Love by Dawn

by Therese A. Kramer

  Images of Moon Glow, Blue Thunder and the cave were so branded in his mind that the past became the present. His love sat in the corner and the sight of red blood on her legs brought back the horrible day Moon Glow gave birth. He had to fight off the wolves that were trying to attack her. The screams of the past filled the cave and he stood searching for the mad dogs that howled. In his head, louder and louder their cries began to bounce off the stone walls.

  “Moon Glow!”

  A cry shattered the silence that surrounded Casey. Seeing the crazed look in the brave’s dark eyes, she huddled further into the cave. His face contorted into an ugly mask as the fire danced on his features making him look all the more repulsive. Once again, Hawk Nose called out Moon Glow’s name, ranting and raving something about hungry wolves tearing at his flesh. He stopped and collapsed on the ground. Casey sat so still she could hear her own heart beat. Tears streamed down her face and she prayed silently for Blake to find her before this Indian went completely loco and raped, or killed her. Without moving a muscle she watched Hawk Nose fold himself into a ball and sleep until he woke acting like himself again, which was a far cry from being normal. She was glad her time only lasted three days and she flowed lightly. But they were three miserable days nevertheless. She was allowed to go outside and wash herself as best she could in the freshly fallen snow, which by the third day was up to her calf. Shivering, she slept alone at night huddled in the corner. At meal times, Hawk Nose threw her the food and she had to wipe off the dirt before she could eat it. By the time she was ready to travel, she was angry for being treated as if she were a caged animal and she wondered if she’d ever feel human again.

  When the brave decided she was pure, he ordered her to remove her dress and wash it along with his pants. Shivering, he threw the horse blanket over her shoulders and even though she rewarded this act with a dark frown, she quickly snuggled into its folds. Huddled outside only in the blanket, she believed she’d freeze to death before she finished her task. By the time she returned to the cave her teeth chattered so hard, she thought her jaw would crack. Laying herself and the garment by the fire, she felt a headache beginning and queasiness in her stomach. She feared she was catching a whopper of a cold and cursed under her breath. It would serve the savage right if she died of pneumonia. She sneezed twice wiping her runny nose on her arm.

  “Moon Glow sleep by the fire.” He frowned when he touched her warm face, knowing she had a fever. “You are sick. We cannot make it to hiding place on mountain top now. We remain here through winter months,” he informed her.

  She hid a smile. It was the first time in her life she welcomed a cold.

  Hawk Nose watched his love moan and thrash about under the blanket. She’d been with fever for two days. He washed her face with snow and forced her to drink it. He kept her near the fire and wrapped them both in the blanket, holding her trembling body close. Even though she was ill, he couldn’t keep his hands from roaming over her soft curves anticipating the day he would take her to his mat. He loved her and she was his now. When he kissed her sleeping mouth it brought back the memory of the day she had first kissed him down by the lake.

  She had been bathing. When she emerged from the lake her pale body glistened from the sun’s kiss. Losing all control, he appeared before her. She had been enraged at his bad behavior and told him so. Dressing quickly, she turned to leave but a rattler stood in her path. Not suspecting the danger, he pushed Moon Glow to the ground. He’d killed the viper before it struck out its deadly venom. Grateful for having her life spared, the golden haired beauty placed a tender kiss on his face. She had sealed her fate.

  “Blake,” he heard the moan bringing Hawk Nose out of his dreams.

  Who was this Blake? It did not matter, she belonged to him now.

  Three days later her fever broke and Casey awoke feeling very weak from hunger. Her throat was so raw it hurt like blazes to swallow. Licking her parched lips, she could feel the crusted scabs of dried blood. She tried to speak but her lips tingled, burned and cracked again. Once more, she tried to speak. Her voice came out like a croak and she tried to swallow the burning cinder she believed was lodged in her throat. Feeling God awful, she wished she had died instead of opening her painful eyes. And to make matters worse, she saw that dreadful Indian looking into her face. She moaned pitifully, closing her eyes and touching her aching head.

  “So you return to the living,” he said with a trace of sarcasm.

