A Promised Heart (Book Four of the Dream Catcher Series)

by Rita Hestand

His hands came to rest on each side of her cheek, as his kisses torched her into frenzy.

  Collapsing beside her later, his hand still massaged her breasts, as his heartbeat returned to normal.

  "I can't begin to explain how you make me feel." She cried.

  "Perhaps to be with child makes you more receptive of our moments together."

  "Much more…" She smiled with such satisfaction.

  "I will remember this, the next time you are with child."

  "Tell me how much you'll miss me…" She cried.

  He looked into her eyes with all the love there, "Until the earth is no more…I will love you all the days of my life…"

  "And I you!"

  Her smile seemed etched into his memory now. Never had she been more beautiful to him than this moment.

  As he closed his eyes for sleep, he murmured at her ear, "I will remember this night, forever in my dreams."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The next morning Hawk left, he kissed the kids, and shook hands with Bended Knee. They all went inside giving Hawk and Eve a chance to say goodbye.

  He stared boldly into her face, looking deep inside for the words he couldn't find.

  "I will not tell you goodbye, only good luck and hurry home…" She cried, her tears held in check.

  "And I will not tell you goodbye, but that my heart is with you always." He said.

  A tear almost spilled, but she willed it not to. He saw how hard she fought it back. "Don't you dare cry. For I will return quickly. I promise it. My heart is promised to you always."

  "And mine to you!" She said and kissed his lips once more.

  His hand went inside her shirt, and touched her nipple. She closed her eyes and stood there letting him fondle her for a few precious seconds. "Until I lay my head upon your breasts, be strong woman, for you are Hawk's woman. Remember that!"

  She held her head high and smiled, "Yes, I am!"

  He nodded and mounted his horse and left.

  She didn't move until he was out of sight. Her heart already ached for his return. His words had strengthened her, and she went inside with a big smile on her face.

  When she saw all the sad faces, she smiled brightly once more. "Why is everyone so sad? He'll be home before you know it. Come on, we've got work to do."

  Bended Knee seemed proud of her.

  At night, as she lay alone in bed though, she felt herself weaken some, and a tear would slip away unnoticed. She'd rub her belly and smile. "Don't worry little one," she said softly, "He'll be back before we know it."

  Days passed and everything was good. Bended Knee chopped more wood than Eve thought they would need, but she didn't say anything. Perhaps there was a reason for it. There were no problems and Eve grew confident that there was nothing to worry about.

  He stocked more water in the houses and made sure the food supply was ample.

  Eve noticed all these things but said nothing.

  Bended Knee though did his best to keep watch and to not show that he was doing so around any of them. He listened and he looked about all the time. He was alert. Being Indian he had better instincts than the white and something told him that he had to be aware of everything now.

  There were rumblings to the west and several times, he thought he heard gunfire. A few days later, he saw smoke.

  Two days later a couple of braves from his tribe showed up. They were welcomed. They explained in sign language that the Comanche had been raiding, and that they were headed this way. They were instructed by the chief to stay with them and help fight if there was a fight.

  Bended Knee appreciated the warning and let them stay in his house, while he stayed in the big house to protect Eve and the children.

  She noticed the extra work they did, the firewood, the meat they brought from the forest behind the house. They did not go too far from the house either, and she wondered why. When Hawk hunted he could be gone half the day, but Bended Knee was around almost constantly now.

  "Why are they here?" Eve asked when she had grown worried of how they all acted.

  Bended Knee stared into her eyes. "Comanche are about. Out Chief sent them to help us if we needed it."

  "Oh," Eve took the news easy enough. "Tell them to come in, I will feed them. They don't have to cook their own meals."

  Bended Knee told them and they joined them for all the meals afterwards.

  Nothing happened for the next couple of days, and Eve and the children got to know the two braves. Matthew liked them and listened to their stories intently.

  Little Eagle was a full-grown brave, but Bear was still young, in his teens. They taught Matthew many things, and the sling shot that Hawk had made for Matthew; Bear showed him how to use it more effectively. Matthew got to be an excellent shot with it.

