Savage Winter

by Constance O'Banyon

  She gathered up Fosset’s reins and led him reluctantly toward the forest. Her nerves were on edge, and she felt the tension building. Her hand went to the hilt of the knife that she had tucked into her belt before leaving camp. Joanna’s footsteps were soundless as she approached the forest.

  “Harland, are you here?” she called out softly, unsheathing her knife.

  Tense moments passed, and all she could hear was the chirping of the crickets and an occasional call of some night bird. Joanna remembered the panther that had once attacked Windhawk, and she felt her legs go weak. She had never thought of herself as a coward, but at the moment she felt totally alone and very terrified. Squaring her shoulders, she entered the forest. The hair on the back of her neck seemed to stand on end, and she had the eerie feeling that she was being watched.

  Joanna had to force herself to put one foot in front of the other. Gripping Fosset’s reins tightly in her hand, she had almost decided to remount and return to the village when she heard the whinny of a horse. Breathing a sigh of relief, she waited for Harland to appear. Hearing a rustling in the bushes to her left, she turned in that direction.

  “Harland?”

  “Yes,” came the muffled reply.

  “Thank goodness,” she said in relief. “I began to think you hadn’t come.”

  Joanna saw him move from behind a tree, and she strained her eyes to make out his features, but he was no more than a dark, shadowy outline.

  “Tag couldn’t come with me; he is away from the village. Has something happened to Simon or Kate Jackson? Is that why you sent for me?”

  He was right in front of her now, and she waited for him to speak.

  All at once, Joanna was grabbed from behind by a second man, and at first she was too stunned to react.

  “You walked right into this one, Injun lover,” an unknown voice said against her ear.

  Joanna began to struggle and managed to kick out at the assailant who stood in front of her, catching him squarely in the groin. She had the satisfaction of watching him double over in pain.

  Realizing she still held the knife in her hand, she managed to free her arms and slashed out at the man who tried to recapture her. He howled out in pain, loosening his grip long enough for her to get away.

  Joanna began running toward Fosset as fast as she could. She bounced onto his back, but before she could nudge him forward strong hands gripped her waist and jerked her off Fosset’s back. She gasped out in pain when the man threw her to the ground. A thousand lights seemed to explode in Joanna’s head when the man doubled up his fist and struck her a stunning blow that rendered her unconscious.

  Chester stood over Joanna’s body, breathing heavily. “We was told to bring both of them, but we can’t hang around waiting for the boy. Once them Injuns find the girl missing, they’ll come looking for her. We gotta get her away from here before that happens.”

  “I can’t go! That gal done went and stabbed me! I’m real bad off, Chester.”

  “You’re gonna be a lot worse off if them red devils find you,” his brother warned.

  That was all the encouragement Jim needed. He ran for the horses and led them quickly forward, ignoring the pain from his wounded shoulder.

  The two brothers rode away at breakneck speed with Joanna’s unconscious body resting against Chester’s lap and Jim leading the reluctant Fosset, who was pulling against the reins, trying to get free.

  Back in the Blackfoot village, the people slept peacefully, not knowing Joanna was in danger.

  She Who Heals, the old medicine woman, tossed in her sleep. She was dreaming that Windhawk’s woman had been spirited away by two white men. The dream was so real it awakened her, and she sat up, looking about the darkened tipi. She had the urge to go to Windhawk’s lodge to make certain Joanna was all right. She Who Heals shook her head. It was no more than a dream…Joanna would be asleep now. The old woman lay back down and closed her eyes. She was getting old and having foolish dreams, she thought. But still, her uneasy feeling didn’t go away. She told herself she would go to Windhawk’s lodge when the first light of day touched the land. That way, she could satisfy herself that Joanna was unharmed.

  It was Claudia’s wedding night. She looked down at her faded yellow gown and thought bitterly that it hadn’t been much of a wedding. Parson Richardson, who had come into the wilderness with the intention of converting the Indians to Christianity, had conducted the short ceremony. The only other person in attendance had been Mr. Hankins, and Claudia knew he had been there only because he thought Howard might balk at the last moment and refuse to marry her.

