The setting sun cast a golden glow in the western horizon, the last of the light disappearing quickly behind the mountains. It would be completely dark soon. Alex pressed his thighs against his gelding’s sides, urging the horse to go faster. If he lost the trail in the impending darkness, he’d never get Evie back alive. Clenching his jaw as the cool evening air whipped around his face, Alex was well aware of the fate a white captive encountered among the Blackfoot. No man had ever escaped with his life. The Blackfoot enjoyed toying with and slowly torturing their captives. What would they do to a white woman?
Blinding fury tore through his heart. Had it really only been minutes since he told Evie that she was better off in St. Louis so she’d be safe from him? If he hadn’t walked away from her by the creek, her life wouldn’t be in danger at this very second. Alex growled in frustration.
The trail the Indians left behind cut through a small swath of forest, only to return to more open terrain of sagebrush and willow. The freshly trampled grasses made for an easy trail to follow.
The fresh tracks once again entered a section of forest that wasn’t very dense, but would certainly hinder his pursuit. Alex pulled back on his horse’s reins to slow his mount’s speed. The animal beneath him apparently had other ideas. The horse grabbed hold of the bit, and tossed its head forward, refusing to alter its pace. Racing amongst the trees, the gelding leapt over downed logs as if its hooves had taken on wings. All Alex could do was grab hold of the animal’s mane and guide its head in the right direction.
When the forest opened up to another clearing, excited shouts ahead alerted him that he had caught up with his enemies. In the dim light, he saw six riders stopped at the far end of the clearing, their horses dancing nervously beneath them. One horse carried two riders, one of whom was struggling wildly. He spotted the warrior who had taunted him earlier, the white stripe of warpaint across his face distinguishing his from the others. Alex didn’t hesitate. Images of the man striking Evie merged with images of his father hitting his mother. He pointed his rifle between his mount’s ears, then took aim and fired.
A shot rang out, and the warrior dropped from his horse. Loud war cries hung in the air. Alex yanked his tomahawk from his belt. His horse galloped wildly toward the small group, its ears pinned back as if it knew what the stakes were. Alex fumbled with the flapping reins, and by the time he regained control of his charging mount, his horse had reached the raiding party. Among loud whoops and surprised hollers from the Indians, Evelyn’s high-pitched voice screamed his name. The sound of her pleas drove him into the midst of the group of warriors.
“No one steals Shadow Walker’s woman,” he roared in the language of the Blackfoot. He raised his ax, and charged among the startled Indians, close to another rider. He swung his arm back and to the side, and knocked the warrior from his horse with a well-aimed blow to the man’s abdomen. Quickly, he yanked his horse’s neck around, and kicked the gelding forward. The smell of blood and sweaty horses hung in the air. Again, he raised his tomahawk, ready for an attack. Gunshots rang out behind him, and Alex recognized Laurent’s whoops and hollers. Three of the four remaining wide-eyed Blackfeet wheeled their horses away from him and kicked their mounts into a run. The final warrior dropped Evelyn to the ground just before his horse bolted forward in pursuit of his kinsmen.
Alex’s eyes darted around the clearing. Evelyn scrambled to her feet where seconds before a warrior’s horse pranced. His pulse quickened, and relief enveloped him like a glowing fire on a cold day. He swung his right leg over his horse’s neck and leapt to the ground. For a second he couldn’t move. He simply stood by his horse, staring at her. Most of her hair had come loose from the confines of her braid, falling in disheveled waves over her shoulders and down her back. Alex swallowed back the lump in his throat. She had never looked more beautiful. His knees went weak all of a sudden while his heart pumped furiously in his chest. He took a step forward, then another, overcome with relief that she was safe.
“Alex,” Evelyn cried, and she ran toward him. With a loud sob, she fell into his waiting arms.
Chapter 13
“Evie,” Alex whispered. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground in a fierce embrace, unable to get her close enough to him. She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed against his cheek.
