Red Hawk's Woman

by Karen Kay

  “But how do I know that’s true? The Lost Clan should consist of many people, not just one. I love you, I want to believe you and do what’s right for you, but someone is trying to steal these artifacts from me, for purposes of their own.”

  “Do you think I do this?”

  “No, but… My father told me when the time comes, I will know what to do. It may be that I cannot give them to you. I…simply don’t know.”

  “Aa, I understand. We will have to wait, then, and see what happens when we finally locate the missing two pieces. Perhaps it will be clear to us then.”

  “Perhaps. I can only hope it is. And, Red Hawk?”

  “Aa?”

  “If it’s only you and I who are to dig for these things, as the sea dog has instructed, when will we be able to do this without the others knowing? If I am gone for lengthy times each day, others will get suspicious. They might follow me. Must we work at night?”

  “Perhaps. Or we might work in the early hours of the morning, when there is at least a little light. Perhaps sometime during the day tomorrow, you can sneak some of your digging equipment to our pool, and I will take those things to this site. But remember, the others must not know what we do. You do grasp that whatever a vision says we must do, must be done?”

  She shrugged. “I do. It seems only right anyway. But why must a person do as the vision instructs?”

  “To my people, a vision is the voice of the Creator speaking through a man’s protector. To fail to do as asked is to go against His wishes. It is rare that a man would abuse this. Now you are an unusual woman, because women are seldom given visions. You do realize that you, too, have had a vision? One that we share?”

  “What has happened here tonight is what’s called a vision?”

  “Aa,” he said. “’Tis so.” Leaning forward, for he still held her within his arms, her back toward him, he first rubbed his cheek against hers, then planted a kiss on the side of her face. “’Tis so.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  And so it began. To bed early, up in the wee hours of the day, long before the sun was due to rise. Each morning Effie and Red Hawk would meet by their pool. Each morning, by the light of a thousand stars, they swam to the cavern, there to dig. It took them no less than a week to uncover an area that was approximately seven feet by seven feet square.

  But there was no trace of the artifacts to be found. They had discovered a few bones, and of course dirt and sand. But that was all.

  “Are you certain this is where we’re supposed to be digging?” she had asked one night.

  “I am confident of it.”

  “But there is nothing here.”

  “They are hidden,” he said. “If it were easy, they would have been found many seasons ago.”

  She could find no reason to argue with him on the point, so they continued. In many ways, Effie felt as though she were living a double life. One was that of the staid and proper site director, the other that of unannounced wife and digger.

  Of one thing she had complete certainty. The double life offered very little sleep. Alas, it was becoming almost impossible to keep her eyes open during the day—a fact she tried her best to hide.

  Indeed, Lesley had commented on this only this morning.

  “Effie, is something wrong?” she had asked. “You have great shadows beneath your eyes. The look is hardly becoming on you.”

  Effie had grimaced, had murmured something, but for the life of her she couldn’t remember what that was now. She only hoped she had been convincing.

  Once again, she had slipped out of camp around three o’clock in the morning. Once again, she met up with Red Hawk at what they had come to regard as their own private lagoon. But now, instead of her bulky dresses, she had taken to wearing her red swimming costume. It was the most comfortable of her clothes when wet.

  By the light of a single lantern, they dug for many hours, until daylight made the artificial light unnecessary. In the beginning, they had often played in the water, their antics usually ending in only one way. But as time had worn on and still they met with no success, by mutual agreement the playing had almost ceased. Now more attention was reserved for the single purpose of finding the artifacts.

  Crack! Lightning split through the air close to them.

  “Haiya!” said Red Hawk. “Will he never leave me alone?”

  “Who do you speak of?” asked Effie.

  Red Hawk appeared suddenly overwrought, as though overcome with anger. It was an emotion Effie had rarely witnessed in him.

  Soon and in a calm voice, Red Hawk said, “’Tis the Thunder Being.”

  She placed her hand over his.

  He said, “Do not tell me you do not believe what I say is true.”

  “No, it’s not that, I—”

  “He is following me. He is following you and your colleagues, as well. I have done my best to keep you safe. I have done all I can to prevent him from coming into your camp. But it appears he wishes to see me yet again.”

  “You don’t have to go.”

  “If I do not, he may try to take your life. I must go. You stay here. The confrontations between myself and the Thunderer are not often long. I will return as soon as I can.”

  “Very well. If you must go, I understand. But please don’t be long. Please. Without you here, this place frightens me. Besides, I will worry.”

  Nodding, he leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. “I will come back here as quickly as I am able. I promise.”

  With these words, Red Hawk climbed out of the seven-foot-deep trench they had dug and set off to do battle with the Thunderer.

  Clank!

  Effie’s shovel hit something, and it didn’t sound like a rock. Could it be?

  Calming herself, for she dared not raise her hopes too high, she fell to her knees. Bringing the lantern as well as her brush and trowel closer to the spot, she mumbled to herself, reciting the words her father had often said to her, “Remember to go slowly. Never use metal on an artifact. If you think you’ve discovered something, use all caution. A brush and your hands will often suffice.”

