The thought depressed him. He took hold of Jessie’s wrist, kissed each fingertip and drew her down to him. His voice was low, hoarse. “Enough talk of the past. Nothing can change it.”
Chapter Twenty
Jessie woke to the feeling of something tickling the flesh below one ear. She groaned. Her body felt stiff, tired and sore. She swatted at the nuisance, then settled back to sleep. The irritant moved to her lips, then to the tip of her nose. She slapped at it, but it was gone. It returned, this time caressing one cheek. Her nostrils flared as she caught a whiff of roses. She opened her eyes.
Wolf lay beside her, leaning on one elbow, his hand cradling his head. With his other hand he twirled a pink blossom across her cheek, down her throat and over her breast, an artist painting her skin with its sweet scent.
Jessie wasn’t awake or coherent enough to appreciate the tenderness of the action. She only knew she didn’t want to wake up. Her eyes blinked rapidly, then closed, the lids too heavy to hold open. “Oh, Wolf, tell me it’s not morning already.” She groaned, turning onto her stomach, seeking sleep.
Wolf caressed the back of her neck and ran the soft petals down the indentation of her spine.
“No, Wi has not yet shown her face, but we must return to camp before the others wake.”
Warm lips nibbled at her earlobe. With a sigh, she turned and welcomed the warmth of his body covering hers. How many times during the night had they turned to each other to make sweet, gentle love? Three? Four? She had no idea and didn’t care. She pouted. “Do we have to? I like it here.”
Wolf drew her lower lip into his mouth. With sweet tenderness, he deepened the kiss. Her heartbeat sped up, and all tiredness fled when his fingers slid down her body. He broke the kiss and grinned down at her. “Perhaps we can stay a bit longer.” His finger slid into her.
Jessie arched her hips, seeking his touch. “Oh, yes, Wolf.”
The heel of his hand pressed against her. She throbbed and grew moist.
Wolf whispered against her mouth, “What do you want, Jessica?” He parted her legs.
Jessie bit him gently, then arched up, pressing her damp folds to his pulsing flesh. “You, Wolf. All of you.”
He groaned and entered her slowly, considerate of her tender flesh, but Jessie was beyond feeling any pain beyond a burning need for release.
“God, what you do to me, woman. I need you, sweet Jess.”
Her lips closed over his. “Then quit talking and love me.”
By the time they left the cave, the stars had already faded. Wolf brought his horse to a halt a short distance from their camp. Neither moved. Jessie didn’t want the night to end. She reached up and caressed his face, running her fingers over a day’s worth of stubble. “Why do you shave every day? Why not just grow a beard like most of the other men on the trail?” she asked.
“My people do not grow hair on their faces,” he replied simply.
Jessie understood. He had the ability to grow a full beard, but if he did, it would be one more reminder that he didn’t fit in with his people.
“You must return now, before the others wake.” He gave her one last lingering kiss, then helped her down.
Jessie stared up at him, reluctant to walk away.
“I’ll come for you tonight,” he promised.
Content for the moment with his promise, Jessie watched man and beast fade into the purple shadows. She yawned and made her way quietly to her wagon and crawled into her bedroll. Surprisingly, she fell asleep immediately.
From the shadows, a tall, lanky figure emerged and released Sadie’s collar. “Okay, girl, you can go to her now.” When the dog curled up with her mistress, he turned away, his green eyes shadowed with worry.
Pleasantly tired from her night in the cave with Wolf, Jessie slid the needle through the canvas one last time then surveyed her stitches. “Not a bad job.” She grinned. After replacing the wagon cover, she glanced at the midmorning sun and stifled an impatient sigh. Now what? All her chores were done. Why was it that when you most wanted time to pass quickly, it dragged? Sadie emerged from beneath the wagon, stretched and yawned. Then she plopped down, her muzzle resting forlornly on her front paws.
