Windrider went to retrieve the sleeping mats. His keen eyes widened at the perilous scene before him. The two older girls were nearly out of sight as they rambled along the bank. His sharp gaze sought Tashina, quickly locating her on the other side of the watery divider. “Little Feet! Moon Eyes! Come back! Tashina, no!” he shouted sternly in English. With a surge of energy, he bolted across the ankle-deep stream. His hasty movements and yells caught Rebecca’s attention. He grabbed Tashina as she was about to reach for a coiled water snake. The viper struck just as Windrider snatched the inquisitive child from its range. He quickly carried her across the stream and handed her to her pale-faced mother. He seized his bow and an arrow, and put an end to the snake’s ominous threat. Dropping his weapon, he went after the other two girls. With one in each arm, he returned to Rebecca’s anxious side, highly perturbed by Bright Arrow’s carelessness.
During the commotion, Bright Arrow awoke from his exhausted slumber. He observed his friend’s swift action through drowsy senses. He came over to where Rebecca was crying and hugging the confused children. Windrider took command of the situation and her feelings once more as he stated softly, “I will play with them. You cook. When their stomachs are full, they will sleep quickly.” He led the girls away to begin a game.
Rebecca focused her disbelieving eyes on Bright Arrow. “How could you do such a thing?” she hotly accused.
‘They were sitting beside me. I closed my eyes for a short time. I was weary and sleep claimed me. I did not mean to rest so deeply,” he explained guiltily.
‘That’s the trouble! You never mean anything anymore,” she shot back. “We’re just as tired as you are, in case you’re too blind to notice! Get your lazy body up and help us,” she gritted just above a whisper, for his hearing alone.
Bright Arrow was shocked by her vehement outburst. Humiliation and rage filled him. How dare his wife embarrass him before another warrior! How dare she make such ridiculous and insulting charges! It had been an accident. He warned angrily, “Your tongue is sharp and cruel this day. A wife does not speak so to her husband. You insult me before Windrider; you offend him with your surly tongue. Speak no more or I will punish you. Prepare the meal and obey me.”
Rebecca felt a curious calm overtake her. A wry grin flashed across her face as she mentally scoffed, Your wife? Obey you like a lowly slave? Punish me? Like Hell! If you dare lift a hand against me, I will She couldn’t complete her thought. She observed the concerned way Bright Arrow was studying her. She could tell that he knew he had spoken too brazenly, but he would not apologize.
“At least you’re speaking to me and noticing my presence once more. I was beginning to think I was growing invisible. Nothing would suit me better than to keep silent around you… if you will be so kind as to continue doing the same with me,” she stated sarcastically, then turned her attention to her chore.
When the meal was ready, Rebecca called the girls and Windrider to come eat. She refused to speak with Bright Arrow, who steamed in silence. After the food was consumed, the girls were put to bed by their moody father. Rebecca cleared away the remains of their supper and put away her cooking supplies. She dared visitors to enter their camp tonight! After excusing herself for a few moments, she retired to her mat. Oddly, she was asleep shortly after her head touched the mat, despite her previous emotional upheaval.
It was Bright Arrow who couldn’t sleep. His pensive gaze shifted over the sleeping group, lingering briefly on Tashina, then moving to Rebecca. He tried to understand why he was behaving in this foolish way, knowing he had to stop before he lost his woman. He couldn’t forget the way she had looked at him after his unforgivable tirade. Panic gnawed at him. What was wrong with him? He rolled to his back and watched the stars until they disappeared from the sky.
When Rebecca awoke, Bright Arrow was rousing the girls, and Windrider was feeding small branches to a hungry fire. As she pushed herself to a sitting position, she discovered ten wildflowers lying on her mat. She smiled and warmed to the romantic gesture. She glanced at Bright Arrow whose back was to her. Her appreciative gaze went to Windrider’s profile, and she sighed tranquilly as she arose, inhaling the fragrant flowers which had surely been left by her ardent admirer.
