Riverbreeze: Part 3 (37 page)

He stood up slowly, immediately hating them. They had helped Wesley abduct Elizabeth and were now holding her prisoner. Why should he bargain with them? He should attack them!

But that wasn’t the plan and he was an honorable man. He would try negotiations first.

Still, he was quite wary of them. Jamie and Nick were too. Their eyes never left the two Pumunkeys.

Owasewas waved them over. He said something to them in their native language; then he switched to English. These Pumunkeys also knew English otherwise Wesley wouldn’t have been able to converse with them.

“Wingapo
, Matchitehew, Pannoowau, meet my friends.” Owasewas said, pointing to each of the three men as he introduced them. “Robert, Jamie, Nick.”

“Rah-bert.” Matchitehew inclined his head once to each of them. “Ja-mie. Nick.” He emphasized the ‘k’ so that it sounded like Nick-ka.

Jamie and Nick nodded once in greeting, but Robert stared coldly at them.

The other one, Pannoowau, didn’t seem to care about any greetings. He was fascinated by Nick’s name and repeated it over and over again, liking the short, sharp sound of it. “Nick-ka. Nick-ka. Nicknicknicknick…Nick-ka.” While Matchitehew kept a serious, stern face, Pannoowau relaxed and was nearly smiling with delight at this funny name.

“Shh!” Matchitehew shushed his companion with an abrupt push of air through his teeth. Pannoowau stopped, no expression on his face. “What you want?” Matchitehew demanded.

“We want the woman.” Owasewas replied. “She is Robert’s wife.” He pointed to Robert. “The man you help is Robert’s brother. He took her.”

“Mmph.” Matchitehew looked at Robert with piercing black eyes. “Man promise us guns for out help. Many guns.”

Robert gulped. Well, Owasewas was right. They wanted guns. He wondered where Wesley was going to get the weapons. It took a lot of money to buy firearms and ammunition. Perhaps Wesley had lied to them. Robert returned his stare. “I give you my brother’s gun and his friend’s gun.”

“This many more.” Matchitehew held out his two hands, his fingers spread to indicate he wanted ten guns.

“No.” Robert immediately said. He would not be intimidated by these savages. “Two guns…and two men.” He added at the last minute. The plan was to give Wesley to Owasewas to present to Opechancanough, but why shouldn’t he give both men to these savages. It didn’t matter to him.

Matchitehew’s eyebrows rose, intrigued. “Who? You?” He smirked. “Nick-ka?” He eyed Nick hungrily and grabbed his bearded jaw. He rubbed his fingers through Nick’s soft whiskers, fascinated with the sensation.

Nick was already shaking in his boots from the cold. Now he nearly fainted. Matchitehew laughed uproariously.

“Not Nick or me.” Robert said firmly and loud enough to get Matchitehew’s attention. “My brother and Burnett.”

Matchitehew’s abruptly stopped laughing. “Burnett dead.”

Burnett dead?
Good!
Robert thought, but he didn’t let the savages know he was pleased by that news. “In that case, two guns and one man.” Robert stood firm, his hands on his hips.

“No. Five guns…” Matchitehew pointed to each of the men, indicating he wanted their guns along with Wesley’s and Burnett’s. “…and one man.”

Robert took in a long breath. He was getting fed up with this savage. “No, two guns and one man.” He repeated firmly.

“No, five guns and
two
men.” Matchitehew said. “Your brother and Nick-ka.” He patted Nick’s chest, baring his teeth in a grotesque smile.

Robert pressed his lips together. “No!” He barked, knocking the savage’s arm down. “Nick is not part of this bargain!

“Who then? You?” Matchitehew pointed at Robert and glared at him with those penetrating black eyes.

Owasewas interjected then. He started talking rapidly in his native language. Matchitehew replied and soon they were arguing in earnest, waving their hands at each other and occasionally pointing at the three men.

