by Paty Jager
“I am here. Do not fall off the cliff again.”
Her soft voice drifted to his ears as her head appeared above the side of the ledge. The frantic beating of his heart slowed. Dizziness swept through his head and weakened his legs.
Angel grasped his arm and led him back to the blanket. “Sit. You are not strong.”
“Are you all right?” He traced his fingers over her face and down her arms seeking wounds. “Did the rocks I knocked loose hit you? How did I get back up here?” He gathered her into an embrace. His heart raced faster when she didn’t fight his arms drawing her closer.
“The rocks did not harm me. You are lucky you were not hurt worse.” Her arms wrapped around him, and her head snuggled against his chest.
Bliss. He could hold this woman in his arms and be content for the rest of his life. They argued but it wasn’t fighting. Coming from two different places, they tried to make the other understand their point of view. And then this—the comfort and belonging he experienced when she wrapped her arms around him.
“I still find it hard to believe you’re an Indian”—she stiffened and started to pull away—“but, I’ll stop arguing with you.” He grasped her chin, tilting her face into view. The uncertainty in her eyes jerked his protective instincts out.
“I don’t want anything to happen to you. The thought the rocks I dislodged could have hit you…” He smoothed his thumb back and forth across her soft cheek. “I could never live with myself if I caused you any kind of harm. You’ve done so much for me.”
“You could never harm me.”
The sincerity glistening in her eyes made him wonder if she held any of the emotions raging inside him. He dipped his head, touching her enticing lips. Soft. So soft. He brushed his lips gently across hers. Her body stiffening brought the realization she’d never been kissed.
Wade lifted his head only enough to peer into her eyes. “Thank you for healing me and saving me again today.” He placed another chaste kiss on her lips and gazed at her, again. His body ached to deepen the kiss and explore her essence.
She relaxed in his arms. “I helped you for saving my niece. You have a good heart.”
“I saved you, too. You stood between the rifle and your niece.” He drew her tighter. “All that death could’ve been avoided. I’m glad I came along and you and your niece were spared.”
Her small hands grasped his face. “These feelings you have are why I saved you. You can help my people. You are more than a soldier. You can talk to the leaders.” Her eyes searched his before they closed, and she pressed her lips to his.
He had to tell her he didn’t have a chance in hell to change the minds of the higher ranking officers. Her mouth pressed to his, muddied his thoughts. He pulled her tight and skimmed his tongue along the seam of her lips, coaxing her to open and share more.
Her lips parted, and he slipped his tongue in. Desire unlike anything he’d ever experienced before rocked him as if the earth shook. And her taste. Sweeter than sugar and twice as addictive. Her tentative exploration of his mouth stilled his movements.
Angel’s fingers slid into his hair, holding him in the kiss. A sigh floated in the air. The last time he’d kissed an innocent woman he’d been just as innocent. The day before he headed to war, he and Jenny Small kissed behind her barn. A heated coming together of two youths who hadn’t a clue what they wanted.
Wade renewed his side of the kiss. He knew what he wanted. To show her she meant more to him than saving his life. Since the first time he saw her, she’d been foremost in his thoughts. Never had a woman plagued him so. He’d take the comfort she gave and hope when they parted tomorrow it would be enough to get him through this latest campaign.
Her palms pushed against his chest. His arms tightened, unwilling to let her go.
“No.” Her soft, calm voice along with her breaking their kiss slammed the reality of their situation back into his head.
He released her and stepped back. His warm lips buzzed from the contact. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
She placed two fingers on his lips. “You did nothing wrong. Rest while I make soup.” Her plump lips and heightened color on her cheeks were a reminder they’d just kissed. Her gaze drifted to his lips before she walked to the small fire pit and knelt.
“I can help,” he offered, taking a step.
“No. It is best you stay there and I stay here.” She didn’t glance his direction but set to the task of enticing the coals in the fire to catch on the bark steeple over the white ashes. Her pursed lips blowing on the ashes shot heat through his body. The kiss they shared would be burned in his memory.