As she performed her morning tasks, Bright Arrow wondered if she was touched at all by his implied apology. Evidently she wasn’t ready or willing to forgive him this soon, and he couldn’t blame her. He had pushed her down a difficult trail for a longtime. He was disappointed when she failed to smile at him or at least thank him for the flowers.
Chapter Six
Rebecca decided that two could play at Bright Arrow’s selfish game, which could be exactly what he needed. He had no right to be so heartless! She was finished being the ground beneath his stumbling feet and she became just as remote and silent as he had been. She refused to meet his gaze or to acknowledge his presence. She performed her chores as if he were the invisible one. If he insisted on a response to a question, she would issue it briefly and crisply. If he made any curt remarks about her mood, she would frown or shrug. She made no attempts to be romantic and brushed off each of his. If she smiled, it was a tight smile. It was as if she had cut him out of her life.
After the way Bright Arrow had been behaving for months, she felt he deserved this lesson. She knew that Bright Arrow was painfully aware of her drastic change of heart and conduct. Suddenly he was trying to talk with her; he was trying to be loving and considerate, but she was too piqued to allow him an easy victory. If she did, he could very well become distant again. She debated the possibility of using Windrider to make him jealous, but concluded that such a ploy was too reckless. Bright Arrow’s initial anger over her cold treatment had turned to worry and remorse. At first he had tried to feign ignorance of her dark mood. Then he had tried to tease her from her sullen pose. She smugly perceived the panic and guilt in his tone when in vain he tried to coax her from her silent world.
Cognizant of the brewing storm between Rebecca and his friend, Windrider gingerly held his comments to himself and was careful not to interfere. If all continued as it had been he reflected, perhaps Rebecca might loosen her hold on his friend with her foolish actions. She appeared to have become scornful and doubtful of her mate, and seemed discouraged with Bright Arrow. Perhaps she was readying herself for a final break from her husband.
Windrider wondered if the seeds he had planted could be bearing fruit so quickly. Had his trick to ensnare her worked? Was she ready and eager to accept him and his false promises? Would she truly discard the famed warrior Bright Arrow for him? He was puzzled. Was it him she desired, or any superior man? Once she made her choice of Windrider known, Bright Arrow would cast her aside for her traitorous betrayal! Bright Arrow would believe she had turned her evil magic on his friend. He would think she was being vengeful, trying to shame him or to torment him. No matter if it cost Windrider his friendship, he was resolved to see Bright Arrow reborn. Yet Windrider was becoming wary of his wicked plan to unmask her.
Was it possible to set up a trap in which Bright Arrow could discover his woman trying to seduce his friend, make her the instigator of this treachery? Windrider recalled that night in the cabin. Rebecca had been a female of great passion and hunger. Could he so tempt her starving senses that she would seek him out with boldness? Could he arouse her to the point where she couldn’t keep her eyes and hands off him? Could he so entrance her that she would rashly reveal her lust before Bright Arrow? Would Bright Arrow slay her for such a wanton display?
That possible reaction curiously distressed Windrider. It was not in his plan to see Rebecca injured or slain. He wanted Bright Arrow forced back into his old life; he wanted Rebecca banished to her white world where she belonged. He had been watching her closely, perhaps too closely! Her constant magic was much too powerful for any man to battle endlessly! He could understand why Bright Arrow was so enchanted by her. Since he could not free himself, it was up to his friend to do so. Yet he would have to be car
eful not to entangle himself while freeing his friend. He had expected this game to be simple!
The timing had to be perfect. She had to choose him over Bright Arrow in the Cheyenne camp. That way, Bright Arrow’s honor would not allow him to slay her or to forgive her. If a wife desired to leave her husband for any reason, all she had to do was confess it and leave him. No honorable brave would beg a wife to stay or prevent her from leaving. Disillusioned, he would return to his people. And once Windrider revealed his cunning game to her, she would flee to her kind and begin a new life there. All would be as it had been long ago.
