Savage Winter (30 page)

“Have you heard about Tag and Morning Song?” Sun Woman asked, taking the bowl from Joanna.

“Yes, I know they believe themselves to be in love.”

“Just because they are young does not mean they cannot experience the same feelings you have.”

Joanna sighed. “I suppose you are right, but they
are
young. How do you feel about them?”

“As you know, I love Tag. He is a fine boy, and he will grow up to be a fine warrior.”

“But?”

“But, he has always had this thing in him that would not allow him to be at peace. I know he will not always stay with us.”

“I think the time has come for me to talk to him,” Joanna said, a troubled frown on her face.

“Do not talk to him yet, my daughter. It will be best if you wait until he comes to you. He will do so before long. When advice is asked for, it can be freely given, but if you offer an opinion unasked, it will not have as much meaning.”

Joanna smiled at Sun Woman’s wise words. “I will do as you say, my mother.”

“Joanna, I have two daughters. First you were happy, and Morning Song was not. Now she is happy, and you are not. This troubles my heart. Why do you not reach out your hand and take my son’s hand?”

“I might do so if I thought he wanted me. Sometimes, I believe he thinks of me only as Little Hawk’s mother.”

“I think you are just making excuses because you fear being hurt again. It is the same with Windhawk. I say if a love is great, it is worth a little pain.”

Joanna smiled at her mother-in-law. “You always have wise words. You should have been chief in your son’s stead.”

Sun Woman smiled. “I would have made a great chief, but instead I became the wife and then the mother of chiefs.”

Joanna picked up her son while Sun Woman carried the meat into the tipi. When they were inside Joanna removed Little Hawk from the cradleboard and placed him on a buffalo robe so he could crawl around.

Sun Woman built up the cook-fire and then turned to Joanna. “I have been meaning to ask you something for a long time now, Joanna.”

“What?”

“When the Assiniboin were about to raid our village, why
did you return? You must have known how dangerous it was to do such a thing.”

Joanna turned away from Sun Woman’s penetrating gaze. “I discovered that I had forgotten something. Fearing the Assiniboin would burn the village, I came back for it.”

“What did you come back for, Joanna?”

“I…it was nothing, just a trinket.”

“It was the bear-claw necklace, was it not?”

Joanna turned and looked at Sun Woman. “Yes!”

Sun Woman turned back to the cook-fire. “You risked your life for a trinket? I think not, Joanna. The bear-claw necklace was enough for you to risk your life to save it, so I will tell you something about that necklace that you do not know.”

Joanna waited for Sun Woman to continue.

“Red Bird found that necklace and put it about her neck. When Windhawk saw it on her, he tore it from her neck in anger. He wanted no one to have the necklace but you.”

Joanna lowered her eyes and spoke softly. “I will remind you of your own words, my mother. Advice asked for is cherished, advice not sought is not very effective.”

Sun Woman smiled. “This is true, my daughter.” It didn’t matter what Joanna said, Sun Woman could tell she was pleased by what she had told her about Windhawk. She was weary of Joanna and Windhawk playing their little games. It was time she took a hand in their affairs, she thought to herself.

It wasn’t until the next night that Sun Woman found her son alone. When she followed him into his lodge, Windhawk looked at her with a curious expression on his face.

“I can always tell when you have something on your mind, my mother. Say what you have come to say.”

She raised her head and gave him a look that she had often given him as a child. “I just wanted to tell you something that might interest you.”

“And what is that?”

“I know why Joanna came back to the village when the Assiniboin were on their way.”

Windhawk smiled. “Why was that?”

Sun Woman walked to the opening and then turned back. “She rode back to get the bear-claw necklace. Your father would never have allowed me to vacate his bed as Joanna has yours,” she said, before sweeping out of the lodge.

Her announcement seemed to knock the breath from Windhawk. At first it was hard for him to absorb what she had told him. When he thought about it, he started laughing.

Joanna still loved him! She might pretend indifference, but her actions the day of the raid were the proof for which he had been searching. She had come back for the necklace because she knew what it stood for, and, no matter how her lips denied her love, he was now certain she loved him!

His heart was overflowing with joy. Should he go to her and demand the truth from her lips? No, he would find another way to make her face the truth. She was the proudest, most stubborn woman he had ever known, but he would make her admit to him and to herself that she loved him.

