Riley nodded. If this was 1749, it was likely that few of the Natives in this area had acquired horses, yet. That’s why those eight Blackfoot Indians had been on foot. The Sheepeaters had never become a horse culture. Because of their remote location, these Mountain Shoshone had continued to travel on foot, unlike the Shoshone tribes that lived on the plains.
“So, you hunt bighorn sheep, then? That has to be dangerous, too.” Any guy who had scars on his back like Cameron, and lived to tell about it, couldn’t be afraid of much.
Cameron studied her, his eyes in constant motion. “Is that what your books and literature told you?”
Riley smiled. He was emphasizing the words she’d used early this morning when she’d said her books and literature never mentioned Sky People. Smart guy. At least he paid attention.
“My books also tell me that the Shoshone who lived in this region are called Tukudeka – Sheepeaters - because they hunted bighorn sheep. So, you must have experience in hunting them, too.”
His facial features hardened, and any hint of a smile vanished. He'd been angry earlier when she'd mentioned the Tukudeka, yet with all his talk of Sky People, surely those were the natives who'd raised him.
Cameron stared off into the valley. When he directed his attention back to her, his muscles seemed more relaxed. His lips even twitched in a faint smile.
"Hunting bighorn sheep is best done in groups of several hunters and dogs," he said slowly. "My brother, Matunaaga, and I have hunted sheep on occasion, as well as bison, but elk and deer make for easier game."
Riley gaped at him. “You have a brother?”
Cameron shook his head. “He is my brother in spirit only.”
Did she dare ask? “Is he from the future, too?”
“Yes. He was brought to this time by Naatosi, shortly after Naatoyita came for me. We were raised by different families, in different clans of the Tukudeka. We met each other when our clans came together to trade and hunt.”
Riley’s forehead wrinkled. “And neither one of you knows why you are here?”
Cameron tensed again. “No,” he growled.
He reached for the bison hide Riley had carried all day, and slung it over his shoulder, then pointed to a steep-looking, pine-covered hill.
“We will camp beyond those trees,” he said, clearly changing the subject. Without looking at her, he set out in the direction he’d indicated.
Riley sucked in a deep breath and stared after him. Her shoulders slumped. She was too tired and sore to protest, and numb to everything at this point. With a determined lift of her chin, she forced her legs to move and follow Cameron into the hills.
Chapter Nine
Riley stared after Cameron with heavy-lidded eyes. He’d once again left her behind in the dust. At least he’d taken that bulky bison hide from her, so she no longer had to carry it. She’d asked him not to run off ahead of her again, but he was clearly upset about her mention of the Tukudeka. What had happened, that he was so angry with them?
He led her up an exhaustive climb through a heavily-timbered forest, and only his declaration that they were heading for a place to camp kept her from refusing to take another step.
Tears of frustration blurred her vision when she glanced upward. The hill, or, more accurately, this mountain, seemed to go on forever. There wasn't even a visible trail, and the top was impossible to see through the tall trees. She yanked her glasses from her face and brushed a hasty hand over her eyes when Cameron stopped abruptly, and turned. Riley squared her shoulders and picked up the pace to scramble after him.
Her knees and legs were scraped raw in places from yesterday’s ordeal, and she’d managed to amass several new cuts as she slipped and labored up this incline. Even her fingers and knuckles were raw from clawing at tufts of grasses and shrubs to keep from tumbling back down to the bottom. Her skirt, which had refused to rip when it was caught in her car door, had several tears in it now.
Cameron waited. He even backtracked, and held out his hand to her. She reached for it, grateful when he pulled her up the impossibly steep incline.
"I could carry you if you'd like."
The mischievous sparkle in his eyes sent butterflies straight to her stomach. Too winded to speak, Riley shook her head, both out of annoyance and because his offer sent adrenaline surging through her system. She’d been in his arms too many times already. Just having her hand in his was exhilarating enough. Gritting her teeth, she pushed past the pain and fatigue in her legs, but kept a firm grip on Cameron’s hand to ease her climb.
