White Wind (22 page)

Joy flooded Wild-Flower’s heart. “Oh, Red Fox, I nearly lost all hope. You are the one I love. You are the one I want to call husband.” She stepped forward, her slender arms wrapping themselves around his neck, refusing to allow the warrior to put any physical or emotional distance between them.

Pleading, she cried, “You are wrong. This is right. Hold me, Red Fox. I need to feel your arms around me.”

Red Fox searched her smiling tear-stained face and groaned. “I cannot deny anything you ask of me.” He wrapped his arms around her slender form, his lips covering hers.

Wild-Flower sighed as he stroked her lips and parted them. She murmured her pleasure, pressing her body close to his.

Red Fox answered her plea with a deep moan of his own. Scooping her up into his strong arms, he strode far into the woods, not stopping until he reached a hidden grassy clearing.

Looking into eyes glazed with desire and need, he cautioned, “I love you, Wild-Flower. Be sure of yourself. If I touch you again, I will not be able to stop.”

With the simplest of words, Wild-Flower sealed her fate. “I am yours, Red Fox.”

It was late, the village quiet, when Golden Eagle stopped outside the entrance to his tipi.

Rolling his shoulders, mindful of the knife wounds from that morning, he worked the tension from his limbs, which were now stiff from the fight as well as spending many hours in the council lodge. For the first time since becoming a member of the council, he’d had to force himself to listen to and take part in tribal affairs. Keeping his mind on the matters being discussed had taken considerable effort on his part.

He needed to see White Wind and impart his good news. Of course, all was not settled, but that would come later. Somehow, he’d make his father see that peace between the two tribes could be achieved without the joining of the two families. After all, hadn’t friendship and respect grown over the past few years between members of both tribes?

Lifting the closed flap, Golden Eagle entered the dim interior. Quietly, he secured the flap of hide. He stood for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust. Walking silently toward his sleeping mat, he removed his moccasins, beaded arm bands and the feathers worn on his head for tribal affairs.

Golden Eagle lay on his side next to Sarah. The curve of her back gleamed in the night as he slid under the fur covering. He remembered her fearlessness that day and how terrifying it had been for her. He recalled too how difficult it had been for her to retrieve her knife from the chest of the enemy.

When he’d recounted her brave act to the council tonight, all had been amazed. Several warriors had even stood and sung songs in her honor for she had counted coup, a feat regarded with high respect by all. His White Wind had not only touched the enemy with an object in her hand, but had laid her hand on her enemy, saving his life in the process.

Counting coup was the ultimate honor, and all in his village would honor her tomorrow with feasting and dancing. He thought of the scalp locks he could have taken for all to see and praise, and he sighed. He had known that Sarah would not have been able to bear witnessing that act of violence, and so had contented himself with the taking of the warriors’ weapons.

Gently, his hand gripped Sarah’s slim waist as he coaxed her toward him, waking her with tender words of love.

Instead of Sarah rolling over, pulling him to her, she stiffened under his tender touch, resisted him as he tried to pull her close. He sat up and stared at her rigid form with a hurt and puzzled look. He leaned over to try again. Perhaps she was deeply asleep. However, this time there was no mistaking her resistance as Sarah, for the first time, actually edged away from him.

Compressing his lips, Golden Eagle narrowed his eyes as he pulled her on her back and studied Sarah’s pale features. With the help of faint filtered light from above, the effects of her bout of tears was visible. Placing his hands on either side of her head, he questioned.

“Why the tears? Tell me what is wrong, White Wind. Is it dreams again?” Golden Eagle coaxed gently. He stroked her petal-soft cheek as his breath caressed her.

“Look at me, White Wind,” Golden Eagle commanded gently, half leaning over Sarah. Concern etched his forehead into many small creases.

Sarah continued to lay still as she sought to compose herself. Her tears had subsided long ago, but she knew her eyes were still red and swollen. She’d struggled to be brave and strong, but her love was as delicate and fragile as a spider’s web.

Fresh tears trickled from her overbright eyes. She’d tried so hard to hide her misery, her fear of the future. She’d smiled and laughed with the other women until she could retire to nurse her wounds. Alone in the tipi, she’d fought to remember her vow to love Golden Eagle for whatever time was left to them.

But she’d failed miserably. Tears had flowed the moment she’d been alone. The sight of Wild-Flower in Golden Eagle’s arms had been like a knife plunging straight into her heart, draining her life’s blood.

How could she bear to see him wed to another? How could she live without her Golden Warrior by her side? He was the air she breathed, the nourishment she needed to live, to grow, the joy of living and loving.

