by Rita Hestand
"The squaw saw you. She told them…It is a good thing, they will not harm you now."
Eve looked distraught. "I don't understand."
Sootka laid a hand on her shoulder. "They will not harm you now. Your man has made you safe. You are one with Hawk. Just as she told the chief."
"What do you mean…now?"
"The squaw came in your tent last night, did she not?"
"Yes, yes she did!"
"The chief sent her. She was sent to find out if you belonged to Hawk or not. If you had not, then they would be free to take you. A woman with your hair would be valued. But now they know, you belong to Hawk, so they will not touch you."
Sootka said with a glance at the braves eyeing her.
"You mean they would have…"
"Yes…you are a captive. Captives are often claimed by a brave." She told her. "A white woman slave. You must work now, as you are still a captive and if your Hawk does not come back, they will still have you. I tell you this to prepare you. For anything could happen to him."
"Oh my God…" Eve thought about that for a long while. Then had Hawk been protecting her, knowing what would happen? Of course, that made sense now. But would he return in time? Moreover, could she ever forgive him or herself for her part in it?
When she thought on it, it was she that had sinned for she had welcomed his touch and kisses. Her reasoning at the time had nothing to do with his.
"Can she play with the other children?" Sootka asked.
"I suppose, if I can sit out here and watch her."
She nodded. "We must gather firewood, and help cook the food."
"All right, I can do that." Eve agreed.
"Good. You must look busy even when you are not, or they might beat you. They still have the right to beat you, so you must do as I tell you. Only they are afraid of your Hawk. He would be angry if they beat you?"
"Yes, of course." Eve nodded.
"Still, you must keep busy. You will not be harmed as long as you are working. It is the lazy captive that gets the beatings. For everyone must work in camp."
"And can I sleep in peace?" She asked.
"Yes, the old woman will guard you until your Hawk returns. If he does not return, you are at their mercy. And I cannot help you." Sootka explained.
"You have had a white man, for you have children. What happened to him, did Hawk kill him?"
Eve's eyes widened in shock. "No, he died of a fever."
Sootka nodded. "How long ago?"
"Two years…"
"And do you miss him?"
"No…."
Sootka stared at her and smiled. "Do you miss Hawk?"
Eve thought about that. "Yes…I do." Her admission stunned her. Perhaps she should have lied, but this young woman seemed to understand it. It was the truth.
"That is good." Sootka smiled. "He is very handsome and very brave. If he were not yours, I would seek him out upon his return. But he is yours."
Eve cocked her head as she watched her baby playing with the other children. Jane Ann giggled.
"The old squaw says there is much love between you." Sootka chuckled.
Eve blushed. Perhaps silence was best at this point.
"How long ago did your husband die?" Eve asked.
"Yesterday!" Sootka's head bowed.
"Oh my God!" Eve stared at her.
"Hawk killed him." Sootka said quietly. "It was a fair fight. My husband challenged him, over you. My husband lost. But…had he won the battle, you would be my husband's white squaw."
"You mean…"
"Yes, he would have taken you, and we would be sisters."
Eve looked shocked, and stared at Sootka. "Oh dear God!"
"It is good that he died. My husband was handsome, strong and a good man. He has given me two sons. I did not want to share him with you. Even though we might have grown to be good friends. I did not want to share him. Do you understand?" Sootka said and walked away.
"Yes, I do!" Eve nodded and looked at her.
Sootka looked over her shoulder at her. "Then you understand why I am glad my husband is dead. For he died a brave death."
Eve watched her, she hadn't shed one tear, but it was obvious she had loved her husband, dearly.
Chapter Five
Hawk found Matthew, he'd just broken camp. Matthew saw him and ran up to him, hugging him.
Hawk stared down at him and wondered. He'd never met white people who could love so easily. It pleased him, and yet that brought Eve to mind.
He could not think on that right now, it might make him weak.
"You did well." He praised Matthew.
"I did exactly as you told me." Matthew said. "Where's my Ma and sister?" Matthew looked around for them, and then looked back at Hawk.
"I must go to get food and blankets to trade with."
"You gotta trade for her?" Matthew's gaze rounded on him now.
"Yes. We will go to your village…" Hawk told him.
"That's a good ten or so miles, maybe more from here." Matthew frowned.
"Then we must hurry!" Hawk told him. "You must be light on your feet and keep up. Because I must return quickly. I cannot baby you. You must run when I tell you and be very careful when I tell you. Do you understand?"
Matthew nodded.
As they traveled swiftly, Hawk had time to rethink what had happened between him and the white woman. He had merely wanted to save her from being taken by the Comanche warriors. He hadn't meant to…make love to her, but it was impossible to touch such a woman and not. Lovelier than a spring morning, Eve's gaze held as much desire as his own. It wasn't supposed to happen like that. But it had! She was his, whether she knew it or not.
He did not expect her to participate. He wasn't sure what he had expected, but not the beauty of a woman discovering herself.
He could not think on that right now. What he had to think about was getting her and the baby free. He'd worry about the repercussion of what he'd done later.
Still, it lingered on a slow fire in his heart. What they shared made him stronger somehow.
