Wo'itsa used a stick to poke the coals in his fire. He added another piece of wood to keep the flames burning to ward off the night’s chill. He’d left his blanket, as well as the goose he’d killed earlier in the day, at his other camp. He should have gone back after the woman woke, but she was too weak from her head injury to bring her along.
Perhaps it was best to take her to his village as his prisoner. It might be the safest place for her while he waited for Mukua to return. Wo'itsa was no healer. The shaman could tend to her wound better than he. He shifted his haunches to find a comfortable position as he leaned against a large rock. If Mukua didn’t return by morning, that’s what he would do.
He poked at the fire some more. Maybe he should simply leave the woman and let the Bakianee find her. He cast another glance at her, curled up and content in sleep. If he left, she would die, especially since she didn’t know how to use the vessel to take her back to the time from which she’d come.
The vessel Mukua sought was no longer in the pocket of her jacket. He’d already looked there. Surely, she hadn’t lost it. Perhaps she’d hidden it somewhere. Come morning, he’d find out where she kept it so it could be returned to its rightful owner. His sense of honor prevented him from searching her for it.
Wo'itsa sat and stared into the burning embers of the fire, his mind filled with doubts and confusion about bears and wolves, the Sky People, and the perplexing woman from the future.
Chapter 11
Kendra rolled from one sore hip to the other before settling on her back. She immediately flinched as a sharp pain sliced through her skull. Would this headache ever stop? Probably not while lying on this hard ground. The absolute darkness of night had given way to a crisp and sunny morning. The chirping of birds in the nearby trees was almost deafening, compounding her headache.
On impulse, she lifted her hand to press it to her temple, except her arm wouldn’t move. She tugged before realizing that her wrists were anchored together. She froze, then opened her eyes and glanced down.
Sure enough. A leather strap was wrapped around her wrists, binding her hands together. Several unflattering descriptive words about Wo'itsa escaped her lips. He’d really done it. He’d tied her up, just as he’d threatened to do when she’d tried to make her escape sometime in the middle of the night. Her head had felt a lot better then, but the rhythmic pounding was back now, and seemed to be getting worse by the second.
Kendra gritted her teeth and cursed under her breath. After sucking in a lungful of air, she heaved to a sitting position, then squeezed her eyes shut as dizziness overtook her.
“I have no wish to harm you,” the Wolf had told her sometime during the night. The dim light from the fire had left her almost blind to her surroundings. She’d studied Wo'itsa’s unmoving silhouette for nearly an hour as he’d sat leaning against a boulder, and had determined that he must be asleep. The moment she’d moved to stand, he’d sprung into action and subdued her again.
“You will not see the next sunrise, woman,” he’d growled against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. His low voice had been oddly seductive, but then she’d remembered who he was, and his threat had made Kunu’s warning very real.
“Why wait until morning to finish me off?” she’d retorted.
Rather than respond to the question, he’d surprised her with his next words, which had sounded almost as if he cared whether something bad happened to her.
“It is good that your head injury won’t keep you off your feet, but you are foolish if you think you can escape into the night. I may have no choice but to tie you if you don’t lie still.” His lips curled and he smirked. “Perhaps when it is light again, I will let you wander and lose your way in the woods. Perhaps if you encounter a bison or fall off a cliff, you’ll believe me that you are safest here with me.”
Kendra had offered some choice words of what she’d thought about him when he’d forced her back to her place by the fire. He hadn’t responded. He probably hadn’t understood half of what she’d said. When the unexpected cool and soothing sensation of a fresh poultice had been pressed against her temple, she’d resigned herself to the fact that the Wolf was right. She couldn’t even see past her own hand in the night. There was no way she’d get anywhere while it was still dark. Why he didn’t just kill her now was a question that lingered.
Like his animal counterpart, Wo’itsa seemed to have perfect night vision. She’d settled back on the uncomfortable ground, holding the new poultice against her temple. It had become crystal clear that she was in way over her head this time. She could try again to take her chances in the forest, or she could wait until morning and let the Wolf kill her. She’d apparently fallen asleep again and missed her opportunity at another escape before dawn.
