Maybe she could shout and the soldiers would hear her! She opened her mouth and he put his lips over hers, his tongue deep in her throat. She pounded on his chest and bucked under him, but she could not dislodge him.
He kissed her the whole time the train was passing, his hand caressing her breasts, and, after a long moment, Glory forgot about the train, forgot about everything except the heat of this virile male lying between her thighs, the way his tongue teased her mouth. Her own pulse seemed to be pounding like a war drum in her head.
She could feel his hard manhood throbbing against her body as he held her down and caressed and kissed her. For the first time in her life, Glory knew what it was to ache with desire for a man. For too long, they had been holding back the fire, and now it blazed like flames across dry grass. He’s going to take me right here and now, she thought in a hot haze. And she wasn’t sure she could—or wanted to—stop him!
Thirteen
Despite her fighting, Glory couldn’t get away from Two Arrows, and he overpowered her. The train was only a dot in the distant darkness, pulling into the Dodge City station when he raised up on his elbows, glaring down at her. His dark eyes shone both with fury and desire. “Glory, for what you just tried to do in alerting the soldiers, I ought to toss you to Broken Blade!”
She rolled out from under him, bruised and angry that she’d missed her chance. “Damn it, why don’t you do just that!”
He hesitated, then whispered, “Ne-mehotatse.”
“What?” She thought she’d heard that phrase before, but she couldn’t remember what it meant.
He shrugged, stood up, and yanked her to her feet, while watching the train in the distant town.
“You could at least tell me what it means.”
“It means you’d better not try that again. Let’s get moving. I have a feeling all those soldiers unloading here may be meant for us.” He whistled, and his horse got up, snorting.
Ne-mehotatse. Somehow, she didn’t believe his translation. The tender tone he’d used was not the tone a man would use in barking an order. Her anger cooled. After all, he felt responsible for the safety of all these people, and her alerting the soldiers might have endangered them. She’d bide her time and hope she got another opportunity.
Two Arrows signaled the others. “Hurry!” he ordered. “We never know when another train might come. Some of you men get branches to wipe out our footprints near the tracks after we cross, so passing trains won’t see them tomorrow.”
“Everyone’s tired,” Glory protested. “You aren’t going to make them ride all night?”
He swung up in his saddle, held out his hand to her. “We’ve still got a river to cross, and the scouts tell us it’s at flood stage. We’ve got to put plenty of distance between us and the town full of soldiers before we rest.”
If only the soldiers knew she was here! There was nothing she could do now but watch for another opportunity to escape. Still . . . she touched her lips absently, remembering the taste of his mouth, the muscular virility of his powerful body pinning hers down.
She let him pull her up on the horse behind him, rested her face against his broad muscular back. His big frame made quite a windbreak, and his body was warm as she fitted hers into the planes of his.
The column started out again, and she put her arms around his lean waist, remembering with trepidation her own sudden reaction to the feel of his big body lying on hers, the taste of his mouth, the caress of his hand on her breast. She had seen the hunger in his eyes and knew it could be used to her own advantage. Tonight, maybe she would get a chance to bargain with him. Perhaps she could trade her body for her freedom.
When she saw the Arkansas River running swift and deep, she knew they were in for trouble. “Two Arrows, you can’t take these people across that; some of them will never make it.”
He had dismounted, studying the water. “You think I don’t know that?” He looked behind him toward Dodge City and then toward the east. “It isn’t long until dawn. We’ve got to cross now, or we’ll be trapped up against this river if those soldiers from the train see us and attack.”
“I—I’m afraid; I can’t swim.”
“I didn’t think you were afraid of anything,” he answered wryly. “It’s good to know in a few ways, you’re like other women after all. Besides”—he lowered his voice—“you know I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“Because I’m a valuable hostage?”
Annoyance clouded his handsome features in the moonlight. “Sure. What else?”
The leaders rode over to confer with him while the women and children waited. Their expressions were somber as they studied the swiftly flowing water, then looked back at the weary people waiting patiently for orders.
Two Arrows’s high-boned face was a grim mask as he returned, reached to lift her down. Then he swung up into the saddle.
“Where are you going?” she demanded, suddenly apprehensive to have him ride away and leave her. She hadn’t realized how much she’d come to depend on him the last few days.
He checked the lasso on his saddle, tossed the end to Tangle Hair, who began tying it off to a big rock. “I’m going to swim my horse across, attach the rope to that stump on the other side. That will give people something to hang on to as they cross, keep them from being swept away downstream.”
“And what’s to keep you from being swept downstream? Why doesn’t Broken Blade do it?”
“Because he didn’t volunteer,” he snapped, his mind evidently already on the task at hand as he waded his horse out into the water.
“Two Arrows—”
He turned in his saddle and looked back at her. “Yes?”
“Be—be careful.”
He looked surprised and smiled. “I will. Wait here, Proud One; I’ll be back for you.”
She nodded, surprised to realize she had complete confidence in his abilities. If anyone could get that rope across the swift current, Two Arrows could.
The paint waded out into the river, snorted, began to swim for the far bank at his rider’s urging. The horse’s head went under, and it came up thrashing the water into brown foam as Two Arrows clung to its neck, urging it on.