  However, one afternoon, just before supper, Eve was gathering some water in the pail with Matthew and an arrow flew by and almost hit Matthew in the arm.

  Eve grabbed him and they tried to hide behind the well.

  Bended Knee had seen them and so did the other two, Little Eagle and Bear. Bear, the smallest one, ran out to her and shielded her from the arrows. As Little Eagle and Bended Knee kept them busy, Bear helped them get back to the house.

  Once inside, they bolted the doors and kept only one window open to shoot from.

  Jane Ann cried and ran toward Eve.

  "Matthew get her under the table."

  Matthew took Jane Ann by the hand and put her under the table, pushing the chairs around her so she couldn’t get out. She cried. "You stay there, Sweet Pea, you'll be alright." He told her.

  She hushed and watched all the commotion going on in the cabin now.

  Eve glanced at Matthew, he called her the same thing Hawk had called her. It brought him to mind, and the determination she needed too.

  Then he scampered toward Bended Knee and his mother to help reload the guns. When he finished theirs, he went to Little Eagle and Bear and reloaded them. The young braves smiled at him.

  The Comanche were using bows and arrows, which surprised Eve. "How come they don't have guns?"

  "Probably no ammunition." He told her.

  "Oh yes, I can see where that might be a problem for them, since they are supposed to be on reservation land with no guns."

  Bended Knee nodded. "The Comanche is like a wild dog, you cannot pen them up, and they fight harder."

  The arrows flew so many at a time it sounded like bullets hitting the house. One flew in through the window and nearly hit Little Eagle.

  Bended Knee assessed their strategy and nodded, "As long as they don't use fire on the arrows, we are alright, but if they do, we must leave by the back door that Hawk made and escape into the forest. We will go deep into the forest and climb trees. Don't worry, I'll help you."

  "Will they use fire?" Her eyes rounded in horror.

  "Eventually, yes." He nodded grimly.

  "How long do we have?"

  "I do not know…" He glanced at the others, then her again. "Little Eagle and Bear told me that they burned out several settlements along the way. That is why they stayed with us."

  Eve grabbed her belly, "Oh my God!"

  "Hawk would want you to be brave now!"

  Eve nodded. "Yes," she sucked up the tear and squared her shoulders. "He would."

  She held her head up proudly. "I've been through raids on the wagon train, coming out here, my home in Texas, and now here. I will remain brave." She glanced at her children. Jane Ann wanted out, but Matthew kept her there and brought her rag doll to her. Jane Ann sat down now and played with the doll.

  Eve saw him do it, and smiled sadly.

  In some ways, Eve was glad Hawk wasn't here; At least maybe he was safe and would live through this.

  But his child…she nearly choked.

  She couldn't cry. Hawk wouldn't want to see her like this. Besides, she was a strong woman, and she knew how to fight. She'd done it before. Bended Knee looked over at her, "I will check to see if there are any in t
he back…"

  She nodded.

  He returned after a time, "I saw no movement, but that does not mean they are not out there. We will wait a while."

  "When will they try to burn us out?" She asked.

  "When they see they cannot kill us with their bows and arrows. Sometimes, they stop at night, if they do, we will leave then."

  "Do we have to leave?"

  "Yes…the Comanche do not stop in battle unless a chief is with them and is killed. We are not enough to hold them off. They will storm us eventually, or burn us out. Either way we are dead. This way we have a chance." Bended Knee told her.

  "I will do exactly as you say." She told him her eyes staring into his solemnly.

  Bended Knee smiled.

  "Prepare the children now. Clothes for climbing and staying in trees. We will leave as soon as they seem to camp and we will go deep into the forest and stay until they move on. We must take plenty of water and food too. For we know not how long we must stay. We'll need blankets."

  "Will they burn everything?"

  "Yes!"

  Eve drew breath.

