White Wolf

by Susan Edwards

  Alison tilted her head up, her small, bow-shaped mouth trembling. “I’m hungry, Jessie,” she whispered, sticking her fingers in her mouth.

  Jessie still had some dried meat in her pocket from their walk to the fort, but she needed to save it for later. She didn’t know when they’d be fed next. “I know you are, sweet. But we have to be brave and wait.”

  Huge tears welled in the little girl’s eyes. “I want my ma.”

  Jessie hugged her close. This was all her own fault. She should never have taken the girl to the fort, shouldn’t have let her pride keep her from Wolf. Keeping her voice low, she spoke softly into Alison’s ear, the soft curls tickling her nose. “I know, sweets. We’ll see her soon. Wolf will find us. But you mustn’t say so to them, okay?”

  Alison nodded. “Will James come too?”

  Jessie smiled tenderly, praying someone would come soon. “Of course he will.”

  Snuggling back against Jessie, Alison continued to suck her fingers. Her voice faded. “I like James, Jessie. He don’t yell or hit Ma.”

  “Rest now, Ali,” Jessie whispered. It saddened her that the little girl had lived through so much violence in her short life. With Alison dozing, Jessie turned her attention back to the threesome. Daisy had caught up to Sammy. Dan shouted something at his sister; then, with no warning, a shot rang out. Jessie jerked Alison against her to muffle her own startled cry. To her horror, Sammy jerked and fell facedown in the tall grass. Daisy turned away, her pistol in hand. Fear as she’d never known chilled Jessie’s heart when the woman strode toward them and ordered them to stand.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The sun dipped below the horizon, and the pale dusk deepened. A party of warriors knelt near the river, searching for signs of horse tracks. Their quarry had cut back once again. Striking Thunder left the warriors and approached Wolf. “My brother, we have found their trail, but I say we wait until Wi shows her face once more before continuing.”

  Wolf stared out into the wilderness. His brother was in command of the war party, and as leader, he didn’t have to consult him. He could halt his own warriors at will. While Wolf appreciated the show of respect Striking Thunder accorded him, he couldn’t stop now. They had to find Jessie. He gripped the hilt of his knife. “No, we must continue. They have a three- or four-hour jump on us. They will stop to rest. We won’t.”

  An imposing figure joined them. “My eldest son is wise in his words.”

  Wolf turned to his father, his allegiances no longer Indian or white. He was a man desperately afraid of losing the one woman he loved. He ran his hand through his hair. “Jessie is out there.”

  Golden Eagle laid his hand on Wolf’s shoulders. “My son, I know what is in your heart. I felt as you do now when your mother was taken from me by her guardian. But you must remember, emotions cloud the mind. They blind you.” He spread his hands out. “Look, I say. It is open land. They can see for miles, and should they see us coming, they may panic and harm your wife and the child. Let them reach the sheltering trees and mountains. They will not risk their captives until there is no longer any use for them. Once they are in the mountains, we will be right behind them. There, none can hide from us. The sons of Golden Eagle are the best trackers in all the land. The spirits will shield our presence. We will find them.”

  Wolf rolled his shoulders. His father and brother were shrewd as always, and for once he did not resent it. He stared out where darkness cloaked the mountain range. His father was right. Like the wolf after which he was named, his tracking skills were unequaled, even by his own brother. He calmed himself, burying his emotions, allowing the Indian in him to surface and take command over the worried husband. He would do whatever it took to find his wife. Head held high, shoulders back, he nodded. “Tell our warriors we ride at the first sign of the gray dawn, my wise brother.”

  After unloading Lady Sarah, he wandered out into the dark prairie. Far from the camp, he stopped and lifted his arms high, fingers beseeching the Mahpiya, the spirits of the heavens, as he asked that the trial he followed be preserved, guarded from bad weather. He also asked that the spirit of Mato, the bear, guard his love and protect her from harm. Then he asked Sungmanitu, spirit of the wolf, to preside over the chase and the war party, to lead them in the right direction.

  After his prayers, he removed his white man’s clothing. He was Wolf, White Wolf, trained warrior. From his pouch, he brought out paints and smeared them across his face and chest, then sat in the tall grass, his hands resting on his crossed knees, palms up, to await the arrival of Wiyohiyanpa, the spirit of the east.

