"Oh." She stepped back, looked toward the river, and then at him. "I suppose not. But you can't very well fetch the water, either."
Liam smiled at that and then yelled, "Sergeant!" In less than a minute, the sergeant appeared, wondering what the young lieutenant wanted this time. "See that these are filled and brought back to the house."
"Yes, sir." He took the buckets and turned away.
While she waited for the water, Lana chatted with Liam. "So, Lieutenant, where are you from?"
"I'm from Georgia. And, please, like I told you in there, call me Liam."
"Georgia. I've never been there before."
"It's beautiful country. You'd really like it."
"How long have you been in the Army, Liam?"
He smiled when she said his name. "Not too long, Miss Cooper."
"No. If it's Liam, then you must call me Lana."
"Lana. All right. How long has your family been out here?"
"Just since June. We've got enough to get through the winter and then we'll plant next spring."
"That's a lot of hard work." Liam shook his head. "Why did your father pick such a far away place to settle? This is no place for..." He stopped himself.
"For what?"
"For a young lady such as yourself."
"Don't worry about me. I'll do just fine."
The sergeant returned with the buckets, stopping their conversation. Liam took the buckets from him and carried them into the house for Lana.
"Thank you, Liam," she smiled.
"Sure. Let me know if you need any more water. I'll see to it."
* * *
A little while later, Nathan and Jake came home with three rabbits and six fish, much to May's delight. Now, she could have rabbit pie with wild onions and turnips, fried fish, pinto beans, cornbread, her next-to-last jar of blackberry jam and coffee. No one would leave her table hungry that night.
After dinner, Lana cleaned the kitchen and then stepped outside. She had been in front of that fireplace all afternoon and wanted fresh, cool air. Knowing better than to go toward the river, she walked behind the house. When she heard someone behind her, she turned to see Liam approach.
"Would you mind some company?" he asked.
"No. Not at all." She continued walking. They were silent for a while, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Lana spoke. "Liam, may I ask you something?"
"Certainly. What?"
"Is it true that the Kiowa steal people and sell them into Mexico?"
Her question startled him. That was the last thing he expected from her.
"Well," he stopped walking as he considered his answer. "Yes. It's true. Mainly, they steal children, but sometimes women." He could see her frown in the night. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Just something my pa said."
"If you see any Kiowa - or Apache - stay away! They are dangerous and they hate settlers, more and more lately."
"Why? Because we're taking their land?"
"Lana. That's a serious subject for a young lady."
"It's a serious subject for anyone. But I'm right, aren't I?"
Liam didn't say anything to that. He simply turned and started walking again. Instead of going with him, Lana stood there. She didn't want to talk to him about the Kiowa anymore. He sounded just like her father.
"I'll say goodnight, now, Liam."
"You're turning in?"
"Yes. It's been a long day and the sun shows up mighty early around here." She smiled and began walking toward the house. He caught up with her and fell into step.
"I've enjoyed getting to meet your family," he said as they neared the house. "And I've especially enjoyed meeting you."
"Thank you. You, too."
He stopped her. "I mean it, Lana. You're a beautiful woman and I'm glad we've met. I just wish Ft. Worth weren't so far away."
"Why?" she teased him. "Would you come courting?"
The boldness of her question surprised him, but he put his hand on her shoulder and leaned down to look closely into her eyes. "You better believe I'd come courting," he said with quiet sincerity.
Smiling sweetly at him for a second, she touched his face. "Goodnight, Liam. Sweet dreams." Without waiting for him to escort her, she found her way to her own front door and into the house.
* * *
The next morning, Lt. O'Connell and his troops left at first light. He said goodbye to Joshua briefly outside the barn.
"Tell your wife and daughter that I really enjoyed dinner last night."
"I will. You take care out there." The two men shook hands one last time and Liam rode out.
As the troops continued their patrol, Liam's mind filled with images of his stay at the Coopers. He liked the family and hoped they could survive the rigors of settling such untamed land. Lana, though, filled his mind the most, with her sweet voice and vibrant laugh. He would have to come back soon, if only to look into those amazing eyes one more time.
Chapter 10 - Scattered Beads
As the cool fall weather chased the heat off the high plains, Two Hawks knew his band would move to their winter camp soon. He needed to see Lana before he left, but didn't want to risk another confrontation with her father.
Two Hawks waited until the day T'on Ma called Sunday, got on his horse and rode out of camp. Making his way to her cottonwoods, he found that she wasn't there. Tethering his horse on the other side of the river from the house, he waited for night and then walked to the barn. He sat beside it, away from the house, and continued to wait. When he was sure the family was asleep, he cautiously crept up to the house, slowly opened the door, and silently made his way over to Lana's bed. Holding his hand over her mouth, he gently woke her.
Startled, she jerked up. Then, realizing who it was, she got out of bed and threw a shawl around her shoulders as she followed him back to the barn. Once there, he grabbed her up in his arms and let his kiss tell her how much he had missed her. When he finally let her go, she stepped back to look at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked with real concern in her voice. "Pa will kill us both if he finds us together."
