Love by Dawn (16 page)

Wedged between Blake and Star Gazer, Casey
sat in the circle. She was very uneasy with the attention she was
receiving from both men. It was the first time Star Gazer showed
his feelings for her and she believed he sensed that Blake felt the
same towards her. Not wanting to hurt Star Gazer’s feelings, she
smiled politely at his advances. She saw the angry look on Blake’s
features and she smiled as sweetly for him. But it didn’t help,
knowing that he wasn’t happy with the situation. She watched young
men in fancy headgear dance around the flames. The smoke burned her
eyes, making the dances look like spirits weaving in a haze. She
seemed to be hypnotized by the cloudy movements until someone
nudged her. Blinking to clear her vision, she saw Star Gazer’s
smiling countenance. He handed her a long pipe with feathers
dangling from the bowl and she looked at it as if it would bite. He
chuckled. “Pass it to Blake,” he ordered, his white teeth gleaming
by the fire light. If she didn’t know better, the stars in the
skies had fallen into his irises.

“Oh,” how silly of her thinking she had to
smoke it. She obliged and Blake pulled a face. She whispered,
“What’s the matter?”

He whispered back through the side of his
mouth. “The last time I tried one, I was green for days. But it
would be rude of me to refuse.”

Casey bit her tongue from laughing seeing his
face drain of color. Watching him drag in a puff of smoke and
chock, immediately turning his complexion pea green. Now that
earned him a snort from her but she did feel bad, especially
hearing Star Gazer chuckle. It didn’t surprise her to see Blake
leave before her and she suspected the brave did that to him on
purpose.

She giggled. “You don’t play fair, Star
Gazer.”

He shrugged. “Blake used to play pranks on me
when he stayed here. I miss our fun and some Apaches have sense of
humor.”

His dark eyes twinkled with laughter and she
sighed. He had become such a good friend, almost like another
brother to her. Her heart was heavy with the knowledge that he’d be
hurt when he found out the truth about Blake and her. She had
promised Blake that she wouldn’t say anything about their night of
passion. As if she would. Making love without the blessing of a
minister wasn’t something a girl would brag about.

“Come I will walk you back to Laughing Tree’s
wickiup.” He held out his large hand and she accepted his gesture
wondering where Blake had gone. They walked past a few huts and
Casey thanked him. He looked as if he were about to say something
to her when Laughing Tree’s voice rang out for her to enter. She
frowned and Star Gazer shrugged.

“My aunt has a way of knowing when someone is
outside her dwelling. It made it hard for Blue Thunder and me to
sneak up on her when we were children.”

“She has a sixth sense, like me,” explained
Casey. Seeing Star Gazer draw his dark brows in thought, she
elaborated. “She knows things before they happen; sort of a
warning.”

“Hmmm, you have the gift,” he replied.

“You two are disturbing an old woman’s rest.
Go nephew,” ordered the old voice from within, causing Casey to
laugh and bid the Apache a goodnight.

TWENTY

“No!” Star Gazer bellowed and then jumped up
from his sitting position.

Blake had come early the next morning to sit
with the chief, Blue Thunder and Star Gazer for a friendly
gathering. It was time for his friend to learn the truth. It
wouldn’t be easy, but he had insisted Dasodaha be the one to tell
his son. He believed his friend would respect his father’s words.
Seeing the outraged look on Star Gazer’s face he knew he was
mistaken.

Boy, are you
wrong
.

Once again, his gut turned and he wished
that none of that had happened. Earlier, he told the chief that
Casey and he had made love. In Indian’s eyes, they were now joined
as one and were husband and wife, but Star Gazer did not see it
that way.

“The white woman is mine! I do not believe
she is your woman,” the brave growled.

Blake growled back, “She’s mine! I speak the
truth!”

“No! I will fight for her! Small one is
mine!”

Blake groaned inwardly. “I was afraid of
that,” his voice barely audible. “Star Gazer,” he pleaded, “even if
you win, she’ll not stay with you willingly.”

Star Gazer shook his head adamantly, he
wouldn’t listen to his words. Blake was also enraged by his
friend’s refusal to see the truth and the brave jumped to his feet.
He grabbed the Indian’s muscular arm and threatened, “I don’t want
to fight, but I will to keep her.”