Kendra braced against the leather bindings. They weren’t tied tight enough to cut off the circulation to her hands and arms, but just snug enough that she couldn’t wriggle her hands free. Damn that wolf! Where was he, anyhow?
She glanced around the clearing, lifting both arms to brush aside strands of her hair that clung to the sides of her face and obstructed her view. Few clouds drifted above, and the sun was climbing higher over the outline of the mountains in the distance.
A thin mist hovered over the tall grasses in the meadow, adding to the surreal feeling that she had gotten entangled in something far bigger than solving a murder case.
Kendra drew in a deep breath. The rich fragrance of lush summer grass and alpine flowers infused the air. It seemed to be even more pronounced than what she remembered from her childhood.
The scenery was reminiscent of when she had gone camping with her grandfather. The mountain flowers were in full bloom, and the grass was taller than her waist. It almost had a calming effect on her. Almost, but not quite.
Memories of her outings with Kunu filled her head. This wasn’t a good time to reminisce about the past. The only benefit she’d derived from those outings into the mountains of Yellowstone had been getting away from the other kids on the Rez for a while. At least, that’s what she’d thought as a young girl and rebellious teen.
Her agitation returned as her gaze fell on the silhouette of the man who’d taken her prisoner, and who might carry out his threat to kill her at any moment. Kendra squinted to see better. Wo'itsa sat a short distance away, nearly hidden behind a veil of fog. His back was turned to her, and he raised his hands skyward.
Every well-defined muscle along his back and across his shoulders was on display as he stretched out his arms to the sky, as if he was summoning someone . . . or something. His raven hair fell down his back as he lifted his head to look up at the sky, too. He was probably calling to his Sky People elder. Obviously, the old man hadn’t returned, yet.
Wo'itsa lowered his hands, then stood, rising like some mythical god from the mist. He turned and came toward her, his raven hair falling well past his shoulders.
Kendra blinked, but her eyes remained focused on the man who was holding her prisoner. She shook off the thoughts swirling through her head that he was possibly the best looking guy she’d seen in a long time, maybe ever.
He certainly didn’t look like any of the men she’d grown up with on the Rez. There was something feral and completely primal about Wo'itsa, and watching him made her heart beat faster. He was, quite simply, a beautiful man. He looked like what a native should look like – proud, confident, blending in with his environment and in tune to his surroundings.
She gulped some air when her head began to spin again. Had she really been holding her breath, and gawking at a guy who had her tied up and had already threatened to kill her, not to mention he was the one her grandfather had warned her about?
If her hands were free she’d slap herself for the way her mind had wandered. She must have hit her head harder than she’d thought. She’d had her chance to escape now, while his back had been turned to her but she’d sat there like some lovestruck little girl who’d never seen a half-naked man before.
&nb
sp; She was used to being around guys, good-looking or otherwise, both on the streets of L.A. and after becoming a cop. For years, she’d worked closely with men who’d never caused her to take a second look. Too often, their egos were inflated to an extent that had made her wonder if their heads would pop if she touched them with a needle. On the streets in L.A., she’d had to deal with guys and their arrogant, sometimes volatile attitudes.
Having a man tend to her and take notice of her pain was a foreign concept. She was used to taking care of herself and had never asked anyone for help or relied on others for anything. The idea that this guy – someone she needed to be wary of – had looked out for her well-being all night didn’t sit well in her gut, while at the same time it left an odd sensation of gratitude.
Wo'itsa could have tied her up when she’d first hit her head, and ignored her injury, yet he’d given her something to make it feel better. The poultice, whatever it was, had worked wonders to help draw out the pain. While there was still a dull ache, especially when she moved her head, there was definitely improvement from the night before. A nice bump marked the area where she’d hit the side of her skull. It would most likely be bruised.
