Wolf Shadow’s Promise

by Karen Kay

  Whatever the reason, she now had his undivided attention.

  He had crept into her room, had been waiting for her when she returned just as the first rays of sun had stolen across the eastern sky.

  At first he hadn’t said a word and, believing herself to be alone, Alys had begun to unpack her pouch.

  “Aa, yes,” he said from a darkened corner of her room, “so the Wolf Shadow is, indeed, a woman.”

  She spun around toward his voice. “Moon Wolf!”

  Still, he remained in the darkness. “Did you not promise me that you would not impersonate me again?”

  “I did not.”

  “Humph! I thought you a better person than to lie.”

  “I am not lying. I did not impersonate you. I went as myself—a woman—just as you asked me to do.”

  She heard him draw a deep breath. “But as a female Wolf Shadow, I believe. Do not bother to deny it, I have already heard the stories.”

  She grinned inanely. “Then I won’t deny it. But, please, try to remember, I did not promise you that I wouldn’t try to help you again, only that I would go as myself if I did so, as a woman. I did that.”

  He stepped forward. “Why?” he asked. “Why did you try to draw the gunfire to yourself? You could have been killed.”

  “But I wasn’t.” She hesitated, her face flushed, though the darkness thankfully hid it. At last, she countered, “Why are you?”

  “Why am I what? Why am I trying to keep the bull trains away from my people? I thought we had been all through that.”

  “No, that is not what I mean and you know it.” She took a step toward him. “Why are you taking such reckless chances?”

  “This was no reckless chance tonight—on my part. I escaped easily, as you can see.”

  “I disagree. I saw many men chasing you and practically catching you. I became a diversion in order that you escape.”

  “I do not need your help, nor do I want it. You will not do it again.”

  “Try to stop me.”

  “You would defy your husband?”

  “I would defy the man who calls himself my husband, yet who refuses to talk to me or even to visit me at night, when he is supposed to be performing his husbandly duties.”

  “Aa, so that is it. You are upset that I am not keeping you satisfied?”

  She folded her arms over her chest and turned her back on him. Soft footsteps shuffled up close behind her, and she offered, over her shoulder, “You make it sound like a crime.”

  “Perhaps it is.”

  “What are you talking about? We are married.”

  “Are you?” came his instant argument. “I know that I am. I am not so certain about you.”

  She reeled under the insult. “How can you say such a thing?”

  “Very easily, I think.” A finger trailed along the sensitive skin at her nape.

  She closed her eyes, letting the sweetness of his touch wash over her. Oh, how she had longed for this.

  She spun around, coming instantly into his arms. “Hold me, Moon Wolf,” she pleaded. “Just hold me.”

  His arms tightened around her. “I am.”

  “Moon Wolf, have you not missed me?”

  He groaned, nestling his face in her hair. “Every day.”

  “Then why,” she asked, whispering to him, “why haven’t you come to me?”

  “And spoil your plans? I would not do that.”

  “Spoil my…what are you talking about?”

  “It does not matter. I understand why you do what you do, and I must admit that I approve.”

  She was lost. “What?”

  “But we leave the point, which is your recklessness tonight.”

  “I was not reckless,” she protested. She was more than aware that he tried to divert her attention, yet she felt unable to stop him. She elaborated, “I planned every detail. And I was successful.”

  “You will not do it again.”

  She looked up steadily into his eyes. “Moon Wolf, hear me well. I will continue to do it as long as you risk your life so dangerously.”

  He kept her gaze for several moments before at last, he sighed. “Arguing with you,” he admitted, “is like talking to the wind. One only gets back the same question he puts to it. I already have a companion to help me. His name is Makoyi and he is my constant friend. I do not need your interference.”

  “Nevertheless,” she held her ground, “you have it.”

  He let his hands drop from around her, while a raw, primitive groan escaped his throat. “You would do this no matter that I forbid it?”

  His voice was hard, unemotional, carrying none of the frustration she witnessed in his countenance. He looked away from her, toward the corner of the room, before he turned observant eyes back to her.

  She swallowed noisily, saying, “I will help you so long as you take the chances you have been taking.”

  He took a step back. “Then I would have you know what you are doing.”

  She nodded, however, as though slow in comprehension, she asked, “I beg your pardon?”

  He didn’t answer. He asked, instead, “Do you know how to use a gun?”

  She nodded.

  “Have you ever shot one?”

  Another nod.

  “And do you know how to hide so another cannot find you? How to master a horse?”

  “I…I think so.”

  He grunted. “It is not a matter of thinking. You either can do these things or you cannot. And if you cannot, they can be learned.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh,” was all she admitted.

  He turned toward her window. “You will come to the caverns today where I will begin the task of teaching you.”

  “But the guards, how will I—”

  “They no longer watch you during the day, only in the evening.”

  “Oh,” she said. “I didn’t know. I thought that…how long have you known this?”

  “For the past few days.”

  “And still you did not come to me?”

  “I told you. I will not spoil your plans.”

  “What plans?”