Windrider envisioned the culminating scene of his daring drama and rapidly dismissed it from his mind. He had no choice but to hurt her! He must not feel shame or anguish over her impending pain! He was doing what he had to do to save his friend! He must not allow her to pierce his heart and alter his plan! If only Rebecca weren’t so beautiful, so gentle, so brave, so passionate! If only she weren’t a rare creature who had truly suffered much these past winters! If only she were to blame for all this trouble! Windrider closed his mind to such tormenting problems, failing to comprehend that his pretended concern was gradually becoming a reality.
For three days Rebecca maintained her obstinate position. Regardless of her feigned ignorance of Bright Arrow, her emotional appetite had been whet. It seemed as if she had been carrying the burden of their relationship for ages; she had needed his support, his attention, his tenderness. Yet it was Windrider who offered her those things. She continually found herself analyzing every look and word from each man. Would it come to a choice between them?
Today Bright Arrow did not nap during their rest period. He took his bow and quiver of arrows and left to hunt fresh meat for their evening meal. Was he trying to appease her? Or was he feeling more like his old self? Some of the fat around his middle had vanished during their trip. He no longer showed signs of being winded or excessively sore. He no longer sweated profusely. It was apparent to her that his body was responding favorably to his demands on it. Still, a full recovery would take many weeks.
The girls were resting peacefully in the shade on their mats, and Windrider was leaning against a tree not far away. Rebecca was plagued by his odd reserve during these past two days. She approached him. “Windrider, are you angry with me?” she inquired.
He glanced down at her upturned face. Dappled sunlight shimmered over her fiery locks, and her tawny eyes revealed an entreating glow. His heart drummed wildly. “Why do you ask such a thing?” he replied hoarsely.
Rebecca was surprised by his husky tone. “You’ve been so distant since my argument with Bright Arrow. Did I offend you with my outburst? I suppose I behaved badly, but I was so frightened. In truth, I was furious with Bright Arrow. You’ve hardly come near me or spoken to me since that day. Please tell me what I did wrong?” she beseeched him. She nervously moistened her dry lips, drawing his dark eyes to them.
An overwhelming urge surged through him to yank her into his arms and to imprison those lips beneath his. He shuddered and inhaled deeply. ‘There is much trouble and anger between you and Bright Arrow. I gave my word to you I would say no more until you wished me to do so. When the grass is dead and brown beneath the feet of Bright Arrow, the grass which is green and alive beneath mine is tempting. I do not wish to lure you from him while you are weak and sad in spirit. You must come to me free in heart and head, not to spite Bright Arrow.”
She stared at him in astonishment. She had not expected this strange behavior or these baffling words. If he were trying to lure her away, why did he not take advantage of their estrangement. “Surely you don’t think I would use you to hurt Bright Arrow? I’m not trying to make him jealous. I’m not trying to spite him. He deserves my anger and resentment,” she retorted.
He pretended confusion and distress. “My white words do not match my thoughts. Help me to explain. I do not say you reject him for revenge. I do not say you seek to recall his eye by showing desire for me. I do not say you wish to punish him by showing more honor to me. I ask you to come to me when all has passed between you and Bright Arrow. I ask you to make it your choice, not because I invaded your mind and removed Bright Arrow from your thoughts. Do not come while there is anger and bitterness swaying your choice. You must not come until it is only Windrider you desire. If this is true, you must free Bright Arrow without pain or dishonor. Do you see?”
She gingerly probed the meaning of his words, needing to make her sure that certain suspicions she had begun to have were accurate. “I understand. You don’t want to interfere in my relationship with Bright Arrow. You love me, but you don’t want to be the reason we end our life together. You’ll claim me as your woman, but only after I am free of him,” she said, recounting his statements. When he nodded, she smiled knowingly. It was time to be clever and bold, and perhaps the time to practice a little deceit of her own! She had to discover Windrider’s true motives. “The only thing you’ve done is help me to realize how impossible he’s making it for us to stay together. He’s swaying my thoughts and feelings, Windrider, not you. Bright Arrow’s had a very hard time since he left home. I’ve tried to be patient, and understanding, and true to him. Whatever I do, it never seems enough for him. He needs more than I can give him; and as long as we hold on to each other, he’ll be trapped between me and his destiny. Perhaps I am bad for him,” she suggested softly, but he didn’t reply. She was confused by his restraint. This was the perfect time for seductive persuasion! Why was he silent?
