her hair, resisting the urge to rub her aching backside.
“We’re blessed they didn’t make us walk.” Beth hugged herself. “Indian women usually have to walk, while the men ride the horses. And the length of time they made those poor horses gallop, they must be in a hurry.”
“Of course they are. They just kidnapped two women.”
Beth took Anna’s trembling hand. That’s when Anna noticed Beth’s hands trembled as well. “The Lord is with us. We mustn’t forget.”
Anna nodded, but all she could think of was how often she’d prayed in the past, how often she’d trusted in the Lord. But He had never rescued her. And now look at the mess she was in. God always seemed to disappear when she needed Him most.
Time to change the subject. “What I don’t understand is how I could have fallen asleep. It makes no sense at all.” It had been easy to relax into White Eagle while the horse galloped. It made the ride smooth, rather that jostling her around when the horse trotted.
Pinching her lips together, Beth studied White Eagle. “I think it’s because you know in your heart he won’t hurt you.”
“How can you say such a thing?”
“Just look at him. He watches you with a sympathetic eye.”
Anna glanced over at White Eagle. He looked away, and she looked at the ground.
“He feels sorry for you,” Beth whispered, continuing to study him. “I’m sure of it.”
The man had just kidnapped her. How could he possibly feel sorry for her? Wishing she could make her hands stop shaking, she tried to keep her hair out of her face. She turned to look for her carpetbag when two Indians came near with two small bags. They opened the cloth sacks and dumped out several turtles at her and Beth’s feet.
Anna jumped back, staring at the black and yellow shells.
“Food,” one of the Indians said with a thick accent.
Anna didn’t take her eyes off the turtles, waiting for scaly heads and arms to appear.
“They’re prairie turtles. I think they expect us to prepare these to eat,” Beth said.
Anna shivered. “Then maybe they can fetch us a rabbit or a chicken. I’ve never touched a turtle before. Let alone eaten one.”
White Eagle set a circle of stones to prepare a fire. From his shoulder strap, he pulled off a small horn and took a sheath from its end.
Anna backed away from the turtles, but to her surprise, Beth picked two up in each hand. “Might as well get started.” Beth motioned to her, still visibly trembling. “You just rest a while. I’ll take care of it.”
Anna couldn’t let Beth do everything alone, so she stepped forward to pick up the remainder of the turtles. She could only manage one, despite its small size. The softness of its bottom shell made her arms weak. As she took slow, cautious steps to where White Eagle prepared the fire, she stared intently around the edges of the yellow and black shell of the reptile. What would she do if it poked its scaly head out? She should be brave like Beth. She lifted her chin, searching for the courage she lacked.
To her horror, head and arms popped out. She squealed, and the warriors around her grabbed their weapons. She jumped back and dropped the reptile, fluttering her hands before her and wiping them off on her skirt to rid herself of their feel.
As the warriors became aware that there was no actual danger, she froze in place and looked up at their dark faces, readying herself for whatever wrath they chose to inflict.
To her surprise, they laughed, but the warrior with spotted owl feathers who’d been the most startled grabbed her by the hair and shouted words she didn’t understand. White Eagle stood and shouted at the man. He released her.
She ducked under the warrior’s arm, scurried away, and slumped onto a large rock.
Running Cloud hadn’t reacted to the commotion and stood in the background with arms folded, watching Beth.
“Help,” the Indian with elk antlers as a weapon said to Anna and pointed at Beth.
How was it so many of them spoke English? She rose and took a cautious step toward Beth. She had to be strong. She had to be brave. Brave like Beth. But she froze when she saw Beth pulling on one of the scaly necks; it made her think of snakes, and her knees went weak.
“We’ll roast them,” White Eagle said to Beth. A small flame flickered as he made a fire from his horn.
All the Indians watched Anna.
“Make food,” the one who’d grabbed her said in his thick accent, a deep frown pinching his face as he glared at her.
Anger stirred. It sparked helpful embers of courage. “I should be in Denver City right now, not here in the middle of nowhere preparing turtles for supper.” With that, she turned and sat on the nearest rock, hugging her knees and trembling. Even if it meant her life, she couldn’t bring herself to touch another turtle.