  “Aren’t you the observant one,” she snorted, sassy-mouthed but refused to open her eyes, wishing it were all a bad nightmare. Maybe he’d go away if she kept her lids shut tight. But he didn’t go away and Hawk Nose spoke again, this time she heard some tenderness in his voice. Her mind wasn’t right, she must be hearing things. Rolling on her side she whispered, “Go away…you’re just a bad dream,” she rasped. He touched her forehead.

  “Words are confusing, Moon Glow not delirious. I no dream,” he groused.

  He turned her back and shook her lightly. She groaned again, his shaking not helping her pain.

  “Open eyes. See I am here.”

  Casey opened her eyes and blinked, still not wanting to believe he was real. “Go away; I feel sick to my stomach,” she groaned,” and turning over again and retched dry heaves.

  “Moon Glow need hot food in belly to get well. I go into the snow. You know Apache can survive in zero weather with hardly any clothes.”

  “Well, goody for you!” she snapped and she heard him mutter in Athabscan. She was certain they were not love words.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Blake lost track of the days he had been tracking the deranged red skin’s horse. Over and over the horrible story that his cousin confessed to him plagued his mind. He knew his life would mean nothing without her and he swore that when he caught up to them he’d kill Hawk Nose for all the pain he had inflicted on everyone, now and in the past. His only hope for Casey’s safety was that the Indian continued to think he had captured Moon Glow.

  Thinking about that buck putting his hands on her made his skin crawl.

  Blake wrapped himself in the fur blanket his cousin insisted he take. He was grateful as wind and snow whipped around his cold body. His mind worried knowing Casey was clad only in an Indian dress and moccasins. Snow had come earlier than expected and he prayed that she and the Indian found a warm place to stay. He cringed many times at the thought of coming across her frozen body somewhere. Though frustrated since losing all signs of them when the first snow dusted the hard ground, he was sure where they were headed and he’d find them or die trying.

  Checkers worked its way against the stinging wind. As the trail climbed, the horse’s hooves picking their way up through snow-covered rocks, Blake filled his thoughts with the memory of their night of love that seemed ages ago. Still feeling the way her flesh responded to his touch and the images of her lovely body kept his blood stirred, keeping his bones warm. The thought of the sweet smell of her womanly body made his heart ache for her, even now. He’d be damned if he’d let anyone take her from him.

  The higher they climbed, the deeper the snow drifts became and he knew he’d have to leave Checkers behind, it was getting to slippery on the trial. He found a ledge where he built a fire from pine needles and ticks that were not wet with snow. It took awhile to get the fire started and he prayed his matches would last. He didn’t want to have to rub two sticks together, never having quite mastering the art, though he had tried many times.

  His father might argue the point that he never raised a fool, but Blake always carried a supply of sulfur sticks in his saddlebags, even though he didn’t smoke. Hearing his stomach rumble, he ate the last piece of dried buffalo meat, never thinking he’d get used to eating the beast. It was tough, but it sufficed. A wolf howled and he shivered hoping it kept its distance. Checkers sidestepped and whinnied. Blake assumed the horse was thinking the same thing.

  “Hey, old boy, the feeling is mutual. I don’t want to be any critter’s me
al either. I’m depending on you to stay awake so I can get some shut eye.” The horse snorted and Blake placed his hat over his face and closed his weary eyes. He trusted Checkers with his life. What other option did he have?

  After a short rest, his hope of finding them in the mountains was slim but he kept looking behind every rock and into caves he stumbled upon. He hoped that they were holed up in one somewhere. His horse was left behind that morning; he decided to climb the mountain by foot. Cautiously, he checked his footing on the narrow ledge of the slopes. The higher he traveled, the thinner the air seemed to get making him draw in deep, labored breathes. He was tried, hungry, frozen like an icicle and damn irritated. But his anger kept him going.

