Nettled, she called him names and fought him. Travis looked and behaved as if nothing unusual were taking place. He pulled a rawhide thong from over his pistol and bound her wrists. She was astonished when Lone Wolf did and said nothing to the brazen man with laughing eyes. “Release me, white dog!” she shrieked at him. She struggled fiercely, to no avail. At last she was rendered breathless from her exertions and protests and could do no more than shake with rage at his actions. To make matters worse, Travis lifted her and tossed her over his shoulder. Then he strolled to his waiting horse and stood her beside it.
Bewildered, Nathan asked, “What’s going on, son? This can’t be necessary.”
Travis glanced at his friend and reminded, “Don’t forget what I told you, Nate. We need to head for home and she’s fighting me. She’s demanding to hang around until tonight to watch her brother’s joining. This little wildcat will settle down after we get away from here. Please let me handle her and get us on the trail pronto,” he urged.
Wild Wind glared at Travis, then spewed forth insults and threats in the Indian tongue. When she added, “Sunka ska, nanpi yuze sni yo! Mni kte sni yelo!” Travis removed his bandanna and gagged her so that she would not draw the attention of others. He was glad Nathan could not understand his Oglala words as he refuted, “Yes, you will go with me. And if you call me a white dog one more time, I’ll spank you. And I’ll put my hands on you anywhere and any time I please, if I please.”
Wild Wind soon realized that her Indian brother would make no attempt to come to her aid. But it also seemed obvious that the older white man was annoyed and distressed over her vile treatment. Yet, when her gaze sent an appeal to him for help, he winced and lowered his head as if hurt and embarrassed. Suddenly she twisted, ducked, and forcefully threw her shoulder into Travis’s midsection.
He grunted and staggered slightly at the unexpected attack. Then he seized her by her forearms and shook her, warning, “Behave, woman, or I will punish you for acting like a fever-mad raccoon. You are a chiefs daughter and sister, and my wife, not a wild she-bear who is wounded. You are making a fool of yourself and shaming all of us.”
Nathan helplessly questioned, “Are the gag and bonds necessary? She’s only a scared child, Travis. Don’t be so rough and mean to her.”
Travis Kincade drilled his leaf green eyes into her stormy blue ones. Then he grinned roguishly and quipped, “Damn right, they’re necessary, Nate. This little viper would strike without warning if she had the chance. I’ll release her when she learns and uses some manners, or when she remembers she’s a woman and not a little savage. And she had best learn quickly, ‘cause my temper and patience are short. I plan to take real good care of…my defiant wife, if she lets me,” he murmured, his smoldering gaze slipping over her face and body.
When Nathan started to debate Travis’s words and actions, Travis cautioned, “Taking up for her only encourages her to act worse, Nate. We can’t stay any longer, and she won’t leave peacefully unless I use force. She’s only trying to prove to herself and her friends that she can control me. We ain’t got time for silly female games. Please, stay quiet.”
Wild Wind was overjoyed when her flushed cheeks and flashing eyes did not expose her understanding of Travis’s words. Rather, both men interpreted these signs as indications of her anger. As far as these white men would know, she had forgotten English, which could not be considered unusual for a girl captured as a small child who had heard and spoken only Sioux for years. She decided to encourage the older man’s friendship and help, for she felt this would annoy her new husband. She would be clever and patient, she mentally plotted, until she could defeat him and escape. She would teach him about manners and kindness, and about Wild Wind.
Travis mounted agilely, then reached down to scoop her up in his powerful arms. When a resentful Wild Wind found herself on the same horse with her white tormentor, she sat rigidly before him, her chin held high and her gaze focused on the distance. Never had she been so humiliated or infuriated or mistreated. Knowing Lone Wolf and Myeerah were witnessing this degrading display, she ceased her struggles, vowing this white devil would pay dearly for shaming and abusing her.