Trembling, he held her close. He never wanted to let her go. The terrifying thought that he almost lost her twice in one day consumed him. He inhaled deeply, catching the faint flowery scent of the soap in her hair that he’d come to associate with the woman he loved.
“Alex, I can’t breathe,” Evie gasped. Startled, Alex eased his tight grip on her. He set her on the ground, and clasped her face between his hands.
“I’m sorry, Evie,” he stammered, clenching his jaw.
Darkness surrounded them, and he had to strain his vision to make out her features. Wide eyes stared back at him, shimmering with relief, trust, and . . .
“I knew you’d come for me. I love you, Alex,” Evelyn whispered. Her words sent a jolt of adrenaline searing through him, and Alex was sure his heart would burst. He drew in a deep breath, the heaviness in his chest gone and replaced by a feeling of lightness. His thumbs lightly stroked her cheeks.
“I love you Evelyn. God help me, but I love you.” Slowly, he brought his mouth down on hers. Evie sighed when his lips made contact with hers, and she wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed up against him. Her mouth parted slightly in response to his kiss, and he slanted his lips across hers, a sudden fire igniting deep within him. Her eager response sent his mind spinning out of control. His arms trembled, and he curbed the urge to pull her closer. Instead, he eased his head back, and inhaled several deep breaths.
“I waited six years to hear you say those words to me, Alex.” Evelyn’s arms tightened around his back, and her hands reached up to grip his shoulders from behind.
“Well, Jasper, I believe we are not needed here.” Laurent’s loud voice boomed from behind him.
“Reckon not, ya crazy voyageur. Better git back’n see if that no-good greenhorn needs ya ta wipe his nose.”
Evie smiled, her eyes never wavering from Alex’s gaze. He paid no attention to his comrades’ laughter. Nothing mattered at that moment but the woman before him. An indescribable feeling of peace and calm enveloped him, and he gently coiled his arms around her waist, drawing her close. Fear of possibly losing her suddenly overshadowed everything else.
“Thank you for saving my life again,” Evie whispered, and the warmth of complete trust in her eyes as she stared wide-eyed up at him reached deep into his heart. He couldn’t recall ever having such an absolute feeling of contentment as what washed over him at this very moment. Jasper’s words from earlier in the day echoed in his mind. There ain’t nothin’ more powerful’n a woman lovin’ ya, and it’s a lucky man who can lay claim to such a woman.
Evie drew in a deep relaxed sigh, and her heart beat softly against his chest.
Alex cleared his throat and pressed his lips to her forehead. Crickets chirped and his horse snorted a short distance away, the soothing sounds adding to his feeling of peace.
“I don’t know how I ever thought I could let you go,” he whispered, his gaze locked on hers. He brought his hand up to her face, and his rough fingers caressed her soft skin. The sudden wetness on Evie’s cheek sent a jolt of dread through his heart.
“Are you hurt? Did I hurt you?” He immediately released her and took a step back, and a sinking feeling jolted his gut.
Evie reached out and grabbed hold of his arms. She laughed softly. “Alex Walker, you are an impossible man. You understand bears and beavers, but you have a lot to learn about me.” She stepped up to him, and stood on her toes. “I’m happy because I love you. Because you told me you love me.” She pressed her lips to his, and wound her arms around his neck.
Alex pulled her close again and accepted her invitation. His hands slid up and down her back, loving the feel of her soft feminin
e body pressed up against him. It still seemed unreal that she cared for him, loved him. He kissed her long and slow, his lips trailing along her jaw and down her neck. Her soft moans would surely drive him mad. She’d told him adamantly that she would not share his bed after he informed her that she was his wife, and her fearful reaction to him when he came to her blankets the previous night begged for caution. With great difficulty, Alex eased his head back. Her reaction communicated the opposite of what she’d said.
Evie was right, though. He did know how to read the signs of the animals and the Injuns better than he understood her. He needed to tread lightly and learn her language. Daniel Osborne had told him once that in order to survive in the wilderness a man had to understand her first. The same had to be true with a woman. He suddenly wished he had his mentor nearby to ask for advice. A fierce desire to learn all he could about the woman in his arms took hold in him.
