Never Surrender
Page 27
She moved his hand to her mouth and kissed his palm.
Sakima and Ahanu returned and Taima rose to talk with his father, but reached down to cup Kate’s chin first. “I’ll be right back.”
* * * * *
Pressing her palms together between her knees, Kate turned to see what they would do with the bird’s wings, but Aiyana drew her into conversation.
“Kelee mentioned wanting to take you to see the ancient Indian pictures. I think we should all go.”
Hesitantly, Kate turned to Aiyana. “Yes, he did say something about it.” Then, she looked toward Taima again.
“It would be a nice to get you away. You and Taima could spend time together…and away from the eyes of our people. They are sure you have strong powers and with this happening, they are afraid of you.”
Kate looked around at the seemingly empty camp. Only a few braves roamed, tending to their bows and sharpening their knives. “I shouldn’t be here. I’ve only brought more problems.”
“No, Kate, you have brought happiness.”
Going to see the Indian pictures would get her away from here, away from the suspecting eyes of Taima’s people. Those gazes she did meet glanced away after a few moments, fear evident deep in their dark eyes.
She looked back at Aiyana. “You don’t fear me. You know I possess no special powers.”
Aiyana’s eyes softened. “That is where you’re wrong. The power you possess has tamed a man who has run wild for too long. You have captivated his heart without taking his strength. But I don’t fear you.”
“Yet your people do.”
“You are a strong woman and different from our people. You speak your mind to Taima in front of them. They’ve watched you deal with so much since you’ve been among us. Trespassing on sacred ground and living through that night made you different, but they also know Taima is not an easy man to deal with. They have accepted you because they know he has chosen you. They are loyal to him as their chief.”
“I think I should like to get away as you suggested,” Kate said, now watching Sakima lift the raven wings from over the entrance.
Sakima carried the feathers toward them, but walked straight to the fire where he dropped them into the leaping flames. Quickly engulfed by the eager fire, black smoke swirled overhead.
Kate covered her nose, the awful smell drifting her way, mixing with the smell of roasting meat from the other fires. She watched the wings burn and thought of the raven attack upon her and Aiyana yesterday.
Dark beady eyes appeared within the flames, staring at her…the same eyes of the raven that stared down upon her from the waterfall...unblinking. Kate stared back, not allowing the bird to win.
Pounding her fists on her knees, she screamed into the fire, “Mai! I will not let you win. I will be stronger next time...beware!”
Kate stood and kicked dirt into the fire and the eyes disappeared.
“Kate . . .” Taima quietly called to her.
She looked his way. “Did you not see the eyes in the fire? They stared at me. She stared at me.” Kate stood straight, her shoulders back. Calmly, she said, “I will not let her win. I will be ready for her when she returns.”
Sakima spoke quietly. “Though Mai will not win, my visions were not good when I saw her return. It will not be easy for either of you.”
Solemnly, Sakima returned to his lean-to.
Taima stepped forward with outstretched arms and she moved into his warm embrace. She rested her cheek against his chest and closed her eyes, just wanting to forget everything that had happened. “We will take one day at a time. Mai will not win.”
Kate looked at him, strong and proud. “I would like to forget about her and go see these ancient Indian pictures I’ve been hearing about. I think we need to get away for a few days. Your people do not need me here right now.”
“Noshi, can we leave today?” Kelee asked, suddenly running up to Taima in time to hear Kate’s announcement. “I told Kate about them. I know she’d love it there.”
Kate knelt by Kelee. “Should we take Ahanu and his family with us?” She loved watching his blue eyes light up with excitement. He made her smile.
Kelee spun around toward Ahanu. “You would go with us?”
“We could also hunt the big horn while we’re there. Aiyana would enjoy the trip, too. When should we leave, Kelee? In the morning?” Ahanu asked and laughed.
“No! Right now. It’s morning now.” Turning to Taima, Kelee begged, “Please, Noshi, now?”
“Let us fill our bellies first, Nechan. Otherwise, you will want to eat as soon as we arrive.”
Taima ruffled his son’s hair and took a seat. Kate smiled to see them so happy together and helped Aiyana prepare the morning meal for the men and children.
* * * * *
Kate tightened the last leather binding that secured her bundle to the travois, the leather biting into her fingers as she pulled it. Kelee handed her another parfleche that she pushed between the others.
Glancing up to watch Taima pack the horses, she found he already watched her. A warm blush crept over her cheeks. His lips curved into a smile as his eyes filled with tenderness, making her spirits lift high. She wished life could always be this happy.
“Kate?” Kelee said, bumping her with another bundle.
Taima laughed.
“Kelee? Oh, I’m sorry,” Kate said, laughing. “Here, I’ll put that with the others. Thank you.”
“That is the last of the parfleches. We’re ready to go,” Kelee called to Taima before running to join Ahanu’s children who were anxiously waiting to leave.
Taima grabbed the reins of the lead horse and held out his hand to Kate. She happily joined him, taking his hand and walking beside him as they started on their venture. Seeing the ancient drawings interested her when Kelee mentioned them, and now she couldn’t wait to see them.