It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders; he would have her in his lodge where she belonged before too long!

Sun Woman smiled to herself. She had always despised women who interfered in their grown son’s and daughter’s lives, but she didn’t feel the least bit guilty for interfering if it would bring Joanna and Windhawk back together.

She knew her son, and it wouldn’t be too long until he would take matters into his own hands. She laughed out loud. Poor Joanna, she wouldn’t know what was going on when Windhawk decided to act on the information she had given him!

Philadelphia

Claudia stood at the second-story window of what had once been Joanna’s bedroom. She looked down on the front yard
noticing that the snow had all melted. As she let her eyes travel past the huge iron gates which seemed to hold the world at bay, she reflected on her situation. She should be happy, because her fondest dream had come true. Was she not now the lady of a grand house, and was her wardrobe not overflowing with beautiful costly gowns? There were servants to see to her every need and she didn’t have to worry anymore about what to do with her life. She thought of Harland Thatcher—word had reached her that he had recovered completely from his wounds. Not once had he called on her or Howard since they reached Philadelphia. Claudia was finding out that she and Howard might live on the hill with all the socially elite, but they were certainly not accepted by any of them, and that included the Thatchers. There existed an invisible line that separated her from the old families of Philadelphia, and it couldn’t be easily crossed over. It didn’t help Claudia’s temper any to know Joanna would have been welcomed with open arms by the Thatchers and their kind.

Claudia’s eyes sparked fire. One day she would have the money and power to make all of Philadelphia bow down to her. She would hold grand balls and no one would dare decline an invitation for fear of offending her.

Howard had been examined by several different doctors, and it had been each of their opinions that he would never fully regain the use of the right side of his body. He had been installed in one of the bedrooms and she had hired a man to see to his needs, freeing her to do as she pleased. At first it had been like a glorious dream to be able to walk into the finest shops in Philadelphia and buy anything she desired. Lately, however, she had begun to feel at loose ends. She was finding out that Howard had spoken the truth when he had told her that most of the money had been tied up in trust for Tag and Joanna.

She turned around, scanning the bedroom with a critical eye. She had been told by one of the maids that the room hadn’t been changed since the night Joanna had left the
house. Claudia often found herself in this room, touching the things that had belonged to her hated enemy. Why did she feel the need to punish herself by coming here? she wondered. Deep inside her there burned a hatred so intense that it seemed to overshadow everything else in her life. She picked up a delicate ivory-handled brush and threw it against the wall, finding satisfaction in the fact that it shattered into many small pieces. She walked past the wardrobe that still held many of Joanna’s gowns and stood at the window once more. “You may not ever come back, Joanna,” she said aloud, “but one day Tag will return to Philadelphia, and I’ll be waiting for him.” Her eyes looked past the gates once more. What would she do on the day when she was finally confronted by Joanna or her brother? She knew in that moment that she must prepare herself for the inevitable. Now that she had tasted the good life, she had no intention of giving it up. Someway, somehow, she would hold on to what she now had!

Howard watched as Baxter the handyman hung the portrait of the James family over the mantel in his bedroom. He was thankful that at least he was able to make his wishes known by writing out his orders with his left hand. He had written instructions the day before, stating that the portrait should be moved to his room and that Joanna’s room should not be disturbed in any way. Later, when he was feeling stronger, he would have Baxter carry him to Joanna’s bedroom, where he could feel close to her.

He lifted his eyes to the painting and stared at Joanna’s lovely face. If he were able to look at her likeness each day, perhaps it would keep him from losing his mind, he thought. His eyes caressed her face, and he knew in his heart that he would never see her again. One day, when Taggart was older, he would return—but Joanna wouldn’t come with her brother. He almost wished the years would fly by so that day would come.

He heard footsteps in the hallway and frowned when Claudia entered the room. She looked up at the portrait
and gave him a malevolent smile, and her lip curled into a snarl.

“So, you are still mooning over Joanna,” she said, walking over to the bed and plumping up the pillows. “I should be insanely jealous that my husband loves another, but I may just be able to live with that fact. After all, you will need something to keep your mind occupied in the long days and nights ahead, won’t you, Howard?”

