Thunder Maker nodded then held up his hand for silence. “I have a further announcement,” he stated clearly. “Tomorrow at the same time, the marriage of my son, Feast Giver, to Precious Copper, sister of the Ahousat war chief, will also take place.”
Fighting Wolf frowned then looked at Precious Copper. The glow on his sister’s face told him of her happiness. He decided he didn’t mind that she’d accepted Feast Giver’s proposal, after all.
At the second announcement, both groups of warriors broke into loud cheers. One marriage might be a trick by those wily Ahousats, but two? Not likely. The tension was broken as the Hesquiat warriors surrounded the two couples and vocally extended their congratulations.
The Ahousat warriors stood up and stretched their cramped limbs. Then, curious, they joined the others on the beach.
It was some time later that the happy couples managed to slip away from the crowd of well-wishers to Thunder Maker’s longhouse.
Sarita was still holding Fighting Wolf’s hand as they walked through the family’s living area. She caught sight of Crab Woman, slumped over, asleep by the warm fire. The older woman’s snores sounded comfortable, though a trifle noisy.
Sarita couldn’t resist the temptation in front of her. “Crab Woman,” she said slowly, standing over the woman. “Crab Woman, wake up!”
Crab Woman grunted and snuffled as she slowly woke up. “Get up, woman,” continued Sarita in the same loud voice. “You have a feast to give tomorrow night. You’d better get started right away!” The older woman jumped, still half-asleep. When she peered up, she saw with surprise that it was her stepdaughter ordering her about.
“What…What’s the matter with you, Sarita? Talking to your old mother like that?” she demanded testily.
Sarita laughed, never before having heard Crab Woman acknowledge such a close relationship between them. “Crab Woman loves to prepare feasts,” she explained jocularly to Fighting Wolf.
“Who are you talking to? Who’s that you have with you?” went on the older woman, blinking at the large shadowed figure behind Sarita. She gave a sudden yelp. “Watch out it’s that Ahousat! He’s back. Run, Sarita!”
She scrambled to her feet far faster than Sarita would have ever thought possible for such a bulky woman. Grabbing a heavy piece of nearby firewood, Crab Woman was about to swing it at Fighting Wolf’s head when Sarita’s shout stopped her.
“Crab Woman, it’s all right!” laughed the younger woman. “He’s my husband-to-be. Put that stick away.” The old woman blinked owlishly at the two in the dim light. “He’s the reason you have to prepare another feast,” explained Sarita patiently. “We’re getting married tomorrow night. Just a small ceremony, of course,” she added.
Crab Woman appeared dazed, but quickly recovered herself. “Of course,” she mimicked. “Would you like something like the last wedding feast I prepared for you?” she asked acidly. “I’m sure the bridegroom would be happy to supply the weapons.”
“Not necessary,” responded Sarita airily. “Oh, I almost forgot. Feast Giver and Precious Copper will be getting married at the same time.” She smirked as Crab Woman gaped in surprise.
“Has everyone gone mad?” inquired the older woman. “Why does he want to marry that—that slave?”
Feeling Fighting Wolf bristle beside her, Sarita sought to defuse the situation. “She’s not a slave. She’s a high-ranking Ahousat noblewoman. And he loves her. That’s why he’s marrying her.”
“Oh, of course,” responded the irascible old woman. “Are there any other marriage feasts I should know about?” she asked in a mockingly polite tone.
Her words gave Sarita a jolt. “Not at the moment,” she managed absently. She tapped her chin gently with one long forefinger as her thoughts raced. “I’ll be sure to let you know in plenty of time should there be any other weddings.”
“Hmmph,” grunted Crab Woman. “Now will you get out of here? I can’t start organizing everything with you two getting in my way. Out!”
Laughing in sheer good spirits, Sarita allowed Fighting Wolf to lead her back outdoors. She wondered briefly why Crab Woman’s acerbic comments no longer bothered her. Maybe it was because she sensed that, under that gruff exterior, the older woman actually cared for her. Or maybe it was because now that she was in love, and loved, everything looked brighter. She certainly felt kinder. Which reminded her…
“I must speak with Spring Fern. Soon,” she said to Fighting Wolf.