Two Hawks placed his forefinger over her lips to quiet her. Then began the task of telling her that his band was leaving for their winter camp and would be gone for months.
Her eyes grew wide. "Oh, Centas Yi, I don't want you to go."
He drew her to him again, holding her, kissing her, missing her already. "Come with me," he murmured against her hair. "Live with me." Even though he knew she couldn't understand all of his words, he began telling her his thoughts. "I love you, T'on Ma, and I want to marry you. I know you're not Kiowa, but you could learn our ways. I would teach you." He looked down into her eyes and smiled.
Then he spoke in English, "When we go, come with me."
"I don't know," she shook her head. "I don't know what to do."
He kissed the tips of his fingers and placed his hand over her heart. "I love you. You are my heart." His question filled his eyes. Did she love him, too? Lana looked at the question, searched her own mind, and then, with tears in the corner of her eyes, kissed her fingertips and placed her hand over his heart. Two Hawks closed his eyes for a second as the meaning of her gesture washed over him. She loved him. That's all he wanted to know.
They stood together, underneath the quarter moon, so close that it was hard to tell in the shadows where one of them stopped and the other began. He held her against his body, enjoying how that felt. She wrapped her arms around his waist and simply held him, her head resting on his shoulder.
"I can hear your heart beating," she whispered. "Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump." She smiled up at him, only to get another of his kisses, filled with longing and promise. He knew what to do with a woman; how to use his hands and body to bring them both pleasure. He knew what he wanted to do with her. But knowing this wasn't the right time or place, and certain that he would be her first lover, he made himself be content with kisses and embraces.
After a time, she ste
pped back. "I need to get in," she sighed, regretfully. "But I'll think about what you asked me."
He watched her walk back to the house, determined that when his band moved, she would be with them.
* * *
Two days after Two Hawks' midnight visit, Lana went on another foraging trip along the river. It was gorgeous fall day, the air crisp and cool, the sky beautifully blue. Lana found some interesting plants and, wondering what they were, set her gun and basket down for closer inspection. She had just knelt in front of the plants when someone grabbed her from behind and dragged her forcibly to the river. There, to her dismay, stood a band of five warriors, paint on their faces and on their horses. They didn't look like Kiowa. One of them arrogantly held up her gun. It was his now.
"Let me go!" she yelled as she leapt at the brave closest to her, grabbing at his chest and pulling something from his throat. Beads scattered to the ground like colored raindrops. The brave hit her across the face with the back of his hand, sending her head snapping back. Lana staggered, but didn't fall.
She glared at him, ready to charge again, when a noose was thrown over her neck, choking her. Just as quickly, her hands were tied. The men mounted their horses and headed southwest, forcing her to walk behind them.
Lana spoke what little Kiowa she knew, but none of them responded. She continued in English. "Where are we going? - Do you know that soldiers are looking for you? - My pa will come after me! - You'd better let me go while you have the chance. - That's not your gun, either!"
As her nonstop chatter continued, the warrior who had the other end of her ropes turned on his horse and shook his head at her, saying what she assumed was, 'Quiet.'
But she wouldn't be quiet. She was angry rather than frightened. Didn't they know she knew Two Hawks? After a few minutes of her endless commentary, another of the braves turned his horse around and, riding up beside her, kicked her in the chin, yelling at her. She bit her tongue in the motion, blood running down the side of her mouth. But at last, she was quiet. And, for the first time, she was afraid.
The small band of warriors rode for hours before they stopped. Lana fell exhausted on the ground right where she stood. She had had time to think about who they might be and, when one of them walked close by, she risked another question.
"Apache?" she asked. When he nodded, her heart sank. But she gamely tried again. Pointing to herself, she said, "T'on Ma." That surprised him. He didn't speak Kiowa, but he knew it when he heard it. What was she doing with a Kiowa name? Shrugging it off, he walked away. After a few minutes of rest, the warriors mounted their horses, and the trek continued.
* * *
"Joshua, have you seen Lana?" May asked as she walked out to meet him in the yard late that afternoon.
"No. She's not back yet?"
"No. She left early this morning. I expected her back long before now."
"She's probably out daydreaming again. You know how she gets."
"I know. But she wouldn't stay gone this long. I'm worried."
"All right, May. Nathan and I will go looking while there's still light."
They came back two hours later, empty-handed. It was too dark to continue searching.
"I wonder if she's at the Kiowa camp?" Nathan speculated as he opened the door and walked in.
"If she is, there'd better be a good reason for it," Joshua growled, following him.
Looking anxiously behind them for Lana, May hurried over from the fireplace. "Did you find her?"
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. It just got too dark."
"No! Something's wrong. You go back out there and find her!" May commanded as she jabbed her finger toward the door, frantic.
"Honey, we'll have to wait until morning," Joshua explained quietly as he reached for her. "We'll miss her trail otherwise."
Stepping away from him, she cried, "My baby is out there all alone, hurt, or worse. You can't quit!" Her husband's sad eyes finally reached her. Her voice softened. "You can't quit." This time, she let Joshua wrap his arms around her while she broke into tears.
"We'll find her, May," he whispered into her ear. "We'll find her."