The men mumbled to one another, and she distinctively heard one say, “Lazy woman.” They obviously weren’t pleased with her outburst. She was a coward, and shame swept through her. What wo
uld they do to her now? Would they beat her, kill and scalp her? She hugged her knees tighter and glanced out over the golden plains. If only she were there right now.
White Eagle spoke in a firm tone in that unusual language of theirs, and the men fell silent.
However, a few Indians mumbled, motioning toward Beth and nodding their approval.
Anna wished the ground would swallow her whole.
~*~
Anna couldn’t sleep. The thought of turtles and snakes crawling on her caused even the slightest rustle of wind against her skin to make her jump. Since she’d refused to eat, her stomach growled, and she shivered as she stared up at the stars. Their beauty took her breath away—they looked close enough to touch. Never had she seen anything so wondrous. God’s creation never failed to amaze her. She reached up to the tiny diamonds, imagining she could take hold of one between her fingers.
Lord, where are you?
The blanket of stars stretched forth, and she pushed up on her elbow. Over the ridge, she saw the plains of Colorado Territory. Distant lights dotted the flat horizon.
A city.
The moon illuminated just enough light for her to see details of the sleeping bodies. The men formed a circle and surrounded her and Beth around the low flickering fire.
White Eagle leaned on his elbow, watching her. Her breath caught. The moonlight outlined his arm, emphasizing the muscle there, and his painted face never turned away from her. Surely he’d feel embarrassed and look away, or he planned on starting a conversation. So she waited for him to speak.
Crickets played their tunes around them. Quiet snores from some of the men cut into their music, and the snap of crackling flames filled the silence.
Perhaps she ought to say something to get him to stop staring. “Is that Denver City?” She pointed at the lights.
He nodded. Still staring.
“I ought to be there now,” she murmured. The lights were like gold in a sea of black satin. Her golden city. She could actually see it. After all these years, she finally had it in her sights. Now all she could do was stare.
She licked her dry, chapped lips, and scratched her stiff cheeks and chin.
“Don’t do that,” White Eagle said, his thick, strange accent hanging on the night air. “Your visage.” He shook his head. “Your face. It is red. You’ll get blisters.”
“I must look like a cooked lobster.” She dreaded the thought of freckles coming out. How would that look to the board of education?
“The women at the village have good medicine. They will give you some for your face.”
“We’re going to your village?” She tried not to raise her voice, fearful that the others might awaken. “What are you going to do with us there?” Visions of the whole tribe of Indians attacking her flashed through her mind. Maybe reading Papa’s novel hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
“Woman Of Sorrow will become Running Cloud’s wife.”
The news hit her like a blast from a cannon ball. “They will be married?” Anna couldn’t believe it. Would he actually marry someone he didn’t know?
“Oui—yes.”
“What if she doesn’t want to marry him?”
White Eagle tossed a pine needle. “She will.”
“But what if she won’t?”
“Woman Of Sorrow belongs to him.”
“Why?” Since she was his captive, she deserved some answers.
“Running Cloud killed her husband. He will care for her.”
“So he’s the one who murdered Al.” Anna glanced over at where Running Cloud slept. He was a frightening man. She’d never forget him pulling her hair and grabbing her. And now her friend was doomed to become his wife. Poor Beth. She deserved better. She deserved a decent husband.
She deserved a decent name.
“Why must you call her Woman Of Sorrow? I happen to know she’s a delightful young lady.” She wasn’t sad, despite reasons to be so. If Beth was going to be trapped in this life, the least they could do was give her a better name.
“She will be.”
“Will be what?”
“Happy.”
“How can you know that?” How could anyone be happy marrying someone they didn’t know?
“Running Cloud will treat her well.”
But who would want to live with savages? Then her thoughts turned to herself. “What will become of me?” Her voice quivered. It was a frightening question to ask, but she had to know.
“You will be my wife.” The man’s face darkened.
Anna’s cheeks grew hot, and she tried to breathe. “Suppose I don’t want to marry . . . an Indian?” She kept from saying “a savage,” since it seemed more like a personal attack, and the last thing she wanted was to rile up a wild Indian. Would she be trapped with this man for the rest of her life?
“You’ll marry me under Cheyenne law. It means nothing to the white man.”
