Passion's Series (7 page)

New Moon's husband had called her Little Sparrow with Eagle's Heart. The name suited her. And like the eagle, when her sharp eyes saw what her heart desired there would be no escaping her. He wondered how long it would take his friend, Robin, to come to understand that he was the prey of an eagle.

"The other chiefs know. So does Silent Deer. My friend wants to prove himself to the village. He has already proven himself to me." Cloud was unable to resist turning his eyes to New Moon. "Maybe to you as well?"

New Moon jerked toward her brother, and stared into his eyes, an act that would have made a weaker man angry. Dancing Cloud only smiled with affection.

New Moon stiffened, her brother played with her. She hated that he was always right. After a short while, her eyes slid back to the horizon.

"Not yet!" She snapped and walked away, leaving him standing alone. A happy twinkle brightened Dancing Cloud's eyes. "It makes my heart happy to see you again my sister. You have hidden behind your grief for too long."

New Moon did not hear, or chose not to answer.

Chapter Seven

James woke sore and stiff. He needed to stretch and loosen his muscles, but first he would go to water and greet the morning sun. He looked up at the sound of someone nearing his lodge.

"It is Silent Deer. May I enter?"

"Yes, come in." James reached for his loincloth.

Silent Deer's grin looked out of place on such a fierce, ragged face. He and Deer had reached a new level of understanding since the game. They respected each other. In this culture that was about as close as you could get to friendship.

"You sleep much too long, my friend. It is late," Deer scolded.

"Well I'm up now, let's go." James slapped Silent Deer on the shoulder and followed him through the doorway.

"You have been to New Moon's cove. Would you like to go again?

"New Moon's cove, is it. No wonder it made her so mad when I showed up. I'm afraid she would scalp us both if we went there today."

"No, she is not there. Today she is with the women where she belongs."

James didn't miss the hint of sarcasm in Deer's voice. As they sprinted through the gate Silent Deer broke the silence that had settled over them. "You want New Moon."

James rather liked the Indian's straightforwardness. "New Moon is a beautiful woman."

As they reached the boulder that lead to the cove Deer reached out a hand and placed it on the smooth surface. "She is barren," he tossed over his shoulder and then slipped between the boulders.

The cove was beautiful. It had quickly become one of James' favorite places but he hardly noticed it now. "Why do you tell me this?"

The two stripped down and waded into the water. This time James led the way. He had the distinct feeling that such a thing as who stepped out first would hold more influence over Deer than most.

"New Moon has great pride." Deer said from behind. "Like that of the warrior. She says she will not join again because her spirit is too strong for any man to give her a child."

"I am not looking for a wife, Deer."

Deer took his place beside...yet slightly ahead of James. James controlled an urge to inch forward. He was, after all, the invited guest.

"If I understand your custom," James continued, "it would be no dishonor to New Moon if she came to me."

"It would be no dishonor, she is a widow and may chose a man if she desires." Deer shrugged his massive shoulders. "But she will not come. You do not understand, my friend.

"New Moon is a woman of my tribe. We are the same clan, the wolf clan. If you dishonor her by taking what she does not offer, I will kill you. If I fail, there will be others. It does not matter that we are friends."

Deer glanced over at James. "You should find a woman who likes you more, then maybe you would not wear your need for New Moon like a warrior's spear."

An auburn brow arched. He was not one of them. It was going to take more than a game of stickball. "I didn't know I was being so obvious."

Deer cut in gruffly, "Enough talk. Grandmother sun is about to show herself."

James and Silent Deer performed the ceremony with proper respect, but James' mind was elsewhere. Maybe Silent Deer was right. He had been parading around camp like a buck with the sent of a doe up his nostrils.

One good tumble with a willing squaw and he'd be able to get his mind back on his business. Why go crazy for a woman with too much pride for her own good? All he needed was a little feminine companionship for a night or two.

The two waded to shore. "I'd like to thank you for your advice, friend. You..."

