Whispered Promise

by Colleen French

  Leah turned to look at Harrison through the haze of white. Snow clung to the hood of his cloak and to the black stubble of his beard.

  He rolled his eyes impatiently, reaching out to catch William by the collar of his fur cloak and pull him upright out of the snow. "Well, why don't you keep walking and your mother and I will put up for the night? We could dig your frozen body out of the snow in a day or two and haul it home in blessed silence."

  Leah almost laughed. Harrison was right. William had been mouthy and demanding since they'd left the village this morning. He was even beginning to get on her nerves. Thank God Harrison was dealing with him with a sense of humor. It made the situation easier on all of them. "Is that what you want?" she asked William. "You want to go on alone?"

  William spit and sputtered, wiping the snow from his eyes and mouth angrily. "That would be fine. I'll just go on my own. I'll deliver the messages to my superiors on my own."

  Leah grabbed a handful of his cloak before he could bound off again. "William, you're being silly." She practically had to shout to hear her own voice above the whistle of the wind. "It's a blizzard."

  He struggled to pull away. "Let me go! I want to go home! I want to take my father's message and I want to go home."

  Leah hung onto his cloak, looking to Harrison. "So where do we camp? I was hoping we'd see a cave but . . . " Her final words were lost in the howl of the wind.

  Harrison leaned closer, directing his voice under the hood of her fur cloak. "We'll build a snow wigwam. I see a place there ahead."

  "A what?"

  "A snow wigwam." He walked away, signalling for her to follow.

  Leah ignored William's protests, dragging him along.

  "You see the snow has drifted high here." Harrison pointed to a wall of rock that jutted out of the ridge they were following. "This will block the wind."

  "We sleep in the snow?" Leah shouted. "And that's going to keep us warm?"

  "You'll be surprised just how warm it is. I'll try and build a wall so we can have a fire too."

  Leah looked at him doubtfully but he was already on his hands and knees, digging into the drift of snow built up higher than his head.

  Leah pulled William against her, reaching down to push back the frozen hood of his cloak so that she could see his face. Tears glistened in his eyes. Her heart ached for all he'd been through these last weeks, but Harrison was right. She could only use that as an excuse for so long. She was responsible for his welfare and he was going to have to follow her wishes. "I know you're in a hurry to get as far from here as possible. I know it's important that you deliver this message of your father's to Lieutenant Ross, but—"

  "Mama, we could be down on the Hudson in a day or two!"

  "But, " she went on, "in order to pass on that message you have to be alive."

  "He doesn't know what he's talking about!" William flung an angry fist in Harrison's direction. "Stupid Indian! The snow will blow over in a few hours. It's no blizzard. We should keep walking."

  Leah sighed. She was tired to the bone. Here she had expected this warm reunion with her son and instead she'd had a bitter argument and stubbornness every waking moment since she'd found him. "William, you can't speak about Harrison like that."

  "I can say anything I want. Stupid Indian. Papa said they were all stupid heathens."

  "Well, your father's gone. I am your mother and I'm all you have and I make the decisions."

  He jutted his chin in Harrison's direction. "You mean he makes the decisions."

  She tightened her grip on his cloak, at the end of her patience with her son. "I mean I do. I'm responsible for your safekeeping."

  "You didn't keep me very safe, then did you?" He spit. "Because they took me, Mama, didn't they?"

  Leah didn't want to get into this with him now. There was no need to lay blame on a dead man, but she couldn't help herself. William was old enough to understand the truth. In fact he probably knew it, but wanted to deny it. "William, I didn't want you to go to New York. Don't you remember? I said it wasn't safe. Your father took you against my wishes. You knew that."

  "I don't know that!" he shouted angrily. "I know no such thing."

  She tightened her grip on his cloak. "Fine, but the fact remains that I'm your mother and you'll do as I say, and I say we put up camp now while we can still see the noses on the ends of our faces!"