Jessie laughed softly. The dog missed Wahoska. Just as she herself missed Wolf. “I know how you feel, girl. We’re a pair, we are. I’m afraid it’s going to be a long day.” Closing her eyes, Jessie leaned against the sun-warmed canvas. Images from her and Wolf’s night of loving replayed within her mind. A spark of desire low in her belly grew, radiating upward and outward, sending tingles of remembered pleasure up her spine. She wanted Wolf, wanted to feel his hands roam her body and yearned to experience once again the incredible pleasure brought about by his clever fingers. And the thought of touching him, feeling his velvety hardness, seeing the pleasure pain in his features as she stroked him, sent her blood pulsing with need. So lost in her fantasies of the night to come, she didn’t hear Sadie’s warning growl.
“Dreaming of your lover, Je-ssss-ica?”
At the sound of Rosalyn’s harsh voice, Jessie straightened. Her eyes narrowed. “None of your concern, Rosalyn.” Unwilling to get into another showdown with the unpleasant woman, Jessie strode past her.
The woman reached out and grabbed her by the arm and arched one brow. “Wonder what your brothers would say if they knew their baby sister was laying with a ‘breed’?” Rosalyn’s eyes shone with hatred.
Jessie shook off the clawlike fingers. Why couldn’t the woman just leave her alone? The voice of reason told Jessie to leave, that the woman was all bluff, but she couldn’t risk having her carry tales. Jessie couldn’t let her brothers learn of her relations with Wolf. Well, two could play this game. She eyed the woman, deliberately letting her gaze roam insultingly up and down the other woman’s body. Her lips twisted. “If I were you, I’d be more concerned with my own affairs. Seems like you have enough troubles of your own without borrowing more.”
Rosalyn froze. She stared at Jessie through slitted eyes. “What do you mean?”
Unable to resist taunting the hateful woman, Jessie smirked. “Can’t be good for your ego to have a husband who prefers to spend his nights with his hired hand instead of his wife. It must have shocked you, being newly married and all.” She paused, taking measure of the rage building in Rosalyn’s eyes. “No wonder you’re so desperate for male company. But to bed Sunny?” Jessie shuddered delicately. “The man’s got no teeth.”
Rosalyn let her breath out in a long drawn-out hiss. She advanced, one small hand clenched, the other buried beneath her apron. “Why, you little tramp,” she spat. “You’re spying on us!”
Amused now, Jessie rolled her eyes. “Really, Rosalyn, I’ve better things to do. As for knowing about your husband, we all have eyes in our heads. And those of us who sleep outside can’t help but see Hugh and Sammy sneak off into the night.”
Rosalyn took several deep calming breaths. Her brown eyes gleamed with intent. “You seem pretty observant. What else do you know ’bout us?”
Shrugging, Jessie eyed her. “Talk at meal times does get interesting.” She grinned and hooked her thumbs over the waist of her jeans. “But rest assured, no one seems to hold it against you. After all, Wolf’s men are more than willing to warm your bed at night, except my brothers, of course.”
“Why, you… I’ll teach you to mess with me.” Rosalyn advanced on Jessie. Her apron fluttered and a gleam of metal flashed.
A low rumbling growl sounded. Sadie moved between the two women, her teeth bared, her shoulders hunched and fur raised. Rosalyn took a hasty step back. Sadie followed, her body crouched to spring.
“Sadie!” Jessie snatched the dog by the rope collar with one hand while her other hand hovered near the hilt of the knife strapped to her belt. Did Rosalyn have a knife? And if so, was she fool enough to pull it? While Jessie wasn’t as good with a knife as she was with a gun or whip, she knew how to protect herself with one.
The dog strained to be released. Menacing growls filled the air. Ro
salyn backed away slowly, her hand coming out empty from beneath the apron. Jessie breathed a sigh of relief.
The sound of Wolf’s voice rang out. “What’s going on here?” He approached with Wahoska beside him.
The wolf brushed against Rosalyn’s skirts, and the woman jumped back with a squeal.
Wolf glanced from Rosalyn to the animals. Wahoska added his growls to the dog’s. “I asked a question.”
Rosalyn moved close to Wolf. She fluttered her eyes and gripped Wolf’s arm. “Oh, Wolf, I’m so glad you’re here. I was just walking past, minding my own business and for no reason, Jessie turned her dog on me,” she accused in a tearful voice. She wiped nonexistent tears from her eyes and chewed on her lower lip.
Jessie’s jaw dropped. “I did not,” she returned hotly. Her finger stabbed the air in front of Rosalyn. “You’re the one who came over here to start trouble. Sadie was just protecting me.”
