There were no windows. The only way out was the way she came in, and it opened onto the center of the town. When an old woman brought her evening meal, nearly tossing it at her, Caroline ate it eagerly, then lay down to rest. If she was to escape, and she was determined to, she would need all her strength.
But as the drums began beating, their rhythm pounding through the earth beneath her ear, Caroline’s resolve faltered. The Cherokee were chanting, their sing-song words growing ever louder and more frantic. She lay in the dark, her eyes open, wondering how she would ever get away from them.
She must have drifted off to sleep, for when the door opened, she jerked awake. For an instant a large figure loomed in the doorway, a grotesque silhouette against the light of the giant bonfire in the background.
Fear shot through her, and Caroline scooted back across the dirt floor, clutching the only weapon she’d been able to find, a potato-sized rock. The door closed and darkness fell around her like a heavy wool blanket. She could hear him moving toward her, and she drew back her arm. She would wound him at best, and then he would hurt her more. Caroline knew that. But now that the moment was upon her, she knew she couldn’t simply submit to him.
Her heart pounded as he took one step, then another. Closer.
“Caroline?”
At first, she thought her ears must be deceiving her. “Raff. Oh, God, Raff.” She was up and into his arms before she even caught her breath. He held her tightly, nearly crushing her in his embrace. “How did you find me? Tal-tsuska said you were his prisoner or... or dead.”
“It is a long story. And we have to get out of here.”
“But how? There’s no way but the front door, and there’s a guard.” Caroline pulled away enough to look up at him even though she could only discern a vague outline. “If they let you in, it’s a trap. Tal-tsuska hates you.”
“He did not let me in.” Wolf grabbed up a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, but—”
“Pull this over your hair and keep your head down.” He tucked the gathers under her chin, his hand lingering a moment on hers when she reached up to hold the blanket in place. “No matter what happens, you are to run south toward the river. Edward is there and—”
“Ned? Ned is alive?”
“Yes and he is waiting with a canoe. Run there as quickly as you can.” He grabbed her arm, propelling her toward the door, not realizing at first that she pulled back.
“What about you?” The drums and chanting rose and fell in waves.
“What about me?”
“What are you going to do while I run toward the river?”
“I will be right behind you.” He said it with as much conviction as he could, though he knew if need be, he would sacrifice himself to insure her escape. She apparently knew it, too, for she threw her arms around his neck and held on with all her might. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest and knew his own beat just as frantically.
Her voice vibrated against his skin. “The baby,” she began, but he found her mouth with his fingers, silencing her.
“I do not need to know.”
“But I want to tell you. I should have from the very beginning.” Now with their very lives at stake, her concerns about Seven Pines seemed ridiculous. Nothing was important besides the love she felt for him—and hoped he felt for her. “Your father never... It’s—”
The silence, so sudden and overwhelming was deafening. No noise would have silenced her as effectively. Caroline sucked in her breath as Wolf shoved her behind him. Cautiously he moved toward the door.
He inched it open just as the drums began again and the villagers erupted into a loud war cry that reverberated through the cabin. Without looking back, he reached for her hand and pulled her through the door. Caroline managed to keep the blanket over her head as she was yanked forward, out into the open.
The fires and burning brands made the square of land in front of the council house nearly as light as day. Caroline could plainly see the Cherokee milling about. There was no guard in front of the cabin, and she idly wondered what had become of him.
But there were more important things to worry about as she silently followed Wolf. They skirted the cabins, trying to stay in their shadows. Could the Cherokee see Wolf and her as clearly as she could see them?
When Wolf ducked beside one of the log buildings, Caroline breathed a sigh of relief until she heard a grunt of recognition. She glanced up in time to see a warrior blocking their path. They’d obviously surprised him as he returned from tending his bodily functions, or he would have shouted for help. And even though the drums were loud, there was a chance he would be heard.
As it was, he raised his war club over his head, arching it down toward Wolf’s head. Pushing her out of the way, Wolf yelled, “Run,” before propelling himself toward the man.
She couldn’t. She simply couldn’t run away and leave him even when both men ended up on the ground by her feet. Caroline looked around frantically for something to use against the Cherokee. Wolf hadn’t had time to draw his knife, and she noticed he hadn’t brought his rifle.
There was nothing. She did run then—into the woods, searching for a branch, anything to bash over the warrior’s head. Seconds seemed like hours as she dropped to her knees, grabbing for a thick branch fallen from a hickory tree. She would bring it down over the Cherokee’s skull. She could see the scene in her mind’s eye, almost feel the crush of bone beneath her hands.
But when she raced back to where she left Wolf, neither man was there. If not for the rustle of fallen leaves, she wouldn’t have known where to look. Without care for herself, she rushed toward the sound, gasping when something grabbed her from behind.
“Damnit, Caroline.” The familiar voice hissed in her ear. “Is this what you call running toward the river?”
Caroline ignored his question as he let her go. “What happened to him?”
“Back there.” Wolf nodded toward a dark shape huddled on the ground. She was tempted to ask if he was dead, but thought better of it when Wolf clutched her arm. “Let’s go,” he began, only to stop when he saw the branch. “What in the hell is this for?”
