Savage Ecstasy

by Janelle Taylor

  She threw herself wholy into learning these new tasks. By evening, she would be so exhausted that she slept deeply, blocking out al dreams of home and the past. She had not known there was so much to running a household without servants. During the months of tutoring, she became a competent cook, seamstress and housekeeper. She and Thad were both overjoyed with her accomplishments and the housewives were amazed at her inteligence, quickness and wilingness to learn.

  During those long, cold months, they had rarely ventured out except to attend church services or visit a nearby neighbor. Since there had not been many young women her age in town, she had spent most of her time in their home or helping Thad in his store. They grew very close during those short days and long, freezing nights. A new and rich understanding and acceptance bloomed between them and grew with each new day. He slowly filed the void and emptiness in her life and she in his.

  Some nights, they had sat and talked for hours or sang as she had played the pianoforte her uncle had brought from England. Other nights, they had read from Chaucer, Dante, Shakespeare or other writers. They would often discuss the conditions between the colonies and the Mother Country, or the West, which was rapidly colonies and the Mother Country, or the West, which was rapidly becoming of great interest to him.

  One night as they dined and talked, he told her he had heard that the Transylvania Company had bought land from the Cherokee Indians near the Virginia Colony and of other tracts of land being bought by other people. They read of Father Kino’s Spanish missions out in the far West. News of the exploration of the Northwest Territory and the Dakotas reached his ears. They learned of the exploits of Pierre de Varennes and La Verendrye back in 1731 and their sons in ‘43. Thad learned there were many settlements, forts and trading posts in those areas. With each new bit and piece of information, his excitement grew. They talked and schemed and planned many days and far into many nights. Soon, they decided they would flee the approaching war and move westward. After that day, the constant questions were when, where and how to make their move.

  She remembered how overjoyed they had been when they heard of a group of settlers who would be leaving Fort Henry on the Ohio River in the spring of 1775. From that day on, they had been kept very busy preparing for the trip and taking care of regular chores. There had been so many things to do before spring. The store, house and most of the furniture had to be sold; only absolute necessities could be taken. Many of these items were sold in sadness because of their sentimental value. They selected the supplies and goods needed for the long, hard and possibly dangerous trek. They had purchased a very sturdy wagon and six healthy oxen. At last, al preparations had been made and al the goodbyes had been said.

  Now, over a year later, Alisha stood in their smal cabin preparing dinner as if they had never lived anywhere else. It had not preparing dinner as if they had never lived anywhere else. It had not been a hardship to live in such smal, sparse quarters. In fact, it made her work easier. She was glad her uncle had insisted on putting down floorboards. It made the cabin look nicer and kept the dust and mud to a minimum. Later, when the crops were in and the surrounding area cleared, they would al begin new and larger homes. These cabins would be used to store winter food and other supplies or be used by newcomers until they could build their own homes.

  Alisha took great pride in their little cabin and kept it very clean and homey. She had made curtains to cover the three smal windows and had placed the few statues, vases and pictures that had been too special to sel around the cabin. She beamed with pride as she looked over the furniture made by her uncle. She studied the home she and her uncle had built and furnished almost entirely alone. Seeing it complete and real stil amazed her. The cabin was about fifteen feet long and twelve feet wide. It was built with heavy logs fitted together at the four corners and the cracks were filed with a mud and straw mixture. The fireplace at the left end was large with a smal built-in oven for baking bread. It had taken her a while to learn to cook on an open flame in a fireplace, but now she managed quite wel.

  Near the fireplace was the eating area. There were two handmade, ladder-back chairs and a smal, square table used for eating and working. In the front left corner was a sideboard used for preparing food and washing dishes. Underneath the sideboard were shelves for supplies and food. On the left back wal stood a tal, narrow cabinet for dishes and cooking pots. On one shelf was one box containing the utensils and another which held a few precious herbs, spices and tea.

  precious herbs, spices and tea.

