Her shoulders shook as her tears wet his chest.
“It’s alright, honey. You’re safe now.”
She cried harder, and he didn’t know how to get her to stop. He hated the fact that she was crying. It made him feel helpless. He wanted to wipe away all her pain so she’d forget whatever happened to her. But all he could do was hold her. And so...that’s what he did.
***
Woape was dreaming again. It was another nightmare. A remembrance of what happened to her right before she escaped from Hothlepoya. Hothlepoya stood in his teepee with his arms crossed, glaring down at her as if he were a god and she was the disobedient creature. In many ways Hothlepoya portrayed himself as a god. He never actually came out and said it, but it was in the way he handled himself.
Sobbing, Woape trembled on the ground. She made a futile effort to scramble out of the tent, but Tecumseh grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground. She struggled to breathe, but his grip was too tight.
“Let her go,” Hothlepoya said in a cold voice that left no room for argument.
Tecumseh dropped her.
She managed to roll away before he could kick her.
“Enough,” Hothlepoya told him. “Just hold her in place. Don’t restrict her breathing. I want them to hear her scream.”
Tecumseh kneeled down and pressed her back into the ground.
She knew Hothlepoya liked it when people fought, but she couldn’t help but fight to get away. It was pointless. She knew it was, but she used all the energy she had. The survival instinct raged in her and demanded she do everything she could to flee. Tecumseh had her pinned with his weight, and all the kicking and hitting didn’t move him a single inch.
Hothlepoya bent forward with a feather to wipe the tears from her face. Smiling, he stood up and inserted it into his headpiece. “Another conquest. How sweet are the tears of a prey.”
She bit her tongue. She didn’t want to cry anymore. It gave him too much satisfaction. But even as she fought against her tears, more slid down her face.
In methodical motions best suited for a hunter, he took the rope made of braided horse hair off the rug and turned to her. It was caked in dried blood. “No one steals what’s mine.”
A cry escaped her throat and she dug her heels into the ground and tried to get up from under Tecumseh’s weight.
Tecumseh growled and slammed his hand over her nose and mouth.
“She’s strong.” Hothlepoya’s smile widened with pleasure. “I like that.” He looked at her. “You just might be worth keeping.” Returning his gaze to Tecumseh, he said, “Strip her.”
In one fluid motion, Tecumseh got off of her and ripped her clothes off. Before she had time to think, he rolled her onto her stomach. He grabbed onto her legs so she couldn’t escape.
Hothlepoya slowly approached with the rope. “This is for helping Tama leave.” He lifted the rope above his head.
She screamed as he brought it down.
Her eyes flew open and all around her, it was dark. Her back stung, but she knew it was the memories that hurt. She was safe. Hothlepoya wasn’t still beating her. She wasn’t in his teepee. She was... She blinked, trying to remember everything that had happened since that terrible night. Reality emerged through the fog as the world of dreams dissipated around her.
Gary. She turned her head and saw that he was asleep. Relieved, she exhaled, thankful it was over. She was with Gary now, and he defeated Hothlepoya. Snuggling up to him, she wrapped her arm around his waist. He sighed and brought his arm around her shoulders to draw her closer.
She kept her eyes open for a good half hour, afraid that if she closed them, she’d return to the world of dreams and face Hothlepoya and the other horrible things he did to her. She never wanted to go through any of it again. He made sure never to harm the front of her body, saying that when he looked at her, he wanted to enjoy his prize. Hahnee almost lost his hand for letting the knife cut her under her breast. It was a slip, but it marred her and evoked Hothlepoya’s wrath.
She shivered and turned her eyes to Gary whose eyes were still closed. He had a faint smile on his lips. He had good dreams. How she envied him that. He wasn’t haunted night after night. The nightmares had gone away when she was near him...except for tonight. She knew why they came back. Gary saw her wounds. He knew the truth. Well, he didn’t know all of it. There were many things he didn’t know. But he knew more than she wanted him to know. Even if he’d been gentle with her and applied some ointment to her back, it still filled her with shame that he’d seen her like that. Had she known he would have looked at her back, she would never have allowed him in the room with her when she bathed. But she didn’t think he’d be interested in her back. After all, the back held no appeal for Hothlepoya, which was why he inflicted his punishments on that part of her body.