The forest grew denser around them, and the air cooler, a refreshing change to the open valley that had offered no shade for most of the day. Her white blouse, which was hopelessly beyond cleaning at this point, clung to her damp skin. Sweat ran uncomfortably between her breasts and down her back.
Her throat was parched, made more painful from breathing faster due to exertion. She nearly stopped, ready to give in and take Cameron up on his offer to carry her, when the soft gurgling sound of water nearby increased to a rushing sound, like a waterfall. The promise of some cool water on her face spurred her forward, grateful that she wouldn’t have to cry uncle after all.
This is a test, Riley, and when have you ever failed a test?
Hell. This was more like a pop quiz. One she wasn’t prepared for because it was in a subject she wasn’t familiar with. There wasn’t an ounce of doubt in her mind that Cameron was testing her. Why else would he pick such a strenuous trail, after an already long day? There had to be other places to camp that were more easily accessible.
This was different than academics. She couldn't fake her way through this if she wasn't prepared. These physical efforts required a whole new mindset for success than simple book knowledge. Riley gritted her teeth. Failure wasn't an option. It never had been, and she wasn't going to give up now.
The sound of water grew even louder, until finally, a narrow creek that had carved a deep channel down the mountain came into view through the trees. Riley sighed in relief. This had to be where they would stop. Long roots from trees that grew close to the water poked through the broken soil, and dense vegetation grew along the moist creek bank. The air became noticeably cooler. Unless Cameron planned to bushwhack through the foliage, however, there was no place to access the water from here.
“Are we almost there?”
Riley cringed at her question, but she simply had to know.
“Almost,” Cameron answered, without turning his head.
She gripped his hand more firmly, using it as leverage to continue moving up the hill. Had she imagined it, or had he tensed slightly? He probably had, in order to give her a better grip.
Cameron continued up the steep incline, following the tumbling creek. When the terrain started to level out not five minutes later, Riley sighed in relief.
“Oh, thank God.” She forced the words from her mouth, breathing hard. Her heart pounded up into her dry throat.
Not a moment later, the forest opened up to more rolling hills carpeted by green grass. Clusters of yellow flowers broke up the landscape. Further in the distance, more mountains rose into the sky.
Cameron finally stopped, and she came up beside him, curbing the urge to collapse against him. Riley’s eyes widened. The creek they’d been following turned out to be the outlet of a small lake.
Despite her exhaustion, a smile formed on her lips. She gazed at the raw beauty and serenity of this place, then glanced up at Cameron. Her smile faded. His eyes were on her, his stare dark and intense, and filled with an appreciative gleam. A rush of heat spread through her limbs, and she eased her hand out from his. The weight of his probing eyes left her breathless all over again.
“Rest here,” he said in that quiet tone of his, and pointed to a shaded spot along the edge of the lake.
Riley nodded, forcing her eyes away from him. She all but stumbled to the lakeshore, and lowered herself into the grass. A low moan escaped her lips when her feet no longer bore her weight
. A throbbing pain in her soles pounded in time with the beating of her heart. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think her feet were on fire. A dull ache spread throughout her legs, and parts of her body hurt that she didn’t even know existed.
Her lungs expanded fully from the deep breath she inhaled, infused with the fresh scent of pine and grass. The rich smell lifted her tired spirits. Despite her exhaustion, she smiled. She hadn’t given in to the pain. She’d made it this far. Her surroundings nearly made her forget that her entire body ached with fatigue and strain.
Puffy white clouds drifted lazily above her against the azure sky. An eagle’s screech echoed through the trees, sending an inexplicable thrill through her. The wind rushed through the canopies of the tall lodgepoles, and the strong breeze played with the water, creating little ripples on the surface. Her skin cooled. She tilted her head back, and closed her eyes, the serene sounds having an almost intoxicating effect.
“Please tell me this is where we’re staying for the night.”
Riley opened her eyes when Cameron didn’t answer. She glanced over her shoulder, then abruptly sat up straighter. She twisted her body to see behind her better.
