Warrior Moon Page 21

Lone Wolf was hatless now, his Indian blood as obvious as the sunshine outside. His black hair would not conform to the white man’s style. Even with a touch of grease, the black locks sprang in different directions. He was risking his life for her this morning and she felt awed, curious about his depth of feeling for her.

  The small church was plain with the smell of freshly cut wood in the air. A Texas flag stood in one corner, and the Stars and Stripes in another. The black-haired piano player listened intently to the preacher as his voice rose and he began his sermon.

  During the entire service Phoebe never looked around. Papa did, several times glancing over the congregation. The sermon ended, and the collection plates were passed. New members went to the front to join the church, and the congregation sang another hymn. And then the service was over. The family next to Vanessa stood. When they turned to file out in the opposite direction, Lone Wolf stood up slowly. And then the Carters were coming down the aisle.

  Phoebe was in front of Papa! Vanessa didn’t dare look at her. She looked down at her lap and prayed Lone Wolf would keep his head down because Papa would cause a scene about an Indian in church.

  Suddenly Lone Wolf reached over, his fingers closing around her wrist as he gave her a squeeze. She looked up, gazing beyond him into Phoebe’s wide eyes. Papa’s head was turned as he talked to someone on the other side of the aisle. Vanessa looked down quickly once she knew that Phoebe had seen her. She hoped that none of the Carters had. Vanessa followed Lone Wolf, and they joined the crowd in the aisle behind the Carters.

  At the open door, some people stopped to shake hands with the pastor. Lone Wolf took Vanessa’s hand and eased through the crowd. A large woman with a sunbonnet suddenly materialized in front of them, smiling at Vanessa and studying Lone Wolf.

  “You folks are new, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lone Wolf said in a drawl that sounded as if he had been born in Louisiana, and Vanessa looked up at him in shock. Where had he learned to talk like that?

  “I’m Beauregard Hamilton and this is my wife, Jane Hamilton, ma’am.”

  “I’m so glad to meet you. I’m Hazel Benjamin, and we’re happy to welcome you to Glen Hollow. You live close?”

  “We bought some land south of here, ma’am. You’ll see a lot of us from now on. It’s been right nice to meet you.”

  “Thank you, it was so nice to meet you.”

  Lone Wolf hurried Vanessa away from Hazel Benjamin, pushing her back toward the steps of the church.

  Another smiling woman who was tall and thin blocked their path. “I’m Priscilla Dartmoor, and I’m so happy you visited our church.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.” Lone Wolf smiled politely. “I’m Beauregard Hamilton, and this is my wife Jane Hamilton. We seem to have left my wife’s handkerchief back in the church.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be there. It’s nice having you. Come again.”

  He smiled and pushed Vanessa along.

  “Every woman here is looking at you and probably wants to meet you!” she snapped as he nodded right and left, propelling them through the crowd. “What are you doing? The buckboard—”

  “Your sisters just went back into the church. Hurry!”

  Vanessa’s heart raced as they moved against the crowd, climbing the steps. She was blocked by small groups of dawdlers, and Lone Wolf pushed ahead of her, shouldering his way through slowly. “Sorry,” he said, smiling.

  “Excuse me.”

  She murmured apologies, and then they were through the throng and easing their way into the church again. Phoebe and Belva stood at the other end of the sanctuary, and no one else was inside. Lone Wolf moved ahead of Vanessa, running down the aisle toward them, his black coat flying open while Vanessa raced after him.

  “Vanessa!” Belva cried, turning toward her.

  “Let’s go,” Lone Wolf snapped, cutting her short as she dashed around the pews to them. He reached around her to open a window. “Climb out.”

  He swung Belva up over the sill, his large hands circling her tiny waist. Her blue hat tumbled off as she gripped his wrists, her eyes huge, and then she dropped to the ground.

  He lifted Phoebe out next. She looked pale, her mouth clamped tightly shut. Then his strong hands closed around Vanessa’s waist, and he set her outside as well.

  He followed, dropping to the ground on both feet, and motioned toward the trees a hundred yards away behind the church. “Run!”

  With her heart pounding, Vanessa gripped Phoebe’s hand and raced over the ground, her hat sliding behind her head as she held her skirt high. Lone Wolf held Belva’s hand as they dashed for the trees. Vanessa ran between cedars and beneath two tall oaks.

