“Mama?” Hannah whirled and stepped into her mother’s arms.
Reuben forced his focus back to keeping the Indian sighted down his rifle barrel. He couldn’t let up until he knew for sure the man was bound securely. Even then, Reuben wouldn’t be turning his back on him.
While he and Simeon worked to secure the man, he could hear the running conversation between the two women.
“How did you all get here? How did you know I needed help?” Hannah’s voice still held a bit of a daze.
“We’ve been following your trail for two days. We found the Hidatsa camp this morning and have been watching for the right time to get you and Mr. Peak out. As for tonight, I’m certain that was God’s mercy. Reuben heard noises and went to investigate.” The control in Emma’s voice gave way a bit. “Oh, Hannah. What happened? Did he do anything to you?”
“I’m not hurt, Mama. Reuben arrived before he could do more than lift my skirt.”
Lift her skirt? It had certainly looked like the man had more than sexual plans for her. He’d been about to chop into her with a tomahawk.
Simeon tied the last knot securing the Indian to the tree, then stepped back. Reuben stood before the Indian, his rifle still in hand. Now was the time for answers.
He leveled his gaze on the blackguard and switched to Crow. “What were you doing to my sister?”
The man raised his chin in defiance.
Reuben moved closer, aiming the rifle squarely at the man’s chest. “What were you doing to my sister?”
For a long second, the stranger did nothing. Then he spat in Reuben’s face and spoke in Crow. “She needs her leg cut off like she cut my daughter’s leg. I do this thing.”
It took a second for him to process both the words and their full meaning. Could this be...? “You are Itu’s father?”
The man gave a proud nod, his eyes still full of malevolence. “She destroyed my daughter’s life. I destroy hers.”
Destroy. He looked to Hannah and switched to English. “Has Itu died?”
She clutched a hand to her chest, her face losing color. “No. I...she’s doing better. At least, when I checked on her a few hours ago.”
Reuben turned back to the man and changed to Crow again. “Your daughter lives. She is not destroyed.”
He shifted his leg. “Her life will never be the same. Is destroyed.”
Frustration surged through him at the narrow-mindedness in the man’s words. “My sister did not cut off the girl’s leg. Your daughter came to us so wounded she would have died. Removing the leg was the only way to save her life. She’s healing now. She will live and learn to play and be happy as she ever was. Your daughter is strong inside.” Which was more than he could say for this butcher.
Reuben gave the man a chance to respond, but he only received the same proud glare. At least Reuben had his answers now.
Turning to face the others, he tried to find the words to gently explain what the man had been on the verge of doing. Just the thought of him hacking off Hannah’s leg made his stomach churn. She could have easily bled to death if the wound wasn’t treated immediately—and correctly. And from the hatred in this Indian’s eyes, Reuben was pretty sure the man wouldn’t have spent much effort to cauterize the blood vessels and dress the wound.
Swallowing down the bile rising to his throat, Reuben looked at his new sister. “Hannah, when I found you, he was standing over you with his tomahawk raised. I thought he’d planned to kill you. His position was odd, more toward your legs than your neck or scalp, but my only focus was stopping him.” He let out a breath. “Now I understand why.” He didn’t want to tell her this. Everything in him revolted against speaking the words.
Hannah stepped toward him. “What, Reuben? What did he say?” Her voice was sure now, her face solid. This new sister of his was a strong woman.
So he spoke plainly. “He said he planned to cut off your leg, so your life would be destroyed the way his daughter’s life has been.”
Hannah sucked in a breath, and he was pretty sure Emma and Simeon both did, as well. “He...” She seemed to struggle for words. “But she’s alive.”
Reuben nodded. “I told him that. Told him she was a strong young lady who’d grow up to play and thrive just like the other children. He’s pretty set in his anger, though.”
“Hannah, we need to get you out of here.” Simeon strode forward, then paused to look from Reuben to the Indian. “What should we do with him?”
Before Reuben could form a good answer, Hannah spoke. “I’m not leaving without Nathaniel. And I need to make sure Itu’s mother knows how to care for her.”
Her father turned to her. “I’m not gambling with your life over that girl’s. She’s with her people now. They have the herbs you brought. It’s time we went home.”
“I’m not leaving Nathaniel.” Her voice held a hard edge. A determined set to match the jut of her chin.
Simeon simply stood looking at her for a long moment. He had to know they couldn’t leave Peak here at the mercy of the Indians.
And there was still the matter of what to do with Itu’s father. If they left him tied to this tree, his people would find him, they’d let him go, and he’d be able to exact his revenge. Reuben could kill him, but that would likely have his people out for revenge. He may have intended to maim or kill Hannah, but taking a life was not something to be done lightly.
The best thing would be to talk to the rest of the camp. If they were decent, as most Indians were in the peaceful tribes like Hidatsa, they’d see the man’s evil and punish him themselves. That would probably be the best way to get Nathaniel out, too.
Reuben focused his attention on his father. “I think I have a plan. But start praying, because we’re going to need Divine intervention for this to work.”
NATHANIEL STRUGGLED to force his eyes open.
