by Karen Kay
Effie screamed again, and this time added, “Help!”
Running footsteps sounded in the corridor outside her door.
“We will meet again,” said that horrible voice before her assailant turned and ran toward the window. Moonbeams caught and held his slender image, even as he disappeared into the night.
Someone pushed the door open.
As an assortment of flickering candles met Effie’s vision, she called out, “Over here. I’m on the floor, tied to this chair.”
Carl Bell rushed toward her.
“Are you all right?” Carl asked as he knelt beside her. Righting the chair first, he then reached down to untie her. It took several moments, allowing Effie a chance to gain her composure.
Still, she didn’t know what to say. She was unharmed, but was she all right?
After several moments, Lesley and Henry stepped into the room, and a little later still, came Carl’s wife, Madeline.
“What happened?” asked Lesley.
Effie wasn’t certain she could tell the story. Luckily, she was saved the effort when Madeline rushed to her side and took her in her arms.
She said, “Don’t bother her with questions right now. Can’t you see she’s terrified?”
Lesley retreated to a corner of the room, while Madeline resorted to cooing, as though comforting a baby.
Oddly enough, it worked. Within moments, Effie felt able to speak. “Someone threatened me with a knife. I think he dropped it here in this room, on the floor.”
Immediately everyone’s attention went to the floor.
“Is this it?” Madeline held it up for Effie’s inspection.
Effie nodded. At that same time, Red Hawk entered the room, but no one acknowledged his appearance. He didn’t come forward, but rather took station at the door.
Effie briefly inspected the object Madeline showed her. Nodding, Effie said, “I think that is it. It was dark. I didn’t see the thing—I only felt it.”
“Look at it. What’s this?” Henry Smith strode forward to get a clearer look at the object. Taking hold of it and turning it over and over in his palm, he said, “If I’m correct in my assumption, this looks like the sort of knife that the savages use.”
“Savages?” said Effie.
“The Indians. Do you see its blade?” He pointed it at her, and Effie retreated. “See, its end is sharp, as well as its blade, and on both sides. And look at its black handle—gutta-percha, I believe. It’s a scalping knife, made by J. Russell & Co. of Green River Works. Traders have brought this sort of item into this country by the hundreds to trade with the savages.”
Effie glanced toward the door, the others following her lead. Five pairs of eyes scrutinized the man.
“Is that our new guide?” whispered Madeline.
“Yes,” murmured Effie. Then in a louder voice, “Mr. Hawk, if you will come closer, I will introduce you to my colleagues.”
Red Hawk didn’t move away from the door. He didn’t say a word, either. With arms folded over his chest, he glared back at them.
“You don’t suppose it was he…?” Madeline’s words trailed away.
“It’s mere coincidence, that’s all,” uttered Effie to fill the silence in the room. “Anyone here could have access to the same knives. To think it was an Indian who attacked me makes no sense. Why in the good Lord’s name would an Indian wish to invade my private room and threaten my life? Wouldn’t they simply kill me?”
The two men nodded, but no one spoke a word.
Effie extended her hand toward Henry. “You will leave the knife with me, won’t you?” she asked. “Though I don’t expect the sheriff to do much, I will still have to report the incident to him.”
“Of course you do, and of course he will,” said Madeline. “Do you want one of us to stay with you through the rest of the night, Effie? Both Lesley and myself would be happy to be with you tonight.”
“No, no,” murmured Effie. From out of the corner of her eye, she caught Lesley’s stifled frown. Ignoring it, she continued, “I think I’ll be fine.”
“Are you certain?” asked Madeline.
Effie nodded. “I…I don’t plan to go back to sleep anyway. I don’t believe I would be capable of it right now. So, thank you, but—”
“We will post a watch by your door nonetheless, Miss Rutledge,” said Carl. “Both Henry and I will take turns.”
“That is kind of you.”
“In fact,” continued Henry, stepping forward, “we will stand guard at your door every night we are here in this town. Once we are on our way, the danger may pass. I fear that perhaps it is the town itself that is at fault. Maybe someone here believes you to be on a treasure hunt and so concludes that you would be carrying something of value.”
“Yes, perhaps. Let us hope you are right. Carl,” Effie added, “you and the others haven’t by chance been talking about our project where the townspeople could hear, have you?”
Carl hesitated, and despite his tanned complexion, his face turned a deep shade of red. “I’m sorry, Miss Rutledge. We have been so enthusiastic that we have discussed the project openly.”
“Do you know of anyone who has overheard you?”
Carl grimaced. “To tell you the truth, we have spoken of the project to many people—the shop owners, the men in the livery, several tradesmen. We should have been more discreet, but these people ask so many questions…”
“I see.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry. We had no idea it would come to this.”
“No need to ask pardon,” Effie offered politely. “However, if that be the case, and several people know what the project entails, then it could be anyone who is doing this.”
No one in the room seemed to have a reply to that, although Carl again muttered, “I’m sorry.”
