“Discount my screams as what?” The shame didn’t leave his face. “Why would I be screaming when here with you?”
“Don’t be angry. It was the only way to save you.” He held her by her shoulders. “I needed to claim you as mine before they gave you to Pointed Nose.”
“You claimed me? As what, your slave?” He frowned so that his eyebrows met in the middle. She instantly regretted making him angry again.
“Not slave so much as wife.”
Certain he’d misspoken, she couldn’t breathe. “They think we’re married?”
“Now they do.”
She didn’t like his sheepish tone and quickly surmised he wasn’t being completely honest. “Now? What are you not telling me?”
“This was for your good.”
“When exactly did they think we were married?”
“When I painted you as mine and put my mother’s beads on you.” He smiled, patting her shoulders in an attempt to placate her. “The situation, it is funny, no?”
Ellen crossed her arms. “No.” This entire event made a mockery of marriage. Plus, her father must never know. He’d be furious at some Indian claiming her as his wife. “It’s not funny at all.”
“Once you’re safe with your family it will be, I promise.” He stroked her face with the back of his hand. “You being alive is very good, something to celebrate.”
She softened, leaning into his touch. “Yes, being alive is good.”
“Plus, our marriage has many more benefits for you than for me.”
Ellen chuckled, liking the amusement in his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“I’m quite a catch.”
“Really? Like a fish or maybe a rabbit? I’ve been catching a lot of mosquitoes lately. Are you as good a catch as that?”
He shrugged. “Well, better, I should think.”
“I’d ask how so but am finding I don’t care to know.”
“You would not like to learn how profitable this is for you?” He traced the line on her cheek with the back of his hand. “Not learn how much esteem you now have as my wife?”
She moved away so his arms didn’t reach her. “I don’t care about benefiting from a marriage.”
“Oh? Not even from my benefits?” He leaned forward and grinned. “I’m a very handsome man, so I’ve been told.”
“Don’t be cute. Being here with you is much better than with any other of those animals who kidnapped me. I thought I’d be sharing a bed with the chief’s son tonight.” She frowned, adding, “If he even has a bed. Maybe he sleeps naked on the ground.”
“Pointed Nose likely does, but I would not allow his naked sleeping.”
“Would you have a choice? He probably sleeps however he chooses.”
“You misunderstand,” he chided and then turned serious. “I will never let another man share your bed. Not now, not ever.”
She tried to smile, knowing this conviction of his needed to stop before he took her back home. “Thank you, Del. You’re a comfort to me and as they stole me away, I had but one regret.” Ellen stepped into his embrace and felt the surprise in how his body tensed.
“I’d like to hear more about this regret you feel. It’s a terrible thing, ma coeur.”
The warmth of his skin and how close he held her distracted Ellen at first until she remembered her train of thought. “I wished I’d kissed you earlier.”
“Did we not kiss soon enough? I didn’t want to attack you.”
She smiled, leaning back to look at him. “You’re the only man I’ve ever kissed, and I wanted another before I died or was kissed by one of those people.”
“Who? Pointed Nose?” Del laughed. “Most girls want to be kissed by the chief’s son. Did you not see all the attention they paid him?”
“I didn’t. Watching for a chance to escape with you kept me busy.” She pulled out of his hold. “You’re not taking me seriously.”
He let go without protest. “I am, but I’m also very happy he’s not the one with you. Happy is not enough to describe the joy of seeing you alive. It is not enough to describe having you here safe and bound to me.”
“Bound to you?”
“Yes. We are bound by my people and by their customs.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “A paper in a courthouse will satisfy the whites. To me, the paper is but a formality. In my heart, you are my wife. If you prefer someone else, once we leave here the marriage can be null. I would not force you into this.”
“Thank you. I’d like for my marriage to be my choice too.” She watched as he removed his headdress, placing it aside. “There’s only one bed here.”
“We can share.”
