Savage Spring (34 page)

Alexandria couldn’t seem to think clearly as Tag took her to dazzling heights of ecstasy. Her head seemed to be spinning as Tag thrust forward, and her body felt as if it were exploding. As Alexandria felt an answering shudder wrack Tag’s body, she knew they had both reached the pinnacle of bodily fulfillment.

Slowly she became aware of the sensation that she was floating in an endless sky. Her whole being seemed to relax as Tag clutched her tightly to him.

“My love, my love,” he whispered in a deeply moved voice. “I could not live if you were to take this away from me.”

“Never, Tag. I will never leave you,” she cried, pressing her face against his shoulder, overcome with feelings that she had never before felt. Alexandria raised her head and caught the soft look in his eyes, and a gasp escaped her lips. Never had she seen such an adoring look in anyone’s eyes. The love Tag felt for her was plainly written on his face.

His hand was trembling as he touched her lips. She laid her cheek to his and felt their tears mingle. The two of them had been handed a precious gift, and they were both wise enough to realize it. While a cool breeze stirred the leaves on the tree, they held each other. There were no words spoken between them. They were content merely to touch each other and send the message of love with their eyes.

Alexandria knew she would always look back on this night as her wedding night. She would remember this time as when she and Tag had truly found each other. Her heart was filled with happiness, knowing that this strong, wonderful man loved her. No longer would she feel that Morning Song stood between them. There was nothing between them now, except the special love that would bind them to each other for as long as they both lived.

It was almost daylight when Tag carried Alexandria back to the village. Her eyes fluttered open when he laid her down on the blanket, only to drift sleepily shut again. Tag kissed her soft cheek, thinking that after so many years of seeking who he was, and where he belonged, he had found himself at last. With the help of this one small girl, he was now free. No more would he be haunted by ghosts of the past…no longer did anger and revenge burn within his heart. His heart was too filled with love for his amber-eyed wife.

Tag thought of the baby Alexandria carried and suddenly
felt impatient to return to Philadelphia. He wanted to help his father rebuild the James empire. It was difficult for him to realize that he had been drifting in his mind for years, searching for where he really belonged. Since he had been a boy, he had not known what he wanted out of life. Tag would always cherish the years he had spent with the Blackfoot, and he knew he would miss Joanna, Windhawk, Farley, and Sun Woman when he returned to Philadelphia, but still he was anxious to get on with his life. Tomorrow he would start making arrangements for the return journey. He wanted his baby to be born in his own home and not here in the Blackfoot village.

Tag thought of Sun Woman and knew she would be hurt when he took Danielle away from her, but his daughter belonged with him. He had no doubt that Alexandria would give her the love she needed.

Alexandria sighed in her sleep, and Tag gathered her close to him. He rested his lips against Alexandria’s sweet-smelling hair as his hand drifted down to rest gently against her still firm, flat stomach, and he felt great love for his unborn child.

He closed his eyes, feeling at peace with himself.

Joanna and Windhawk walked beside the river in silent companionship. Windhawk realized that Joanna was feeling sad because her brother would soon be leaving, and he wished he could bring her comfort.

“Joanna, will it not help to think of your brother being happy? I see in him a man who knows what he wants out of life. He has a fine woman to walk beside him and make his days happy. He has told me that he will come back to see you often.”

Joanna looked up at her tall husband and tried to smile. “I know what you say is true, but I cannot help but be sad. I always knew that one day Tag would leave me—I suppose I should have prepared myself for this day.” She turned away to stare across the river. “Not only will I miss my brother,
but it’s hard to let my father go, as well. I admit it tears at my heart to know I won’t see Danielle for many years. I have come to think of her as my own child.”

Windhawk took her hand and turned her to face him. “When you love someone, you never have to let them go, Joanna. You can keep an image of them in your heart and the sound of their voice in your ears.”

Tears moistened her eyes as she looked up at him. Windhawk was her life. She drew strength from him as a flower draws strength from its roots. “You are very wise, my husband. I know it is as you say. You have my word that I will not cry when they leave, if you will stand beside me.”

“It will do no harm if you cry with me, Joanna. I have wiped away your tears before.”

She closed her eyes, feeling his presence through every pore of her skin. “Yes, you have often dried the tears of this foolish woman, Windhawk.”

He drew her face up to his, this woman who was his whole world. “Do you wish you could go with them, Joanna?” he asked, almost afraid to hear her reply.

She took his hand and raised it to her face. “I will never want to leave you, Windhawk. I couldn’t exist without you beside me. The two of us have proven that one can reach across the world and find love.”

“The time will come, Joanna, when your world and mine will collide. Will you stand beside me when that day comes? Will you not turn back to the white world then?”