  He lifted his hands, crossing them at the wrists. "Are you going to make me stay? You want to tie me up like they did?"

  His words stung. She let go of him. When she spoke, her tone was gentle, but firm. It was obvious they could go round and round all day like this and she would accomplish nothing by reason. "Gather wood and bring it over to us."

  William turned away from her, sulking.

  "And it had better be decent wood!" she hollered into the wind after him. "Or you'll go for more!"

  She watched him walk away, waiting to be sure he would do as he was told and not just try to take off on his own, and then she went to help Harrison.

  Wading through drifts of snow that were getting deeper by the minute she dropped on her knees beside Harrison and began to dig with him. He already had a decent-sized hole dug out. He'd found a piece of bark and was using it like a shovel.

  "Trouble in paradise?" he shouted to her, throwing snow over his shoulder.

  Leah sank her mittens into the snow and scooped up an armful. "I'm beginning to think I should have left him to the Mohawks . . . "

  The snow fell all night and all day long the following day while Leah, Harrison, and William holed up in the tiny snow cavern they'd built against the side of the mountain. Harrison formed a wall outside the doorway and kept a fire burning there day and night. It was so cold that the heat of the fire kept the wigwam warm inside while the cold from the outside kept the snow from melting.

  Despite the howling wind outside Leah slept comfortably on her fur cloak that night, sharing William's as a blanket. Harrison kept watch over the fire all night long, his musket resting across his lap.

  Leah knew he feared Kolheek was out there somewhere stalking them, but he didn't mention him so neither did she. At this point what could they do but keep their eyes and ears open and travel south as quickly as possible. Surely once they reached civilization he'd not harm them.

  She woke early the next morning and crawled over William to sit by Harrison and talk. Despite the danger of the blizzard that still raged outside the snow walls, Leah found herself surprisingly content to sit beside him and plan their future.

  For the first time in many years she felt a bubble of joyous hope in her heart. Harrison seemed to be dedicated to the idea of returning to Tanner's Gift to begin the life they had dreamed of as teenagers. He was anxious to return home to his father and to make amends. He was anxious to become a father himself.

  They discussed William and decided that once they returned home to the Tidewater and he knew he was safe, they would tell him of their plans to wed. Harrison felt they should marry in a matter of weeks. Leah knew it would be difficult for William to accept at first. She knew he might feel that she was betraying Edmund, but she also knew she couldn't sacrifice her happiness ever again.

  As for telling William the truth of his parenthood, Leah still hadn't decided when to tell him. One moment she thought she should wait until he was older, the next minute she thought it would better for him to return to Tanner's Gift with a clean slate knowing the truth of his heritage.

  Harrison felt he needed to know the truth, but said he would back her in whatever decision she made. He hoped that if he could form some sort of friendly relationship with William on the journey home, then the news would be easier for the boy to accept. Of course so far his attempts at friendship with William had been adamantly rebuked.

  Once William was awake they ate a light breakfast from the food Running Rabbit had packed them and Harrison set out to make checkers from sticks of firewood. At first William refused to even consider the idea that such a project
might be interesting but after sitting cross-legged for more than two hours in the cramped space watching Harrison, he begrudgingly asked if he needed some help.

  Harrison offered his son the extra hunting knife Running Rabbit had given him and soon the two men were sitting side by side carving checkers. Harrison carried on the conversation while William sat and carved, trying to resist Harrison's attempts at friendship.

  The sight of father and son sitting cross-legged side by side made a lump in Leah's throat. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought they could be a family, just the three of them. Now she saw the glimmer of a chance.

  Once the checkers were carved, the black ones marked with an X, Harrison drew a checkerboard on the back of his hide cloak with a burnt stick and the three began a checker tournament. They played for hours, best two games out of three, best five out of seven. By nightfall the snow had let up and Harrison was declared the checker champion with William falling only shortly behind him. Both father and son teased Leah about how poorly she played, offering to give lessons.

