Dove glared at the tall, handsome man beside her. It angered her, the overpowering attraction she felt for this white—especially as he was no great warrior. “No more talk.” She continued on. Another signal sounded, this one different. She changed directions, making sure her unwanted charge stayed with her. After a few minutes she stopped and crouched.
“Have they found them?” Jeremy whispered, coming up behind her.
White Dove motioned Jeremy to silence and watched her brothers. Leaning to speak into his ear, her voice soft as the wind, she said, “They are over there.” She watched Striking Thunder position his warriors simply with movements of his hands and head. When he was done, she reached back to motion to Jeremy that they should move into their positions. She grimaced.
Because of her charge, her position was out of the range of the action. Her head whipped around when her hand encountered emptiness. She searched the darkness but found no sign of him. She swallowed her groan of frustration, knowing that if he did anything stupid, she would bear the blame.
Peering intently in the direction Jeremy must have gone, she searched for any shifts in the shadows around her. Her patience paid off when a dark shape pulled away from one tree trunk and crept to another, moving toward the enemy. Keeping low, she followed and grabbed his arm. “We wait,” she whispered.
Jeremy shook his head and pointed. “There they are,” he mouthed softly.
Dove glanced to where he pointed. From where they crouched, they could see Jessie tied to the tree, her back toward them.
Jeremy pulled a knife from his pocket and turned his head to Dove’s ear. “I’m going to cut her free from behind.”
Dove started to tell him no, then gasped when she found his lips mere inches from hers. Startled, she drew back, furious at her wayward thoughts. Though she judged him to be around her own age of nineteen winters, he was just a boy—not a man as the warriors in her tribe were by his age.
Jeremy slunk away, blending in with the shadows once more. She went after him, catching sight of the wink of the metal of his blade. She bit her lip. He held his knife in his hand, the blade out, catching the beams of light from above. She held her breath, moving quickly behind him, praying he’d not reveal their presence. Dove was within touching distance when once again he left the concealing shadows and scurried to another thick bush. To her dismay, the knife blade caught a branch and startled a raccoon, which shot out from beneath the bush, scolding loudly.
She rushed forward, but in her haste to stop Jeremy, she stepped on a twig. Horrified, she stopped and looked down as the sharp crack ripped through the silence. This time it was Jeremy who reached out to grab her arm and pull her down into a crouch behind the bush. Silently, they glared at one another, each accusing the other, not daring to move. But when they heard loud voices, each went into action. Dove grabbed her bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver at the same time that Jeremy inched his way to the tree, his knife clutched between his teeth.
Jessie was watching her captors when the twig snapped.
Dan had dozed off but woke with a start. She saw him glance over at his sister, and Jessie saw that she too was listening, her face pale in the moonlight. Just then a raccoon ran out of the brush, making loud, angry noises.
“It’s all right,” Daisy whispered, to her brother, “it’s only a raccoon.”
Glancing around him, Dan looked uneasy. “Let’s get outta here,” the man whispered. “It doesn’t feel right.”
Daisy went still, “You’re right. It’s quiet, too quiet.”
Standing, she pointed the gun at Jessie. “Get the horses. We’ll leave them here.”
Dan fetched the horses and handed his sister the reins of her mount, then started to ride off.
Jessie stared at Daisy, who hadn’t moved. She had drawn her pistol. Sweat beaded between Jessica’s breasts, and her mouth went dry. Her heart had already stopped. This was it. She was going to die, and there wasn’t a thing she could do. Keeping her gaze on the gun, she braced herself. At this close range, the other woman wouldn’t miss. Even as fear filled her, Jessie’s biggest concern was the child sleeping fitfully against her. She prayed that Alison would be spared.
“Well, haven’t you any last words, Jessie dear?” Daisy asked with a smirk.
Jessie thought fast. She glared at the woman standing in front of her. Her eyes went wide with surprise for a split second when she felt something or someone tugging on the ropes binding her to the tree. Had help arrived? She took a deep breath. She had to stall Daisy. Quickly she schooled her features into a mask of indifference. “You won’t get away.”
Thankfully Daisy hadn’t noticed anything amiss. She laughed scornfully. “Brave to the end. I like that. But now we must go. So long, Jessie.”
Jessie watched Daisy’s trigger finger as the gun pointed at her. When the ropes loosened some more, she tensed, ready to throw herself to the side.