He turned his face away, not wanting to look at Claudia. He was paying, and paying dearly, for any sins he had committed in the past. He was at the mercy of a deranged woman, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.

When Howard turned back to his wife he found her staring at the portrait. He could read the naked hatred and rage that was so clearly written on her face. She knew the day would come when her position would be challenged by Tag-gart, he thought. Suddenly he saw fear in Claudia’s eyes, and smiled to himself, realizing that she was living in hell the same as he was—he found great satisfaction in that fact. She schemed and manipulated other people’s lives, but she hadn’t won a complete victory. Every day of her life she would be haunted by the fact that her dreams might decay into dust. Suddenly he had a driving need to live. He wanted desperately to stay alive, in the hopes of one day watching Claudia get what was coming to her!

And it mattered but little to Howard that, when that day did come, he would also be pulled down with her.

The Blood Blackfoot village

Joanna’s feelings of unrest continued to plague her. Although Windhawk did not single her out again, she could feel he was watching her.

Each day he asked Morning Song to bring Little Hawk to his lodge, and Morning Song told Joanna that Windhawk spent those mornings playing with his son.

Whenever Joanna saw Windhawk, her eyes followed him, and she felt an ache deep inside. She was honest enough with herself now to admit that, even if he didn’t love her, she still longed for the touch of his hand and the feel of his hard, muscled body next to hers.

As time passed, Joanna found herself waking up in the mornings anxious to see Windhawk. She took particular care with her appearance, hoping he would think she was pretty.

Sun Woman watched her son and Joanna with mixed feelings of amusement and irritation. She was amused because all the village knew that Windhawk and Joanna craved the oneness they had once shared—and irritated that they were both too prideful to take the first step that would bring them together.

Sun Woman lifted up the gown she had been working on and examined it with a critical eye. She smiled, feeling pleased with the green and blue porcupine quills she had worked into the design. The gown was made of soft doeskin, and she thought it might be the best work she had ever done.

Hearing Joanna enter, she quickly hid the garment behind her.

“It is a nice afternoon, my mother, but there are rain
clouds moving in from the north. I fear it will rain tonight and perhaps spoil the ceremony.”

“No, it will not spoil the ceremony, since it will be held in Windhawk’s lodge. Let us hope, though, that the rain holds off until the
assinahpeska
dance is over.”

Joanna bent over Little Hawk and saw he was sleeping. “Tell me about the dance, my mother. I know that all the young maidens line up on one side of the lodge and the young warriors line up opposite them.”

“That is true. A young maiden may show her feelings for a certain young warrior by dancing up to him. When the ceremony begins, the maidens and young men will dance toward each other and then retreat. This will go on for a time, and then they will stop to feast. After the feast, the dance will begin again. The maiden will choose the man of her choice and throw her robe over him. The young man must give her a kiss, and later a gift. If the young man likes the maiden, he may give her a gift of great value, such as a horse or a fine robe. If she is not the maiden of his choice, he may give her only colored beads or some small trinket.”

“It sounds like fun to me.”

“Yes, I remember when I was young. I had loved Windhawk’s father, but was too shy to show him. I gathered up my courage at the
assinahpeska
dance and threw my robe over him.”

“What gift did he give you?” Joanna wanted to know.

Sun Woman smiled as she remembered that night. “He gave me three horses and asked me to be his wife. I did not know that he had loved me, also.”

“How wonderful for a maiden to have a chance to show the man she loves her feelings,” Joanna said wistfully. “In the society I was brought up in, it would never be allowed.”

Sun Woman stood up and walked over to Joanna. “You could go to the dance tonight and throw the robe over Windhawk’s head,” she said, watching Joanna’s face.

Joanna’s mouth flew open in horror. “No, I could never act in such a bold way!”

Sun Woman held the dress she had made out to Joanna. “I have made this for you just for the
assinahpeska
dance. You will wear this tonight when you dance for Windhawk.”

Joanna’s eyes ran over the beautiful dress, and she felt tears sparkle in her eyes because Windhawk’s mother had made it for her. “I thank you for the lovely dress, my mother, but I could never join in the dance—I would be too embarrassed!”

“Sometimes, a woman has to take the first step toward the man she loves. Joanna, have I ever spoken an untruth to you?”

“No.”