“Cheyenne law? But we’ll be married,” she said in a harsh whisper. “I don’t want to marry . . . you. I don’t even know you!” She stopped to catch her breath, looking around to make sure everyone was still asleep. Thoughts of escape raced through her mind. Then thoughts of getting lost, attacked by wild animals or snakes flooded over her. Running away wouldn’t be a wise idea. She’d never find her way to Denver City. Or would she? From here she could see the lights. If she would just follow the lights, she could get out of these mountains on her own.
“I have to be in Denver. They’re expecting me.” She hoped the savage would find this an important enough reason to return her to civilization.
“Who’s expecting you?”
She sighed, preparing herself to hear the famous speech of a woman traveling alone and the great dangers thereof. She had lost count of all the people who’d warned her on the train. Just then, her thoughts knocked her upside the head. Didn’t someone warn her of Indians? And now here she sat a captive. She decided his speech would be a bit late in coming.
“The board of education,” she finally said.
“Do you have family there?”
She stared past him into the lonely shadows of the forest. “I don’t have any family.”
“What are you doing here?”
She breathed deeply. “I came all the way from New York to work as a teacher. If you will please escort me to Denver City in the morning, I would be very grateful.” She tried to sound dignified, self-assured, though in her heart she was terrified and begging. “I don’t wish to marry you. You seem like a decent person, but I don’t know you,” she added, trying to soften the blow, as if she hadn’t already been blunt about it. “Please, I have to go to Denver.”
He sighed and lay back down. “You’ve been taken by Indians. You can’t expect them to deliver you where you want to go.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘kidnapped’?” She lay down, trembling as she stared at the stars. She should have gotten off the train near Julesburg. Had she done that, she wouldn’t be lying here right now, conversing with a savage.
“The others in the wagons didn’t care about you. So you weren’t kidnapped. Just given as a peace offering.”
She crossed her arms to ward off the chill. “All they cared about was saving their own scalps. I’ve never met such cowards in all my life.” Her voice hitched as she said the words aloud, thinking of how afraid everyone was of Al and how none of them were willing to bring her water.
“Neither have I.” The purr of his voice was close, sending a tingle down her neck. He covered her with buckskin, and then moved away. The warmth enveloped her.
“Tank—thank you,” she said, glad he was no longer near, but grateful for the warmth. A knot came to her throat. She tried not to cry, isolation and loneliness choking her.
That lonely feeling was all too familiar.
She had hoped to finally be happy, maybe even find an essence of her papa in Denver City. It seemed home would always be out of reach.
But it wasn’t out of reach. She could actually see it. Hope w
as not lost. Not when she was so close.
The lights of the distant city called out to her, winked at her. Taunted her.
Tonight. This night.
Her one and only chance to escape.
Chapter Five
Anna lay staring at the stars for a long time. The warmth of the buckskin nearly made her fall asleep, but she threw it off in order to stay awake.
When heavy, even breathing came from White Eagle, and she was certain everyone else was asleep as their snores continued to break through the silence, she turned to Beth and poked her.
“Bet,” she whispered close to her ear.
“What?” Beth rolled over, still half asleep. “What’s wrong?”
“Get up. We’re getting out of here. I’m taking us to Denver City.”
“What?” Fear reflected in Beth’s moonlit eyes.
“Shh . . . .” Anna put her fingers to her mouth and glanced around. No one stirred. “If we’re going to escape, we have to go now. Denver is still in view, and who knows how deep in the mountains we’ll be by tomorrow evening.”
“I can’t go.” Beth rolled over to go back to sleep.
“What?” Anna shook her shoulder. “Wake up. We have to go. Running Cloud is going to force you to marry him.”
Beth faced Anna. “I know. Maybe he will treat me better than Al did. Besides, I don’t have work waiting for me. What would I do? I don’t have any money. I have nothing.” Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. “And what if they recapture us?” She grabbed Anna’s hand. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“We can figure all that out on de way there. Please Bet, this is our only chance. We have to go now.” It seemed she’d forgotten how to speak all together, but in this moment of desperation, it no longer mattered.
“I just can’t.” Beth shook her head. “Running Cloud has been—well—kind to me. I don’t fear him. Not like I feared Al. I don’t know why, but I just don’t.”