  She gathered the children. "Put your old clothes on, clothes that are comfortable, and easy to climb in. I will gather food for us all. Cover yourselves good, take scarves and blanket if you can carry them, and water for all of us."

  Matthew took Jane Ann into the bedroom and got he clothes out. He dressed her then he dressed himself. He got some good boots out and gave Jane Ann a hat. He took a blanket for both of them.

  Eve gathered food she could carry easily and that would last a few days. She prepared canteens for water.

  Then Bended Knee took ash from the fireplace and smudged their faces with it, "So your face does not shine in the moonlight."

  They nodded. He looked at Jane Ann who had been very quiet and smiled, "You make good Indian."

  She smiled and kissed his cheek. Bended Knee looked at here with the happiest of smiles.

  He talked with Little Eagle and Bear. The plan was set.

  As darkness fell the Comanche grew quieter. Bended Knee made sure they were settling for the night, and then they began their great escape from the back of the house to the forest.

  There were two lookouts in the back, but Little Eagle and Bear had spotted them and shot them with their bow and arrows.

  They hurried to the edge of the forest and once the weeds and tall grasses covered them, they rushed to find the biggest of the oak trees to climb and sit upon.

  "Now, once you climb the trees get up high, cover yourself with leaves and small branches. Lie down on a sturdy limb and be very quiet. You must look like part of the tree, so they cannot spot you. Matthew you must stay with Jane Ann and protect her, keep her quiet no matter what. We must divide the food and water now."

  Eve handed them all a canteen and food that she had wrapped individually in linen. Everyone but Bended Knee and Eve had climbed the trees. Bended Knee wanted to be sure she was protected in case she fell.

  He followed behind her as she climbed slowly up the tree. She found a good sturdy limb and climbed upon it. "Stay close to the trunk of the tree, as it offers more support."

  He nodded and went to find a spot.

  "When all is good, I will call you down, until then stay." He instructed.

  She nodded.

  Eve was not comfortable, but she knew she had to endure it or die. She propped herself against the trunk and the limb and covered herself.

  She motioned to Matthew and Jane Ann. Matthew nodded.

  It became very quiet.

  It seemed as though everyone was asleep. The only sound was an occasional squirrel or owl.

  A bug flew on Jane Ann and she almost screamed but Matthew covered her mouth long enough to flick the bug away. His heart was pounding with fear. When the bug flew away, he uncovered her mouth.

  However, the next morning early, they all smelled smoke. Eve peaked out of the blanket but Bended Knee shook his head and motioned for her to cover up.

  She knew then that her house was burning and all the things Hawk had built for her. Still, she was alive and that was important.

  The smell of smoke was strong and once Jane Ann coughed, again Matthew covered her mouth. He moved his hand he put a scarf over her nose so the smoke wouldn't bother her as bad.

  Then they began hearing the yelps and hollering of the Indians. They were traipsing through the forest, looking for them. Even though Bended Knee had covered most of their tracks, the Comanche wasn't satisfied. It was their custom of late because of the great chief Quanah Parker that all males be killed, and women raped and killed. Of all of them, Jane Ann was at the greatest risk of being taken captive by them because of her age. Bended Knee would not tell Eve for she would surely panic. Nor would he explain the torture they would put many adult men through, like burning at the stake, or scalping, or setting live coals on the bellies of men, none of this would Eve know. He knew all the terrifying things they might do, so that is why he tried to get them away from the cabin. He knew they would take the cabin over.

  The Comanche at one point camped beneath the very trees where they were and never found them thanks to Bended Knees quick thinking. They sang songs, played their drums, and even danced a small war dance. Their confidence was high, Bended Knee observed.

  For five days, they stayed in the trees. Eve was so stiff when they came down she could hardly walk. Little Eagle scouted about the forest before Bended Knee would consider letting them go back to the homestead.

  "They won't return will they?" She asked Bended Knee.

  "They are looking for us now. They will camp somewhere close by scouting daily for you, until they give up the hunt and go home. However, they won't return to the homestead more than likely. After we have scouted to make sure it is safe, we can go home."

