As she searched her conscience for the right answers, her eyes came to rest on Gray Eagle sitting by the fire. Her eyes met his and were held there by the sheer force of his wil. There was a confident, assured look there. She could feel the power he possessed and commanded even at this distance. Slowly, he turned back to the brave sitting beside him to talk. Her eyes lingered a moment longer on his features. Again, she felt that warm, tingling sensation that she did not understand run through her body. She retreated into her thoughts, oblivious of her surroundings and suffering… only to be puled back to reality by a moan from Horace. She turned to see him move slightly. He had only been unconscious! His body was covered in blood and sweat. He had numerous cuts, bruises and marks al over his upper torso. As if this had been the reason for the lul, an Indian came forward to throw water into his face. He quickly came fuly awake to his agony and surroundings. “God, how much more can I take?
Death come and take me,” he prayed in a dry, ragged voice. Two more braves came forward, one carrying a flaming torch. The other one took his knife from its sheath and reached for Horace’s belt. With one slash, the belt fel loose. Another, and his pants fel apart. With a few, swift slashes of the knife, Horace looked on, eyes wide in terror, as his manhood was exposed. He had completely forgotten his threat to the brave. Alisha, shocked and embarrassed, turned a deep red. Never Alisha, shocked and embarrassed, turned a deep red. Never had she seen a naked man before, nor did she know very much about men. She knew only the bits and pieces from the teas and sily schoolgirl gossip. Sex was stil a mystery to her innocent mind and body. How could she do what Ben suggested? She knew naught of love, men and sex, and the thoughts of lying with a man frightened her immensely, especialy with a cruel, wild savage. How could a girl seduce a man with such a lack of knowledge on the matter? She surely couldn’t ask Ben to tel her the intimate details of lovemaking and seduction. I wouldn’t even know what to do first, she thought. Those are the things a husband should show and teach his wife.
An agonizing scream tore her vision to Horace and she fainted as she saw the torch held to his manhood. White Arrow said, “For you, Okiliea,” and the others cheered.
The whole evening Gray Eagle had openly or secretly observed Alisha. He had overheard the conversation with Ben, but knew she feared him too much to folow Ben’s advice. With two wasichu dead and the decision to keep the other one until tomorrow, Gray Eagle arose and walked to Alisha.
He lifted her sagging head to peer into the pale face stil wet with trails of tears. Enough for today, he thought, as he cut her bonds and lifted her into his arms. He took one look at Ben and sneered.
Ben could read his intentions openly in his face. He watched Gray Eagle carry the girl into a nearby teepee. She wil be safe for a little while, he thought. At least, until he tires of her, if he ever does. For a brief moment, he was grateful for her short reprieve. This is one time I cannot help you, Alisha, he sighed painfuly. Would to God that I could drive a knife into your heart and spare you al of God that I could drive a knife into your heart and spare you al of this. Damn the red bastard! Don’t he know how you tried to help him? Why would any man want to kil a beautiful creature like you?
The very time she needs me the most and I’m trussed up like a turkey!
The bodies of the other two men were cut down and hauled away from the vilage to be left for wild animals to dispose of during the night. Ben flinched at the thoughts of wolves, coyotes and other vultures tearing his body to pieces. My God, not even a decent burial…
Gray Eagle gently laid her down on a bed of buffalo skins and covered her with one. He lay down beside her and puled her into his arms. He had long awaited and anticipated this very moment, but would let her rest for now. Mercifuly, her mind had rendered her unconscious to al things for a time. He held her tenderly and slept.
White Arrow had watched with envious eyes and feelings as his friend took the white girl to his tėepee. He had thought much about the girl Gray Eagle had told him about. She was everything he had expected. But then, he should have known already. Gray Eagle was not a warrior who took female captives, nor would he set his eyes on any woman with thoughts other than bodily needs. White Arrow was known to be gifted with mystical insight at times. He knew at this moment that something good and evil would happen to both his friend and the girl. He had unexplainable feelings that she would live here with him and that this was the wil of Wakantanka. He thought, I wil not tel Gray Eagle of my thoughts and feelings yet. My koda must find and learn this truth for himself. But, I wil try to guide him in times of error. I wil watch over and know this girl who stirs wilhanmna and iwaktaya in me…
know this girl who stirs wilhanmna and iwaktaya in me…
Chapter Four
Gray Eagle was later awakened by Alisha’s wild thrashing and mumbling as tears roled from her sleeping eyes. He sat up and watched her for a few moments. A strong one, he realized in relief. He was glad she was not il and feverish as he had first thought. He gently shook her shoulder caling, “Ku-wa, Cinstinna!” Her eyes fluttered and slowly opened in confusion.
