Yellowstone Romance Series - Bundle (# 2-5) (29 page)

“Damn it!” Chase yelled. He raised his bow and aimed, but hesitated. His hands trembled, and he couldn’t hold the weapon steady. There was no way he could get off a clean shot. He wasn’t confident with the weapon, and might hit Hawk instead. Sweat beaded his forehead. He sprinted up the slope. The cougar had Hawk on the ground, tearing into the man’s neck. Hawk struggled underneath the animal, a grimace on his face. His hands wrapped around the cat’s neck, trying in vain to keep the sharp teeth from biting into his flesh. The cougar outmatched him in strength. He’d had no chance to defend himself.

“Goddammit.” With time slipping away, Chase no longer thought consciously of his actions. His body seemed to move on its own.  He yanked his tomahawk from his belt and took aim, sprinting up the slope. He knew he couldn’t run up the hill fast enough. His only hope was to put the cat out of commission for a moment to buy him a few seconds. He hit the animal squarely in the head. The cougar dropped to the side, but wasn’t dead. Chase ripped his knife from his belt, clutching the handle. He roared and lunged at the cat.  Not giving the predator a chance to recover from the hit with the tomahawk, Chase threw himself on top of the cougar and plunged his knife into its neck. He pulled the knife back, and repeated his action. Sweat ran into his eyes, and he could barely see. The animal thrashed its huge paws through air, raking Chase’s thigh. Pain shot through his leg, but he ignored it. With renewed effort, he threw his entire weight into the cat, twisting the knife into the animal’s throat. After several more violent jerks, the cougar’s body finally went limp.

 Chase leapt off the cat. His breath came in short, quick gasps. He turned his head in a frantic motion to find Hawk. He sank to his knees beside the man on the ground. Hawk was covered in blood. A deep tear marred the side of his neck. Blood spewed from the wound with every beat of his heart. His breathing was ragged and shallow. A sheen of sweat covered his face and neck. With trembling hands, Chase hastily pulled his cotton shirt over his head, and pressed it against Hawk’s neck in desperation, hoping to slow the bleeding.

“Come on, buddy, stay with me,” Chase said through clenched teeth. With an impatient swipe of his arm, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He looked up, his eyes darting around the rocks, and down the trail. Where the hell was Daniel or Elk Runner? If the mountain sheep had come this way, he hadn’t noticed. He groaned in frustration, mumbling swear words under his breath. He didn’t know what to do. Other than trying to stop the bleeding, there was nothing he could do.

“Arghh.” Chase looked skyward, imploring the heavens for a sign, anything that would help him save Hawk’s life. He knew it was futile. He kept a firm hand on Hawk’s wound, his shirt already soaked through with blood. His own hand looked as if he’d dunked it in a bowl of red paint. Chase’s entire body shook. He swallowed hard, inhaling the stench of blood and sweat. The dead cat mere feet away emitted a foul and sour odor, reminding Chase of rotten meat.

Why the hell was this happening? Nothing could have prepared him for something like this. This primitive world bested him again. Hawk’s eyes were open wide, a glazed look to them. His hand shot up and he grabbed hold of Chase’s wrist.

“
Namaappa’i Imaah
,” he said through short gasps for air. “
Namaappa’i Imaah
.” His grip on Chase’s arm tightened, a frantic look in his eyes.

Chase nodded. He had no idea what Hawk was saying, but it had something to do with Sarah. Hawk’s body stiffened suddenly, and he groaned. A split second later, he went limp, and his hand fell away from Chase’s arm.

“No, goddammit!” Chase yelled. “Don’t die.” He shook the lifeless body. Jumping to his feet, he let out a loud roar in frustration. His own trembling body was drenched in sweat. Chase sank back to the ground on his knees beside Hawk. He bent his head to his chest, his shoulders slumped, and placed a hand over the man’s heart.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough.”

Chapter 30

A heavy hand pressed down on Chase’s shoulder. He jerked, trying to dislodge the pressure. He’d been on his knees beside Hawk Soaring’ body for…how long? Time had no meaning anymore. He had no feeling in his legs. His entire body was numb.

The hand remained. Finally, Chase stared unseeing into Daniel’s somber eyes. The older man tightened his grip.

“I didn’t react fast enough,” Chase whispered, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t see the cougar until it was too late.” His head dropped again. He didn’t want to face Daniel or Elk Runner’s accusations.

“I see what has happened here. No one is to blame,” Daniel said. “This was a tragic accident.” His voice sounded like an echo through a tunnel.

Chase rose to his feet at Elk Runner’s urging. He turned away from the older men, kicking at rocks, and holding his hands to his temples.

