by Adair, Mary
"I will send a runner to Tellico. He will tell our brothers we have learned that Red Panther is an enemy to our people. He will tell them how sad it makes your heart for such a one to be among us and that we must kill him before he spreads his poison further." Blue Feathers paused.
DuPrey was actually rubbing his hands together in his excitement. "Good, good. Continue, please," he implored anxiously.
Blue Feathers allowed a small smile. "You and I will go out to meet this most evil of men and tell him that we know a good place, where there are many turkey with beautiful feathers. He will gladly come with us. We will take him down from the mountains by way of the elk-trail..."
DuPrey held up his hands, "Wait, doesn't the elk trail lead toward English territory? It would be better to take him west toward the Mississippi."
"What you say is wise, but he may become suspicious and not come with us. He will have no fear traveling with us along the Elk Trail. Remember, he does not know you have learned of his treachery and going in that direction will not alert him."
DuPrey rubbed a hand over his mouth and peered at Blue Feathers through his big bugged eyes. "You are right, Blue Feathers. Go and make arrangements for an ambush, but go yourself to Tellico.
"I will meet you there in two days and then we will return here to meet with Red Panther and convince him to join us. Once he is in our custody we can take him to New Orleans and turn him over for questioning." He gave a nasty snort, "Or, we could kill him on the spot. Well don't just stand there, man," he impatiently waved a hand at Feathers. "Go, go! Do what needs to be done. I have a few things to do here."
Feathers nodded solemnly and left the lodge.
Sparrow sat crouched and trembling, too frightened to move. DuPrey was going to hurt Panther. She had to tell New Moon.
Without warning strong arms grabbed her from behind and roughly yanked her from the ground. Before she could gather enough air into her compressed lungs to cry out a cruel hand slapped across her mouth.
She felt the hot, wet flutter of his breath against her neck as he pressed his lips to her ear and whispered, "Well, well. It looks as if I have captured a little bird."
Stark terror raced through Sparrow's being as she struggled frantically against his grip.
"Such a little thing. What did you think you were doing, tiny, little thing?"
Tremor after tremor shook her as her mind raced wildly. She managed to work one arm free and swung her hand back to swat at the mouth that tormented with words of terror.
Her thumb sunk into something soft and moist and DuPrey grunted as he flung her from him. She landed hard. Pushing herself up she looked back to see DuPrey clutching at his eye. She had jabbed a finger into the hateful orb and the sight of blood slipping from beneath his hand gave her a moment of triumph. Then his good eye leveled on her and the fear returned.
She scrambled to her feet and ran. She didn't know which way to go, just away from him. She could hear him thrashing after her. Her heart beat so fast that it hurt within her chest. She pressed harder. She had to get away.
Her foot snagged. Pain ...such pain in her foot. The air rushed from her lungs. A soft whimper. Darkness.
DuPrey snatched the unconscious girl up and tucked her under one arm. He stepped into the cornfield, the stalks were withered, but they offered sufficient covering till he reached the cane that grew against the tall wall of the fortress.
He pressed himself close against the wall and slowly made his way to the stream. Careful not to cause undue ripples, he lowered himself slowly into the water and ducked beneath its surface to come up again on the opposite side of the wall.
Sparrow jerked awake as the cold water engulfed her and she struggled weakly, but the fear of drowning caused her to cling to DuPrey and hold her breath.
When DuPrey emerged on the other side he pulled Sparrow up like a wet puppy and cuffed her hard on the jaw.
Tucking her once again under his arm he scrambled quickly up the bank. "This is almost too easy," he sneered as he readjusted Sparrows weight and headed for the cliffs.
The climb was treacherous and took longer than he would have liked, but he could easily be spotted and had to move carefully from one cover to the next. Reaching a high peak he pushed Sparrow's limp body up the last few inches and then over.
Chapter Twenty-four
James, DuPrey and Blue Feathers stepped out of the forest into a small clearing. DuPrey stole a glance in Feathers' direction and nodded. Immediately Feathers took hold of one of DuPrey's arms and bend it painfully behind his back.
