Passion's Series (20 page)

James felt himself sway as fear slammed into him. He jerked DuPrey's arm  up high behind him and pulled. He felt DuPrey's shoulder slipping and heard his screams through the roar of anger in his own head.

It took three blows to James' mid-section to make him break his hold. He doubled over and fell to his knees.

Captain Ingram knelt down beside him. "Sorry, but I had to do that." James didn't think he sounded sorry.

"Orders are to take him back alive." The Captain ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I don't know who he killed that was so important to you, but I am truly sorry about your loss. We need to be moving on now. Governor Glen will be wanting to take your report as soon as we get there."

James half heard what the Captain said, as he searched for the emptiness in his soul that would be there if New Moon was dead. She couldn't be gone. He'd feel it if she were.

James looked up at DuPrey. Only one bugged eye was visible, the right one being covered. The swelling and bruising could be seen around the edges of the patch.

Whoever put his eye out did a good job of it, but it wasn't New Moon ...it couldn't be New Moon.

DuPrey laughed again as the British soldiers pulled him toward a horse. James stood unsteadily to his feet. "I'll not be going back with you, Captain. Tell Glenn anything you like about the capture, my days of glory are over as far as England is concerned."

Beau placed a hand on James' shoulder, "I'll go back with you."

"No, Beau, that’s not necessary. You just make sure that bastard pays."

"That's a promise, colonel."

Captain Ingram and the others watched as James and Blue Feathers disappeared back into the forest.

***

A journey of two and a half days out took only one day and night to return. New Moon ran through the gate and into James' arms with such force that she staggered him. Blue Feathers did not wait but discreetly passed through the gate and entered the village.

"Panther," New Moon sobbed. "You must find her, she is so weak. She can not last much longer."

"Who, Wa-sa? Who?" James felt his own relief becoming covered over by her near panic. He shook her hard, "Who, Wa-sa, tell me...Who!"

"Ooh, Panther…she is so tiny, so very tiny, we must hurry!"

James shook her again, "For God's sake who, Wa-sa?" She struggled with him and he slapped her. The sound of his hand against her soft cheek made him feel sick.

Her struggles stopped. Her eyes clouded as she glared past James to a place he couldn't go.

"Wa-sa!" He ground through gritted teeth. "What's happening?"

New Moon spoke as if in a trance, "She is calling to me, Panther. Her voice is so soft, she is weak." "Who, Wa-sa?" James spoke softly.

“Sparrow,” she whispered and then sobbed.

James held her chin between his fingers and forced her to look at him. "Wa-sa, was DuPrey here?"

New Moon shifted her gaze to his eyes. "Yes. The man is evil, Panther. He came here to do evil and he did it. Why did I not see it sooner? If only I had seen it, I could have stopped it."

"Stop it Wa-sa! We do not have time for this now. You must tell me everything. Where did he go while he was in the village? When was the last time you saw Sparrow?"

"She was helping me with the tanning and then DuPrey came over. We sat down beneath the old oak and he helped me shuck corn while we talked. I did not see Sparrow after that."

James took hold of her hand and drew her into the village. "Did anyone see Sparrow with DuPrey?" he asked.

"No, I was the last one to see her."

James heard the tremor in her voice and knew she was close to loosing control again. "Everyone is looking in the wrong place. Come with me, Wa-sa. We will find her."

James hurried to the visitor's lodge. New Moon asked  him no questions as she raced along  beside him. Nothing looked out of place. There were no signs of struggle. James and New Moon stepped out of the lodge and made their way around to the back. There the signs jumped out at them even after almost four days. The loosened soil, broken twigs and a bloody hand print on the wall.

It was easy to follow the trail through the broken cornstalks and then the bent cane against the wall leading to the stream. James anguished as he moved swiftly. Why had this trail been over looked before?

As he slid down the bank to the water he called out to New Moon, "Go back and get a rope and skins. I am going under the wall and pick up the trail on the other side." Turning he slipped into the water and disappeared.

Holding his breath James swam down and under the barricade, and then surfaced on the other side. He saw the rail without difficulty. Moving close to the wall he looked up, it was easy to see how DuPrey had managed to creep several yards along the wall and then wait until the guard looked away to make a dash across the short distance to the rocky slop. No trail would show on the jagged rocks so James followed the most likely route upward.

A faint noise reached his ears. It sounded like the mewling of a kitten. There…again. It was straight ahead. He pulled himself up to the edge and looked over.

There on a narrow ledge about ten feet below him was Sparrow. She lay on her stomach; her arms stretched inward toward the mountain wall. He couldn't see her hands past the over hang.

"Sparrow, can you hear me, little one?"

