"Where were you going in the wagon? That is not a path traveled often by the white man."
"We were coming from Annapolis where the ship docked." Katelyn held a branch until he'd passed. "Henry decided to take that road to his father's plantation."
"You love this Henry?"
No matter what she said, it would be wrong.
"No need to answer. I don't remember the eyes of a woman in love. That dog! He doesn't love you."
"That's not true. Step over the log. He went to get help. He had no choice. He couldn't have fought you and the others off with no weapon."
"What lies did he tell his people? . . . A man who comes home without his woman."
"You're cruel, do you know that? Henry was right. You're nothing but filthy, ignorant savages!" Katelyn jerked away. "Just wait. He'll be back for me and he won't be alone. Then you'll be . . . "
Instinctively, Tipaakke caught her arm, jolting her. "Listen to me, girl. He's not coming back. Not ever. The man is a worthless coward. You are better off without him. He was not even among the men who attacked us at the village."
"What do you mean? Of course he was. He went to get them. He was there, he was looking for me. You just didn't see him!" Katelyn struggled, dropping her spare dress and beating him with her fists. "He's coming for me! I tell you, he's coming!"
Tipaakke pinned her against him. "Shhhh." He whispered in Algonquian. "It is not your fault he left you. He was a fool to leave a woman so beautiful. Hush, my dove. You deserve better. He was not the man for you. It was not meant to be."
Halfheartedly, Katelyn tried to break free. How could she be so stupid? He could have knocked her senseless. "I'm all right now. Let go of me," she ordered through clenched teeth.
"If you behave," he said in English. "But you must learn to control yourself! You make a fool out of us in front of my people. You think they can't hear?" Slowly, he released her.
"There's the water."
"I know, I can hear it. I can smell the rocks, too."
"No one can smell rocks!"
"I can. I smell moss growing on the rocks."
Katelyn planted her hands firmly on her hips. "Well, if you can hear and smell so well, why do you need me to lead you around like a child!"
Tipaakke winced. "Because, girl, I can't smell fallen logs!"
"Stop calling me girl!" Grabbing her dress, she stormed off.
Why was this happening to her? She was supposed to marry a wealthy tobacco farmer and move into a big house with servants. She wasn't supposed to be in the wilderness with a crazy blind Indian! She should have died with Jonathan. It would have made things easier. And where was Henry? It had been more than a week. He should have found her by now.
"Don't go too far," Tipaakke called.
Katelyn turned to shout, then spun back in horror. He was naked! She'd just seen a man's naked buttocks! Fox's naked . . . She plunged into the frigid water. Nothing would save her from burning in hell now.
Tipaakke waded into the stream, feeling along the dirt bottom with his toes until he found the pool his people had dug out when they'd settled in this spot. He leaned forward, dipping his hair in and then swinging it back so that the water splashed in all directions.
"Take care, brother. That's cold!" Mekollaan shielded his body with his hands.
"Don't do that unless you wish to lose your life."
"Do what, little brother?" He raised his eyebrows innocently.
"Sneak like a rat."
"I didn't mean to startle you. I wasn't really sneaking."
"Don't lie, foolish one. I know why you were sneaking, hiding in the bushes. Forget it. She swims with her dress on. She takes it off only to bathe and that is behind brush."
"You accuse me of such young-buck games?"
"I accuse, but not falsely. I think you should go hunting for a few days. You are like a caged cat."
"It's only because I worry over you." Mekollaan slipped off the bank with a splash. "Do you still intend to go through with this foolish notion?"
"Don't you understand?" Tipaakke clenched his fists. "I am blind. My life has been taken from me, yet I remain here. I cannot hunt. I can never provide for a family. There is nothing else for me here."
"But how will you live through the winter? When I return in the spring I will find nothing but bones." Mekollaan floated on his back, his hands propelling him in circles.
"She will care for me," he replied, half to himself.
"How? The woman can't care for herself. She is helpless. And how will you defend yourselves? You know the Mohawks raid that area."