"What are you doing, you fool!" DuPrey struggled against the hold only to have his other arm captured by James. "Turn me loose this instant!" he snarled like a caged animal. At the sound of rustling brush he swung his head in that direction, still foolishly thinking that he'd not been captured in his own snare.
"Captain Ingram," James nodded as he spoke to the English officer.
"Col. Fitzgerald, I presume." the captain responded.
Beau stepped out from behind a large tree and then leaned casually against its trunk. James and Beau exchanged silent nods.
DuPrey cackled like a mad man and all turned to look in his direction. "Yes, damn you all to hell! You presume right." His head swung to James, "You may have won but at great cost to you. I actually thought about letting the little bitch live, but then she put my eye out. Hurt like a sonofabitch too. So I pushed her over the top." He laughed again and Feathers backed away.
James felt himself sway as fear slammed into him. He jerked DuPrey's arm up high behind him and pulled. He felt DuPrey's shoulder slipping and heard his screams through the roar of anger in his own head.
It took three blows to James' mid-section to make him break his hold. He doubled over and fell to his knees.
Captain Ingram knelt down beside him. "Sorry, but I had to do that." James didn't think he sounded sorry.
"Orders are to take him back alive." The Captain ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I don't know who he killed that was so important to you, but I am truly sorry about your loss. We need to be moving on now. Governor Glen will be wanting to take your report as soon as we get there."
James half heard what the Captain said, as he searched for the emptiness in his soul that would be there if New Moon was dead. She couldn't be gone. He'd feel it if she were.
James looked up at DuPrey. Only one bugged eye was visible, the right one being covered. The swelling and bruising could be seen around the edges of the patch.
Whoever put his eye out did a good job of it, but it wasn't New Moon ...it couldn't be New Moon.
DuPrey laughed again as the British soldiers pulled him toward a horse. James stood unsteadily to his feet. "I'll not be going back with you, Captain. Tell Glenn anything you like about the capture, my days of glory are over as far as England is concerned."
Beau placed a hand on James' shoulder, "I'll go back with you."
"No, Beau, that’s not necessary. You just make sure that bastard pays."
"That's a promise, colonel."
Captain Ingram and the others watched as James and Blue Feathers disappeared back into the forest.
***
A journey of two and a half days out took only one day and night to return. New Moon ran through the gate and into James' arms with such force that she staggered him. Blue Feathers did not wait but discreetly passed through the gate and entered the village.
"Panther," New Moon sobbed. "You must find her, she is so weak. She can not last much longer."
"Who, Wa-sa? Who?" James felt his own relief becoming covered over by her near panic. He shook her hard, "Who, Wa-sa, tell me...Who!"
"Ooh, Panther…she is so tiny, so very tiny, we must hurry!"
James shook her again, "For God's sake who, Wa-sa?" She struggled with him and he slapped her. The sound of his hand against her soft cheek made him feel sick.
Her struggles stopped. Her eyes clouded as she glared past James to a place he couldn't go.
&nbs
p; "Wa-sa!" He ground through gritted teeth. "What's happening?"
New Moon spoke as if in a trance, "She is calling to me, Panther. Her voice is so soft, she is weak." "Who, Wa-sa?" James spoke softly.
“Sparrow,” she whispered and then sobbed.
James held her chin between his fingers and forced her to look at him. "Wa-sa, was DuPrey here?"
New Moon shifted her gaze to his eyes. "Yes. The man is evil, Panther. He came here to do evil and he did it. Why did I not see it sooner? If only I had seen it, I could have stopped it."
"Stop it Wa-sa! We do not have time for this now. You must tell me everything. Where did he go while he was in the village? When was the last time you saw Sparrow?"
"She was helping me with the tanning and then DuPrey came over. We sat down beneath the old oak and he helped me shuck corn while we talked. I did not see Sparrow after that."