“Oh? Who’s she? Another stepmother?”
“No, I have enough, thank you,” Sarita laughed. “Spring Fern is my slave. I have something important to tell her.”
“Really? Are you in the habit of confiding you marriage plans to your slaves?” he asked politely.
“Not my marriage plans,” she smirked. “But wedding plans nonetheless.” She refused to divulge another word, despite his questioning. But the thoughtful smile on her lips warned him she was up to something.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The Kyuquot war canoes circled the narrow inlet in the pouring rain. The sound of the men’s chanting was blown away by the wind.
“What do you want?” asked a sleepy Sarita, as Fighting Wolf shook her awake. Still groggy from last night’s celebration, she gradually woke up. Her golden eyes met and held his piercing black ones. “My husband,” she said softly.
“That’s right, wife,” he responded. “I’m your husband. As of last night. Now we tell the Kyuquots.”
“The Kyuquots?” She jumped up, reaching for her kutsack. “I’d forgotten all about them.”
“Evidently they haven’t forgotten about you,” he said, an ironic tone in his voice. “They’re here now.” He didn’t wait for her to dress, but headed for Thunder Maker’s quarters. “I’ll be back soon,” he called over his shoulder. “I want to see if your father needs any help in handling the situation.”
“Wait for me, Fighting Wolf,” Sarita called, to no avail. It looked like she had some work ahead of her in this marriage, she thought ruefully. One of the first things she’d have to do was to teach Fighting Wolf to obey her!
Hastily combing her hair and putting on her earrings and bangles and anklets, she rushed after him.
She needn’t have hurried. The Kyuquots were slowly floating into the beach in their large canoes. Some of the canoes looked damaged, but most were piled high with goods. Wedding gifts, she thought guiltily.
She was about to run down to the beach for a closer view when Spring Fern’s voice halted her. “Mistress, please. Don’t go down there. You might be in danger.”
“There’s no danger,” Sarita answered. “What can the Kyuquots do? Fighting Wolf has more warriors—and better ones, too.”
“Still,” her slave pleaded, “Don’t risk yourself. Wait just a little while. Let the men work this out.”
Sarita turned to her and asked gently, “Why are you so concerned about me?”
Surprised, Spring Fern answered, “I’ve always been concerned, mistress. I’ve always cared about what happens to you.”
Her simple words left Sarita feeling warm. “You’ve always been a faithful friend,” murmured Sarita. Turning away thoughtfully, she decided to watch the confrontation on the beach from a safe distance.
Thunder Maker and Fighting Wolf stood side by side, facing the approaching Kyuquots. Throws Away Wealth stepped daintily out of his canoe and walked cockily up to them.
“Who invited the Ahousats to my wedding?” he asked arrogantly. “Get rid of them, Thunder Maker.”
Thunder Maker looked nervously at Fighting Wolf before answering. He cleared his throat. “I see the storm delayed you, my friend,” he began carefully.
“Of course the storm delayed me,” snarled Throws Away Wealth. “It was the worst storm I’ve ever been in. Lost twenty of my men. Did countless damage to my canoes. We even lost a few canoes that were overloaded.” He added pointedly, “Overloaded with wedding gifts.”
He rubbed his hands together to warm t
hem. “The middle of winter is a damn foolish time to hold a wedding celebration, if you ask me.”
“Yes, well, that’s too bad about your men and canoes,” offered Thunder Maker politely. “At least you’ve arrived safely.”
Fighting Wolf raised an eyebrow at the older chief. Throws Away Wealth turned to him. “What are you doing here, Ahousat?” he asked belligerently.
“Fighting Wolf is visiting me as a guest,” cut in Thunder Maker before Fighting Wolf could say anything. “He’s welcome in my village at any time.”
“Really?” asked the Kyuquot chief sarcastically. “That’s not what you told me the last time I was here.”
“Hmmph, yes, well—“
“What Chief Thunder Maker means,” said Fighting Wolf smoothly, “is that he can’t very well keep his daughter’s husband out of his village.”
“You’ve married off another daughter?” asked the Kyuquot jovially. “Didn’t know you had so many marriageable daughters.”
“He doesn’t,” said Fighting Wolf succinctly.
