Savage Summer

by Constance O'Banyon

  It was almost sundown when Skyler returned to the stable. The ride had brought no joy to her heart, and no comfort for her loneliness. It had been torture talking to Mrs. Prescott and Jenny today. She knew neither of them would be anxious for her to marry Morgan if they knew about her Indian blood.

  Chapter Nineteen

  One day passed very much like all the others. Danielle didn’t know what day it was, or for that matter what month. For a few days Wolfrunner had allowed a fire at night, but now they would make camp at night without benefit of a campfire. He had become cautious and watchful, and Danielle realized that he must think they were being followed by Scar Face once more.

  They no longer followed the river, but moved among the tall grasses across the never-ending prairie. The winds were blowing strong and steady, bending the grass almost double. Danielle’s mouth was parched and dry, and her skin felt as if it had been cooked by the sun.

  As she trudged along, trying to keep step with Wolfrunner’s powerful gait, her foot hit the edge of a large stone, and it threw her off balance. She stumbled and fell to her knees, crying out in pain as her leg twisted beneath her.

  Wolfrunner glanced back and gave her a look of scorn before he plodded on ahead, ignoring her pain.

  She bit her lip in anguish and staggered to her feet. The pain was so intense that she could hardly bear it. Taking a deep breath, she moved forward. Each step she took felt like tiny needles prickled her ankle.

  With stubborn determination, Danielle refused to falter. She would give Wolfrunner no cause to look down his nose at her. She would keep going if it killed her—and it probably would, she thought bitterly.

  The morning passed, and still they continued. By now, Danielle’s whole foot felt numb. She was long past pain and was moving on sheer willpower alone. She didn’t think, as she placed one foot in front of the other—one foot in front of the other.

  The sun beat down on her and the blistering hot wind stung her face. They didn’t stop to rest, but plodded onward. If this was a new kind of torture Wolfrunner was dealing out to her, she would show him that he couldn’t break her.

  Keeping her eyes fixed on Wolfrunner’s back, Danielle trudged onward. Hunger and thirst had no meaning—pain and weariness were as nothing. All that mattered was that she follow the man in front of her.

  Many times she fell to her knees, but Wolfrunner never slowed his pace. She would get slowly to her feet and push onward.

  Wolfrunner knew he was testing the girl beyond endurance, but somewhere deep inside he wanted to punish her. Why? he questioned. Did he punish her for the deep feelings she had invoked within him? Or was it because he wanted to make her regret the way she had treated him when they first met?

  Looking back over his shoulder, he noticed she had dropped farther behind. Realizing that if Scar Face were to come upon them now he would be unable to protect her, he stopped and allowed her to catch up.

  This white girl had surprised him. He had deliberately been hard on her, and yet she hadn’t complained. No Indian maiden could have endured what she had without faltering. She was stronger than he had thought, or perhaps it was her hatred for him that drove her onward.

  When she drew even with him, she reached out her hand. He could see the pain in her eyes and grabbed her about the waist as she slowly sank to her knees.

  Wolfrunner’s heart was beating wildly as she threw back her curtain of ebony hair and gave him a pleading look. He noticed her lips were dry and cracked and her eyes were glazed with pain.

  Leaning her back against the ground, he removed his waterskin and held it to her lips. He had wanted her to beg for mercy, but she hadn’t. Even now her eyes seemed to defy him.

  “We will rest here until the evening breeze cools the land,” he said, sitting down cross-legged beside her.

  Handing her a piece of dried meat, he watched her take a bite. Lying back, with the tall grass as a cushion, he closed his eyes. How strange it was, he thought. Even with his eyes closed he could still see the image of Danielle’s face. The hardships they had endured had not detracted from her beauty. He wondered what her laughter would sound like. Was there a white man somewhere who waited for her return?

  All at once, Wolfrunner’s senses became alert. He could smell smoke! Jumping to his feet, he looked to the east and saw the grass fire that was burning out of control. Smoke was billowing into the air! Deer and other smaller animals were stampeding in wild abandonment, trying to escape the fire.