“You never did explain how you plan to catch up to the band when the army hasn’t made it yet.” This was a good topic to chill the yearning growing in his body.
She poured water from the canteen into a tin cup and tossed in two pieces of dried meat. “I have my ways.”
Her confident tone curved his lips into a smile. “I would think to catch up with the tribe you would need wings.”
She peered at him over her shoulder. Her eyes twinkled, and her lips tipped in a sassy smile. “That is a good idea.”
He shook his head and smiled. He liked this playful personality, but he also liked the serious Angel. The one who stood up to him when he questioned her about the tribe.
Sa-qan ducked her head as if studying the soup and touched her lips with her fingers. She never knew kissing could heat a body so and leave one almost floating off the ground, much like flying. The safety she experienced in Wade’s arms blossomed with the touching of their lips. Happiness, greater than she had ever experienced before, swirled in her chest. The last time she remembered wanting to giggle from happiness happened before she became a spirit.
How could she be this happy when the existence of the Nimiipuu grew more and more threatened? This thought sucked the happiness from her. She studied Wade sitting against the cliff, his eyes watching her. A goofy smile peeked out from under that soft patch of hair on his upper lip. The contrast of the short prickly hair on his cheeks and the softness of the long hair on his face had surprised and pleased her.
She liked too many things about this man. And had too many reasons to stay away from him. She would leave tonight when he slept. He had enough wood and water to last him until Cut Arm arrived.
Sorrow replaced the earlier elation. Even knowing it was best to leave, her decision weighed heavy. She enjoyed talking with the lieutenant. Sa-qan touched her lips again. She enjoyed many things about the man.
The water boiled, changing the liquid to light brown. The meat plumped. She pulled it from the water and using a rock and Wade’s knife, cut it in bite-sized pieces. She returned the cut meat to the soup and placed the cup out of the flames to cool.
Her hands fluttered on her lap with nothing to occupy her.
“How come I never see you eat?” Wade’s brow wrinkled in a frown.
“I eat when you are sleeping.” Now that he was healed she would have to be more careful. He was more perceptive of what went on around him.
He continued to watch her closely. “When do you sleep?”
“In between caring for you.”
“I’ve been a lot of work.” He ran a hand over the hair on his lip.
“No more than any other wounded warrior.” She knelt beside him. “Is there a name for the hair on your face?”
His hand smoothed the hair once more. “This?”
She nodded. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch the softness of it one more time before she left.
“Mustache.” His gaze hovered over her face. “Do you like it?”
She nodded. “Nimiipuu men do not have hair on their faces. Why do you have scratchy hair here”—she touched his prickly cheek—“and it is soft here?” Her finger trailed over to the mustache.
“If I allowed this part to grow”—he captured her hand, placing the palm on his cheek—“it would be as soft as the mustache.”
Sa-qan scrunched her face
. “You would look like an animal if all of your face had hair.”
“I agree. That’s why I usually shave. But as you know I’ve not been up to the task lately.”
Her palm heated from the wet kiss he placed in it. The heat of his breath, softness of his mustache on her fingers, and the glimmer in his eyes lit a warm glow in her chest.
“You will forever be in my memory.” His deep voice and sincere gaze quivered her insides.
“Your soup is ready.” Sa-qan stood, pulling her hand from his and putting distance between their bodies again. She knew only what she saw of animals and the Nimiipuu mating. But she grew certain the internal fire burning in her core had to do with wanting to mate with this man. She must leave as soon as possible. The consequences of going so far with a mortal were shown to her firsthand through her brothers. First Himiin becoming mortal to be with Wren, and then the anguish Wewukiye struggled through when he thought he had lost Dove.
She would not allow a mortal to come between her and the Nimiipuu. That would not happen to her. Her life was protecting the Nimiipuu, not a soldier—the enemy.