  That night they ate a cold dinner of dried venison, berries, and the last of the cornbread Running Rabbit had packed. Again Leah and William slept while Harrison stood watch. Despite Leah's offers to stay awake while he slept, Harrison insisted it was his duty to protect them. At dawn Leah woke to find both her husband and son gone.

  "Harrison? William?" Leah crawled out of the snow shelter squinting in the bright morning light. The storm had passed, leaving mountains of snow for as fast as she could see. "Harrison?"

  "Here!" he called from somewhere beyond her sight. A moment later he appeared from around a bend in the path, now almost nonexistent in the heavy snowfall.

  "Where's William?" she asked rising up on her knees in the doorway.

  "I threw the little brat off the side of the mountain," he answered without so much as a hint of a smile.

  Leah couldn't help laughing. Had Harrison always had this sense of humor? She hadn't remembered it, but then maybe at sixteen she'd been too young to appreciate it. Life had shown her that a person could never take him or herself too seriously.

  "Where is he?"

  "All right." He dropped a dead snow hare in front of her. "I didn't throw him over the side of the mountain because I walked too far to find him. But I did gag him and tie him to an oak tree half a mile down the trail."

  "Seriously! Where is he?"

  "Watching a rabbit snare. I showed him how to build one and now he's hiding behind a tree waiting for a rabbit to come by and get caught."

  "Will it work?"

  "No. It was pathetic, but it kept him busy and he'll do a better job next time. He's very clever when he's not putting his energy into sarcastic accusations."

  She got to her feet, laughing. It was frigid outside without her cloak but she didn't care. She needed a kiss from the man she loved.

  "A kiss," she whispered.

  He leaned and brushed his lips against hers.

  "Nice," she teased, "but can't you do better than that, a strong manly Shawnee brave like yourself?"

  He cast his dark eyes at her. "You're playing with fire, sweet."

  He grabbed her around the waist so hard that all she could do was exhale. She dropped her arms over his broad shoulders. "Am I?"

  He brought his mouth down on hers, bending her backward in his arms. He thrust his tongue between her lips, kissing her with a passion that warmed her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. One kiss and her knees were weak. One kiss and she wanted more.

  She pulled her head back, breathless. With a twinkle in her eye, she lifted up on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear.

  He raised a dark eyebrow. "Here? Now?"

  "Here," she answered. "Now."

  "What of the boy?"

  "What of him?" She took his hand, kneeling to crawl back inside the snow shelter. "You said yourself he was busy."

  Harrison crawled in behind her. "I don't know, Leah. I . . . "

  She already had her leather tunic over her head. Her bare breasts puckered from the cold, her nipples growing hard. "You don't want to?" She tugged at the strings of her leggings.

  Harrison's gaze lingered at her breasts and he groaned.

  She looked up to see him watching her, his eyes already clouded with desire.

  "Just a quick roll," she murmured, her voice husky. She raised up on her knees, leaning into him to kiss the cleft on his chin. As she kissed him she tugged his mitten off his hand and brought his bare hand up to touch her breast.

  "Are you seducing me?"

  She kissed his Adam's apple. "Mmmhmmm. Like it?"

  He sighed as she brushed her fingertips light over the bulge in his leggings. "I think maybe I do," he managed.

  "I think maybe I do, too."

  Her fingers found the laces of his leggings and with a little help from Harrison, in a moment's time, she had them off.

  "It's cold in here," he complained.

  She pushed him back onto her cloak. "So let me make you warm."

  He caught her around her bare waist pulling her down so that he could nuzzle her breasts. "Sweet," he groaned.

  She straddled him, moving her hips against his. The full hardened length of his manhood brushed her bare thigh and she gave a delighted sigh.

  "Witch," he teased, catching her nipple between his teeth to tug on it gently.

  She grasped his shaft stroking boldly, delighting in his moans of pleasure as he laid his head back on her cloak.

  "Witch, sorceress . . ."