  It was one thing to say the words, another to pay attention to them. If this were it…

  Excitement had her hands shaking. Yet, as calmly as possible, she used her fingers to brush away the dirt. Slowly she worked at it until, at last, she could see her way clear to pull the thing out.

  “Are you ready for this?” she asked herself. “For it may not be what you’re seeking.” She inhaled on a deep breath. “On the count of three. One, two, three.”

  She pulled at the stone, lifting the piece out of the ground rather easily. Setting it down on the dirt before her, she shone the lantern over it. It was quartz; it was also the right size. After picking up her brush, she stroked what looked like a golden nugget, removing the evidence of being buried for perhaps a thousand years.

  She barely dared to breathe.

  Beneath the light of her lantern, the piece shone. It glowed, as though alive, even though dirt and grime remained on it, practically covering it.

  “Oh, how I wish Red Hawk were here.” He’d be happy. And she’d be delighted right along with him.

  The other piece might be here too, she thought, lying close by to where she’d found this one. So she continued digging, reminding herself to go carefully, slowly.

  Minutes later she hit something that made the same sort of sound. Was this it, then? Was she to have all four artifacts on her person? Could she be the cause to end the curse? Could it happen this morning?

  Again, she scolded herself. “Don’t use any more metal on it. Be gentle, yet thorough. Brush the dirt away.”

  One slow stroke after another, the thing was finally ready to be pulled from the ground. She did so with care, taking the piece into her hand.

  This was it! It was the missing piece.
>
  She had done it. She felt like screaming, like running out of the cave to find Red Hawk and show him this morning’s bounty. In fact, that was exactly what she was going to do.

  Getting to her feet, she twirled around and around with glee, as though she danced on a stage instead of being in a trench. “I’ve done it!” she said to the air around her. “I have all four artifacts!”

  “You should say had when you say that.”

  Oh no. It was that horrible, gritty voice again. She would never forget it. Fearing what she would see when she gazed upward, yet knowing she had to, she looked up toward the top of the dig.

  It was the man in black, and this time, he had a pistol pointed directly at her.

  “I’ll take those artifacts now,” said the man, gesturing toward her hands, where she still held the nuggets. “Pass them up to me.”

  When she didn’t instantly comply, the man said in that terrible voice, “Pass them to me now, or I will shoot you.”

  It occurred to her that she could extinguish the light, at which time no one would be able to see. They would then be on equal footing.

  However, the man might shoot first and think later. And he might accidentally blast one of the artifacts.

  “Hurry.”

  “Yes, yes,” said Effie. “I am coming with it.”

  “Now!”

  “Yes, all right.” With one artifact held in her hand, Effie stretched up her arm. The man reached down, and as soon as he grasped hold of the thing, Effie pulled with all her might. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she might be successful.

  But she was.

  The man fell into the pit, and Effie, knowing exactly where the shovel was, took it in hand and hit her assailant on the head.

  At once, the man sank back on the ground.

  Breathing out on a sigh, Effie realized she would have to tie him up. When he awoke, he could cause trouble again.

  After grabbing hold of some rope that sat next to her, Effie tied the man’s hands and legs. Then she impatiently hauled off her assailant’s black mask.

  Immediately, long, ginger-colored hair spilled forth. No! Not her!

  “Madeline?” How could this be? Gentle Madeline? Sweet Madeline? But it was Madeline nonetheless. Madeline, who had tried to kill her three times.

  As though the sound of her name awakened her, Madeline opened her eyes, only to find her hands and feet tied.

  She let out a scream.

  “Shut up,” said Effie, “or I’ll have to gag you too.”

  “You won’t get away with it, you know.”

  “Away with what?” asked Effie.

  “Stealing, that’s what.”

  “Stealing? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Then what are you doing here, digging in a site you have not told anyone else about?”

  “I can explain that,” said Effie.

  Madeline screamed again.

  “Don’t do that.”

  She screamed anyway.

  Sighing, Effie realized she was going to have to muzzle the woman. “I’m sorry I have to do this, but I can’t have you howling like this.”

  She gagged her with Madeline’s own mask.

  After grabbing up her tools, she set them at the top of the site—for she didn’t want them available to Madeline should she manage to free herself. Then, clasping hold of Madeline’s gun and the artifacts, Effie climbed out of the digging site.

  She needed to find Red Hawk. And as soon as she did, together, they would end this curse and set things right.

  Moving to the mouth of the cavern, Effie was about to step foot in the water, when—

  “I’ll take those,” came a gruff voice behind her. She turned around. This time it wasn’t Madeline standing before her.

  John Owens held a gun pointed directly at her.

  Where is Red Hawk?

  “Hand them over,” demanded Owens.

  “No, I don’t think I will,” said Effie.

  “Then I will kill you. I have no qualms about it.”

  “No qualms? But…you are my father’s best friend.”