  “Head for the draw and the horses,” Lone Wolf ordered, moving ahead of them toward the west. “We have to get away before you’re missed.”

  They kept to the bushes, and Vanessa realized he had chosen well, because they had cover. In seconds, they reached the four horses. They mounted swiftly, and the whole time Phoebe said nothing. She was white, looking as if she might faint, and Vanessa reached over to squeeze her hand.

  “They’ve missed her,” Lone Wolf said grimly, motioning to the south. Vanessa looked back to see two men run around the church.

  “Go!” Lone Wolf snapped. He raced ahead, and Vanessa clung to the horse, praying Phoebe and Belva could keep up with them. They had given Phoebe the bay, and its legs stretched out as they raced along so that it pulled even with Lone Wolf on the paint.

  As they pounded over the ground, a shot rang out. Vanessa looked behind to see two soldiers galloping after them.

  “Vanessa!” Phoebe’s cry was lost on the wind, and Vanessa had a moment of panic. Lone Wolf turned, rifle in hand, and fired behind him. She didn’t look back, passing him and riding next to Phoebe. He fired, again and the soldiers fired and then Lone Wolf raced ahead to lead the way.

  Vanessa’s heart pounded, fear tearing at her, afraid a shot would hit one of them, knowing the soldiers would aim for Lone Wolf. Frightened that they hadn’t had enough lead to escape, she leaned over the horse.

  They pounded down a draw and around a grove of oaks. Then Lone Wolf reversed their path and rode into the trees, motioning to them to follow. With the horses’ sides heaving, they turned. Vanessa rode close to Phoebe, glancing at Belva, who was an experienced rider and more accustomed to horses and the outdoors than Phoebe.

  They entered a dense wood and waited. She shivered, gripped with fear, knowing Lone Wolf was in the greatest danger. She heard galloping horses racing toward them and she held her breath as soldiers rushed into view and raced on past them. As soon as they had gone, she glanced at Lone Wolf, expecting him to turn in the opposite direction. Instead he held up his hand indicating that they should wait.

  In another few minutes, half-a-dozen men galloped by and she saw her father on one of the horses. He was hatless, his blond hair blowing in the wind, a scowl on his face. She shivered, knowing that if they were caught the consequences would be terrible. Her gaze went to Lone Wolf, who sat watching the direction the men had ridden, his jaw set, his features impassive. He looked unafraid.

  As the sound of the pounding hooves faded, Lone Wolf jerked his head and rode forward, doubling back the way they had come. Uncertain about directions, Vanessa followed him as he wound through the trees along a clear stream. They rode into the shallow, swift-running water, heading upstream and turning west. Lone Wolf kept up a fast pace, and Vanessa became hopelessly lost, wondering how long before they would be able to join up with Muaahap and White Bird.

  Finally, along another clear stream with water rushing over smooth rocks, he reined and turned to face them. “We stop a moment.”

  Vanessa looked at Phoebe, who toppled forward. Lone Wolf vaulted from his horse and caught her before she touched the ground, easing her down. He yanked a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Vanessa, and she dashed to the stream to dampen the cloth. Cold water rushed over her hands as she wrung out the linen th
en went back to sponge Phoebe’s face.

  While they knelt over Phoebe, Belva dismounted to lead the horses to water. Phoebe’s eyes fluttered, and she looked from Lone Wolf to Vanessa.

  “Vanessa!” she gasped and reached for her sister. The two hugged as Phoebe sobbed.

  “Shh, Phoebe. We’re safe now.”

  “They’ll find us, Vanessa. I know they will. Papa is in a rage over your running away. He’s made dire threats, and this will make him angrier than ever.”

  “They won’t find us. They haven’t found me. Shh. Phoebe, this is Lone Wolf. Lone Wolf, may I present my sister Phoebe Sutherland?”

  “How do you do,” Phoebe said, gazing at him with curiosity in her eyes.

  “We need to ride again. We’re not in a safe place.”

  She nodded and started to get up. He reached down to take her arm and slid his hand around her waist, lifting her to her feet. “All right?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Her hair had come unpinned in the wild ride. It tumbled in a golden fall around her shoulders, and Lone Wolf studied her. She was a beautiful young woman, but Vanessa was wrong about her sister being the true beauty. There was an earthiness to Vanessa that he found more appealing, and her flaming hair was a special beauty that he would never forget.

