Brides of the West-Part One

by Hestand, Rita

  "You are her husband?"

  "That's right." Hershel barked, his brows nearly meeting in the middle of his forehead. "You have taken her as your slave? I want her back."

  "She is mine now. You cannot have her." Running Wolf started to walk off.

  "We'll make a trade for her." Hershel offered.

  "I do not need the white man's trinkets. You must leave now." Running Wolf demanded.

  "No! Not without the woman. What have you done with her?" Hershel asked loud and clear. A path to Running Wolf was made by his people.

  "She is to die a day after tomorrow. But first I will do what you did not, I will take the virgin. Then she will die." He said.

  Hershel came at Running Wolf, and knocked him to the ground.

  "I will fight you for her. And you will not take what is not yours."

  Running Wolf studied Hershel for a moment. "You would not take her, why do you fight for her now?"

  Running Wolf was quick to get to his feet. He moved around Hershel.

  "She's my wife, that's why." Hershel bellowed.

  "This man," Running Wolf glared at Buck then looked into the old chief's eyes, "He brought her up the mountain. I offered trade then. He refused. Now, she is married to you. White man makes no sense. She is not yours to take, but she will be mine."

  The old chief came between them. "White woman is a virgin?"

  "Yes," Running Wolf frowned.

  "And you would kill her?" The chief's eyes narrowed on Running Wolf.

  "She is my captive. I chose her death. But she will not die a virgin. I promise you."

  The old chief stared at him long and hard.

  "You dishonor our tribe. You shame our people. You will fight me…and if you win, you will fight him. If he wins, the woman goes with them. If he loses, you may take the woman, but you will leave our tribe forever." The old chief said.

  "Then prepare to die, old man." Running Wolf hollered and lashed out at the old chief with his knife.

  The old chief dodged him. Running Wolf charged him with his head to the old chief's stomach. The old man curled, but got up. He grabbed Running Wolf and threw him toward the fire.

  Running Wolf recovered quickly and came at the old chief again. "It is your time to die, old chief…for I am chief now!"

  He pounded the old man, but again the old man struggled to his feet and grabbed him. "I am not dead yet! And only the Great Spirit can decide a chief."

  It went on and on for a long time, until they struggled and Running Wolf fell on his own knife.

  He collapsed, his eyes wild with hate.

  With all the pride he could summon for his last breath he whispered as he looked up at Hershel. "Take her!"

  There were murmurings all around the camp now.

  The old chief stared at Hershel and then glanced at Running Wolf. "It is good that he is dead by his own hand. He has dishonored our tribe. I will not look upon him now. Take the woman….She is yours."

  Then Running Wolf died.

  Sesari came and bent down to her husband, cradling his head in her lap, she began to chant. Tears ran down her cheeks.

  The old chief looked at Hershel. "Take the woman."

  Fawn brought Rachel out to them and Rachel stared at them, and then Running Wolf. She saw the tears in Sesari's eyes, and she felt a compassion that swamped her. She put her hand on her shoulder, and shook her head.

  "I'm so sorry…" she whispered. "For you."

  "Go…go with your people now." Sesari said. "I must make my husband ready."

  Hershel stepped in front of Buck to grab her, as Buck would have taken her in his arms to comfort her too. "Come, they have given my wife back to me."

  Rachel understood.

  They left the camp quietly.

  As they got to the edge of the forest he glanced back. "That ended better than I had hoped for." Hershel said.

  Rachel kissed his cheek and then Buck's. "I sure am glad to see the three of you." She took Little Feather's hand. She looked into her eyes with tears. "I feel sorry for Sesari though. She really loved him, and she was going to have his child."

  "We better make tracks. If that old chief dies no telling what will happen." Hershel directed them to the horses and guns.

  "Was he hurt that badly?" Buck looked at Hershel.

  "An Indian dies proud. He couldn't take what Running Bear did and not suffer." Hershel assured him. "But like the true Indian chief he was, he didn't show his pain."