“That’s all right,” whispered Effie. “It is better to know what one might expect than to continue to speculate.”
“I’m sorry too,” said Madeline, who was still kneeling at Effie’s side. She squeezed Effie’s hand.
“As I am too,” murmured Henry. Only Lesley remained silent.
“Well, the women had best be seeking their beds yet again this night,” Carl suggested, “thus allowing you a chance to recover. I hope you will excuse us. Have no fear, Miss Rutledge. Henry and I will take turns standing guard by your door.”
“Yes,” Effie agreed, “that would be good of you.”
So it was that on this note they all said their good nights, each one of her friends squeezing her hand before leaving. Madeline hugged her as well.
Effie smiled at the other woman, thinking it was indeed a stroke of luck that Carl and Madeline had consented to join her on this excavation. Perhaps by the end of their journey, she and Madeline would be fast friends.
Red Hawk was the last to leave, and his gaze was stern, though strangely, something in his look tugged at her heart. But then, even he turned to leave.
Effie was having none of that. “Where are you going, Mr. Hawk? I believe we have things to discuss.”
He directed a questioning gaze at her.
“And where have you been, I might add?” said Effie. “As memory serves me, didn’t we have an appointment tonight?”
She rose from where she had been seated, and with her arms crossed in front of her chest, she fixed the man with a heated glare. “I waited for you tonight for a time that seemed without end. In truth, so long was it, I fell asleep. Or had you forgotten we had an appointment?”
He remained mute.
“I can’t help feeling that if you had been here, as you were supposed to be, that, well…the whole incident would not have happened.”
Red Hawk stood still, staring at her. After a while, a half smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
“How can you smile?” she complained.
“Perhaps it is not good I find amusement in this, a serious moment. But I am thinking it is well that we have earlier spoken of marriage.”
She frowned. “I do not follow your reasoning.”
“Do you not? Can you not see that already you treat me as a wife might a wayward husband?”
The statement silenced Effie, at least for a moment. In due time, she sighed. “Come in, Mr. Hawk, and please close the door behind you. There are some matters we must discuss.”
This time, with a quick nod, Red Hawk took a step into the room.
Chapter Eleven
Red Hawk quietly shut the door. He understood the reason for her upset—he had not been with her at a time of urgency. That didn’t mean it was easier on him. Pivoting, he took another step forward without looking where he was going. It was a mistake. His guard was down, and he hadn’t sensed she had crossed the room. He fell into her, knocking them both to the floor.
He landed on top of her. The scent of her delicate skin filled his nostrils, and the soft touch of her body beneath his caused his own to respond to her, quite out of his control. Feeling much more like a young boy than a seasoned warrior, Red Hawk gulped.
“You are heavy.” Her breath, sweet and intoxicating, sent his thoughts on to other, much more pleasurable things. She was so close, so very, very close, and he had only to move his lips a short distance…
He did it. He kissed her. Given their circumstances, he wondered if any man would have been able to resist the temptation.
His lips lingered over hers, his tongue dipping into the delicate recesses of her mouth. For a delicious, wonderful moment, she responded in kind.
As though coming to her senses, she pushed against him. “Mr. Hawk, you are heavy.”
He fell to her side, but he didn’t release her…not yet. Passion still raged within his heart, and although unlikely, there was always the hope she might be persuaded.
With one arm thrown over her and one leg atop hers, he said, “I am sorry I was not here to help you. I feel bad that you, alone, had to confront your attacker.”
Reaching up, he ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. He knew he played with fire, for he could sense her wrath, but the prospect of touching, of feeling her soft skin beneath his fingers…
She slapped his hand away. “You are still on me, and I am not overly pleased with you.”
He nodded. “Aa, that I am, and I know.”
“Well, remove yourself at once.”
He withdrew his leg from across her, though his arm still held her tightly.
“Mr. Hawk?”
Rolling onto his back, he released her completely. “I was not here because I have been following the man I thought might be your attacker.”
“You have?” She sat up and raised an eyebrow at him. “If that is the case, then you should have been here, shouldn’t you?”
“Aa, I should have. But the man I was following was not your attacker.” Red Hawk followed into a sitting position. Crossing his legs in front of him, he looked at her.
She was adjusting her clothing, he noted with interest. The action was curious, for the waist of her dress was very tight against her tiny stomach. Still, she made herself as comfortable as possible, then stared back at him with as defiant a countenance as any warrior he had ever fought. All she said was, “Yes? As you were saying?”
“I was wrong to follow this man. I admit this now. Know, however, that I did not realize this at the time.”
“Hmmm… I suppose this could be true,” she conceded.
“I have discovered, nonetheless, that whoever is doing this to you is clever.”
“Indeed. But you still have not answered my original question, Mr. Hawk. Whether or not you were following this person, you forget our arrangements. We had agreed to meet. I…expected you.”
He frowned. Had her voice quivered?