She stared up into the face towering above hers and tried to move away from him. Instantly, she discovered to her dismay that she was trapped under his body. She met his steady gaze with a look of total helplessness, waiting to see what he would do next. His eyes burned with a look she did not understand, or want to…
He moved his hand from her shoulder and pushed strands of damp hair from her terror-filed face. He nonchalantly ran his finger up her left cheek, across her damp forehead, down her right cheek and softly over her dry lips. She trembled at his touch and her heart pounded madly as she read the intent in his eyes. Knowing she was completely at his mercy and the futility of screaming, she forced herself to lie stil and quiet beneath him and his touch. He shocked her when he leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth. She fought to turn her face from his kiss, but his hand held her chin firm and secure. He forcefuly parted her lips with his insistent tongue and kissed her deeply and hungrily. She had been caught off guard and did not know how to resist him. He did not stop with just that one kiss, but continued with even more passionate ones. For a time, she was lost in the reality of more passionate ones. For a time, she was lost in the reality of dreams-cometrue. Many times she had conjured up this scene in her mind with him and now it was realy happening. His kiss and touch were more than she had hoped or dreamed they would be. His kiss stirred and brought to life a feeling of not wanting to resist him, of wanting this enjoyable feeling to go on and on. Al thoughts and feelings disappeared from her heart and mind, except thoughts and feelings for him and what he was doing to her. His lips left hers to spread hot, searing kisses over her eyes, face and throat. Never had she been kissed like this or ever felt like this in a man’s arms before. Due to her lack of experience, she was unprepared for the fires he sparked to life in her innocent body. Had she not been consumed with desire or lost to the throes of passion, she stil would have been unable to fight his strength of body and purpose. She had no choice but to accept what he intended to do with her.
As her hunger and passion coalesced into one fiery blaze, she thought, if only we weren’t enemies… enemies! Reality of her situation and feelings came crashing in on her like a tidal wave. She fought to regain control of herself, but was distressed to find she could not and, even worse, did not want to. Her heart and body cried out for him to continue the onslaught of kisses and caresses. She was absorbed by that tingling, floating, elusive sensation which spread throughout her entire body. Her breathing came in short, shalow gasps and unknowingly she pressed closer to him. Her mouth accepted every kiss he gave and begged for more. He felt her resistance give way and he pressed his advantage. He caressed her passion-swolen breasts, gently teasing the taut, protruding nipples. A low moan escaped her lips as he buried himself in her hair and spoke softly in his tongue to her. The warmth himself in her hair and spoke softly in his tongue to her. The warmth of his breath in her ear and the husk
y, deep tone of his voice dashed any remaining self-control from her mind. Her arms encircled his back and she clung to him, offering her mouth to his mouth and her body to his body.
This was the moment he had dreamed of and waited for many days since he had first seen her, and he now knew that she would be his soon. He was surprised at his intense longing for her. He had never wanted a woman as he wanted this smal, white girl beneath him. He had to struggle with his own fiery emotions to keep from taking her quickly. He found himself not wanting to hurt or frighten her too much. He wanted to introduce her to love gently and tenderly on this, her first time. He was far more surprised to learn the ful extent of his hold over her feelings. He had no doubts he was the first man she had responded to this way. Her fiery response and desire for him brought him a strange sense of power over her, believing that when the time came she would accept him and her place in his teepee.
Deeply enmeshed in his kisses and caresses, Alisha was unaware Gray Eagle was unbuttoning the bodice of her frayed, dusty dress. But when his lips left the holow of her throat and marked a path to the holow between her breasts, the contact of his lips on her bare flesh was like a bolt of lightning. She was instantly aware of his touch and her wanton response. Shamed and shocked at herself and her behavior, she jerked away from his arms and lips and tried to cover her exposed bosom.