He could hear the activity around him, which meant he should have awakened long ago, yet his eyelids felt weighted. Almost as if something had been laced in his food to make him sleep.
That thought jerked him awake, although he still had to work to make his mind come alive. He sat upright and took in the room. There were more people in here than there had been the day before, milling about and talking.
He finally spotted Itu’s mother, who was standing to one side, wringing her hands as a man spoke to her.
But the one person he wanted to see the most wasn’t there. Where was Hannah? His chest constricted as he searched again. She’d only been allowed to leave this lodge for short trips to relieve herself. As had he. And each time they’d been heavily guarded.
It was possible that’s where she was now, but the general unrest in the room made his gut clench. Had she been taken somewhere? Surely she hadn’t escaped on her own, not without at least saying something to him.
His gaze slid to Itu. Had she worsened, and they’d taken Hannah away as punishment? But even before that thought could plant itself, he pushed it away. The girl’s eyes were open, and her face seemed to have a bit more color than before.
He crawled toward her. “Where is Hannah?” Maybe he should have started with a smile and a good-morning, but the tightness in his chest was swelling quickly into fear. Something wasn’t right, and if Hannah was in danger, he had no time to waste.
The girl’s brows drew together in a puzzled look. “Hannah?” She knew who he spoke of, he was pretty sure. Did that mean she didn’t know where Hannah was either?
Itu looked over Nathaniel’s shoulder and spoke a string of sounds to someone behind him. He turned to see her mother return a flurry of words, accompanied by something that resembled a shrug.
Surely she knew where they’d taken Hannah. But Itu didn’t look satisfied with the response, and volleyed back more words he couldn’t understand. The two went back and forth, then Itu worked her arms up underneath her as if she planned to get up.
The girl’s mother rushed to her side and held her down, an easy feat since Itu was so weak. She let into the c
hild with a string of words that sounded an awful lot like chiding.
While she hovered over her daughter, Nathaniel turned to study the activity around him. Whatever the woman had said, Itu was worried about Hannah now too.
He had to find her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
My worst fear...
~ Nathaniel
If Nathaniel could get the ties off his hands and legs, or at least his legs, he could possibly slip out among all this movement. The only things he could see that would be sharp enough to cut thick leather were the knives sheathed at the waists of the men in the lodge. Getting one of those would be harder than escaping.
Could he creep to the fire and burn the strap? It was tied over his boots, so his skin probably wouldn’t scald in the process. His boots surely would, though. The cord was pulled so tight it dug into the thick leather of his shoes, making it impossible to remove the boots.
Burning the ties may not work, but that looked to be his best option. He had to try it.
Crawling across the floor would draw attention, so he pushed to his feet and tried to shuffle forward. Surely anyone who glanced his way would know something was up, but the Indians seemed so preoccupied they might not notice him scooting around the edge of the lodge.
He’d only made it two small steps before a brave poked his head into the lodge and shouted a few quick words.
Everyone in the room surged toward the door, one stocky woman nearly knocking him over. A glance around proved that even Itu’s mother had gone to stand in the open doorway, peering outside at something.
This was his chance. He shuffled toward the fire as quickly as he could. Hopping would have been faster, but Itu’s mother stood where she could still see him if she turned, and he didn’t want to pull her attention away from whatever she was staring at outside.
He had an awful feeling the commotion had to do with Hannah, but he wouldn’t be much help to her until he could get his hands and feet free.
The fire singed his skin as it also burned the leather holding his wrists. An acrid odor rose up to sting his nose, and his arms stung as if they’d been nicked by bullets, but that was the least of his worries. The only thing that mattered was getting to Hannah.
With his hands free, he tried once again to untie the knot at his boots, or to get one of them off. The leather was pulled so tight, his feet had tingled for the first day. He’d tried to keep wiggling his toes so the blood would flow through, but he could barely feel them now.
And there was no getting his boots off with the ties in place.
He sat down and held his feet over the fire. It was hard to get the positioning right so the flame licked at only the strap, and again, the acrid smell of burning leather filled the air. At least he could only feel heat, not a direct burn on his ankles.
Finally, the cord popped free.
His legs split apart, and a pain shot up the outside of his thighs. He lowered his feet to the ground, trying to wiggle his ankles to wake things up.
They wouldn’t move. At least, not at first.
When he was able to shift his right ankle, fire lurched through the joint. He sucked in a breath. He didn’t have time for this. He had to get on his feet and see what was happening outside.
A hush had fallen over things out there, although he could hear the sound of a man’s voice. He couldn’t understand the words, but something important was taking place.
Hannah needed him.
He worked up to his knees, then positioned his right foot underneath him. He could push through the pain, but the minute he tried to put weight on the limb, his ankle buckled.
Biting back a growl, he tried again. The joint held a second longer than before, but it wouldn’t bear his weight. He tried the other leg, but had the same result. Maybe they just needed time for the blood to flow smoothly again.
He crawled toward the open lodge flap, being careful to stay on the side near where he and Hannah had slept. If someone entered, he could crouch back and pretend to be bound if he needed to. The blanket could also help shelter him.
Itu’s mother had left the doorway, and he could still hear one or two men’s voices talking in strong tones a little distance away. He had to see what was happening.
