The sun set. No one came. The Indians at the fire drifted off, and still no one came. Chase tried working on his bonds, but they were firm. He began to feel desperate. Where was Jessie?
When Jessie did come, she came with the blue-eyed Indian, and Chase didn’t recognize her at first. She looked like an Indian, wearing the Indian dress and knee-high moccasins, her hair fastened in two braids. Her expression was impossible to read. Was she there to help him or to gloat over his predicament?
“You could have come a little sooner,” Chase said, trying to make his tone light.
Jessie’s expression didn’t change. “I was sleeping. White Thunder saw no reason to wake me just to tell me you were here. You weren’t going anywhere.”
“Thanks.”
Jessie’s eyes narrowed. “Keep your sarcasm to yourself, Summers. No one got you into this mess except you.”
“Damn it, all I did was come here to get you!” Chase snapped.
White Thunder took a step closer to Chase, and Jessie grabbed his arm. She pulled him away, and Chase watched them arguing. Then Jessie came back alone.
Chase was amazed. “You speak their language.”
“Yes.”
“What was that about?”
“He didn’t like your shouting at me. Now look, I can understand your being upset, but I suggest you keep a civil tone. There’s no point in angering him, when he already wants to just leave you here.”
“Why?” Chase demanded. “What the hell did you tell him about me?”
“Just the truth. That you used me. You had your fun and then were terrified that I might want to marry you because of it. Do you deny it?”
“You never did let me explain, Jessie.”
“There was nothing to explain. It was all quite clear,” she said stiffly.
God, how he wanted to shake that composure out of her. “What about you, Jessie? I could say the same damn thing about you. You had your fun. You used me. What if I had insisted on marriage because of it?”
“Don’t be absurd,” she snapped.
“No, you think about it. Who would have been the one to back off then?”
“But you wouldn’t have insisted on marriage,” she said quietly now. “And you never even gave me a chance to find out what I was feeling.”
The hurt in her voice caught at his heart. “I told you I was sorry, and I meant it. You may not have thought it was such a big deal, losing your virginity, but I was so shook up about it I didn’t know what the hell I was saying, Jessie.”
“This is all beside the point. I told you I wanted to forget it.”
“It’s not beside the point when your Indian friend wants to slit my throat because of what you told him.”
“If you must know, I told him very little. He saw that I was upset and drew his own conclusions. He just happens to be very protective of me.”
“What is he to you, if I may ask?”
“A very close friend. And you’ve put off long enough telling me what you’re doing here.”
“How close?”
“Never mind!” Jessie snapped. “What’s wrong at the ranch to bring you here?”
“Nothing is wrong at the ranch.”
“Nothing?” A fiery gleam entered her eyes. “Don’t tell me Rachel sent you after me again.”
“She was worried.”
“Damn!” Jessie exploded. “What are you, a puppy, to jump to her every bidding? She could have gotten you killed.”
“Hold on.” Chase grew uneasy, for White Thunder was watching them closely and frowning.
“You listen to me.” Jessie lowered her voice. “You had no right to follow me. I don’t need a watchdog, and if I did, it certainly wouldn’t be you. This region is a second home to me, but it’s a death trap for you. You’re damn lucky Black Bear Hunter didn’t kill you outright when he found you. And you’d better hope your luck continues, because you’re leaving here alone. I won’t be there to help you. You’ve wasted your time—again.”
At least she had said he would be leaving. But Chase didn’t dwell on that. He was staring at White Thunder by the fire. The Indian had turned away when Jessie lowered her voice. Chase saw only his profile. It reminded him of the scene at the creek. Unbidden, his anger returned.
“When do I get released, Jessie?” Chase asked.
“White Thunder will cut you loose,” she told him.
“Before you call him over here, answer me something, will you?”
Jessie should have been wary. But she missed the icy tone in his voice. “Answer you what, Summers?”
“Am I responsible for turning you into a whore, or did you always have the potential? I’d just like to know if I should feel guilty about that.”
Jessie gasped. “Are…you crazy?”
“That is what you meant by your friend there being a very close friend, isn’t it?” Chase questioned, deliberately cruel. “Or do you just like to put on a show for him sometimes?”
“What are you talking about?” Jessie whispered.
“I saw him with you down by the creek,” Chase snarled. “I wasn’t watching this camp when that other Indian found me, I was watching you. And I wasn’t the only one watching you,” he sneered. “Had he already—?”
Jessie didn’t let him finish. She slapped him viciously. “You bastard! How dare you insinuate something like that? He’s like a brother!”
She was so angry she shook. White Thunder came up behind her and turned her around to face him. Her eyes wouldn’t meet his.
“You heard what he said?” she asked miserably.
“Yes. You are ashamed?”
She didn’t have to answer. White Thunder led Jessie away and asked, “You wish me to kill him for you?”
Chase heard, but he didn’t hear Jessie’s answer. He watched them until they disappeared around a group of tepees on the other side of the camp. Then he closed his eyes. It was odd, but he was quite calm. Maybe he was crazy. Why else would he antagonize a person who held his life in her hands? He didn’t seem to know himself anymore.
