Savage Winter Read online

  Joanna was so tired and emotionally drained that she decided to rest for just a moment. She was determined not to fall asleep, thinking she would only pretend to be asleep until the two men became lax in their watch, and she would then try to escape. Soon, however, her eyes drifted shut, and she fell into a deep sleep. She wasn’t even aware that she was being discussed by the two brothers.

  Jim watched the sleeping girl’s face in the half-light. Damn, he thought she was beautiful! “What do you suppose her story is, Chester? Do you think the Injuns captured her? Do you reckon Windhawk is real?”

  Chester eyed his brother suspiciously. “Hell, how should I know what happened to her? Mr. Landon didn’t take me into his confidence. I already told you I don’t believe Windhawk’s a real person. I’ll tell you one thing for sure, though—you stay away from the girl. I’d better not catch you laying a hand on her. We’re being paid a lot of money to take her to her uncle. If you start trying to fool around with her, we won’t get anything. Do I make myself clear?”

  Jim looked away from his brother’s searching gaze. “Chances are, if she let some Injun dally with her, most likely she wouldn’t mind me rolling her in the grass,” Jim said as his eyes fastened on the rise and fall of Joanna’s breasts.

  “You just try it, Jim. I’m not about to let you spoil this chance for us!”

  “You’re always bossing me around! Just ’cause you’re the oldest don’t give you no cause to tell me what to do,” Jim replied bitterly.

  Chester reached out and gripped his brother by the shirtfront, yanking him forward. “I know how you treat women. As I said before, you lay one hand on the girl, and you’ll breathe your last!”

  Jim’s glance shifted away from the angry gleam in his brother’s eyes. He knew about Chester’s foul temper—it wasn’t wise to rile him. He had once seen his brother strangle a man to death with one hand. “I didn’t mean nothing by what I said, Chester. I won’t touch the girl. Turn me loose!”

  Chester shoved Jim aside. “You would be wise to do what you’re told. All my life I been getting you out of scrapes, but I’m warning you, don’t touch that girl!”

  The light was quickly waning, and Chester looked over to the girl to see if she had been awakened by their loud voices. He was relieved to find she was sleeping peacefully.

  Jim’s face was sullen as he lay back against his saddle. “We might not get the money that man promised us, anyway. He said we was to bring the girl and a boy.”

  Chester laughed without amusement. “I wasn’t about to hang around waiting for the boy. If you want to, you can go back and look for him,” he jeered.

  Jim lapsed into a sullen silence. He was tired of being pushed around by his older brother. All his life, he’d been forced to do everything Chester’s way, and he was getting damned tired of it.

  Chester didn’t seem to notice his brother’s sour mood. He was accustomed to Jim’s pouting whenever he didn’t get his way. “I sure wish that rain would come to wash away our tracks. Most likely, them Injuns have already started searching for Miss James.”

  As though wishing for it had made it happen, the first raindrops began to fall from the sky. The thunder rumbled over the valley, and great, jagged bolts of lightning split through the air, lighting up the countryside in their wake.

  Chester got up and walked over to Joanna, carrying a waterproof tarp. He spread it over the branches above her to protect her from the rain.

  Tall Bear rode into the buffalo camp and dismounted before his horse had come to a halt. Seeing his brother, Gray Fox, he rushed over to him.

  “Where is the chief?” he asked.

  Gray Fox put his hand on Tall Bear’s shoulder. “Have you no greeting for your brother?” he asked, half-amused.

  “I have no time to talk—I must see Windhawk at once! I have grave news.”

  Gray Fox nodded to the tipi that was set apart from the others. “What is wrong?”

  “Flaming Hair has disappeared! We have searched everywhere but can find no trace of her!”

  Gray Fox’s eyes narrowed in disbelief. “How could such a thing happen?”

  Tall Bear didn’t wait to answer but hurried toward Windhawk’s tipi. Not bothering to announce himself, he entered.

  Windhawk was cutting strips from a buffalo hide to lace his moccasins, and he smiled up at Tall Bear. “I thought you had enough of the buffalo hunt and had gone home to be with your woman.”

