Stolen Heart

by Rita Hestand

  "Be careful my brother." Black Wolf smiled. "I will join you when she leaves."

  "Good. We will be ready." Nakota smiled. "Tell my wife and children I love them more than my life and I will return, hopefully soon."

  Black Wolf nodded, said goodbye to his men and left.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It took a week's ride back and Black Wolf was anxious to get this over and done with. Still seeing Sasha again would be nice, he thought to himself. He mused over how quickly he'd fallen in love with her. And every day he seemed to love her more but making her understand how he felt was difficult. He could not rush her, for she had loved another and she needed time to get over him.

  He'd missed her every day, dreamed of her every night. He wondered if her heart had softened some for him. He wanted to make a good marriage and yet he knew he could not push her too quickly.

  She had a mind of her own, and he loved that, still, sometimes her thinking got in way of her feeling.

  He knew he should concentrate on getting Big Knife, but the closer to home he got the more he hurried to be with Sasha.

  When he rode into the Arapaho camp, many gathered. around Black Wolf. Many greeted him and he spoke with a few that he knew. He glanced around for Sasha and saw Naomie in the crowd. He shot her a frown.

  Naomie raised her head proudly and shot him a sexy smile.

  Sasha sauntered through the crowd, her steps slow, her body moving fluidly through the crowd of people and they made way for her. She stopped a few feet away. She stood directly in front of him, her gaze lifting to his, a slow burning smile to her lips. For a moment they just stared not saying a word. Then suddenly, she moved closer, her arms going up, reaching for him. As his arms welcomed her, her lips grazed his neck as she sighed with pleasure and whispered softly, "He's gone!"

  Black Wolf could hear the pain in her words. He wrapped his arms around her tight, holding the back of her head to him as he squeezed her tighter to him. His face contorted and a tear slipped down his cheek. When she moved to look at him, and saw the tear fall down his cheek, she leaned to kiss him, long and sweetly. The crowd around them sighed with happiness at their love.

  Long minutes later, he took her hand and they walked to the tepee. The crowd dispersed quickly. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you!" He said as soon as they were inside.

  "I'm so glad you are still alive," she smiled. "I've been worried about you and Nakota."

  "Nakota is fine, he awaits my return."

  "Oh, you are going back?" she asked, whirling around to look at him.

  "I must, but I have something to do first."

  "What's that?" she asked, not looking at him, as the sight of him filled her with such a longing she didn't quite understand. And the news that he wouldn't be staying long hit her hard too.

  "I must make Naomie go after Big Knife and follow her. We cannot locate his hide out. He is probably hold up in one of the many caves, but he has tricked us with going in circles to find him."

  "He is very cunning in that way." Sasha nodded.

  "Yes, he is," he said.

  She turned to stare at him, breathlessly a blush creeping up her cheeks.

  "I did not think him that clever."

  "I am sorry you didn't find him. But although Big Knife has little intelligence, he is very at home in his element, and quite clever at deceiving." she murmured as her eyes met his. Their minds seemed trained on each other, as though questions were not important, what was important was the feelings they presented to each other.

  "I agree!" He stared at her from the distance where she was heating up a meal for him. "Come sit beside me, the food can wait a moment."

  She pulled the food off the fire and turned to look at him shyly.

  "I figured you were hungry." She told him as she came toward him.

  He reached his hand to her. "I have missed you," he said softly as she sat beside him on the blanket.

  "I missed you too." She whispered.

  He looked into her eyes, "Show me."

  "What?" she gasped.

  "Show me how much you missed me?" he said with a smile in his eyes.

  She moved toward him now, her heart pounding like a big drum, a fine film of sweat on her brow. She leaned and kissed him softly on the lips.

  His smile was warm and welcoming though. "Perhaps I should leave more often and come back as your kisses warm my soul." He smiled tenderly into her eyes. "I am sorry about your father, Sasha."

  "Yes, so am I." she said softly. "But, why are you back if you did not get him?"