"She is not as helpless as you think. She is very intelligent. Won has taught her much already. I will teach her to snare, maybe hunt. She will learn to handle a weapon."
"Hunt. You are joking. If the Mohawks or trappers don't kill you, you'll starve." He cupped the water in his hand, splashing Tipaakke in the face.
"Then I will starve."
"She will starve, too," he taunted.
"That is enough. I will decide how to live. It is only for the winter. I need time to think away from my people . . . away from you and our father."
"And with her?"
"Her name is Katelyn. Why do you concern yourself with my prisoner?" Tipaakke waded slowly to the shore.
"Because she's trouble. Kill her or take her back to them." He followed behind, flinching when Tipaakke tripped, almost going under.
"She is mine. That coward does not deserve her." He pushed his long, sleek hair off his shoulders.
"She could never be one of us you know. She hates us. She hates you."
"Did I say I wanted her to become one of us? I don't care what she thinks. She doesn't know what is best for her."
"I just don't know what it is you want her for. Any of the young ones could be your servant. You haven't even made use of her body."
"This conversation has come to an end, brother." He spoke through clenched teeth, his voice deathly low.
Mekollaan shook his head, running his hand along his scalplock. "I just hope you know what you're doing." He retied his loincloth and walked silently away.
When Katelyn returned she found Tipaakke sitting in the moss, leaning against a tree. He turned his head, recognizing her footsteps, then returned to his sightless staring.
"I heard you arguing with him. He wants to kill me, doesn't he?"
"You don't know our language. You don't know what we said. Where do you get your silly ideas?"
"I'm silly? You think I'm silly because I don't want to die?"
"I told you. You won't die as long as you do as I say."
"Maybe I'd be better off dead." Her eyes narrowed speculatively.
"Maybe I would, too." Tipaakke nodded solemnly. "But we are not, so we must deal with life. Let us go."
After a morning meal of fresh berries, Katelyn went into the wigwam to get some baskets. She was to meet Won at the garden for her lesson. Tipaakke lay on his platform staring at the roof, seeing nothing. Katelyn ignored him.
They hadn't spoken since the night before at the stream. She hated him. Only the fact that Henry was coming kept her sane.
She snatched up two woven baskets and stalked out stiffly. She'd show that high and mighty savage. Just wait until Henry and his father got here; then he wouldn't be so smug. She expected them any time now. They had to be near, maybe even watching them this minute. She would only have to play this game a little longer and then she'd be free of all of them.
She ambled through the village toward the raised garden, taking in the busy excitement of morning. Children ran laughing while women gathered cookware and clothes to be washed. They would take their things down stream from the bathing area and wash the cooking utensils and then the clothes. They would hang the clothing on branches stripped of leaves, and sit and gossip while their belongings dried.
"There you are. I thought maybe you not coming." Won grinned, her braids swinging. "I thought maybe you think I work you too hard."
"N
o, you're good to me, Won. You're my one friend." Katelyn dropped her baskets to the ground beside Won's.
"What is the matter with you so pucker faced? I can't believe that handsome brave treats you bad."
"Yes, he treats me badly! I'm a prisoner, aren't I?" She ground her teeth.
"Yes. But if you were here of your own will, wouldn't this be a good life?" She picked up a basket and started down a row of squash.
"I wouldn't be here! No. This is not the kind of life I would lead. I'm going to have a big house. My betrothed is very rich. I will have dresses, money, jewelry even."
"And for that you sell yourself . . .?" Won shook her head, stooping to pick the crooknecks.
"No! What has he been telling you? Don't believe what he says, he twists my words."
"But does he twist your thoughts? A man who leaves his woman to fend for herself is not a man. A woman who leaves her man in the hands of the enemy is not a woman. You don't need this man, this Henry Coward. Better to marry Fox and have many kits."
"Marry him? You're as crazy as he is! I hate him. Besides, I won't be here much . . . I don't want to talk about this anymore. Tell me what we're doing."
"This is a squash. It is good boiled. It is good sliced, rolled in cornmeal and fried. We will dry much of it for winter. When the wind blows and the snow falls we will be glad to have it."