Sarah finally opened her eyes and glanced at Golden Eagle. She saw his hurt and looked over his shoulder, at his strong firm chin, anywhere but at those eyes that saw too much.

The silence grew and lay heavily, tension between them thickening, as neither spoke. Sarah shook her head. Her love for him was so great, so unselfish, that she was unwilling to tell him, unwilling to cause him more grief, so she kept silent. She didn’t blame him. He was caught between two women who loved him.

Sarah’s eyes fluttered closed, shutting him out, as long thick lashes fanned out, dark smudges on a pale face, lips pressed tightly together to still the quivering emotions. Golden Eagle gently lifted her into his arms. “I will know what is wrong, little one. Who or what has made you unhappy?”

Sarah opened her eyes, a spark of resentment coming forth from watery blue orbs as she halfheartedly pushed against his chest. “Don’t you ever take no for an answer, Golden Eagle?” Her voice, hoarse with suppressed emotion, cracked on his name.

Seeing his concerned expression, Sarah sighed. “All right.” She gave in, pushing out of his arms. “Be warned. You won’t like my answer.”

“Tell me.”

Looking him straight in the eye, she lowered her voice to a bare whisper. “It is your actions that have caused my tears this night, Golden Eagle.”

“What?”

Sarah remained silent.

“Me? How can that be? What have I done to cause these tears?” Lifting himself to his knees, Golden Eagle stared in confusion at Sarah. With effort, he lowered his voice. “You will explain yourself, White Wind.”

Sitting in front of him, Sarah placed her hands upon his warm shoulders and curled into his lap, laying her head against his chest, feeling his heart beating against her ear. “Please, let us forget it. Can’t we just enjoy what time we have left? I don’t want to fight with you. Nor can I fight what will be.” Sarah felt her world crumbling around her.

Unable to hold back the tears at the sight of his bewilderment, she felt all her hurt drain away. All she wanted, all she needed, was to hold him and love him for whatever time they had left.

With furrowed brows, Golden Eagle fingered her braids. “What do you mean, our time left? We have our entire lives together. Explain this foolishness. I thought we had agreed that this matter was ended, did we not?” Golden Eagle asked, trying to understand what had upset her. “Has Night Star bothered you again?”

Looking sadly at her golden warrior, Sarah shook her head. “No, Golden Eagle. She hasn’t spoken to me since our return.” She reached up to stroke the side of his smooth jaw, and buried her face in the pulsing hollow of his neck and shoulder. “I saw you with Wild-Flower tonight. I saw her in your arms.”

Sarah looked up. “I want you to know, I understand her hurt. But it hurts me to know that soon she will have the rightful claim to you. That she will receive your embraces and kisses. That she will bear your children.” Seeing understanding dawn in his eyes, Sarah quickly continued.

“I know she must love you as much as I do. All I want is to love you. Please, let me love you, Golden Eagle. Let me pretend that you are mine forever, that you belong to no one else but me…” Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes against tears that sought release.

Golden Eagle smiled tenderly at Sarah. “Look at me, my love.” He waited until he had Sarah’s full attention. “I love you and only you. You are the woman this warrior needs. Let me explain what happened. Tonight…” He stopped in midsentence as a firm hand closed over his mouth.

Sarah saw the truth radiating from her golden lover. Keeping her hand firmly placed upon his lips, she spoke, her voice full of desperation, eyes moist with unshed tears. “I know you love me, Golden Eagle, as I love you. But it may not be enough to keep us together. No more words tonight. Please, just hold me and love me.”

Not giving him time or opportunity to protest, Sarah removed her hand, wrapped her arms tightly around the strong column of his neck and took his lips hungrily. As his lips parted in surprise at her unexpected boldness, she thrust her tongue between his lips, effectively wiping out any remaining protest.

Golden Eagle groaned. He lifted his head and gave in. He pulled her legs around him as he was consumed by the fire that their bodies ignited within each other.

Far above, countless bright stars twinkled. A crescent-shaped moon seemed to grow just a little brighter as it shined down, sending shafts of glowing light to embrace the lovers as they moved in harmony to nature’s strongest demands.

Golden Eagle lay under Sarah, their sweat-slick bodies calm, she so still that he knew she had fallen asleep. He caressed the still-damp skin of her back and coaxed her awake.

She eyed him in the dazed manner of someone waking from a deep sleep, murmured something unintelligible and flopped her head back down.

“Hmmm, you smell so good.” Matching actions to words, he buried his face against her throat. Nuzzling and kissing his way to her lips, he added, “You taste good too.”

Sarah pushed him away. “You woke me up to tell me that? Golden Eagle, go back to sleep. I’m so tired,” she sighed.

