Through the Fire (The Native American Warrior Series) (21 page)

As Rebecca tilted back her head back to take in the canopy of the heavens spread above them, a huge glittering ball of light blazed across the sky, even lighting up the ground for a brilliant moment as it fell. “Look! An enormous falling star. Is that a good sign?”

“
Always you seek for signs,” he said.

“
What of you?”

“
My people do. I seek only the day as it comes.”

He led her to a stand of hemlocks and spread the deerskin on the bed of needles beneath the boughs.
“This will keep the dew from us.”

She crawled onto the makeshift mattress, flopping down onto her back. The springy bed of evergreen needles cushioned her from beneath.
“I’m too weary to move.”

He laid his musket down and settled beside her, covering them both with the blanket and drawing her close.
“Sleep now. I will just hold you.”

“
Forever. Never let me go.”

“
It is not I who will let go, fair one.”

“
Nor will I,” she protested drowsily.

“
You asked Renault if your sister will still have him. What of you? Will you still have me? I, too, must fight.”

“
Perhaps it won’t come to that. Captain Bancroft may hear
Capitaine
Renault.”

“
And if he does not?”

“
Then I must go to him and my uncle. But I will return to you. I promise.” An enormous yawn interrupted her vow.

“
May you not falter.”

She wanted to say more, to spin out their precious time together, but sleep drew her down its irresistible well. The bright diamonds winking between the nodding hemlock boughs above her disappeared.

When she awakened minutes—or was it hours—later, she had the distinct impression of being watched. Some long-buried instinct told her where to look. Not twenty feet away, sat a large white dog, his glowing canine eyes fixed on her. He, somehow she knew it was a he, didn’t blink. Bathed in the eerie glow of misting moonlight, he looked every bit the ghost dog that Shoka and Renault had spoken of.

A chill coursed through her.
“Shoka.” She reached ice-cold fingers to his. “Wake up.”

He tensed, immediately alert.
“Catawba?” Sleep had make his voice thick.

“
No. Look.”

Slowly he turned his head.
“A wolf.”

She
’d never seen a wolf up close and never a white one. “Real or a spirit?”

“
I cannot see if his prints mark the grass, but I think he is real. See how the breeze ruffles his fur.”

The silent animal held itself still, scrutinizing them.

“It’s Gabe. It has to be.”

“
Yes. He adopted your sister. Perhaps he will adopt us.
Peh neeakah
,” Shoka called in a low steady voice.

“
What did you say?”

“
I told brother wolf we are friends.”

Kate
’s faithful guardian seemed to come to a decision. He rose on all fours, studied them for a second longer, and then trotted off. His ghostly form vanished into the hazy night, almost as if he’d been a dream.

Rebecca pinched her arm to be certain she was awake.
“What do you make of this?”

“
It is the sign you spoke of at the praying stone.”

“
I thought you didn’t believe in signs?”

“
Perhaps I was mistaken,” he conceded.

“
You think God sent this wolf to Kate? I’ve heard such forbidding tales of them.”

“
Brother Wolf is clever. This one is like a spirit guide. Because of him, your sister lives, has been found.”

“
Will Gabe continue to watch over her?”

“
Who can say? Brother Wolf does as he will.

****

Gold morning sunlight filtering through the trees followed Rebecca and Shoka as they stooped beneath the gaping stone and walked into the cave. Kate looked up from where she sat near the fire with a cup in her hands.

Her eyes widened in delight and she bounded up with arms wide open.
“Becca!”

Relief rose in Rebecca and she dashed forward to meet her sister.
“Mind the cup, dearest.”

Renault swiftly lifted the wooden mug from Kate
’s hand before she spilled its steaming contents over them both. She wrapped slender arms around Rebecca in a loving embrace and they sank together onto the dry leaves. “I wanted to rush out and see for myself when Marc told me you’d come, but he said I should let you sleep. I’ve been so frightened for you.”

Rebecca hugged Kate in return.
“I was beside myself with worry over you.” She pulled back to inspect her sister more closely. “I see you’ve a little color in your cheeks this morning. You look stronger. How are you faring?”

Kate beamed at Renault as if he were her shining knight.
“Much better. Marc is taking good care of me.”

Rebecca pressed her lips together.
“So I’ve heard.”

“
You mustn’t hate him because he’s French. I know how you feel, about the officers especially, but
Capitaine
Renault is truly wonderful. Don’t despise him,” Kate entreated.

Amusement hinted in Renault
’s eyes.

Rebecca made herself reply without a trace of malice.
“How could I despise your rescuer, dearest?”

Kate hugged her again.
“I was so afraid you might.”

“
For
Capitaine
Renault, I will make an exception.”

“
And for Lieutenant Remy. He’s such a dear.”

If the entire regiment were present, Rebecca suspected Kate would urge her to bless each man.
“Certainly.”

“
Good,” Kate sighed. Her tight hold slackened, but concern still shadowed her face. “Marc and I are to be wed as soon as may be. Is that all right?”

“
Rather sudden, is it not?”

“
I hadn’t met him before,” Kate said simply. “Now that I have, I know he’s the one I’ve been waiting for.”