Sparrow weakly raised her head and then let it drop again.

James took in a deep breath and let out a series of whoops to direct New Moon to his location. Pulling himself up onto the ledge he twisted around and slipped his feet over edge. "Stay very still, Sparrow. I'm coming down."

Waiting only a few moments to offer up a quick prayer, he turned loose and dropped down. His toes touched rock and then slipped over. He fell hard, gripping the rocky ledge.

Sparrow turned her head and rested her other cheek against the cool stone. "Please, Panther," she whispered weakly, "don't fall."

James wedged his toe into a tiny craves and hoisted himself up. "I'm not done for yet, little lass," he said with a smile.

Sparrow gave a tiny grin. He knew it didn't matter to her that he had spoken in English and she did not understand. She clearly understood he was here now and she was going to be taken home at last.

James made a quick examination for broken bones and then gathered her into his arms. Her body was much too cold.

He scooted back so he could prop his back against the stone. The low overhang offered only slight protection from the cold breeze of early evening. To one side there was a narrow stream of water trickling from between the stone. That source of water was what had probably kept her alive.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her and tucked her head under his chin. Reaching for his grain pouch tied about his waist, he withdrew a small amount of cornflower. "Here, little one. Eat."

Sparrow touched her tongue to the grain.

"At least you follow direction better than your aunt," he teased her and then placed a kiss to the top of her head.

-

Her hand went out for the grain pouch and James took her by the wrist and tucked her hand back between their bodies.” You don't want to take too much at once, lass. Here, lets have a wee drink and then cuddle down tight to my chest. That's a good girl."

"Panther?"

"We're down here, Wa-sa. Sparrow is fine. It's getting too dark to take her out now." James called back. "Did you bring any hides?"

"Yes, I have them."

"Good. Tie them to a rope and  lower them over the side."

Before long he saw the large bundle slowly dropping down. He shifted Sparrow in his lap and reached out for the furs. Quickly untying them he called to New Moon, "Did you save any for yourself, Wa-sa?"

"Yes. Can we not bring her up now? I am strong enough to pull her up."

"I know you are, Wa-sa, but there is not enough room up there for the three of  us and it is too dark to travel down the mountain. Wrap yourself up and wait till sun up. I promise you Sparrow is fine." He heard no more from New Moon and set about wrapping himself and Sparrow in the skin she had sent down.

Sparrow nuzzled beneath his chin. "Is New Moon afraid of the dark?"

"I don't think so. Were you afraid out here all by yourself?" "I was very much afraid. I'm not afraid now." "Good." James stroked her head.

"My mother sings to me at night. It keeps the bad dreams away."

"I do not know any of your songs, but I could sing a song that my mother used to sing to me. Would you like for me to sing it for you?"

"Will it keep the bad dreams away?"

"It always kept them away from me."

In the clear cold darkness of the night New Moon heard Panther's voice softly floating up from the ledge below. She let her gaze slip to the sky. The stars twinkled in their bed of black and her heart rested as her spirit floated, carried along by the sweet, tender voice of her beloved.

Chapter Twenty-five

New Moon cuddled beneath the heavy robes, her eyes closed in slumber.

Slowly she came awake, in small degrees of awareness. Though it had been five months since her warrior captured her, their time together seemed to stand still. After the rescue of Sparrow, New Moon and Panther shared precious time at peace.

Now a new pleasure swept through her. She felt the stirring of the tiny life within her and slipped a hand to gently massage her growing belly. A contented smile spread across her lips as she breathed deeply of the scent of burning hickory.

She heard the soothing crackle of the fire her warrior had built and knew that, even though it was still dark outside, the interior of their summer lodge would be alight in the soft illumination put out by the gentle dancing flames.

Her eyes still closed; she contentedly stretched beneath the warm robe as her hand slid across the furs, drawn by the warmth where her warrior's body heat still lingered.

She slowly opened her eyes as she squirmed her way over to lie where he had lain. Nuzzling her nose into the skins she breathed deeply of his scent. He was spoiling her by letting her sleep longer and longer into the morning. The eastern sky would soon begin to lighten; she would have to hurry to get to water before Grandmother Sun began her journey across the sky.

Reluctantly she pushed herself up and tossed the heavy robes aside. She shivered as the cold air touched her warm skin.

"Grandmother Sun will rise whether you are there to welcome her or not," Red Panther said from the doorway.

New Moon's eyes rose up to meet his and a warm thrill raced through her body. Red Panther, her white warrior, stood in the doorway, the light of the fire casting him in flickering light and dancing shadows.

Her warrior was even more magnificent than when he first arrived at their village. His body darker, his muscles more defined and his senses keenly attuned to nature, he had truly become a warrior and protector of the Principal People.