Star Gazer’s eyes warred with his and the
brave nodded. “Before sunset,” he spat and left the hut. Blue
Thunder put a hand on Blake’s shoulder, “I am sorry it came to
this. It is not good for friends to fight over woman. But I admit
doing some fighting to keep Moon Glow. My heart aches knowing
someone I love may not live to see another sunrise if the fight
goes brutal.”

Saddened, Blake looked at the chief just in
time to see him wipe tears from his eyes.

Casey and Hunter were among the other
spectators to watch the match. Blue Thunder stood tall and
unbending, ignoring his wife’s angry glances. She had argued
relentlessly most of last night, forbidding the fight between her
cousin, Blake and his brother, Star Gazer. His throat was still
hoarse from words that didn’t penetrate Moon Glow’s stubborn
streak.

“You know I forbade this!” she had
snapped.

“Wife, I am weary of your words. We honor
your request not to torture white eyes but these two have agreed to
fight over Casey.” She had audacity to laugh and remind him that
the Apache people weren’t as ruthless as the white man was led to
believe. Then he had to remind her that her cousin was the one who
started this. “Father and I can not interfere. Your cousin is a
man,” he elaborated. “Now go to sleep, my head rings from all your
complaining. End of discussion.”

Today Moon Glow refused to talk at all. Her
silence was more deafening than her chatter.

Casey had cried most of the night before
falling into a fretful sleep. Laughing Tree did her best to tell
her that what ever happened was the will of the gods. She knew the
Indian meant well but the words did nothing to lighten her spirits.
If Hunter hadn’t been wounded, she and Blake could have left before
Star Gazer returned like she had first insisted. But Blake didn’t
want to run like a coward; instead he hoped that Star Gazer would
understand so he went to see his friend. Star Gazer hadn’t and
Casey wanted to wring both their necks, saving them the trouble.
Men!

She had pulled a few hairs out of her head
and in a fit of temper. Disgusted with both of them she left Blake
last night with the hollow threat declaring she didn’t care a fig
if the two of them beat each other to a pulp. Now, she regretted
her harsh words when seeing the two determined men stripped to the
waist. Star Gazer began to chant in preparation for the fight, she
wondered if Blake should do a little of his own praying.

Swallowing the stubborn lump in her throat,
she prayed for a miracle that neither man would be mortally
injured. Their left wrists were tied to each other while the free
hand held a long bladed knife. Hands held high, the weapons
glistened in the sun and soon someone’s blood would dull the blade.
Casey wanted to turn her head away and not watch, but she couldn’t
pull her eyes from the man she loved. He stood proud, as did the
Indian. Her eyes watered watching both parties step closer. Blake
smiled at her to reassure her, but it was a tight smile, not
reassuring in the least. Casey’s heart lurched, she could only fear
the outcome. Last night she had a vision of him lying unconscious
with blood covering his broad chest. Her legs weakened and she fell
against Hunter.

“Hang on sis; he’ll come out of this all
right. You’ll see.”

Her brother’s voice was sanguine and she
nodded wishing she could be as sure. “Oh, Hunter,” she wailed,
wringing her hands fretfully, “We’ve caused such trouble for
people.”

“Aw sis, none of this is our fault, now stop
making us responsible for all that happened and have some faith in
Blake. He won’t harm his friend and he won’t let Star Gazer hurt
him either.”

“Are you serious, they have knives?” She
jabbed him in the side to snap him into reality. “Knives can hurt,
brother!”

Blue Moon’s dog, Licks Too Much began to
bark drawing Casey’s attention back to the event taking place in
the camp. Nothing would be settled arguing with her brother, he was
a man and they had no common sense when it came to things like
this; male ego being as such. As both opponents circled, she never
experienced so much fear in her life. Blake and Star Gazer were a
good match, both men nearly the same height and weight. On wobbly
legs, she held herself straight; it would do no good for Blake to
see her faint to the ground.