“Cameron?”
Her head darted in all directions. He’d just been behind her, and now he was gone again? Damn him! He could at least tell her when he planned to disappear like that.
No sooner had the thought passed through her mind, when he materialized from between the trees on the opposite side of the lake outlet. A log that hung over the water served as his bridge, and he balanced easily across it.
Riley’s eyes widened. He carried a long pole in one hand, and in the other was a . . . bouquet of yellow flowers? She shook her head at the absurd thought that he’d picked flowers for her.
You’re so tired, your wild fantasies are running away with you.
She stared up at him when he stopped inches in front of her. She swallowed past the sudden lump in her throat. Cameron eased to the ground beside her, and dropped the bouquet next to him in the dirt, along with the pole. Riley blinked. So much for this guy bringing her flowers. She mentally kicked the voice in her head that chided her for her crazy thoughts.
Wordlessly, Cameron worked a flat-looking rock loose from the dirt, and set it in front of him between his legs. He tore the abundant silvery-green leaves from the bouquet, tossing the sunflower-looking pedals aside. Using the blunt end of his ax, he began to pound the leaves into a pulp.
“Can I help?” Riley asked tentatively.
Cameron raised his head for the first time since he’d started his task, and looked at her as if he’d just realized she was even there. He held her gaze, and the butterflies returned to her belly. Riley cursed silently for her silly reaction. He was like all other good-looking guys – not interested in her.
Don’t be such an idiot, Riley. This is hardly the time or place to be attracted to some guy. Worry more about getting back to the lab.
He nudged with his chin toward her feet while resuming his pounding.
“Take off your moccasins, and rinse your feet in the water.”
Riley’s forehead scrunched. “I meant, can I help with whatever it is you’re preparing.”
He raised his eyes to her again. “It’s done.”
She blinked, then reached for the leather straps that were tied around her ankles. Maybe it was a good idea to cool off her feet in the water. She pulled the footwear off, and scooted toward the edge of the lake. The banks dropped off sharply several inches, and she dangled her feet over the sides.
As soon as the cold water touched some of the open sores on her feet, a sharp burning sensation shot through her soles. She sucked in a quick breath of air, and jerked her feet back, ready to scramble away from the lakeshore. Cameron’s hand encircled one of her ankles, effectively stopping her. Riley’s eyes shot up to his face.
“The pain will go away,” he said quietly, guiding her foot back into the water.
Riley tensed, and stared at him. He didn’t take his eyes off her, but knelt at the lake’s edge, lapping water over her sore and tender feet. His rough fingers slid over her skin, loosening the dirt that was still caked to her scrapes. Her heart sped up, and taking in a breath of air became nearly impossible past the constriction in her throat.
The burning sensation lessened as the cold lake water numbed her feet, or was it the soothing strokes of Cameron’s fingers? Those same fingers had clamped around her arms in an almost painful grip, threatening to crush her not twenty-four hours ago, but now stroked her with such gentleness. It left her dizzy with the tingles his touch evoked.
Riley shifted her eyes away from his. Combined with the touch of his hands, his penetrating, all-consuming stare made her feel both weak, euphoric, and floating as if she lived in a dream state. Any second now, she’d wake up. There was no way a guy like Cameron would ever give her a second look in the real world.
Too soon, he stopped. At a loss for words, Riley simply allowed him to lift her feet from the water, and drape them across his lap. Scraping at the green pulp he’d made from the plant leaves, he smeared the mashed-up material onto her soles, then wrapped more leaves around her feet, securing them with some twine.
Only after he was done, did he look up. Riley couldn’t force her eyes from his if her life depended on it. How could a guy, one who’d nearly assaulted her the night before, have such an effect on her, and he wasn’t even doing it deliberately? His forethought to tend to her feet, even since this morning when he’d made her footwear, contrasted sharply with his social manners, just as his gentleness belied his strength.