  The fire was spreading rapidly, destroying everything in its path! The orange and red flames were rolling in their direction! Wolfrunner’s eyes moved quickly to the river which was at least five hundred paces away, wondering if they could reach it before the fire overtook them.

  Jerking Danielle to her feet, he pushed her in front of him. She hadn’t yet detected the fire, and she pulled away from him defiantly.

  “No, I won’t go another step. You said we could rest, and that’s just what I’m going to do.”

  “Then you will die,” he said, gesturing toward the raging grass fire.

  Danielle felt wild unbridled terror as the cloud of smoke darkened the eastern sky. Taking a step forward, she fell to her knees. “I cannot make it. You will have to go on without me!” she cried.

  Wolfrunner knew if he were going to save her he would have to act quickly. Rising his hand, he slapped her hard across the face with his open palm. “I always knew you were weak, white girl. You have not the will to survive. It will serve you right if you perish in the fire. I can then tell Windhawk and the Blackfoot people that you died a coward’s death.”

  Danielle’s head reeled from his blow. Tears of pain stung her eyes, but she ignored them. Again she would call on her inner strength to show this man she was not weak. With wings on her feet and pain forgotten, she ran in the direction of the far distant river. It was unlikely that they would make it to safety, but she wouldn’t give up until Wolfrunner did.

  Wolfrunner ran beside her, keeping his eyes on the advancing fire. He could see that they would never make it to the safety of the river at the pace they were going. Without even breaking his stride, he reached out and lifted Danielle into his arms.

  His burden was light and had suddenly become more precious than his own life. He must save her because she was in his heart and mind. Looking down into Danielle’s face, he felt his heart melt. Her lovely blue eyes seemed so trusting as they stared back at him.

  His feet were swift and fleet as he raced the wind. He had not been given the name Wolfrunner for nothing.

  The fire was gaining on them. Danielle felt the smoke sting her eyes and burn in her lungs. She realized she and Wolfrunner were faced with a painful death.

  Suddenly she felt a calm wash over her. If she was to die, it seemed only right that she should die with this man. Looking up into his eyes, she somehow knew he was thinking the same thing. They had faced many hardships together. This might be their final test. But there were so many things that she wanted to tell him. Now they might never be said. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for the cruel things she’d said to him. She wanted to tell him how her heart was filled with longings she didn’t understand. No, there was no time. There might never be time.

  All at once Wolfrunner became aware that a new danger threatened! The rumbling of many hooves drowned out the sound of the advancing fire. Wolfrunner glanced eastward and saw the huge herd of buffalo that had been stampeded by the fire, and they were heading right for him and Danielle!

  There would be no time to make the river. They would soon be caught between the stampeding herd and the fire!

  Making a quick decision Wolfrunner stopped and placed Danielle on her feet. Pushing her behind him, he faced the oncoming danger without flinching. He was faced with two ways of dying—to be crushed beneath the hooves of the buffalo—or to be burned to death by the fire. He would accept neither. As long as he breathed the air of life, he would fight to survive, for if he perished, Danielle would also d
ie.

  Danielle clutched at his shoulders, awed by his bravery. She knew he could have made it to safety if he had abandoned her. Why had he stayed with her?

  Suddenly she knew that she loved this man. She didn’t want to see him die because of her. “You must run!” she cried. “Save yourself, Wolfrunner!”

  “No, I will not leave you,” he shouted. “If death comes, it will find us both.”

  Wolfrunner knew that the end was near. With a glance at the sky, he prayed Danielle’s death would be swift and she would not suffer. His heart cried out in protest. Had he saved her from Scar Face only to lose her now? Words of love had not been spoken, and she would never know that he gladly gave his life for her. She was as his own heart and filled his very life and soul. She was his love!

  By now the dust caused by the buffalo herd swirled in the air, mingling with the smoke. The fear-maddened animals were so near that Danielle could see their small, beady eyes. She closed her eyes not wanting to watch Wolfrunner’s death.