A glance back at Itu showed a worry line creasing her normally smooth brow. She nodded, as if to encourage him onward.
Slowly, he poked his head out of the lodge, watching for any sign of people. No one moved about in the path between the tents. Beneath the sound of the men’s voice was a faint murmuring, like that of a crowd talking in hushed tones. Had the whole camp gathered to see what was happening?
He had to crawl completely out of the lodge before he saw the outer fringe of people. He’d be extremely vulnerable in this position if anyone came running back to the lodge, but he’d just check to see what was happening, then move to a safer place.
Keeping himself as low as he could, he peered around the edge of stretched animal skins. A crowd of people stood flocked together. The camp was on a small slope, so he could just barely see the men standing a little apart from the others up the hill.
One had the shiny black hair of the Indians. The other wore a hat, much like the one Reuben had worn. Could it be? Had Reuben come to free Hannah? Maybe he’d stolen her away in the night, and that’s why there had been such turmoil. But if he’d gotten Hannah out of the camp, why was he back?
Surely not for Nathaniel. As much as the thought sent a rush of relief through him, he’d take Hannah’s freedom over his own any day.
He needed to stand so he could see them better. Grabbing onto one of the lodge poles, he worked his feet back under him. This time, the ankles bore weight a little better. Not strongly, but he could probably stand if he leaned against the post. He had to grit his teeth against the pain, but he finally made it mostly upright.
Thank you, Lord.
And as he focused his gaze on the men in the distance, the man wearing the hat did look to be Reuben. And there was another shorter figure beside him. Nathaniel could only see the top of the person’s head, but it sent a surge of blood pumping through his veins.
Hannah. He’d recognize her pretty honey-brown hair and the beautiful line of her forehead anywhere.
Reuben was speaking, and he and Hannah were almost surrounded by Indians, but none of them seemed especially angry.
Then a roar surged through the crowd, and people turned to their neighbors with angry looks and expressive hand gestures. Nathaniel stiffened, letting go of the lodge pole. His feet would bear his weight now, but he wasn’t sure he could walk a normal stride, much less run.
But if Reuben and Hannah needed him, he’d force his body to do what he had to.
He needed a weapon. Maybe one of these other lodges would have spare knives or clubs stored inside.
He eyed the nearest one, but he’d need to cross the opening between the tipis, and people would be able to see him. Probably best done crawling to keep himself low.
But just as he dropped to his knees, the people turned en masse, shifting so that a path opened up in the midst of them. Nathaniel jerked backward to keep from being seen. But he peered just far enough into the main walkway so he could see what was happening.
Hannah and Reuben were walking through the divided crowd. She looked worn and tired, and a bit disheveled. But whole. Walking of her own accord. No longer bound.
And absolutely beautiful.
Beside her strode Itu’s mother, and behind them, several braves marched. Guards to make sure they didn’t escape? Lord, no. If Reuben was here, then that meant somehow, Hannah had been free. Why had Hannah come back? Itu seemed to be mending more each day, so surely she wouldn’t have returned just to care for the girl. Especially since she knew he was still here to continue the treatments.
Lord, don’t let her have returned for me. Please. He’d never forgive himself if she or Reuben were hurt because of him.
The procession was coming nearer, clearly marching toward this lodg
e where he’d been staying. Should he get back inside and pretend to be tied still? That might be his best chance to free them all when the Indians weren’t quite so stirred up.
He scrambled for the lodge door, walking mostly on all fours to get himself inside. He’d barely sat and covered his hands and feet with the blanket when Itu’s mother stepped in. She held the flap aside for Hannah to enter, then Reuben. At least they weren’t being handled roughly like before. And neither were tied.
Hannah’s gaze flew to him as she stepped inside. Every part of him wanted to run to her. Well, every part except maybe his feet, which still burned like a fire raged inside them. It took all his willpower not to jump up and pull her into his arms.
She walked forward with measured steps and knelt beside Itu. The girl grabbed Hannah’s arm as a smile lit her face. “Han-nah.” The word was choppy but adorable.
“Oh, Itu.” Hannah bent low and wrapped the girl in a hug. He couldn’t see either of their faces, but he had a feeling Hannah was fighting off tears. His own eyes were stinging a bit at the thought of leaving this sweet girl behind. She wasn’t theirs to take with them, but she’d always have a place in their hearts.
Could there ever be a way they could come visit her? Lord, that might be too much to ask, but...
Reuben crouched next to Hannah but near enough to Nathaniel that they could share a quiet exchange. Nathaniel wasn’t about to miss the chance, but he kept his voice low. “What’s happening? Can you get Hannah out of here?”
Reuben kept his gaze on the tender scene of woman and child. “They’re letting all three of us go as soon as Hannah shows the girl’s mother how to care for her.”
Nathaniel sucked in a hard breath. All three of them? How had Reuben accomplished it? Everything in him wanted to ask the questions aloud. To find out where Hannah had been that morning. And why Nathaniel had been drugged to keep him sleeping, for he was fairly certain that’s what had happened.
He held his tongue, though.
This Healing Journey Page 18