Ellen shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Nothing will happen. We’ll wear clothes and may need to be close to keep warm.” He took the strings of beads from her neck. “You may even keep your shoes tonight.” Leaning in, Del said against her ear, “Tomorrow, you’ll regret missing my love.”
She went to the blankets and took off her shoes. Sliding under the blankets she added, “I only meant a kiss, not love.”
He sat removing his own moccasins. “Either way, none for you.”
“Good.” He jostled her as he also got into bed. She smiled, knowing the contact was intentional. Once he settled in, she closed her eyes and in her mind saw Lucy’s shocked eyes. Ellen shuddered. “Del?” she whispered.
“Yes?”
Her nose stung and she wanted to cry again. Laying on her back and staring at the opening above them, she said, “I have to get back as soon as possible. The boys must know about their mother by now. They need me.”
“I know.” Del turned over, wrapping his arms around her. “We will return to them.”
She didn’t think he’d believe how angry her father would be at him, although Del had seen enough of her father’s bad behavior to trust her. Most people saw Pa’s charm, not the temper tantrums. She turned toward Del to look in his eyes. “I don’t know if you should go with me.”
“No?”
“No. My father will blame you for Lucy’s death. He won’t think to praise you for saving me.”
He let go of her to lie flat on his back, his arm tucked under his head. Closing his eyes, he stayed motionless except for breathing. Ellen glanced at him every so often. Did he sleep now? His body felt tense beside hers so she knew he had to be awake.
“Ellen?” he said so low she wasn’t sure she’d heard him.
“Yes?”
“I will take you to your family tomorrow.”
She snuggled against him, placing her hand on his chest. “Thank you. My returning is for my brothers, not for me.”
“They have a father who can care for them himself. I’m doing this only for you.”
“I appreciate you helping me. To make it easier on you, just leave me at any point the party will intersect. You don’t have to wait with me there.”
“Que?” He leaned away to stare into her eyes. “Tu dites…? Non. What makes you think I could do that? Do you not know? In my heart, you are my wife, my mate for life. How could I ever leave you somewhere and merely hope your people find you?”
Chapter 6
Ellen woke from her dream while hearing Lucy crying out “Why? Why did you let them do this to me?” Knowing how she’d had no choice in the matter didn’t make the nightmare any less painful. She sat up, freezing despite the blanket. Del wasn’t there but the fire burned brighter than before they’d slept. His thoughtfulness warmed more than the flames and she smiled. She stretched, testing muscles still sore from yesterday’s hard ride here. Every minute she spent lazing about in this camp wasn’t helping her brothers and possibly moving the group further from her. She needed to find Del and get home.
She stood and wavered on sore feet a bit before stepping outside. Her heart dropped. It had to be around noon with the sun overhead casting short shadows. He’d let her sleep far too late. She glanced around, searching for him. Despite the bustling village, no one seemed
to notice her. She didn’t know their language, and suddenly shy, wanted to find him. She strolled around, panicked and trying not to seem worried. Ellen searched the main campfire with no results. She went to the biggest shelter and waited outside, hoping to see him. After several minutes she wondered if he’d left her until she spied Pomme. Del had to be here somewhere since Pomme was, so she went back to the hut where they’d spent the night to wait for him.
She heard someone rustling inside and drew back the flap. Peeking in, she saw him gathering things, packing. “Del! Where have you been? I’ve looked everywhere for you.”
“Worried, ma coeur?” He laughed. “No need to be. I wouldn’t leave without my wife.”
“Your what?” She put her hands on her hips. “That doesn’t matter now. I am in an Indian village, you’re the only person I know, and you’re gone when I wake up. From a nightmare, I might add.” Ellen paced. “I searched this whole place for you, not knowing how to talk to anyone, and you weren’t anywhere to be found.” She stood in front of him. He’d washed off the war paint from the previous evening. The clean handsome lines of his face distracted her for a moment. “I was saying…? Oh! And just when I think you’ve gone for good, you’re here as if you married a woman every day.”