  She laughed deep in her throat and rose up guiding him inside her.

  "Leah . . . "

  She closed her eyes, her pulse racing. She lifted and lowered her hips setting the pace. All rational thought was forgotten for the moment. All that mattered was the two of them and this primal need as strong in her as the need to eat or sleep.

  He ran his fingers through her loose hair, pulling her down until their lips met and twisted in a dance of passion. Faster and faster she rose and fell, her own need burning hotter with every passing moment.

  Leah lifted her head, struggling to breathe. He was guiding her now, his hands spanning her hips, driving faster . . . harder.

  A final stroke and Leah's world burst with pleasure. She heard herself moan again and again as she rode the lingering waves of ecstasy. Harrison slowed the pace for a stride or two, but then, unable to control his need any longer, he rolled her over onto her back and drove home.

  Harrison's moans of pleasure brought a smile to Leah's lips and she breathed deeply, lightheaded from the exertion. Harrison rolled off her, panting. "Put this on, witch," he told her tossing her her tunic. "Before your son sees what a wanton you are."

  She laughed as she sat up and pulled the leathers over her head. "Admit it, you'd have me no other way."

  He laughed with her as he slipped his bare legs into his leggings and fumbled with the ties. "I'd not, but cover yourself just the same."

  Leah combed her fingers through her hair. "Making love is what people who are in love with each other do. It's just one of those things William will have to come to terms with."

  "Agreed, but let's not slap him with everything in one day. You said yourself—"

  Leah was so busy trying to untangle the ties of her leggings that it was a moment before he realized Harrison had stopped mid-sentence.

  Something made her look up to the doorway.

  She exhaled slowly. It was William. He was just standing there holding a dead rabbit by its two back feet, staring at her.

  "William—"

  The boy's face hardened. "What Papa said was true then?"

  Leah frowned. "What?"

  "He said he tried to save you by marrying you but he didn't know what good it did." William's upper lip curled upward with the same derision Leah had seen in Edmund's face so many times. "You are just a slut, aren't you, Mother?"

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Harrison reached out to snatch William's arm. Leah kn
ew it was just a reaction, but she put out her hand to stop him.

  William shouted and swung his fist, missing Harrison's face, glancing off his shoulder.

  "William!" Leah shouted.

  William stumbled backward, turned and darted out of the snow shelter.

  "That little—"

  Leah grabbed Harrison's hand preventing him from going after their son. "I'm sorry. He shouldn't have done that." She was horrified. "He shouldn't have tried to hit you."

  "It's not that, it's what he said," Harrison fumed.

  "Harrison, please . . . " Leah turned his hand in hers, tears stinging her eyes. Why did it seem that she'd cried more in the last weeks than she had in ten years?

  "He has no right to speak to you like that Leah! There's no excuse, not Indians, not the war, not Beale! No child has a right to speak to his mother like that!"

  Leah clasped his hand tightly, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she repeated. "He wasn't like this before Edmund took him." She looked up. "At least I don't think he was."

  Harrison exhaled slowly. "Ah, Christ." He turned his attention to Leah. "Don't cry, sweet." He pulled her into his lap and against his chest. "Shhh, don't cry. He's just a child. He doesn't know what he's saying."

  She shook her head. "It's not just that. It's Edmund." She looked up. "How could he have said such a thing? How could he have done that to me? To William?"

  Harrison reached for the cloak on the ground and covered her bare legs, cuddling her. "I don't know, jealousy maybe. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that you can't let William get away with this, Leah. Somewhere a line of respect has to be drawn and I think the boy has crossed that line."

  Leah wiped her eyes feeling silly. Where was her strength now? William was a child and she was an adult. She knew she shouldn't let him affect her like this. "Why can't anything ever be easy?"

  Harrison chuckled, smoothing the fiery red hair at her temples that was damp from their lovemaking. "I don't know. My grandmother always said that if things came to us too easily, we wouldn't appreciate them."