Love by Dawn (24 page)

Blue Thunder shook his head. “If it were not
for the kind lady who befriended Moon Glow when she stayed at the
fort, I would have not lived to see my wife or children.”

“How did you get free?” Casey asked.

“The lady passed me the key to cell, but I
had to promise not to kill any soldiers. She claimed there was
going to be party that night and she would see that a guard
received a bottle. The few braves that survived wanted to cut the
soldiers throat. I made them keep my word to the white woman. No
one noticed us slip away. When I returned to village, I learn of my
wife’s foolishness.” The big brave didn’t hide the fact that he was
still annoyed by his wife’s actions.

Casey listened with awe and understood her
friend’s terror as the tale ended. She could relate to everything
she heard; her own horror was no less than Moon Glow’s. Then Blake
told them about the raid on their neighbors by the Spaniards. This
time she was on the other end of a scowl and she knew that Blake
was recalling her involvement. Blue Thunder said he was not
surprised, but was pleased his friend Fire Arrow and his people
weren’t hurt or captured.

The men saw it necessary to excuse
themselves, leaving her and Moon Glow to do what women do best,
which Blake claimed was to gossip. And that’s exactly what they
did, they chattered away. Moon Glow did her chores as they talked
into the day, but Casey’s mind continued to drift to Blake. She was
worried about her predicament and was unsure of what to do. She had
missed her monthly flow the past two months and soon she would
show, unable to hide her secret any longer. Loving Blake was not
enough, but he had yet to tell her his true feelings.

Not wanting him to feel obligated to marry
her because she was carrying his child, her head was reeling with
indecision. Oh, he lusted for her and cared but what would he think
if he knew she was with child? Was he the kind to settle down? He
had been a drifter for so long; would he change his life style to
raise a family? She knew so much about his body, but not a thing
about his mind.

Moon Glow heard her sigh heavily. “What
troubles you, my friend?”

Casey shrugged, “It’s nothing.” But she
couldn’t hide the falsehood that crept into her voice. Moon Glow
must have heard it and raised her brows in question.

“If you need to talk, I’m here for you, day
and night, but I’ll not pry. She giggled, “But, my woman’s
intuition tells me that your problem has a name. Blake.” She
touched her shoulder and they exchanged knowing smiles and Moon
Glow left her to her private thoughts.

Casey bit her bottom lip and scolded
herself.

Why didn’t you say something, you mutton
head?

TWENTY-NINE

Casey sat on a boulder watching the deep
blue canopy turn into flaming orange as the sun set. Silver birds
dotted the horizon and the weather was warming as spring promised
to show its full face any day. The earth was happy, times were
peaceful and she wished her spirits were in tune with nature.
Sighing, she placed her hand over her rumbling tummy. Her stomach
protested its emptiness; solid foods refused to stay down these
past few days. She had found peace living with the Indians, but her
contentment was not complete. Still, she fretted as to what to do
about the tiny soul growing in her belly.

Blake had been gone for a week now. He
insisted on riding to the nearest trading post by himself to wire
his parents that he had fulfilled his debt and had been living with
his friends, the White Mountain Apaches. She would have liked to
have gone but he refused her company, claiming he’d get there
faster alone. Casey had snorted unladylike recalling how he patted
her cheek and kissed the top of her head, as if she were a mere
child. She could ride as good as any man, which she would have been
happy to prove. She didn’t argue because of her condition, but any
other time she wouldn’t have stood still for such treatment.

Before Blake journeyed to the post, the
Apaches left the mountains, where their camp had been located for
warmth of the sunrays. They had burned their wickiups and she
noticed many of the women appeared sad. For the summer months, they
had set up camp near the water among stunted trees to shelter them
from the scorching sun. She and the clan had subsisted on berries,
nuts, the fruit of various trees, mesquite beans and acorns, of
which she was fond of.

“May I join you?” Star Gazer’s sober voice
drifted over her shoulder and Casey jumped out of her daydreams.
She nodded without looking up at her friend.