“That dog is a menace,” Rosalyn sniffed. “She should be tied up!”
“You’re the menace and a liar besides,” Jessie shot back. Now she wished that Rosalyn had tried something on her. If she’d pulled a gun or knife, she’d have gotten kicked out of the wagon train and they’d all be rid of her and her trouble-making.
Wolf held up his hands. “I’ve heard enough. Mrs. Norton, I’ve told you once before that I won’t tolerate troublemaking. Sadie wouldn’t be carrying on like this unless you threatened her mistress.”
Rosalyn gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes, all pretense of tears gone. She turned on Jessie. “You! He’s only taking your side so he can get you back into his bed,” she hissed, then stalked off in rage.
Jessie released her hold on Sadie, her heart racing. Should she tell Wolf that Rosalyn had nearly attacked her? No, she decided, she’d deal with the woman herself. It would only be her word against Rosalyn’s, anyway. She patted her own knife and vowed to make sure it was on her person at all times—and her whip.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Be careful, Jessie. You’ve made yourself another enemy.”
She shrugged, her eyes narrowed. “I can handle her. She’s just a two-bit tramp.”
Wolf stared after Rosalyn. “Just be careful, Jess. Don’t get cocky. And you let me know if you have any more problems.”
Jessie sighed but agreed. There was something dangerous about that woman. The feral gleam in Rosalyn’s eyes had warned her that things between them weren’t finished. But she didn’t want to worry Wolf, so when Jeremy joined them, she brightened her voice. “We’re going to go check out the springs. Want to come?”
Wolf shook his head. “No. I’ve got things to see to.”
Jessie and Jeremy left camp to explore Ash Hollow with its many springs. They headed for the rocky bluffs on the east side. She slid her brother a worried look. He was quiet, too quiet. “What’s wrong, Jeremy?”
Jeremy glanced at her, his pale green gaze troubled. Stopping, he grabbed her by the shoulders and stared into her eyes. “Do you know what you’re doing, Jess?”
A tremor of unease slid up her spine, but she schooled her features into a bland look. “What do you mean, Jeremy?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Jess.” His features turned stern, making him look a lot like James. “After my watch was over last night, I came into camp to raid some of our supplies.”
Jessie groaned. “You and your stomach!” Inside, she winced and waited for Jeremy to start yelling at her. It was apparent that he knew about her and Wolf. How was she going to bluff her way out of this one? He knew her too well for her even to attempt to lie.
“Don’t try to change the subject, sister dear. I was worried when I found your bed empty. I searched all over for you but couldn’t find you. Figured you and Eirica were out walking. So I waited. Imagine my surprise when I saw you return with Wolf. You’re playing a game that could get you hurt.”
Jessie sighed. “It’s no game. What I feel for Wolf is real.”
“Like your crush on Elliot all these years?”
Jessie grimaced, then resumed walking. He fell into step beside her. “No, this is no crush. I love him, Jeremy. I want to be his wife, have his children. I’ll go where he goes. Funny coming from me, wouldn’t you say? Here all I wanted was to go to Oregon, and now I don’t want to stay.” She sniffed, perilously close to tears.
Her brother laid an arm around her shoulders. “Good God, Jess. You’ve grown up on this trip. I don’t know if I can handle my baby sister sneaking off in the night with a man. You’re liable to get hurt.”
Jessie stared up into his pale green gaze and grimaced. “And what if I’m already hurting?” She reached out and put her hand over his. “I love him, Jeremy.”
Jeremy ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head sadly. “Somehow I always knew that when you fell in love, nothing would stand in your way. But Jess, I don’t see Wolf settling in Oregon.”
She released her breath in a long, deep sigh. “I know.” There was nothing more to say.
Jeremy pulled her into his embrace. “Why’d ya have to grow up, Jess?” After a few minutes of emotional silence, they resumed walking.
Jessie hugged her brother, then stepped back with a troubled sigh. She was glad he knew. She needed to talk to someone, so she told him briefly what she knew of Wolf’s family and his commitment to his tribe. “One way or another, I’m going back with him.” Her voice hitched. “No matter how hard it will be to leave you, James and Jordan, I have to.”