Rebecca managed a wooden smile, even as her heart sank.
“Of course. You’re of age. You may wed where you like.”

Kate lit up, as only she could, the gold flecks in her eyes glowing. And it struck Rebecca that she was very much a feminine version of Renault, with her eyes and chestnut hair.

“Where I love,” she amended. “I’m so glad you approve. I couldn’t bear not to have your blessing.”

“
I wish you both much happiness.”

“
Oh, we shall be happy, Becca. Very.”

“
I pray you will.”

“
Merci
,” Renault said, his expression of humble gratitude one Rebecca never thought to see. He should be grateful, she thought, considering what she might have said about him.

Shoka, who
’d been waiting by the entrance, walked over to the fire. He laid his hand on Renault’s shoulder. “Guard this treasure well,
Capitaine
. You are a fortunate man.”

“
Extremely fortunate.”

Kate looked up at Shoka with wide-eyed uncertainty.

Rebecca slipped her hand into his. “Kate, this is my—” she hesitated, loath to attach a term to their relationship. “Shoka,” she rushed on, flustered by Kate’s questioning gaze. “Shoka, this is Katherine Page, my dearest Kate.”

Kate regarded him with the fixity of her wolf friend.
“Marc says you saved my sister’s life.”

“
I did. Though another may have chosen to,” he said.                            

“
I thought warriors only wished to kill English people?”

“
Not all,” Shoka corrected.

“
Nearly all the soldiers fell. Isn’t that wrong?”

“
In war? How many warriors do English soldiers kill?”

Kate considered.
“As many as they can?”

Shoka remained silent, letting her digest her own words.
“War is evil,” she said.

“
Yes.” The sort of affection that Rebecca had seen him bestow on Meshewa in a lighter mood warmed his eyes. “You are a rare one, little sister. May the world do you no harm.”

“
Nor you.”

“
It already has, many times. Yet I live.”

Rebecca listened to their exchange with nervous fascination. Whatever Kate thought tumbled out of her mouth like a spring bubbling over.

“You speak English well. Other warriors I’ve seen speak mostly Shawnee or French,” Kate said.

“
There are also those who know English.”

“
Then I must be careful what I say.”

“
This is wise to do in any tongue,” he suggested.

“
I suppose so. Do you love Becca?” she suddenly asked.

If Shoka was taken aback by her forthright manner, he hid it well.
“I love her much.”

She turned her kitten-like stare on Rebecca.
“Marc says you love Shoka in return.”

“
I do.”

Kate waited for more, but how could Rebecca explain this forbidden love that transcended the world as her sister understood it?

Shoka smiled slightly. “I am a good cook.”

Rebecca nodded.
“Wonderful.”

“
Wonderful at something else as well, I’ll wager,” Renault grinned.

His retort was lost on Kate, though not the inexplicable mystery.
“Becca has good reasons for loving Shoka,” she concluded with the simple faith in her older sister that she’d always had. Kate cocked her head to one side and inspected Shoka like a contemplative cat. “You aren’t bad looking for a warrior. Sort of handsome, even.”

He maintained perfect control.
“Thank you.”

Kate seemed to be struggling with something before she spoke.
“I’m not going to be able to be with Becca a great deal longer. Will you promise to take good care of her?”

“
I promise.”

She bowed her head and closed her eyes with a relieved smile.
“That’s good, then.”

Tears swam in Rebecca
’s eyes. Kate was asking Shoka to take her place, and all this time she thought she’d been the one doing the looking after.

“
You will marry her, won’t you?” Kate pressed.

“
Shawnee do not wed as the English do.”

“
They have wives, don’t they?”

He nodded, and Kate pressed on.
“Then make her yours.”

“
I have done so.”

Kate
’s eyes widened. “How?”

Rebecca wondered the same thing.

“We gave each other our pledge.”

“
Is that all there is to it?” Kate asked.

“
No. I took her to myself.”

Renault dropped onto one knee beside Kate.
“Shawnee wed in the Biblical sense. The two becoming one flesh.”

Shoka met the young woman
’s questioning look. Clearly, Kate was bewildered. Renault tilted her chin so that she must look at him. “I will speak more of this to you later,
chérie
. We keep our guest standing.”

With a nod, Kate slid aside to make room between her and Rebecca.
“Sit here, Shoka. Lieutenant Remy has cooked corn mush.”

Shoka remained as he was.
“I should hunt.”

“
No need. Stay.” Renault took his place on Kate’s other side.

Rebecca tugged at Shoka
’s hand. “Rest your shoulder.”

He shrugged and sat where Kate had indicated.

“I thought you looked a bit stiff,” Renault said. “What happened?”

Shoka patted the wound hidden beneath his shirt.
“Musket fire struck me here yesterday. Catawba. A small war party.”

“
They dared go after a party the size of Black Knife’s?”

Shoka shifted uncomfortably.
“No. Just me.”

Guilt pricked Rebecca.
“I was with him.”

“
Ah. I see. He was distracted.”

Rebecca took the steaming bowl of sweet-smelling mush that Remy held out.
“And nearly killed.”

Kate swiveled her head from one to the other, her eyes uneasy in her pale face.
“What happened?”