“I will not do so now. Listen to me and hear what I say. Windhawk loves you. If you had seen him when he thought you were dead you would know this for yourself. He has been shamed before the whole tribe because his woman lives with his mother and not with him. I think he has reached out to you several times, but you would not take his hand. Go to the dance tonight—throw your robe over Windhawk so he can once more hold his head up with pride. I know it will be hard for you, but if you love Windhawk, you can do it.”

Joanna’s eyes were sparkling with tears. “I cannot.”

“Why?”

“Because I…he does not…I fear he will not want me.”

“I say that he does want you. I will tell you what to do, and you will do exactly what I say!”

Joanna looked into Sun Woman’s eyes. “I want him to love me. But what if he turns me away?”

Sun Woman smiled and hugged Joanna to her. “I do not think Windhawk will give you the beads or trinkets. I think he will give you a horse…or a whole herd of horses!” she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

The
assinahpeska
dance was about to begin. The drums beat a haunting tempo while the elders of the tribe chanted. The young unmarried men sat on one side of the lodge and the young maidens sat on the other.

There was a festive mood, and much laughter accompanied the young people as they stood up. There seemed to be a feeling of frivolous abandonment as the music became louder and the young people moved toward each other. When they met in the middle, they rose on tiptoes, then dropped to their knees. And so it went, first advancing to each other, and then retreating, while singing and looking into each other’s eyes.

After a while the dancing stopped, and a feast was served.

Sun Woman was helping Joanna dress. When she slipped the doeskin dress over Joanna’s head, she stood back to observe with satisfaction how lovely her daughter looked.

Joanna ran her hand over the soft doeskin and smiled at Windhawk’s mother. “It is lovely…I thank you for making it for me.”

The dress was sleeveless and had fringe along the bottom, which reached Joanna’s ankles. Joanna wore her hair unbraided, with only a beaded headband as adornment.

She could hear the drums had started up again, and she felt nervous. “I do not think I can do this.”

“You will do it. It is important that you do this for Windhawk.”

Sun Woman took Joanna’s hand and led her out of the tipi toward Windhawk’s lodge, thinking she would return shortly to stay with her sleeping grandson.

Windhawk was watching the young maidens dance toward the young warrior of their choice. His eyes moved to his sister, Morning Song, who was dancing toward Tag. He smiled, thinking how one could see their love for one another by the way they looked into each other’s eyes.

The drumbeat grew louder, and the dance became more intense. Windhawk’s eyes were drawn to the entrance of his lodge, and he held his breath as Joanna entered.

His eyes swept her face, and he saw the boldness in her eyes as she looked back at him. His heartbeat seemed to stop when he watched her fall into line beside the young maidens.
All eyes turned to her as she danced forward toward him. She looked so beautiful that Windhawk blinked his eyes to clear his vision. Her white skin stood out among so many dark-skinned people, and her red-gold hair shimmered as if it were alive.

What was she doing? he wondered. Why was she here? He looked into her eyes and saw her smile slightly. He was confused and taken off guard as she stopped in front of him and held out her hand!

It seemed his heart had taken wings as he slowly stood up and looked deep into her eyes. He was not mistaken—he could plainly see the love shining in her eyes! She had come to him in a public display of her feelings to show his people that she wanted to be his woman, and, in doing so, was allowing him to save face.

He took her hand, and they bent their knees, then stood up and backed away from each other.

To Joanna, it felt as if her heart were in her mouth. She had been half-afraid that Windhawk would reject her in front of everyone. She had seen the confusion in his eyes and wondered what he was thinking. She knew everyone was watching her and Windhawk.

As they danced toward each other again, she saw his dark eyes sparkle and a half-amused smile on his lips. When she stood in front of him, she took her robe and threw it over both their heads.

Joanna felt his cheek against hers and his warm breath fanned her ear, sending shivers of delight down her spine. It was dark beneath the robe, and she felt his mouth move over her face to find and cover her lips. It was a soft kiss, but it had all the impact of a strong wind, which seemed to sweep through Joanna’s body. Wild abandonment raced through her veins as Windhawk deepened the kiss.

“Do you play games with me like some frivolous maiden, Joanna?” he asked in a deeply amused voice.

She moved closer to him and turned her face up to him. “It is not a game I am playing. I am seeking a father for my son.”

