Taboo Love in the West Part 1: A Heart Off-Limits (Wild West Adventures in Love Book 3) (8 page)

Matoskah was one of the men who craved that power, and if it weren’t for his desire to wage war upon the white men all over again, he would make a great choice as leader. The White Bear was a strong man with great administrative skills. He made a great leader of his
tiyospaye
and always made sure that their needs were met. They were thriving under his care and support, but he just couldn’t accept the fact that things had changed too far to ever go back to where they had once been. He wanted the
oyate
to resume hostilities and fight for what was theirs. Amitola knew that under his rule, the tribe would end up even further restricted, but was reassured that many others on the elder council felt the same way. The only man who couldn’t see how unsuitable he would be as their next chief was Matoskah himself. But suddenly the pieces all fit in Amitola’s mind. His musings about the future of the tribe made him think of a place up near
mato paha
that Matoskah and his family often used as a summer camp. It was secluded and hard to find, and would be almost impossible for Eliza to escape from even without having to guard her. He had no idea why the White Bear would want to kidnap Eliza, but he was certain in his heart and mind that Matoskah was the man responsible for her kidnap, and that he would find her with his family at the caves near Bear Butte.

Chapter Nine

Amitola briefed the other warriors and sent them off to cover different parts of the territory, keeping Bear Butte to himself. If he was right and this was all down to Matoskah’s desire to make his presence felt and see Amitola fail in some way, then it was down to him to talk with him to ease his fears that there was in no way some kind of competition between them – from his side at least. Knowing in his heart that Eliza was in the care of the White Bear, he knew that she would not be hurt in any way. Matoskah was, a little surprisingly, one of the school’s biggest fans, and he had been amongst the first to sign his children and his wives up for the classes. His support had, in fact, been one of the major reasons that the school had been the success it had. But somehow he had found out about Amitola’s feelings for Eliza, though how he had no idea how. He had tried his best to ensure that he gave no signal of how he felt, but he knew that love has a way of shining through, even when you don’t want it to. The White Bear clearly wanted to make his point through this rash course of action. If only he had been more open that he had no desire to be chief. Then Eliza would not have been involved in such a juvenile way to deal with a political issue. This short-sightedness of the ramifications of Matoskah’s actions was exactly what made him unsuitable for the top job, and Amitola was sad that he would learn that in such a harsh way. Nobody on the council would back his claim now, even if they had wanted to before.

The ride to
mato paha
was through some of the most beautiful scenery on the entire reservation, and Bear Butte itself was the tribe’s spiritual centre. They celebrated and held rituals here, and many a man and woman had undertake a vision quest here to establish their way forward when facing troubled times. Amitola knew he, too, would need to visit the site, and soon – once he had returned Eliza to her rather. He had a lot of thinking to do and needed the guidance of his ancestors. He would seek Chief Iron Nation’s permission to go on a vision quest. The solitude and silence would help him to clear his thoughts and make sense of them. He was not sure how he would be able to give up on his feelings for Eliza, but he could see no way that they could ever bridge the gaps that separated them. He could never ask her to leave her privileged life behind for the hardships of reservation life, and though the town was now full of people from all around the world, he knew that he would never really be welcome there, and certainly taking one of their women would be unforgivable. Even though he knew that Reverend Gillespie respected him, and even liked him as a man, he would hardly be his ideal choice of son-in-law – would probably become much like every other white man and would try to run him out of town with a gun.

As he approached the site of Matoskah’s summer camp, he heard the sounds of women laughing and smelled the scents of a rich stew in the air. He rounded the corner and was surprised to see the woman who had been haunting his dreams for all these months in exactly the garb his dreams had clothed her in within those fantasies. Here she was, the perfect Sioux wife, long hair loose and flowing all the way down her back, a simple tunic accentuating her natural curves, and soft moccasins on her feet as she went about her chores. He was so overcome that rather than storming in and whisking her back where she belonged, he could only stand in the shadows to watch her. She looked so at peace, so completely at ease with herself in a way he had never seen before. How like her to find a way to make even an ordeal like being captured by men she must think of as savages into something that was positive and good. He watched in awe as she worked alongside the women, learning how to make clothes and shoes from scratch. He smiled to see her fascination with every aspect – the way her cute nose wrinkled up at the stale urine used by the women to help cure the leather and make it soft and supple so that they could make it into comfortable and warm clothing and shoes. He realised he could have made it easy on himself and taken her before they returned, but as he heard the rustling through the trees as they came he was glad he had been distracted. It would be better to confront Matoskah sooner rather than later.