  A wild cry rose from Wolfrunner’s throat, and he thrust his spear into the air and waved it about wildly. Knowing the buffalo were fear-crazed from the fire, he doubted they would stop for him, but still he had to make the effort.

  The lead buffalo was bearing down on them, and Wolfrunner shouted louder. It seemed an eternity before the beast neared. To his surprise the animal turned, and he watched in amazement as the others followed suit!

  Danielle opened her eyes in bewilderment. They were in the middle of the stampeding herd, and yet the animals were moving around them. They came so near, had Danielle wanted to she could have reached out and touched them.

  Wolfrunner continued to shout and wave his spear in the air, and the buffalo continued to move aside. The air was filled with dust and smoke. The thundering sound from the buffalo hooves seemed to make the very earth tremble.

  Wolfrunner could see the end of the herd now, and just behind them was the fire! Without pausing to consider, he grabbed Danielle in his arms and raced toward the river.

  Danielle could feel the heat from the fire and realized they would never make the river. Clutching Wolfrunner about the neck, she silently urged him onward. No man could be so fleet, she thought. He was keeping pace with the buffalo!

  The heat of the fire seemed to burn her face, the smoke burned her lungs, causing her to choke—she couldn’t breathe or catch her breath.

  How puny life was, she thought. How easily one could cross over the line between life and death. Turning her face against Wolfrunner’s broad chest, she felt darkness swirling about her. Gasping for breath, she reached a state of unconsciousness.

  Farley entered Windhawk’s lodge. His white head bent in sorrow, and he couldn’t meet Joanna’s eyes. He knew the sadness she was feeling and it tore at his heart. He’d loved her for many years. She and Tag had been the children he’d never had.

  Looking into the dark eyes of Windhawk, he shook his head. “The warriors have just come back. They ain’t found hide nor hair of Danielle.”

  “Has Wolfrunner returned?” Windhawk asked.

  Farley scratched his grizzly beard. “No, there ain’t been no word of him.”

  Windhawk bent down beside his wife and raised her face to him. “It is time for Farley to go to Tag and tell him his daughter is missing.”

  Joanna’s eyes clouded over. “Could we not wait a while longer? Perhaps Wolfrunner has found her.”

  “No, Tag must be told as soon as possible,” Windhawk said firmly. “You would want to know if Sky Dancer had come to harm,” he said more gently.

  Farley gave Joanna a sympathetic look. “I best be gone. It’s been raining in the mountains, and I don’t want to be caught in no flood. I’ll bring Tag back with me.”

  Windhawk stood up and faced the old trapper. “Tell him not to lose heart. We will continue to search for Danielle. Tell him we are doing everything we can.”

  As the old trapper left the lodge, Windhawk gathered Joanna in his arms. He held her tightly, trying to bring her comfort. She knew without him telling her that there was very little hope that Danielle would be found alive after all this time. It was doubtful that they would ever find out what had really happened to her.

  A short time later Farley rode away from the Blackfoot village that he now called home. His heart was heavy that he would have to be the one to bring the sad news to Tag that his daughter was missing. Deep inside he doubted the girl would ever be found alive.

  As he reached the river, he glanced back. Joanna would get through this. She was strong and had weathered many hardships, and most likely she would weather a few more in the course of her life, still, Farley wished he could have brought her comfort.

  Windhawk walked out of his lodge where two dozen warriors waited for him. Mounting his horse, he rode away, knowing he couldn’t give up trying to find Danielle. The guilt he felt, that this should happen when she was under his protection, was nothing compared to the rage he felt toward whoever had taken her away. He would find out who had done this thing, and they would die a slow and agonizing death, he vowed.

  Chapter Twenty

  It had never been in Skyler’s nature to allow anything to get her down for very long. She had been trained, as any young Blackfoot maiden, to hide her unhappiness from others. As the days of summer passed in rapid succession, she found it increasingly difficult to keep her heartbreak hidden from her aunt and uncle.