Kendra scrambled to gain her balance and stand. She wasn’t going to sit there while the Wolf hovered over her. He nodded when he reached the fire ring. Only dark coals remained of the flame that had burned throughout the night. It would appear that the Indian had no plans to stay here much longer. Maybe he was getting ready to kill her so he could get on with his day.
“Afraid I’m going to hurt you?” Kendra stared at him and held out her tied hands.
Wo'itsa’s lips twitched slightly at the corners. “I see you are recovering well from your injury.” He glanced at her wrists.
“If you’re not going to kill me, untie me and let me go.” Kendra didn’t break eye contact with him. His almost-smile turned into a frown.
“Kill you? I have no wish to kill you. You are tied for your own good, and for my peace of mind. I needed a little rest during the night.”
He had no plans to kill her? Kendra squeezed her eyes shut for a split second.
“Why don’t you just let me go and I’ll try and figure out how that snakehead works so I can get back to where I belong.”
Wo'itsa’s eyes narrowed. His gaze roamed over her, as if he was looking for something. He clearly hadn’t frisked her, yet, or he would have found the time travel thing in her jeans pocket.
“We will wait until Mukua returns. You will hand over the vessel to him, and he will send you back to your own time.”
Kendra scoffed. “I already told you and your elder that I’m not handing anything over until I know exactly what I’m dealing with. That snakehead was given to me for a reason, and I’m investigating a couple of murders. My hunch is that your elder knows something about that, and quite possibly had a hand in it, or he wouldn’t be so interested in that device.” She paused for a moment to gauge his reaction.
Wo'itsa simply stared at her, as if trying to comprehend her words. Her own mind still spun with confusion. If he hadn’t planned to kill her, how much of a threat could he be? Or maybe he was bluffing so she’d let her guard down.
“Are you part of that old man’s schemes? Maybe you’re the one who killed Matt Donovan and my grandfather.”
Wo'itsa’s face turned dark. His brown eyes blazed, and he took several steps toward her. Kendra gulped as she stared up into his stormy glare. The heat coming off his nude torso seemed to seep right into her, and for the first time ever, vulnerability swept over her. This guy could easily snap her neck right now if he wanted. Her comment had clearly infuriated him, making him look even more feral now than before.
Her fall had left her weak and unsure of her next move. This entire, incomprehensible situation - time travel mixed with everything her Kunu had tried to tell her - left her even more confused. Was Wo'itsa as dangerous as her grandfather had warned? She had to believe Kunu’s words. It was no coincidence that his name meant wolf, and her grandfather had warned her of the wolf.
“I have killed no one who didn’t threaten me first,” he snarled. That didn’t really answer her question. Maybe Matt had been a threat, and Kunu needed to be silenced because of his warning to her.
“Well, then, why did you think my grandfather or Matt Donovan were a threat to you?” she challenged.
Wo'itsa straightened, making him look even more imposing as he stood only inches from her. His chest heaved. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then his body tensed and he abruptly ripped his knife from his belt. Kendra flinched and sprang away from his reach. Wo'itsa rushed her, gave her a forceful shove, and she fell with a heavy thud.
In the next instant, an arrow landed in the dirt in the exact spot where she’d stood a fraction of a second ago. Wo'itsa held his ground and threw his knife. Wide-eyed, Kendra stared as a man who’d charged from the trees fell to the ground. Wo'itsa pulled his tomahawk from his belt and ran toward another Indian who followed behind the one who’d fallen.
“Sonofabitch,” she muttered under her breath as her heart leapt into her throat. Scrambling to find cover, she found her footing and darted around the dead campfire. Wo'itsa’s tomahawk must have found it’s mark in his opponent, but a third Indian already charged from the forest. The Wolf snarled and clashed with his new challenger.
This was her time to get away. Damn him for tying her hands! Kendra stumbled past the boulder where Wo'itsa had rested during the night. Her eyes fell to the bow that was propped against the rock. She glanced to where he was battling for his life. Not a minute ago, he’d saved hers. She’d be dead right now if he hadn’t pushed her out of the way. Most likely, she’d be dead in another minute.