The small fire reflected off the deep rich color of his auburn hair, which fell over each shoulder to rest upon the bulging strength of his chest. Her smile deepened and her heart warmed even more as her eyes, led by the dancing fire light, were drawn to travel over the body she now knew so well.

"Yes," she finally responded. "But I have so much to be thankful for." Her black eyes traveled upward again to meet and lock with his of blue that were now dark and smoldering with the need her appraisal had evoked.

Her own eyes danced with mischief. "I must go and offer…Oh..." her hand flew to her belly and Red Panther rushed to her side.

He dropped to his knees and pushed her hand aside as he laid his cheek to her belly and chuckled with pleasure. He tilted his head so he could look up into her eyes, his cheek still firmly pressed to her belly, "My little warrior is awake."

He turned his face and placed a gentle kiss to the lopsided, shifting mound. "That kiss was for our little warrior," he said affectionately as he gently slipped her down beneath the furs and stretched out beside her. Pulling her up close against his warm chest he added huskily, "And this one is for his mother."

New Moon laughed at the teasing twinkle in his eyes as he offered up her lips to his. She would forever thrive in the sweet intimacy they shared. It far surpassed even the strong physical passion that passed between them.

As long as they had this, this special knowledge of one another, this longing and need to hold and be held, she knew the joys they were to share as well as the pain that lay ahead of them would only strengthen the bond that held them together.

Red Panther brushed his lips softly across hers then drew back, but not before her tongue darted out to trace the curve of the lower side of his upper lip. A moan escaped from one or the other, or maybe both, as his mouth came down hard on hers.

The kiss deepened and he turned her toward him, settling her more comfortably and exposing the hollow of her back and the tempting roundness of her bottom to his caressing hands.

He ran his palm over the small of her back, over her hips and down along a shapely thigh. As he lowered his lips to a swelling breast he placed a hand to the back of her leg and pulled it up to hug his waist.

New Moon wound her fingers in his hair and strained to push herself closer. She basked in his ability to set her soul afire. It seemed such a long time ago that it actually angered her that he could have such control over her body.

Now she gloried in that ability of his, at times even begged for it, but now was not the time. She put her hands firmly to each of his cheeks and pulled him from her breast so she could look into his sheepishly grinning face.

"You are keeping me from water," she said with more calm than she felt. "We must go to meet Grandmother Sun."

Red Panther slapped her playfully on her backside bringing a startled yelp from her. "Then get your lazy backside up, squaw, and quit tempting me with all these ripe curves."

New Moon pushed up to her knees and rubbed both hands along her belly that was just now beginning to show her condition, as she pouted coquettishly. "You make fun of me because I am fat," she said with mock timidity and peeked at him from beneath lowered lashes.

He made himself more comfortable as he put both hands behind his head and let his eyes make a thorough inspection of her ripening body and heavy breasts. "Aye, you are fat," he answered in a strangely husky voice.

His hands shot out and took  hold of her shoulders and pulled her toward him. With his lips close to hers he whispered, "Just don't ye be forgettin' it was me that put that small bairn in your belly." And then his lips found hers again, not in heated passion, but in sweet promise.

"Now you may go to water, but if you're not back before I am I'll come looking for you," he warned with a grin on his face.

New Moon looked over her shoulder toward the doorway and realized the sky was already beginning to lighten.

"Ohh...its late, let me go, Panther," she begged as she pulled against his hold.

James turned her loose and watched her hurriedly slip into a heavy buffalo robe, which just happened to be his since it lay closest to her snatching fingers, and run from the lodge.

Taking out just enough time to dump some oats and acorns into a bowl of water he too hurried from the lodge and then headed for the village gate. He didn't want to welcome the sun this morning with the other warriors. He had much to be thankful for, but felt a need to be alone in his thanksgiving.

His commission to the crown was ended. Now he wanted nothing more than to live in Chota Town with New Moon and their children. The occasional business trips required of him into Charles Town to meet with Galfin and  then to the trading post were as much interaction with the whites as he cared for.

Here he was no longer, James Fitzgerald, distinguished gentleman, physician and wealthy merchant. Here he was Red Panther, Cherokee warrior, and that suited his temperament more favorably.

Coming to the large boulders that sheltered the place where he and New Moon had shared their wedding day he slipped through. As he ran toward the water he tossed his scant clothing aside and dove in. The sun broke above the surface just as he emerged, his arms held high in greeting.

Panther lowered his arms. "New Moon?" he called softly, aware she stood nearby in the water by the cane.

He turned and faced his wife. "Haven't I told you never to come here alone?"

"But I am not alone, husband. You are here."

