He nodded. Still staring.
“I ought to be there now,” she murmured. The lights were like gold in a sea of black satin. Her golden city. She could actually see it. After all these years, she finally had it in her sights. Now all she could do was stare.
She licked her dry, chapped lips, and scratched her stiff cheeks and chin.
“Don’t do that,” White Eagle said, his thick, strange accent hanging on the night air. “Your visage.” He shook his head. “Your face. It is red. You’ll get blisters.”
“I must look like a cooked lobster.” She dreaded the thought of freckles coming out. How would that look to the board of education?
“The women at the village have good medicine. They will give you some for your face.”
“We’re going to your village?” She tried not to raise her voice, fearful that the others might awaken. “What are you going to do with us there?” Visions of the whole tribe of Indians attacking her flashed through her mind. Maybe reading Papa’s novel hadn’t been such a good idea after all.
“Woman Of Sorrow will become Running Cloud’s wife.”
The news hit her like a blast from a cannon ball. “They will be married?” Anna couldn’t believe it. Would he actually marry someone he didn’t know?
“Oui—yes.”
“What if she doesn’t want to marry him?”
White Eagle tossed a pine needle. “She will.”
“But what if she won’t?”
“Woman Of Sorrow belongs to him.”
“Why?” Since she was his captive, she deserved some answers.
“Running Cloud killed her husband. He will care for her.”
“So he’s the one who murdered Al.” Anna glanced over at where Running Cloud slept. He was a frightening man. She’d never forget him pulling her hair and grabbing her. And now her friend was doomed to become his wife. Poor Beth. She deserved better. She deserved a decent husband.
She deserved a decent name.
“Why must you call her Woman Of Sorrow? I happen to know she’s a delightful young lady.” She wasn’t sad, despite reasons to be so. If Beth was going to be trapped in this life, the least they could do was give her a better name.
“She will be.”
“Will be what?”
“Happy.”
“How can you know that?” How could anyone be happy marrying someone they didn’t know?
“Running Cloud will treat her well.”
But who would want to live with savages? Then her thoughts turned to herself. “What will become of me?” Her voice quivered. It was a frightening question to ask, but she had to know.
“You will be my wife.” The man’s face darkened.
Anna’s cheeks grew hot, and she tried to breathe. “Suppose I don’t want to marry . . . an Indian?” She kept from saying “a savage,” since it seemed more like a personal attack, and the last thing she wanted was to rile up a wild Indian. Would she be trapped with this man for the rest of her life?
“You’ll marry me under Cheyenne law. It means nothing to the white man.”
“Cheyenne law? But we’ll be married,” she said in a harsh whisper. “I don’t want to marry . . . you. I don’t even know you!” She stopped to catch her breath, looking around to make sure everyone was still asleep. Thoughts of escape raced through her mind. Then thoughts of getting lost, attacked by wild animals or snakes flooded over her. Running away wouldn’t be a wise idea. She’d never find her way to Denver City. Or would she? From here she could see the lights. If she would just follow the lights, she could get out of these mountains on her own.
“I have to be in Denver. They’re expecting me.” She hoped the savage would find this an important enough reason to return her to civilization.
“Who’s expecting you?”
She sighed, preparing herself to hear the famous speech of a woman traveling alone and the great dangers thereof. She had lost count of all the people who’d warned her on the train. Just then, her thoughts knocked her upside the head. Didn’t someone warn her of Indians? And now here she sat a captive. She decided his speech would be a bit late in coming.
“The board of education,” she finally said.
“Do you have family there?”
She stared past him into the lonely shadows of the forest. “I don’t have any family.”
“What are you doing here?”
She breathed deeply. “I came all the way from New York to work as a teacher. If you will please escort me to Denver City in the morning, I would be very grateful.” She tried to sound dignified, self-assured, though in her heart she was terrified and begging. “I don’t wish to marry you. You seem like a decent person, but I don’t know you,” she added, trying to soften the blow, as if she hadn’t already been blunt about it. “Please, I have to go to Denver.”
He sighed and lay back down. “You’ve been taken by Indians. You can’t expect them to deliver you where you want to go.”
“Don’t you mean, ‘kidnapped’?” She lay down, trembling as she stared at the stars. She should have gotten off the train near Julesburg. Had she done that, she wouldn’t be lying here right now, conversing with a savage.
“The others in the wagons didn’t care about you. So you weren’t kidnapped. Just given as a peace offering.”
She crossed her arms to ward off the chill. “All they cared about was saving their own scalps. I’ve never met such cowards in all my life.” Her voice hitched as she said the words aloud, thinking of how afraid everyone was of Al and how none of them were willing to bring her water.
“Neither have I.” The purr of his voice was close, sending a tingle down her neck. He covered her with buckskin, and then moved away. The warmth enveloped her.
“Tank—thank you,” she said, glad he was no longer near, but grateful for the warmth. A knot came to her throat. She tried not to cry, isolation and loneliness choking her.
That lonely feeling was all too familiar.
She had hoped to finally be happy, maybe even find an essence of her papa in Denver City. It seemed home would always be out of reach.
But it wasn’t out of reach. She could actually see it. Hope was not lost. Not when she was so close.
The lights of the distant city called out to her, winked at her. Taunted her.
Tonight. This night.
Her one and only chance to escape.
Chapter Five
Anna lay staring at the stars for a long time. The warmth of the buckskin nearly made her fall asleep, but she threw it off in order to stay awake.
When heavy, even breathing came from White Eagle, and she was certain everyone else was asleep as their snores continued to break through the silence, she turned to Beth and poked her.
“Bet,” she whispered close to her ear.
“What?” Beth rolled over, still half asleep. “What’s wrong?”
“Get up. We’re getting out of here. I’m taking us to Denver City.”
“What?” Fear reflected in Beth’s moonlit eyes.
“Shh