“What?” Anna shook her shoulder. “Wake up. We have to go. Running Cloud is going to force you to marry him.”
Beth faced Anna. “I know. Maybe he will treat me better than Al did. Besides, I don’t have work waiting for me. What would I do? I don’t have any money. I have nothing.” Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. “And what if they recapture us?” She grabbed Anna’s hand. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“We can figure all that out on de way there. Please Bet, this is our only chance. We have to go now.” It seemed she’d forgotten how to speak all together, but in this moment of desperation, it no longer mattered.
“I just can’t.” Beth shook her head. “Running Cloud has been—well—kind to me. I don’t fear him. Not like I feared Al. I don’t know why, but I just don’t.”
“But he murdered your husband.” The urgency in Anna’s voice rose.
“Any future he has to offer me has to be better than anything Denver City could offer. I’d likely be forced to work as a saloon girl just to survive. I’d rather live with Indians than be forced into that kind of a life.” She took in a long, deep breath. “We mustn’t be afraid,” she said as if not only convincing Anna, but herself. She patted Anna’s hand. “Everything’s going to be all right. God will take care of us.” Beth lay back down as if all was right with the world.
Anna couldn’t believe her ears. How could Beth act as if this dire situation didn’t exist? It was beyond Anna’s comprehension. It was foolish!
Besides, where was God when Anna was being beaten by her uncle? How did He take care of her then? The only way God would take care of them was if they did something about it.
Anna didn’t have time to argue with her friend. If she were going to get away, she had to leave now. This was her only chance to escape. She hadn’t planned on leaving Beth behind, but she couldn’t force her to go without waking everybody. If Anna stayed, there would be absolutely no hope. But if she went now, there would at least be a ray of hope, small one though it might be. Once in Denver, she would notify the marshal of their kidnapping and he could rescue Beth. Yes, that’s what she would do.
Quietly, she got to her feet, wrapped the buckskin over her shoulders, and picked up her carpetbag. She felt like a tree standing amidst the sleeping bodies. Surely someone would take notice of her, but nobody moved. Holding her breath, she lifted her skirt and stepped toward a slight opening between White Eagle and another Indian.
Fingers clamped around her ankle. She froze, fear prickling from her toes to her neck.
“Where are you going?” It was White Eagle’s voice, thick from sleep.
“Um—I have to relieve myself.” The lie came on its own, without a single thought. In fact, it came too easily. She’d have to deal with her conscience later.
“What’s the bag for?”
“It’s necessary that I, um . . . I need things . . . it’s not proper to discuss.”
He seized her arm, his fingers tangling in her hair, and pulled her down near his painted face. “What things?”
“Womanly things.” She clenched her teeth. “Feminine things that men have no business knowing about.”
He released her as though she’d bitten him.
If it hadn’t been so dark he might have seen the flame in her cheeks. Her papa had been right. After telling one lie, the ones after that just grew bigger. But desperate times required desperate measures.
“Go. But don’t take long.” He eased back down.
And go she did.
Once she put plenty of distance between the Indians and herself, she bolted between the trees. A constant view of Denver City was in her sights as she made her way across the ridge. Soon she would come upon less rugged ground and be able to work her way down the side of the mountain—she hoped.
The sounds of her breathing echoed off the trees. She gripped the buckskin tightly against her chest, even though the cool night air didn’t bother her now as she ran for her life. Her carpetbag felt heavy, and her feet carried her over fallen branches and pinecones. To her left, the small lights of Denver City, so far away, were still in view.
The moon lent just enough light to ensure she didn’t run into trees, but the rest of the woods were nothing but black shadows. She forced her mind on Denver. Home was where she was headed, and nothing would stop her. Not fear, not her uncle . . . not even a band of wild Indians.
~*~
“I’ll kill the woman,” Running Cloud said in a furious whisper so the other braves wouldn’t hear. The moon’s light illuminated his angry face. “I’ll pass her among the warriors. They’ll humble her.”
That thought sent a shock of white-hot anger through White Eagle’s system, and right then and there he knew if anyone laid a hand on her, he’d kill him. “She’s mine, and I’ll bring her back.”
“She’s not yours until marriage. Until then, she belongs to me.” Running Cloud thumbed his chest, challenging his friend. “This woman’s life is of no value. She’s defiant and not worthy of our tribe.”
“She is worthy,” White Eagle said. “She’s shown bravery by running away, though her escape will be in vain. You said yourself, Walks Alone has been touched by the Spirit of the Sun.” He used any argument he could come up with, whether he believed it or not. Anything to save her hide. “She’s strong, and a valuable gift. I want to make my gratitude known. I’ll find her, bring her back, and make her my wife.”
Running Cloud studied him, and then his frown softened. “She is brave, or foolish. If you wish to claim your gift then go after her. By sunrise, we’ll continue on to the village. If you’re not at the village after two suns, I’ll take back your gift, and she will be given to the warriors to do with as they please.” He started to turn then stopped and pointed at White Eagle. “If you don’t find her, I will. If she comes in contact with anyone, she could endanger our village with the knowledge she has of us.”
Even if White Eagle tried to take her to Denver City, Running Cloud would follow through with his word, sooner or later. Walks Alone’s defiance to his authority had ignited his anger all over again toward the white man. Thankfully, Woman Of Sorrow hadn’t tried to escape, or there would have been no hope. When his heart was ruled by anger, Running Cloud’s wrath could be as deadly as Black Bear’s.
They had been chasing Black Bear, who was still on the rampage destroying any and all newcomers to the Western Territories. They had followed him from their secret village as far as the South Platte. This last confrontation with Black Bear had been the worst yet, and White Eagle had fought well, despite the fact that he constantly resisted killing his old friend.
Because of Running Cloud’s withdrawal from the renegade parties, Black Bear blamed White Eagle. Now he and Running Cloud were considered enemies of Black Bear, even though Black Bear and Running Cloud were brothers.
White Eagle had obviously pleased Running Cloud, and that was why he originally offered Walks Alone to him as a gift. She likely would have been killed if she’d remained with the wagon train anyway. White Eagle had little doubt that Black Bear would return and raid the travelers.
Good thing he took Walks Alone. But now he had to save her from herself.
~*~
The lights of Denver City became distant between the trees. The woods grew dense, and Anna was forced to work her way toward the opposite direction of Denver. She came to a clearing where shadows lurked in all directions. An owl hooted, and then a chilling silence hung on the air.
No longer able to be guided by the distant lights of the city, she looked up at the stars to try and get her bearings.