  "He is a clever hunter and tracker. He plays games with us." He hadn't turned loose of her hand. "We went in circles for days. He fooled us every time. No, we need Naomie to go to him. We know he's found refuge in caves and caverns up there, but there are so many it would take some time to find each of them, and he would move often, we are sure. But I came back to try to get Naomie to go to him. And I'm not sure how to get her to do so."

  "Naomie!" she nearly shouted.

  "We must run her out of here, so she will go to him." He told her. "Nakota and I both feel like she is our best bet at finding him. So we must find a way to get her to leave and go to him."

  Sasha sighed with understanding. "Yes, it is a good plan, for she would know where he is." She said and sat up once more. "I went to talk to her."

  "And how did she act?" He asked his thumb rubbing over the top of her hand now.

  "She was so hateful." Sasha shook her head. "But there is something you should know. She is with child. At least she says she is. It could be a lie. She says she carries his child now."

  Big Wolf expelled breath from the news and turned away. "It figures. All the more reason for her to go to him. Perhaps if I let it be known that your brother sets a trap for him, then she will go to warn him."

  "That might work. But she knows how good he is at hiding and tracking. It must be something that she feels uncertain about. As beautiful as she is, she has one flaw that I know of."

  "What is it?"

  "Jealousy."

  "Aw, yes, perhaps you are right. Jealousy can lead anyone into trouble."

  Sasha nodded. "She denied the toad stools, but I knew that was what killed my father. It worked too quickly. She thinks because she is pregnant no one will bother her here."

  "Sasha," he leaned toward her, and took her cheeks in his hands, staring into her eyes now. "Do you trust me?"

  "Y-yes, yes I do, why?"

  "Because I will do everything in my power to get that girl to leave here. We can't find him, he's got a stronghold in the mountains, we tracked him there, but we cannot find the location yet. And she is the only answer. In the heavy snows it makes things much more difficult. She knows where he is. I must make her leave here and I must follow so we can capture him. He might be stove up in some cave, as his tracks lead in circles always. We want to bring them both to the elders of the tribe and let them pronounce their punishment. But there is a chance if there is a battle for the guns, then the army might take him to the fort. In that case he would hang."

  "And how would you do that?" Sasha asked.

  "Any way I can, do you understand." He stared once more into her eyes.

  She hung her head, "Yes, I do understand. He has caused many problems with the tribes and stirs up trouble for you and my brother. And," she seemed to consider her words before speaking. "I am sure Naomie poisoned my father because Big Knife wanted her to."

  Black Wolf nodded, still watching her closely.

  "I know you love him Sasha, but he must face what he has done."

  "No, I do not love him." She blurted.

  "You don't?" he asked softly.

  "No," She could not look at him and tell him. "It has taken me longer to grow up without a mother's wisdom, but I have realized what I felt for him was a true friendship, more than love. I never had a man pay much attention to me. Like you, I am the daughter of a chief and that's how the men of my tribe saw me. So when he paid attention, I was flat
tered."

  "That I can understand." He agreed. Then he pulled her chin around to face him, "but why now?"

  "Several reasons, Naomie opened my eyes to the fact that he was considering us both for a wife. I did not like that. Then you came into my life. I am your wife now and it is time to put away childish things. And lastly, I realize that the love I carried for him was a childish kind of love, and I am a woman now."

  Black Wolf smiled, "And how do you feel about me?"

  She stared into his eyes. Her heart pounded loudly, "I respect you, and you have treated me well. You give me courage and hope for the future. I agree Big Knife and Naomie must face their treachery. I want them brought to justice as much as you or Nakota does."

  "I'm glad you respect me, but is that all?" He asked, his brows meeting in a frown.

  "No!" she rushed to say. "But I do not want to rush into our marriage like a child. I want to make sure that what I feel is real."

  "And what do you feel, Sasha?"