After Travis and Lone Wolf had exchanged parting words, Lone Wolf touched her arm and advised her to be obedient to her new husband and happy in her new life. Wild Wind’s gaze settled on the warrior. Her eyes told him she would never forgive him for this deed, even when he asked for her understanding and forgiveness. She shook her head and tore her misty gaze from his entreating face. She would not be forgiving or understanding while she was a humiliated captive who could neither speak nor move. Lone Wolf had the authority to order Travis to remove the bonds and gag so she could hug him and speak words of farewell. Since he made no attempt to do so, he did not deserve her forgiveness. Let him suffer, as she was suffering.
Travis was annoyed by her obstinancy and spitefulness. “Do not worry about her, Lone Wolf. I will make certain she is safe and happy. When her temper cools, she will be sorry she behaved so badly. You did right by trading her to me. I will take good care of her.”
“You are a good and wise man, my friend. My sister is strong and proud. Give her time and patience. She will come to accept you and her new life. In time, understanding will fill her mind and heart.”
“I wish happiness and long life for my Oglala brothers and Lone Wolf. May you find great success on the hunting grounds and in battle. May the Great Spirit ride with you and protect you from your enemies. Soaring Hawk is proud of his son, a wise, strong chief and a powerful, cunning warrior, as he was. May you find peace and joy with your new mate on this happy joining day. I am proud to call you friend.”
Travis smiled when Lone Wolf responded with the heartfelt words, “Pilamaya, Wanbli Ska. Wakan Tanka ni’ci un. Tanyan yaun nunwe, Watogla Tate. Icantewaste, mitanksi,” which translated: “Thank you, White Eagle. May the Great Spirit go with you and guide you. Goodbye, Wild Wind. Be happy, my sister.”
Travis knew their time was fleeing. He kneed his horse and rode away. When they were almost out of sight of the settlement, the girl began to battle him like a snared badger. She wiggled and thrashed, threatening to send both of them to the hard ground. His horse was well trained, and he released the reins while he struggled to control her and their precarious position. His arms banded her body and he shouted at her, “Stop it, Wild Wind! You do not have to be afraid of me and Nate.” When she did not relent, he commanded, “Be still, or you will make me hurt you. We must leave here—now,” he stressed impatiently.
The realization of a permanent parting with her Indian brother and her friend Myeerah had struck her hard. Soon all she knew and loved would be lost to her forever. She did not wish to leave in this cold manner, with cruel words between them. She wanted to go back to say she was sorry, but she could not explain this to White Eagle through the gag. She hoped her actions would enlighten him and he would remove it, but all he did was threaten her and shake her. Her anger and desperation grew.
When she attempted to shift herself to peer around his broad chest, Travis saw her pleading gaze and understood her actions. He removed the gag and inquired, “Do you want to say something?”
“I must go back and speak with my brother and Myeerah,” she coaxed. “It is wrong to leave this way,” she informed him sullenly.
Travis knew he could not comply with her wishes. “There is no time, Wild Wind. The sun is high, and we should have been on the trail long ago. You should not have behaved so badly or wasted precious time trying to provoke me. Lone Wolf knows you are angry and hurt; it is natural. He will forgive you and forget your defiance and cruelty. The trail is filled with enemies. We must become friends or our lives will be in danger. For once, be a good girl,” he commanded.
She glared at him, her look scorning his order and his refusal. “Hiya kola! Wanbli Ska toka!” she declared heatedly declining his offer of friendship and calling him her enemy. She asked to be untied, but he shook his head and unwise
ly grinned at her. “You are mean and evil; that is why I resisted leaving with you. I hate you. I will never yield to you. If you try to force me to sleep on your mat, I will claw out your eyes. I will escape and return to my people,” she warned coldly.
Vexed at having to behave this way and knowing time was short before the Hunkpapas’ arrival, Travis retorted, “If you try to escape or disobey, you will be sorry. When I take a woman to my sleeping mat, it will not be a hateful, defiant child. You are selfish and cold-hearted, and you were mean and evil to your brother. Stay my enemy if it makes you feel better. I do not need your friendship or your body, only your obedience. I cannot see why any warrior would chase after a bag of trouble like you. Obviously the jokes about you are true. One of us will tame a wild wind; the choice of who does it is yours.”
Incensed, she scoffed, “If you do not wish me as your mate, why did you make trade for me? Did you need a slave for your chores?”