  As he climbed over a large rock he saw movement to the right, but thinking it was just a wild animal, he paid no attention. Then he saw the bright colors of the headband against the white of the snow. Ducking back behind the boulder, he waited. Upon hearing the crunching of the footprints, he slowly drew his gun, cocked it, then waited, shivering behind a rock. He watched as a rabbit foolishly poked his nose out of its hole. With the swiftness of an arrow, the Indian’s blade found its mark.

  By Moon Glow’s description, he had no doubt that it was Hawk Nose.

  Retrieving his knife, the brave wiped it clean in the snow and picked up the dead thing by its long ears. The foolish Indian left a bloody trail to the cave, but Blake suspected Hawk Nose believed he was safe in the mountains. Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, he called out to the unsuspecting Indian.

  “If you harmed her, I’ll skin you like an animal!” his voice cut like whiplash.

  It was silent. Blake’s patience was exhausted and he crept forward with his knife raised for the kill. Hawk Nose turned and lunged at him. He was not suspecting the swiftness of the red man and the blade found a mark. But he was lucky, for his own quick sidestep saved him from being wounded in the chest. Instead, the blade dug across his upper arm. The pain made him stumble back into the snow, but not before he fired a shot which hit Hawk Nose right in the heart. The Indian was dead before he fell onto him.

  It took a few minutes for Blake to push the brave’s dead weight from off him. He cursed, feeling his arm burn and noticing he was covered with the Indian’s blood. Believing his wound was not too deep, he looked at his torn sleeve. His jacket was fur lined and its thickness had kept him from being seriously wounded. Holding his arm, he entered the cave not believing that he had been that close all night. He waited until his eyes adjusted to the dimness before he spotted the small fire, but his heart stopped, he didn’t see anyone else.

  Blake searched the cave and noticed a small form huddled near the wall. Casey was making gasping and moaning sounds and he didn’t like what he heard, but he had found her and she was alive. With quickened steps, he was by her side and turned her over. Casey’s eyes were squeezed shut and she tried to push him from her. Still not looking at him, she struggled, but he held her and refused to let go.

  “Damn, you son-of-a-bitch! Can’t you see that I’m still sick?” she groused in a tart voice.

  She looked like hell, but she was still kicking and her curses were sugar to his ears. “You are indeed an enigma,” he answered. “Casey, open your eyes, it’s me… Blake.”

  Casey heard the familiar, deep soothing voice, but she thought she must be delirious. Had the fever melted her brain to mush? Refusing to see the truth, she squeezed her lids tighter.

  “Go away…you can’t fool me,” she intoned, exasperated. “Go away I said, or I’ll vomit over you the next time.” She knew her threat was hollow; she had nothing in her stomach. She heard the chuckle and the smug laugh jolted her eyes open. She’d know that laugh anywhere. Blake and his blood soaked jacket knelt in front of her.

  “Oh, Blake! It’s really you?” Then she gasped. “You’re shot!” The room spun.

  Blake was shot. Was she hallucinating? He must be dead. No, she’s dead. No… it was the fever. This wasn’t happening. They’re both dead.

  She squeezed her eyes shut tight hoping to block out the image. Her thoughts were in a frenzy, but one thing she was sure of; she’d never open her eyes again. Even when she felt the gentle tapping on her cheek, she remained obstinate until liquid was poured on her face. She sputtered and struck out at him blindly, cursing once more. Before Casey opened her eyes, she could feel him kissing her flush face over and over.

  “I’m sorry I frightened you, sweetheart. I’m all right and I’m really here. Please open your eyes for me, we’re both all right. It was Hawk Nose’s blood on my jacket. I killed him. Look.”

  Slowly Casey opened her eyes. His words spun around in her foggy brain; she blinked, seeing his handsome face. He loosened his grip on her and pointed to his chest. “See, no blood. It was on my coat. Look, I’m not hurt. I forgot I was covered with that damn Indian’s blood; no wonder you were hysterical.”

  He ripped off the coat and numbly she cried, “Oh, Blake!” and went limp against his broad chest. She was exhausted, but overwhelmed and relieved that he found her. She sighed and touched his arm discovering it was sticky. Looking at her hand and seeing more blood, puzzle-ment coupled with dread reappeared in her mind.