Dasodaha had spoken to her before and said
that he had exhausted himself trying to talk words of wisdom to his
youngest son. But the boy was stubborn, a trait he admitted to her
he knew so well, seeing it in himself and Blue Thunder. This would
be a fight to the finish he feared and sighed heavily, telling her
that history is repeating itself. She knew she and Moon Glow whose
hair was kissed by the sun have both brought unrest to the camp,
first his daughter-by-marriage, who he loved with his whole heart
and now her. There was always trouble with white eyes, the chief
claimed and she had an awful sensation in the pit of her stomach
for the unrest she had caused his people.

There was a hush as the two fighters lurched
for one another. They both missed their mark and Casey gasped in
relief. Her relief was short lived, for the next moment Star Gazer
struck out swiftly, slashing Blake’s upper arm. Blood immediately
trickled down and she swallowed the vile taste that rose in her
throat. They circled again, each waiting for the right moment to
strike. It was Blake’s turn to find an opening and he sliced his
opponent across the chest. A few gasps were heard as Star Gazer
lost his temper and lunged.

She groaned, but luckily Blake saw the move
and side stepped his attacker who lost his footing and stumbled. He
took that moment to kick Star Gazer in the back of his knees,
causing him to fall face first in the dirt. The brave tried to
knell and the crowd gasped, some mumbled. Blake then kicked the
knife from Star Gazer’s unsuspecting hand. The Indian lay
momentarily on the ground and she heard Star Gazer trying to suck
back some of the air that was forcefully knocked out of him.

Casey saw Blake smile a bit cocky now that
his opponent had lost his weapon. The cowboy probably thought the
brave would surrender, so he offered his hand. Star Gazer took it
quickly, pulling Blake off his feet. Surprised and bewildered, he
found himself on his back. The swift and unexpected movement
loosened Blake’s grip on his knife and it went flying into the air.
They were even, both unarmed with only one free hand. Star Gazer
lunged and they rolled over and over in the dirt. She saw the two
fools punching whatever and whenever they got the chance. Chins,
noses, stomachs were being pounded by both men. They were creating
a dust storm. Coughing, she and other spectators saw fists and legs
flailing in all directions, making dry dust fly everywhere. A stray
dog started to bark adding to the commotion. She could no longer
hold back tears that flowed down her dust-streaked face. All she
could see was dirt and blood covering both figures, and she wanted
to scream on the top of her lungs for them to stop.

She was so annoyed that two grown men would
display such barbaric fighting over her, she began to feel
disgusted with both men and marched toward them before anyone saw
what she was doing. Without thinking of her own safety, she stood
near the two tangled men and started cursing loudly every word she
knew. Hearing her swearing, she saw Blake quickly extract himself
from the tangled mess of extremities.

Star Gazer, hearing the screaming of what he
thought sounded like a wild animal, looked up to see Casey’s
beautiful face contorted with rage. He was shocked at what she was
doing. He as well as the by-standers looked bewildered. He had
heard some of these strange words from the mouths of drunken white
men but never a female. Most he understood but some were foreign to
his ears. Covered with wet dust, her eyes firing with anger, she
looked like a wild lady. He sat dumbfounded. No Indian woman would
dare interfere with a brave’s fight no matter what the outcome;
this woman would bring dishonor to them both. Star Gazer couldn’t
believe she was the same beautiful creature he had loved secretly
all this time. He decided that the gods had saved him from a fate
worse than death. Still screaming like a she-wolf with her paw
caught in a trap, she started to kick them both.

Star Gazer conceded and said, “I not lose
face over a crazy woman!” He reached for the knife closest to him
cut the leather bindings and scurried away leaving his friend to
receive more blows to his already battered body.

“Ouch!” Casey kicked Blake again and he
yelped. “Ow, dammit!” He looked up seeing Casey foolishly smiling.
Although irked, he was not surprised on hearing the cursing and
screaming. Annoyed but proud of her courage, he didn’t know whether
to kiss or spank her; both ideas thrilled him. He had seen the look
of astonishment on Star Gazer’s face that a mere slip of a female
would interfere in a fight. To stop pain that was being inflicted
by Casey’s feet, Blake rolled against her. She wasn’t heavy but her
dead weight knocked the wind out of him when she landed on top of
him. Feigning unconsciousness, he stayed motionless for some
seconds hoping she’d believe he’d passed out. He must have been
convincing because she took his bloodied face and placed it in her
lap. She began to sob uncontrollably and he hoped she did not see
the brief smile on his face.