Wolf swore in frustration when Daisy aimed her gun at Jessie. He motioned for his brother to hold off. It had been a stroke of luck to catch Daisy and Dan dozing, and in just a few seconds it would have been over. He and the other warriors had arrows ready to make their mark. His rifle had been too risky at this distance with warriors surrounding Daisy and Dan. But the raccoon had alerted the quarry to their presence, and now he didn’t dare risk having Daisy’s gun go off. He kept his arrow centered on Daisy. Beside him, Striking Thunder did likewise, his bow taut.
Dan had ridden off, but Daisy kept her weapon trained on Jessie. Time slowed. Wolf waited, his gaze never wavering. But when he heard the cocking of the gun, sweat ran down his back, and his heart stopped. He was out of time. Daisy wasn’t going to leave her hostages alive. Wolf adjusted his aim a bit lower and pulled his arm back. With a silent prayer, he let his arrow fly. It hit Daisy’s hand. Two gunshots filled the air. Daisy screamed. Pandemonium broke forth. Warriors poured from the woods, their arrows aimed at Dan, who immediately dropped his gun.
Wolf ran toward Jessie, past Daisy, who lay on the ground, her eyes staring blankly at the canopy of stars. His only concern lay with his wife. She lay huddled and still on the ground. “Jessie, oh, God, Jessie,” he cried, his heart lodged in his throat. With a hoarse cry he fell to his knees and rolled her over, pulling Alison from her grasp. He handed the hysterical child to Jeremy, then gathered his wife in his arms. “Talk to me, Jess. Tell me you’re unhurt.” Desperation laced his voice, and his fingers shook as he skimmed them over her body, searching for a gunshot wound.
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her wavering grin was the most beautiful sight he figured he’d ever see. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice quavering.
“Are you sure?”
“I think so.” She trembled, then fell back against him. Suddenly she lifted her head and glanced around wildly. She struggled in his arms. “Where’s Alison?” she cried. “Is she all right? Oh, Lord! She wasn’t shot, was she?”
Wolf didn’t know. He’d been focused only on her. He looked over his shoulder and met Jeremy’s nod. “She’s fine. She’s with Jeremy and my sister.” He held his wife close. They sat for a long time, oblivious to the activity around them.
“If anything had happened to you—”
Jessie brought her bound wrists up and pressed her fingers to his lips. Tears coursed down her cheeks. “I was so afraid I’d never be able to tell you how much I love you.”
“I love you, Jessica Jones,” he said, holding her tight. “God, I love you. I’m sorry for being such a fool.”
Jessie smiled through her tears. “I love you too, Wolf. We’ve both been too full of stubborn pride.” She buried her head in the curve of his neck. “Don’t let me go. Hold me.”
Wolf cut the rope binding her wrists, then stood, cradling her to his chest. “I’ll never let you go. You’re mine. My wild rose. So beautiful, so sweet.” He kissed her. “You’ve given my life meaning. Without you I’m no more than an empty shell.” He stared down into her eyes. “For better or worse.
”
Jessie pulled his lips back to hers. “Till death do us part,” she whispered.
Neither was aware of the grinning men watching them or the byplay between their siblings as Dove took Alison from Jeremy, telling him that the child needed a woman’s touch.
Jessie snuggled, happy and content in her warrior’s arms. Her warrior. She still couldn’t get over the change in Wolf. Her fingers smoothed and played with the curls on his chest. Another grin, wider, appeared when she thought of what he was wearing—or more precisely, what he wasn’t wearing. She definitely had to convince him to wear that breechclout more often. Sneaking a look at his face, she marveled at the change caused by a few smears of paint. In the predawn light, he looked every bit as Indian as those warriors around them, and she thrilled to the fact that he was hers. “I can walk, Wolf. You don’t have to carry me.” She tried once more to convince her husband that she was fine, able to walk on her own. Already the nightmare reality of the past days was fading into what seemed to have been simply a bad dream.
“I will carry you.”
“You’re just plain stubborn.” But her heart warmed to know he was reluctant to put her down. Smiling, she gave in and rested her cheek against his shoulder, finding comfort in the warmth of his bronzed skin. Her gaze traveled over his shoulder, and found Dan, who walked with his hands tied behind his back. He was surrounded by warriors. Jessie couldn’t bring herself to look at the horse bringing up the rear. Daisy’s lifeless body was slung across its back.
“What’s going to happen to Dan, Wolf?”