Glory heard a sharp intake of breath around her and looked up. All eyes were on the scout; all their hopes were pinned on him, she thought. If the Cheyenne were still on this side of the river after the sun rose, they would be captured; some of the ringleaders hanged. Of course she wanted that arrogant scout to pay the penalty. Then why did she find herself urging him on?
She saw Redbird holding her baby and old Moccasin Woman and her granddaughter close by. They all gave Glory an encouraging nod. She smiled, touched the little beaded bracelet for luck, and turned her attention back to the river.
For what seemed like an eternity, Two Arrows struggled against the fast-flowing water, then his horse touched bottom and scrambled up the bank to a sigh of relief from the waiting people. Glory realized then that she, too, had been holding her breath, concerned for his safety. That disconcerted her. She should be hoping he drowned, anything to delay the crossing until dawn, when someone from the town might spot her and come to her rescue.
He secured the line around the stump on the other side and signaled the warriors. They pulled the line taut on this shore and began guiding people into the water, one or two at a time, holding on to the rope to keep from being swept away. This could take a very long time, she thought, watching the east. Dawn would be breaking in an hour or so, and surely that many people couldn’t cross so soon.
Fragile old Sitting Man, with a bundle of supplies tied to his back, was crossing now. The water pulled at the bundle, then it came loose and floated away downstream. There was a small cry from some of the others, knowing it contained food they couldn’t afford to lose, but it could not be helped. The old warrior made it safely to the other side, Two Arrows reaching a strong hand out to help him.
Now Redbird crossed, her baby girl safely tied to her back.
Warriors began crossing, holding their few weapons over their heads to keep them dry.
Old Moccasin Woman and little Grasshopper started across, but halfway out into the churning water, the tired bay horse got into trouble and little Grasshopper was swept away. The grandmother cried out as the child bobbed in the water.
Promptly, Two Arrows dived in, came up swimming strongly, grabbing for the child.
Glory pushed her way through the people to the riverbank, determined to help; but he didn’t need any help. He swam to the other side to place the little girl on the riverbank and helped the grandmother and the horse ashore. Glory heaved a sigh of relief and watched the others crossing. Finally, there were only the dog soldiers and Glory left.
Two Arrows motioned to her. “Come on, Proud One.”
The water looked so deep and cold in the autumn night. “I—I don’t swim well; I don’t want to do this.”
“White women,” Broken Blade sneered, standing next to Two Arrows. “They are pretty but helpless; good only for a warrior’s pleasure.” He was speaking English for her benefit, she guessed.
“Proud One, I’ll come after you.” Two Arrows dived into the dark water, came up holding on to the line, struggled against the current to reach her on the other side. “You ready?”
No, she was terrified, but too proud to admit it. Her head came up, as proud as a spirited mustang filly. “I—I’m ready.”
He led her into the water. It felt cold lapping around her legs. “Hang on to me, Glory.”
She hesitated as she turned to him, knowing suddenly that she had complete confidence in him; that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. “Let’s go.”
She clung to him as he started across the river, molding herself against his lean, hard body. The water pulled them both under and they came up choking and coughing.
“Let her go and save yourself!” Broken Blade yelled, but Two Arrows never relaxed his grip.
Glory closed her eyes and hung on, feeling his hard muscles rippling under his buckskin shirt as he struggled. It seemed like an eternity before she felt his feet touch the river’s bottom and he waded toward the bank, swinging her up into his arms. “Take it easy, Proud One, you’re safe now.”
He was still cradling her in his strong arms as he strode away from the river. “Are you all right?”
She realized then that she had her arms around his sinewy neck, her face resting against his hard, wet chest. “I’m all right.”
He kissed her forehead in a quick, surprising gesture. “Good. Let’s get out of here before it turns daylight.”
The people were wet and weary, but Two Arrows insisted they put several miles behind them and the river before they stopped to rest in a little grove of trees. “Better not light any fires; the whites might see or smell the smoke, but try to dry your clothes somehow.”
Glory let him lift her from the horse, sank gratefully to the ground out of the wind. Maybe she could wrap herself in a blanket, hang her doeskin dress over a bush, and let the wind dry it.
“Glory”—he knelt by her side—“the men are going on a quick hunt; someone spotted signs of buffalo. Maybe we can bring in some meat to replace what was lost. In the meantime, there’s still a little smoked jerky to share around.”
She caught his arm. “Thank you for saving me in the river.”
He smiled. “Hey, you wouldn’t have been in this whole mess if it hadn’t been for me; I owed you that.”
“Thanks anyway, and take care of yourself.” She watched him nod and stride away, surprised to realize she meant it.
The hunters rode out, then she helped Moccasin Woman divide the jerky with some of the weary, hungry people as dawn broke, gray and chill. Glory paused as she thought a minute. “Moccasin Woman, what does ne-mehotatse mean?”
The other looked at her strangely. “It means ‘I love you.’ Why?”
I love you. She felt stunned, light-headed. Two Arrows had said that to her, never dreaming she would find out its meaning. “Nothing; I just wondered, that’s all.”