“What the hell am I doing here?” he roared, his voice reverberating off the mountains. He turned to the cliff wall, pounding his fists into the hard rock, until fresh blood from his fingers and knuckles mixed with the dried blood on his hands.

He fought against the hands pulling him back. Daniel grabbed both his arms and locked them behind his back. The harder Chase jerked and struggled, the firmer the other man’s grip became. Daniel finally wrestled him to the ground.

“I can’t go on like this,” Chase said between clenched teeth, breathing hard. He relaxed his muscles, finally daring to look up into the faces of Daniel and Elk Runner. There was no anger, no contempt, only silent compassion.

“Chase Russell have many evil spirits inside,” Elk Runner said. “Must find way to fight.”

Chase gave a short laugh. “Yeah,” he said in a defeated tone, glancing at the lifeless body of Hawk Soaring a few feet away.

He ran a trembling hand over his face, inhaling deeply. “He said…something to me before he died.” His voice quivered unsteadily. He furrowed his eyebrows, trying to remember the words. “It had something to do with Sarah. I recognized her name. It sounded like . . . nampi . . . namapee?” His eyes darted from one man to the other, hoping they might understand.

Daniel and Elk Runner exchanged quick glances.

“
Namaappa’i?”
Daniel offered.

“Yeah, I think that was it, and then
Imaah
. That’s Sarah’s name, right?”

Daniel’s lips were drawn in a tight line.  His jaw was set firmly, his eyebrows furrowed. “He asked you to take care of Sarah,” he said quietly, finality in his voice.

Chase closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, the weight of the world descending on his shoulders.

****

Sarah knelt at the river’s edge, dipping a shirt into the water and pulling it back out. She spread it on a rock, and ran a bar of hard lye soap over the material. With vigorous hand motions, she rubbed the fabric together to scrub it clean. Then she dipped it in the water again to rinse. Her mother sat beside her, performing the same task.

A basket piled high with clothing sat between her and her mother. Sarah wrung the water from the shirt, and picked up another one.  She held it up. It was one of Samuel’s shirts that Chase had been wearing. Without thought, she held it to her face, inhaling the strong masculine scent of the man who was constantly in her thoughts. They had been gone for a week already. Sheep hunting usually took many days, but a week was about as long as her father and brothers had ever been away.

Realizing what she was doing, she dropped the shirt from her hands. Her cheeks flushed. Her mother wore a soft smile on her face when Sarah darted a quick glance her way.

“Can I ask something, Mama?” She turned to look fully at her mother. The older woman laid the shirt she held on the ground, and turned to her daughter.

“What’s on your mind, Sarah?”

“Chase,” Sarah said softly, her gaze dropping to the ground.

“I know that.” Her mother chuckled softly. “What about him do you want to know?”

“Tell me of the traditions in his time concerning a man and woman.”

“Oh…well.” She expelled a long breath. “Things are a lot different in his time than here. You’ve grown up knowing only the tribal customs of the Shoshone.”

“Yes, but in his time. How does a woman express her love for a man? Or how does a man ask for a woman he wants to make his wife?”

Sarah wondered at the almost uncomfortable look on her mother’s face. Why was she reluctant to answer?

“A man will usually ask the woman to marry him,” she finally said. “A couple often will live together openly before declaring themselves. Sometimes they part ways if they realize they are not a good match.” She paused, and looked Sarah straight in the eyes. “Relationships between unmarried couples are common in his time, Sarah. Chase doesn’t have the belief that he needs to be married to you in order to kiss you, or…do other things. In his time, a man and woman don’t need to be married to act on their feelings for each other. To him, this is perfectly acceptable. This is why you are confused by his behavior.”

“He tells me he loves me, but he doesn’t say whether he wants me for his wife. He says he can’t provide for me.”

“It sounds like he wants to do the right thing, Sarah. I think he realizes how harsh life here is, and taking care of a wife requires certain skills. According to your father, he is making great progress. He comes from a time when men don’t go hunting for food anymore. It’s just always available. Providing for a family is different in his time than it is now. Learning all these new skills is very hard.”

“So, it is okay that he says he loves me?” Sarah tried to understand. “It is acceptable that he kisses me, even if he hasn’t asked for me?”

“To his way of thinking, yes. Just make sure it is acceptable to you.”

“Did you kiss Papa before you were married to him?”

“Yes, I did.” Her mother smiled. “It was complicated for him. He grew up with all the same traditions as you. He struggled, because he couldn’t go to anyone to ask for me.”

“So what did he do?”

“Well, he…ah, we just took it upon ourselves.”

Comprehension dawned. “Oh,” Sarah said, her face flaming again. She picked up Chase’s shirt, and dipped it in the water absently.