  And he understood Vanessa’s fear for her sister, because Phoebe seemed as frightened and helpless as a small child.

  He moved toward the horses, and the younger sister turned to look at him. She was plainer than her older sisters with wide, blue eyes and a wide jaw, yet she seemed stronger and less fearful than Phoebe, more like Vanessa.

  “Belva, this is Lone Wolf. This is my sister, Belva Sutherland,” Vanessa said.

  “Thank you for helping get us away,” Belva said quietly. “Papa is so angry already. Now he’ll be in a terrible rage.”

  Lone Wolf smiled at her. “We need to mount and ride again, Belva. We’re too close to the church.”

  She mounted at once, swinging into the saddle with ease. He assisted Phoebe and hoped she wouldn’t faint again. He felt a twinge of impatience, knowing she couldn’t have cared for him as Vanessa had. He glanced at the youngest and guessed that Belva might be like Vanessa when she was older.

  Leading the way, he glanced over his shoulder. Vanessa was the last and he knew it was her doing, but he hated for her to be back where she might catch a bullet.

  He had been astounded at the shots which were fired at them, shocked that Sutherland hadn’t ordered the men to refrain from firing so that they wouldn’t strike one of his daughters.

  Lone Wolf urged his horse to a gallop again, wondering if Phoebe could keep up the pace, suspecting that Vanessa would see to it she did.

  They rode across rolling country covered in honey mesquite, cottonwoods, chokecherry, and junipers. They disturbed a herd of mule deer, the black tips of their tails showing as they bounded away. Red squirrels and jackrabbits were abundant, scattering as the horses raced past.

  By nightfall, Vanessa caught up with him. “Phoebe is about to faint again. Do you think the soldiers are following us?”

  “I don’t know. If they have a good tracker, they will. But he’ll have to be very good,” Lone Wolf said, and she thought about the long way they had traveled up a river until it deepened and they had had to turn out onto the bank.

  She reached over to squeeze his hand. “You got them away! We’re free!” Joy and excitement coursed through her. “I knew we could get them and escape!”

  “Don’t rejoice yet, Vanessa,” he warned her. “Your father isn’t going to just give up. They’ll continue searching, and he’ll put out word through the military all over the west.”

  Sobering, she nodded, knowing he was right. She glanced back over her shoulder, aware that soldiers could be on their trail right now.

  “We did get them away from the church.”

  “I won’t feel safe until we’re far north of Tucumcari.”

  They were several hundred miles from Tucumcari, so it meant the danger would be great for days. She drew a deep breath, feeling uneasy and glancing behind her again.

  “Where are Muaahap and White Bird? Shouldn’t we have joined them hours ago?” she asked, turning around to look at him, knowing tonight he would shed the coat and pants and go back to his buckskins. The white shirt made his skin look the color of teak, and she stared at him, thinking him the most handsome man she had ever known.

  “We’re not there yet,” he said, shaking his head. “Muaahap knows where to meet us.”

  “You didn’t tell me they were traveling far.”

  “I didn’t see any reason you should worry about it. We’ll be safe if we keep going.”

  “How did you know where to tell her to meet you?”

  He smiled. “You don’t remember being here?”

  She looked around at the mesquite, rocks, and grass without recognition. “Do you remember being here?”

  “Yes, I do. And there they are.”

  She looked ahead, and her heart leaped with pleasure as Muaahap stood up to greet them and White Bird came toddling toward them. “Mama! Mama!”

  “Mama!” Phoebe echoed, looking at Vanessa, who smiled. “She’s Lone Wolf’s niece. I’ll explain later.”

  They halted and Vanessa dismounted, catching White Bird up in her arms, hugging her as the thin little arms tightened around her neck. White Bird smelled like roses and Vanessa buried her face in the child’s hair, thankful they had made it back and she was with White Bird and Muaahap again.

  She set White Bird on her feet and glanced up to see Lone Wolf watching her and Phoebe staring at her, a frown furrowing her brow.