Sa-qan placed the tin cup in his hands and walked to the edge. “I am leaving now. When you feel strong enough, walk down the cliff. Cut Arm will be here in one sun.”
“Where are you going?”
His tone caused her to glance over her shoulder. The worry lines framing his dark eyes stabbed her with guilt. “To my people.” She watched her feet as she stepped off the ledge.
“It’ll be dark soon. Wait until morning when it’s safer.” His voice followed her down the slope.
I must go now.
Emptiness poured into her soul with each step. But she could not remain with him and protect the Nimiipuu.
Far down the cliff side where he could not see her, she shifted into an eagle and soared into the sky. She flew one pass over the ledge and wished she had not. Wade sat alone, his lips turned down in sadness, sipping the soup. Her wings faltered. Pushing her emotions deep inside where they would have to struggle to emerge again, she flew toward the Nimiipuu. They were all she needed.
`Uyne’-pt
(7)
Wade slept fitfully. How would Angel catch up to the Nez Perce? She couldn’t travel fast enough on foot to catch them. And the fact she could be found by warriors, civilians, or soldiers…his mind played tricks on him all night as he dreamed of the many disasters she could encounter.
Even though he doubted she knew when General Howard and his regiment would arrive, he’d spent the greater part of the morning slowly descending the cliff. How the hell that small woman managed to get him on that ledge stumped him. He doubted he could’ve carried her up there without having to stop many times.
He’d lugged his saddlebag and personal items down off the ledge. His strength ebbed while descending the cliff, but now, as he stood by the river it slowly returned. He found a spot with easy access to the water to wash and shave. No one would believe he was shot at close range three days ago. The bloody hole in his shirt and the red circle in his shoulder were the only proof he had of the wound. How Angel healed him so fast added another puzzle to the woman.
His stomach growled. He dug in the saddlebag and pulled out hardtack. Chewing on the biscuit brought back moments with Angel. Good memories didn’t come often to him. She had given him light in a life that had become dark. A knot formed in his throat, and he choked on the dry food. His eyes burned from unshed tears. How could one person—the enemy—bring him such joy? One thing he knew for sure, if he ran across her again he would not let her go. Her insistence she was Nez Perce put her in danger.
He smiled and ate the remaining biscuit, replaying every moment he spent with the extraordinary woman.
The clomp of hooves, snorts of horses, and creak of leather signaled an advancing unit fifteen minutes before he caught a glimpse of the forward garrison. The scouts must’ve gone through before he made it down the cliff. Otherwise they would have noticed him struggling on the cliff side.
His heart stopped. What about Angel? Would she be able to hide from the scouts?
“Lt. Watts? Your men said you’d been killed.” General Howard reined his horse up alongside Wade.
“Nearly killed, sir. As you can see, I’m well and have been awaiting your arrival since I’m a cavalry officer without a mount.” Thoughts of Angel couldn’t scatter his thinking. Especially if he planned to keep her safe.
“Corporal Smith, ride to the back and find a suitable mount for the lieutenant.” General Howard dismounted. “The rest of you water the horses.”
Howard walked up to Wade, scrutinizing his uniform. “A shoulder wound. Well enough to ride?” Howard waved his only arm toward the hole in Wade’s uniform.
“Yes.” He wasn’t going to tell Howard about his nurse. The general would ask questions he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer.
“Have you seen any Indian activity?”
“Only the two who shot me and Private Trainor and the wounded my men and I came upon a days ride from here. You should’ve passed them.” He hoped they hadn’t been brought along.
“We didn’t see any wounded where Private Marks indicated you encountered them.”
The general studied Wade as he sent up a silent thank you. He’d hoped the group had managed to move on. If Angel had worked her healing magic on them they should’ve been able to travel.
“How is it your men thought you dead when you seem to be in better health than most of my men?” Howard accepted an opened canteen handed to him by an aide.