“I will always stand beside you, because your world has become mine. I am more Indian than white.”

He chuckled as he lifted her into his arms. “Strange, you don’t look anything like my people to me.”

Joanna’s laughter joined his, and she realized that Windhawk, with his vast knowledge of human nature, had erased the sadness from her heart. How she loved this man who had the wisdom to understand a woman’s heart!

Joanna looked out over the land that was her home. She hadn’t been born into this world, but she felt like its daughter,
all the same. She loved this land of Windhawk’s birth, for here she had been reborn.

Yes, she would miss Tag when he left, but she could take comfort in the fact that he had found love and happiness with the small, amber-eyed Alexandria. Joanna knew if it were possible for Morning Song to look down on Tag at this moment, she, too, would rejoice in his happiness!

Alexandria made her way to Sun Woman’s tipi, knowing she had to face the woman for Tag’s sake. She was nervous and a bit frightened as she called out to be admitted into Sun Woman’s tipi. Almost immediately, the tipi flap was thrown aside, and Alexandria stood face-to-face with the formidable Indian woman, and she almost balked. She had to remind herself that she was doing this for Tag, and that seemed to give her the courage she needed. Sun Woman looked at Alexandria with dark, hostile eyes and showed no sign that she was welcome in her tipi.

Joanna had told Alexandria that she had taught Sun Woman to speak English, and she had agreed that the time had come for the two of them to reach an understanding.

“May I enter?” Alexandria asked, speaking slowly and distinctly so she could be understood.

Sun Woman merely nodded and moved aside.

“I want to talk to you about Danielle,” Alexandria said, entering the darkened tipi. As her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dim light, she saw that the small tipi was neat and clean. Danielle was lying on a buffalo robe, cooing and gurgling happily. Alexandria moved across the tipi and bent down, lifting the child in her arms.

Sun Woman stood unmoving, her arms folded across her chest, giving Alexandria a defiant look.

“I want you to know that I will love your granddaughter as if she were my own. You have my word that she will never be second to any children Tag and I might have.”

“Why do you tell me this?” Sun Woman said, advancing closer and looking into the strange, golden-colored eyes.

“I tell you this so your mind will be at rest. I know how much Tag loves you, and neither he nor I want to see you suffer. I understand how you feel about this child and how you will miss her. I just wanted you to know she will have a good life.”

Sun Woman seemed to lose some of her hostility, and suddenly she appeared to be a tired old woman who had suffered much in her life. She sank down on the buffalo robe and motioned for Alexandria to sit beside her.

“I can see that you love Tag, and this is a good thing, since he is like a son to me. But how will I know my granddaughter is happy? How will I know if she is being taught her Indian heritage if I do not see her grow with my own eyes?”

Alexandria’s eyes widened in surprise. Was Sun Woman saying she wanted to go with her and Tag to Philadelphia, or was she merely hoping they would leave the child with her? “I think you know Tag well enough to be sure he would never leave this child behind when we leave.”

“This is true.”

“Are you thinking…would you consider going with us when we leave?”

Sun Woman’s eyes seemed to light up as they rested on Alexandria’s face. “I am told by everyone who knows you that you are a good woman. If this is so, would you allow an old woman to live with you for a time, so she could see the daughter of her daughter settled in her new home?” Sun Woman seemed to be holding her breath, waiting for Alexandria’s reaction to her request.

“I think I can speak for Tag when I say you will always be welcome in our home, but you will find everything different in the white world. Will you not miss your home and family here?”

“I have found that when one loses one of one’s children, it is a very sad thing. Children are supposed to outlive their
parents. I made a promise to my dead daughter that I would watch over her child for as long as I live. How can I keep that promise if you do not allow me to be with her sometimes? I will not want to stay away from my people for very long. I want only to see where you are taking my granddaughter, and the kind of home in which she will be living.”

Alexandria could feel the old woman’s pain as if it were her own. She placed Danielle in Sun Woman’s arms and, on impulse, kissed the wrinkled, bronze cheek. “I would love to have you come with us, Sun Woman. You see, you have lost your daughter, and when I was a child, I lost my mother. Perhaps we can both help each other.”

Sun Woman’s eyes were shining with tears as she looked on the face of the young girl. She hadn’t wanted to like Tag’s wife. She had wanted to resent her for taking her daughter’s place and then taking her granddaughter from her, but she felt a tug at her heart.

“Perhaps it is so, golden-eyes. I will go with you to this white world. I will endure the loneliness and the strange ways of the white man, because I must. You are kind to consider an old woman’s wishes.”

Alexandria smiled. It was hard to think of Sun Woman as elderly. She was handsome of face and carried herself straight and tall. “I would like to be your friend, if you will allow it, Sun Woman.”