  At the other end of the cabin were two built-in bunks and two chests for their clothes. Near Alisha’s bunk, there was a smal washstand and mirror with a curtain for privacy. There was a window over the sideboard, eating table and between their bunks for ventilation and light. Thad had attached bars across the openings for security and shutters which could be closed for privacy and protection from bad weather.

  There were two racks for weapons in their cabin. One was over his bunk and the other built next to the door. The one near his bunk held his extra gun and ammunition and the one by the door held his favorite gun which was always loaded and primed. There were three lanterns hanging from pegs to light the cabin at night. There were also candle holders on the table and washstand in case the lantern oil was low and needed to be conserved. Without a doubt, the cabin was very sturdy and welbuilt. It would make a nice home for a long time to come. She and her uncle had made a good working team and their progress proved it. Each was always doing something special for the other, like the shelves he had built one day over her bed as a surprise.

  Tomorrow, the twenty-eighth of June, would be her twentieth birthday. She went to the oval mirror to remove a speck from her eye and lingered a moment to study her features. She lifted a long auburn curl and watched it wind itself around her finger in its natural way. She lightly stroked the creamy, smooth, ivory skin on her cheek. She traced the pattern of her heartshaped lips and pert nose. She ran her fingers up her delicate cheekbones, then down across her smal chin. She carefuly studied the dark green eyes with the yelow flecks and fluttered thick, long black lashes. Pleased with what she saw in her mirror, she smiled playfuly to reveal even, what she saw in her mirror, she smiled playfuly to reveal even, pearl-white teeth.

  Placing her hands on her slender waist, she twisted and turned as she looked at her figure in the mirror. She guessed she was what most people would cal medium tal and slender. “Not bad,” she whispered to herself softly, “but not great either. Maybe in a few years .. .” Her mother had commented many times on her fluid, graceful walk and carriage. She recaled the times she had been told that she was beautiful, but she also recaled her doubts at the speaker’s credibility. She could visualize his leering look that accompanied his compliment. “Twenty…” she sighed wistfuly. At that moment, Uncle Thad was thinking about Alisha, her gentleness and her innocence. Those were the very reasons he had kept the truth of the Indian situation and their danger from her this long. He had often viewed on scouting trips the brutality credited to the Indians. He had been tempted more than once to turn back when he had seen these incidents. He knew it was too late for that. He had made the mistake of assuming there would be safety in numbers. He had hoped the fort and nearby settlements would offer protection and unification against the red man.

  He had been grateful she had been spared the knowledge of their danger and the sights of many atrocities along the way. He had tried to subtly warn her today, but had failed. He knew that he must soon confess al to her. Would she hate him for bringing her here?

  Would she want to return east or to England? He prayed not, for she was al the family he had now and he loved her dearly. If the Indians could be subdued or if they could make peace, he wouldn’t have to tel her anything.

  He couldn’t see that he was only dreaming. They were intruders and the Indian was resisting their coming and taking his intruders and the Indian was resisting their coming and taking his lands and forests. The pot of gold at the end of
his rainbow had tarnished with the sights and sounds of violence and blood. They had failed to understand the Indian’s customs, religion and character and many did not even want to try. Thad asked himself, why do we always believe we are right and superior to al other men? Why do we think they should al believe, act and think like we do? Can we not live in peace even if we are different? I hope so … I surely hope so for al our sakes and happinesses.

  The crowd of spectators had slowly dispersed and returned to their chores after the event of the afternoon. Ben, Jed and Horace talked in Horace’s cabin for a long time. They would cal a meeting later that night and demand something be done about the Indian quickly. Ben said a guard should be posted at the gate until they were sure he had been alone in the forest. They couldn’t afford to leave any witnesses around to report today’s events to his tribe. Ben suggested a few men go into the forest and scout around for others in the woods. Carefuly he added, “If you do find any more Injuns, kil ‘em and bury the bodies. We don’t want tö give Thad any more problems to worry about.” They al laughed and agreed with him. Jed was about to select a few hand-picked men to go with him and Horace was to be placed on guard until the meeting.

