Kaylene looked from Midnight back to Fire Thunder. “I don’t know,” she murmured.
“Just this once, Kaylene, so that I can see the beauty of it,” Fire Thunder said, giving her a look she could not say no to.
“Oh, all right,” she said, sighing. “But only this once, mind you. My pet is now just that, nothing more. He deserves to be loved only for himself, not for the money he earned for my fath—for John Shelton’s carnival.”
She went to a chair, over which hung Midnight’s leash. She urged Midnight to the floor. She talked to him soothingly and sweetly as she put the leash in place around his neck.
“This is the last time, sweetie,” she whispered in Midnight’s ear. “But since it is, let’s give him a show to remember!”
Having never rode naked on Midnight before, Kaylene felt wicked climbing on his back now without a stitch of clothes on.
But knowing that Fire Thunder’s eyes were on her, and no longer at all bashful in front of him without clothes, she took the leash, straightened her back, and gave Midnight a slight nudge in the sides with her knees and rode him proudly up and down the full length of the room.
She closed her eyes, shivering inside when she suddenly realized that she missed the limelight. She could not help but remember the applause, the cheers, and the looks of admiration, as she and Midnight had rode around the circle of people.
She now realized just how much she had loved the attention. Truly loved it. Yes, only now, did she know for certain just how much.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She lowered her eyes and climbed from Midnight’s back. She went to Fire Thunder and flung herself into his arms. “My Lord, how I do miss it,” she cried. “I didn’t think that I would but, Fire Thunder, I do. What am I to do? I could even feel Midnight’s response. He loved it as much as me!”
“Too often in life one has to give up that which they love, to have something they love more,” he whispered, stroking her back. “Tell me you love me more than anything, Kaylene. I need to hear it.”
Kaylene sniffled, swallowed back a sob that became lodged in her throat, then looked him in the eye. “Oh, I do love you so much,” she whispered. “Way more than anything else in my life, ever.”
“So you see?” Fire Thunder said, laughing softly. “That wasn’t so hard to figure out, was it?” She giggled and leaned into his tender embrace. “You are everything to me, and more,” she murmured.
When Midnight came and placed a paw on her leg, she reached over and stroked it. He, too, would learn to take from life the best part of it, and Kaylene knew now, that for them both, it was to be with the Kickapoo.
Then her heart sank when she again thought of Running Fawn. She eased from Fire Thunder’s embrace. “What of Running Fawn?” she asked softly. “What is going to happen to her?”
“That is not a part of your happiness, Kaylene, to worry yourself about matters that truly do not concern you,” Fire Thunder said, yet in a gentle way so as not to be offensive.
“But she is my friend,” Kaylene protested. “I can’t help but be concerned about her.”
“Should you have never met me, nor known her, things would be no different than what they are now,” he tried to explain. “She was having trysts with Pedro long before you knew her. As chief, I shall hand out my punishment to her and the three other young women, as though you were never here to forge a friendship with Running Fawn. And everyone, you as well, will have to accept my decision.”
“I do feel so very sorry for her,” Kaylene persisted.
“And so you should, because I fear her punishment is going to be severe enough to make everyone’s feelings to be the same as yours,” Fire Thunder said. “Yet it must be done. And tomorrow I shall see that it is.”
“What of Pedro? What of the young men that were with him?”
“The three young men are staying the night because they fear returning to San Carlos without Pedro,” Fire Thunder said, rising to get dressed. Kaylene moved from the bed and started dressing, also. “Tomorrow we will take Pedro home on a travois. That is when the other young men will also return to San Carlos. They will all have to face the general together.”
“And what about Running Fawn’s father?” Kaylene asked solemnly. “Black Hair was furious with her.”
“I imagine at this very moment Black Hair is shaming his daughter,” Fire Thunder said, placing his headband around his brow.
