Love by Dawn (13 page)

“Father, you have a visitor.”

Dasodaha mumbled something and then with
squinting eyes waved Blake to come forward. “Come, my eyes are not
those of a young man and I want to see who visits this old
Indian.”

Blake knew Dasodaha was no older than fifty,
but he looked and acted like a man of eighty. It saddened him for
he remembered the clan’s leader as a young and vital man.

“Father,” said Blue Thunder, you remember
Blake.”

“Blake?”

Dasodaha coughed painfully for a moment and
Blake knew he was ill. What sickness could have aged and thinned
him so? He sat and took the chief’s wrinkled, cold hand. It shook
so that he had to draw a deep breath before he spoke. “How’s my old
friend?” he asked. It took a minute before he saw a warm light
flicker in Dasodaha’s eyes.

“Blake is that you?” His voice was but a
raspy whisper.

Recalling a little of their Athabscan tongue,
he answered, “Yes, you old polecat.” Blake sat not waiting for the
invite knowing that the old chief would try and stand. They hugged
and he noticed Moon Glow leave and her husband retreat to a dark
corner of the wickiup.

“Blake, my friend, you are a sight for this
man’s bad eyes.” He brushed a small tear that clung to an eyelash.
“Why did you take so long to come back to visit?” he inquired, his
voice filled with emotion. “You have grown into a fine man. I still
thank the gods that you were nearby to save my son, Star Gazer’s
life. We have many moons to catch up on.”

Although it had only been a short time,
Blake was ashamed that he never made time to come back, but the war
had taken up almost a year of his life. He owed Dasodaha a lot, as
the chief treated him like a son, the months he had lived with
these White Mountain Apaches. He wanted to get right to the matter,
but he knew he owed the chief the curtsey of a visit first. They
talked until Dasodaha’s strength started to falter. It was then he
finally told the chief the reason he came.

“Is she your woman?” Dasodaha asked with
sadness in his dim eyes.

“If I had my way, yes.” This wasn’t exactly
what he had planned to say. His answer even surprised him.

Dasodaha shook his head sadly. “This is not
good. Star Gazer claims her. He said he wants to bring her to his
mat if she will have him. My heart is heavy for there will be
trouble between blood brothers. Before sun rose this day I sent him
to neighboring village to speak with chief on problems among us,
but he should return soon.” The old chief shook his head again. “I
not want to see son and the man I love like a son fight over a mere
white woman. Once again, white eyes will bring trouble to our
village. You know I almost lost Blue Thunder because of Moon
Glow.”

He sighed, “My son would have left tribe if
he was not permitted to marry her. Times have changed, laws are
different and she has proven to be a great white healer.”

Blake’s heart was heavy hearing Dasodaha’s
words. He prayed that he could reason with Star Gazer when the
young brave returned. If he could convince his friend that Casey
was all ready his woman, his friend would release his claim to her.
A terrible thought made him shiver, she might prefer the Indian. He
remembered it hadn’t taken his cousin long to fall in love with her
captor, Blue Thunder.

Star Gazer was a younger
image of his brother and Blake was sure the brave had grown into a
handsome mature warrior. These thoughts made him sweat, not too
sure of himself any- more.
He had to do
something before the brave returned,
he
took the notion to heart but he also wondered if he
could win her love. He prayed his cousin would
help him with the plan he was forming in his mind.

***

Casey was not disappointed that Blake was in
conference with Dasodaha. She decided to keep out of sight and
retreated to the wickiup she and Hunter built after their short
stay with Moon Glow and Blue Thunder. It was very uncomfortable
living with them, watching two people so much in love, yet trying
their best to keep their hands off one another. She did envy the
woman because her husband loved her very much.

Would she ever find such a love? Her mind
always drifted to the handsome cowboy. Sometimes her face felt hot
from her own forbidden thoughts of him. How would it feel to have
him make love to her and the feel of his hands on her body? The
very idea caused her to tingle low in her belly, a rare and strange
experience that confused and delighted her at the same time.

With her mind far away, she didn’t hear
Hunter come into the lodge and jumped at the sound of his voice.
Mortified to be caught daydreaming about something no decent girl
should be thinking about, she hid her warm face from him as he
spoke.