She turned her attention to the tree outside the window. Most of the leaves were still on the branches, but she knew it was just a matter of time before they fell off. A full moon shone through the cluster of leaves and created shadows on the ceiling. The shadows hadn’t bothered her last night. But they did tonight. It’s not over. It’s just a matter of time before he finds you. She blocked the thought from her mind. She didn’t want to think it. And so she focused on the tangible—things that were solid and real. Things that could take her mind off of her fears.
If only this moment could last forever. She wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her life in this bed with Gary. She took comfort in his warmth. Her fingers brushed the thin hair on his chest. She inhaled the scent of soap they’d used earlier that day when they bathed. How she wished he hadn’t seen her scars. Blinking, more tears fell from her lashes and onto his chest. She quickly wiped them away. Would she spend her life crying in the dark? She hoped not. She wanted to laugh again.
If only she could go back and redo the last month of her life. Then she never would have run from her tribe. She thought nothing could be worse than marrying Citlali. How wrong she’d been.
She needed something—anything—to distract her from thinking anymore. Lifting her head, she nudged Gary in the side. When he was awake, it was easy to forget the demons in her past. Maybe he’d make love to her. He was so gentle with her that she couldn’t help but feel safe and cared for. “Gary?” she whispered.
He shifted but didn’t wake up.
She sat up and shook his arm. “Gary?” she asked, making sure he’d hear her.
His eyes opened and he looked in her direction. “Woape?”
Already feeling better now that he was awake, she snuggled up to him and kissed his cheek. If nothing else, she had learned that it didn’t take much to encourage him. And as she’d hoped, this time was no different than the others. He rolled over so that he was facing her and kissed her on the lips. She eagerly responded to him. The shadows were quickly fading and she was, once again, safe.
Chapter Ten
For the third time, Gary led Woape up the pathway that led to their home. “Woape. Home.” Then he pointed to himself. “Gary. Work.”
He led her into the kitchen and glanced at the clock. This was his first day working for Edward Phillips, and if he didn’t hurry, he was going to be late. And Edward didn’t have a reputation for being patient...or forgiving.
Sighing, he turned back to Woape who didn’t look happy about being left behind. He wondered if she worried that he wouldn’t return. Taking his hat off, he placed it on her head. It worked last time he tried it. Maybe it would again. He took her face in his hands and kissed her. “I’ll be back.” Inspired, he dug his watch out of his pocket and pointed to the five. Then he motioned to the clock on the kitchen wall. “Gary. Home. Five.” He tapped the five. Then he tapped his hat. The action made the hat fall over her eyes. Chuckling, he adjusted the hat so she could see him.
A slight smile graced her lips.
“Pretty,” he whispered. She was amazingly beautiful when she smiled. He kissed her, wishing as he did that he could take her w
ith him. The day was bound to run long without her. “I’ll miss you.”
Sighing, he exited the house. He made it to the edge of the property before he realized she had shut the door and followed him down the path. Stopping, he watched as she made her way over to him. Then he recalled the wounds on her back and the men who’d been pursuing her. Maybe she didn’t feel safe by herself.
“Alright.” He took her hand and walked with her. “But you can’t come to work with me. I’m taking you to Aunt Erin’s.”
She looked at him. “Erin?”
“Yes.”
She shook her head. “No Erin.”
He didn’t expect this to upset her. Didn’t she like his aunt? “Woape, I have to work.” He crossed the street with her and stopped in front of Edward’s repair shop. “Gary. Work.” He pointed to the building. “Work. Here.”
Her eyes lit up with understanding. “Work.”