His eyes met hers and chalenged her to refuse or resist him. For a moment, his glare halted any reaction from her. Wel, if it has to be by force, he mused sorrowfuly, then so be it. He laughed into her defiant eyes as he pinned her struggling body under his. He held her defiant eyes as he pinned her struggling body under his. He held her arms over her head and captured both her wrists with one of his large, strong hands. He puled his knife from its sheath and carefuly cut away her clothing with his other hand. Her feeble struggles and pleading had no effect on him at al. He wanted her this minute and damn wel meant to have her.
Soft shimmers of moonlight filtered through the opening at the top of the teepee and iluminated her creamy white skin. It bathed her soft curves in opalescent glow. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of the radiant beauty beneath him. “Ni-ye mitawa, Cinstinna .. .” he said in a deep, hoarse voice.
She stared into the darkness which hid his features from her and pleaded once more for mercy. He watched the moonlight dance in the tear-filed eyes as lust consumed him again. You beg for what I cannot grant or give, Cinstinna, his heart answered her pleas. You cannot leave my arms or my teepee.
He replaced his knife and slightly relaxed his steel-like grip on her wrists. Leisurely, he inspected the naked ivory body with his eyes and hands. His eyes and hands were like branding irons, burning and marking every inch of her body as his forever. Her face was turned away from him, but he could stil make out the glowing, darkened patches on her pale cheeks. As his hand moved up her stomach, the muscles tightened and her skin was covered with chil bumps, in spite of the heat of the night. Her breathing quickened. She flinched and cried out in alarm as he cupped one of her breasts. She knew by now there was nothing she could do or say to stop or change what was about to take place. Her mind told her, at least you did nothing to encourage this, as Ben suggested.
He confidently caressed her rigid body, fondling here and He confidently caressed her rigid body, fondling here and kissing there. As his insistent hands brought new hunger to her body, a new battle began to rage inside her. She struggled against him and the unfamiliar emotions threatened to engulf her again. She could not comprehend the intensity of them or find a way to curb or control them. Innocence was her greatest enemy tonight. With a few swift movements, he lay naked beside her in the waning moonlight. As he moved on top of her, she panicked and was about to scream, but he silenced her outcry with another kiss. She tried to claw and slap him, but he seized her hands in his and pinned them above her head. His mouth claimed hers possessively, as his hands did her body. She mumbled pleas between his kisses as he forced her thighs apart with his knee.
She was petrified as she felt his hard, probing manhood touch her there. No … no … not like this, her mind cried out. She felt a sharp, burning pain as he thrust forward and entered her. He lay motionless within her for a time, alowing the pain to lessen and the shock of his forced entry to settle in. Then, he began slow, easy thrusts as he tenderly caressed her and kissed her unresponsive lips. He realized he did not want to brutaly rape her, as was usualy done with captives. i She lay immobile beneath him as tears silently slid from her eyes. She wished she could detach herself from this nightmare of pain and degrading humiliation. He had shattered al her dreams and ilusions of love and of him. He had forced her to see and feel a cold, cruel side of life she had not known existed until the past few weeks. He had taken everything from her with his actions tonight and the preceding days. Now, she had no one and nothing, not even her self and her heart. He had taken those, too…
He claimed her ful attention as his thrusts became faster and deeper. He was breathing heavily and hard. She could feel the deeper. He was breathing heavily and hard. She could feel the pounding of his heart and wished she had the courage to seize his knife and drive it into his evil, black heart.
Suddenly, she felt jerking movements within and he relaxed atop her. His body glistened with the sweat of his evil deed. She could feel perspiration from him sliding down her sides and pooling on her abdomen and chest. The heat and odor of lovemaking filed the air. Al her senses informed her of what had just occurred between them.
When his breathing returned to normal, he raised himself and spoke to her in his tongue. His voice and tone were firm and clear, but she could not understand his words or meaning.
“Ni-ye Mitawa! Wicasta wanzi tohni icu kte sni!”