For goodness sake, it was one thing to
dream, another quite embarrassing to recall in the light of
day.

“Blue Thunder and I are going hunting. We
won’t be back for a few days. I just spoke with Blake and he
assured me that he had no intentions in taking me back. Sis?”

“Oh err, yes….” She frowned to clear her
foggy head and embarrassment.

“He’s visiting with his cousin now and will
spend the evening. I’m sure they are talking about family so you
can relax. I think you’re the farthest thing from his mind right
now. He said he’ll talk to you in the morning.” Hunter leaned over
and kissed her cheek. “See you in a few days.”

Casey nodded. What did he
say?
Was it
something about hunting and Blake talking to me in the
morning?
Humph! She had the feeling she
wasn’t going to get off as easily as Hunter had. Now she wasn’t
sure if she was happy or disappointed in not seeing him
sooner.

No, she felt shunned.

Fickle girl!

SIXTEEN

“You want me to do what?!” gasped Moon Glow.
The look she gave her cousin should have fried him on the spot. She
shook her head. “I won’t be a part of your scheme. If Star Gazer
knew I helped you, I could never look him in the eye again.”
Wringing her hands, she paced, still shaking her head, adamantly.
She stopped momentarily and shuddered, “And what about Blue
Thunder? No! You don’t know his awful temper. I....”

Blake grabbed her tenderly by her shoulders.
“If you don’t help me win Casey’s heart tonight, Star Gazer will
challenge me and you know I rather not fight a good friend. If I
beat him, that is if I do win the fight, he will be shamed in his
people’s eyes. I know the pride these Indians have. Save face and
all. And if he beats me…well, in either case, there’ll be no
winners.”

She winced but Blake spoke the truth and he
knew it. She had told him that all Blue Thunder grumbled about was
saving face among his people when he captured her and she fought
him every step of the way.

“Heaven help me cuz if you do not succeed. I
do not feel right about this, but I will help you in your asinine
scheme. If anything goes awry, I will claim innocence.”

Blake prayed he could pull this off. He hoped
the war paint and headdress were enough to disguise his hair color
and features. He didn’t like doing this to her, but he didn’t like
the thought of fighting Star Gazer any better. He had to get her
away from here and he didn’t feel very good about this either. He
did have a great deal of self-castigating to do, however… all’s
fair in love and war.

Casey was half-asleep when she heard the
stirring outside the wickiup. Without warning, the flap quickly and
noisily opened and she jumped, her heart slamming against her
breast. She gripped her fur blanket for protection and tried to
focus her eyes in the dim light. A man loomed like a giant in the
opening; no one ever entered a dwelling unannounced. Were they
being attacked? He came forward. She could barely see but knew he
was an Indian. He wore a full headdress and his face was painted in
a rainbow of vivid colors. His chest was broad, bare, tanned and
glistening in the small fire; she lost her breath, but not from
fright. The muscles in his upper arms bulged and copper bands
adorned his wrists.

Although she tried hard not to look at the
rest of him, her blinking eyes went down his long muscular legs. He
wore a loin clout, revealing naked hips. Chewing her bottom lip,
she tried to control her nervousness. Never noticing him in this
camp before, she wondered who this brave was? She opened her mouth
to scream, but swallowed the sound as the brave came closer, not
wishing to put anyone else in danger. Cold sweat filled her body.
Were they being captured by a savage tribe? There were bloodthirsty
natives who killed their own kind without blinking an eye. Raising
her chin a notch she bravely looked into the intruder’s eyes. What
she saw made her falter. This magnificent specimen of a man was
clearly looking at her with lust; she had seen that look once
before. Swallowing, she mustered up some courage to ask in a shaky
voice, “Who, who are you? What do you want?”

The intruder stayed in the shadows, and moved
to the far end of the lodge. “Do not fear me,” he said in a
controlled, deep voice. “I am War Horse.”

Casey eyed him suspiciously, he spoke broken
English, but the voice sounded familiar.

“War Horse take Bright Star to mat!” His low
voice came out blunt, but a little awkward.