"How do I know if they're ripe?" Katelyn kneeled between the cultivated rows behind Won.
"Do you see how the stems have shriveled and turned brown? This is ready." She tapped another yellow squash hidden among the vines. "This one, another day or two."
"You have become a good slave woman, Kate-lyn."
Katelyn looked up to see Mekollaan towering above her. She turned her back on him, hoping he would just go away.
"I tried to get my brother to sell you to me but he was asking too much. I have no wife. I could use a woman to cook for me, give me baths . . . " he taunted, kicking idly at a basket on the ground. "Couldn't find an Indian woman to do all that."
"Do you want something?" Katelyn turned venomous eyes on Mekollaan. He was wearing a deerskin loincloth and a large white-linen shirt.
"You. But I guess you won't be around much longer."
"Mekollaan, you walk where you're not wanted. Leave her be. Your brother will be angry." Won shook a squash angrily at him.
He stroked his scalplock, enjoying himself immensely.
"What are you talking about. You're right, you're not going to have me, but neither is he." She threw another squash into the basket and got to her feet. "I'm not going to be here because my betrothed is coming with his men and he's going to kill the both of you!"
"That is foolish, girl. You know he's not coming. We live less than a day's ride from your brave man. He's not coming for you, not ever."
"I'm not going to argue with you. Just leave me alone, you filthy . . . "
Mekollaan caught her arm as she swung at him. "But if he is coming, he'd better hurry. In another moon you and Tipaakke will be on your way."
"On our way? On our way where? What is he ranting about, Won?"
Won got up and pulled Katelyn's arm from Mekollaan's iron grip. "He wanted to tell her himself. Sometimes you are a foolish man." She walked away, pulling Katelyn behind her.
"You and my brother will be spending the winter in a cabin," Mekollaan called after them. "Alone . . . " He laughed deep in his throat.
"Stop, Won. What is he talking about? I can't go. Henry won't be able to find me." She struggled frantically.
Won dragged her along, ignoring her protests. She wanted to get Katelyn back to the wigwam before she caused another scene. She pushed her through Tipaakke's door, sending her sprawling.
"Tell me what he's talking about. Tell me!" Katelyn scrambled up and stood before Tipaakke.
He leaped to his feet. "What is she talking about, Won?" Tipaakke grabbed Katelyn's hands.
"The Hawk has swooped again. He told her about the cabin. I tried to stop him. I don't like to see her hurting." Won spoke softly in the Delaware tongue.
"I know. It's all right, it wasn't your fault. You can go." He nodded to dismiss her.
"Will you please speak English! You are the coward! You! You don't tell me I'm going somewhere when everyone else knows. Then you stand in front of me and talk that gibberish as if I don't exist! Let go of my hands!" Katelyn's body shook with anger.
"Calm down and I will let you go. I will make you understand."
"You can't take me away. He won't be able to find me." Her voice had reached the point of desperation.
Tipaakke longed to reach out and comfort her, to protect her from the pain, but he knew he must be strong. It was for her good. It was the only way.
"I have decided to make a journey. I must spend time away from my people. I must have time to think."
"Just let me stay here . . . with Won. Please."
"Katelyn, you must face the fact. He is not coming."
"He is!"
"No. He is not. If he was coming, he would have been here days ago. If you had been my woman, I would not have slept until you were back in my arms. You have no one but me now. I need you to care for me. We will go to a cabin a few days from here. We will winter there. Mekollaan will take us there and come back for us in the spring."
"Why are you doing this to me?" Katelyn pleaded desperately. "Why do you hurt me like this? Just let me go." She stared at the stone face only inches from hers, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. If she didn't hate him so much, she would have thought he was handsome with his sleek, dark hair and haunting eyes.
"I do not do it to hurt you. But I don't question the stars. You are meant to be here with me. He was never for you. He was only Manito's way of getting you here. Don't you see?" Tipaakke pleaded softly. Though he had no sight, he could see her in his mind. He could feel her fiery hair. He could hear her pain. He could taste her tears.