  Howard had been sullen and quiet throughout the whole ordeal, but every so often his eyes would seek Claudia’s, and she could read the anger smoldering beneath the surface. She had to keep reminding herself that she was legally his wife and there was nothing he could do about it.

  She was still stinging from the affront of none of the good ladies of the fort attending her wedding. After the ceremony, several of the men had offered to buy drinks in the common room to celebrate the occasion, but not one of the women had made an appearance at that time, either.

  Claudia lost count of how many glasses of wine Howard consumed, but she knew he drank more than his share. He hadn’t spoken one word to her since the wedding, but she knew he would have plenty to say when he sobered up. There was no question that she would have to face his wrath sooner or later.

  At the party, Howard had become too drunk to stand. Two of the men had helped him to his quarters and helped put him to bed. Claudia thought she was fortunate he had passed out cold. Perhaps she wouldn’t have to face his anger until tomorrow.

  Claudia looked at the bed where her new husband lay. She couldn’t help the strong feeling of distaste that washed over her at the sight of him. Howard was still fully clothed. His mouth was gaping open, and he was snoring loudly. His clothes were rumpled and wrinkled, and there were wine stains on his white shirt.

  The whole ordeal had been a strain on Claudia’s nerves. Howard was at least some twenty years older than herself. He was certainly not the sort of husband a young woman would yearn for. She allowed her thoughts to go to the handsome Captain Harland Thatcher. If only he were her husband, instead of Howard, who was old enough to be her father. How would she bear being married to him?

  Howard stirred now, and Claudia held her breath. Should she blow out the candle and lie down, pretending to be asleep? What would he do to her when he awoke?

  She clutched her hands tightly together when he sat up in bed, looking about as if he didn’t know where he was, until his eyes rested on Claudia. She watched apprehensively as he struggled to his feet and staggered his way toward her. She closed her eyes tightly and mentally braced herself for whatever was to come.

  Howard reached out and gripped her painfully by the shoulders. “You little slut,” he said, slurring his words. “You think you got the best of me today, don’t you?”

  “Howard, please! I didn’t…I only wanted to…”

  He struck her a heavy blow across the face that sent her reeling into the wall. “I got no bargain in you, but I’m stuck with you for now.” He raised his hand, and Claudia cringed, thinking he was going to strike her again.

  “You think you got me where you want me,” he said, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her toward the bed. Claudia tried to get away from him when he threw her down on the bed.

  “Howard, please, think what you’re doing!” she pleaded.

  “I might as well enjoy you, since I paid such a high price for that pleasure,” he said through thick lips.

  Claudia cried out in pain as he began kneading her breasts. When he lowered his body down on top of her, she tried to think of what would be best to do. Probably it would be better if she pretended enjoyment, she reasoned, winding her arms about his neck while his lips moved down her neck. She knew she would just have to make the best of a bad situation.

  Seeing the gleam in her eyes, Howard laughed. “
You aren’t Joanna…her memory has tormented me day and night for over two years. I would have given up ten years of my life for just one night in bed with her.”

  “What are you saying?” Claudia cried, feeling all-consuming jealousy and hatred as Howard taunted her with Joanna. Was Joanna’s ghost to haunt her even on her wedding night? It didn’t matter to her that Howard was repugnant and she could hardly stand the feel of his hands on her body. She couldn’t bear to be compared with Joanna again and come up the loser. She was determined to wipe Joanna’s memory from his mind once and for all. Rubbing her body against him, she pulled his head down and kissed him hungrily.

  “You aren’t her, but you’ll do for now,” Howard whispered hotly into her ear.

  The morning sun found the two Boggs brothers still riding hard. Joanna hadn’t regained consciousness, and Chester was beginning to feel worried lest he had hit her too hard.