“You can’t mean—“ began the Kyuquot, anger beginning to flush his tanned face.
“Yes, he does mean that,” stated Fighting Wolf triumphantly. “Sarita is now married to me.”
The Kyuquot turned to Thunder Maker. “Is that true?” he cried.
“He speaks the truth,” confirmed Thunder Maker neutrally. He shrugged uncomfortably. He didn’t want to alienate the Kyuquots. They would be formidable enemies, despite what Fighting Wolf had said earlier about their fighting capabilities. He sighed. “I realize this must be a terrible shock—“
The anger on Throws Away Wealth’s face surprised Thunder Maker. He hadn’t thought the man valued an alliance with the Hesquiats so highly.
“You have insulted me and the Kyuquot people, by this action,” began the Kyuquot chief stiffly. “You will not get away with treating our great tribe like this. Or me.” He hit his own chest forcefully, then winced at the blow.
Fighting Wolf coughed to hide the snicker that sprang to his lips. “What are you going to do about it?” he asked in pretended concern.
“We’ll take action,” threatened Throws Away Wealth, waving his arms about. The little man was almost hopping up and down in his anger. He hadn’t realized how much he’d been looking forward to bullying Sarita. Now the haughty slave was out of his reach.
“There’s no need for that,” said Thunder Maker soothingly. He shot a warning look at his son-in-law. “We would be very honored if you and your men would stay here as our guests. Even now, my wives are preparing a lavish feast for you.”
Throws Away Wealth looked at Thunder Maker, then at Fighting Wolf. Lastly, he looked at his weary men. They’d been through a terrible time in their efforts to get to this worthless village. Let Thunder Maker go broke feeding them all, he thought. Besides, the Ahousats were too strong to challenge at this time. He remembered uncomfortably how his men had been soundly beaten on that summer raid….
Throws Away Wealth nodded with as much dignity as he could summon in such humiliating circumstances. “Very well,” he acknowledged icily. “We accept your kind invitation.”
He turned on his heel and shouted orders to his tired men. Glad to have an evening’s celebration and rest ahead of them, they emptied their canoes with alacrity.
Throws Away Wealth fell into step stiffly behind the taller Fighting Wolf and Thunder Maker. The three wound their way in silence up the beach to Thunder Maker’s longhouse.
It was later that night, after the lavish banquet Crab Woman prepared for the disgruntled Kyuquots, that Sarita was at last alone with her beloved Fighting Wolf. Tired and relaxed, they cuddled together after making sweet, passionate love. “I love you,” she murmured.
He turned to her half asleep, his eyes heavy-lidded. “And you’re a wonderful lover,” he answered.
She smiled. “You know, I didn’t really think you were going to go through with it.”
“What? I always finish any lovemaking I start,” he responded, giving her a playful nip on her earlobe. “Almost always,” he corrected. “There were one or two times in my longhouse—“
She laughed. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I meant the marriage. I didn’t think you were really going to marry me.”
“After all I went through?” he asked incredulously. “I fought my way through a storm for you. I fought your father for you—“
Seeing her quick look of concern, he added, “With words, my love. Only with words.”
She sighed, reassured.
“I even had to fend off an angry Kyuquot suitor for your affections,” he continued in a mock aggrieved voice.
Sarita giggled. “Still, I can hardly believe we’re together—“
“Believe it,” he cut in, moving slowly down her frame and laying his cheek gently against her stomach.
“I’m so happy,” she sighed.
“So am I,” he murmured.
“Fighting Wolf,” she said after a moment.
“Mmm?”
“I’m freeing one of my slaves.”
“Oh? Anyone I know?”
“Hmmmm-mm. Spring Fern. I’m so happy with you, I’m freeing her so she can marry the man she loves, and be happy too.”
He opened his eye. Shook his head. “You amaze me,” he said after a while.
She smiled content to take his words as a compliment. “She’s going to marry Rottenwood.”
“Rottenwood? That name sounds familiar.”
“It should,” she answered with another giggle. “He helped me escape from your village.”
Fighting Wolf was silent as he remembered his turmoil when he heard Sarita had escaped. Before he could say anything, however, Sarita said hesitantly, “Fighting Wolf?”