  Chapter Two

  Alisha and Thad ate their dinner in silence, each caught up in private thoughts and worlds. Alisha could not seem to get the haunting face of Gray Eagle out of her mind. She was intrigued by his manner and his virile bronze body. She recaled how he had stood tal and fearless before his captors and taunters that morning. He had exuded confidence and dignity. She recaled the fierce hatred which filed those piercing jet eyes. She visualized his features which lingered in her mind so vividly: the straight, broad nose that flared in anger; the wide, thin, sensual mouth curved in an arrogant sneer and the strong jaw line set in determination and fury. He was dressed in fringed leggings, breechcloth and moccasins. His entire body had bespoken his strength and agility. Muscles rippled and bulged in his broad chest, arms and back with every movement. He was a magnificent specimen of a man. She could stil see him standing proud and noble like some knight before battle, issuing an unspoken chalenge to any man who dared to accept it. Once again, that intangible, warm, fluttering sensation swept through her body. His handsome face disappeared and was replaced by the sight of a bloody chest as the beating flashed before her mind’s eye in grisly detail. She blurted out abruptly, coming out of her own trance and startling Thad from his, “Uncle Thad! We’l have to go and check on the Indian. He’l need food, water and doctoring.”

  “I suppose it’s up to us to tend to him and feed him as long as he’s here. I doubt if any of the others wil want to have anything to do with him. You prepare some stew for me and I’l take it out to do with him. You prepare some stew for me and I’l take it out to him and check on his condition.” Even if the others believed the man to be a savage, Thad considered himself a civilized man with a gentle nature. He could not bring himself to let a man, any man, suffer unjustly or starve.

  “Let me go with you to help him, Uncle Thad,” she pleaded innocently. “Let me see what he’s like. If I’m to live among them, I should get to know what they’re like. I know more about doctoring than you do. I can take care of those chest wounds. If the others won’t alow him to be untied, he’l need help eating and drinking.”

  Thad argued, “I don’t think it would be a wise idea for you to have contact with this man, Lese. He’s not like most Indians I’ve seen. There’s something about him … something that makes me uneasy.”

  Alisha jested with her uncle, “Uncle Thad, you sound just like the others now. He’s only a man and a prisoner. There’s no way he could hurt me or anyone else, now is there? He’s just confused and angry about our treatment of him.” Truly believing she only wanted to study the Indian more closely, she teased her uncle lightly, “But Uncle Thad, surely his being a man and an unwiling prisoner would encourage him to accept help from a woman easier and quicker. How could he refuse help from a girl who hasn’t done him any harm?” She puckered up her mouth in a pretty, mocking pout and Thad laughed in spite of his grave reservations. But Alisha was soon to learn in startling reality that the Indians’ hatred and mistrust also extended itself to white women.

  Against his better judgment, he reluctantly agreed. He hoped to teach Alisha firsthand that he spoke truthfuly and without bias. She quickly prepared the stew, gathered the soothing balm, a wash cloth and a pan of warm saltwater.

  cloth and a pan of warm saltwater.

  She and Thad went to the smokehouse almost unnoticed because most of the other people were eating dinner or preparing for bed. Horace was on guard duty that night and saw ‘ the objects they carried. He immediately knew where they were headed and why. Hostility was clearly stamped upon his face as he stopped them at the doorway.

  “Let the savage bleed and starve! He’s gonna die anyway.”

  He spit the words out harshly, adding sarcasticaly, “Surely you’re not gonna let Alisha near that filthy Injun, Mr. Greeley?”

  Angry at his calous attitude and interference, Alisha retorted quickly, “If you were their captive, Horace, wouldn’t you appreciate food and care? If you treat a man like a friend, then he might become one. On the other hand, treat him like an enemy and he’l react like an enemy. Stop being so blind and stubborn!”

  “If I was their captive, ‘Miss Alisha,’ they’d not give a damn about feeding or caring for me or any white man. They’d be too busy torturing me. You’re the one who’s blind and stubborn.”