  “Hold up, Jim, we best stop by the river and see to this gal.”

  Jim dismounted and held his arms up so his brother could hand Joanna to him. He then laid her down on the grass and stood up as his brother approached.

  “My God, Chester, she’s the prettiest little thing I ever did see!”

  Both brothers stared at the beautiful, flame-haired Joanna. Her soft features were enhanced by her creamy white skin. The doeskin gown did nothing to hide the lovely curves of her body. Her face was unbelievably lovely, except for the bruise on her chin where Chester had struck her.

  Chester bent down and cupped his hands in the river, then trickled the water over her face.

  Joanna moaned and slowly opened her eyes. At first she was confused and disoriented, not knowing why she was lying on the ground. Her eyes widened when she saw the two strange men who were bending over her.

  Chester gave her his hand and helped her sit up. “How are you feeling, young lady? I didn’t mean to hit you so hard. I don’t think I ever did strike a woman before. Do you think you can stand up?”

  Joanna shook her head, still in a state of confusion. She noticed both men were wearing buckskin trousers and shirts. One was clean-shaven, and the other wore a beard. “Who are you? Why have you done this to me?”

  The clean-shaven man, who appeared to be the younger of the two, took Joanna’s hand and helped her to stand. “I’m Jim Boggs, and this here’s my brother, Chester.”

  “What do you want with me?” Joanna asked, seeing nothing in the two brothers’ attitude to make her fear them.

  “We was hired to bring you to Fort Union. We was told not to say any more than that.”

  “Who would have hired you to do such a thing? If Captain Thatcher sent you after me, he will not be well pleased that you have forced me to come with you. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll allow me to return to the Blackfoot village,” she said, still not understanding what was going on. Who were these men? Who had hired them to take her away? It had to be Harland…but why?

  “Well, now, we can’t rightly do that,” Chester replied, looking into her violet-colored eyes. “You will either agree to come with us peacefully or we will tie you on your horse…which is it to be?”

  Joanna’s eyes went to the younger brother, who had removed his buckskin shirt and was bathing his shoulder with river water.

  “Where she stabbed me don’t look too deep, Chester, but it hurts like hell!” His eyes went to Joanna. “Why did you go and stick me for?”

  Joanna shook her head in confusion. She still wasn’t sure what had happened. The last thing she remembered was being dragged from Fosset’s back.

  Chester paid no attention to his brother; he was waiting for Joanna’s answer. “Have you decided if you will come along peaceably, Miss James? Do you come of your own free will, or do we make it hard on you?”

  Joanna gave him a heated glance, knowing she had little choice in the matter. Harland would hear about this when she saw him, she decided.

  “I will come with you because I am forced to, but I doubt if Captain Thatcher will appreciate your methods. You had better look to your back, because if my husband, Windhawk, catches up with you, I will not be able to stay his hand from harming you.”

  Joanna noticed that Chester’s face whitened. “What did you say?” he asked in an uneven voice.

  She raised her head proudly, seeing the shock that registered on the man’s face at the mention of Windhawk’s name. “You heard me clearly! My husband, Windhawk, will see you both dead for this!”

  Jim jumped to his feet and looked at his brother. “Hell’s bells, Chester! Did you hear what she said? You told me this Windhawk ain’t no real person!”

  Chester was studying Joanna’s face. “He ain’t real. The girl is just using him to scare us. Tell my brother the truth, little lady.”

  Joanna smiled, knowing the two men would now be looking over their shoulders, and she doubted they would sleep too well that night. “If it suits your purpose to think Windhawk doesn’t exist, so be it. You will find out soon enough that I am telling the truth,” she said, amused at the way both brothers’ eyes kept darting back to the dense trees.

  “You’re lying,” Chester said, in a voice that showed he was trying to convince himself as well as his brother that the legendary Windhawk didn’t really exist.