Robert stood there watching them, his patience at an end. He was furious at these two savages for helping Wesley abduct his wife and now they had the nerve to bargain with him and Owasewas. He glanced at Jamie and Nick. Jamie had been perfectly quiet this whole time, but carefully watching the situation, gauging when he should jump in. Robert knew him and could count on him if he decided to veer from the plan. He believed he could count on Nick too even though Nick was shaking from fear and cold. Robert would never allow the savages to take Nick; he would sacrifice himself first, but Robert decided that was not going to happen.

It didn’t take more than a minute for Robert to make up his mind. He had to take advantage of this situation now. The three savages were preoccupied with arguing amongst themselves and they really weren’t paying much attention to the three men. Originally they all thought that they would come upon Wesley, Burnett and the two savages together, but now that the two savages were separated from them, Robert felt that he and his companions could take them on. Robert believed that he, Jamie and Nick were a lot stronger than the Indians. Yes, the Indians were extremely fit and could run all day chasing down game, but he and Jamie chopped wood all day and Nick worked steel and iron all day. All right, that was an exaggeration, but he still believed they were stronger.

He surreptitiously looked over at Jamie and Nick and with his eyes and a jerk of his head and a subtle movement of his hand he signaled to them that he was going to attack Matchitehew. They could take on Pannoowau.

They each gave a small nod of their head, understanding and agreeing with the decision.

And so it happened.

Robert gave a loud war cry and rushed at Matchitehew. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Owasewas freeze for a split second, then jump back out of the way. At the same time he watched Matchitehew’s eyes go wide and his mouth drop open in shock and in that split second before Matchitehew could get his hands up, Robert threw a powerful punch that landed directly on the savage’s nose. He heard a crack, saw blood spurt from his nostrils and watched, satisfied, as the big man went limp as a stringless puppet and collapsed to the ground, out cold.

Jamie and Nick had also done a first-rate job on Pannoowau, attacking him simultaneously and bringing him down in one rush. Nick had his foot on Pannoowau’s chest and was aiming his pistol at the prostrate Indian. He had a most satisfied smile on his face.

For a short second, Robert wondered if Nick’s pistol was actually loaded. His wasn’t and neither was Jamie’s. Oh well, it looked good and from the expression on Pannoowau’s face, he believed it was loaded. That’s what counted.

Shaking his hand out and with a big smile, Robert said, “That was fun.”

“Fun!” Owasewas exclaimed. He glared at Robert. “That was foolish!”

“Listen to him not.” Nick said. “It
was
fun.”

Owasewas continued to glare at Robert. “I bargain for you!” He said. “I keep you safe…keep him from taking you!”

“I appreciate that, Owas, but you gave me the perfect opportunity to attack him—

“I not argue with him to give you perfect opportunity!”

“I know that, but it was the perfect opportunity. Why should I bargain with him when he abducted my wife, who, by the way is still being held by my brother!” He demanded of Owasewas.

Owasewas opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water. He didn’t have a good answer.

Finally Robert looked at Jamie and Nick, leaving Owasewas sputtering in disbelief. “Come on. We need to go.”

“What should we do about them?” Jamie said.

“We’ll tie this one up and leave him here.” He said, pulling his knife out. He squatted next to Matchitehew and sliced at the hem of his apron, cutting a strip of deerskin with which to bind his hands. “Tie him up too, but he can walk with us. Keep your gun on him, Nick.” He added, pointedly looking at him.

Nick got the message and did so while Jamie sliced at Pannoowau’s apron.

In short order, Robert had Matchitehew’s hands and ankles bound and Jamie had tied Pannoowau’s hands behind his back. He was on his feet, looking extremely hateful.
These two will not forget and will want revenge
, Robert thought, but he didn’t care. They had crossed him first.

Now Robert and Jamie took the time to load their pistols and then they continued on their way to the cabin, following the creek. Robert kept up a quick pace, eager and determined to rescue Elizabeth. They were so close now and he wasn’t going to let anything get in his way. When Pannoowau dragged his feet and lagged behind, Robert gave Nick the honor of pushing Pannoowau along while Jamie held his pistol at the savage’s back.

“What you do now?” Owasewas asked. He was still in a sour mood.