  “I have bad tidings, my chief,” Tall Bear blurted out. “Flaming Hair is missing!”

  Windhawk stood up slowly, feeling himself die a little inside. “You had better tell me what you mean,” he said in a quiet voice that didn’t reveal his distress. Only his dark eyes gave him away. They were wildly pain-filled and disbelieving.

  Gray Fox came up behind his brother. “Where is Joanna? What has happened to her?” he asked, in a voice of concern. He looked at Windhawk and saw his troubled expression.

  “It was but five moons ago that we discovered Flaming Hair was not in the village,” Tall Bear said hurriedly. “Many warriors searched for her day and night, but we found no sign. There was a big rainstorm, and if there were any tracks they have now been washed away.”

  Without a word, Windhawk ran from the tipi. He leaped onto his horse and rode swiftly in the direction of the Blackfoot village. Gray Fox and Tall Bear caught their mounts and rode hard to catch up with him.

  Windhawk felt unbridled fear. What could have happened to Joanna? he wondered in a frenzy. He thought of the time she had run away from him before, but no, she wouldn’t leave him now. She loved him! Were they not happy together? Besides, she would never leave without her brother, Tag, he reasoned. No, she hadn’t run away, but what had happened to her?

  His heart cried out to her wherever she was. He knew she wasn’t dead. He would feel it in his heart if she had come to any harm.

  He rode swiftly, sparing neither his horse nor himself. Long into the night, his buffalo runner’s powerful legs carried him homeward.

  After three days of hard riding, Windhawk was in sight of his village. The most difficult thing he had to bear was the uncertainty of not knowing if Joanna had yet been found. Not once did he voice his fears, but Gray Fox, who knew him so well, could read the fear in his friend’s eyes.

  Windhawk entered the river with an urgency, noticing a large group of his people waiting for him on the other side. Riding his mount out of the water, his face was solemn as he approached the village.

  Sun Woman watched her son dismount, thinking how tired and haggard he looked. His eyes asked her the question he couldn’t bring himself to voice.

  “We have not yet found Joanna, my son. It is as if she disappeared with the morning mist.”

  “What could have happened to her?” Gray Fox asked apprehensively.

  “We know not…there is no sign of her anywhere,” Sun Woman told him, shaking her head sadly.

  Windhawk turned to Gray Fox. “I want to see everyone who talked to Joanna the day before she disappeared. Have them come to my lodge at once. Send someone to the pasture to get Puh Pom, and have him ready to travel. I want to leave as soon as I have questioned everyone. Select two of my warriors to accompany me.”

  “I will be one of that number,” Gray Fox said.

  “No, my friend. You have had no rest in three moons. I would not ask you to go with me.”

  “I shall go, nonetheless. We can both rest when Joanna is found.”

  “I will go, too,” Farley said, coming up beside Windhawk.

  Windhawk was tired, and his temper was on edge. “I was not aware that you were the chief, old man, and could make the decisions,” he said in an irritated voice.

  Farley did not lower his eyes but stared straight at Windhawk. “Be that as it may, I’m a-going with you,” he replied simply. “You might need me to speak to any white men we might meet up with. They would talk to me where they wouldn’t to you.”

  Windhawk knew that the old man was making sense. Not
bothering to answer, he simply nodded his head, then walked in the direction of his lodge.

  Sun Woman put her hand on Farley’s shoulder. “Windhawk is not angry with you, old man. He is worried about Joanna and he tries to hide his fear under a gruff voice.”

  Farley watched the young chief disappear into his lodge. “I fear we all have much to worry about. I have never known anyone to disappear without leaving a trace, as Joanna has.”

  “You must trust my son to know what is best. If anyone can find Joanna, he can.”

  On entering his lodge, Windhawk felt the emptiness like a pain in his heart. How cold it felt without Joanna to come into his arms to greet him as she always had. There was no cheerful cook-fire to light the darkened corners. It suddenly hit him hard. This was what it felt like to lose his love. A cold, empty feeling seemed to seep into every fiber of his body. If he would allow it, he could easily abandon control of his emotions.