“You are not my slave or prisoner,” he replied too quickly. He sighed in annoyance at his slip and added, “Unless you behave like one.”
“If I am of no value to you, release me,” she responded.
“No. I made trade for you to help Lone Wolf and his people. I offered them many guns and supplies. In exchange, I had to ask for something they viewed as having great value. I could not ask for horses, because your people need them for fighting and hunting. I could not ask for furs, because it is wrong to slay so many animals. There was nothing else of value to ask for in trade. I believed taking Wild Wind as my wife would make the trade one of honor and fair exchange. You are a white woman, and you caused trouble many times for your brother and his people. He was about to trade you just to get rid of your sharp tongue and rebellious ways. You should be glad I rescued you from an enforced joining. Just do as you are told, and we will not have any problems.”
He could tell she was getting more angry by the minute. He decided to try reasoning with her. “White women can do the things you desire, things that need to be done in our lands—hunting, riding, fighting, and protecting your family. We thought you would be happy with other whites, and safer during this war between our peoples. I did not choose an Oglala woman, because an Oglala would feel lost and frightened in my white world. Since you are white, you will fit in easily. If you escaped or I sent you home, you would live in shame and ridicule. You would no longer have trade value or pride. You would be dishonoring your chief and the trade that could save his people. I gave you the chance to do something good and unselfish for the people who raised you and loved you. I believed you had pride and courage. I thought you were smart and could relearn the white ways and accept them. You will go with me willingly or by force, but you will not cause trouble and dishonor. I have never raped any woman and I will not start with you, wife or no wife. You have more thorns than a wahoo tree, and I do not like getting pricked on my sleeping mat. Do the chores. I will ask nothing more.”
Wild Wind recognized the truth in most of his words. Nothing was as important to an Indian as honor and the survival of his tribe and lands. If she rejected her appointed role in this intimidating episode, she would face shame and ridicule. He knew the Indian ways and the paths of cunning too well. His reasoning had been flawless, except for one point : his motive for claiming her in trade. She was neither blind nor a fool. She recalled that night in her tepee; he was a virile man and he had found her desirable. She was his wife now, and he would not ignore her for very long. Too, she questioned why he had made trade with the Oglalas instead of the Hunkpapas. Or perhaps, she decided, he had made trade with both. She was too angry and confused to be flattered by his compliments, which had been laced around insults or chiding, but she had caught them and now stored them away in her keen mind. She wondered if he would come after her if she were to escape, and she concluded that he would. The only honorable way she could return to the Oglala camp was through his death, and he was not a man who would die easily. She was trapped. “Then I am your captive and you are my enemy,” she announced. “I will ride my own horse. I am not a child.” For now, all she wanted was to put some distance between them.
Nathan turned back when he saw that Travis was making little progress in his argument with his granddaughter. He fretted over their conflict, asking, “What’s wrong, Travis?”
“Just a battle of wits and wills, Nate. I’ll explain later. Ride a little ahead and keep an eye out for visitors while I settle her down.” He watched as Nathan reluctantly gave in to his order, which Travis knew would keep his older friend from making a slip. To Wild Wind, he said in Oglala, “We do not have time to exchange harsh words. You ride with me until I know you can be trusted.”
“No,” she protested, and tried to slip from his saddle and arms.
Travis hurriedly caught her, then placed her bound hands over his head and settled them around his waist. “Behave, or I will twist you over my knee and whip your fanny. Maybe that is what you need.”
Wild Wind decided to test him and to get free of his unsettling embrace and nearness. It was difficult to locate any extra flesh around his middle and to imprison it between her fingernails, but she worked until she was pinching him painfully. “I will ride Cloud or walk.”
Travis grabbed her mischievous hands and held them away from his body, scowling at her. With her teeth, she caught the tender flesh at the function of his arm and chest. She bit him, then gradually increased her pressure as he struggled to break her tenacious hold with his other hand. Nothing seemed to encourage her to stop biting and resisting him. She wanted him to toss her to the ground or place her on Cloud’s back, for she realized she did not enjoy his pain. Though she would not unclench her teeth, she added no more pressure.