  Joanna merely shrugged her shoulders and bent down to wash her face in the river before cupping her hands to drink thirstily. Too many things had happened to her yesterday for her to sort them all out. She was still hurting because of Windhawk’s betrayal, and she had no notion why Harland had gone to such extreme measures to get her away from the village.

  She Who Heals had been unable to sleep the night before for worrying about Joanna. She entered Windhawk’s lodge, and saw that Joanna was not there. It is early yet, she told herself. Joanna could have gone to the river for water. But why was the cook-fire not lit, and why did Joanna’s bed look as if it hadn’t been slept in?

  She left the lodge, hurriedly walking in the direction of the river. Her fears of last night were becoming a reality, for when she reached the river, she saw no sign of Flaming Hair. She Who Heals questioned the women who were gathered at the river, but not one of them had seen Joanna, either.

  By now, Windhawk’s mother was also searching for Joanna. Sun Woman went from lodge to lodge, inquiring if anyone had seen her. By midmorning, the whole village had been alerted, and everyone was frantically searching for Windhawk’s missing wife.

  Farley mounted his horse and crossed the river, searching for tracks.

  Red Bird entered Windhawk’s lodge. Seeing the discarded bear-claw necklace, she remembered Flaming Hair had worn it the day before. She smiled to herself as she slipped it over her head. She had the necklace…she would soon have Windhawk!

  Chapter Eight

  An uneasy feeling spread over the Blackfoot village. It was nightfall, and still no one had seen Joanna.

  Farley went to the pasture where Fosset was always kept with Windhawk’s herd. When he discovered Joanna’s horse was missing, he rode back to the village to gather a group of warriors to search for her.

  Sun Woman sent word to her son to come at once. The women and children of the village watched and waited in fear, while the warriors made a wide sweep of the countryside in search of their chief’s woman.

  Joanna was well-loved by the Blackfoot tribe, and everyone was worried about her disappearance…all but one. Red Bird felt her heart leap with joy. The Flaming Hair was missing, and she hoped she would never return.

  Morning Song was frantic. She remembered how upset Joanna had been the day before when she had learned about Red Bird. She wondered if Joanna had left because of the Piegan woman. She felt that it was her fault, since she had been the one to tell Joanna about Red Bird.

  Farley bent down and examined the ground along the river thoroughly. There had been too many horses crossing the river; he couldn’t locate Fosset’s hoofprints. His heart was heavy, and fear gnawed at his insides. He loved Joanna and was afraid of what might have
happened to her.

  Sun Woman and She Who Heals looked into each other’s eyes. They both loved Joanna as a daughter, and both knew in their hearts that Joanna would never have gone away without telling them. There was no answer to the puzzle of Joanna’s disappearance. It was as if she had vanished without leaving a trace.

  Joanna turned around to look back over her shoulder. She couldn’t believe that no one had come to rescue her. Surely by now someone had discovered she was missing. Farley would find her, she thought confidently. He was a good tracker, and even though the two brothers were taking every precaution to cover their tracks, she was sure Farley would not be easily fooled. She wasn’t frightened as much as she was angry. So far, the two men had not mistreated her. In fact, they seemed very concerned about her comfort, and would often stop to offer her food and drink, and to allow her to stretch her cramped legs.

  Joanna’s strongest emotion was anger. How dare Harland hire these two men to carry her off in such a high-handed manner! Why hadn’t he come himself, as he had said he would in his letter? She knew if the chance should present itself, she would get away from her captors and make her way back to the Blackfoot village.

  Glancing toward the east, Joanna saw dark clouds gathering on the horizon. She could see the lightning flashing across the sky, and a loud clap of thunder rolled across the plains. She couldn’t help thinking how good it was that the much-needed rain was coming at last. It wasn’t until later that Joanna realized the rain would work against her—it would wash away any tracks that might be left behind, making it harder for Farley to follow them.

  That night Joanna rolled up in a blanket, while both brothers kept a wary eye on her. She noticed they hadn’t lit a campfire and realized they were still afraid of being overtaken by the Blackfoot.