James took hold of her hand and drew her into the village. "Did anyone see Sparrow with DuPrey?" he asked.
"No, I was the last one to see her."
James heard the tremor in her voice and knew she was close to loosing control again. "Everyone is looking in the wrong place. Come with me, Wa-sa. We will find her."
James hurried to the visitor's lodge. New Moon asked him no questions as she raced along beside him. Nothing looked out of place. There were no signs of struggle. James and New Moon stepped out of the lodge and made their way around to the back. There the signs jumped out at them even after almost four days. The loosened soil, broken twigs and a bloody hand print on the wall.
It was easy to follow the trail through the broken cornstalks and then the bent cane against the wall leading to the stream. James anguished as he moved swiftly. Why had this trail been over looked before?
As he slid down the bank to the water he called out to New Moon, "Go back and get a rope and skins. I am going under the wall and pick up the trail on the other side." Turning he slipped into the water and disappeared.
Holding his breath James swam down and under the barricade, and then surfaced on the other side. He saw the rail without difficulty. Moving close to the wall he looked up, it was easy to see how DuPrey had managed to creep several yards along the wall and then wait until the guard looked away to make a dash across the short distance to the rocky slop. No trail would show on the jagged rocks so James followed the most likely route upward.
A faint noise reached his ears. It sounded like the mewling of a kitten. There…again. It was straight ahead. He pulled himself up to the edge and looked over.
There on a narrow ledge about ten feet below him was Sparrow. She lay on her stomach; her arms stretched inward toward the mountain wall. He couldn't see her hands past the over hang.
"Sparrow, can you hear me, little one?"
Sparrow weakly raised her head and then let it drop again.
James took in a deep breath and let out a series of whoops to direct New Moon to his location. Pulling himself up onto the ledge he twisted around and slipped his feet over edge. "Stay very still, Sparrow. I'm coming down."
Waiting only a few moments to offer up a quick prayer, he turned loose and dropped down. His toes touched rock and then slipped over. He fell hard, gripping the rocky ledge.
Sparrow turned her head and rested her other cheek against the cool stone. "Please, Panther," she whispered weakly, "don't fall."
James wedged his toe into a tiny craves and hoisted himself up. "I'm not done for yet, little lass," he said with a smile.
Sparrow gave a tiny grin. He knew it didn't matter to her that he had spoken in English and she did not understand. She clearly understood he was here now and she was going to be taken home at last.
James made a quick examination for broken bones and then gathered her into his arms. Her body was much too cold.
He scooted back so he could prop his back against the stone. The low overhang offered only slight protection from the cold breeze of early evening. To one side there was a narrow stream of water trickling from between the stone. That source of water was what had probably kept her alive.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her and tucked her head under his chin. Reaching for his grain pouch tied about his waist, he withdrew a small amount of cornflower. "Here, little one. Eat."
Sparrow touched her tongue to the grain.
"At least you follow direction better than your aunt," he teased her and then placed a kiss to the top of her head.
-
Her hand went out for the grain pouch and James took her by the wrist and tucked her hand back between their bodies.” You don't want to take too much at once, lass. Here, lets have a wee drink and then cuddle down tight to my chest. That's a good girl."
"Panther?"
"We're down here, Wa-sa. Sparrow is fine. It's getting too dark to take her out now." James called back. "Did you bring any hides?"
"Yes, I have them."
"Good. Tie them to a rope and lower them over the side."
Before long he saw the large bundle slowly dropping down. He shifted Sparrow in his lap and reached out for the furs. Quickly untying them he called to New Moon, "Did you save any for yourself, Wa-sa?"
"Yes. Can we not bring her up now? I am strong enough to pull her up."
"I know you are, Wa-sa, but there is not enough room up there for the three of us and it is too dark to travel down the mountain. Wrap yourself up and wait till sun up. I promise you Sparrow is fine." He heard no more from New Moon and set about wrapping himself and Sparrow in the skin she had sent down.
