T'on Ma

by Magnolia Belle

  Looking at the back of one of her captors, she continued.

  I wonder if he even knows what lemonade is? Probably not.

  Then, in order to keep from driving herself crazy, she began designing a new dress - a new dress for a party. No. A dance. Yes, a new dress for a dance. Picking out colors and laces and buttons kept her mind busy for a good long while.

  * * *

  Nathan expected Two Hawks to slowly track the Apache band and was surprised when, instead, he took off at a steady lope, as if he knew where the Apache were going. They traveled at this distance-eating pace for quite a while before Two Hawks stopped to rest and water the horses.

  "You seem to know where we're headed," Nathan said as he slid down from his horse. Two Hawks just nodded once, not understanding everything he'd said. Nathan frowned. They needed a way to talk to each other. Pointing to his horse, he said, "horse."

  Two Hawks looked at him and then the animal. When Nathan repeated it, he nodded and told him the Kiowa word for horse. Nathan then pointed to his gun and said "Rifle." Two Hawks gave him the Kiowa equivalent and then admitted, "Your sister teach me English."

  "She did? When?" Nathan's brows furrowed as he realized his sister and Two Hawks had spent time together, even after her father's warning.

  "Many times," was all Two Hawks would say.

  Thus began the rudiments of Nathan's lessons in Kiowa and Two Hawks' continued lessons in English. It helped pass the time while the two men rode in a southwesterly direction, stopping only when the horses needed to. Their first night on the trail was Lana's second.

  * * *

  At sundown, her captors stopped, but rather than dismount, one of them rode ahead and disappeared into a ravine. A few minutes later, he returned and waved them in. Lana's arms were once again jerked forward, sending her aching, bruised legs into motion. She put her hands against the horse's flank to keep from sliding down the side of the steep ravine. Eventually, though, they made it to the bottom.

  Lana surveyed the scene. Several more Apache braves, at least thirty, milled around their makeshift camp. To one side, a white teenage girl sat alone, tied to a stake. Her dress was torn, her light brown hair a mass of tangles. Besides Lana, she was the only other female there. She didn't look up when the latest arrivals came into camp.

  Lana's captor led her to a small knot of warriors, where she waited. For what, she didn't know. In a few minutes, the knot broke apart and one of the men walked over to her. Grabbing her chin, he roughly lifted her face to inspect it. His expression held a glint of interest when he saw her blue eyes. Nodding once, he let her chin go and walked around her, closely inspecting her build, height, overall health. Without a word, he pointed to the other girl and then walked away.

  Lana's guard led her to the stake and tied her there. It was a relief to sit down. "Hi. My name is..."

  "Sshhh!" the girl hissed a warning.

  "Lana," she finished in the softest of whispers as she tried to speak without moving her lips.

  The girl finally looked at her, her face expressionless. A bad purple-black bruise covered one side of her face. Lana imagined that it matched her own.

  "What's your name?" Lana risked asking.

  "Christina."

  "Do you know where we are?"

  "Hell." Christina looked down again in complete despondency.

  Campfires were lit as the night fell. The women ate the unpalatable bread again. In spite of her circumstances, Lana was glad that she was no longer alone. She looked over at Christina, wondering why she was so quiet. She had never seen shock like that before.

  The brave who had approached her the night before came back again. Looking over his shoulder to make sure no one watched him, he knelt beside Lana. His leer made her skin crawl. Pulling out a knife, he cut the end of her rope tied to the stake and led her out of the camp, up the ravine, behind a large boulder. Lana didn't know if screaming for help would get her killed. Once they were out of sight, he threw her to the ground and said something she didn't understand. But his intentions became clear when he lifted his breechcloth.

  Lana took a deep breath and screamed, hoping someone would get there in time. As the brave fell on top of her, she turned her head and closed her eyes, waiting for the worst. He didn't move. When she opened her eyes, she saw four moccasined feet standing beside her. Someone lifted her attacker off. As they did so, she saw the arrow sticking straight out of his back. A pair of hands lifted her from the ground. An Apache grabbed her rope and led her back into the ravine, tying her to the stake again. Drawing her knees to her chest, Lana held her head in her hands and, for the first time since her capture, let herself cry.