She audaciously ventured, “For a long time I tried to shut my eyes to his torment. I tried to convince myself that he was strong and brave, that he could overcome any obstacle, that nothing and no one could harm him. I was mistaken. Maybe I’m not the one who can help him recover himself. Maybe it’ll be worse for him if I don’t force him to leave me. I don’t know,” she whispered sadly. Furtively, she observed the effect of her statements. “Maybe it’s time to let him go. Maybe it’s time for both of us to admit we made a mistake by trying to defy the laws of our peoples. Perhaps it’s time to begin new lives. If only I knew the right answer. Ever since the day he captured me, I’ve been bound to him. I’ve never considered staying or leaving. It was like he owned me, and I did as he commanded.”
Windrider didn’t interrupt her.
“Please understand one thing,” Rebecca continued. “I’m not a she-wolf on the prowl, trying to find a new mate to replace Bright Arrow. He’s the only man I’ve ever known. I’ve never found another man desirable or irresistible until I met…” She flushed, wondering if she should finish her statement. “I’m sorry, Windrider; I shouldn’t have said that. You’re a most honorable man. It isn’t right to include you in the middle of this trouble with Bright Arrow. I only wanted to tell you what I’ve decided. I do want him to become the man he was long ago. I want him to be happy and whole. But if his people won’t allow us to marry, I won’t live with him in their camp. I won’t be his slave or whore. And we can’t go back to living in the wilderness. Ever since we met, we have been facing one storm after another. Maybe we’ve used up all the emotions we have to give each other. He’s miserable and I’m miserable. Unless the Oglalas say we can marry and live without shame, Bright Arrow will return to his tribe alone. If things are as you say, I’ll be free to chose a man who stirs my heart and body, and I hope the Oglalas make that decision easy for me.” With that stunning declaration, she turned and left him staring at her retreating back.
The puzzle was intricate. Rebecca had hoped to solve it with ingenuity and patience. If her suspicions were correct, Windrider’s plot was cunning and harmful. As many new pieces appeared as those already assembled! What if she called his bluff? Would he lie and implicate her? Would he accuse her of being the instigator? What and who would Bright Arrow believe? Could she risk calling his hand or rejecting him until she had more evidence? It seemed wisest to play along with Windrider until he exposed himself…
Afterward, Rebecca mellowed to the point of bein
g polite and amiable to Bright Arrow, as if she were trying to learn if there was anything left to their life together, as if there was hope for a new start. Yet she made certain they were never alone. When he tried to embrace her or kiss her on the cheek, she would playfully shrug it off. When he asked her to take a walk that evening, she gently refused and went about her tasks. To make sure there were no misunderstandings, she didn’t encourage Windrider in the least. As far as both men were concerned, she treated them as her brothers. Neither man quite knew what to make of the situation.
Because they were traveling on foot and with small children, the journey had taken longer than usual, and Rebecca was surprised and pleased when Windrider told her that they would arrive in his camp in three days. Three short days, she mused pensively. That wasn’t much time to deliberate her course of action.
The next day passed uneventfully, but the following one did not. The Cheyenne camp lay south of the Black Hills. Windrider led them through the area between the sacred mountains and the area known as the “badlands.” Skirting that harsh and uninviting region required additional traveling time. Huge rock formations and barren hills were visible from their trail. Bright Arrow told her it was the short and heavy rains and long days of drought which created such terrain. The peaks had eroded into eerily shaped cliffs, sharp ridges, naked hills, and countless hidden canyons. Here and there, a rare valley boasted prairie grass and scrub trees and, in some places, bands of colors encircled the rocks like imprisoning rainbows. From a distance, the area looked ghostly and unreal. In the bright sunlight, the craggy mounds looked sandy in color, but at dusk, they assumed a deep gray shade. She certainly wouldn’t want to get lost in there, she thought, especially after Windrider told her it was infested with rattlesnakes. He said that if a man wanted to disappear forever, he could do so there. Even the children were fascinated by the scenery.
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