Chapter 17
JESSIE knelt beside Chase. It was still dark. She had brought food, and a knife to cut his bonds, and some other things. He was sleeping, and she didn’t wake him. She looked him over carefully, thoughtfully. Why did he have the power to make her cry? Thomas Blair had once been the only man who could do that.
White Thunder had suggested that Chase hadn’t meant what he’d said. He had actually defended Chase, even after offering to kill him for her. She was shocked. But afterwards, alone, she’d considered what he’d said and realized it was probably true.
White Thunder had suggested other things, outrageous things, and she had disregarded them completely. He’d said it might be that Chase felt she belonged to him after what had happened between them, that his accusations were prompted by jealousy. Jessie knew better. Her belonging to Chase was the last thing Chase wanted. He had made that clear enough.
“How long have you been here?”
Jessie’s eyes met his, but she looked away quickly. “I just came.”
She moved around him and slit the rawhide at his wrists. Chase moved his arms carefully, but he gasped when the blood began rushing back into his hands. He shook them, but it didn’t help.
Jessie came back to his side, sticking her knife in her knee-high moccasin. “I brought you food and your belongings.”
He saw the saddle on the ground, with his guns and other things. He looked sideways at Jessie. “Thanks. I really had my doubts about your helping me.”
“Helping you?”
“To get out of here. After what—”
“I should let you think that.” She cut him off bitterly. “It would serve you right to feel indebted to a whore.”
“Ah, Jessie,” he groaned. “You must know I didn’t mean that.”
“Yes, I know,” she said sullenly. “White Thunder pointed out that you’ve been through a lot today. A man faces death bravely or badly. You handled it badl
y. Of course.”
He liked that explanation better than the right one and agreed readily. “Yes. Well, I haven’t been handling anything too well lately, have I?”
“No, you haven’t.”
He stood up and stretched, reveling in that simple act. “Thanks for releasing me. I didn’t see anyone else coming forward to do it.”
She shrugged it off, uncomfortable with his gratitude. “Someone would have, eventually. They’re not savages, you know. You ceased to be a prisoner the moment they knew you were here because of me.”
“It didn’t strike me that way.”
“If you were inconvenienced, it serves you right for coming here in the first place,” she told him pointedly. “No one invited you.”
“That’s true,” he conceded. “And I’ll be damn happy to leave. Can we go now?”
“You can leave any time. I suggest you wait until morning, though. A hunting party will be leaving then, and they’ll escort you out of Indian territory. You’ll be safe with them. Otherwise, well…”
He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before he said, “I’d be safe with you, wouldn’t I?”
“Yes, but I’m not leaving.”
“Yes, you are, Jessie. I didn’t come all this way for nothing.”
“Don’t you start with me, Summers,” she warned him coldly. “This isn’t open to debate. Even if I were ready to leave tomorrow, I wouldn’t go with you. I don’t happen to like your company.”
Chase moved toward her, but Jessie quickly stepped back from him.
“Perhaps I should put it another way,” Jessie said. “One shout from me, and every tepee around here will empty within moments. And I’ll leave you to explain your way out of it.”
Chase sighed. “You win.”
Jessie’s temper rose, now that she didn’t feel threatened anymore. “You’re crazy, you know that? What the hell were you intending to do, anyway?”
He shrugged and said coolly, “Collect a little compensation for my trouble. And maybe make you eat your words about not liking my company.”
Jessie gasped. “You think all you have to do is kiss me and I’ll forget everything else? God, you’re conceited!”
“Afraid it might be true?”
“I won’t even answer that. And I don’t know why I’m still standing here talking to you. If you’re going to leave now, I’ll go get my horse.”
“So you are going with me?”
“No,” Jessie replied hesitantly. “I’m letting you borrow my horse.” She prayed he wouldn’t explode.
His voice rose. “Is something wrong with Goldenrod?”
“No, but—” He didn’t let her explain, but turned and started walking away from her. “Where are you going?”
“To get my horse.”
Jessie saw the animal, and realized whose tepee he was tethered at. She ran after Chase and grabbed him.
“You go messing around Black Bear Hunter’s tepee, and you’ll find yourself in a whole lot of trouble.”
“How else am I going to get Goldenrod?”
“You’re not. He’s keeping your horse. You think I’d lend you mine if I didn’t have to?”
His eyes turned black as coal. “You damn well better be joking.”
“Well, I’m not,” she said stiffly.
“Is this another custom here? Like leaving a man tied up all day for no reason?”
“No. It’s just your rotten luck that Black Bear Hunter is the one who found you. He hates whites—including me. If he hadn’t jumped to the wrong conclusion about you it would be different, but he did, and he was furious to learn he was wrong, especially since I was involved. He was made to look like a fool. He’s saving face by keeping your horse. You don’t have a choice.”
“Forget it, Jessie. I’ve had that horse too long to give him up.”
“Look, damn it, just be glad he doesn’t want your saddle and guns, too. He could have left you nothing, you know. He did capture you, spy or not, mistake or not.”
“I’m not leaving here without my horse, and that’s all there is to it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she hissed. “You’d have to fight for him and—”
“Then I’ll fight for him.”