The people were spreading out to rest, getting out of the wind, trying to dry their wet clothes. Glory found herself an isolated place in a gully out of the wind, looked around. She was alone in this spot. After a moment’s hesitation, she stripped off the wet outfit, hung it over a sand plum bush to dry, wrapped herself in a blanket, and settled down to nap in the autumn sun. She would think about Two Arrows and the words he’d spoken later, when she felt rested and clearheaded. After a few minutes, she dozed off.
Glory awakened with a start when a shadow loomed between her and the sun. She looked up, the blanket falling off one naked shoulder. Two Arrows stood looking down at her. “There was only one old buffalo, the women are cutting it up. Maybe later, we can build some small fires and roast the meat.”
“That sounds good.” She pulled the blanket up over her bare shoulder, too weary to move.
She saw him glance at the dress hanging on the bush. “Are you warm enough?”
She nodded. “I’m fine. You look tired and discouraged.”
“You’re getting to know me too well, Proud One.” He sat down next to her, rested his elbows on his knees. “Getting all these people to the Dakotas is a heavy responsibility.”
In spite of herself, she sympathized with the Cheyenne people and their plight. “You don’t really think you’ll get them there?”
He gazed at her a long moment. “Glory, I’ve got to try; they’re counting on me. The problem is, Dull Knife and Little Wolf are disagreeing over our destination. I’m afraid they’ll split the group.”
“A smaller group would be easier to hide.”
“Yes, but it divides the warriors, and we’ve too few as it is.”
She laid her head on her knees. “I’m just so tired of being on the move all the time, watching people die, knowing some of them are going hungry or eating their horses.”
He reached out and hesitantly put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry I got you into this; I should have just tied you up and left you in the camp that first night.”
“It has been a nightmare.” Her shoulders shook as she tried not to cry.
“Here, here, Proud One, this isn’t like you.” He hugged her to him, and, without thinking, she put her face against his broad chest and let him hold her while he brushed a wisp of hair from her eyes. She turned her face up to him, tears running down her cheeks, and saw his love for her shining in his dark eyes. It was as if they both knew what was going to happen; what had been destined between them from the very first time they met. Very slowly, he bent his head and kissed her lips.
For a long moment, she paused, and then her arms went around his neck and she couldn’t stop herself from kissing him in return. In answer, his arms pulled her so hard against him, she could scarcely breathe. His tongue touched the corners of her mouth, tasting and teasing as he embraced her, bending her to fit the hard curve of his body. They went down onto the prairie grass, his big manhood throbbing against her naked belly.
His breath came in gasps and he trembled as he pulled away, looked down into her eyes once more. “Glory?” He was asking, not taking.
“Yes! Oh, yes!” She kissed him with abandon, putting her tongue in his mouth and her hands inside his shirt, raking her nails across his powerful chest. The blanket fell away from her shoulders, revealing her nakedness.
With a low moan, he pulled it up over them both while he slipped his arm under her head and used his free hand to fondle and explore her breasts. She gasped and arched her back, pressing her nipples against his seeking hand as his thumb raked across them. “I’ve wanted you since I used to stand under the trees and watch you ride at night.”
She pressed her naked body against him, feeling him throbbing against her as he kissed her again. “This is crazy,” she gasped. But instead of pulling away, she pressed even harder, eager for his big callused hands to explore and tease her body.
They were touching and tasting and caressing in a fr
enzy of pent-up desire. She had never known passion before, and it surprised, even frightened her as she writhed in his arms and his mouth went to her breasts.
“Ahh!” She gasped and pulled his head down to her, wanting more; wanting him to suck her breasts harder as her hand went to grasp his manhood. It was rigid as steel, she thought, swollen with the seed he had to give as they writhed in a frenzy.
“I must have you!” he gasped against her ear. “I will have you!”
In answer, Glory rolled over on her back and spread her thighs, holding his face against her breasts while his fingers went down to explore her silken wetness. In a blaze of feeling she let her thighs fall wide apart while Two Arrows kissed down her belly.
Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her there . . . and then he did.
Glory cried out at the unaccustomed flame that rose in her and clasped his face hard against her body while he explored and kissed there, his tongue thrusting deep. “You’re wet,” he whispered, “so wet; wet with desire for me!”
He came up on his knees, positioning her, and then he came down in a hard thrust that seemed to go deep into her very being at the same moment that his mouth covered hers again and she tasted her own essence on his lips. She had never known that mating could carry this frenzy, this heart-pounding emotion. He was riding her hard, his brown flesh slapping against her bare belly and thighs. She rode a crest of feeling she had not known existed, and she arched against him, meeting him thrust for thrust, her soul riding higher and higher as he plunged into her one more time, hesitated, trembled, and gave up his seed, gasping for air with the mighty effort.
At that moment, she wrapped her long legs around him, locking him to her as she reached her own pinnacle of pleasure, locking him to her so that he could not break away until he had given her what her body hungered for.
After a long moment, he collapsed on her, breathing hard. “Oh Glory, Glory, you’re mine now; mine. No man could ever love you as much as I do!”
Cheyenne Song Page 19