  He didn’t answer, merely shrugged. “You will come to the caves when the sun is high in the sky. We will begin then.” And with this said, he put a leg outside the window and jumped to the ground, as quick as that. Alys stood still. What in the dickens was wrong with the man?

  Well, she would soon discover it. She would meet him at noon and she would not leave until she’d had a long talk with him.

  She promised this to herself.

  Chapter 19

  Was it possible that he had heard of her engagement? It might explain his odd behavior and his insistence on taking such daring chances this past week. Still, he couldn’t believe that she, his wife, would tie herself to another man.

  Or could he?

  She’d not had the chance to explain her actions to him. And even if she had, wasn’t it possible that he still might think the worst? Wasn’t it why she hadn’t told him her plans in the beginning?

  Still, if he had already heard of it…

  She needed to talk to Moon Wolf.

  And so it was with great purpose that she stole into the caves at noon, intent upon having a private conversation with her husband. But he was nowhere to be found.

  She cut a glance to the ceiling and sighed. She supposed he had already gone to the waterfall. Well, make no mistake, she would find him and get this squared away, no matter the consequences.

  “Do you know how to handle an arrow?”

  These, his first words to her, did not encourage her. She gave him a hesitant glance, saying, “I don’t think so, but there is something I would—”

  “Come you here, then, and I will teach you.”

  They stood outside, in an open meadow, downhill and to the right of the falls. Staked out in front of her were sticks standing straight up in the ground. And before her stood her husband, a hoop in his hand, the wind blowing back his hair.

  She took
the few steps necessary to close the distance between them, as Moon Wolf tossed her an arrow at the same time.

  He continued, “This is the hoop and long arrow game.”

  “Oh.” The wind caught her hair and the side of her dress, and she reached down to keep her skirts from blowing.

  He pretended to take no notice, however, and went on to explain, “The game comes to us from the Kit Fox society, which is part of the All Comrades society. It is usually played by boys too young to travel or hunt with the men.”

  “Wonderful, but I—”

  “Come,” he pointed to a place next to him. “Stand here and I will show you how it is done.”

  She went. “But Moon Wolf,” she protested, “I would have a few words with you first.”

  He gave her a scowl. “If you plan to go on raids with me, then I must first ensure that you can protect yourself.”

  “But I—”

  “Later we will talk. Now, I want you to hold on to this arrow. Look you here at the wood. It is made from choke cherry and at this end is a deer antler which I have made into a point. If you choose to, you can decorate the other end of this in any fashion that you might desire. For now I have put a feather on it”

  “Moon Wolf,” she said, grasping hold of the arrow, but not giving it so much as a quick glimpse. “Moon Wolf, first I need to talk to you about a plan that I had devised to—”

  “Are you to learn these skills or not?” he interrupted her. “If you do not master these, I cannot allow you to go on the raids, no matter your temperament or your arguments with me. If I must, I will tie you to your bed each and every time I go on a raid.”

  “Fine, I will do what you want,” she said, “but I would talk to you first, before we start.”

  He came up to her then, taking the few steps necessary to place a hand on her shoulders. That the simple gesture sent a feeling of excitement racing over her skin she chose to ignore, at least for the moment.

  He said, “I promise you that we will talk, but I would ask that you save whatever it is until after we have practiced. Can you agree to that?”

  Put that way, how could she refuse? She nodded. “All right, then. But you must promise me that you will not leave me until we have had a chance to talk.”

  “I give you my word.”

  She squared her shoulders. “All right. What do I have to do?”

  He held up a round hoop in front of her face. It was made of willow sticks pulled into a ring and wrapped in a hide. Colored beads decorated the inside of the thing. He said, “I am going to throw this hoop out in front of you, close at first, but then farther and farther away, and it is your duty to throw that arrow into the hoop.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Once you have mastered this skill, we will go on to the next. Are you ready?”

  She nodded, and he rolled the hoop in front of her.

  She tossed the arrow, missing the hoop by at least a foot.

  “Try again,” he encouraged, collecting up the hoop and rolling it again in front of her.

  Once more, she missed it.

  Again, he rolled the hoop, over and over. She never made the target, not even once.

  Observing her, he said, “I think it is the way you are throwing the arrow. Have you never been taught how to throw?”

  “I’ve not had a reason to learn,” she said.

  He came up beside her on the left. “Here, watch me.” He reached over her to take the arrow, his fingers brushing against her hand and her stomach at the same time. A shock of raw feeling burst through her with the simple gesture, but she remained silent, merely changing her stance in reaction. He continued, “This is a long arrow, much like a lance, and must be thrown from over the shoulder. Notice how the hand holds the arrow cocked until the last moment, and then the wrist is flicked. Do you see?” He demonstrated.

  She nodded. “I think so. Let me try it again.”

  He let go of the arrow, his arm brushing against her stomach, and almost, but not quite, touching her breasts.

  Still, she pretended immunity. She put the arrow up over her shoulder, giving him a swift look at the same time. “Are you going to roll the hoop?”

  “I think that we will first learn how to throw the arrow.”