Matthew had displayed emotion in seeing him today and it confused him further. Why did these white people care about him? Why? He did not understand. He meant to protect them, but not with his emotions. He had to separate his emotions from his duty. Still it was impossible to do so.
"Was Ma and Jane Ann all right?" Matthew asked when they stopped to eat a bite of jerky.
"Yes, so far. But I must hurry and return, or they won't be." He told him.
"How come you are taking care of us?" Matthew asked, as he stared at him. "I mean, you’re an Indian, aren't you?"
"The weak must always be taken care of by the strong." Hawk told him.
"We aren't weak!" Matthew argued.
Hawk smiled.
"You've been watchin' out for us for a long time now. How come?" Matthew asked.
Hawk shrugged. "Who told you that?"
"Ma! She said you are a good person for watching after us so long…"
"She is a wise woman…"
"My Pa…he hurt her a lot. She tried to hide it, but he hurt her. She lost two babies because he was so mean…" Matthew stared at Hawk now. "I saw it when he threw her across the cabin, the last time. She cried forever, and there was blood everywhere. Pa was drunk and he just left her there. I had to help her as best I could, then I ran to get a neighbor and she came to help her."
"I have seen the graves…I am sorry, but he was her husband, I could not interfere with that."
"No sir, I don't reckon you could. Did you know my Pa?"
"No…I saw him when I first came, and I saw how mean he was too. He drank too much." Hawk eyed Matthew. "Many times I almost came to you, but it would not be right to interfere."
"Do you have a wife?" Matthew asked. "Or a family?"
"No…"
"Why not?"
"My tribe is very far away. I was young when I left them. I would not be welcomed now. As I have fought with the blue coats
. Many of the young warriors of my tribe joined them. Many were outcast."
"That is sad that you have no family…." Matthew reasoned. "You could be part of our family."
Hawk almost laughed. "I am Indian, you are white. The two do not mix."
"Why not?" Matthew asked. "You live near us all the time, you watch over us. We like you. Why couldn't we be your family?"
Hawk didn't want to think about it. He'd never let his emotions govern him and what Matthew suggested was out of the question, although, things had changed, whether he liked those changes or not. He had made love to the woman. She was his. It was too complicated to consider. Surely, the white woman was sorry for her actions. She would never fall in love with him. It had to be nothing more than animal lust. That's what he told himself, but he didn't believe it.
Still, what they shared was not lust. She'd been so strong those two years, taking the beatings from her husband, keeping her children safe from harm. He could not see her submitting so easily. Had it merely been lust, he would have simply taken her and she wouldn't have let him without a fight. No, it was not lust on either of their parts. They had made love. He knew this. Now he understood. Whether she would admit it or not, she had some kind of feelings for him, the same kind of feelings he had for her.
But the two do not mix!
He couldn’t think straight right now, all he could think about was saving her and the baby.
"It is time to travel. We must hurry. When we get to the town, we must find food and blankets."
"Find them?" Matthew's expression was puzzled. "You can't just find those kinds of things. We are gonna buy them?" Matthew asked him.
"I have no white money to buy with, no, we will steal them." Hawk announced.
"But stealin' is wrong." Matthew said, wide-eyed now.
"It is the only way. You want to save your mother, don't you?"
"Yeah…sure but…"
"Then we steal."
"I ain't never stole nothin'." Matthew told him. "Never!"
"I will teach you how."
"If Ma knew this, she'd be mad." Matthew looked at him strangely. "She'd skin both of us alive."
"Perhaps, but since I have no white money, I have nothing of value that the white man would want to trade, then I must steal and be quick about it." Hawk explained. "It means their lives, Matthew!"
Matthew nodded. "Okay, you just tell me what we gotta do then…"
Hawk smiled. "All you have to do, is distract the white people, I will steal, not you."
"Oh, yeah, I can do that." Matthew sighed, happy that he didn't have to do the stealing.
"Good, we must hurry." They moved on quickly, and by the time the town was in sight, Matthew was breathless and it was getting dark.
"It's late, the store is closed by now…" Matthew said. "We'll have to wait until tomorrow won't we?"
"It is good that it is dark, we sneak in, and sneak out before anyone even sees us." He instructed. "No one will be hurt. It is good."
Matthew stayed right behind Hawk, following in his footsteps.
As they got to the store, Hawk tried the door. It was locked. Matthew whispered, "Check above the door for a key. That's where Mr. Jones keeps it."
Hawk did and found it.
They went inside as no one was about. So they helped themselves to several blankets and a basket of food. Quickly they went out the same way they came and put the key back where they found it.
Hawk motioned to Matthew to be quiet and they scampered back into the woods.
"Now we must hurry," Hawk told him.
"Why?"
"Because I will be expected and they might decide to hurt your mother and Jane Ann if I don't get back soon." Hawk explained.
Traveling all night though was hard for Matthew as he wasn't used to running so much. Somehow, he managed to keep up with Hawk and when they reached the edge of the Indian camp, he felt exhausted.
Just then a deer happened by, and Hawk shot it with his bow and arrow.
"That will be right tasty." Matthew exclaimed.
"It is not for us. I take it to them for food. To trade."