  "You're lucky," a man's voice said above her. Looking up, she saw the Apache that had "inspected" her earlier, and assumed that he led this madness. "If we hadn't stopped him, you'd be dead by now."

  "Why did you stop him?" she asked, surprised that he spoke English so well.

  "Because you're worth more than ten of him," Dark Fist explained.

  "What?"

  "You still don't understand?" He laughed derisively. "Those blue eyes of yours will bring a very high price in Mexico. A very high price. We'll get twice for you what we get for her." Dark Fist nodded at Christina and then walked away, leaving Lana with that chilling revelation.

  "Dear God in heaven," Lana said out loud, "please protect us."

  "Pray all you want," Christina murmured. "Won't do no good. Even God's afraid of him." She spat in Dark Fist's direction.

  Lana looked over at Christina, wordlessly studying her. Lana wasn't ready to give up to that kind of despair - not yet.

  * * *

  Two Hawks and Nathan rode into the night for a few hours before stopping. They brushed down the horses and hobbled them to graze. Nathan pulled out some of the food his mother had sent and offered half to Two Hawks. The Kiowa took it and sat on the ground next to him.

  "Why?" Nathan asked. "Why are you doing this?"

  "La-nah. I love La-nah." He spoke in stilted English. He didn't know all the words he wanted. So, he continued in Kiowa. "She is my woman. When we find her, she will live with me as my wife."

  "You know trail how?" Nathan asked in broken Kiowa.

  "It's an old trail to Mexico."

  Nathan didn't understand all of what was said. But he knew enough. Finished with his meager meal, he lay down on the ground and fell into exhausted slumber. Two Hawks allowed them four hours of sleep before they were back on the trail.

  * * *

  Lana's second full day with the Apache was a brutal endurance test. The rough rope left deep, red, blistering sores around the back of her neck. Stumbling on the uneven ground early in the day, she had sprained her left ankle. Walking was painful, but better than being dragged.

  Besides Christina and herself, the warriors also had a large remuda of horses stolen from raided ranches. She even saw one horse with a US Cavalry brand.

  As Lana studied the band, their faces became more familiar to her. Some scared her, but there were a few that looked approachable. Thoughts of befriending one of them kept flitting across her mind. Maybe - just maybe - one of them would help her escape.

  The more she thought about this, the more of an impossibility it became. She needed a bribe, and she had nothing, not even a locket, to trade. Even if someone did help her, how far would she get before the Apaches came back for her? And, then, what would they do to her?

  When the raiding party took a rare break, Lana fell down to the ground and rubbed her throbbing ankle. The guard stood over her, looking down.

  "Please," she begged. "Please." She pointed to her foot and then to a horse in the remuda. The Apache pondered over her request. She was only a woman; she should walk. However, how many rifles would they get for a lame woman? Making up his mind, he called over to a compatriot, who roped one of the horses and led it over. When they began moving again, Lana gratefully rode a horse, even though riding bareback was difficult. The rope still cut into her neck
. Her hands were still tied. She was still a captive. But in a small way, her life just got better.

  When the raiding party made camp that night, she and Christina were staked together again. Lana smiled at her in a greeting, but Christina turned away, angry that Lana got to ride and she didn't. Lana shrugged her shoulders and lay down to sleep, too sore and worn out to care.

  Chapter 12 - Wait For Night

  Two Hawks and Nathan repeated their pattern from the day before. During the long hours on the trail, Nathan broached a delicate subject.

  "Centas Yi. You love Lana?" When the warrior nodded, Nathan continued. "Does she love you?"

  "Yes."

  Nathan rode silently for a moment while he thought about this. Two Hawks saw the puzzled concern on Nathan's face.

  "She is my woman. One day, my wife."

  "Your

  wife?"

  Nathan shook his head. He hadn't understood the first time Two Hawks had told him that. "Oh, no. Pa won't stand for that."