Sparrow nuzzled beneath his chin. "Is New Moon afraid of the dark?"
"I don't think so. Were you afraid out here all by yourself?" "I was very much afraid. I'm not afraid now." "Good." James stroked her head.
"My mother sings to me at night. It keeps the bad dreams away."
"I do not know any of your songs, but I could sing a song that my mother used to sing to me. Would you like for me to sing it for you?"
"Will it keep the bad dreams away?"
"It always kept them away from me."
In the clear cold darkness of the night New Moon heard Panther's voice softly floating up from the ledge below. She let her gaze slip to the sky. The stars twinkled in their bed of black and her heart rested as her spirit floated, carried along by the sweet, tender voice of her beloved.
Chapter Twenty-five
New Moon cuddled beneath the heavy robes, her eyes closed in slumber.
Slowly she came awake, in small degrees of awareness. Though it had been five months since her warrior captured her, their time together seemed to stand still. After the rescue of Sparrow, New Moon and Panther shared precious time at peace.
Now a new pleasure swept through her. She felt the stirring of the tiny life within her and slipped a hand to gently massage her growing belly. A contented smile spread across her lips as she breathed deeply of the scent of burning hickory.
She heard the soothing crackle of the fire her warrior had built and knew that, even though it was still dark outside, the interior of their summer lodge would be alight in the soft illumination put out by the gentle dancing flames.
Her eyes still closed; she contentedly stretched beneath the warm robe as her hand slid across the furs, drawn by the warmth where her warrior's body heat still lingered.
She slowly opened her eyes as she squirmed her way over to lie where he had lain. Nuzzling her nose into the skins she breathed deeply of his scent. He was spoiling her by letting her sleep longer and longer into the morning. The eastern sky would soon begin to lighten; she would have to hurry to get to water before Grandmother Sun began her journey across the sky.
Reluctantly she pushed herself up and tossed the heavy robes aside. She shivered as the cold air touched her warm skin.
"Grandmother Sun will rise whether you are there to welcome her or not," Red Panther said from the doorway.
New Moon's eyes rose up to meet his and a warm thrill raced through her body. Red Panther, her white warrior, stood in the
doorway, the light of the fire casting him in flickering light and dancing shadows.
Her warrior was even more magnificent than when he first arrived at their village. His body darker, his muscles more defined and his senses keenly attuned to nature, he had truly become a warrior and protector of the Principal People.
The small fire reflected off the deep rich color of his auburn hair, which fell over each shoulder to rest upon the bulging strength of his chest. Her smile deepened and her heart warmed even more as her eyes, led by the dancing fire light, were drawn to travel over the body she now knew so well.
"Yes," she finally responded. "But I have so much to be thankful for." Her black eyes traveled upward again to meet and lock with his of blue that were now dark and smoldering with the need her appraisal had evoked.
Her own eyes danced with mischief. "I must go and offer…Oh..." her hand flew to her belly and Red Panther rushed to her side.
He dropped to his knees and pushed her hand aside as he laid his cheek to her belly and chuckled with pleasure. He tilted his head so he could look up into her eyes, his cheek still firmly pressed to her belly, "My little warrior is awake."
He turned his face and placed a gentle kiss to the lopsided, shifting mound. "That kiss was for our little warrior," he said affectionately as he gently slipped her down beneath the furs and stretched out beside her. Pulling her up close against his warm chest he added huskily, "And this one is for his mother."
New Moon laughed at the teasing twinkle in his eyes as he offered up her lips to his. She would forever thrive in the sweet intimacy they shared. It far surpassed even the strong physical passion that passed between them.
As long as they had this, this special knowledge of one another, this longing and need to hold and be held, she knew the joys they were to share as well as the pain that lay ahead of them would only strengthen the bond that held them together.
Red Panther brushed his lips softly across hers then drew back, but not before her tongue darted out to trace the curve of the lower side of his upper lip. A moan escaped from one or the other, or maybe both, as his mouth came down hard on hers.