  Dawn was fast approaching when a unit of soldiers rode out of the fort, toward the Laramie Range. Lt. Col. Hadden Trowbridge ordered the men to spread out and search for the trail of the man named Wolf. He knew it wouldn’t take long to find. According to Elliot Baker, the rescue party was large, making it easy to spot and follow them. Vern rode up beside him. “Think we’ll catch up to them?”

  Hadden drew a deep breath and eyed the landscape with a jaundiced eye. “Oh, we’ll catch up. The question you should be asking is whether you’ll get your sister-in-law alive. She’s kidnapped the wife of an Indian, and they’ve got a war party on their trail.”

  “Yeah, but according to Baker, the woman’s husband is only part Indian.”

  Hadden straightened, his gaze narrowing when he heard a shout in the distance. “Don’t matter. He’s still Indian. Looks like they’ve found the trail. Let’s go.” There wasn’t a chance in hell he’d catch up to the criminals before the Indians did. If only Elliot Baker had come to see him earlier. But he’d also lost time trying to find Vern and getting his confirmation that these were the people that sheriff had come so far to find. By that time it had gone dark.

  Vern wrapped the reins around his gloved hand. “I’d like them alive, Lieutenant.”

  Hadden sighed. “Me too, Sheriff. Me too.” With a yell, he spurred his horse forward.

  By midmorning, Wolf and his party were gaining on the “Nortons.” The churned-up dirt, broken branches and overturned rocks were fresher. But now he also knew it was only Daisy and Dan he had to deal with. Earlier they’d found Sammy’s body. He’d been shot. Finding the dead body gave rise to a new fear. Daisy was a killer. Dan wouldn’t have shot Sammy. Wolf mentally kicked himself. He should have known something was wrong with the trio when he found out that Dan and Sammy were lovers. He’d stumbled across them one night. They hadn’t seen him. Truthfully, he hadn’t thought anything about it, though it explained why Daisy slept around. But now he feared for Jessie’s life. Daisy hated Jessie. He could only pray they caught up with the band before she killed again. He firmed his lips, refusing to entertain any negative thoughts.

  The three men rode in silence. Flanked by his father and brother, Wolf felt as though he belonged for the first time in his life. He was a warrior going into battle, and those who’d taken what belonged to him would pay.

  By early afternoon they entered the forest. The mountains were thickly forested with pines—so thick that from a distance, the mountains looked black. Sometimes called the Black Hills, the range had the same name as the hills back home where his people lived, the ones his people had named Paha Sapa. Hills of the Shadow. That, he felt, was a good sign. And because the woods were densely packed, the chance for an ambush was great.

  Wolf consulted with his father and brother. The warriors could go much faster without their horses and move silently through the dense forest. They would go on foot. The rest of their party would remain here. After asking James and Jeremy to remain with the women—who weren’t expert trackers—he slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder and grabbed his rifle.

  Jeremy tapped him on the shoulder. “You still finding signs from Jessie?”

  Wolf put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Yes. Your sister is resourceful.” Pride warred with worry. At each stop Daisy made, Jessie managed to leave him some sign, letting him know that she trusted him to come and rescue her. Wolf smil
ed with grim determination. He would not let her down. He rejoined his father and brother, and they turned to leave.

  Jeremy ran up to them, pointing to White Dove. Wolf’s sister wore a quiver of arrows over her back. “Why does she go and not us?”

  Before Wolf could explain, Dove stepped in front of him. “I am Indian,” she said, tossing her braids. “I move with no sound, and my aim is true.”

  “Yeah, well, you can’t shoot as well as I can. If you go, I go.” Jeremy stood, feet apart, rifle in hand and a determined glint in his eyes.

  Dove tilted her chin. “Your white-man’s shoes are heavy and clumsy. They will give away our presence.”

  Jeremy lifted one foot and pulled off his boot, then removed the other. Toe-to-toe, the two glared at one another.

  Wolf sighed. At every stop since leaving Fort Laramie, the two had baited one another, constantly competing. “Enough, Dove. He can go.”