“Hmmmh?”
“I have something to tell you.”
He raised his head warily. “What is it?”
“That night you caught me outside your longhouse—Remember? You accused me of meeting a man?”
Fighting Wolf nodded, his face contorting grimly. “I remember,” he stated. “All too well.”
Sarita shivered at his barely suppressed anger. She hurried on, “It was Rottenwood I met that night.”
“What?” shouted Fighting Wolf jumping up. Then he remembered she’d been a virgin when he’d first taken her. “And?” he asked through tight lips.
“We—we met that night to plan our escape. That’s all.” Sarita waited, holding her breath. The sincerity in her golden eyes was obvious in the lamplight.
“I believe you,” Fighting Wolf answered at last. “I was furious,” he acknowledged. “I was so angry that night that I went paddling for a long time. When I finally calmed down, it was morning.” He shook his head ruefully. “Even then I must have loved you and not realized it.”
Then he gave a low growl and attacked her playfully. “Well, there’ll be no more ‘Rottenwood’s’ to help you escape from me, ever again,” he said, a possessive hug reinforcing his words. “You’re mine, now. And you’ll stay mine.”
“Yes, Fighting Wolf,” she said meekly, a sparkle in her eye. “And you’re mine.”
The complete satisfaction in her voice was evident to them both, and they laughed joyously.
Epilogue
“She’s beautiful,” breathed Fighting Wolf, leaning over his wife to look at the baby cuddled in her arms. “She’s got your eyes.”
“My eyes,” agreed Sarita, “and your nose.”
“Poor thing,” murmured her husband. He rubbed the firm bridge of his straight nose.
They both chuckled. The little girl was the delight of her parents. Indeed, Sarita at times thought her husband was, perhaps, overly proud of their daughter. There was the day she found him showing her off to a bored Scarred Mouth. At Sarita’s pointed suggestion that Scarred Mouth had raised nine of his own children and probably had better things to do than admire babies, the old man had gladly escaped. He left behind a disgruntled Fighting Wolf. “But I was just
about to tell him how alert and clever she is.”
“I’m sure he can see that for himself,” soothed Sarita indulgently. She was warmed by the memory.
Seeing her serene face, Fighting Wolf asked, “Did you want to show our baby to your father? She’s old enough to make the trip safely now. We could paddle to Hesquiat in the next few days.”
Sarita looked thoughtful. “That would give me a chance to see how Precious Copper is doing. She should be past time of her morning sickness.” She smiled. “Feast Giver was saying he wants a boy.”
“Let him think he wants a boy. In this longhouse we want girls, don’t we?” crooned the war chief to his tiny daughter. She smiled and curled her small fingers around his large one. “She’s strong, too,” he observed approvingly.
At that moment, a slim young woman bustled into the living area. “Spring Fern! I mean Sea Palm Woman.” Sarita was embarrassed at the slip she’d made. “I thought you’d left for Hesquiat already.”
Sea Palm Woman answered, “We’re leaving now. Man out of the Shadows wishes to return to your father’s longhouse. I just stopped to say good-bye one last time.”
“Thank you for all your help after the baby was born. I was so glad you could come to see me,” Sarita’s glowing face expressed her deep contentment with both husband and child. “We’ll see you soon,” continued the new mother. “We’re heading to Hesquiat for a visit within the next few days.”
Sea Palm Woman smiled, “Well, I’d best be going. Man Out of the Shadows hates to wait.” She patted her flat torso. “He’ll have to wait for this one, though.”
“Sea Palm Woman! Are you--?
“Pregnant? Yes, Abalone Woman confirmed it. Man Out of the Shadows is jubilant. He’s happy his son will not be born into slavery. Thanks to you, Sarita,” the woman said with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for freeing me, so I could marry Rottenwood—I mean Man Out of the Shadows.” The two women hugged.
“There now. Hurry along,” admonished Sarita, tears of happiness in her eyes, too. “You don’t want to keep you husband waiting.”
At Sea Palm Woman’s departure, Fighting Wolf turned to his wife and said, “And you don’t want to keep your husband waiting, either. Come to bed.”
Savage Betrayal Page 38