The rest of what James would have said was cut off by the sound of alarm coming from the village. He and Deer grabbed up their loincloths and dressed themselves on the run as they dashed toward the village.

***

Christoph DuPrey stood partially concealed behind a large oak. The early morning air was cold, but that was not what made his body tremble. He took in several deep breaths and watched with interest as Chief Dancing Cloud told New Moon about the attack on their group.

The battle had been exhilarating! However, it had not gone as planned. Seven of his men had been killed. He had not expected that many to fall in the attack, but one could not control the red savages. They would get the scent of blood up their nostrils, and even the best-laid plans would go astray.

The task of killing New Moon's brother had fallen on him. What if he had been seen? Hell, he was seen, but he took care of that one easy enough, and the rest of his noble savages escaped with none made the wiser.

He shook himself. The leftover adrenaline still pumped, and he had to clear his mind.

DuPrey gritted his teeth. The next step was not going as planned either. Cloud had been expected to allow him to accompany New Moon on the warpath, but the chief had refused. That damn breed was Cloud's choice instead. He wondered briefly who this new breed was, and how he came to be in Cloud's village. Well, it didn't matter. All was not lost...not by a long shot. He had not gotten this far by not being quick on his feet.

New Moon took the news of their brother's death just as he knew she would. There were no
signs of grief, no tears, no show of weakness. Her pride would not allow it.

DuPrey rubbed at his crouch. She was perfect, she was beautiful, she excited him, and she was the Great Dancing Cloud's sister. His marriage to her...his body stirred at the thought...would serve his lusts and his mission.

New Moon turned away as her brother, Cloud, departed to go to the council. She stood stiffly, her gaze locked on a single leaf dangling precariously from a broken twig that held stubbornly to a crooked branch. Would the slight breeze break the grip of the leaf and send it spiraling on the currents of the winds? Was her brother's soul still traveling on that same breeze to join her husband?

A thin figure moved from behind a tree that stood several feet away. It was the Frenchman DuPrey. He was there after her husband's death as well. Her body trembled in warning as he moved purposefully in her direction.

There was something not to be trusted about this Frenchman. The chief of Great Tellico may have allowed him to join their tribe, but he did not belong here. Without waiting for him to reach her, she turned and walked away.

***

Once inside the walls of the village James and Silent Deer were met by Dancing Cloud.

"Our brothers were attacked yesterday on their way to their own village." The pain could be heard in his voice as he spoke loudly to be heard above the sad wailing of the village women.

James found the sound unnerving.

"The warriors who survived the attack are here to ask for our help. Come with me to the council fire. It is this way."

When they arrived, James was not surprised to hear the Frenchman, DuPrey, speaking in the native tongue. He was well known for his ability to persuade others. He now attempted to manipulate an entire tribe.

"The French soldiers would be willing to aid their brothers in this battle against the Mohawk. These attacks happen over and over." The little Frenchman waved his arms as he talked, adding strength to his words.

"The Mohawk do not respect the Cherokee as warriors. With help from your French brothers you could conquer this enemy for all time. Their hearts..." he hit his chest in a dramatic gesture, "will be filled with respect. They will be too fearful to send another raiding party into your lands."

James watched the face of his friend, Dancing Cloud. He saw too much consideration there for the Frenchman's words.

Tribes of Mohawk presently sided with the English in this yet unofficial tug of war with the French. If DuPrey proved able to draw the Cherokee into a war with the Mohawk Nation it would seriously unbalance England's control at the frontier.

That conflict had to be averted. Such a war would find the English settlers on the frontier caught up to their hips in a blood bath.

It was his mission to remove DuPrey from the Cherokee without creating an incident between the English and The People. If a way did not present itself soon, the cunning Frenchman would have more fires started than he and the whole of King George's special troops could put out, he mused with an amount of unwanted respect.

He turned to DuPrey. "How many were in this party that attacked you?" he asked in Cherokee.