Omaniit, had he disappointed her that greatly? He inhaled deeply, but the simple action didn’t ease his spirits. Instead the erotic scent of her filled his lungs, distracting him.
“I am sorry I kept you waiting. Perhaps I might be excused when I tell you that the man I followed was one whom I saw enter your room earlier today. I waited until he let himself out, and then I trailed him. This person, however, was not your attacker tonight, for I have had him well in my sights all evening.”
“Oh? And who was it you followed?”
“The sheriff of this town.”
“The sheriff? That’s the most puzzling piece of news I’ve heard tonight. Why would the sheriff come to my room?” She scowled. “Unless… He must have been searching for something.”
“I believe he was.”
“Yet I saw no evidence that someone went through my things.”
Red Hawk smiled at her. “Remind me once we have embarked on our journey to teach you how to look and observe things properly.”
Effie blew out a breath in disgust.
Red Hawk continued to smirk at her. Without another word, he rose and took a few steps toward the window. “I must leave you now.”
“Where are you going?” she asked crossly, as she too stood up.
He glanced at her from over his shoulder. “Your assailant will have left a trail. He will have no choice but to do so, for our Mother, the Earth, will have recorded each step he took. I would find his tracks now before others in this town awaken and take away the evidence.”
“Yes, yes. Of course you must, but please, we have other things to discuss, don’t we?”
“We did, but perhaps we should leave that talk until tomorrow.” He took several more steps toward the window.
“Yes,” she repeated, and he glanced at her again from over his shoulder. What he saw puzzled him, for her gaze at him was odd. Was it shy? She said, “Please don’t leave me yet.”
He pivoted back toward her. “I must.”
“But I…” She hesitated. “I need your advice…on something. You see, I…I’m not certain I can trust anyone else in my party…at least not at this moment. In truth, I’m not so certain I can trust you, either—it was a trading knife that was found here, one that has been brought into this country specifically to trade with the Indians.”
“Easily obtained by anyone,” he pointed out, “not simply by an Indian.”
“I know that. It’s why I’m dismissing the information as insignificant. Yet, I need advice.”
He drew back into the room. After taking a few steps toward the bed, he pulled off one of the blankets, which he spread over the floor. Gesturing toward the blanket, he said, “Let us sit and talk.”
She nodded. “That is good. Yes.” They sat, she with her legs to the side, he cross-legged.
At first, she seemed reluctant to say anything, but as he remained silent, waiting, at last she began. “My father isn’t here to guide me, and…I do not know what to do. Therefore, I must turn to someone to hear out my thoughts, someone who might be able to counsel me.”
He was flattered. “My heart is happy you have chosen me to assist you. I will listen to you and help you as best I can.”
“All right.” She hesitated once again, then, “The truth is, I am doubtful of what I must do from this point forward. It is evident there is someone—possibly someone close to me—who does not have my best interest at heart. I have already been assaulted by this person twice since arriving in this town. This last time was the worst. If I continue on toward the Gates of the Mountains, do I invite more harm?”
Red Hawk might have answered forthwith, but before he could utter a word, she continued, “And what happens if I do reach that country, find the things for which I search, and another in my party takes them from me by force? All my plans, all my work, will be for nothing. I would have failed my father…and another people in more need.”
Another people in more need? Red Hawk sat up straighter,
focusing on her words. However, she didn’t take heed of the change in him and went on talking. “Would it be better if I disband the entire project, cut my losses and return here later, having picked another crew?” Solemnly, she looked up to him.
Weighing his words carefully, Red Hawk didn’t respond at once. Though it was important to him and to the welfare of his tribe that she continue on exactly as she was, he couldn’t very well tell her this. So he said, “You could do that.”
“Then you believe that would be advisable? To return back East?”
He shook his head. “Saa, no, I do not. I merely said you could do that if you decide it is right. But I am uncertain that your returning to the East—without discovering who it is that is doing this to you—will solve your problem. You might well find you could be bothered by the same dilemma.”
“What do you mean? I would be back home. Things there would be different.”
“Would they?”
She frowned. “Wouldn’t they? Before I left, there were none of these occurrences. Nor did I encounter anything unusual on the way here.”
Red Hawk shrugged. “I understand what you say. However, without discovering who this thief is, the man remains free to do the same thing to you in the East, as well as here, or wherever you are.”
After a short space of time, she said, “I’m not certain I agree with you. I think things would be different there. In the East, my father would take great precaution, and he would lock up the valuables I carry.”
“Then you do bear something valuable?”
She gasped aloud. Clearly, she had not intended to give that away.
At last, she must have decided on a course of action, for she set back her shoulders. “I guess I might as well admit it, since it is evident someone else knows I carry something. In truth, simple deduction would prove I must have a thing of worth in my possession, otherwise…”
“May I see what this thing is?” asked Red Hawk carefully.
Effie tilted her head to the left, her glance piercing into his, as though she would read his thoughts. After a while, she seemed to give up the attempt. “I don’t think so.”