  Eve sighed. Yes but to what?

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Hawk and Jinx had made good time. Jinx had three mules and had packed them full of supplies for everyone. He was happy to be retiring and even more so to have a home close to Hawk and his new family. For years he had dreaded the time when he could no longer work and he would live out his days in misery with no one. However, Hawk had changed that, now he looked forward to the rest of his life, because he knew he wouldn't be alone.

  Hawk had told him of the marriage ceremony and how happy Eve was. He told him about the baby too.

  "Then I'm gonna be a grandpa, again am I?"

  "We suspect it could be twins." Hawk told him with pride.

  "Twins! Wonderful." Jinx had laughed.

  "We gotta hurry, if she's alone with only one Indian to protect her." Jinx told Hawk.

  "Yes, we must." Hawk's worry was intensified now.

  He felt something, but couldn’t identify it.

  The need to get home bore down on him.

  The first night they camped just the other side of the Red. Jinx looked down on the old River and a tear was in his eyes. "I worked for you a long time…" He said almost to himself.

  "Do you hate leaving it?" Hawk asked him.

  "No, it's time. I want to enjoy some of my life before it is over." He told him. "I can go fishing with Matthew, play games with Jane Ann, and learn to cook with Eve, and with you, we can hunt and enjoy life."

  "That is why I wanted to come get you now. The winter might be harsh since last winter was not. And in spring the baby comes, so I felt now was best." Hawk explained.

  "You know the Comanche has been raisin' hell, don't you?" Jinx told him.

  Hawk tensed. "Where?"

  "Everywhere I'm told. It's like that Mackenzie and Parker are at each other's throat. Quanah Parker is raiding anywhere he can, it's his last ditch effort at freedom and he knows it. And all his bands are doing the same. They are murdering anything that even looks white. You see Sherman, that northern soldier from the war, him and Mackenzie are doin' everything to tick the Comanche off. I hear the Comanche just about did the Apache in, in Texas at least. A bunch went to Arizona to
live, but they are killin' everything because Sherman got this big idea to starve them out by killin' all the buffalo. It worked pretty well too. They put a bounty on them and the hunters are thick as thieves. So you got the army, the Comanche and the buffalo skinners out to annihilate the world."

  "If I'd have known that, I might not have left." Hawk said, his worry increasing by the moment as Jinx related the horrors.

  "Once they get Parker, it will start to calm down, but somethin' does have to be done about them. All they seem to know these days is killin'." Jinx shook his head. "And it ain't a pretty sight, I'm told."

  "Torture?" Hawk asked.

  "Yep."

  "We got some Comanche up our way too." Hawk told him.

  "Well, son, don't fret about it. Most of this is takin' place in the panhandle of Texas, not Indian Territory." Jinx assured him.

  "I hope you are right about that."

  "Me too."

  Two days later, they came upon two white men. They were beaten up and barely able to walk. Ash smeared their faces. They smelled of smoke. Hawk and Jinx gave them water and fed them, and when they were able to talk, they heard their stories.

  "Live up on the ridge, south of the Shoshone's."

  Hawk waited. He knew they were a peaceable tribe; they could not have done this.

  "What happened?" Hawk asked.

  "Comanche happened. They are raiding all up and down the Red."

  Hawk tensed, he felt every muscle strain, and he felt his heart break. Was Eve and the kids all right? He was so worried he was almost afraid to listen to them.

  "They burned our cabins out. Would of got us if we hadn't run like chickens when they started torchin' our cabins."

  "How far east are they?"

  "Don't know mister. We been travelin' south for days. But we been smellin' smoke almost as far as we have gone." One of them told him.

  "Did you have any women with you?"

  "John did. They drug her out of the cabin as we were all trying to get out. They raped her, but I think she's dead."

  "Dear God, you didn't stay to find out?" Hawk grabbed the man by his hair and cried out.

  The two men looked at each other and hung their heads. "It was too late; they had her by the time we turned around. All we could do was go!"