“After being shot I must have been delirious and wandered off, I guess. All I know is I came to and found a fresh mound of dirt I suspected covered Trainor and my belongings scattered. Without a mount, I rested and nursed my injuries.” The lie set heavy and sour in his belly, but he’d never disclose his infatuation with Angel or the fact she was headed to the Nez Perce. Instead, he prayed she had a safe journey and stayed far from skirmishes he knew were yet to come. If even a quarter of the Nez Perce had as strong beliefs as Angel, heaven help the Army.
“I see.” Howard still watched him intently.
Smith rode up leading a sorrel gelding.
Wade tied his saddlebag on behind the saddle and mounted. The strong animal under him gave him the mobility he desired. He’d spent too many years on the back of these animals to want to join the ranks of the infantry.
“Thank you, General. I’ll go find my men.” Wade saluted the officer and rode through the ranks peering at the faces, searching for his men.
“Lieutenant Watts?” Private Marks shot out of line, his horse stopping next to Wade’s. “Where did you come from? We thought…”
Wade told Marks the same story he told the general.
“You look rested.” Jealousy sprouted in Marks’s voice.
“I figured it was better for a cavalry man to stay put and wait for a horse than take off walking.” He scanned his beleaguered troop. “I wish I could give you all a rest”—the bugle blew to move out—“but it looks like we’re on the move.”
The regiment moved out. Wade slipped his horse into the formation and studied as much of the regiment as he could see. From the sagging bodies and sporadic conversations of the mounted forces and the wagons overflowing with foot soldiers this campaign had the men worn out. Now he knew why the General was so quick to notice his good health.
The next time they met the Nez Perce it would be interesting to see if their spirits and animals fared the same as these troops.
****
Sa-qan followed a trail that sickened her heart. In the path of the fleeing Nimiipuu, Whitemen had been killed. She caught up to the gathered bands and circled above the camp. The makeshift dwellings and poor supplies frustrated her. The once proud and wealthy Nimiipuu lived on meager supplies and hunted for shelter. The wounded lay upon travois ready to be moved if the soldiers arrived.
I am here, she said to Wewukiye.
We are watching from the north.
She circled a
nd found her brother and his wife, in their elk forms, milling around in the tree line. Sa-qan landed in a pine tree and studied Wewukiye and Dove’s nervous actions.
“What has happened?” She ruffled her feathers and settled in for an update on the group.
“Lemhi warriors followed the Nimiipuu and cut out almost a hundred horses yesterday.” Wewukiye stopped his agitated stomping and stared at her. “And there are those among the younger warriors who have been using the massacre of our women and children as a reason to kill every so·yá·po they find.”
“I have witnessed this. It will only anger the soldiers more.” She shook her head as her heart ached for her people. “We have to find a way to stop the killing. Someone has to speak to the leaders.”
Wewukiye stared at her. “How? We cannot show ourselves.”
“But we can enter those that lead.” The risk outweighed the outcome. With emotions so high and bodies improperly fed, entering a leader and having them act out of the ordinary could bring suspicion on them from others.
“Who? And what would we have them say?” Dove stepped beside Wewukiye, her big brown eyes shimmering with hope.
Sa-qan knew her sister feared for Girl of Many Hearts and those that kept her well.
“Looking Glass, Joseph, and Lean Elk.” Sa-qan studied the two elk. “They are the strongest leaders. Those are the three we will enter. If they are united in not harming the so·yá·po then the warriors will not do so with such abandon.”
Wewukiye nodded. “It may work. The three of us cannot keep up with every warrior who has anger in his heart.”
“I agree,” Sa-qan flapped her wings. “I will take Joseph. Wewukiye, you take Looking Glass, Dove, you enter Lean Elk.” She thought a minute. “We will bring them together in discussion then have them speak to everyone. That way it will look more like a combined decision.”
“Agreed,” Wewukiye said, shifting to smoke.
“I believe this is the only way,” Dove said as her body faded and smoke drifted into the sky.
“Me, too.” Sa-qan shifted and floated toward the camp, seeking Joseph.