“Being friends is a good thing. It is often that friendship turns into love. Perhaps you will allow me to stand in the place of your mother?”

“Perhaps…if you will allow me to stand in the place of your daughter,” Alexandria agreed, watching Sun Woman’s face closely.

“It is good…it is good,” Sun Woman said softly, nodding her head.

It was a clear, crisp morning when Tag walked out of Windhawk’s lodge to join Alexandria, who was saying good-bye to Joanna.

The pack horses had been loaded, and Sun Woman was already mounted on a horse, with her granddaughter, Danielle, strapped to her back.

“I will miss you, Alexandria,” Joanna said, hugging her tightly. “Send me word when the baby comes.”

“Yes, I will do that.” Alexandria noticed the way Joanna’s eyes kept going to Sun Woman, and she knew she was concerned about Windhawk’s mother. “Joanna, I know that you are thinking Sun Woman is going into a world she doesn’t understand, but you have my word, I will take care of her and make her feel welcome in our home. You know Tag will look after her.”

“Please take special care of her. She is a wonderful woman and will be very loving, if you will allow her to be.”

“I know she is. Try not to worry.”

Joanna smiled. “I’m glad my brother has you. I find great comfort in knowing you love him.”

“Tag has said we will return soon, and I confess I’m already looking forward to it.”

“Don’t forget to write me by way of Fort Union,” Joanna reminded her. “I want to hear everything about Danielle.”

Alexandria saw the tears sparkling in Joanna’s eyes, and she thought how like Tag’s those eyes were. She knew that it had been hard for Joanna to let Danielle go after having tended her since birth. Finding no words to comfort Joanna, Alexandria merely nodded and kissed Joanna on the cheek. She then mounted her horse so Joanna could talk to her brother alone.

“It seems we are always saying good-bye lately, Tag,” Joanna said, going into Tag’s outstretched arms.

“Between you and me there is never a good-bye. I always keep a picture of you in my heart.”

Joanna had promised Windhawk she wouldn’t cry, but she couldn’t hide the tears from Tag. “I will miss you, my brother. Take the greatest care of yourself.”

They embraced, and Tag turned quickly away and mounted his horse.

Windhawk rode up beside her, and when Joanna looked into his eyes he sent her a silent message of love. Even now, he was lending her his strength to get through this ordeal.

Joanna watched until they were out of sight of the village; then she entered the lodge. Windhawk, her father, and several of his warriors were riding with them for a week, but Joanna had been surprised and delighted that her father wanted to spend the winter with her and Windhawk. She knew she would miss Sun Woman, but they would see each other before too long.

The loneliness seemed to be closing in about her, until she heard a dear, beloved voice call out.

“Joanna, you wanna talk?”

She turned around and smiled at Farley. “Yes, my friend, I need to talk.”

The old man sat down cross-legged and grinned broadly. “I ’spect Windhawk and your pa will be home afore you have time to miss um.”

Joanna began folding freshly washed baby clothes and placing them in a basket. “I suppose you are right, Farley.”

“You know, I been thinking…how would you like to go for a ride today? I figger White Dove wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on the younguns for you.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea, Farley,” she answered, knowing the dear old man was trying to distract her from her sadness.

As Joanna and Farley rode across the river, she could feel the warm breeze stirring her red-gold hair, and her heart became lighter. She was grateful for many things. She had a kind, loving husband, two wonderful children, a family that loved her, and friends like Farley. Suddenly, it was as if her heart were singing with joy. Joanna lifted her face to the heavens and silently thanked God for blessing her life!

As Tag rode beside Windhawk and his father, he felt momentary sadness in his heart. He had lived with the Blackfoot since he had been twelve years old. No one had touched
his life in quite the same way Windhawk had, not even his own father. Farley had become such a part of his life that it had been very difficult to say good-bye to the old trapper. Most of all, he would miss Joanna. In the past she had always been his port in the storm. He was a man now though, and he must not think about the past.

Tag turned and looked behind him, catching Alexandria’s eye. He was reassured by the understanding reflected in her golden glance. He was closing one chapter of his life and entering into another. The past would always occupy a small corner of his life, but it was the future that beckoned to him now. He was no longer that lost twelve-year-old boy, but a man who knew where he was going and how to get there. With Alexandria by his side, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish!

Tag nudged his horse on to a faster pace, anxious to get home. After so many years of searching within himself, he now knew where he belonged. He would build a good life for Alexandria and the children.

He slowed his horse and dropped back to ride beside Alexandria. Up until now, there hadn’t been much of a chance for them to be alone. When he smiled at his tiny golden-eyed wife his eyes spoke of many wonderful things to come.