  He grabbed hold of the lodgepole and bowed his head. “Joanna, Joanna, where are you, my beloved?” he whispered in a painful voice.

  Hearing the sound of voices, Windhawk straightened his back and turned just as Morning Song and Red Bird entered. Soon the lodge was filled with many people waiting to talk to him.

  “Which one of you was the last to see Joanna?” he asked, searching every face.

  “I was, my brother,” Morning Song said, stepping forward. “I was the last one to speak to her.”

  “Did she say anything to you to indicate she was upset?” Windhawk asked.

  Morning Song met her brother’s eyes. “Yes, Windhawk, she was very distressed because you had sent the Piegan woman to our village.”

  For the first time, Windhawk looked at Red Bird. He had forgotten all about her! Glancing back to his sister, he looked puzzled. “Why should Joanna be upset because Red Bird has come to our village?”

  Morning Song took a deep breath. “She…Joanna…said she would not stay with you when you took another wife. She was very distressed, Windhawk.”

  Windhawk swung his dark gaze around to Red Bird. “Why should she think I was to take another wife?”

  Red Bird stepped forward. Her heart was drumming at the sight of the handsome chief. She was glad the white woman was gone. Now she could have Windhawk all to herself. “The white-skinned woman was angry because I am to be your wife. She was very unkind to me.”

  Windhawk’s eyes narrowed. “Who told Joanna that I would take you as my wife?”

  Morning Song bowed her head. “Red Bird did, my brother, but many others thought that was your intention.”

  “Why? I do not understand why Joanna would believe such a thing!” his voice boomed out.

  “Red Bird told everyone in the village that she was to be your wife…she also told Joanna.” Morning Song’s eyes filled with tears. “I did not think Joanna would run away. It is my fault that she has gone.”

  Windhawk looked back to Red Bird. “Did you tell my people that you were to be my wife?”

  Red Bird looked confused. “Yes, I did not know you wanted it kept a secret. You should have told me, then I would have said nothing.”

  “She also told Joanna that you had lain with her,” Morning Song spoke up accusingly. “Joanna was very upset when Red Bird told her she would replace her as the favorite wife.”

  Windhawk’s eyes seemed to burn with unleashed anger. Those who knew him well could see he was making an effort to keep his anger in check.

  Red Bird cringed at the foreboding look the young chief gave her. “Why did you say this to my wife?” his voice was deep and laced with anger.

  “As I said, I did not…”

  Windhawk’s eyes fell on the bear-claw necklace, which Red Bird now wore. Reaching out, he jerked it from the Piegan woman’s neck. “Where did you get this?” he hissed.

  Red Bird’s eyes were wide with fright. “I found it where the white woman had cast it aside. I did not think you would mind if I took it as my own.”

  “Go from my sight, Piegan woman! I will deal with you later,” he said.

  Windhawk dared not allow his mind the freedom to rule his thoughts. Clasping the necklace so tightly it cut into his palm, he realized Joanna must have run away. Did she not love him enough to wait until he came home so he could tell her the truth about Red Bird? Did she love him so little that she would leave like a thief in the night?

  Morning Song approached Windhawk, holding out a letter to him. “The old man said he gave this letter to Joanna the day she left. Should I read it to see if it will tell where she has gone?” Morning Song had found the letter only that morning and had hesitated to read it since it belonged to Joanna.

  “What does the paper say?” Windhawk asked in a commanding voice. Morning Song was one of the few who could read the white man’s words. Joanna had taught her while she had instructed Tag.

  “I cannot read all the words…it is from a Captain Thatcher. He says he is in trouble and asked Joanna to meet him in the forest and bring Tag with her.”

  Windhawk’s eyes flamed and jealousy burned in his heart. Joanna had gone away with the long knife! His heart cried out in revenge and bitterness. She had betrayed him!

  Looking down at the bear-claw necklace, he remembered what it symbolized. She had told him not so long ago that if she ever took it off again it would mean she no longer loved him. Bitterness surrounded his heart.

  “I know where Joanna has gone,” Windhawk whispered. “She is at the fort of the long knives. I will go there and bring her back.”