“I was going to hit—”
“Never mind. Come on.” He turned, and Caroline dropped the branch and followed.
They crept back into the woods then circled around toward the south. They said nothing to each other, and Caroline tried to keep her step as quiet as his as they slipped between trees and sloshed into a stream. Her feet were numb with cold within seconds, but she did her best to keep up.
Wolf climbed up over a rocky outcropping and leaned down to help her up. Then they hurried on.
Caroline heard the river before she saw it. She was wet and cold, miserable, but she didn’t care as she did her best to keep up with her rescuer.
She nearly screamed when Edward stepped out of the shadows, but Wolf pulled her toward him, covering her mouth till she broke free and enveloped her brother in a tight hug. “I was so worried about you,” she said before Wolf hustled her toward the shore.
“There is a canoe down here.” Wolf hesitated, his hand on her back. “Where is the blanket? The blanket?” he repeated when she didn’t answer immediately.
“I—I must have dropped it.”
“Where? Think, Caroline.” He grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face him, ignoring Ned’s noise of protest.
“Stop it, Ned.” Caroline pushed at her brother’s hand where it rested on Wolf’s arm. Caroline swallowed. “It was when the warrior surprised us as we left the village. I remember now, it slipped from my shoulders and I... I let it go. Does it matter?” Now it was she clutching Wolf.
“Before I came for you, I tried to buy us some time by making a false trail east through the forest. But if they find the blanket—”
“They’ll know we escaped by the river,” Caroline finished for him.
“I am going back for it.”
; “No, Wolf,” Caroline cried, but he paid her no heed as he handed her over to Ned.
“Take care, boy. If I have not returned by the time the moon rises over those trees, go. Paddle as hard as you can till you come to a fork in the river. Take the southern branch and follow it till you get to Fort Prince George. It should take you two days and a bit. Then as soon as you can get an escort to Charles Town, go. Drag her kicking and screaming if you must, but get her back to civilization.”
“Raff.” Caroline reached out toward him, and he paused. In the dim light she couldn’t see his expression, but she felt his eyes on her. There was so much she needed to say, so much she wished she’d told him before. But now it was too late.
“Take care of her, Edward,” was all Wolf said before he disappeared into the woods.
Nineteen
“I won’t leave!”
“Don’t be stubborn, Caro. You heard what Mr. MacQuaid said.” The moon now hung just above the tree tops, limning the stark branches with its soft glow. “Caroline, where are you going?” Edward abandoned his spot near the canoe and raced after his sister.
Ignoring Ned’s chatter, Caroline scrambled up the bank, staring into the shadows. It was difficult to hear anything above the rhythmic pounding of drums. Taking a deep breath, Caroline clasped her hands together. Despite the cold, her body felt damp with perspiration.
Where was he? Her silent litany seemed to pulse with the timbre of the Cherokee’s chant. It couldn’t have taken him this long to find the stupid blanket. Again and again, Caroline chided herself for her carelessness in leaving it. If she’d only thought to reach down and pick it up when it slipped from her shoulders. If she could only live that moment again.
But she hadn’t realized. She just hadn’t thought. And because of that, the man she loved was... was what? Her fingers twisted together. Why didn’t he come?
“Caro.” Ned’s voice was breathless from the climb to her side. It also had a pleading quality that grated on Caroline’s already taut nerves.
“I’m not leaving him here alone, Ned,” she said facing him, her hands akimbo. “If you wish to go, then do so. But stop pestering me.”
“For God’s sake Caroline, I promised him I’d take you to safety.”
“I said no!” Caroline realized she’d raised her voice; and even though she doubted anyone could hear over the noise from the village, she lowered it. “He’s the father of my child, and I love him.” She hadn’t planned to say that. The words simply spilled out.
Covering the hand that clutched her arm with her own, Caroline stepped closer to Ned. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, before turning back to scan the expanse of endless forest.
“I... I don’t understand.”
“I know you don’t.” Caroline took a deep breath. “And I really can’t explain it. Not now, at least.” She was vaguely aware that her brother’s fingers slipped off her sleeve, and she heard his footfalls as he slid back down the bank. She hoped he would climb into the canoe and paddle to the fort. She wanted him safe. She just couldn’t sacrifice Wolf... not anymore.
She watched and she prayed, but it was Ned who first heard the rustling upstream from them. He rushed to her side, pulling her down to the ground when she would have run toward the sound. “We don’t know it’s him,” he breathed.
But moments later Caroline was struggling to her feet, surging forward and leaning against Wolf’s chest. His arm tightened about her, and he lifted her up, only to set her down quickly.
“What are you still doing here?” It took him longer than he expected to find the blanket, then he’d run into a sentry who’d taken exception to him being there. Hiding the body was also time consuming. Considering how late he was, he assumed Caroline and Ned were already gone. But he’d planned to follow the river, hoping to catch up with them if they encountered any trouble.
“She wouldn’t leave,” Ned said as he pushed the canoe into the current. Wolf was on the shore brushing away their tracks with a pine branch. “And after she explained things to me, I thought it best to stay, too.”