“Fire Thunder, I just thought of something,” Kaylene said, her eyes wide. She went to him and grabbed a hand. “Darling, didn’t you tell me once that the ‘Trotter’ absorbs sins for others so that those who have sinned are free to make a life again among your people? Why can’t the Trotter absorb Running Fawn’s sins? Then Running Fawn could start anew. Surely she would behave after coming this close to being so severely punished.”
“I will not allow the Trotter to absorb any of those four young women’s sins,” Fire Thunder said, his eyes narrowing. “Their sins are too great. No one will pay for them, except themselves.”
“And what of John Shelton?” Kaylene asked. “You haven’t yet told me what your plans are for him?”
“I do have a set plan for him, but I will tell you later,” Fire Thunder said, easing her hand from his. He went to the door and opened it. “White Wolf and Dawnmarie, and Little Sparrow should be here soon. Let us wait for them out by the fire.”
Kaylene went to the living room with him. She sat down on a blanket before the hearth and stared into the rolling flames.
Yes, she adored this man, this handsome Kickapoo chief.
But she knew that there would be times when he left her out of his life, when he was being a chief who was burdened with decisions.
It might be hard to learn when, and when not, to step aside and be his silent partner.
Chapter 23
If so I meditate alone,
He will be partner of my moan.
—THOMAS LODGE
The morning sun splashed its orange glow along the horizon as the slow procession of horses and burros made their way down the mountainside. Pedro had been too ill to place on a travois. Instead, a wagon was being used to transport him home.
Kaylene was on the floor at the back of the wagon, cradling the young lad’s head on her lap. As she caressed his feverish brow with a damp cloth she gazed down at him. She was glad to see him sleeping peacefully enough.
Kaylene was also glad to see that the swelling of his face was almost gone.
Her gaze moved down to his leg, where Running Fawn had so foolishly rubbed on the poison ivy. The blisters were large, oozing, and red. She shivered to think that he just might lose his leg. She recalled one of her mother’s friends, long ago, whose arm had been amputated after having been exposed to the smoke of burning poison ivy. It had grown twice its size with infection. It had filled with pus. Nothing they did helped it.
Kaylene lifted her eyes to the blue heaven above and said a soft prayer that this young man would not lose his leg over something that Running Fawn had done. For certain, if he did, hate would run rampant through the Mexicans toward the Kickapoo.
Her thoughts dwelled on Running Fawn. Kaylene hadn’t been allowed to see her since she had been sent into isolation in her lodge. And Kaylene still had no idea what Running Fawn’s punishment was going to be.
Her thoughts shifted to Black Hair. Although it was his daughter, not himself, whom had done this to the young man, he was carrying the burden on his shoulders as though it were he. Black Hair had shut himself inside his lodge with his daughter after telling Fire Thunder that he felt as though he was a part of his daughter’s betrayal to their chief, since he had not been able to teach her the true meaning of respect for a father’s wishes.
Kaylene swallowed hard, feeling as though she were a part of this betrayal, since she had sworn herself to secrecy to Running Fawn.
Yet, she knew that she was not truly to blame for anything that Running Fawn did. She had just chosen not to get involved, which m
ade the secret pact with Running Fawn seem even somewhat logical. It was not her place to interfere in these people’s lives. Until only a short while ago even, she had been a captive whose word meant nothing to anyone.
To get her mind off these worries, Kaylene looked around her, at those who were accompanying Fire Thunder down the mountainside to San Carlos. Pedro’s three Mexican friends were on burros at the head of the procession, their heads hanging.
Several warriors rode just behind them, their rifles in their gunboots, their holstered pistols at their hips.
Another warrior held the reins of the wagon in which Kaylene traveled.
Dressed in a buckskin jacket and leggings that fit him snugly, Fire Thunder rode to the left of the wagon, giving Pedro occasional worried glances.
Yes, Kaylene thought to herself, it was very obvious how concerned Fire Thunder was over the welfare of this young man. If Pedro died . . . ?
When Fire Thunder cast Kaylene a glance, she smiled at him. “I’m almost certain Pedro is· going to be all right,” she offered as some encouragement to him. “His brow isn’t as hot and he’s resting better now.”