DuPrey's eyes darted about the gathered counsel. "We counted ten. We killed all but three." With an indignant air he added firmly, "The attack was unwarranted. The blood of our brothers calls out to be avenged. We must retaliate!" DuPrey's eyes bulged with indignation.

James wondered how this small, ugly man could have so much influence. His narrow face and long pointed nose gave him the appearance of a rat, but in his eyes James could see a store of intelligence and deceit. The man did not need size; he had the cunning of a fox and the poison of a viper.

James stood silently for a few moments, his eyes locked over DuPrey's left shoulder as he listened to the mumbling of the others. The warriors were understandably upset.

Finally, unable to hold his words a moment longer, he broke his silence, "There were many more of you. Why did you not go after them yourselves rather than come back here?" James saw a flash of anger in the other's eyes.

"The warriors are tired, from the game." The little man appeared the picture of concern, but James was not fooled. Neither was DuPrey. On this, their first real encounter, they were on opposing sides of an issue.

"Besides," DuPrey continued. "One of the warriors killed had a blood relation in this village. It was only proper that we bring his body here since he
had no male relative in our village to avenge his death, and his wife traveled with us."

James nodded in acknowledgment before he turned to Cloud. "This is a difficulty among our people. The remainder of the raiding party is small. We can handle them among ourselves. To bring in the French would be taking steps toward a much larger war and more blood to be avenged. All that is needed at this time is to avenge the cry on only a few evil men. We must consider our women and children."

Dancing Cloud stared thoughtfully into the fire. " The People are fierce and brave warriors." Cloud spoke without looking up. "We are not afraid to go to war, but we must choose our path wisely. If we call in the French to help with a war against the Mohawk, would not the Mohawk ask the English to help them? Your words are filled with wisdom. Such a war would cause much death and bloodshed. This would be a bad thing. We should send a war party out to avenge the blood cry against these three evil men."

The mumbling continued a short time and then one by one all agreed with Dancing Cloud's wise suggestion.

James rose to his feet and turned to walk from the fire but stopped short as he saw New Moon. He didn't know what he expected to see, but it most assuredly was not what met his eyes.

Her face and bare chest were painted with red and black stain. Covering her hips and shapely legs were the loincloth and leggings of the warrior.

He did not know how long he stood staring in disbelief. His eyes lowered to her firm, round breast, their sensuality somehow heightened by the bold colors. To his chagrin he felt his body respond.

His face became hot with his anger. Who did she think to fool? Any man with eyes in his head would know she was a woman! It may be true that some Cherokee women accompanied their warriors into war, but not New Moon. He would not allow it!

Cloud stood beside James. "One of the warriors killed was New Moon's brother."

James swung his head to look at his friend. "The warrior DuPrey spoke of, he was your and New Moon's brother?"

"Yes."

"Does your heart lead you to join the war party?" James asked as his understanding of the tension in the village grew.

"My heart is greatly saddened, but my responsibility to my people outweighs my own pain. I fear that the death of my brother is meant to draw my people into a plan of the white men. I will remain here with most of the warriors."

"I understand my friend, and I also fear the plans of the French. My heart is saddened by your loss. I ask if I may go on the war path in your place, to avenge your loss and to answer the blood cry of your brother."

Cloud's answering smile was one of sadness and gratitude. "Yes, it will be allowed. I ask one more thing of you."

"If it is in my power, I will do it."

"Take New Moon with you. The cry is strong in her heart. First it was her husband...and now...our brother."

James was taken back. "Why must she go with me?"

"When a woman is allowed to go to war it is to help her warrior, to chew his bullets, or mend his bow, or tend his wounds, and if need be, fight at his side—but she is not to be placed in a position of great danger. My little sister's heart is heavy. I fear this will make her reckless. It will take a warrior with great strength to keep her safe during this blood cry. So you see, my friend, what I ask of you will be very difficult and is very important to me. DuPrey asked if he could be the one to take her. I told him no. You are the one."

James stiffened. There it was again; the 'you are the one', statement. "You knew I would not refuse you."