Lakota Honor (20 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Otakatay rummaged through his sack and pulled out the slippery elm. He'd found more after he left Nora's cabin two days ago. He'd take her to Denver when she woke. He figured that was the safest place for her to be. It was a city and no one would know her there. Denver was three days ride east, and he'd have to put his plans on hold. He couldn't be near her any longer.

He glanced at her, wrapped in his blanket fast asleep. Even now he was too close to her. He needed some distance from the desires she aroused within him. She'd become a distraction, one that he didn't need right now.

He shook his head. He'd been gone too long already, and he felt the weight of the time that had passed like a ton of rocks on top of his shoulders. He was so close even now, and yet Nora's safety stood in the way. He sighed. He'd have to wait another few days.

He yearned for the moment when he'd take his knife and put an end to the nightmares, when he could look at his reflection without cowering away in disgust. Was it even possible to know a night without reliving the past, a day where his soul could see beyond the evil desires within him? He didn't know, and he refused to allow himself a glimmer of hope.

He picked up the wooden bowl and grinder. With vehemence he ground the bark into a powder. His body buzzed for retaliation—for blood.
Soon I will have my revenge.
He dumped the powder into the leather sack and placed it on the ground.

Nora pushed herself up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

He concentrated on putting his things away and pulled the knife from the sheath on his back. Her beauty usually caught him off guard, but today he refused to look at her.

"Hello," she said.

He noticed her voice wasn't as bad as last night. He grunted.

She shifted and covered her legs with the long skirt. The rose-colored dress was torn. Dirt smeared the front. She had nothing else to wear. The fact that he cared about her dress, and he'd have to buy her a new one before they got to Denver, pissed him off. He was getting soft, and he couldn't have that. He flexed his arms. He was vengeance, fear,
a breed
, worth nothing more than flies on shit. And he'd do right to remember that.

She combed her fingers through her hair. The black strands hung to her waist in a blanket of long waves, and he was sure he'd never seen anything more mesmerizing.

She smiled, and he looked away.
What the hell am I doing?
He puffed out his chest.
I will not care for her. I will not.

Light filled the cave, and she scanned the area. His bow and arrows, two shotguns and a knife were propped up against a wall.

"What's all that?" she asked.

"Weapons."

"I know that. Why do you have so many of them?"

"I am a bounty hunter. My job is to kill."

"Yes, so you've said." She scowled at him. "Can you shoot that?"

She pointed to the bow and arrows.

"Yes."

Why did she need to talk? He was trying to ignore her, and she wouldn't shut up. He glanced at the red bandana he'd used earlier to hold the hot cup and saw a second use for the cloth.

"Where did you learn?"

His Ina had taught him, but after years of being locked up and beaten, he'd had to retrain himself.

"I've always known."

She stared at him, and he recognized the pity in her eyes.

He sat up taller, and glanced at the bandana again. The idea had become very appealing. He worked his hands open and closed. His chest burned with anger. He didn't want her pity.

He didn't want anything from her. She thought she loved him. Hell, she was naive. He was not the type to love. He swept his hand through his hair. She had no idea who or what he was. He had no time for little girls with fantasies and professions of love. He wanted to spit, he was so disgusted. He took his knife and ran it across the whetstone.

"Are you angry with me?" She braided her hair.

He ignored her. Maybe if he didn't talk to her, she'd stop gazing at him with those innocent eyes of hers. Otherwise he'd be forced to use the bandana.

She finished her braid.

"Otakatay, have I done something to anger you? Please, I don't want what happened last night—

"Last night was a mistake."

She was quiet.

"You're a wicicala," he growled, "with little girl dreams."

Sparks flew from the blade while he sharpened it.

"I am not a little girl."

"So you've said. But when I look at you, that is all I see."

"Really?" She narrowed her eyes. "That's not what happened last night."

He grunted.

"You touched me with such gentleness. I know you're not the beast you proclaim to be."

He scowled, and his features faded revealing dark deadly corners.

"I've slashed the throats of women like you."

She went to stand, and he held up his hand to stop her.

"I know that, but I believe you had your reasons."

"I did it for money. I took their lives for paper!" He slipped his knife back inside the sheath on his back. "And I would've killed you, too."

"Why didn't you?" She threw his blanket from her and got to her feet. "Why, Otakatay, didn't you kill me?"

He spun from her. He knew why. He'd seen her face, gazed into her eyes. He didn't want to tell her. He called upon the revulsion, animosity and vile bitterness that lay dormant inside of him. He brought it forward and spun around. The knife he'd just put away, was cradled within his hand.

She stood still.

"Do not push me," he snarled.

"You're not going to kill me. You saved my life."

He ground his teeth together and clenched his jaw.

"You have feelings for me. Admit it." She tipped her chin and stood in front of him.

Before she could step back, he grabbed hold of her hair. He wrenched on it, placing the knife to her throat. "If there came a time when I allowed myself to care for someone, she would not be white," he said through clenched teeth.

He pushed her from him and picked up his rifle.

"Be ready to leave in an hour."

Nora watched him go. His cold words echoed in her mind and chilled her heart. A bottle of whiskey on an open wound would sting less. How could she think someone like him could care for someone like her, a little girl?