“Foolish, foolish Running Fawn,” Fire Thunder growled out between clenched teeth. “How could it have happened that she could be this wild hearted? Her mother was as tame as a lamb. She was sweet. She was considerate. Running Fawn seems driven by demons!”
“Yes, and that is so sad,” Kaylene murmured. “Otherwise, she is so kind; so generous.”
“Yes, I know there is much good in Running Fawn,” Fire Thunder said, nodding. “But the bad too often outweighs the good.”
He turned his eyes from her and watched the trail ahead of him again.
Kaylene wanted to ask him again what his plans were for Running Fawn, but she knew, by the way that he had become so quiet, that he did not wish to speak of it any further at this time. His eyes were on the city that was now in view at the foot of the mountain, spread out along the valley, its villas snuggled closely together at the edge.
Kaylene’s heartbeat quickened as she looked anxiously past the city to the far side, where she remembered the carnival tents had been set up. Oh, but how memories flooded her, of her performance with Midnight, and the applause and cheers of those who watched.
That was the wonderful side of her memory.
The black side was when she had discovered that Little Sparrow had been abducted while the carnival had been set up in San Carlos.
And then the horrifying moment when she had seen Little Sparrow in the cage when they had pitched their tents again after leaving San Carlos behind.
How could her father have done that to the innocent child? she despaired again to herself, as she had done so many countless times before since Little Sparrow’s abduction. How could he have done so much evil against so many?
Little Sparrow had begged to come with them today. But not only had Kaylene’s memories of seeing Little Sparrow in the cage been powerful, so had Fire Thunder’s. He had adamantly told Little Sparrow that she had to stay behind this time. It would be a while before he would let her go anywhere. With many warriors surrounding and protecting the Kickapoo village, which was now necessary since the white man’s recent attack, Little Sparrow’s safety was secured.
Dawnmarie and White Wolf had offered to stay with her. Kaylene had also left Midnight behind for safekeeping.
And now Kaylene was filled with curiosity as to where the carnival might be. Surely her father had seen that it was moved elsewhere before launching his attack on the Kickapoo village. He would not want the Kickapoo to find them so easily in case he left survivors.
Therefore, Kaylene herself knew not where to find the woman she needed to question about her birthright.
But this was not the time to think about things concerning herself. Fire Thunder’s plight was of the utmost importance.
She stiffened as they entered the outskirts of San Carlos. She looked guardedly around her as people stopped and stared at the three young Mexican men who rode slowly down the dirt road on burros, their heads still hanging, and then at Pedro as he still lay asleep in the wagon, his head on Kaylene’s lap.
To avoid any eye contact with any of the Mexican people, Kaylene looked straight ahead. She grew tense when she saw the protective walls ahead that circled the land and villa owned by General Rocendo. Well-armed vaqueros, guards, stood at the wide, closed gate.
Kaylene watched Fire Thunder as he nudged his horse with his knees and rode on ahead and stopped a few yards from the guards.
“Capitan Fire Thunder, what has happened?” one of the guards asked. His gaze moved slowly from one of the Mexicans to the other. Then he strained his neck to look into the wagon.
“I must see General Rocendo,” Fire Thunder said thickly. He gestured toward the young men whose eyes were wide with fright. “As you can see, I have escorted these young men to San Carlos.” He looked over his shoulder and frowned as he stared at Pedro. “Also, Pedro, the general’s son.”
“Is Pedro injured?” one of the guards asked, walking quickly past Fire Thunder, to gaze in concern at Pedro. He gasped when he saw Pedro’s leg.
Then his gaze moved slowly up, to look at Kaylene. “What is the meaning of this?” he hissed out. “And do I not know you, señorita? Did I not see you when the carnival people were here? Did you not ride a panther?”
“Yes, that was me,” Kaylene said, scarcely breathing when the other guard came and looked in horror at Pedro, then looked with recognition at her.