“I have been watching you. Something lies
heavy in your heart, Little One.” She knew it was a statement not a
question. He watched her face to find truth in his remark, but she
schooled her features to remain passive. She was happy Star Gazer
still called her his friend and that he admitted his love for her
changed since his fight with Blake. He also had to admit he was
taken in by her pale beauty and he thought she would have filled
the hole in his heart, the part of him that still longed for his
dead love, Weeping Bird.

Casey didn’t answer the young brave, but
continued to gaze into the sky. If she couldn’t tell her friend,
Moon Glow, about the baby, she certainly couldn’t confide in Star
Gazer, a male.

“Little One, you know Star Gazer is friend.
You are like sister to me.” He pointed to his broad chest. “The
gods have opened my eyes to truth. You can tell me what troubles
your heart.”

She turned. He was so handsome and wondered
why he didn’t have a mate. She decided to change the subject to
him. “Tell me, Star Gazer, why aren’t you married? You’re very
handsome and strong. If it weren’t for my love for Blake, I might
have…”

She mashed her lips together knowing where
her thoughts were leading and what she had almost said. Lowering
her eyes, she had to admit she did love him very much, as much as
anyone could love a friend.

Taking her hand, he said, “I had a great
love for only a short time. Weeping Bird was a great warrior, even
though a maiden, she was greater than some braves. She was almost
as tall as this Apache,” he pointed to his chest “and sometimes she
even out ran me.” The brave stood and picked up a pebble, skipping
it across the small watering hole. “I wish I could toss sadness
away as easily as stone. I never talked about Weeping Bird to
anyone, but maybe talking about her might lesson pain.”

He sighed sadly. “She always insisted on
playing games with young men of the tribe. My brother, Blue Thunder
made sure she was included. All the braves balked at her playing.”
He knitted his thick black brows and grunted. “Braves were jealous
because she could out run and shoot an arrow better than most and
was very brave. She hunted and went on small raids with us many
times. We were out scouting for those white eyes who had murdered
many children, men and woman in a neighboring village,” his voice
filled with remorse.

“Yes, I know the story, go on,” she
insisted.

“I did not want her to go. She demanded,
claiming she could not live if I were killed.”

Star Gazer dropped her hand and sighed
painfully. Shaking his head sadly, he continued. “She was shot by a
soldier with a bullet meant for me.” He sat once again on the
bolder beside her.

“Oh, no,” Casey sobbed, trying to hold back
tears, but they escaped anyway. She then squeezed the Indian’s hand
affectionately. “How awful for you,” she said seeing pain harden
his handsome features; love coupled with sadness skated through his
eyes. She knew the agony of losing a loved one. All of her own
emotions spilled out and she couldn’t stop herself from throwing
her arms around his neck, giving him an understanding and
comforting hug.

***

Blake was tired, hungry and in a foul mood
by the time he returned to the village. He had spent most of his
days and nights riding hard, wanting to return as quickly as
possible. He missed Casey the moment he rode away four days ago.
Spending only a half a day at the trading post to rest, he bathed
in the nearby stream and waited for the answer to his telegram; the
reply he received was not what was expected. His father had died
last month and his mother, all alone, was ailing; he had no choice
but to return home as soon as possible.

He dismounted from a very sweaty horse that
was just as weary as the rider. Checkers was a good friend, never
letting his master down, but he snorted a complaint in protest of
the long and hard ride. Asking for forgiveness, he patted the
palomino’s nose. Checkers whinnied, shaking his head, not ready to
forgive. But then Blake asked a young Indian boy to give his steed
a good rubdown and some nourishment. The animal nudged his master
playfully and he knew he was forgiven.

Blue Thunder sat outside of
his wickiup stringing a bow. He nodded at Blake as he approached.
“
Hon Dah,
how was
trip?”

He removed his damp hat and wiped the sweat
from his brow with a soiled bandanna. “Got bad news about my
father, he’s dead.”

The big brave shook his head sadly. “My heart
saddened for friend. You will be leaving us?”

It was definitely a question and Blake nodded
and popped his hat back on his head. He needed a bath, he thought,
as his eyes searched the camp for Casey. Not seeing her around, he
figured she was inside their dwelling. Wanting to clean up before
searching her out, he turned and went to look for her. Still not in
the best of moods, he hurried with thoughts of a refreshing swim
and Casey’s waiting arms.