“Yes. Woape, Erin. Gary, work.”
Her face fell.
“Woape home?” He could tell she didn’t like that anymore than going to his aunt’s. “I can’t take you to work with me. I just can’t.”
She stood still and watched him with her sad eyes.
He groaned. If he didn’t get to work, then they wouldn’t have a place to stay or food to eat. “I’m sorry, but you have to spend the day with my aunt.” Taking her by the arm, he led her down the road until they reached his aunt’s house. He noticed the hesitation in her steps. “You can’t be with me all the time.” When they reached the white picket fence lining the property, he asked her, “Why? Why no Erin?”
She furrowed her eyebrows in a way that told him she understood half of what he said and was struggling to figure out the other half.
“Erin.” He smiled and nodded. “Good?”
She nodded. “Yes. Erin good.”
Alright. So what was the problem? Unable to think of a suitable word, he shrugged and pointed to the house.
Her eyes grew wide and she nodded. Then she crossed her arms and scowled at him. “Julia.”
Oh. That’s why she didn’t want to be there. She didn’t want to deal with his sister. Despite himself, he chuckled. He did like the way she described Julia. Well, who could blame her? Still, he didn’t have much of a choice. “Woape at Erin’s.” Pointing in the direction of Matthew’s place, he added, “Or Woape at home.”
“Woape work.”
“No. Edward...” He thought for a moment and then he crossed his arms and scowled. “Edward. Work.” Setting his hands at his sides and relaxing his face, he said, “Woape no work.”
She finally seemed to understand for she glanced at their home before turning her attention to his aunt’s house.
He sympathized with her plight. Neither option was good for her.
Stepping forward, she went up to his aunt’s front door.
He quickly ran after her and gave her a long hug. “I’ll be back for you, Woape. I promise.” He kissed her and then knocked on the door. “I’ll miss you.”
She offered him a smile but it lacked any enthusiasm.
His aunt opened the door. “My goodness! I didn’t expect you here this early.”
“Woape doesn’t want to stay at Matthew’s place by herself, and I have to go to work. Can you keep her company until I get off work at five? I’ll come by to take her home.”
“I’ll be happy too.” Erin urged Woape into the house. “Oh, Gary, you’ll need your hat.”
Before Erin could take it off Woape’s head, he held his hand up to stop her. “It’s alright. Woape needs to know that I’ll come back.” He leaned forward and kissed Woape’s cheek. Then he realized how ridiculous it must seem that he couldn’t stop kissing her in public, so he stood back up. “I’ll be back.”
“You’d better get to that shop before Edward explodes. He’s not someone you want to anger.”
Didn’t he know it! He ignored the inclination to give his sad looking wife another hug and hurried to his job.
***
Julia couldn’t believe it. As if having Woape take her room and her clothes when she lived in the house wasn’t bad enough! Now her irresponsible brother was shoving Woape at her and Aunt Erin so he could go off to work? Why did he always leave something for her and their aunt to take care of?
Because he can’t see past his own nose. It’s always been what he’s wanted. She brushed past her aunt who was fussing over the Indian girl and grabbed her by the arm.
“What are you doing?” Erin admonished. “Let her go.”
“Gary needs to watch her. He brought her here and then married her. She’s his responsibility. Not ours.”
Woape slapped Julia’s hand away and glared at her.
She resisted the urge to slap her back. The ungrateful girl used her things and consistently swatted at her as if she were an annoying insect. “How much abuse must I endure?”
Her aunt shook her head. “Julia, she doesn’t understand what you’re doing. She thinks you’re trying to hurt her.”
“That’s ridiculous! I’ve never tried to hurt her.”
“With the way you grabbed her arm just now, I can’t say that I blame her. If I didn’t speak your language, saw the scowl on your face and had you yank my arm, I would have slapped you away too.”
Fuming, Julia crossed her arms. “I can’t believe this. You’re taking her side?”
“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m explaining how things must look from her perspective.”
“Because you sympathize with her.”