"Oh."
He fell on his knees in the dirt, and sighed.
Hawk worried about Matthew he was very tired and he could let his guard down. "It is nearly dawn now, you must climb a tree, a big one, and find a comfortable spot and you can go to sleep. But tie yourself to the tree first, in case you start to fall. Understand?"
Matthew nodded.
Hawk gave him some rope. "I'll be back with your mother and sister, wait for us."
Matthew nodded, yawning and checking out which tree might be more comfortable. Once he spotted a tree with good heavy branches, he started climbing and waved to Hawk.
Hawk smiled and put the deer around his neck, and the other things he tied to his back.
By the time he walked into the village people were stirring and the chief was waiting.
"I have brought the supplies for you." Hawk told him as he laid the deer at his feet.
"How many blankets?" The old chief asked.
"Five…" Hawk said.
"What food have you brought?"
"Corn, potatoes, ham and milk from a can…" He told him.
The old chief nodded. "You have done well."
"The woman and child are unharmed?" Hawk eyed him closely now.
"Yes, take them and go." The chief told him.
"Thank you!" All of it was in sign language except the last and Hawk shook hands with the chief.
One of the women took him to the tipi where Eve and her child were.
When he opened the flap and went in, she was feeding the baby.
It was an awkward moment. He could tell by her expression that she was confused and embarrassed.
"We must go now…" Hawk told her.
She whirled around to look into his eyes. "Oh…yes…yes…" She nodded, looking away quickly.
"Matthew is waiting on the trail for us…" He told her.
"He's all right?" She swallowed hard.
"Yes…come…" He directed her out of the tent. She carried Jane Ann on her hip even though Sootka had given her some small moccasins for her feet.
Sootka nodded to her as they left, Eve smiled at her. She held her head up as she walked behind Hawk.
They walked for a short while then Hawk stopped, they were well out of sight from the Comanche now.
"What are we stopping for?" She asked.
"Matthew…" he called to the trees.
No one answered. Hawk began to search the trees. "Matthew?"
This time a tree rustled and Matthew soon jumped down from the tree. "Ma…"
Eve ran to him and hugged him, "Oh, I've been so worried about you!"
"I was fine Ma. Hawk helped me." Matthew said turning to look at Hawk.
Jane Ann ran to Matthew and hugged him.
"Thank you," she said quietly, not looking directly at Hawk now.
He knew what she was thinking. It had been a constant on his mind too. Now was not the time to talk of it.
"We must go now. We are no longer welcome."
She nodded and she started to pick Jane Ann up and carry her, but Hawk stopped her, by grabbing her arm gently.
She turned to meet his discerning eye and saw a flash of something in his eyes, but it was gone before she could put a name to it.
"Do not carry her. She has shoes she can walk. We have a long journey and if she weakens you can carry her later, or I will…"
"Where are we going?" She asked staring at him for the answers.
"We must leave this land…" He told her, seeing the sadness that brought to her.
"I cannot leave…my children…they are buried there…I must go back."
"No…you cannot go back. Not to live at least. We will make one visit to their graves so that you may say goodbye, but then we must go. The Comanche know where you live now, they would come back, and this time they would not let you go. We must travel away from that land."
"But…it's my home…" She began.
"Not anymore." He said softly. "Besides, they burnt it to the ground. There is nothing there but the dead. Have you not mourned enough?"
She opened her mouth to say something and nothing came out.
"It's all right Ma, Hawk won't hurt us. I told him we could be his family now, because his family is far away."
"You have a wife and children?" She gasped.
A smile almost formed on his lips, but not quite, he knew what she was thinking. "No…my people are far north from here. Too far. And I am no longer welcome. I had not taken a wife before I left them, I was still young."
"Why don't they welcome you?"
"I helped the blue coats. I am their enemy. My tribe fought the blue coats." He said. "Hurry, we must get out of here."
She nodded, and took Jane Ann's hand.
Hawk walked swiftly and it was all Eve could do to stay up with him.
Chapter Six
They camped along the creek bed that night. The frogs were loud, and an owl hooted from a distance. The cry of the wolf could be heard a few times too. However, in their camp, all was quiet.
Matthew heard the wolf and looked startled.
"Don't worry, unless there is a pack of them, they won't bother you. They aren't brave enough to attack alone."
"Oh…" Matthew nodded.
Hawk had killed a couple of rabbits and they cooked them over an open spit. The kids were dead tired and sleepy. No one had to tell them to go to bed.
Matthew hugged his mother and sister, then looked at Hawk and went to hug him. Hawk was shocked, and glanced at Eve. She nodded.
As things got quite again, something startled Hawk.
"What is it?" She whispered coming up behind him.
"Someone is coming."
Forgetting everything else, she grabbed his arm. He shielded her.
Three men and a woman came to the campsite on foot, with their horses behind them. One of the men was very young, barely older than the girl. The young man had bright red hair.
"Hello in the camp?" One of the men called.
"Welcome." Eve responded moving quickly away from Hawk.
The men stared at Hawk, then her. "What's going on here?"
Eve took the first step to explain. "This man just saved me from the Comanche; their camp isn't far from here."