  Buck put Rachel behind him on his horse and they slowly made their way through the thick forest.

  She didn't say anything, but she leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.

  He could feel the relief in her body now.

  He looked down at her hands, clutching his waist, and his hand covered hers. "It's gonna be alright now."

  That night they made camp and all sat around the fire. Buck was unusually quiet. Rachel didn't know why.

  "I guess after all of this, it might sound funny, but I felt sorry for Sesari, Running Wolf's wife."

  "She the one that cried and held him as he died?" Little Feather asked.

  "Yes. All his wives agreed, they were going to find a way to let me go. I don't know how, but that was their plan." Rachel explained. "They knew he was wrong. They didn't want him shamed by his own people. All of them loved him. I guess that speaks well of a person. But I'm glad it was from his own knife and not yours."

  "What do you mean, he was wrong?"

  "His people would not allow such a thing, if they had known his plan. But Sesari said if any of the elders of the tribe knew it, he would be banished from their tribe. They didn't want that to happen, so they were gonna let me loose tonight."

  "They?"

  "Yes, Sesari was his first wife, then her sister, Fawn, and finally Leaping Deer."

  Buck's eyes met hers for a moment. She saw his hand fist, saw his jaw tightened.

  "It's good that he is dead…" Buck said and turned and walked away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The first night down the mountain they camped a good distance from where they'd came. Even though this way down was easier, it would take a lot longer.

  Rachel felt a new tension growing inside of her. She had known since she saw Buck's face at the Indian Camp that she was in love with him. But everything was wrong. She wanted to run into his arms, and kiss him silly. But she had forgotten. She was married to Hershel, and needed a divorce. And Buck hadn't said a word about how he felt about her. Perhaps it was best this way, but her heart ached to know his thoughts.

  In the middle of the night, Rachel got up and walked about the small camp. She looked about and marveled at how beautiful the night was in snow. A peace settled over her as she stared into the night sky.

  Hershel and Little Feather were huddled together under their blankets, keeping each other warm. She envied them. And it was funny how easily they got along, and were so happy.

  She glanced at their happy faces and she felt some relief. At least Hershel was happy.

  She leaned against a pine tree and listened to an old owl. She would remember this adventure in her life forever. However, it was only an adventure. She hadn't found the life she thought she wanted.

  "I guess you were pretty scared back there, huh?" Buck came up to her so quietly it startled her.

  The moon was shining, so everything seemed to glisten in the forest.

  Rachel nodded. "I was scared and angry."

  "Angry?"

  "Running Wolf had the devotion of Sesari, and respect of Fawn and Leaping Deer. He had fifteen children, soon to be sixteen. And yet…he still wanted me dead. I didn't understand it. I never did anything to the man. Why did he hate me?"

  Buck was silent, as though thinking about her question. "An Indian is measured by his wives, his captives, and his bravery in battle. If he has many horses, he is a rich man. If he has many wives, it is the same. But when it comes right down to it, he was a man. You obviously rejected him, and it made him mad. Th
e only difference in a white man and a Indian is that the Indian won't tolerate rejection, and their anger can consume them."

  "He knew Hershel was my husband. But….I don't know how, but he knew we had never been together either. I don't understand how he could see such a thing." Rachel said quietly. "It's not like I go announcing it to the world."

  "Well Rachel, there is something about a woman who never…well, you know what I mean. It's a look of innocence."

  Rachel could feel her face warming.

  "You think I look innocent?"

  "I think you are a beautiful woman."

  She shivered from the compliment. If he'd only say the words, she'd be in his arms now. "It was against his tribe's law to kill a virgin he said."

  "That old chief would have got to him sooner or later for that."

  Rachel shivered again. "I'm just glad it's over. I am sorry he had to die. But at least it was from the hands of his own knife that killed him. I certainly didn't want to start some war. I did learn a few things while I was there."