“I know, sis, I know. Things will work out.” Brother and sister stared at one another quietly.
Jessie knew Jeremy wouldn’t tell James or Jordan about her and Wolf. James would have a fit, and Jordan’s temper would cause him to do something foolish, like engage Wolf in a fight.
“Cheer up, Jess. I can always get my shotgun and make Wolf marry you.”
Jessie stopped abruptly. His lips curved into a grin, but his gaze was dead serious. Her hands went to her hips and she sent him a hard glare. “Jeremy, promise me right now that you won’t interfere.”
Jeremy cuffed her lightly on the chin. “No promises, Jess. There’s lots of time to convince Wolf to do right by you. Come on, I heard the lower spring is the best of them all, and I’ve got some news to share with you. Seems Elliot may have found himself a girl.”
“Truly?” she asked, her eyes wide with shock. “Okay, Jeremy. Start talking,” she ordered.
Golden Eagle leaned against his backrest. Across from him, his son did likewise while speaking of a small herd of buffalo roaming nearby. His attention wandered when White Wind, White Dove and Star Dreamer entered the tipi. Watching his wife’s graceful movements, Golden Eagle marveled that even after twenty-eight winters, their love was still strong, his need of her a driving force. Even now, his fingers itched to undo her long white braids and comb through the thick ripples.
He smiled to himself. Their love was meant to be. She was his life, had held a part of his heart even when she’d been a young child called Sarah, the daughter of a trapper who had lived peacefully alongside the Indians. When her stepfather died, leaving her to the care of an evil guardian, she’d run away to search for the Indian father she’d never known. The spirits had led him to her. He’d fallen in love with her, but they could not marry, as he was pledged to Wild-Flower, daughter of White Cloud. It had been a long and arduous journey, but they had overcome all, as had their love.
Over the years, White Wind had given him five children, but, sadly, one had died during its first winter. As she reached up to hang one of her parfleches, his gaze roamed over her trim figure and pale white braids. Her hair had once been white-blond. With age it had whitened.
His attention shifted to his daughters. White Dove spoke softly to her mother. At nineteen she was his youngest, his pride and joy. She’d always been beautiful, first as a baby, then as a child, but now that she’d become a young maiden, her beauty worried him. She had many suitors, though she didn’t see
m to be in any hurry to choose a mate. He didn’t mind. As long as she remained unmarried, she was still his baby.
He rolled his shoulders, attempting to scratch an itch on his back. He loved quiet evenings visiting with his family. What more could a warrior ask of life than to be surrounded by those he loved? The women would talk and gossip, while the men planned the new day and his grandchildren filled his tipi with love and laughter. Ah, all was as it should be—except…it was quiet, too quiet. He lifted a brow. Where were the children? And Star’s husband, Two-Ree?
Alarm ran through him when he caught the solemn glances passing between the three women. Instead of sitting with their beading or quilting, they stood off to one side. He felt uneasy. Leaning forward, he addressed Star. “What is wrong, daughter? Your husband and children have not come with you. They are well?”
She kept her eyes trained to the ground. “My family is well, my father.”
Golden Eagle leaned back. Star refused to look at him, which meant she was troubled. “Come. Sit by me.” He also motioned for Dove and White Wind to join them for a family meeting.
Star came, careful to pass behind her brother as she made her way around the fire to sit beside him. Normally the women sat on one side of the fire, the men on the other, but Golden Eagle enjoyed being surrounded by his wife and daughters. As he looked upon them, he admitted with a certain amount of arrogant pride that his womenfolk had never acted typically of Indian women. When everyone was seated, he waved a hand. “Look at me, daughter.”
Star Dreamer did. In her dark eyes, he saw what he’d expected: fear and uncertainty, which meant she’d had troubling visions. He knew she fought her gift of sight, one passed down from his own mother. And when the visions left her looking haunted, they boded ill. He kept his features impassive. Inside, a knot of dread took hold. “Tell me of the visions,” he commanded, becoming not only her father but her chief.
Star looked to her mother. When she received an encouraging nod, she spoke, her voice soft, hesitant. “They come nearly every night.” Her voice shook. “My brother who travels across the Maka has found his mate, and in her, he will at long last find the peace he seeks.”
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