* * *
By first light, Joshua and Nathan began the search on horseback again. Within two hours, they found Lana's basket. They also found signs in the patches of dirt that someone had been dragged down to the river. At the river, the horse tracks were plain to see. There were also the scattered beads. Nathan picked them up and put them in his pocket.
Joshua's jaws flexed as he studied the evidence. "This is gonna kill your ma."
"Let me go to the Kiowa camp," Nathan volunteered. "Maybe they know something."
"All right. But then you hurry back."
"Yes, sir." Nathan turned north while Joshua turned east, toward home.
Nathan made good time to the camp, cantering most of the way. As he came near, he called for Two Hawks, Broken Man and Crying Fox. They were the only Kiowa he knew.
Crying Fox came out of his lodge, curiosity clear on his face. Seeing Nathan, he nodded and walked over to him.
"I need Centas Yi!" Nathan jumped off his horse.
Crying Fox motioned for Nathan to follow him. In a matter of seconds, they stood in front of Gray Dove's tipi, Crying Fox politely coughing.
Many Deer stepped out, surprised at seeing Nathan.
"Centas Yi?" Nathan repeated.
Two Hawks followed his father out of the lodge and looked questioningly at Nathan.
"T'on Ma is gone. She's been captured." Nathan gestured toward the southwest and shook his head. He was surprised at Two Hawks' understanding without the need for sign language.
Two Hawks jerked his head around to stare at his father. "Who would take her?"
Nathan pulled the beads out of his pocket, showing them to the Kiowa. After one look at the colors, Two Hawks grabbed some of them out of Nathan's palm and threw them violently in the air.
"Apache! She's been taken by Apache," he growled. "I'm going!"
"Wait!" his father stopped him. "We have a pact with the Apache. Don't start trouble over a white woman. Let the soldiers take care of this." He jabbed his finger at Nathan. "He's her brother. Let him go. We're moving camp soon. You need to stay here."
Two Hawks looked in disbelief at his father. Many Deer couldn't really expect him to stay behind and let her be taken, could he? In answer, Two Hawks ducked back into the tipi and emerged a few minutes later, ready to travel, light and fast.
As Two Hawks jogged toward the horse herd, Nathan ran up beside him and stopped him. "I'm going, too," he announced as he pointed to himself and then at Two Hawks.
Two Hawks studied him for a moment and then nodded. Within five minutes, they were both mounted and on their way. Nathan managed to convince the impatient warrior to stop by the house to let his parents know what had happened.
* * *
"Pa!" Nathan yelled as they rode into the yard over an hour later.
"Yeah!" Joshua hurried outside along with the rest of the family.
"Centas Yi and I are going after her. He says Apache got her."
"Oh, no! Please, no." May held her apron up to her face, her worst fears realized.
"Why don't you go find the lieutenant, Pa? Maybe he can help, too."
"Why don't I go with Centas Yi?" Joshua countered. "It's too dangerous for you."
"Who is the lieutenant going to listen to? Me - or Lana's father? And, as for dangerous, I don't have a wife and kids. You do."
"All right, son." He conceded to the logic and then turned to May. "Get them some food. I'll get a canteen."
Within ten minutes, Nathan had food, water, a blanket, and more bullets and powder for his rifle. As Two Hawks waited on his horse, May walked over to him and, laying a hand on his knee, looked up into his face.
"You bring T'on Ma back to us. Please."
He understood her words as well as her eyes. Nodding once, he touched his heart, letting her know he would bring her back or die in the effort. "I will find La-
nah." May was so upset, she didn't even wonder at his English.
The two young men rode out in the early afternoon, desperate to make up lost time.
Chapter 11 - A Very High Price
Lana spent an uncomfortable first night with her captors. They tied her, sitting up, to a tree. Something in the trunk stuck in the middle of her back, making sleep almost impossible. One of the Apache took pity on her and offered her water and some of the foulest tasting 'bread' (she had no idea what else to call it) that she had ever eaten. But it would have to do. After most of them had settled down to sleep, a second Apache walked over to stand in front of her, staring contemptuously down at her. He took another step closer and leaned over. Lana wondered what he wanted, but someone called him back before she ever found out.
Lana spent the next day in the same fashion as the previous afternoon. Only now, her family and Two Hawks knew she was in trouble. Now, Two Hawks was on the hunt. If she had only known...
Lana trudged behind the horse, walking slightly to one side. Falling once, she was dragged several yards over grass, rocks and thorns before she managed to make it back on her feet. They would not stop for her.
Trying to keep her spirits up, she silently talked to herself, her face and tongue still swollen from the kick she received the day before.
You know, it could be worse. This could be August with no water and nothing but a hundred degree heat. She took a few steps. I wonder if they know I'm gone? Tripping, she caught herself and kept walking. Of course they know I'm gone! They knew last night. After a few more weary steps, she thought,
So, that means Pa is on his way. Goodness, I'd hate to be them when he finds us.
She smiled secretly to herself at that. Pa's temper was rare, but a thing to be marveled at when it erupted.
I am so thirsty!
She licked her dry lips wistfully.
What I wouldn't give for some lemonade right now!
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