  Dove’s jaw dropped in surprise. “He does not know how to move in the dark. He will step on a twig or allow the moon to cast his shadow.”

  Golden Eagle held up his hand. “Then you must guide him, daughter. It is his sister who is in danger, and it is only right that he goes if he chooses. You will remain at his side.” Then Golden Eagle pulled off his own moccasins and handed them to Jeremy. “Put these on. They will soften your footsteps and protect your feet. My feet are tough and can withstand the forest floor.”

  Wolf gave the order to move out. Jeremy grinned and fell in step with Dove.

  Every bone in Jessie’s body ached as the horses picked their way through the forest. Her vision blurred with exhaustion. They were nearing the end of their second day of riding. Had it only been yesterday that she’d gone to the fort? It seemed so much longer. Though she was tired, she didn’t dare allow herself to drift off, not after witnessing Daisy’s cold-blooded murder of Sammy last night. There was no doubt in her mind that the woman would kill them when she no longer needed them. She had to remain alert and find a way to disarm the evil woman. Her eyelids fluttered closed, but Dan’s shout jerked her awake.

  Daisy stopped and twisted around in her saddle. “Now what?” she asked, scanning the dark shadows closing in around them.

  “We need to rest.”

  “No, we keep riding.”

  “Look, Daisy, if our horses drop dead, we’ll never make it out of here alive.”

  Swearing beneath her breath, Daisy dismounted, but instead of sitting, she paced nervously. “Very well. But not for long.”

  Dan untied Jessie’s hands and hauled her and Alison down. She sank onto the ground with Alison still asleep in her arms.

  Daisy came over and glared down at her. “Tie her back up,” she ordered.

  Dan sighed. The length of rope dangled from his fingers. “She ain’t gonna go nowhere. Let her be.”

  “You aren’t going soft on me, are you?” she said, narrowing her eyes.

  Dan glared back. “What are you going to do? Shoot me?”

  Jessie bit her lip and tightened her hold on Alison, fearing Daisy’s quick temper. But to her relief, the woman spun around and glared at her. “Don’t try anything,” she spat. Her foot shot out, catching Jessie in the side.

  Jessie gasped in pain. Daisy sneered, then stalked off. A canteen dropped beside her. Glancing up, she stared at Dan. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Best wake the child and let her drink, too.”

  Jessie woke Alison and gave her some water, then stood and stretched her legs, grinding her heels into the soft dirt floor. She held on to the hope that Wolf was following them. When Dan turned back to them, she felt bold enough to ask, “Are you going to let her kill us?” She kept her voice low so Alison couldn’t hear.

  Dan frowned. “I don’t want to. I’m no killer.” He walked away.

  Jessie dropped down beside Alison and pulled out the remaining piece of dried meat from her pocket. “Eat quickly, sweet.” Alison did as she was bidden, and Jessie used her as a shield to yank another button from her shirt. It was the last one she dared to remove without risking Daisy’s suspicion. Tucking her shirt back in, she dropped the tiny button to the ground and tore up some grass. When Daisy ordered them to mount up, she stood and prayed for her husband to hurry. Daisy was edgy, her temper short, and her hard brown eyes were filled with malice.

  Jessie watched as Daisy stood, waiting for Dan to finish tying Jessie’s hands to the saddle horn. The woman stared off into the darkness, looking uneasy. Dan finished tying Jessie’s hands and joined his sister.

  “Daisy, let’s just leave them here. We’ll travel faster if it’s just the two of us. You know Wolf is on our trail. You’re a fool if you believe otherwise. You can bet when Jessie and the child didn’t return, he set up a search. And he’ll find the dog. And when he figures out we’re gone, he’ll check our wagon. He’ll know we’ve got them.”

  Daisy kicked a rock. “Damn!”

  Brother and sister stared at one another. Dan’s voice was low, but Jessica heard it nonetheless. Her heart leaped. “We’re as good as dead, sis. Wolf won’t take kindly to us taking his woman. If we free her, he may turn back. She’s all he wants.”

  “You’re the fool. If they find that poster you tore off the wall in that shop, they’ll alert the soldiers. That reward my husband’s brother posted will have every soldier on our tail. These two go with us. Now, let’s go,” Daisy ordered.