She groaned. “Not this again.”
Woape moved further away from Julia and sat on the couch.
Julia gritted her teeth. Leave it to Woape to play the victim. Woape undressed and hopped into her brother’s bed, and now he married her to atone for his sin. Was she the only one who could see Woape for what she really was: a conniving shrew? And she’d taken advantage of her brother’s naiveté.
“Is she coming here every day?” Julia asked her aunt.
Erin shrugged. “It could be that once she settles into her new home, she’ll stay there when Gary’s at work.”
Exactly how long would that be? “She hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you.”
What did Erin know? Woape was nice to her! Julia looked at Woape who stared at her hands that were folded in her lap. She couldn’t stand it. Woape had her aunt wrapped around her finger.
Erin walked toward the kitchen and glanced back at her. “Why don’t you help me with the wash?”
“What will she do?” Julia pointed at Woape who didn’t bother looking up.
“Wait for your brother to come get her.”
Julia was about to argue that Woape should do her part, but then she realized that she didn’t want Woape around her so she bit her tongue and hastened to the wash.
***
Three days later, Woape found herself on the way back to Erin’s house. Since Gary hadn’t ventured to ‘work’ for the past two days, Woape thought he was done. But that morning after breakfast, he put on his coat and hat and headed out the door. Startled, she threw her coat and bonnet on and joined him. He looked surprised to see that she followed him.
“Work,” he said, turning to her.
Work? But he was done. Wasn’t he?
“Saturday. Sunday. No work. Monday. Work.”
She recognized the days of the week. If she was right, then Monday meant there would be four more days before Saturday. Did that mean he would be going to work today and four more days? She stepped closer to him. Maybe today she could join him.
As if he read her mind, he sighed. “No. Gary work. Woape home.”
She didn’t fully understand what he had to do during the day and why it meant that they had to be apart. All she knew was that someone named Edward wouldn’t be happy with him if she was there. But Julia wasn’t happy to have her in Erin’s house either. Though Erin was kind to her, Julia didn’t hide her disapproval whenever Erin left the room. Woape tried to ma
ke sure she didn’t end up alone with Julia, but there were times when she’d find herself alone with the intimidating woman.
“Woape. Work,” she finally said. She could lend a helping hand. Maybe if she did, then he’d get off work sooner.
“Oh, Woape.” He brought her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
Closing her eyes, she snuggled up to him and enjoyed the safety she experienced every time he held her. To her dismay, he let go of her and placed his hat on her head. She knew what that meant. It meant he wasn’t going to take her with him. And she didn’t like it.
“I’m sorry,” he replied. “I can’t.”
Her frown deepened.
He took her hands in his and warmed them up. “Woape want Erin’s house?”
“No.” She shook her head and tightened her grip on his hands. “Woape work.”
He chuckled.
What was so funny about that? She had helped her father and brother on occasion.
“Woape home. Gary work. Women home. Men work.” He motioned to the house. “Here? Or Erin’s home?”
She grimaced. How did she say no to both options? But she knew she had to choose. He wouldn’t let her go to work with him. She glanced at the surrounding landscape. To one side was the open land. To the other was the town. They were about a mile away from the first home situated in the town, which meant they were also isolated enough so if she was found... But what was the chance that Hothlepoya would find her?
She gritted her teeth. She hated this! Hated needing to be around someone in order to feel safe. And no one made her feel safer than Gary. After all, who else but Gary could stand up to Hothlepoya and win?
She scanned the countryside. Winter was fast approaching. Patches of snow covered the ground. Would Hothlepoya venture out across the prairie this time of year to find her? Hothlepoya wasn’t like other men. He probably wasn’t affected by the cold weather. She admonished herself. Of course, the cold would bother him. He was flesh and blood. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t have been afraid of Gary. Sighing, she decided she was better off being close to Gary, even if it meant being in the same house with Julia while she waited for him to get off work for the day.
Restoring Hope Page 8