Ahanu and Aiyana joined her and Taima, the children running on ahead, tossing stones and chasing the prairie dogs. Taima squeezed her hand in a loving gesture that touched her heart. She gave him a sideways glance and he grinned when he caught her gaze.
The descent of the land lent to the beauty of the view spreading out before Kate. The gorgeous red-painted mountain Kelee had told her about rose in front of her; more painted badlands lay further out. It looked more like red sand stone...the erosion of time cutting into the sides, carving water lines into the stone. The rippling land lay beyond that, more signs of how the wind affected the landscape.
“How far are these carvings we’re going to see?” she asked Taima. “And how old are they? Does anyone know?”
“We should ride after we break. We’ll get there faster, though it’s another few hours. The pictures were drawn hundreds of years ago by those living in these parts.”
* * * * *
An hour later, Kate rode with Taima and Aiyana with Ahanu as the children sat upon the travois. Kate enjoyed the scenery, the serene peacefulness called out her. Being held close to Taima didn’t hurt either. He turned the horses off the path to the right and rode toward high rocky hills. Beyond those, a lake came into view on the left.
The rocky hills surrounded them, and Kate had to tip her head to see the top. The breathtaking site astounded her. This part of the country was beautiful! Several pine trees grew into the sides of the hills, huge rocks and boulders lay scattered as if they had just fallen from above.
One huge boulder in particular caught her attention. A tree grew beside it, though no branches grew next to the rock. How odd. The closer she got, the faster her heart beat.
Scenes from her dream shot through her mind.
The lone Indian who sat atop his horse again beckoned to her.
Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the Indian picture carved into the stone.
“Kate, what is it?” Taima asked, trying to turn her to face him.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shivers of familiarity crawled up Kate’s back as her gaze scanned over the drawing
of an upright, oblong body with bird-like feet. She peered lower to another drawing much the same in appearance, but this body had stick arms, holding a tall spear. Patches of what looked like old, white mold grew sporadically over the stone among several areas of rust. Kate wasn’t sure if these were chemical reactions to the environment, but certainly added to the age of the boulder.
Something had involved her at one time near this granite rock which sat among the scattered sagebrush. But what? The visions running through her mind involved the warrior of her dream, which now seemed in the distant past. Yet these rocky hills were different from those at the lake where she recognized that Taima was somehow connected.
The tree’s branches grew away from the boulder, as though through some special power within the rock, it refused to allow the branches to grow toward the granite.
Thinking back on those who roamed here so many years ago and what her relationship to them might be, Kate shivered again atop the moving horse where she sat before Taima.
He touched his fingers beneath her chin, turning her face away from the painted Indian picture on the stone. Searching her eyes, he asked, “Do you want me to stop here?”
“No. I don’t understand what connection this could have. Let’s keep going. I want to see more.”
Kate turned to see what the children squealed about, only to see them racing uphill toward Kelee as he beckoned them.
“Kate, come up and see these,” Kelee called to her, pointing at several rocks.
She couldn’t wait to see what type of other drawings she might spot high on the rocky cliffs. Taima reined his horse next to Ahanu’s and helped Kate down. In her excitement, she barely missed the small thorny cactus that grew among the stones on her way toward Kelee. Carefully choosing her steps along the winding path she followed, Kate looked at all the rocks she passed for more drawings among the boulders and stones.
Reaching a huge boulder that easily dwarfed the children, Kate stared in awe as she took in the ancient paintings. One was of a very large shield with small lines, dots, and squiggly lines decorating the interior. To the left of that appeared a type of ceremonial mask, drawn very large. To the right of the shield was a smaller head with short wiry, curly hair, large eyes, and a round body decorated with a solid square, then had short stick arms and legs. Still further to the right were two more paintings of what Kate guessed to be spirit imagery with several lines encircling the outside of the body. Green and aged-white moss grew in patches over the stone here also.
Kelee grabbed Kate’s hand and she walked with him as he pulled her along in his excitement to show her everything. Many stones sported the petroglyphs of years ago; some so obliterated by weather and time one could barely make out the drawings. Kate could hardly believe her eyes. There were just so many paintings scattered throughout the area.
She followed Kelee along the side of the stony hill, away from the other adults. Dodging pine trees and more cacti, Kate breathed in the fresh air, the scent of sagebrush being her favorite out here in the open country. She stopped to look around her, the valley between the surrounding rocky hills rich with meadows and three large lakes in the long, narrow area they’d entered. Deserted lean-tos stood to one side close to a sheltering cliff.
“Our people have camped here many times and fed on the fish from the lakes. We come here to avoid the winds during the winter months,” Taima said, startling Kate as he stood at her side.
The man moved as silent as the stealthy mountain lion he’d told her so much about. Shading his eyes from the sun, he looked reverently over the meadow, then into the tall hills.
“The big horned sheep are scarce here this time of year. They are more plentiful when the snow disappears and it begins to warm. Our braves bring in many sheep, providing not only meat, but the hides and horns as well,” Taima explained.
When their gazes met, butterflies fluttered within her stomach. He overwhelmed her with just a simple glance. She watched the excitement of the hunt dance in his eyes.
“We heat the rounded horns and straighten them to make strong bows.”