“I’m going to call Wesley out and you’re going to shoot him in the leg.”

“Me?” Owasewas gasped.

“Yes, you. You have the best aim with your bow and arrows. And that won’t kill him. You can still take him to Opechancanough.”

Owasewas thought about that for a moment, a frown on his face.

Robert stopped and looked at him. “Listen. I know you didn’t like what I did, but you’re supposed to be on my side, Owasewas. Are you still on my side or do you want to join Pannoowau there with your hands tied behind your back?”

“Rob!” Jamie exclaimed.

Robert ignored him and waited for Owasewas’s answer.

Owasewas’ face turned deep red.

So, Robert realized, Owasewas was embarrassed at being caught. The Indian had agreed to help Robert rescue Elizabeth but he hadn’t been able to completely turn his back on his own kind. What would Owasewas have done if he couldn’t convince Matchitehew to agree to their terms? Would he have surrendered and allowed Matchitehew and Pannoowau to take him and Nick?

“Well?” Robert demanded.

“I shoot your brother in leg.” Owasewas grudgingly replied.

Robert let out a laugh. “You should be glad! You go home with the prize.”

“Mmph. And him…” Owasewas pointed at Pannoowau and then back the way they came. “And him.”

“I see your point, but I had to do what I had to do!”

“I know.” Owasewas said with a sigh.

Robert smiled and clapped him on the back. “Come on. Let’s go.”

They walked for another half hour and finally came to the clearing where Burcher’s cabin was. There was no activity around the cabin, but there was smoke coming from the chimney. Robert wondered what Wesley was doing. How was Elizabeth feeling this morning? He wanted to rush right up to the door, bust it down and hold her in his arms. His heart pounded with anticipation.

They stayed in the shelter of a grouping of sycamore trees. “I’m going to shoot my gun to lure him out, then you shoot him in the leg, Owasewas. Both legs if you need to bring him down.” Robert said. “If he has a gun with him, however, I’ll approach him with Panny here as a shield.”

Well, it seemed that Pannoowau didn’t like that plan. Before Robert could shoot his gun Pannoowau let out a blood-curdling war cry that hurt everyone’s eardrums.

Robert reacted automatically. He smacked the savage in the head, cutting the cry short. But then Pannoowau shouted again at the top of his lungs until Nick had the pleasure of hitting him over the head with the butt of his pistol. Pannoowau dropped like a stone with a large gash at the back of his head.

“You not have to do that.” Owasewas stated disapprovingly.

Robert just gaped at him in disbelief. That comment did not deserve a response in Robert’s opinion. “Get your bow and arrow ready.” He said.

Owasewas gave him a mean look, but nevertheless he raised his bow and cocked an arrow in readiness.

At first they noticed the curtains being pulled aside in the front window, only an inch though as someone looked out. They waited another minute as that person presumably searched the grounds. Robert was getting too impatient. This waiting was making him crazy. He shuffled his feet, feeling the butterball fruits of the sycamore trees squish under his moccasins. “Come on; come on, Wesley. Show yourself.” Robert muttered under his breath.

Nothing was happening like they had planned. Wesley was too smart to come out and expose himself. Instead the bastard sent Burcher.

The door opened and Burcher appeared, holding his hands up to show he had no weapons. “Don’t shoot!” He yelled out.

Robert quickly placed his hand on Owasewas’ arm to stop him from launching his arrow, but it was too late. Owasewas had already aimed and let his arrow fly as soon as Burcher had appeared, thinking it was Wesley. The arrow flew straight and true, landing directly into the right thigh of the poor man.

He let out a howl and clutched at his leg. “You bastards!” He screamed, staggering a few steps from the house. He lost his balance then and fell to the ground. “It’s me, Burcher. You know me, you devil savages!”

Robert felt awful, but what could he do? He couldn’t run up to him and help him. Wesley would shoot him in a quick minute.

Owasewas said, “Sorry, I thought—“

“Never mind.” Robert said. He squeezed Owasewas’ shoulder once to console him.