  She frowned up at him. “You lied… you’re hurt.”

  “Don’t worry that pretty little head, it’s only a scratch.” He kissed her warm forehead. Her savior ignored the small cut and she replied, “Blake, I’m so filthy and my dress stinks so bad, please help me remove it and wrap me in that blanket. Maybe if I get rid of the awful stench and sponge off my body I might feel better.”

  “It will be my pleasure, ma’am,” he drawled.

  She smiled weakly at him. Always the tease, she thought, but she’d welcome his banter happily as long as they were together. Thankfully, Blake had the foresight to bring along leggings and a woolen shirt for her, knowing she wore only a deerskin dress.

  Blake warmed up snow and sponged off her flush body, seeing her face look a mite embarrassed and he believed the hue was not only from her fever. He could understand her mortification; no one likes such a personal ritual to be performed by another, even a lover.

  Yes, he loved her but the more he thought about it the more he believed he had never declared his feelings for her. Why were the words so hard to form? Well, he wouldn’t waste time pondering on it now, he had to make sure she recovered first and there was plenty of time for such talk later.

  When she was clean, he wrapped her in his fur blanket, to keep her warm. She sighed content and declared she did indeed feel better, but confessed she was starving. He promised to find them a dinner and true to his word, he returned with the rabbit Hawk Nose had killed. The delicious smell of the animal roasting over a small fire filled the cave and he heard Casey stir.

  “Mmmm,” she sighed, “that smells heavenly. I hope I can keep it down.”

  Blake helped her sit up, feeling her cooler to his touch. “This dinner was caught by that Indian. I was sure you wouldn’t mind me cooking it.”

  She didn’t answer but asked a question of her own. “Where is he?”

  “Outside, but the ground it too frozen to bury him because it’s snowing again, so I suspect his corpse will be buried in an ice coffin. Come spring when he thaws, the animals will feast on his remains.”

  She shivered and hugged herself. “As evil as he was, I believe everyone should have a decent burial but your right, the conditions are not favorable. The red man was delusional and deranged.”

  “Come eat and let’s not worry over something we have no control over. You need to get strength. I need to go down the mountain to gather branches to store here so we have firewood. It takes many days for them to dry out.” He saw her eyes grow wide with fear. “Don’t worry, you’ll be safe. I left Checkers below, but I will try to get him up this far. I don’t want to find a frozen horse when it warmed up.”

  Blake found his horse nibbling on grass the animal had found under the snow. It wasn’t as deep where he had left the animal. “Hey
, fella, sorry to be gone so long. Come, we need to get you into the cave, then I need to collect twigs and branches to warm us. You can keep Casey company and I believe there might be a few grains of oats left in my saddle bags,” he sweetened the pot. The horse needed no further prodding and followed his master up the slope, but it proved treacherous and he nearly lost his footing several times.

  “You’ll have company, there’s a little filly waiting for you. I hope you don’t mind that she’s an Apache horse.” Checkers snorted and Blake had to assume his horse didn’t mind in the least.

  No sooner had Casey started to get better, his arm got infected.

  “I thought you said it was just a scratch,” she had scolded him when she saw his shirt wet with puss.

  Blake shrugged, “It wasn’t really deep but it got infected anyway. I was too concerned about nursing you back to health that I didn’t pay much attention to it.” He grunted as she removed his shirt slowly, material had stuck to the wound. “It looks as if you have to cauterize it for me.”

  Casey’s eyes grew large knowing what he meant. She recalled the day her brother had to burn her father’s leg when he cut it with an ax. She wiggled her nose with distaste still remembering the awful smell of burning flesh.

  Blake laid the knife in the burning embers. They made small fires from twigs for branches were scare. He had gathered an armful yesterday; but they needed to dry before they would burn and he had hoped to gather more today. Wood was needed for warmth and cooking and she was glad he brought a small pot in his gear. Boiling water from snow and dried meat made hot broth for them. He even dug deep into the hard grown and found a few wild turnips and onions before they rotted.