He headed towards the sounds of the approaching hunters. Clearly they had achieved success, as Sioux were only ever this loud on their return when they had made a kill that would provide for their entire family. As he came closer, he saw Matoskah in the lead, laughing and joking with his brothers and cousins. He stepped out into the clearing and noted the immediate change in mood as he did so. “We need to talk,” Amitola said calmly. “Alone.” White Bear nodded to his men to continue on without him.

“You are right. I am guessing that you are alone?” he asked, clearly already knowing the answer to his question. Everyone knew of Amitola’s diplomacy, his desire to make things right as easily as possible. If he had worked out where to find her, who had taken her and why, then he would not bring embarrassment or shame to his people – whoever they may be – unless it was truly needed. It was just one of the traits that people like Matoskah saw as weakness in him, but was in fact one of his greatest strengths.

“Yes, I worked out that it was you when you didn’t show up for the council meeting. But I couldn’t fully grasp why, Matoskah? What purpose could kidnapping a white woman possibly have for you?”

“This.” the slightly older man stated baldly. “I needed to know if I was right, and it seems that I was. You have feelings for her?” he asked already knowing the answer. Amitola nodded – there was no point denying it.

“But that doesn’t change anything. I cannot do anything about those feelings. It would ruin her life. I won’t do that to her. I still don’t see how that changes anything for you, my friend?”

“Amitola, for such a wise man you can be so foolish sometimes. My exposure of your feelings for her will sow doubt in the minds of those who blindly follow Iron Nation’s dictates. The entire tribe knows you are his favoured heir, but your blindness for the White Man and especially this woman makes your judgement suspect. You aren’t the only option for chief, and not even the best one, but nobody else will stand a chance unless the
oyate
can see past the image of perfection that you represent to them,” he said bitterly.

“Matoskah, I have no desire to be chief. I never have, so what the people see in me is not relevant. They will have to see past their visions. I am not perfect – I am not even close to it. I am a man just like any other, and I have weaknesses and strengths. I have frailties and I make mistakes. I am happy in the role I have now. I too think there are better men than I to take the role that Chief Iron Nation will soon leave vacant – but I am not your competition. I never have been. You didn’t need to involve her to find that out; you should have just asked me. I am not the reason you will not be made our leader when Iron Nation stands down, and looking at him today I don’t think it will be long before that sad day comes. You are. You are your own worst enemy, my old friend.” The other man looked confused. Amitola felt for the man. He was so clever in some ways, and in the olden days, when superior hunting skills and the ability to lead a war band were the key skills required for leadership, he would have made an incredible chief. Things had changed though, and the skills of diplomacy and compromise were now much more important.

“I am the best hunter, the best warrior, so why am I not the best man to be chief?”

“Because this is a different time. You are not going to get anywhere if your focus is fighting. We have already lost so much, but if we put someone like you in charge we would lose everything. The reservations would be rapidly shrunk until there is not enough land for us to live on, and we would be starved out of existence. Don’t you get it? There are more of them, and they have superior fire power to us. We simply cannot win. You barge in without taking into consideration all the consequences, like doing this. You wanted to punish me, to make sure I would be no threat, but you forgot that they will want their revenge for an attack like this – whether they catch those responsible or not, the town will want someone to pay. They will simply round up anyone and hang them on the gallows before everyone to prove that they are still safe, that they are still in control. Your actions have endangered every Sioux who sets foot in Oacoma,” he said, angry at Matoskah’s short-sightedness.

Amitola felt terrible to have to be the one to inflict such a blow. The strong man in front of him simply crumpled at the words of truth he had spoken, but they needed to be said, and better they come from him here in the privacy of this wooded glade than in front of the Council of Elders with the
oyate
watching. He had always been fond of the White Bear, and had learnt many of his skills with knife and bow from him. He hated being the one to bring him so low. But his love for him meant he had to give him the truth – much better it come from him with compassion and respect. “I am going to take Eliza home to her father. I will see you when you come back down. There is a council meeting this Friday – I think it will mark the end of Iron Nation’s leadership. I know you won’t want to miss being there to vote in his successor. I won’t tell anyone it was you that took Eliza. Her father does not seek revenge, but I don’t know whether his voice will be heard among those that will. However, if I need to I will blame it on a band of hotheads from
mako sica.
Nobody will want to head into the badlands for fear of the bandits, so hopefully our people will be safe from their retribution. But I warn you now, don’t let anyone put your name forward Matoskah. I promise you I won’t be allowing anyone to put mine in either
.”