“Ah-kun,” he said. “It will soothe your feet.” He lifted her ankles off his lap, and set them in the grass.
“Is that what you call this plant?” she murmured. “I think it’s called Arrowleaf, or maybe Balsamroot.” She had to say something academic to refocus her mind.
Cameron’s lips widened in a quick smile. “And the roots taste sweet, not bitter.”
He stood before she could think of a reply, and reached for the pole he’d brought. He glanced down at her. “Rest your feet. I’ll come back with food.”
He turned to leave, then shot another look over his shoulder at her, a mischievous smile on his face. “This lake is home to many otters. Don’t scream if you see one.”
Riley gaped after him when he set off at a jog around the shore of the lake. Her eyes scanned the water, but she didn’t see any otters, only several ducks bobbing along on the surface. Cameron stopped nearly at the opposite side, where a stream tumbled from the hills. That must be the inlet to the lake. It soon became apparent that Cameron was going to use the pole as a fishing spear.
Fascinated, she pulled her glasses down her nose. She leaned forward to watch him jab at the water again and again, each time pulling a writhing fish from the stream, which he tossed into the grass behind him. It seemed as if he'd barely left when he returned with his catch. He'd strung enough fish on a piece of twine to feed a small army.
By the time he’d started a fire and cooked the fish, along with some of the roots from the plant he’d used to make a poultice for her feet, the sun sank into the western horizon like a giant ball of fire. The lake and surrounding hills bathed in a soft, golden glow. Riley rubbed her hands up and down her arms when a cool breeze tickled her skin.
They ate mostly in silence. After some coaxing from Cameron, she tried one of the roots. He hadn’t lied. It did have a rather sweet taste, compared to the bitterroot earlier.
Riley’s mind turned blank and numb from exhaustion, lulled into a tranquil state by the sounds of the evening. The campfire crackled, and the water lapped against the shore close by. The loud croaking of frogs and the chirping of crickets soon overpowered the gentle sounds as darkness surrounded the camp. She shivered, and tugged the buffalo robe over her shoulders.
Cameron’s form, sitting across from her, flickered in and out of focus with the shadows from the fire. His skin glowed a deep orange from the ligh
t of the flames.
“Aren’t you cold?” He had to be cold, with his bare upper body.
He shrugged. “This is warm compared to the winters here.”
“Don’t you have a shirt?” It would be so much better if he wore a shirt, and if she didn’t have to stare at his lean torso anymore.
“You’re wearing my shirt,” he said, after moments of silence.
Riley’s forehead scrunched.
“On your feet,” he added with a hint of laughter in his voice.
She gaped at him after casting a quick look at the moccasins she wore. Some indescribable emotion surged through her, something that was both warm and gave her the chills at the same time. She swallowed.
Before she could hold back the words, she said, "This bison hide is big enough for both of us if you want to share." Her pulse increased, but she was too tired to care. Maybe he'd decline her offer.
Cameron stared at her from across the fire. His eyes looked darker than before, if that was possible. Riley’s heart hammered in her chest when he stood. A chill raced down her spine, and she shivered again. It was anything but a response to the cold.
Her arm trembled when she held one end of the robe open to him. He’d sacrificed his shirt for her. It was only right that she offer him part of the covers to keep warm.
He eased himself to the ground next to her, and draped the end she offered around his shoulder. Heat seeped from his skin straight through her shirt, even though they didn’t touch. Riley shot him a hasty smile to cover up her nervousness, then stared back into the fire in a futile attempt to focus on something other than Cameron sitting so close to her. He moved to lie down.
“Sleep,” he said, almost as gruffly as when he’d told her to scream last night. Riley nodded, but remained still. Cameron raised his upper body, and stared at her.
“Do you plan to sleep sitting up?” The corners of his mouth twitched.
Riley blinked, and mentally shook her head. Exhaustion was making her light-headed. This wasn’t affecting him the way it affected her. He was cool as a cucumber.
Yellowstone Origins: Yellowstone Romance Series, Book 6 Page 9