  When Skyler was alone, she would often remember Morgan saying the only good Indian was a dead Indian. A part of her wanted to lash out at him for his cruel words, and another part of her wished she could make him understand about her father’s people. How could he not love the Blackfoot children if he got to know them? How could he keep from respecting her father if he spent time in his company? She hadn’t seen Morgan in weeks, and she found herself wishing for the sight of his face. Priscilla had told Skyler that she never saw Morgan at any of the parties she attended. His mother and sister hadn’t even come to call since that first visit. Alexandria had been told by Jenny Prescott that Morgan had asked his mother not to pester Skyler. He must have finally realized that their love was hopeless.

  Morgan came down the wide, winding staircase and moved into the dining room. In spite of the fact it was early, he knew his mother would already have eaten breakfast and would be working in her garden.

  As he took his seat at the head of the table, Letty, the cook, placed his breakfast before him. “It sure is good to have you home for a spell, Morgan. This house just hasn’t been the same without a man in it.”

  Morgan unfolded the crisp white napkin and placed it in his lap. His father had been dead for ten years, leaving Morgan head of the family at the age of eighteen. Like his father before him, he had always wanted to be a doctor. The Prescott family owned several banks in Pennsylvania, but Morgan’s uncle handled the business, leaving Morgan free to pursue a medical career. When the war had come along, he joined the Cavalry. Now he wasn’t sure where his life would take him.

  “I see you have my favorite strawberry jam, Letty. You will spoil me, and then I will be dissatisfied with army cooking.”

  “You could always give up your commission and stay home,” his sister said, coming up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek.

  “Good morning, Funny Face.” Morgan winked at Jenny. “I am surprised to find you up so early. I thought you had decided it was fashionable to sleep late, since you got back from Europe and saw how the Parisians set the fashion.”

  She tugged at a lock of his golden hair and made a face at him. “I don’t like to sleep late. I tried it, but I just lay there in bed, watching the sun come up.”

  “I would imagine you were afraid you would miss something,” Morgan said, smiling. “What do you do for excitement when you aren’t bothering me?”

  Jenny took the silver coffee server from Letty and poured her brother a cup of coffee. “There isn’t anything exciting happening in Philadelphia, and you have become positively dull. I co
uld sleep for a week without missing anything interesting from you or Philadelphia.”

  Morgan raised his coffee cup to his lips and studied Jenny over the rim. She was barely sixteen, but there was a promise of future loveliness. She was just past the awkward stage and was beginning to blossom. “What are your plans for today?” he wanted to know.

  She smiled at him impishly. “Mama says we are going to a tea. Would you like to come along?”

  “Spare me,” he said, laughing at the funny face she made at him.

  Her eyes looked into his. “Why don’t you come? Skyler Dancing might be there. Wouldn’t you like to see her?”

  He ran his finger around the rim of his coffee cup. “Don’t play with me, Jenny. I have no intention of satisfying your curiosity where Miss Dancing is concerned. Don’t pry into things that don’t concern you.” Standing up, he tossed his napkin on the table and stalked out of the room.

  Jenny stared after her brother. What was the matter with him lately? He didn’t usually speak to her in such harsh tones. Lately he’d been biting everyone’s head off. She realized he was upset because of Skyler Dancing and he was handling it the only way he could. She wished with all her heart that Morgan and Skyler would overcome their differences. Her mother was positive Morgan and Miss Dancing would eventually settle what was wrong between them, but Jenny wasn’t so sure. Skyler had seemed very adamant that they would never be able to work out their problems, whatever they were.

  The days of summer were quickly passing, and Skyler knew the time would soon come when she must think about going home. She was lonesome for her mother and father, but she also dreaded the time when she must leave. Once she left Philadelphia, she would never see Morgan again, because she would never return.

  Skyler was riding in the cool of the afternoon. She was accustomed to riding across rivers and valleys with a freedom she didn’t have here. She was beginning to feel confined behind the iron gates of the James estate. She was also not accustomed to riding sidesaddle, and wished she could rip the constrictions of civilization from her and fling them aside. She longed to feel free again.