“That is fascinating. I hadn’t realized the horns could be heated and straightened, but there is much I have to learn if I’m to live among your people,” Kate said, then wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’m anxious to learn more so I can be a good wife to you and mother to Kelee.”
Taima embraced her and kissed the top of her head. “You have already succeeded in doing that.”
Aiyana and Ahanu joined them, the stones scattering beneath their feet as they climbed.
“It is good to see you both so happy. I’m glad we came here,” Aiyana said.
Kate released Taima and stepped away. “This is a beautiful spot. The drawings only give me a small insight to what I want to know. How can they have stayed on the rock for so many years?”
Aiyana smiled. “We use finely crushed red stone boiled with animal fat to make the paint used for our drawings. Sometimes the stone we paint on is chipped into using our small black stones, which are very hard and work well for chipping. We’ll have to come back here with paint someday so you can make a drawing of your own.”
“This is amazing that the paintings have lasted through hundreds of years.”
Suddenly a raven dove from the sky.
Kate crouched at the same time as Taima. Aiyana moved to avoid being hit, losing her balance and tumbling down the rocky hillside, hitting several protrusions on her way to the bottom.
Ahanu wasted little time in reaching her. She lay lifeless among the rocks below. Fear tensed every muscle in Kate’s body and she knew the black raven could only mean one thing.
Mai had returned.
Kate scanned the area for the bird, then quickly averted her attention back to the motionless body of her friend. She kept her eyes on Aiyana as she quickly made her way among the rocks and cactus to be at her side. Bloody cuts covered Aiyana’s battered body, which lay in such an awkward position Kate feared she’d broken something.
Kneeling at Aiyana’s side, she watched Ahanu as he carefully checked for broken bones. Taima knelt in the sand beside Kate, placed his arm around her shoulder and she met his concerned gaze. Only his presence could give her such comfort without saying a word. She worried for Aiyana, who didn’t deserve to be a part of whatever this evil was that involved the raven.
Kate wanted to do something to help. “I’ll get the water.”
She ran to the horses, retrieved the water skin and returned, handing it to Ahanu. He wet his hand and gently wet Aiyana’s face, rinsing away the blood on her cheek. Aiyana didn’t move. Kate said a silent prayer for her safety. Aiyana didn’t deserve this fate.
A painted horse suddenly raced up from behind them out of nowhere, its savage rider swinging his war club.
“Oh my God!” she gasped.
The warrior’s gaze landed on Taima. Kate’s stomach knotted as soon as she saw the white scar that slashed down the warrior’s face. Fearful recognition froze her to the spot. An arrow from Taima’s bow barely cleared the warrior’s shoulder, but the warrior’s club caught Ahanu in the chest, also hitting his chin as the Indian rode past.
Kate covered her mouth, her attempt to silence her horror unsuccessful.
Ahanu lay unconscious on the ground beside his wife. The screaming children surrounded the lifeless couple, tears streaming down their faces as they tried in vain to revive their parents.
Kate quickly spied the warrior some distance away sitting atop his horse waiting for the right time for his next attack. Astonished, she could only stare, unable to believe Scar Face had actually returned for her. There was no way she would go with him willingly. She tensed her jaw. He would have to kill her to take her away from Taima. The two of them had finally come together and she’d be damned if this savage thought to tear them apart again!
Yet weaponless, how could she possibly defend her stand?
Taima drew back the arrow in his bow and slowly walked toward the intruder.
As she knelt at Aiyana’s side to retrieve the blade, a foot shoved against her shoulder and knocked her to the ground flat onto her back. Quickly rolling toward Aiyana to try for the blade once again, a foot kicked Kate in the chest. She lay in the sand struggling painfully to catch her breath and glanced up at the sky.
Mai’s body blocked her view of the sun.
Her black eyes held Kate’s unwilling gaze as she stood over her with a blade of her own.
“I told you, squaw, you would NOT win, yet you insisted on staying with his people. He is mine and since he craves your body that will also be mine.”
Kate tried to look away, but Mai’s evil power held strong. Aiyana’s words echoed in Kate’s mind . . . “Your soul is stronger than Mai thought. Don’t let her win.”
Determined to win, Kate stared back at Mai and repeated those words to herself. She would win; she’d gone through too much with Taima to give him up now.
“Try if you will, but you will not possess my soul again!” Kate sneered.
Mai opened a pouch and dumped the powdery contents over Kate’s face and body, which Kate quickly tried to brush away. The ashes drifted into her lungs as she breathed, realizing too late that she should hold her breath to avoid choking.
Wicked laughter echoed in the valley. Mai continued to stare at her. “It is too late, for part of me is already inside you, squaw. You played right into my hands.”
A horse thundered toward Kate, but Mai refused to turn away from her.
“I think your time may be up, Mai. Taima will not allow you to do this,” Kate said, grinning at the woman.
The children screamed when the horse stopped close enough to stand in front of Mai. Kate wished the children would have hidden above on the hill for safety.
“The woman is mine, shape shifter,” Scar Faced growled.
Kate kept thinking about winning, about Taima, and their future together, all the while staring into Mai’s eyes and smiling at her.