"You did not tell me you were coming here, Wa-sa."

She unconsciously squared her shoulders, "You did not ask."

Panther made his way toward her and her shoulders dropped a fraction. When he reached her he took her shoulders in his powerful hands and jerked her roughly up to his chest.

"How did you know that I was here?" she asked as her warrior pride flared and her chin rose defiantly.

"I always know when you are near." His fingers tightened in his anger. "No one would fault me for beating you," he growled and his blue eyes bore threateningly into hers. He could feel the soft flesh of her shoulders beneath the cruel grip of his fingertips, but she did not flinch.

"You will not beat me."

He almost grinned at her arrogance and his fingers relaxed their grip. Would he ever be able to control this woman who refused to acknowledge that she belonged to him?

He allowed a devil-may-care grin touch his lips. "You're wrong," he answered with a sneer as he swung her up into his arms and started toward the bank.

New Moon wound her arms tightly around his neck as her tongue darted out to lick tiny beads of water from the point where his neck met his shoulder.

Panther's skin tingled from the touch of her warm tongue against his chilled skin. "You will not make me change my mind," he said, but knew she was not fooled. She was well aware of the power she had over him. She giggled and nipped his ear lobe as he walked from the water.

He carried her to where she had discarded his robe beneath the large willow.

"Oh you!" she said playfully as she pummeled his strong chest with her tiny fist. "You saw my robe."

"Correction, my dear. It's my robe." He spread it out with his foot and then lay her gently upon it. Stretching out beside her he propped himself on one elbow while he gently rubbed a wet strand of hair from her face. "Now, my little Wa-sa. I am going to extract from you a promise that you will obey me in the future."

New Moon studied his face. "What is wrong, my husband?" she asked, the first stirring of dread fluttered uncontrollable along her skin.

He hesitated for a moment then seemed to determine he should tell her. "I dreamt last night that I could hear weeping." He gently rubbed the
barely noticeable swell of her belly. "I tried to find the source of the crying and then I realized it was my own voice I heard. As my totem, the panther, I walked through the village. All around I saw empty lodges with the bows and spears of the warriors who had lived there, broken and scattered about on the ground before dark doorways."

The cry of a hawk broke into the stillness that settled about them and New Moon shivered. Panther lay down and tightly wrapped his arms around her. She felt the stirring of her baby...his baby.

"I heard the mourning songs sung by the old women," he finally continued just above a whisper. "I looked in every direction, but I could not find you," his voice cracked.

New Moon blinked back a tear. She had had a similar dream. Great sorrow was soon to visit not only her village but all the Principal People.

The Great Spirit had been kinder to her in her vision, and she knew that the time she and Red Panther were to share was not yet over, but only if they separated through the time of sorrow. Their spirits would struggle through this time of trial alone to reunite when each would need the other too much to continue on alone.

New Moon shook herself. What was to happen could not be changed, and the present should not be wasted. She smiled as she twisted around to pushed him down on to his back. "You worry too much, my husband."

New Moon laid her cheek to his chest and with the tip of her finger she pushed a trail in a round about route over bulging pectoral muscles to a flat male nipple. There the mischievous finger teased the hardening nub until she heard the rumble of laughter deep in her warrior's chest.

She turned her face to plant a kiss to the center of his chest and giggled. She covered his chest with several quick smacks before he plucked up her head and tilted her face so he could look into her eyes.

New Moon pulled both her knees up to each side of his waist and sat up on his hard, flat belly. "I was wrong to worry you, Panther," she said seriously. "You may beat me now if you like."

Panther hardly heard what she said, his attention being totally absorbed by the moist heat of her body pressed so tightly to his belly.

She bounced lightly. "Did you hear what I said?"

Panther pulled his gaze upward, "Beat you?" he mumbled in confusion. As what she just said sunk slowly into his consciousness his brows knotted in startled disbelief.

New Moon giggled as she sprang up. "Did you think I would offer to let you beat me if I did not know I could outrun you?"

Red Panther sprang to his feet and New Moon gave a squeak of delight as she turned and dashed away. Panther had her back in his arms before she had run two feet.

She saw the heat in his eyes, felt the heat of his body against her own and it took her breath away. Her eyes were drawn to his lips.

"You will never escape me, Wa-sa," he said as he slipped an arm  beneath her knees and lifted her up.

"Only because I do not want to escape you." She answered as she drew his lips down to her own. She traced her tongue along his lips and then slipped between them. She wanted to taste his mouth, to draw in his breath and return it to him mixed with her own.

New Moon hardly noticed as he lowered her to the ground or that he was covering her body with his own, only that they shared their breath. She ran her hands down his back and pulled him tighter as she strained to push herself closer against him.