  “Was your father’s best friend. But then that poor excuse for an archaeologist went and appointed you director of this project. You! It should have been me. Haven’t I waited all this time for my chance to get at those artifacts? Haven’t I indulged a man who is supposed to be a scientist but who instead has chosen to follow a dream? Well, there is no Lost Clan. Scientifically, it’s impossible. There are only the artifacts, and they are worth millions. If anyone deserves to have them, it is I. And I mean to have them. Now give them to me.”

  “But…”

  “Yes?”

  Was her only chance to keep talking? Perhaps. So she said, “But how could it be you? It was Madeline who assaulted me in Virginia City. You weren’t even there.”

  “How do you know about Madeline?”

  “She’s in the pit.”

  “In the pit? What have you done to her?”

  “Nothing, she’s just tied up.”

  “Ah,” said Owens. “I will have to fix that.”

  “Then it’s you and Madeline who have been doing this?”

  “That’s right. I must admit it has taken a bit of work on my part. But Madeline is an ambitious woman who is married to a worthless young man. She wishes to better herself. I’ll provide that for her.”

  “But you’re married. I know your wife.”

  John Owens chuckled. “Of course I’m married. But a man, such as myself, is entitled to have his mistresses.”

  Effie felt rather sick, and before she could stop herself, she said, “You’re despicable.”

  “I’m a man.”

  “I’m not so sure.”

  “Doesn’t matter what you think. Hand them over. All four of them. I know you have the other two on you.”

  “No, I don’t, and no, I won’t,” she said, admitting nothing.

  “I know you have them on you. You wouldn’t take a chance and leave them behind.”

  “I might. How did you find out about this place?”

  “Madeline observed that you leave to go somewhere early in the morning. She thought for a while it was only to meet your Indian lover. But this morning she followed you here, and I came after her.”

  “I see.”

  “Now, give them to me.”

  “No.”

  “Then you will die, for I know you have the other two on you.”

  But he didn’t shoot. Instead, without so much as pausing for breath, he set upon her, wrestling the artifacts out of her hands. One by one he grasped hold of them, placing them to the side, while he held her hands. “Now where are the others?”

  She turned mute.

  “Come on, if you won’t give them up, then it will be my pleasure to find them. You’re no more than a whore anyway. You, taking an Indian lover.”

  “He is my husband.”

  John Owens laughed. “There is no such thing between a white woman and an Indian.”

  Without a hint of conscience, he lifted her skirts and tore off her pantalettes. He had no more than set upon her, when he beheld the satchels, tied around her waist.

  “Ah, there they are.” He ripped them off her and stood. “And now I have all four. Thank you, Miss Effie. I’m sorry I have to do this,” he added with a cold smile.

  Without even a pause, he pointed the gun at her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Leave this place! Get away from here!” shouted Red Hawk, waving his arms at the Thunder Being.

  As lightning shot through the being, he laughed. “Come, make me leave.”

  “You will not tempt me.”

  “Do I not?” said the Thunderer. “If I do not tempt you, why are you here, when your wife is
in danger?”

  “You lie.”

  The Thunder Being merely laughed.

  Again, Red Hawk yelled, “You lie!” But he couldn’t be certain. “Haiya!” Was this frustration never to end?

  Turning his back once more on the Thunderer, Red Hawk stalked away. But his parting words were, “One day, I will have my revenge.”

  Again, the Thunderer laughed.

  Red Hawk raced back toward the cavern. Had he been wise in leaving Effie alone? He had not scouted out the area before he left, nor had he looked for an enemy or an interloper. What if someone had followed them?

  Could the Thunder Being have been telling the truth? After all, he was one of the Above Ones.

  Urgency filled Red Hawk’s soul.

  It seemed to take him forever to reach the cave, and when he did, he approached the place from the cliff above it. Coming down onto his stomach, he edged toward the end of the crag and looked down.

  He could hardly believe what he saw. John Owens held a gun on Effie, who lay on the ground at his feet.

  Worse, in Owens’s hands were the four artifacts, the means by which Red Hawk could end his people’s curse.

  Help the enemy. Show mercy.

  What? Show mercy to John Owens when he held a gun on his wife?

  Yet wasn’t that what was required of Red Hawk if he meant to end the curse?

  Then he heard Owens say, “I am going to kill you. Goodbye, Miss Effie.”

  With those words, any confusion Red Hawk might have harbored left him. Curse or not, Grandfather be spared, Red Hawk would not let his wife die.

  “I’m sorry, Grandfather,” he mumbled as he shot up from his hiding place. Speeding off the cliff, he bounded onto Owens, wrestling him to the ground.

  In the excitement, the gun went off. Red Hawk hoped it had exploded harmlessly, for he could not pause to look. The two of them rolled over and over, onto the beach, into the water, first one of them on top and then the other.

  Wet and struggling, they came up to wrestle further with each other, the water only thigh deep. Then they sank, as each one of them grappled for supremacy. Owens was oddly strong for a man his age, but as they fell farther and farther down into the water, looking into Owens’s face, Red Hawk realized at once that he had the advantage. Owens could not hold his breath underwater.