He inhaled a deep breath, hoping his racing heart would slow. He couldn’t get enough of simply holding her close to him. How could a man hurt something as precious as what he held in his arms? He shook off the vision of his father’s face. Laurent had been right all along. He was not like his father. He would be different. He had to believe that. An intense love for the woman in his embrace began to slowly burn away the fears and doubts that had haunted him all his life.
“Alex?” Evelyn’s softly spoken question pulled him from his thoughts. He smiled, not sure how much she could see in the darkness that had finally swallowed them up.
“Time to head back to camp, or Laurent might believe the Blackfeet came back.” Reluctantly, he unwrapped his arms from around her.
“That was either the bravest or the most foolish thing I’ve ever seen, even coming from you,” Evie said lightly. Alex noted the laughter in her voice.
“What?”
“The way you came galloping headlong into the group of those Indians.”
Alex chuckled. “It may not be wise of me to admit this, but I had no choice in the matter. I lost control of my horse.”
“Oh.” Evelyn giggled softly. “It was still a brave thing to do.”
Alex reached for her hand and led her to where his horse stood grazing behind him.
“I would have charged into a war party of a hundred Blackfeet to get you back,” he said with more force than he had intended. Fresh anger consumed him, thinking about what might have happened to Evie if he hadn’t caught up with the warriors.
“I know you would have, Alex. I’ll never be afraid of anything while I’m with you.”
Alex clenched his jaw. Pushing his negative thoughts aside, he lifted Evie onto his horse’s back, then leapt up behind her. The faint light from an almost full moon guided their way back toward camp. She leaned back against his chest, and he wrapped one arm around her middle, holding her close to him. He allowed his horse to pick its way through the forest, listening for any unusual sounds.
Evie seemed content to ride in silence for a while, allowing his mind to wander. More eager than ever to reach the valley at the base of the Teewinots, he envisioned the cabin he would build. It would have to be bigger than what he first planned on. He could never offer her a house like what she was used to growing up in St. Charles. And he wasn’t going back to live the life of a farmer, except . . .
“I still plan to take you to St. Louis.” Alex broke the silence between them. Evie stiffened against him, and turned her head.
“What?” she gasped. “Why? I don’t want to leave you.”
Alex’s hold on her tightened. He couldn’t help but smile. “Not the way you’re thinking. I’m going to find out what happened to your folks, and bring the person responsible to justice. If Charlie killed your parents, I want him to pay for what he did.”
Evie remained silent for a moment. “It’s what I wanted, too, when Henry decided to come to the wilderness to bring you to justice. And look what happened to him.” She spoke barely above a whisper, but her voice cracked nevertheless.
Alex inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry about Henry, Evie. He was my best friend. But he was also foolish to try and come here. He had no experience.”
Evie nodded, but didn’t respond. Alex hoped he hadn’t said the wrong thing to her again. He enjoyed his new closeness with her, and didn’t want to jeopardize ruffling her feathers again.
“Yancey is occupying the lean-to,” he said to change the subject. “I’d like you to sleep under my blankets tonight. And every night from now on.”
****
“I’ll take first watch,” Alex told Laurent, and reached for his rifle. “Those Blackfeet might decide to come back.”
The orange glow of the campfire cast eerie shadows on the men’s faces as they sat around the fire. Yancey was asleep under the lean-to. Evelyn listened quietly, her eyes on Alex. They had arrived in camp a short time ago, and she already missed her time alone with him. After lifting her off his horse, he’d kissed her quickly on the cheek, then led her to where Laurent and Jasper waited with smug looks on their faces.
“You, ah, sure you would not want me to take first watch?” Laurent asked, and darted glances from Alex to her. Evelyn’s face flushed hot, and she hoped no one could see. Laurent and Jasper had seen her and Alex kiss. It shouldn’t matter what they thought.