  "What did you learn?" Buck looked surprised by her admission.

  "Oh, how to tan hides, how to cook foods I never heard of before. The Indian women work hard, every day. I wonder if they are appreciated by their husbands."

  "Did Sesari seem unhappy?"

  "Not at all. At least she seemed very content and so did the others, until I arrived."

  "There's your answer. I'm sorry you had to go through it." Buck said, his hand reaching to stoke her cheek.

  She turned her cheek to his hand, her lips grazing his knuckles.

  "What do you plan on doing Rachel?" Buck asked throatily.

  "Well, I hadn't thought about it really. I guess I'll go home and get the annulment taken care of, first of all."

  "You gonna marry that Frank fella?"

  "I hadn't given that any thought. I have no feelings for Frank, never did have. I'm not sure that he'd want me if he knew what I had gone through. Besides, I've never been the kind of woman to not speak my peace. A lot of men, don't appreciate that. Before I left I had a talk with him. He understood, said my father had pressured him into a relationship. I told him there was no relationship. I guess I'm too blunt. I think I hurt his feelings."

  Buck stared into her eyes intently. "Then he didn't love you in the first place."

  "Maybe I won't go back there. Maybe I'll stay here, I mean in town, here." Rachel said.

  "It's a pretty rough town. I don't recommend it." Buck said his eyes never leaving hers. "Everyone is mining for gold or ore of some kind. It isn't the kind of town a lady should live in."

  Just then a ten point buck ran through the camp. They both looked at it in shock.

  The spell he had woven was broken and Rachel figured she better go to bed.

  "He's beautiful."

  "Most wild, free things are, Rach."

  "Goodnight, Buck…"

  "Night…Rach."

  Rachel sighed heavily as she covered herself and thought about Buck and her trip up the mountain. She had learned a few things since she'd been here. She learned she was too blunt, too insistent about things she knew nothing about. Had she come up the mountain and not married Hershel she could just go home. But now, going home and telling her folks what she'd been through, they'd probably throw her out.

  She didn't want to go home. But Buck was right, the town below was rougher than the mountains. Still, if she stayed, she'd see more of Buck, fall deeper in love and hurt for the rest of her life. How she wished she'd never done the marriage by proxy.

  She needed a plan of action.

  For the first time in her life she had none.

  If Buck cared anything for her, he would have said something by now. He certainly had his chance tonight.

  Buck had kissed her, but not once said anything about his feelings one way or another. Perhaps it was some kind of strange adventure for him too.

  The next morning she bundled herself up and helped Little Feather make breakfast.

  The weather was sunny and they made better time. Until their path was blocked by a fallen tree. It was no ordinary tree. It was huge.

  "That tree must have been a hundred or so years old." Hershel shook his head. "We ain't gonna get past it unless we cut it up Buck."

  "I'll get the axes." Buck seemed frustrated or angry and Hershel looked surprised.

  "If we use axes, it will take us forever. A week or more and that's a lot of hard work." Hershel shook his head.

  "Got any better ideas?" Buck shot him a mean look.

  "Go back around the other way." Hershel said. "It'll be rough, but we can make it Buck. We've done it before."

  "Tarnation, the reason to come this way was so we'd get down without any accidents." Buck exclaimed. "Besides, we didn't have women with us, when we made it."

  "So you want to cut the tree up?"

  "Yes, I do. Let's get to work." Buck snapped at him.

  "What can we do?" Rachel asked.

  "Stay out of the way." Buck barked at her.

  "Look at the size of that tree. It will take all winter to move that monster. I'm for going the other way. Besides, we don't have the right kind of saws or axes for this kind of work. We aren't loggers you know."

  "Why don't we take another route…"

  "Mainly 'cause we don't know what we might encounter." Hershel explained.

  Little Feather came closer now. "Maybe we should just go back to the cabin and wait for better weather."

  Hershel hugged her. "We can't do that honey. The weather won't get any better until spring."