But, when Blake came upon Casey, her arms
were around someone else. Seeing the cozy couple embracing, he
faltered, shocked at the unbelievable sight and his body filled
with raging anger. There was no mistaking that golden head and his
friend, Star Gazer.

“So this is what goes on behind my back! That
Indian didn’t learn his lesson from the last fight.” Blake spat his
words into the dirt, angered beyond reasoning. Did Casey play him
for a fool? Was she still bitter about my taking her brother to the
fort for trial?

Now that was a stupid
notion!
Scoffed that little voice in his
head.
Of course it was. He knew it
was.
But the green-eyed monster left him
without any rational senses he clenched his fists itching to hit
something. His insides churned like a power keg with a short fuse.
He was ready to explode, not caring to hear any explanations. What
was there to explain, he saw it all with his own eyes.

He hissed behind the unsuspecting pair. “So,
I see I wasn’t missed! Didn’t expect me back so soon?!” he ranted,
uncaring that he was being unreasonable.

“Blake?” Casey separated from Star Gazer and
leapt to her feet. Blake was back and she was elated and so excited
she didn’t hear the sarcasm in his voice. She stepped forward, arms
outstretched, but paled on seeing heated sparks fly from his eyes.
His face twisting in anger didn’t make any sense. Confused, she
lowered her arms. Without an inkling of warning, she gasped when
Blake grabbed her Indian friend and knocked him off his feet.

“Blake?!” she shrieked. “What the hell is
wrong with you?” Good golly! His odd behavior frightened her so
that her knees knocked together making her whole body tremble.
Twisting her hands, she swallowed nervously waiting for him to
explain himself for acting so strange. Strange? No, a horse’s
behind was more fitting. Her eyes searched his icy stare for some
understanding to this ridiculous conduct, but none came. He turned
on his heel and left without a word. She started to run after
Blake, but thought better of it. She was becoming angry herself,
but still didn’t know what to make of the situation. How dare he?!
She went to Star Gazer, who was pushing himself up from the ground.
He shook his head in total bewilderment. His lip was bleeding and
she touched his tender mouth with her finger. Tears fell freely,
confusion filled her mind. She winced, feeling his pain, seeing his
lip begin to swell.

“I’m sorry, Star Gazer. I don’t know what got
into him.”

Star Gazer spat out a stream of red liquid.
“Your Blake has short temper and his head is full of rocks.” The
brave ran his fingers over his teeth to assure himself that they
weren’t loose, and grunted. “He no deserves you. He believes we are
lovers when seeing us embrace.”

Casey screwed up her face. “Why that
son-of-a-bitch! What nerve!” Her chest heaved, now she was
incensed. “He cares so little for me, he can’t trust me. Well, I’ll
be damned if I tell him the truth. Let that mule-headed cowboy
think the worst, I’ll not marry him no matter what!” she snapped,
placing her hands on her hips and stamping her foot in the dirt.
“Baby or no bab...” Quickly her knuckles went into her mouth to
stop her slip of her tongue. Too late she realized what her
unchecked mouth had said.

Star Gazer looked seriously at her. “So that
makes you walk around with thoughts far away.”

“Oh, Star Gazer,” she placed her hand on his
arm and begged, “Please, you must give me your word you won’t say
anything.” Her lower lip trembled and her stomach knotted.

The concerned brave sat her down onto the
boulder. He sighed, “You must tell Blake truth. It no good to say
nothing, he father of child.”

“No!” she yelled, a little too harshly. Then
she placed her hand over her stomach as if she could protect it
from all worldly harm. “I won’t tell him, especially now. I don’t
want a husband who has so little faith and trust in me. Oh… that
insufferable beast!” she hissed.

“I feel you are wrong, but not my right to
interfere. I gave my word to keep secret,” he promised her and
walked her back to camp. She knew Blake wouldn’t be in the wickiup
when she entered. Blue Thunder told her that he had galloped out on
Checkers, as if the evil spirit was after him. She was glad because
she would have ordered him to leave anyway, not wanting to confront
him when he returned. Sadly, she asked Laughing Trees if she could
sleep in her hut that night. Surely he’d return with more heated
words and wrong conclusions.