  "The first time you kissed me, I was shocked, at how it made me feel. I never felt like that before. I did not trust you then and I was a little afraid to trust my feelings."

  "And now?"

  "I want to say the words to you, but I also want to be sure."

  "I understand."

  "So you have given up on Big Knife?"

  Sasha studied his expression, then a soft smile lit her lips. "Yes, I have. I-I do not love him. I think we only grew too familiar with each other. But he loves Naomie, truly. The word love is confusing, but I am learning quickly that it comes in many forms."

  "I am glad you have put him away from you." He said huskily. "I hadn't expected that so soon from you."

  "It is not hard when your eyes are opened. But Wolf, I am afraid for you. Naomie is an evil, vile woman, and you must be careful around her. She is a beautiful woman and might try to seduce you to throw you off track."

  "If she's really pregnant, I don't think she will try that. As she would want to marry Big Knife." His smile widened. "Besides, it would do no good. As I am only interested in my wife."

  Sasha blushed.

  "Have no fear of that my sweet. I do not seek her for myself. I know you speak the truth. But I don't want her around you or Nakota's wife and family. In fact, I don't like her being here at all. Pregnant or not, she could still hurt you. Any of you. Once a person gets away with murder, it is easier each time. They grow bolder."

  She shook her head, "I have searched my soul, and now I begin to understand. The love I had for Big Knife he has ruined. I do not have any feelings left for him, and of that I am very sure. And she can't hurt me, anymore. In some ways I pity her. She killed my father, and I went to the sweat lodge to get rid of the hate inside me for her. I prayed to the Creator to give me strength to heal my father, but he was too far gone, the poison was too powerful. But I no longer hate, I'm just indifferent to them both."

  His glance fastened on her now, particularly her lips.

  "She can hurt you physically, and because she's pregnant, thinks she can get away with it. I will do anything to protect you and Nakota's family. We must do whatever it takes to get her to leave."

  "You and my brother have grown close, have you not?"

  "Yes," Black Wolf smiled, "we have, he is like a brother to me. Like you, I liked him right away." He glanced around to see some meat. "I am starving."

  She jumped up and went to heat him food. "I will fix you something. Rest now. I know you must be tired. You've had a long journey."

  As he sat on the blanket and waited, he watched her every move. Just watching her move about was a pleasure he indulged in. She had no idea how badly he wanted to make her his.

  "If making her jealous does not work, we must make her very uncomfortable here." He was telling her as she brought him some food.

  "Have you eaten?" he asked.

  "Yes, just a bit ago, go ahead, eat all you want." She encouraged.

  "You made a deer steak for me?"

  "I wanted to see if I could do it as well as you." She smiled.

  He ate and shot her an approving glance, "You learn quickly."

  "I'm glad you are pleased."

  "Did she hurt you in any way when you went to speak with her?"

  "No. She would not do anything to upset the people right now, as most won't even speak to her. But her weakness is jealousy. I can't imagine why. She is a beautiful woman. If I were that beautiful, I would never be jealous."

  He reached then to tilt her chin up. "You are more beautiful than any setting sun I have seen, any mountain, and stream. And," he added with a smile. "Any other woman."

  She swallowed hard. "No one has ever said these words to me."

  "Then I am glad that I am the first to say them." He smiled.

  His mere words lit a small fire in her. But she tried to concentrate on Naomie.

  "Jealousy can bring anyone down."

  "Yes, I suppose it can. You and Nakota have worked out a plan?" Sasha asked as she sat beside him now.

  "Yes, she'll go to him the first chance she gets. But we have to plant doubts in her head that they are closing in on him. That your brother is mad enough to kill him on site or something. He has probably told her not to come for a while, but we must make her go somehow."

  "Then I know what will send her running to him."

  "Oh, and what is that?" Black Wolf asked, enjoying his meal and yet still holding her hand with one hand.

  "Another woman, of course." Sasha suggested.

  "Yes," Black Wolf smiled. "That would work, that is a good idea. But how could you convince her?"