“Has Chase mentioned anything more about finding the device to send him home?” she asked after a long silence.

“Not to my knowledge.” Her mother reached her hand out and placed it on Sarah’s shoulder. “Like I said, he’s been trying really hard to fit in here. I can see the love in his eyes for you, Sarah.” She smiled warmly. Sarah smiled back. This conversation had been very informative.

“Do you ever miss your old life?” Sarah asked after more minutes of silence.

Her mother took a deep breath. She stared out across the expanse of the river. “There are times I miss certain things, certain people I left behind.” She looked at Sarah. “But I’ve never regretted my decision. I was meant to be here. I knew that early on.”

Sarah nodded. Chase didn’t feel the same. He didn’t believe he belonged here. In silence, they finished their laundry. Sarah carried the basket to the clothesline behind the cabin. Rope had been strung between two trees, and Sarah hung the clothing up to dry. In her mind, she went over the things her mother had told her. It gave her a better understanding of Chase’s behavior. In his time, it wasn’t shameful for men and women to kiss when they loved each other. Her mother had even hinted that more than kissing was acceptable behavior. Chase had mentioned he was trying to behave himself. Is that what he had meant? He was trying to stay within the boundaries she had grown up with? Would it be so bad if she acted more like a woman he might be accustomed to?

Sarah’s hands trembled at the thought. She had limited knowledge of these things. It wasn’t something that was openly discussed. Of course, she knew what the act of mating entailed. As it applied to people, she only knew that it was a husband’s responsibility to teach his wife. Chase could teach her. Where he came from, it was accepted that a man and woman didn’t need to be married to carry out the act.  He was making an effort to behave in ways she was accustomed to. She could do the same for him, couldn’t she?

Sarah sighed and picked up the empty clothes basket. She would have to give it some more thought. She headed back towards the cabin. Two figures walked side by side along the riverbank from the west. The blonde haired man was taller than the other, whose raven hair waved gently in the breeze. It was her father and Chase! She smiled brightly, and her heart sped up. The cabin door opened and her mother emerged. She must have seen them from the window.

“They’re home, Mama,” Sarah called and ran to her mother’s side.

“I would have expected them to come from the other direction,” her mother remarked. “They must have gone to the village first, since Elk Runner and Hawk aren’t with them.”

Something was wrong. Both her father and Chase had somber looks on their faces when they approached. The hunt must not have been a success. They weren’t carrying any meat.

“Welcome home,” her mother called and headed out to meet her father. Sarah stayed by the door, watching her parents embrace when they met across the yard. Chase kept walking, his eyes on her. The hard expression on his face softened. Without hesitation, he strode up to her and wordlessly pulled her into a fierce embrace. His body trembled. Her arms reached around his waist.

“You feel so good,” he whispered against her ear. Slowly, he pulled away, and stared into her eyes. He didn’t smile.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked, looking up at his subdued face.

Chase turned his head when her parents reached the cabin. There was no hint of joy on her father’s face, either. She hastily stepped away from Chase.

“Let’s go inside,” her father said, and motioned with his head to the door. “We have things to tell you.”

Sarah followed her parents into the cabin. Chase brought up the rear.

‘What happened, Daniel?” her mother asked the moment everyone stood in the room. Her eyes darted from him to Chase. Chase sat at the table, his head between his hands, his back to them.

“Hawk Soaring is dead,” her father said in his quiet voice.

Sarah gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth. Her mother quietly said, “Oh, no.”

 ”A cougar,” her father continued.  “We returned his body to his family. We stayed for the burial. That is why we are back so late.”

Chase stood abruptly and left the cabin. Sarah moved to follow him, but her father’s hand reached out and held her back.

“He blames himself,” he said. “Leave him. He wants to be alone. He has much to think about.”

“Why does he blame himself?” Sarah asked.

Her father moved to sit at the table.

“Would you like some tea or coffee, or something to eat?” her mother asked, standing behind him and rubbing his shoulders.

“Some coffee,” he answered, before he looked at Sarah. “He was with Hawk Soaring when the cougar attacked. Chase was brave and acted selflessly. He killed the cat, but it was too late. He believes he didn’t act quick enough.” He sighed. “He continues to only see his failures, not his successes. He has told me much about his past…in the future.”

“What did he tell you?” Sarah asked tentatively. Chase hadn’t told her anything about his past.

“If he wishes for you to know, he will tell you himself, Sarah. I cannot speak for him. I can only say that he has suffered the loss of a person close to him, a man who guided him. After his death, Chase struggled and lost his way. He needs to find his path again.” He looked directly at her. “You have given him a purpose, Sarah, a way to get back on the right track, but his fear of loss and failure is still holding him back.”