“What?!” She nearly choked on her own saliva
at her outburst and was barely able to control her gasp of
surprise. Oh, she knew what he meant, the insinuation brought an
instant blush, shock, and anger. When a brave mates with a maiden,
they are now married. But as angered and mortified as Casey was, a
little voice in her head warned her that something was odd.

Very, very odd. Why did
the
sharpness of his voice remind her of
someone
?
What was
he saying? He called her Bright Star. Apparently, he’s in the wrong
hut.

“Look, you have the wrong---”

“Quiet!”

Too enraged to ponder over it, she stiffened
her spine, and spat, “What nerve! Who the hell are you to come in
here and threaten me?” So incensed at the personal intrusion, she
let her hands drop away and she loosened her grip on the fur
blanket. Casey had forgotten some of her fear and that she was nude
under the blanket. Too late she learned of her mistake upon hearing
the brave’s sharp breath. She gasped and then quickly retrieved the
blanket. Helpless to halt her humiliation, she feared that she was
blushing down to her toes and she was certain her flush deepened to
crimson.

She wanted desperately to bolt from the
dwelling but her limbs wouldn’t obey her frantic command, so she
did the next best thing, she bravely gave the Indian an alternative
way out before he found himself in trouble, “I want you to leave
immediately or I’ll scream,” she spat.

“It will not do you any good because I gave
Dasodaha five of my best ponies for you. You are now mine. I have
seen you by the stream many times, Bright Star. I am of another
Apache clan and my village is a day’s ride from here.”

The Indian’s voice came out raspy and she
knew the sight of her bare breasts got his attention more than she
wanted. Casey couldn’t believe her ears; this whole situation was
too confusing. Why would this stranger buy her and what right did
Dasodaha have to sell her? She was white, not an Indian maiden. Her
mind was in such turmoil that she couldn’t conjure up a clear
thought and she didn’t know what to do. Hunter and Blue Thunder
were not here to help her. Besides, she was having strange
sensations in the pit of her stomach with this half-naked male
overwhelming her small dwelling, and her in an undressed state.
Clutching the blanket closer, she decided to tell him a lie. Maybe
if she weren’t pure he’d change his mind and go away. It was worth
a try.

Holding her head up proudly, she said,
“Look, I am not Bright Star. I’m a captured white woman and I’m not
a virgin. I have been taken by many braves.” She waited nervous
seconds, hoping he would be disgusted and leave, but all she heard
in the shadow was a deep sucking of his breath. Had she surprised
him with her bluntness? Good! Apparently, the brave was so taken
back by her comment that he remained speechless for many scary
second. Then she heard him take a deep breath, unable to keep the
bitterness out of his tone, he bellowed, “You insult a chief’s son!
Woman who speak with a sharp tongue suffer. Insult me again and I
will return with a strong stick. Stop lying Bright Star. I was told
you sleep in this wickiup!”

Casey gasped. What had she done? And who
would tell him such a lie? And who was Bight Star? Something was
really off, but she trembled seeing him come closer and her blood
boiled with fear and apprehension. His nearness was causing her
insides to turn to mush. The only other man who had done things to
her senses was Blake.

Blake?
It hit her like a thunder bolt. That voice, those blue
eyes.
Blue?
Why
that son-of-a- bitch! No, she would control her temper. Why was he
playing this game? Was he trying to get even with her for breaking
Hunter out of jail? Did he lie to everyone and was he still
planning on bringing her brother back? She didn’t trust him as far
as she could spit. And spitting was not all she wanted to do. She
eyed the cooking pot on the floor and itched to smash his handsome
head with it. That low down polecat! Casey was so mad that red
spots appeared before her eyes but she forced herself to stay calm
so as to beat him at his own game.

Never having seduced a man before, she
wondered how hard it could be. It was probably like stroking a male
cat until it purred. She bit back a smile. Blake would be purring
before he knew what hit him. She meant that literally. So, he
wanted to play dirty! Well, so could she! If she could render him
unconscious, she and Hunter might have a chance to escape again.
Maybe she could get Moon Glow to help in detaining him until her
brother returned and they fled. She had discovered that she was a
pretty good actress, play acting with the young jailer.