  "Why not? I'm a good hunter. She will never be hungry."

  "Why not?" Nathan echoed. "Because you're not... Because she isn't..." He scowled, unable to finish his sentences in English or Kiowa. "She'll live with your tribe?"

  "Yes."

  "And she's agreed to this?"

  That stopped Two Hawks. Lana hadn't agreed to anything. He just assumed that she would live as Kiowa. When she hadn't answered him about moving to his winter camp, he thought she was concerned about the timing and about leaving her family. It never dawned on him that she might not want to live as Kiowa. At least, not until now.

  In answer, Two Hawks shrugged and nudged his horse to a faster pace.

  When they finally stopped for the night, Two Hawks lay on his side to try to sleep for a few hours. Before he fell asleep, though, his thoughts went to Lana, worried about her. Knowing why she was taken captive was the only small comfort he got. As long as she did what she was told, they would not harm her. But he had to get to her before they reached Mexico. After that, it would be too late.

  * * *

  At noon the next day, Two Hawks held up his hand and reined his horse to a stop.

  "What is it?" Nathan asked.

  "Apache. There." He pointed to the horizon toward Double Mountain. Nathan looked but, at first, he could see nothing. Then he saw movement against the skyline. His frown deepened when he realized how many Apaches there were. And there were only two of them.

  Through broken English, broken Kiowa and sign language, the two men devised a plan. Two Hawks would approach the Apaches in a gesture of friendship and ride with them until they camped for the night. Nathan would follow undetected. Then, at night, he would sneak up to the camp and wait for Two Hawks. Between the two of them, they would get Lana out.

  Two Hawks rode almost an hour to catch up to the raiding party. He didn't want his horse to be sweaty, or want to look like he had hurried to find them. As he nonchalantly approached them, one rode out to meet him, gesturing with a rifle.

  "Hou," Two Hawks greeted him, his hand raised in peace. He spoke Apache because he had often traded with them.

  "What do you want?"

  "Nothing. Just saw your band and thought I'd stop by. See if you have anything good to eat."

  The Apache chuckled at that. "No. But come on in, anyway." He knew Two Hawks only had a bow and arrow, no rifle. There was an understanding, a peace, between the two tribes, and Two Hawks would be made welcome.

  As they approached the raiding party, Two Hawks scanned it for any sign of Lana. He saw the remuda first. Next he spotted Christina to the left, being led by a rope. As they got nearer, he looked toward the front and saw Lana. His heart leapt, making it difficult to hide his relief.

  "You must be taking them to Mexico," he said, nodding to the horses and captives.

  "Yes."

  "They should bring good money. Enough for new rifles," Two Hawks grinned.

  "Yes. If you help us, you might get a new rifle out of it yourself."

  Two Hawks nodded, as if he was thinking over this invitation. "All right. I don't have a rifle, but I've always wanted one." The two men laughed. Two Hawks waved, then slowly meandered around the group, taking his time, talking to different braves as he met them. Eventually, he rode up to the brave leading Lana.

  "Hou. I'm Two Hawks." When the brave only nodded, he continued, "I thought I'd help you get to Mexico. Maybe get a new gun out of it."

  "Good. We can use the help. There are a lot of horses this time."

  "And some women, I see."

  "Yes. But only two of them. One of them has blue eyes, though. She will bring a lot of rifles."

  "Blue eyes? Where?"

  "This one." The guard nodded over his shoulder.

  "Can I see?"

  "Why not? She doesn't bite. At least I don't think she does."

  Two Hawks dropped back until he rode beside Lana. Reaching across, he took her face in his hand, looking at her eyes. Her captor turned around to watch his reaction.

  "They are blue!" Two Hawks grinned back at him, relieved that Lana showed no sign that she knew him.

  "I told you. Just don't try anything funny. We had to kill a man who tried to rape her. She won't be worth anything if she isn't pure." The man turned back around, concentrating on the path ahead.