She glared at him in anger, hurt and shame and said, “I hate you! One day, I’l kil you for this! If it weren’t for me, you would be dead and al the others would stil be alive. May God forgive me for saving your life. It was not a fair exchange for the lives of so many of my people. Maybe I deserve this as punishment for helping you and causing their deaths and suffering.” She should have known his people would have kiled them anyway for revenge of his death, but it didn’t occur to her then.
He returned her glare for a few minutes, then roled over and replaced his breechcloth. He stood up and reached to pul her up with him. She shrank back as she thought, he’s finished with me for now and he’s going to take me back out there like this, naked and soiled for al to see and laugh. “She recoiled in fear and shrieked almost hystericaly, “You can’t take me out there like this! I won’t go! Kil me now, but not that!”
He leaned forward and puled her to her feet despite her protests. He picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her slender protests. He picked up a blanket and wrapped it around her slender body. She franticaly grabbed the edges before it could slip to the ground. He took her elbow and led her out of his teepee, through the circles of teepees and into the edge of the forest. She mutely folowed him in a light daze. They had walked a short distance from the camp when he halted beside a large stream.
He motioned to the water, saying, “Yuzaza!”
Bewildered, she only stared back at him. He snatched the blanket from her grip before she knew what he was doing. Before she could retrieve it, he picked her up and dropped her into the three-foot deep pool of cool water. She came up coughing and sputtering. He quickly stripped and came in, ignoring her as he took water and rubbed his hands over his face and body. A bath! He means for me to take a bath! she raged. What good wil it do now? Γl never be clean again. She turned her back to him and began to wash his sweat and lovemaking from her body, but not from her soul and mind. She would never be able to erase what he had indelibly printed there for al time.
The cool water felt deliriously refreshing after al she had endured for the past two days. Removing al traces of dirt, perspiration, blood and love from her skin enlivened her. She cupped her hands and drank to soothe her dry, parched throat and lips. She shuddered with
a sudden chil from the night breeze. Gray Eagle caled for her to come, “Ku-wa!”
She gritted her teeth in loathing, knowing she had no choice but to obey his commands. She clenched her teeth to stil their chattering. Hesitantly, she came over to the bank as the water lapped at her narrow waist. She held her hands before her to shield her bosom and sex from his keen stare. As she rose from the water with a flaming face, she fought the anger she felt at having to stand with a flaming face, she fought the anger she felt at having to stand nude before him.
As he held the blanket out to her, she knew she must move her hands to reach for it. She glared at him suspiciously and put out a trembling hand for it. Instantly, she found herself trapped in his strong embrace. With eyes and head lowered in humiliation, she focused on his muscular chest and pleaded, “Please don’t hurt me again. Haven’t you tormented me enough for one day? What do you want from me?” she asked in a voice filed with anguish.
“Ni, Cinstinna…” came the answer in a deep, husky tone. He wrapped the blanket around her slender body and held the edges together until she took them. Sensing he meant her no further harm, she raised inquiring eyes to his in relief and grasped the edges of the blanket from his grip.
He turned and motioned for her to folow him. She stared at his retreating back and remained rooted to the spot. He halted and without looking back at her caled softly, “Ku-wa…”
She came up behind him and he walked on. She trailed him like a lost puppy back through the forest and through the camp to his teepee. Only Ben noted their going and coming. He studied her disheveled state and the dejected slump of her bare shoulders. He saw how tightly she gripped the blanket around her. He shook with violent wrath. He assumed the brave, if not others, had brutaly taken and used her. He wished he could kil him bare-handed. The Indian stepped aside and let her enter his teepee. He turned and sneered at Ben with a mocking half-smile. “You filthy red bastard!” Ben muttered, cursing him over and over. Gray Eagle went to his palet of buffalo skins and lay down. He caled for her to come to him. Fearfuly, she did so. Taking her quivering hand, he puled her down beside him. She stiffened at his quivering hand, he puled her down beside him. She stiffened at his touch. He reached for another skin and threw it over her. She watched him apprehensively as she snuggled under the skin. He lay stil and quiet. His slow, even breathing soon told her he was asleep. Stil, she continued to watch him warily.
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