“You are the panther señorita,” he said, a white flash of teeth showing when he smiled at her.
“Yes, I was,” she murmured, yet puzzled that he showed more attention to her, than to the ailing son of his general.
Then one of the guards returned to Fire Thunder. “Capitan, you can explain what happened to General Rocendo,” he said, the other guard opening the gate. “I will ride ahead and tell him that you are coming.” He untied the reins that secured his horse to a hitching rail, then mounted and rode into the courtyard.
Fire Thunder rode through the gate and stiffened when he saw General Rocendo step out onto the porch of his huge, widespread villa. He was shirtless. His hair was mussed, as though he had just left his bed.
Fire Thunder watched the general’s expression as the guard explained why Fire Thunder was there, and about the general’s son not being well.
General Rocendo left the porch in his bare feet and met Fire Thunder’s approach.
Fire Thunder dismounted and shook the general’s hand, then walked with him back to the wagon, where Pedro was just awakening.
“And, Capitan, how did this happen to my son?” the general growled out, toying with his thick, black mustache as he slowly looked up at Kaylene. “And Jose told me that the panther lady from the carnival is the one on whose lap my son’s head lies. Señorita, I missed your performance when your carnival was here. I hope to one day see you ride the panther.” His eyebrows forked. “But what are you doing away from your people? I do not understand.”
Again Kaylene was amazed at how little anyone seemed disturbed by Pedro’s illness. She was in the limelight, which unnerved her.
“She is soon to be my wife,” Fire Thunder said, intervening. “Now, General Rocendo, about your son. I apologize for the carelessness of one of my Kickapoo young women. She tattooed your son’s leg with the juice of poison ivy. He had a bad reaction. But he is much better than he was last night.”
“A tattoo?” General Rocendo said, leaning over the side of the wagon, inspecting his son’s leg. He looked up at Pedro who was watching him guardedly. “Pedro, did I not tell you that sneaking around with Kickapoo señoritas could get you into trouble?” he chuckled. “I never expected it to be this sort of trouble. I would have thought it might be more like you coming to me with a complaint that a beautiful Indian señorita was heavy with child . . . yours.”
“Father, do not blame Running Fawn for any of this,” Pedro managed weakly. He looked with panic
at Fire Thunder. “Capitan Fire Thunder, do not punish Running Fawn. This was all in fun. It just got out of hand.”
“It is good to see that you are well enough to talk, but what you say is wasted breath about Running Fawn,” Fire Thunder said tersely. He glowered at the general. “And do you not recall my having come to you, asking you to talk to your young men about coming and sneaking around with our Kickapoo girls? We need to work together on problems like this or things like what happened yesterday to Pedro might happen again.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I do not take lightly to how you find even the thought of one of our young women becoming heavy with child from trysts with your young men amusing.”
General Rocendo toyed with his mustache for a moment as he gazed intently up at Fire Thunder, being much shorter than the Kickapoo chief. “Capitan, if you must know,” he then said, much more seriously, “I did warn my son and his friends not to come anywhere near your village or your señoritas. It seems they do not have ears that hear too well. When my son did not return home last night, I did not think that he would be with any of your girls. I thought he might be spending the night with women from our brothels. I have grown accustomed to my son’s adventures with the local señoras, so often staying the night with them.”
“Your son is young,” Fire Thunder challenged. “How can you approve of him bedding up with women of your village as though he were a man?”
General Rocendo’s shoulders tightened. He glared up at Fire Thunder. “Capitan, do not speak of my son in such a way, or how I choose to raise him,” he spat out. “I admire a son whose prowess is so well developed at his young age. I see my son being with older women at the brothels as a way to make a true man out of him!”
The general turned glaring eyes to Pedro. “I cannot be angry at the Kickapoo girl who administered the near fatal poison to my son’s leg, as I must apologize for a son who goes behind his father’s back to do as he was told not to, for I did tell him to bed Mexican señoras, while he is practicing to be a man!” he said, his voice drawn and icy.
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