Wolf waded out into the water, then climbed into the back of the canoe. He resisted asking Edward, who sat in front of him, what exactly Caroline had explained. For right now, they needed all their energy for paddling.
The river above the fall line was shallow, filled with rocks that kept the current bubbling and the passage difficult. White water splashed over the sides, making all three occupants wet and cold. But they kept going. Through the long night.
Near dawn, Caroline heard a great thundering sound that reminded her of the Cherokee drums. For an instant she thought they were upon them again, and she twisted, looking back at Raff.
“We’re coming to some falls,” he answered her unspoken question. “We must paddle to shore soon and portage the canoe across land for a mile or so.”
The current was already strong, pulling them closer to the precipice, but they managed to make it to the side. As Caroline dragged her wet skirts from the canoe, she looked around. Mist rose off the water and filtered through the bare-branched trees. “Do you think we’re safe here?”
“I imagine they know by now that you are missing.” Wolf shrugged as he pulled the canoe higher onto the shore. He turned, and his eyes met Caroline’s. “It depends on how important you are to Tal-tsuska whether he chooses to come after you.” He paused. “My bet is that he is already on our trail.”
Caroline held his gaze a moment longer before taking a deep breath and turning away. “I’ve done nothing to—” Caroline’s lashes lowered as she felt Wolf’s hand on her arm.
“He knows it is I who came for you. I am certain of it. He also knows what you mean to me.”
He stood very close to her; and when Caroline looked up, she could see the dark fire in his eyes. His words were no declaration of undying love, yet she sensed he cared for her. She wanted to lean into him. To have him hold her forever. To take away the pain of loneliness. The reality that kept pounding in her brain as sure as the Indian drums.
But there was no help for the question that had haunted her since the morning of the attack. She’d waited this long to ask for she feared the answer... feared she already knew the answer.
“What of Mary?”
He reached out then, drawing her toward him with strong, steady hands. She held onto him, her fingers clutching the supple deer hide of his shirt as he said the words she dreaded to hear.
Caroline’s face was tearstained as she lifted her head. “And Colleen? What of her baby?”
“She died before I arrived.” Wolf rubbed his hands across her narrow back, wishing he could absorb her pain. “Edward and I buried them at Seven Pines.”
Caroline nodded. “Mary would have wanted that. To be there when Logan comes home.”
Wolf hadn’t allowed himself to think of his brother’s reaction to Mary’s death, his child’s. Logan had entrusted their safety to Wolf when he left, and now they were both buried beneath the sandy soil of Seven Pines. And now there were others who needed his protection.
Wolf held Caroline at arm’s length. “We need to be on our way.” His voice gentled, and he lifted one hand to skim away a crystalline tear poised on the fringe of her lashes. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Someone told me once that the frontier is unforgiving.” She straightened her shoulders. “I shall be fine.”
The trek over the rocks was not easy, and she wasn’t even carrying the canoe. They rested near the summit of the falls, Edward sinking quickly to his knees after he and Wolf lowered the boat. After a quick admonition to stay where they were, Wolf slipped back the way they came.
“Does he think they’re following us?”
Caroline turned and faced her brother. It was the first time they’d been alone together since she’d made her revelation, and she wasn’t sure what to expect. He stared up at her, his innocent blue eyes seemingly out of place in a face hardened by the lessons of this wild land.
He was streaked w
ith dirt and obviously exhausted, but he was managing, both the hardships of the wilderness and the knowledge of his sister’s fall from grace. Perhaps he was stronger, more resilient than she expected. She’d tried to protect him for so long, it seemed strange not to continue. But in that instant, Caroline decided he was man enough to know the truth.
“Raff feels they’ll follow. He only hopes we can reach Fort Prince George before they catch up with us.”
He seemed to accept this, nodding and drawing his knees up beneath his chin. “Things have been difficult for you here, Caro.” It wasn’t a question, and Caroline saw no reason to respond. “Why did you write, telling me those fanciful stories?”
“I don’t know.” Caroline sank down on the sandy ground near him. “’Tis an untruth,” she admitted with a sigh. “I wished for you to believe ’twas no sacrifice I made, coming here. You were so happy in school and ’twas so obvious that’s where you belonged.”
“Do you know how that makes me feel, that you gave up so much for me?” His guileless face was creased with lines of consternation.
“Nay.” Caroline reached out for his hands. “Do not think so. I have some regrets but—”
“Some?” He stood. “How can you say that when you are stuck in the wilderness, surrounded by savages, and carrying—” He stopped and suddenly grew very attentive of the rushing torrent to his right.
“When I spoke of regrets, Ned, it was the death of Mary and her baby... the death of my husband that I meant. And, of course, I would rather be somewhere warm, and dry, and safe. But I do not regret this child, nor do I repent the circumstances of his conception.”
“Caro...”
“No, Ned, listen to me. I won’t have—”
“I thought you two were tired.” Wolf stepped into the small clearing and slipped the rifle from his shoulder. “If there was a Cherokee within a mile of here, he’d have heard you.”
My Savage Heart (The MacQuaid Brothers) Page 28