She winced. All he saw when he stared at her was a child. She was different. She was white and according to him no better than a snake. With every insult he'd flung her way, a tear fell from her lashes.
Where will I go now?
He was taking her to the city, and she was reluctant to go. She wanted to stay with him but knew he'd take her willing or not.

She had no one now. Pa and Jess were gone, and she couldn't go back to Willow Creek. She'd have to start anew, and whether she liked it or not, that meant without Otakatay. She wiped her wet cheeks.
I have to stand on my two feet.
She swallowed back the sob and took a shaky breath. She'd get along fine. She had to. All she ever wanted was freedom, and after Otakatay dropped her in Denver, she'd have plenty.

The love she felt for him was real, and she'd draw on those emotions to get her through the next few months. A part of her wanted to make him see how much she cared, show him her love.
How do you show a blind man the sun?

There was no other place she felt safe than in the circle of his arms. Even though the times he held her were brief, those were the times she'd felt passion and a sense of belonging. Until he was able to drive out the demons he battled, he'd never accept her or the love she was offering.
Oh, Otakatay why won't you let me love you?

She picked up the blanket and peered out into the forest. She needed to get out of the cave, to go for a walk. She glanced down at her attire. A good washing may help the soiled dress, and she wanted to wipe the dirt from her cheeks and neck. She'd see if there was a stream nearby, a dip would do her some good.

Tall trees stood all around her, and she stopped to gaze at the beautiful landscape before her. She followed the path as it wound down the steep hill. Not familiar with the narrow trail, she wasn't prepared for the sharp turn and almost fell over the edge of the cliff. She placed a hand to her chest.
That was close.

She reached the bottom and glanced up at the huge hill. Would she be able to find her way back? She paused when she heard the birds singing overhead. She smiled. She studied the path, copying it to her mind and headed in the direction the birds had flown.

It wasn't long before the forest opened into a peaceful meadow. Green and purple stalks of lilacs swayed in the light breeze and surrounded the lake. Nora plucked a flower and inhaled its sweet scent. She sat down by the water's edge and slipped off her boots. She lay back, resting her head on her arms and closed her eyes.

"Well, well, look who we found."

She hadn't been at the meadow more than ten minutes when she heard the slimy voice behind her, and sensed the danger it brought.

"I'd say the boss is gonna be pleased."

She picked up her boots and slowly stood. The hairs on her neck rose. She gulped.
Keep calm.
Nora spun around and collided with two men. She recognized them right away as the men who worked for Elwood.

"What is it you want?" she asked trying to keep her composure.

"We've found it," said Red.

Great.
She scanned the meadow. There was nowhere to go. She smiled at them.

"Sorry, gentleman but I have to go." She tried to go around them.

"I don't think so," Levi said, and she dodged his large hands as he lunged for her.

The men stood on either side of her.
Could I make it to the cave?
She didn't think so. She gripped her boots tightly in her hands. There was no way she was going with them. She'd have to run.
It's now or never.
In one swift movement she swung her arms out clipping both men with her boots, and ran like hell.

The boots weighed her down, so she threw them to the side. She looked back and seeing them in hot pursuit, she picked up her pace. Nora's heart thudded in her throat as she burst from the meadow into the forest. The hard earth pierced her bare feet, but she didn't have time to stop. She could hear them behind her and they were getting closer.
Where was the path? Where was Otakatay?

She jumped over a fallen log and kept going. Branches caught in her hair, pulling the strands from the braid, and she swatted at them. When she turned to see how far away they were, she tripped on a root and went tumbling head over feet. A jolt of pain burst from her ankle, and she cracked her head on something hard. She tried to get up, to grab onto something for support, but the trees would not stop spinning around her. Nora's middle pitched. She waved her arms hoping she'd connect with a branch, when someone yanked hard on her braid.

She screamed through clenched teeth.

"Got her," Red yelled.

Levi came through the trees. An eerie smile spread across his pockmarked face, and Nora shrank away from him. He pinched her cheeks together and squeezed until she felt teeth cut the inside of her mouth. He placed his wet lips onto hers.

She punched his wide chest and shook her head.

"Boss ain't gonna like that, Levi."

He pulled away, and Nora spat in his face.

"Do not touch me again," she hissed.

Red hugged her from behind, securing her arms.

"What the boss don't know won't hurt him. Besides, we had to chase her."

Levi wiped his face with his sleeve and puckered his lips for another kiss.

She waited until he was close enough then hauled off and kicked him in the groin.

"Son of a bitch," Levi screamed and fell to the ground.

She struggled to pull her arms from Red's grasp, but the brute held her to him. She was so busy trying to fight Red she didn't see Levi until she felt the burn when he slapped her across the face. Black dots danced in front of her. She opened her mouth to call for Otakatay, but was struck with another blow. The light faded to nothing.

Nora woke slung over the back of a horse, her wrists tied together. The uneven steps did nothing for her turning stomach, and she swallowed back the urge to puke. Her head hurt so bad she was sure someone had taken a log to it. She opened and closed her mouth feeling the puffy lip. She turned her head to see where they were heading and saw smoke billowing from a large hole in the mountain. She blinked and scanned the area. She was at the mine. Elwood's mine.

Damn it.

The mine was a fair size, and as they drew closer she was shocked at what she saw. For a wealthy man, Elwood did nothing to keep up the place. Dilapidated buildings littered the property along with broken rail carts and hundreds of rocks scattered all over.