“I’ll wake you in a couple hours,” Alex replied, looking at Laurent, then stood. He reached for Evelyn’s hand, and pulled her up off the ground.
He led her to where his bedroll was laid out on the ground, just beyond the glow of the fire. “Get some sleep.”
Releasing her hand, he was about to turn. Evelyn reached into the darkness and caught hold of his shirtsleeve. She moved closer, not about to let him walk away from her so easily.
“I love you, Alex,” she whispered, and lifted her hand to his face. His warm hand covered hers, and he inhaled a deep breath. Leaning forward and up, she touched her lips to his. Alex grasped her hand for a moment and returned her soft kiss, then quickly released her.
“I’ll bring some more blankets for you. You won’t be cold.” He stepped away from her and disappeared into the darkness.
Evelyn inhaled a deep breath and blew the air out from between parted lips. She didn’t want more blankets to keep her warm. If memory served her right from the night before, Alex was more than capable of making sure she wouldn’t be cold. Had he deliberately decided to take first watch to avoid her? Was it something she was doing wrong? Was she being too forward?
The most exhilarating feeling had swept through her after Alex told her he wanted her to share his blankets. She would truly be his wife in all ways now. He told her he loved her. His kisses and embrace spoke louder than his words. Evelyn was giddy with happiness up until they rode into camp, and Alex seemed to close up again. She wasn’t sure how she should react, or whether her forward behavior would be considered inappropriate. She had no experience in these matters. Everything she’d always heard was that in a marriage, the man was to be in charge and lead in the matters of intimacy.
Alex reappeared with a pile of furs and blankets, and laid them out on top of what was already there.
“I’ll be nearby. Don’t worry about anything.” He pulled her into his arms, and Evelyn melted against him.
“I told you already, I’m not afraid when you’re near,” she said huskily, and wrapped her arms around his middle. His chest heaved, then he lowered his mouth to hers. Evelyn parted her lips, hoping he’d kiss her again the way he’d done before they returned to camp.
“Ya sure ya don’t want Laurent or me to take first watch?” Jasper’s voice came out of the darkness. He chuckled loudly.
“Go,” Evelyn whispered, resigning herself to the fate of a cold bed. She didn’t want to appear as a wanton, although she would have much rather held Alex back and begged him to stay with her. Silently, she conceded that being in such close proximity of the other men would not be a good way to share intimate moments with her husband.
My husband! For the first time, Evelyn t
ruly thought of Alex as her husband. Her heart swelled, and she couldn’t wait to begin the rest of her life with him. She had a lot to learn about living in the wilderness, but she had no doubt she would be happy. Just as Aimee Osborne was happy and raised a family alongside her husband, she could do the same. Aimee had even told her that she saw her as capable of living here.
Alex left her side in silence after his hands lingered at her waist. Evelyn sank to her knees on the pile of furs and untied the leather thong in her hair. A slight shiver ran down her spine, not from the cold, but from anticipation of Alex returning in a few hours. Her skin tingled from the memory of him holding her in a protective embrace while they rode back to camp.
After working her fingers through the knots in her hair, she quickly re-braided it and coiled the leather around the end. She crawled under the thick buffalo robe, and stared wide-eyed up at the stars twinkling high above. Minutes later, she rolled to her side and punched her hand against the blanket that served as her pillow.
Unable to sleep, she pulled her knees up to her belly and listened to the soft cracking and popping sounds of the fire. An owl hooted in a nearby tree, and the crickets and frogs kept up their loud cadenced chorus. The day’s events raced through her mind. Evelyn suddenly realized how close to death she had come not once, but twice in one day. And both times, Alex had been there to rescue her, just like he’d rescued her from a mob of eager trappers, and many years ago when he defended her against Charlie. Evelyn inhaled a deep breath, and blinked away the tears that pooled in her eyes. She couldn’t dwell on the past. Her family was gone, but she had a husband who loved her and protected her, and she had to move on.
Teton Romance Trilogy Bundle: Includes Yellowstone Proposal (Short Story) Page 13