He grinned. “Not that often, non. Every month maybe.”
“Month?” She frowned when he chuckled. “You’re horrible to tease me so.”
“Too true. I should be whispering love in your ear.” He paused in packing up their few belongings. “It is whispering love? My mother and father don’t whisper.”
“Oh.” She folded her arms across her chest. “They might not talk about love much.”
“Even married for as long as I’ve lived and they do.” Del handed her a leather bag. “If you’re ready, we can leave.”
She peered inside the bag at her clean dress. “Leave?”
“Yes, go back to your family.” He nodded to the outside. “First, they want us to parade through the village. After that, we’ll be on our way.”
“Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much!” She searched around her. “All right then, is this everything? I didn’t have anything but a pail of berries, and I dropped that in the kidnapping.” Ellen looked around at the small house. “This place isn’t yours? You don’t need to take it with you?”
“Non, more like a hotel. We’ll leave it for others.” Del opened the door. “Allons?”
“Um, what does that mean exactly?”
“Let’s go.”
His translation relieved her and Ellen grinned. “Allons, then. My brothers need me.”
Pomme stood outside. She scratched his neck, glad to see him. Del got on the horse first with her following. When she settled in, he took her hands and wrapped her arms around him. Bystanders noticed and gave catcalls she didn’t understand but could guess the meaning of. He looked back at her. “I’d like it if you pretended to be a happy bride. Just until we’re clear of everyone.”
Ellen gave him a squeeze. “Certainly. I’ll soon be with my family, thanks to your rescue, and am very happy.” She almost pulled her arms from around him until he placed one of his hands on hers. Understanding his silent message, she linked her fingers and continued to smile. Del clicked at Pomme and they began walking through the village.
People stood along each side of them as they rode through the town. She returned waves to some of the children and nodded to the chief. Pointed Nose stood a little ways down from his father, an arm wrapped around another woman. She returned his smirk before realizing what she was doing. Del cleared his throat. “Ignore him. He was laughing at me for marrying a blind woman.”
“I’m not blind. Not unless I’m missing my glasses.” At his raised eyebrows, she grinned. “If it means going home with you? Then yes, you’re right and I’m blind.”
“Ah, ma coeur, you speak my favorite words of love.”
After the parade and leaving the last of the crowds, she stopped smiling. What she’d find back at the wagon train wouldn’t leave her thoughts. The mosquitoes grew worse as they rode. He wrapped a light blanket around her to keep most of them at bay. She snuggled into him, cold, despite the warm day. She liked how the horse’s motion kept her close to him, his body heat warming her comfortably, and at some point she fell asleep. The cold wind on her face woke her when they reached the mountain’s peak.
“We have a ways to go yet. At the first creek, we will stop for rest.”
“All right.” She patted his shoulder, giving him a little caress. “I’d like that.”
As promised, he stopped once they reached a small stream. The trickle of water tasted good and fresh. “When you are finished, I have something to eat,” said Del.
“There’s food?” She eased up the bank, taking his offered hand for help.
“Of course. I packed some for us.”
Ellen ate the flat bread he gave her and the deer jerky too. The meat had a gamey taste, but she was hungry enough to not mind. He stood with an easy grace while she struggled to stand.
He pulled her to him, hugging her close. “It is difficult, I know. You walk far more than you ride.”
“Yes, we lost the horse a while back, and Pa was the one always riding him anyway.” She shrugged. “With the boys, it seemed a better idea to stay at their level and keep an eye on them anyway.” Something in his eyes seemed sad. “Thank you for bringing me back to the wagon train, and thank you for marrying me.”
He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “I had to; no other man can be your husband but me. I could never allow it.”
She grinned, feeling ornery. “And I could never allow some other woman to be your wife.”
Del leaned back to see her and asked, “So, I’m the one now captured?”
“Very much so.”