  Lone Wolf introduced Belva and Phoebe to Muaahap and White Bird. Vanessa was exhausted, and she supposed Phoebe was near to fainting again. They hadn’t stopped to eat all day, only chewing on pemmican as they rode.

  Since Lone Wolf wouldn’t permit a fire, they ate cold chunks of beef, potatoes, and wild plums, and finally Vanessa relaxed.

  Belva was enchanted with White Bird, and Vanessa saw that White Bird now would have two doting on her constantly. After supper, Vanessa and Phoebe sat close together on a quilt while Belva held White Bird on her lap and told her stories she couldn’t understand. Muaahap stretched out on hides near Belva, listening to her with an interest that rivaled White Bird’s. Lone Wolf sat across the camp and cleaned his rifle.

  “I couldn’t believe it at first when I looked over and saw you. I never expected you to be with a man,” Phoebe said, glancing shyly at Lone Wolf as he turned the rifle in his hands. “You left your buggy at the church and your horses.”

  “We expected to have to leave them. Lone Wolf bought the buckboard and the team with that in mind.”

  “Vanessa, Papa is livid that you ran away. He fired poor Mrs. Parsons and he’s had Sergeant Hollings demoted. He’s hired a Pinkerton man to search for you, and put out a military alert.”

  “I’ve been careful,” Vanessa replied.

  Phoebe’s gaze drifted to Lone Wolf. “What are you doing with him? Who is he?”

  “I found Lone Wolf near our wagon train. He had been wounded in battle and had White Bird with him. He had horses and I saw my chance to escape, so I took it.”

  “He’s Indian!”

  “He’s Kiowa. He speaks English because he was an army scout for two years.”

  “Aren’t you terrified of him?” Phoebe asked in a whisper.

  “He saved you, Phoebe!”

  “If Papa catches you with him, he will kill all three of them,” she said darkly. “He’s already offered a reward for you, and there’s no telling what he’ll do now.”

  “Phoebe, we’ll take you to a stage to go to California or you can ride with us back to Lone Wolf’s people.”

  “You’re going with him?” Phoebe asked, aghast, her blue eyes wide.

  “I don’t think he’ll let me get on the stage with you. Right now, he has agreed to take you to a stage station where you can head west.
If you want to go, do so before he changes his mind and takes you back to his people, too.”

  “You can run away from him!”

  “No, I can’t. Not if he doesn’t want to let me go. Phoebe, he was going to take me back to his people and leave you. He did this for me. I’ll cooperate with him now.”

  “No!” Phoebe cried out and then clamped her hand over her mouth as Lone Wolf glanced at them. “He’s a savage, Vanessa!”

  “Hardly,” Vanessa answered patiently. “Phoebe, Lone Wolf risked his life for you and Belva. Papa has offered a bounty for any dead Indians. That’s savage, Phoebe. Lone Wolf saved you today—don’t ever forget that.”

  “I won’t, but you have to come with Belva and me to California. You can’t go with him! It’s indecent, and you won’t be happy.”

  Vanessa looked at Belva and White Bird. The tiny girl sat on a hide while Belva sang a song and motioned with her hands.

  “I’m not certain that I want to go west any longer,” Vanessa said, looking at Lone Wolf. His head swung around, and she met his gaze. She spoke softly because she knew how keen his hearing was.

  “You want to stay?” Phoebe studied her. “Oh, Vanessa, are you in love with him?” she asked, stricken.

  “Yes, but he’s not in love with me. He was once married, and men who worked for our father killed his wife.”

  “Surely not!”

  “They did, Phoebe,” Vanessa answered calmly, glancing again at him, knowing she loved him more each day. Now that he had rescued Phoebe and Belva, she was overwhelmed with gratitude.

  “I’d think he’d hate us.”

  “No, but he hates Papa.”

  “I don’t want to stay out here with savages and renegades and soldiers. I don’t want to be where Papa and Major Thompkins can find me!”

  “Then I suggest we get you on a stage quickly before someone does find you or Lone Wolf decides he wants to take another captive back to his people.”

  Phoebe shivered and look around. “Who is the woman? His mother?”

  “No. She’s a Comanche we met along the way who lost her family. She loves White Bird very much and wanted to ride with us.”

  Phoebe nodded, looking again at Lone Wolf. “He’s very handsome, but he terrifies me. You don’t fear him?”