A fourth Indian charged from the trees. Kendra reacted like she always did. She didn’t think. She acted. Grabbing the bow with both her hands, she yelled and ran for the fourth Indian. It must have taken him by surprise, because he hesitated with his own bow and stared in her direction. His arrow would have lodged in Wo'itsa’s back.
Kendra didn’t stop running. She collided with the Indian while swinging Wo'itsa’s bow with both arms. At least Wo'itsa had tied her hands in front rather than behind her back. The hard material connected with the other man’s head, but it was the momentum of their collision that sent them both to the ground. The bow fell from her hands.
She didn’t wait to contemplate the loud splintering noise as the Indian landed on the bow. Kendra scrambled to get on top of the much-larger man. She locked her hands together in a tight fist and punched at his face. The Indian went limp underneath her, just as someone grabbed her and pulled her away. Kendra flailed her arms and legs, but her assailant’s grip around her waist tightened.
“They are defeated.”
She stopped fighting at Wo'itsa’s familiar voice in her ear. Catching her breath, she relaxed, and he instantly released her. Her head pounded harder than ever, and she blinked to fight off the dizziness. Wo'itsa let go of her completely. Blood oozed from a new wound on his arm as he bent to pull his bow from underneath the dead man, or rather, what was left of his bow.
Wo'itsa stared at his weapon, his face hard and unreadable. It had broken in half, no doubt when the Indian fell on it. Judging by the blood pooling beside the body, and the crimson on one sharp splintered piece of the bow, the weapon had killed him.
Kendra glanced around the area. Four dead Indians lay in the dirt around them. She’d been in only a couple of police shoot-outs in the line of duty and had seen her share of dead bodies, but the gruesome scene around her made bile rise to her throat.
“Sorry about your bow,” she panted, still trying to catch her breath and get her mind off how close she’d almost come to dying.
Wo'itsa didn’t look up for the longest time. He held the broken pieces in both hands, almost as if he was lovingly cradling them. The weapon must have meant a lot to him. Finally, he raised his eyes to stare at Kendra.
“You have saved my life,” he s
aid, his words no more than a whisper. By the look on his face, his thoughts were elsewhere.
Kendra shook her head to move strands of her hair out of her eyes. “Don’t read too much into it.”
Wo'itsa walked up to her. He shifted both pieces of his bow to one hand, then pulled his knife from his belt. Kendra’s eyes widened, and she took a step back. Was it her turn to die now?
“You have done well in capturing the woman, Wo'itsa. Once we take the vessel she holds, there will only be one more to find.”
Wo'itsa spun around and Kendra stared as the old man walked into the clearing. He’d simply appeared out of thin air. He barely took notice of the dead bodies on the ground. His eyes were fixed on her.
Wo'itsa lowered his knife. He glanced from Mukua to Kendra. The elder’s sudden appearance had clearly surprised him as much as it had startled her. He hesitated, then sheathed his knife while gripping his broken bow in his other hand.
“Take the vessel from her, Wo'itsa.” Mukua’s words were almost a command. “Then we can restore order to the sacred mountains.”
“Over my dead body,” Kendra called. “I need answers before you’ll get that thing from me.”
The old man croaked with laughter. “You are in no position to make demands, woman.”
“You will return her to her own time if she hands you the vessel?” Wo'itsa glanced from her to the elder, a hint of uncertainty in his gaze.
There was a slight hesitation in Mukua’s face, but then he smiled and nodded. “That is what I have said.”
Wo'itsa turned to her. “It would be wise of you to hand the vessel to Mukua. He knows the power it wields, since it belongs to the Sky People. It is not yours to keep.”
Kendra scoffed. She wouldn’t hand that thing over without answers, and the old man hadn’t been forthcoming, yet.
“You’d better untie me, if you want that thing.” She held up her hands.
Yellowstone Legends Page 12