  Pushing past the crowd of people who had entered his lodge, Windhawk went outside. Gray Fox was mounted and waiting for him, and Farley was holding Puh Pom’s rein.

  “Are we ready to ride?” the old trapper asked.

  “You had better keep up, old man,” Windhawk said, bounding onto his horse’s back. “If you do not keep pace, we shall leave you behind.”

  Sun Woman watched the three men ride away in a cloud of dust, hoping they would find Joanna.

  Windhawk’s eyes burned like two hot coals. He could envision Joanna in the arms of the long knife. He would kill the man and make Joanna pay for leaving him.

  Gray Fox rode at his friend’s side. He remembered another time when Joanna had run away from Windhawk, and when he found her, he had been merciless. That time had almost ended in disaster. This time, he was glad he would be along to stay Windhawk’s vengeful hand.

  Joanna felt wet and miserable as she huddled beneath a pine tree that offered her very little shelter from the driving rain. Rivulets of water washed down the narrow, needlelike leaves and splashed onto her upturned face. They had been traveling hard for two weeks, and she was bone-weary.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Joanna could see Jim Boggs watching her. The two brothers kept such a close watch on her that she was allowed very little privacy.

  Once again, she wondered why Captain Thatcher had used such forceful measures to get her to Fort Union. She thought of Windhawk and knew how angry he would be when he found out she was missing. He would probably think she had left him of her own free will.

  In the past two weeks she had had plenty of time to reflect on her plight. Now might be a good time for her to put some distance between herself and Windhawk. Perhaps she would ask Captain Thatcher to take her to Fort Leavenworth, where she could visit with Kate and Colonel Jackson. She was still too hurt and angry to face Windhawk. Let him wonder why she had left—it just didn’t matter anymore.

  By bringing Red Bird into the village, Windhawk had cut her free. She remembered the Piegan woman’s telling her that she and Windhawk had already been together. It was incredibly painful to think of Windhawk’s holding Red Bird in his arms and touching her the way he had once touched Joanna.

  She felt her anger surface. Let Windhawk have his Indian wife! She never wanted to see him again!

  In her mind, she began making plans. She had to decide what to do about her situation. There was the baby to consider. Did she have a right to deny Windhawk hi
s child? Yes, he had forfeited all his rights when he had taken the other woman to his bed.

  She had seen Windhawk’s anger directed at her only once, and that had been the time she had run away from him. She shivered inwardly, thinking how he would react this time if he should find her.

  She leaned back against the tree trunk as Jim sat down beside her. “Sure is miserable weather, ain’t it, ma’am?”

  Joanna was in no mood to pass pleasantries with the man who had taken her away by force. She looked past him, ignoring his presence.

  “You sure are an uppity little thing, ain’t you?” he said, moving closer to her.

  “I have no intention of talking to you, Mr. Boggs,” Joanna replied, giving him her haughtiest look.

  “Peers to me you ain’t too careful who you dally with. Any white woman who prefers an Injun to one of her own kind shouldn’t think so well of herself.”

  Joanna scalded him with a glance that made her violet eyes sparkle. “Who do you think you are that you can speak to me in such a way?” She stood up and turned her back, too angry to say anything more. This man had just stepped beyond the bounds of decency, and she intended to let Captain Thatcher know of her displeasure as soon as they reached Fort Union! She had always thought of Harland as a friend, but that friendship was being tested to the limits at the moment. What right did this man have to speak to her in such a disrespectful manner?

  Joanna felt Jim Boggs’s hand on her shoulder, and she whirled around to face him. “You dare touch me?” she asked through clenched teeth. Her anger soared when he grinned and reached out to gather a handful of red-gold curls.

  “Take your hands off me, sir!” Joanna demanded, backing up, only to come up against the tree trunk.

  “I got me a powerful itch, little lady, and you’re just the one to scratch it. I been hankering after you for days now. You owe me something for stabbing me in the shoulder with that knife.” Before Joanna could react, he reached out and pulled her against him. She looked up at him unafraid, feeling only repulsion at the smell of his foul breath. When he grinned, she caught a glimpse of his chipped yellow teeth.