He kissed her, holding her cold face in his hands. She shivered, freezing in the thin mountain air. Del pressed his lips against her forehead. “We must go. I’d like to be closer to them by nightfall.”
She climbed up behind him on the horse. Her body protested and she couldn’t get comfortable. She shifted around, trying to find a good seat.
Del turned to her. “Are you ready?”
“As much as I ever will be.” She put her arms around him. “I don’t suppose this will stop hurting anytime soon?”
Laughing, he squeezed her hands around his waist. “It will by the time we arrive.”
She sighed in resignation, leaning against him as he clicked to the horse. “That’s something to look forward to then.”
They rode on, crossing several small creeks. The hills seemed like nothing to her while on horseback. With all the ups and downs of getting a wagon across country, a horse was a much better way to travel. Almost. She winced when the animal stumbled. Sitting down tonight would be a challenge. She closed her eyes as twilight approached. “Are we going to sleep tonight or press on?”
“I would like to be a little further before sleep. It is growing dark, however, and I must find water for us.” He turned his face to her. “Will you be fine until then?”
She stretched forward, kissing his cheek. “With you? Always.”
He smiled, turning to kiss her full on the lips. “I’m glad you think so.” The horse stumbled a little and Del faced forward again.
Ellen leaned into his back, enjoying the feel and smell of him. He’d been right about being numb. It’d taken a few miles until she didn’t feel the soreness.
Del stopped by a small stream and slid down to help her off the horse. She moved slowly, stiff from not standing for so long. He made quick work of setting up their bed. Ellen took the chance to rinse her hands and get a drink from the small creek.
“Ellen?”
She straightened with every muscle protesting. “Yes?”
“We should eat while we can still see to do so.”
They ate the flat bread and jerky he’d provided. Both were quiet while eating with her wondering how to get him to say her name again. His accent left
her breathless. She swallowed the last bite. “I’m rather thirsty. Do you mind coming with me since it’s become darker?”
“Of course I will.” He got to his feet, hauling her up as well. Del chuckled when she didn’t share his graceful movements. “Don’t worry, ma coeur, you’ll get used to riding horseback soon.”
She let him lead her to the stream. “I hope so.” They both took the chance for a cool clean drink. “Thank you, Del.”
“My pleasure.”
He took her hand, his grip strong and warm. Her foot slipped on a patch of mud and she shrieked. In an instant, he lifted her into his arms and held her close. Her face pressed into his neck, Ellen couldn’t breathe. Silence enveloped them, except for the songbirds calling to each other. His heartbeat pulsed under her cheek where their skin met. This, this wasn’t playing, wasn’t experimentation, wasn’t something she could control or measure. The earlier infatuation Ellen could dismiss. But this desire, deep and dark, she felt to the marrow of her bones. Hungry for him, she gave in to the urge and kissed the hollow at the base of his neck.
He shuddered, saying, “Non, mon Dieu, Je n’est,” just before she kissed her way up to his chin. In a fast move, Del took her lips with his own, harsh and unrelenting. He eased her to the ground, placing her down on a dry, grassy embankment.
Ellen, lost in the feel of him, welcomed the warmth of his body on hers. When he lifted her skirt, placing his leg between hers, her desire halted. Sudden sobriety splashed through her. He’d meant to take advantage of the dark and her willingness. She turned her face away from his. “No! Stop! Stop, Del!” His hand still tugged up her skirt, exposing her leg. She felt his arousal against her thigh, scaring her. “Please, please stop!”
“Que?” He pulled at her earlobe with his teeth.
She pushed his shoulders. “Please, please don’t do this. I’ve never, please.”
“Mon Dieu, I forgot myself! I am so sorry.” He helped her push the hem of her skirt to below her shins. “Of course you’re an innocent. I never thought otherwise.”
“Don’t be sorry, Adelard.” Shame filled her. “I shouldn’t have let you kiss me so much. It was wrong for me to encourage you that way.”
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