  Darkness settled over the land, providing cover for the warriors creeping stealthily one by one through the trees, wraithlike, blending with the tall, thick trunks. After another hour of slow penetration of the forest, Wolf knew they were gaining on Daisy. It was obvious from the slow, plodding pace of the tracks that the outlaws’ horses were nearing exhaustion. Striking Thunder pointed to a broken leaf, hanging by a mere thread. He picked it and brought it to his nose. “Fresh. It hasn’t lost its scent or wilted. Our enemy is not far ahead.”

  Wolf studied the tracks and smiled grimly. They were closing in. With all his willpower, he focused on the hunt, the chase. He could not allow himself to worry and wonder. Keeping to the shadows, the two warriors, equal in height and breadth, slipped from tree to shadow until they heard muffled voices. He gripped his bow. Blood thundered in his ears. They had caught up. He listened intently, hearing the crunch of twigs and dried needles on the forest floor. The kidnappers were still on the move but close. A hand on his arm stopped him.

  Striking Thunder shook his head. “We must wait for them to stop and settle or else we risk injury to your woman and the child.”

  Wolf acknowledged his brother’s wisdom. He tipped his head up and sent three long, rolling chirps into the air. His signal was returned by two short chirps. Striking Thunder continued on, leaving Wolf to wait for the rest of their party. His father joined him. “We will attack as soon as they stop.” Golden Eagle nodded and laid a hand on Wolf’s shoulder. “The spirits are with us.”

  Striking Thunder emerged from the shadows and joined the huddle. His voice was low, barely audible. “They have stopped to rest. Your woman and the child are tied to a tree. The other woman sits close by with a gun pointed at them. The other white paces.” His eyes glittered with disdain. “He is nervous, afraid.”

  Wolf narrowed his eyes. “As he should be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was late; the sliver of the moon was high when Jessie’s captors were forced to stop and rest their exhausted horses. Daisy shoved Jessie against a tree and then shoved Alison at her. The whimpering child crawled into her lap; then Dan wrapped the rope around both of them, tying them to the tree. She was tired. So tired. Despair washed through her. There had to be a way to get free. She leaned her head back against the rough trunk and closed her eyes. A sharp kick to her side jerked her eyes open. Daisy stood over her.

  “Thinking of your husband, Jessica?” Her eyes narrowed to furious slits. “I wouldn’t hold any hope of his coming to your rescue. Maybe I’ll let you live long enough to see him die by my hand,” sh
e gloated.

  Jessie gave a short bark of laughter. “Ha, you have to see him first. He’s Indian. He’ll see you long before you even know he’s there—and the darkness won’t stop him. Indians can see in the dark and move without making a sound.” She smiled sweetly. “You know, Daisy, Wolf could be out there right now, and you’d never know it. You haven’t a chance!”

  Daisy kicked her again. “Shut up.”

  Jessie gasped against the pain and shielded Alison from Daisy’s wrath. She tilted her chin. Maybe she could scare the woman into leaving them behind. “Wolf is going to sneak up on you, and you finding an arrow in your black heart will be your only warning.”

  Daisy bent down and smiled coldly. “Maybe I should just kill you now. Dan’s right. We’d go a lot faster without you and the brat.”

  Alison dug her fingers into Jessie, crying hoarsely. Dan moved forward and yanked Daisy away. “Go sit down and rest.” He glared at Jessie. Leaning over her, he said, “I don’t want to see either of you harmed. Do as you’re told, and I’ll see if I can convince her to leave the two of you here, but for God’s sake, stop taunting her.”

  Jessie glanced down at the little girl who was crying silently, but there was nothing she could do except hold and comfort her.

  White Dove and Jeremy moved through the forest, from tree to tree, from shadow to shadow. The group had split into twos and threes to keep from being spotted. She cocked her head when another signal sounded. Pointing, she indicated the direction.

  “How are we going to catch them if they are on horseback and we are on foot?” Jeremy asked, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.

  Dove stopped and frowned at him. “Their horses tire. They move through underbrush less easily than we.”

  “You can tell that from the tracks?” Jeremy asked, his voice incredulous.