“Your son has a father,” he stated flatly.

“That is true. I suppose I am seeking a husband for my son’s mother,” she whispered.

She heard his sharp intake of breath. “You had better mean this, Joanna,” Windhawk whispered harshly against her ear.

She pulled the robe off their heads and smiled as everyone began to laugh.

“What shall I give this woman?” Windhawk called out, smiling down at Joanna.

Sun Woman was leaning against the lodgepole with her arms folded across her chest. “You could give her a string of brightly colored beads,” she called out in an amused voice. Joanna saw the mischief sparkle in her eyes.

“No, I cannot; surely one with the beauty of the Flaming Hair is worth more than a string of beads.”

“What will you give her?” many voices called out.

Windhawk looked down at Joanna through half-closed eyelashes. “She already has my heart,” he whispered. “What can I give her of equal value?”

Everyone began to laugh, and Windhawk squeezed Joanna’s hand.

Sun Woman smiled to herself as she returned to her tipi to be with her grandson. Her heart was light, and she knew her son and Joanna would again walk as one!

Windhawk pulled Joanna out of his lodge as the dance continued. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her toward his horse.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked, leaning her head against his shoulder.

“I am taking you to a place where we can be alone. Did you think I would take you to my mat with the whole village looking on?”

She could feel the silent laughter vibrate through his chest.

As they galloped away from the village, Joanna thought her heart would burst with happiness. She hadn’t known it would be so easy to reach out to Windhawk. She wished she had listened to Sun Woman’s words sooner. Joanna knew all
it would take to make her happiness complete would be to hear Windhawk admit that he loved her.

Turning her face up to his, she watched the moonlight play across his handsome face. “Windhawk, do you truly love me?”

He pulled her tightly to him and rested his lips against her cheek. “There has never been a day since I first saw you that my love for you did not fill my heart. It was not always easy to love you, but I could not help myself.”

She reached up and touched his face. “I love you, Windhawk, my dearest, dearest love!” she cried, sprinkling kisses over his face.

She felt his arms tighten about her and watched as his soft eyes seemed to light up.

“Has the circle led you back to me, Joanna?”

“Yes, my love.”

She didn’t notice that the horse had stopped until Windhawk dismounted and carried her deeper into the woods. She rested her head against his shoulder as her heart rate accelerated, knowing what he had in mind.

Setting her on her feet, he took the robe from her and spread it on the ground. Turning back to her, he pulled her into his arms.

Joanna quivered as his lips moved over her face while his hands unfastened her doeskin dress. She could sense an impatience in him that matched her own.

Her gown was thrown aside, and Windhawk pushed her back against the robe. She closed her eyes as his hands ran over her body. He touched her and caressed her until she thought she would go slowly out of her mind.

Suddenly she gasped as he covered her body with his. Sweet, aching desire pulsated through her body as she felt Windhawk’s throbbing, male hardness enter her body. Joanna arched her body and cried out as her hungry body was at last satisfied.

Windhawk clasped her to him so tightly she thought her ribs would break.

“Joanna, my beloved. My body was created to fit with yours.” He cried out at the pain that loving her had created.

It was pain, and it was beauty as they finally came together after so many months of being apart. They made love beneath the stars with wild abandonment. And after making love, they held and caressed each other, speaking words of love.

When they were rested, Windhawk again took her body to him, and Joanna trembled with the wonderful feelings he brought out in her. They forgot all the things that had ripped them apart. Their love would be all the more cherished because it hadn’t come easy.

Just before the first flash of sunlight lit the eastern sky, Windhawk took his sleeping wife in his arms and carried her to his horse.

On the ride to his village, Joanna stirred only once. He watched the sleepy smile that lit her face and held her tightly to him. He would love and cherish this woman for the rest of his life. Windhawk vowed that no one would ever come between them again!

He dismounted and carried Joanna into his lodge, where he laid her down. She didn’t awake, but reached out her hand to him.

Windhawk dropped down beside her and pulled her into his arms. This was his woman, and at last she was home where she belonged.

Her outer beauty was good to look upon, and the goodness of her heart filled his soul.

In her sleep, Joanna moved closer to Windhawk, and his arm went around her waist, pulling her tighter against him. Laying his face against her sweet-smelling hair, he too fell asleep…