  “Do you think I will need this skill, when I have a gun that I will be using instead of the arrow?”

  “It will not be a waste. Learning how to throw correctly will serve you well, I think. Besides, we cannot practice with a gun, for I do not wish the noise to draw others to us. It is the eye we are training, for the object of the game is to throw the arrow through the hoop. It is a skill you can use with a gun, too, for it teaches you to hit a moving target.”

  She gave him a brief nod. “Okay, if you say so. Here we go.” She threw the arrow, imitating him as best she could.

  “That was better,” he said, retrieving the arrow for her. “Try again.”

  Over and over she practiced, though still without much success.

  He came up to her. “Watch for a moment.” He took the arrow from her. “The arm needs to go back over the shoulder farther.” He demonstrated once before handing over the arrow to her.

  She took it from him, poised the arrow over her shoulder, and practically melted into the ground when his arms came around her, his right arm holding hers, imitating the correct motion. His body was close to hers, too close, and she felt herself wanting to merge her body with his.

  She let him take her arm through the correct movements, all the while snuggling in as close as possible to him, the evidence of his masculinity, though unaroused, pushing into her side. Timidly, she stole a glance up at him.

  He glared back at her, his look tolerant, not in the least erotic, although there was a huskiness in his voice when he asked, “Do you think you have it yet?”

  He took a step back.

  Now, truth was, she might have had the action down perfectly. But, even if she had, she wouldn’t have admitted it.

  She sent him a look of what she hoped was innocence, saying, “I’m not certain yet. Could you show me again?” She placed the arrow above her shoulder, and he stepped in toward her, though he sent her a knowing look, one that might have said he wasn’t fooled by her in the least.

  However, he didn’t protest. “Hold it this way.” He took the necessary step to put his arm around her. He held her arm captive. “At the last minute,” he said, “flick your wrist thusly.” He had her release the arrow. “Do you see?” This last was whispered into her ear so huskily, that she actually moaned. Momentarily, she glanced up at him, making a mental note that his eye had not followed the arrow’s progress in the least.

  She turned in his embrace. “Moon Wolf,” she said, “I have something to say to you.”

  “I know.” His lips came to her neck, where he began to nibble.

  She threw back her head that he might have better access. “Moon Wolf,” she murmured, “I have missed you.”

  “I know,” he uttered again between kisses.

  And while she had his attention, she added, “There is no one but you. Surely you must know that. Is your impatience with me because you have somehow heard of my engagement?”

  “I have not been impatient with you.”

  “I think that you have, almost to the point of antagonism. Is it that you have heard of the engagement?” She put the question to him again.

  “It is not important,” he said, though his body stiffened beneath her touch.

  Still, she felt heartened. He had exhibited no surprise at her crude delivery of the truth. He must have received word of it. That would explain much.

  “No,” she agreed with him after only a moment’s hesitation, “it is not important. The engagement is a sham. It is not real. I only did it in order to discourage the lieutenant. Bobby Thompson is in love with another, and I am helping him to get the woman of his dreams. It is how I am returning his favor to me. There is no more to it than that.”

  “Humph!” was Moon Wolf�
�s only response, though he had resumed caressing her, bending to her neck as though she were a flower and he, a bee.

  “You do believe me, do you not?”

  “Why would I not?” His fingers touched the base of her neck, there massaging while he leaned back from her slightly. He raised an eyebrow. “If this was all there was to it, why did you not take me into your confidence or seek to enlighten me in some way?”

  “There has not been time. I could not come to the caves and you did not come to me.”

  His fingers toyed with the braid in her hair, reaching up to take the pins from it and let the length of it fall into his hands. He gazed steadily into her eyes. “I think,” he said, “that there was a night we spent together when you could have told me.”

  She turned her face away from him. It was true. She could have confessed then. But she hadn’t. She said, “I was afraid to. I was certain you would not approve.”

  “I would not.”

  “I did not want to be a prisoner in my own home. Nor did I wish to wait to see you. And I did not want you ordering me not to do what I thought was best.”

  “I would have listened to you, patiently, like I am now.”

  “And then told me to stop what I had already set into motion.”

  He blinked. It was the only hint of emotion on his countenance. He said, “Yet you did not come to me once the plans were set. This you could have done.”

  “I could not. You forbid me to come to the caves.”

  He sighed, saying after a moment, “Perhaps you are right. Still, I cannot help but think that you might have sent word to me somehow. You must have known that I would discover this.”

  “I never thought that you would. You are so disconnected from the fort’s society.”

  “And yet I saw a man coming and going from your house freely. What did you think I would do?”

  “I didn’t think. And I guess I was a little afraid to tell you.”

  He nodded. “So I understand.”

  “And now? What will you do with me now?”

  “I think that I will ensure that you know how to throw this arrow through the hoop.” He withdrew his embrace from her and picked up the hoop.

  Darn! He was so hard to read. What was he thinking? He hadn’t smiled at her, hadn’t raised his voice, hadn’t even voiced much disagreement.