  "Couldn't she stay until spring? I like her."

  "No…we are half way down now…there's no reason to turn back. I say we take another route. Go around the tree."

  Hershel studied the area.

  "Then I'll scout it out and see if we can get through anywhere. You stay here with them." Hershel insisted.

  "You stay with your brides, I'll go look for another way." Buck threw down the ax and took off before Hershel could argue.

  "What in heaven's name is wrong with Buck?" Rachel stared after him.

  Hershel grabbed Little Feather to him and chuckled. "He's angry with himself. He's going somewhere he don't want to go, doing something he don't want to do, all because he can't say what's on his mind. But I'll work on him a while, and he'll get better."

  Buck didn't return until night fall and Rachel was worried about him.

  They had eaten and were bedding down for the night when he came in.

  "I found another way." Buck announced.

  "Great, tell me about it in the morning. I'm ready for bed." Hershel explained.

  Buck frowned at him.

  Rachel was sitting by the fire. "Want something to eat?"

  "Is there anything left?"

  "Yeah, Hershel caught a rabbit and we made sort of a stew."

  "Sounds good." Buck joined her. They sat on a log and she watched him eat.

  "I want to thank you for all you've done Buck…"

  "What I've done?" He looked incredulous at her.

  "Yes…it's been some adventure." She tried to smile.

  Buck stood up and after putting his dish away, he turned away from her. "Well, I don't think I'd be thanking me."

  "It's an adventure to tell my grandchildren…if I have any, that is."

  "An adventure. Is that what you call it? I got you married to a man that already has a wife. You nearly fell off the side of a mountain. And you were captured by a renegade Indian. That's what you are thanking me for, Rach."

  She smiled. "Since my dad and I moved from Arkansas, I have been behind a desk most of the rest of the time. I've missed the adventures, or misadventure if that's what you want to call them. Until now, I haven't felt very alive. But from the moment I came here, my life changed. This country is beautiful. I recognize the dangers, but most of them don't scare me, they end up fascinating me. I wouldn't have missed knowing you and Hershel and Little Feather for anything, Buck." She smiled at him.<
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  He was so angry, he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. Before she had time to think about what he was doing, he kissed her hard and thoroughly.

  The kiss invited submission and either from shock or compliance, she yielded to his mastery. His tongue ran over her lips and urged them to part. It darted inside to tantalized her, but all the while, he was gentle with her…because the minute his lips met hers, everything changed.

  She whimpered and her arms flew around his neck and she hung on for life.

  Her heart sang, her limbs became limp, but her mouth was willing to endure any torture he wanted to give her. Instead he gave her tenderness she hadn't expected. He gave her love he refused to acknowledge.

  His kiss swept through her like a tornado, awakening her to the possibilities.

  When they pulled away to draw breath, he stared into her eyes. "Is that an adventure too!" He shouted at her.

  As he walked away, she whispered. "The best adventure of them all…"

  But Buck never heard her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next morning Buck was telling Hershel about the trail he'd located. He said it must have been used by the Indians, he'd never seen it before. But he'd gone five miles out of the way to find it. Still, it was less dangerous than going the way he and Rachel had come up.

  Hershel nodded. "Alright then, we'll take it."

  As they were gearing up, Buck looked preoccupied trying to find something.

  "Lose something?" Rachel asked, watching him.

  "I was looking for the marriage license, you are gonna need it." He assured her. He emptied his bedroll and still nothing. "I don't understand it. I had it."

  "You put it in your coat pocket."

  "It's not there. It's not in my gear either." He stuffed everything back into his bedroll.

  "What am I going to do, I'll need that paper?" Rachel sounded forlorn.

  "Look," he paused to look directly at her. "You go on home, and I'll go back to the preacher's place and get a copy. He usually keeps a copy of these things. I'll mail it to you. How's that?" He asked.

  "Why don't we just stop off at the preacher's place and get it?"