  “Surely they can’t be that blackhearted, Horace. It’s probably because of the way men like yourself treat and view them. I didn’t see a single one of you try to help or befriend him this afternoon. As far as I could see you were too busy torturing him. You don’t even know who he is or why he was out there today. Just suppose he was on a peace mission. If he was, surely you changed his mind!”

  Horace gaped at her with hardened eyes. He warned her before stalking off, “I only hope you never git the chance to see for yourself. If you do, it wil be too late to know you was wrong.”

  Alisha trembled as a cold, undefinable shiver ran down her arms and spine, nearly causing her to spil the stew. She told herself that Horace was only exaggerating. No one could be that bad or that Horace was only exaggerating. No one could be that bad or cruel. His words would come back to haunt her many times in the near future.

  Thad unlocked the smokehouse door and lit the lantern hanging by the doorway. Its light filed the room with a soft, dim glow and she could make out Gray Eagle’s form staked to the ground. She turned a shocked face to her uncle. “He’s tied up like an animal! How could they do this? It’s inhuman.”

  Comprehending her uncle’s shamed expression and lowered gaze, she accused, “You knew about this? That’s why you didn’t have to bring a gun. How could you possibly be a party to something like this? Why, Uncle Thad?”

  He interrupted her tirade to explain, “Lese, please … the others felt it necessary for their safety and peace of mind.”

  “For their peace of mind!” she shrieked at him. “What about yours and his? Don’t his feelings and suffering matter to any of you?

  I would never have believed you to be party to something so vile and disgusting. Does everyone here despise and fear him except…”

  Before she could finish her sentence, Ben came to the door.

  “Thad, I gotta see you right now! There’s important things we gotta talk about.”

  Thad explained to Ben that they were about to take care of the brave’s injuries and feed him. Ben shouted angrily, “He don’t need or deserve no help or food, the dirty, murdering savage.”

  Alisha spoke softly to her uncle, “You go speak with Ben, Uncle Thad. I can take care of everything here. How could he possibly hurt me tied up like that?”

  Thad looked around in uncertainty. Ben began to argue anew about her intentions, but she told him matter-of-factly that she was going to help him no matter who objected or why. She tried to going to help
him no matter who objected or why. She tried to shame him for his part in this intolerable situation. After al, he did have the lead role in the afternoon’s drama.

  Ben muttered, “One day you’l be sorry you ever laid eyes on that or any Injun, Miss Alisha. You’l look back and.curse the day you helped him. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya.”

  To aleviate the mounting tension in the smokehouse, Thad took Ben by the arm and ushered him outside to talk. Ben continued to fume and fuss, but left with Thad. Gray Eagle had alertly observed the scene of the three people both times. He gazed at Alisha’s back as she stood staring at the closed door for a few moments in deep thought.

  She finaly turned and walked over to him, feeling slight qualms for the first time about her decision to help him. Warily, she knelt beside him and looked at him. She was acutely aware of the frigid glare from his eyes as black as the onyx her father had shown her. She avoided looking into them as she spoke softly, trying to stay the quavering in her voice, “I’ve come to help you … to tend to your injuries … I’ve brought some food and water…” Her voice trailed off to a near whisper.

  There was no answer or indication that he even heard her. Only the icy stare answered her concern. ‘I’m not sure how to communicate with you or make you understand I’m only trying to help you.” She waited and watched for any reaction from him, but there wasn’t any.

  “I’m truly sorry about what they did to you this afternoon. I can’t explain why they acted that way because I don’t understand it myself. How can you hate someone you don’t even know or have never seen before? Is there something going on out here that I don’t see or know about? Can you answer me at al? Do you know any see or know about? Can you answer me at al? Do you know any of my words or meanings?” No response. “Do you not understand or just refuse to answer me?” Stil, no response. Her heart reached out to him in empathy. “I’m sorry,” she murmured softly. She turned and took the cloth from the warm saltwater. Her mother had instructed her that warm saltwater aided healing and lessened pain. She gently rubbed the wet cloth across his chest. He made no moves. She was startled by a deep, cold voice which rent the silence, “Hiya!”