Their eyes locked. “You showed yourself to be ten kinds of a fool for coming here,” she said with forced evenness. “What chance would you have against a Cheyenne warrior? He’d kill you in one minute.”
“He’d have to win first.”
“Damn it, we’re not talking about a test of strength here! I told you he doesn’t like me. He wouldn’t go easy on you because of me, as one of the other braves would. He will try to kill you!”
“You don’t think very much of me, do you?”
She stared at him, aghast. “No, Summers, I don’t.”
“Just arrange it, Jessie.”
“Why won’t you listen?”
His brow quirked. “Since when do you care what happens to me?”
“Oh!” Jessie fumed. “Fight him then!”
She stalked off. Chase took a long, deep breath. He wasn’t leaving here without Goldenrod—or Jessie, either.
Chapter 18
JESSIE and White Thunder went to Black Bear Hunter to tell him of the challenge for the golden horse. He agreed eagerly, too eagerly. Jessica pleaded with him not to kill Chase, to let it be only a battle of strengths, but Black Bear Hunter stared at her stonily. Nothing had changed. He would not be merciful.
The whole tribe turned out to watch the entertainment. Wagers were placed, for the Indians loved to gamble. There weren’t too many takers until Chase stripped down to his pants, and then betting began in earnest. Jessie took heart. She should have remembered those thick muscles. Luckily, Chase and Black Bear Hunter were about the same height, and equally muscular.
“You can still change your mind, you know,” Jessie said to Chase.
But before he could answer, his face hardened, and he said, “What’s he doing here?”
She followed his gaze and saw Little Hawk nearing the crowd.
“I got a good look at him before he knocked me down that day, Jessie,” Chase said angrily.
“Watch what you say! He speaks English,” she hissed at him.
“Is that a warning?” Chase asked disdainfully. “Can I expect him to jump me again?”
Jessie quickly pulled Chase back a few feet and whispered, “Damn it, keep your big mouth shut.” Did he have no sense at all? “He’s not from this tribe, but what you do still matters. You came here because of me, so what you do here reflects on me.”
“But he—”
“I’m not referring only to him. Black Bear Hunter happens to be White Thunder’s brother. I’m asking you not to kill him, Chase.”
“Oh, I’m supposed to just let him kill me?” Chase cried. He no longer cared who heard.
“Of course not,” Jessie hissed impatiently. “But if you kill him, I won’t be able to come here again. I’m just saying…don’t if you don’t have to. Just subdue him. See?”
“Sure, I see,” Chase said sarcastically. Then he turned away from her and walked to the center of the circle. Black Bear Hunter was waiting, and as soon as Chase stood before him, White Thunder stepped between them. He said a few words—Jessie couldn’t hear—and then he tied a long sash around both men’s waists. It bound them together for the contest, making it impossible for one to get away from the other. The struggle was more dangerous that way, because it kept the men within easy cutting distance of each other’s knife.
Chase appeared quite calm. Jessie had warned him about the sash, also telling him there were no rules to the contest. He had shaken his head. No rules?
Black Bear Hunter made the first move, an unexpected leap that caught Chase off guard and sent both men crashing to the ground. They were both on their feet again in an instant, the Indian slashing with short jabs, Chase just barely staying out of reach of each thrust. Then Black Bear Hunter charged, his knife held high for a downward thrus
t. They locked wrists, each one holding the other’s knife hand. The straining of muscles was awesome. The blades were close, but neither man could gain those extra few inches to draw first blood.
Jessie was horrified when she saw the blade turn in Black Bear Hunter’s hand, stabbing Chase’s forearm. Chase lost his hold, and the blade continued downward, slicing his side. The Indian prepared for another thrust, but Chase blocked it with his bloody forearm, then skillfully tripped him.
Black Bear Hunter was down. The sash brought Chase down with him, but he managed to land on top of Black Bear Hunter. They rolled again and again, each one fighting for the upper position. Chase tried to stand, but Black Bear Hunter used the sash to pull him back down and, with a skillful maneuver of his feet, sent Chase over backward. He landed with a thud.
They were stretched out on the ground, head to head. Black Bear Hunter leaned upward on one arm and brought his knife down viciously with the other hand. It would have landed in the center of Chase’s throat, but Chase saw it and moved, with one second to spare.
The look on his face was murderous, and Jessie felt fear wash over her. Chase’s losing control would give Black Bear Hunter the edge he needed, for anger made a man careless.
Chase stood up, waiting for his opponent to rise. Jessie wanted to scream at him to take the advantage while Black Bear Hunter was still down, but she couldn’t make a sound. The moment the Indian was on his feet, Chase slammed his fist with the knife in it into his belly. Black Bear Hunter doubled over, his feet leaving the ground from the force of the blow.
The crowd was silent. Jessie felt her stomach turn over. Chase had won, but she had begged him not to win that way. And he wasn’t finished yet! His anger drove him to strike Black Bear Hunter again, slamming his other fist into his face, laying the man out cold on the ground.
Then Chase was calmly cutting the sash with his knife. But there was no blood on the sash…or on the blade. Her eyes flew to Black Bear Hunter. There was no blood on him anyplace! Chase had turned the blade away before punching him!
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