Travis grimaced in discomfort, but he had endured more pain than she was giving him. He did not cry out or strike her. Instead he stared down into those turbulent blue-gray eyes. “How can someone so beautiful be so damned mean and savage? You’re gonna force me to hurt you and cause more trouble between us,” he mumbled to himself in English. In Lakota he stated, “Wild Wind, I will have to gag you again when I get that lovely mouth free. If you stop biting and behave, I will let you ride Cloud soon and I will untie you so you can signal your brother.”
As he was speaking, he had grasped her head between his hands and indicated his resolve to obtain freedom at any risk or threat of pain. Given an opening, she ceased her reckless action. “Your word of honor?” she probed, implying that his offers were the reasons for her rapid release of his flesh.
Travis nodded, then whispered softly and gratefully, “Pilamaya.” He tied the bandanna around his neck, showing her that he would not gag her again. “A truce, woman? Your word of honor to behave?” After she nodded, he pulled on the reins to turn around his horse. As he sat her up straight before him and cut her bonds, he muttered in English, “So very beautiful and dangerous, and as cold and wild as a Texas blizzard. You’re gonna be one tough and delightful vixen to tame, if any man has the cunning and strength to do it…”
Travis watched her use sign language to relate her love and farewell, and her hopes for Lone Wolf’s happiness and survival. He watched her ask for forgiveness for her previous action and saw that Lone Wolf returned her signals in kind. Thoughtfully, he noticed that tears brightened her lovely eyes as he saw her send Lone Wolf one final smile and wave.
The flaming-haired beauty with steel blue eyes looked up at Travis and whispered softly, almost seductively, “Pilamaya, mihigna.”
Travis smiled mysteriously as he responded in Oglala, “You are welcome, my wife. Remember your promise: no more fighting with words or hands. We go home… We should take care of that name right now,” he suggested, as if an idea had just struck him. “You will need a white name to prevent any hostility toward you and any nosy questions. My name is Travis, Travis Kincade. Can you say it?”
“Travis, Travis Kincade,” she repeated obediently.
“Very good,” he remarked cheerfully. “I will call you Rana, a soft,
beautiful name for a beautiful and hopefully gentle woman.”
Rana shuddered as the vaguely familiar name rifled across her mind. She stiffened and paled. “I do not like that name. I am Wild Wind.”
“You are my wife, and I am naming you Rana, Rana Michaels,” he insisted, perceiving the effect of the name of her and observing her ensuing actions. He hoped that Nathan would not return now and interfere.
Rana unconsciously grasped the heart-shaped pendant that Nathan had given to her and toyed nervously with it. She remembered where she had heard the strange name Rana and had viewed the wanapin—in her bad dreams. Or, she fearfully wondered, were they visions of horrible days to come? Suddenly she yanked the pendant from her neck, leaving a red scratch on her satiny flesh. As she started to fling the necklace away, Travis grabbed her hand and prevented her panicky behavior. “I do not like the white name Rana and I do not like the wanapin; both are evil. Grandfather sent me warnings about them in bad dreams. Now you, my husband, bring them to life. As I feared, I must not trust you. You have lied to Wild Wind and tricked her; this I know is true from my dark visions. Is this not so, Travis Kincade?”
Travis kept his expression closed to her probing gaze. He knew he could not reveal the truth, not when she was so suspicious of him. As Lone Wolf had said, she needed time to become friends with them before he related the story of her past to her. Evidently she was haunted by bad memories, which she considered dreams or visions. It would be unwise to admit he had lied and duped her. Instead he tried a different path. “I will keep the necklace for you until you realize that it comes from a good heart and not a bad vision. Grandfather was preparing you to face your new destiny, one where you must live as Rana Michaels. Do not resist His revelations and will, Rana. Do not fear the bad dreams or your new life far away. You are my wife, and I will protect you from all harm.”
The nightmare she had experienced on the day of Travis’s arrival filled her mind. She was confused and alarmed by the unknown, which seemed to be surrounding her. But the man who had rescued her in her dark dreams was now at her side, her husband. She had to be brave and cunning. “I will become your Rana as Grandfather commands,” she told him, then pulled his head downward and fused their lips to test him in another way.
Sweet Savage Heart Page 15