Eliza was surprised to see Amitola approaching the cave with her captor, especially as they looked so amicable, but though she was pleased to see him, she would be sad to leave. She had found a strange kind of peace here with these gentle women, and in the simple pleasures of their daily tasks. She would miss them when she returned to the safety of her privileged life. But she knew her father would be exhausted from worry, and she needed to get home to take care of him and reassure him that she was unhurt. Amitola greeted her warmly, and she had to struggle very hard not to hurl herself at the gorgeous man who had gone out of his way to ensure that she was safe and to bring her home in one piece no matter what it might cost him. It appeared he hadn’t had to do much, but that wasn’t the point; it was what he had been prepared to do that mattered. Matoskah looked very downhearted and almost broken as he walked at Amitola’s side, and it made her wonder what the two men had been talking about to change him from such a swaggeringly confident man to this shell. Her ponderings did not last long though, as she felt the heat of Amitola’s gaze take in her appearance from top to toe. She hoped he would like her this way, and felt strangely shy as he took his fill of looking “What happened to your clothes?” he asked, clearly bewildered.

“The girls gave me a little makeover. Don’t you like it?” she said, twirling becomingly, as she would in front of a mirror, to give him a full view of every angle watching his face closely as she did so.

“You look lovely, but I have to take you back to your father now. I think he may find it just a little bit disconcerting seeing his beloved daughter looking like a Sioux wife. I’m not sure of the welcome I will be getting in town after your kidnapping as it is. I don’t want to make it look any worse than it has been for you or me.” Eliza was crushed. He didn’t like her this way, and he didn’t like her as she was normally either. She would have to learn to accept that he simply did not want her the way she wanted him. She felt her heart slowly shattering into a million pieces. She pulled herself together, deciding she would not show him that his rejection had caused her more pain and anguish than a mere kidnapping ever could.

“Of course. You’re right.” she said briskly, trying to hold back her tears. “The last thing I want is to cause you any trouble, especially after everything you have already done to find me. I’ll change. Just give me a few moments.” Eliza was glad to head into the darkness of the cave. It gave her a chance to shed the tears she needed to let go as she tried desperately to let go her need for the beautiful man she loved with her whole heart. She had almost found herself believing that Matoskah had been right, – that Amitola did love her – but his reaction seemed so cold and standoffish that she was certain that she was nothing more than a burden to him after all. She winced as she tried to cinch herself back into her corset. It was a little loose, but she didn’t have Alice to assist her out here, and she wasn’t sure that she would ever be able to explain why a corset was so necessary to the wonderful women she had spent the last few days with. She pulled on her blouse and skirt, and crushed her feet into her tight fitting little boots, noticing how uncomfortably they pinched at her toes in comparison with the soft hide moccasins she had been wearing. Finally she pinned her hair up as best she could, and when she re-emerged from the dark she was once again a prim and proper school teacher or the daughter of a minister. She would never feel as free as she had been able to be here ever again, and she wished that wasn’t true.

“Shall we go?” she asked as she emerged. Amitola blinked. Clearly he had expected her to take much longer to get ready. He took the lead without saying a word and led her down to where he had left his horse. He helped her up and then leapt up behind her. She couldn’t say a word. She didn’t trust herself. The sensation of his warm body so close to hers, jolting together with each stride, made it the most erotically charged journey of her life. But she never wanted it to end. This may be the only time that they would ever be able to be this close, and she simply couldn’t bear that thought. She knew he didn’t love her, but since when did a man need to be in love to have relations with a woman? They had no shame, would sleep with anyone who made it easy for them, she knew that – otherwise why on earth would the girls at the saloon always be so very busy?

She had to do something. She couldn’t take the risk that this was the truly the end. She hatched a plan, one which would ruin her forever in the eyes of everyone she had ever known – but if it was ever found out, she knew she had the strength to tough it out. She would find a way to survive anything, but she knew she would never manage to survive without at least the memory of being with a man she loved, a man she adored at least once in her poor lonely life. She knew this crazy idea wasn’t smart, but it was the only way she could think of to stop him from taking her directly to her father. She knew she would have to grasp her moment quickly. She had to break free completely and fall from the horse, and she knew that Amitola had lightening fast reflexes, but he would not be expecting her to try and throw herself from horseback, so she would need to make use of that element of surprise as best she could. She knew she could be trampled by the horse, but it was a risk she was prepared to take. She squirmed a little, not too violently, but just enough that Amitola allowed her to slip from his grasp for a moment. Once she had managed to get loose from his grasp, she threw herself as far from the horse and its pounding feet as she could. She fell hard, and could feel every bit of the impact on her ribs, knees, hips and elbows. She cried out from the pain. It was excruciating. She just hoped and prayed that it would work – the pain if it didn’t would be even more painful to bear. She watched enthralled as Amitola whirled the horse around, and pulled up by her side, leaping off heroically. In an instant he was beside her checking her for injuries, fury suffusing his every word, and flushing his face red.