Golden Eagle rolled over, ignoring Sarah’s protest. Propping furs behind them, he lay back and drew Sarah into the crook of his arm. “We must talk,” he said.

Sarah drew tiny circles with the tip of her finger on his chest, stalling. Golden Eagle’s firm hands closed over her fingers. She glanced up, sensing his serious manner.

“No more distractions. Listen. I will tell you the truth of what you saw. Wild-Flower came to me tonight to tell me she is in love with another warrior and does not wish to become my wife.”

Sarah pulled away and turned to look at Golden Eagle suspiciously. “She what?”

Briefly, Golden Eagle explained why Wild-Flower had sought him out and his conversation with her and why she’d been in his arms.

Sarah sat up and faced Golden Eagle. She shook her head in confusion. “But this is wrong. Neither one of you loves the other, you each love someone else, and still your fathers will force this marriage on you both?”

Golden Eagle took hold of her hands. He nodded, trying to make her understand. Lifting one hand, he fingered the necklace he’d given to Sarah.

“My people are proud. Our way is based on pride and honor. Both tribes will lose honor if the marriage does not take place. It is the only way to right the wrong of White Cloud’s father, and to satisfy my tribe’s need for revenge. Only this can restore honor to both tribes.”

Sarah frowned as she sought to understand. “If you go back on your word, then you would be no better than the one who started this in the beginning, and if Wild-Flower refuses, it would be her grandfather’s shame all over again.”

Golden Eagle nodded, pleased that she understood. “So you see, a way must be found where neither tribe loses honor.”

He let out a long sigh. “I am ashamed to admit this, but tonight was the first time I’ve seen the true Wild-Flower. All these years, I’ve thought her to be spiritless. My talk with her tonight showed me just how badly I have misjudged her.”

Sarah smoothed the hair from his face. “Do not feel so badly, my love. You probably saw what she wanted you to see. Wild-Flower is both smart and cunning, as you said. Who is it that Wild-Flower loves?”

Golden Eagle grinned. “She didn’t say, but I have thought about this. After all, I want her to choose well. I think it is Red Fox who has captured her heart.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped. “Red Fox? No, you must be wrong. He is so…cold and unfeeling,” she exclaimed.

“No, my love. Red Fox guards his heart well. If he returns her feelings, it explains why he has been so short of patience recently. It also explains his resentment of you.”

“What do I have to do with Red Fox? I would have thought if he loves Wild-Flower, he’d be happy that you love me. Do you really think he loves her?”

“If Red Fox felt her honor was threatened, that she was being shamed by you or me, then it explains much, my love,” Golden Eagle murmured, pulling her down beside him.

Sarah cuddled close to Golden Eagle. “So, my great and clever warrior, now that I am wide awake and dawn is still far off, do you have any ideas on how to pass the remaining time before we must show ourselves to the world?” she asked, her voice low and husky.

Golden Eagle moved over her. “I have many ideas. How about…” He whispered in her ear before proceeding to show her.

Elsewhere, under the same moon and stars, Wild-Flower and Red Fox lay, arms and legs tangled.

Standing, Red Fox pulled Wild-Flower to her feet. Arms twined, they walked the distance to the cold stream. Quickly they bathed, whispering words of love to each other.

Looking into her glowing eyes, Red Fox bent his head, lips lingering, then lifting reluctantly. “We must return, Wild-Flower. It’s too risky to remain any longer.”

Watching Wild-Flower step away to dress, he wondered if this was a dream. In all his wildest imagining, he’d never thought his wish would be granted. Maybe he would wake, alone, and find that this had been a cruel dream.

Wild-Flower smiled the smile of a woman who had been well loved. Dressed, she eyed Red Fox with a mixture of love and wonder. Staring at his beautiful body, she laughed, the sound low and husky. “Does my Fox plan to walk back to the village like that?” Her dainty hand made a wide sweep of the naked body in front of her.

Looking down, Red Fox grinned, not the least bit embarrassed. He grabbed the giggling girl, swung her high into his arms and took her full lips with his, effectively silencing her. As he deepened the kiss, deep shudders racked his body at the same time that guilt overcame him. Lifting his head, he gently set her back on her feet and turned away to dress.

When her arms circled him from behind, Red Fox sighed, turned in her arms and placed his hands on her shoulders, putting distance between them. “I have dishonored you and betrayed my friend, Golden Eagle. We must not be alone again, Wild-Flower.”

Wild-Flower placed her hands on Red Fox’s chest and leaned forward. “I did not get a chance to tell you before, Red Fox, but Golden Eagle and I talked tonight. He loves Sarah and I love you. We will not marry. Somehow, we will convince our fathers that it would be wrong.”