  Sasha chuckled. "It is easy. You must plant the seed of doubt in her. It takes another woman to set the trap. We must get out among the people and spread gossip that he has found favor with a Sioux beauty." Sasha chuckled. "You see she told me that Big Knife wanted to marry us both at the same time. So she would believe he might find another wife. And we could make this imaginary woman out to be very lovely."

  "I think that angle might be best then." Black Wolf agreed.

  "No matter what story we tell, we must be close enough to her, for her to hear it. Then she will sneak out and go to him."

  "Yes, I agree. Nakota has men all over the mountain now, ready for her return. My braves are with him too."

  "That is a good plan."

  "We'll try that first. I will need to watch her all the time to see when she leaves, so I may follow."

  "You must be careful, although she's a woman, she lies and can deceive you. Do not trust her no matter what she says."

  "I don't think me confronting her personally would be believable."

  "She might confront you, if she spots you or thinks you are tricking her." Sasha told him. "She might even try to seduce you if she got close enough."

  "What would she gain doing that?"

  "To make a fool of you and of me."

  His glance went from her head to her feet. "There is no way I would fall for her, Sasha. Every time I look at you, you are more beautiful to me. I told you, I will mate with only one woman, and that woman is you, my wife!" When she bowed her head, he added, "When you are ready."

  She blushed. "When do we start spreading these rumors for her to worry with?" Sasha asked distracting him.

  "In a day or two. I want to rest some and spends some time with you. Tonight I want to sit by the fire, relax, and just be close to you. Would that be alright?" he asked.

  "Yes," she lost breath at the way he was looking at her.

  He leaned the distance to kiss Sasha's sweet lips.

  She returned the kiss, her arms going around his neck and pulling him to her and down on the blanket.

  He was shocked at her eagerness to kiss.

  The kiss went on and on and when he lifted his head he smiled, "I am glad you missed me so. So did I." he whispered. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for you when your father died."

  "It was hard to lay him to rest, but he had a long and good life, I mean most of it." She refl
ected.

  "I am glad, did he go in his sleep?"

  "Yes, it was a restful, and peaceful death, I think." Sasha said as a tear fell on her cheek.

  Chapter Fifteen

  "Let's go for a walk," he suggested after he ate.

  "A walk?" she asked surprised he wanted to get out since his long ride home.

  "Yes, the setting sun is something to see." He said.

  "Alright."

  He took her hand and a blanket, and they walked outside. The camp was peaceful. Not many were about, a few kids played a game with a stick, others had a turtle race.

  Sasha saw them and smiled.

  Black Wolf bent toward her, "You like children, don’t you?"

  "Yes, of course." She nodded.

  "Me too." He said with a sigh.

  But he pulled her along the rocky edges of a cliff that overhung the camp. There he spread the blanket out and he lay down. She watched with fascination. "Come and lay down, we will watch the sun set and the stars come out."

  She laid down beside him and the sky began to turn different colors as the sun rest heavy in the west now.

  He turned to look at her face and saw her awe. "Hasn't anyone ever watched the stars at night with you, or a setting sun?"

  "No, I guess I never took the time to enjoy it."

  "Sasha there are many wonders of our country, that you should enjoy daily."

  "I suppose so."

  "You have laid your father to rest, and now, he's up there, watching you. He wants you to be happy. You can still talk to him Sasha, even your mother. You just have to be still and listen."

  Sasha turned to look at him. "I suppose you are right."

  "Sasha in the worst of times, there is always good things to be thankful for."

  "Yes, I believe that."

  "Aren't you worn out from traveling so far?" she asked.

  "I'm tired but I like being with you." He stared at her a long moment. He watched how the fading sun caught wisps of her hair, and it shined. He reached for her hand and stared at it, entwined in his.

  She glanced at him. "Why do you stare at me so?" she asked in a whisper.

  "I like looking at my wife." He smiled. "I have thought about it, all the way back."