  At this news, Two Hawks looked at her badly bruised face and wanted to scream his rage while shooting arrows into all of them. But, if he did that, she would be dead for sure - right after they killed him. It took all he had to keep a calm head, to remain expressionless.

  Whispering to her in English, he said, "I love you, Lana. Wait for night."

  * * *

  The third day on the trail found Lana dazed from fear, weariness, and hunger. Her mind wasn't focused. Her back and thighs were sore from riding bareback so long the previous day, but at least she wasn't in danger of falling off the horse any more.

  They had been on the trail for several hours when someone rode up to her captor's horse. When Lana heard them talking, she paid no attention, her eyes unfocused on the horizon. But something in one of the voices caught her attention. She did a double take, afraid to breathe, when she realized the newcomer was Two Hawks. The next thing she knew, he was holding her face, looking into her eyes, telling her that he loved her.

  She stared at him in disbelief as she whispered, "Centas Yi?" A single tear rolled down her dirty, bruised face.

  Before Lana could say anything more, he rode away. She wanted to scream his name, to make him come back. Why had he left her? Confusion reigned, and she wondered if she had imagined him there. Twisting around, she looked for him. There he sat, laughing with an Apache, as if nothing was wrong. What on earth was he doing? She didn't understand. But wait. What had he told her? She shook her head, trying to concentrate. Wait for night?

  They covered a quarter-mile while she puzzled this newest development. Finally, Two Hawks' plan began to dawn on her tired brain. They would escape at dark. Until then, they both had roles to play in a dangerous game. She couldn't let on that she knew him. It might even help if she acted afraid of him. That way, whenever the time came, no one would be suspicious of him getting close to her.

  They had difficulty avoiding watching each other. Two Hawks worried about how he would get her out with so many guards. Even with Nathan close by, he wasn't sure they weren't all just a few hours away from their deaths.

  The afternoon crawled by too slowly to suit Lana. She had no idea what Two Hawks planned to do and hoped, desperately, that her hurt ankle wouldn't slow them down. At least, she reasoned, she would be a little more rested from riding instead of walking. His presence gave her renewed strength and a confidence that everything would be all right.

  They stopped for one late afternoon break beside a pond, giving the herd a chance to drink. Two Hawks rode over to Lana under the guise of earning his rifle by watering her horse. When he reached for Lana to help her down, she began kicking and pummeling him with her fists, as
if she feared that she was being attacked. Astonished, he put her on the ground and stepped back, while the Apaches around them broke out in laughter. She winced as she put weight on her left leg. Glancing up at Two Hawks, she winked quickly, and then made a point of glaring at him as she limped away under the warriors' watchful eyes.

  Two Hawks turned around, leading her horse to the pond. He understood her little act and now he also knew that she was hurt.

  * * *

  Joshua Cooper hurried east toward Ft. Worth an hour after Nathan and Two Hawks had ridden off in the opposite direction. He turned once to wave at his wife and remaining two sons. He hated leaving them there alone, but there was nothing else to be done. With every mile he covered, he prayed he would run into Lt. O'Connell before having to go the entire distance to the fort. It would save so much time. And he didn't know how much of that Lana had.

  When the sun set on his first day out, he decided to set up camp on high ground. It would give him a better lookout. Climbing wearily down from his horse, Joshua looked around his surroundings, nodding. This would do for his purposes. Turning to his right, he saw the glimmer of a distant campfire. He wondered. Army? Kiowa? Or more Apache? Indecision immobilized him. Then, deciding on a course of action, he got back on his horse and rode cautiously forward.

  Whoever they were, there were several of them. He could see silhouettes against the firelight. Their voices carried across the prairie to him. They were speaking English! Joshua called out, making himself known. In a few minutes, a soldier led him to the lieutenant's tent, where Joshua shook hands with Liam.

  "Thank God I found you!" he told the astonished officer.

  "Why? What happened?" Liam frowned, knowing that it must be urgent.

  "Lana. The Apaches have taken Lana."

  "When?"

  "Yesterday. We found where she'd been captured. Nathan and Centas Yi left today to go after her and I came for you. Can you help?"