"Why me, Fox?" she whispered. "Tell me why." His touch sent a strange shiver down her spine.
"I don't know. Just give it time. Nothing happens without a reason." He reached out to touch a bright lock bouncing on her shoulder and she jerked back as if his fingers were flames. "I won't hurt you," he murmured reaching for her again.
This time Katelyn allowed him to grasp the long strand, and watched, mesmerized, as he wrapped it around and around his finger.
"Never have I seen hair this color," he breathed, his voice wafting to caress her ears.
When Tipaakke moved his hand to brush her cheek, she stood perfectly still, her eyes searching his. She had never felt so odd in her life. Every time he touched her, she trembled, her stomach grew fluttery and her heart palpitated wildly. What was this feeling deep in the pit of her stomach that made her yearn for her enemy's touch? She closed her eyes, enchanted by the feel of his hot breath on her face.
"That's right," he soothed in Algonquian, running his fingers over her quivering lips. "No need to fear me. You have no one but me, let me care for you. Let me heal your wounds of life. Heal mine. I can promise you nothing. But that is no less than you have now." He pressed his lips to her dewy eyelids, first one, then the other. Her skin was as soft as the down of a newly hatched eaglet.
Katelyn trembled as he guided her hands over his bare chest and coiled them around his neck, but she didn't pull away. His skin seared her hands, but she felt no pain, only an odd tingle of pleasure.
"I can make you feel very good," he tempted as he lowered his mouth to brush against her lips.
Shame flooded Katelyn, staining her cheeks crimson, but she offered no resistance. As much as she hated to admit it, she liked the feel of his lips on hers. She saw no logic in it, the man held her 'against her will, but she couldn't help swaying against him as his kiss became more insistent. When his tongue slipped from his mouth to touch her lips, she stiffened. What was it about this savage that made her do what she would never have dared before? Slowly, she parted trembling lips, allowing his to penetrate her mouth.<
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Tipaakke tightened his grip around Katelyn's waist as he explored the cool, moist lining of her mouth. Never had he tasted anything so sweet, so arousing. Molding his body to hers, he ran his fingers through her thick hair, breathing deeply. Her soft, alluring scent enveloped him setting his loins on fire. "Ah, my sweet vixen," he murmured.
Overcome by the flames of her awakening desires, Katelyn moaned softly, astonished by the mixed emotions that washed over her. She was so confused. She wanted to run, but she wanted to stay. She wanted him to stop his intimate caressing, but a small part of her wanted to touch him in return.
Tipaakke heard the sharp snap of leather. Only one person would be so rude as to enter a wigwam when the door was closed. "Mekollaan, has blindness overtaken you as well?" His voice was brittle. His brother would destroy all he had just accomplished!
Katelyn shrank back at the sound of the moving leather and Tipaakke's harsh voice. Jerking her hands off his shoulders, she spun around, mortified by her actions. Had she lost her mind? She'd actually let that heathen kiss her . . . no, she kissed him.
"Well, well, what do I see here?" Mekollaan spoke in English for Katelyn's benefit.
Katelyn sank down on Tipaakke's sleeping platform, dropping her head in her hands. She had to clear her mind. This was more than she could stand.
"Mekollaan . . . " Tipaakke threatened, standing his ground.
"Forgive me. I didn't realize you two were . . . busy. I will come back later. I know better than to bother a man and woman when they are . . . "
"Mekollaan, unless you want a knife in your throat you will leave!" Tipaakke commanded in Algonquian. "Now!"
Katelyn looked up to see Hawk grinning. When he caught her eye he raised one eyebrow questioningly . . . accusingly.
With each passing second, she became more furious. If she had a gun right now, she could blow his leering face off. She hated him. She hated all of them!
Afraid she would be unable to suppress her anger any longer, she ran past both men and ducked out of the wigwam. She couldn't stay here! If Henry wasn't coming for her, she would just have to find him. Better to be eaten by wolves in the forest than to be devoured by men like these.
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