Wolf hugged her tight. “We’ll take him to the fort. It’s up to the law now.”
Shuddering, Jessie whispered, “He saved us, Wolf. He shot his own sister to keep her from killing us.”
“I know.” Wolf stared down into her troubled gaze and could find no words of comfort except: “I love you, Jessica Jones.”
Her gaze softened. “I love you too,” she whispered.
The sun was just peeping over the eastern horizon when the weary rescue party arrived at the makeshift camp. Wolf watched as loud greetings and cheers woke Alison. The little girl, along with his wife, had fallen asleep on the journey back. When Alison saw James, she began crying and held out her arms to him. He took her, and after she calmed down, he coaxed her to eat and drink some water, as she’d had very little for nearly three days.
Jessie woke too. Wolf set her down, and she too ran to her brother. They hugged and cried. Tears flowed freely as each begged the other for forgiveness.
Wolf watched with an indulgent smile. Striking Thunder approached, and Wolf turned to him. “All is well, my brother.”
“Yes. All is well.”
Striking Thunder grinned. “Your spirit is at peace.”
“I have found love. The rest will come. Of this I’m sure.”
“I wish you well, my brother. She is worthy of you.”
Wolf laughed. All was well. “It is I who am worthy of her. You have not seen her in action. She makes Dove look tame.”
Striking Thunder laughed and briefly relayed his first encounter with Jessie in Westport. He confessed to following her back to the livery and witnessing the scene that had followed.
Wolf narrowed his eyes. “You knew, yet said nothing to me?”
Striking Thunder shrugged, his eyes gleaming with humor. “It was meant to be.”
Laying his arm across his brother’s shoulders, Wolf led Striking Thunder away to give his wife time with her family. “Let me tell you a couple of stories, my brother. This trip has not been dull. Then you must tell me about this maiden who has caught your eye. Meadowlark, I believe Dove said? A fine-looking maiden, if I recall.”
The two brothers laughed, each extolling the virtues of their women. The mood turned festive, and Wolf decided that they would remain where they were for the rest of the day and night. Both Jessie and Alison needed more rest.
It was there that Lt. Col. Hadden Trowbridge and Vern Portier came upon them. Hadden wasted no time taking Dan into custody. Wolf took him and Vern aside and informed them that Dan had killed his sister to protect Jessie and Alison. He also relayed Jessie’s story of how he’d shielded them from Daisy during the past three days. Vern promised to take the information into consideration. Before leaving, Hadden promised to send word to their wagon train that all were safe and on their way back.
That evening there was fresh meat, a huge fire and lots of storytelling. After eating her fill, Jessie leaned against Wolf and sighed. Her stomach was full, she was warm and rested, but mostly she was relieved to see Alison acting more like her old, talkative self. The little girl still kept close to either her or James, but Jessie could tell the Indian women fascinated her. She kept dragging James over so she could talk to them and finger their soft deerskin dresses and exclaim over the fancy beadwork on their moccasins.
Jessie sat with Wolf and his family, and he took his turn to chant and do what he called counting coup. She listened to the storytelling, fascinated by the graceful gestures and rich voices. The moon rose higher, and soon the fire died down. Everyone moved off into the darkness to bed down. Wolf nuzzled her ear and kissed the side of her neck.
“Come with me, Jessica. I want you.”
The words sent a thrill down her spine. She’d nearly given up hope of ever hearing those precious words again. She tipped her head back. “Not as much as I want you, Wolf.”
He assisted her to her feet and stared down into her eyes. “You’re not too tired?”
Jessie smiled. “I’ve slept all day. Take me away and I’ll prove it.”
Wolf swept her into his arms and headed out into the dark prairie.
Five days after being kidnapped, Jessie watched with sadness as Wolf’s family prepared to leave. She glanced over her shoulder at Wolf. “I like your family. I’ll miss them. It’ll be good to see them again next summer.”
Wolf kneaded her shoulders absently. “Are you sure, Jessica? Are you sure you can leave your family and return with me? Though how I could let you go now is beyond me. When I think how close I came to losing—”
Jessie turned and stopped his words with a light kiss. Looping her arms around his neck, she tipped her head back to study his stoic expression, knowing that a small part of him still feared she’d change her mind.
“I’m sure. Your family will become mine, and we’ll have children of our own. I will always carry my family in my heart, no matter where I go.”
Wolf cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, my beautiful rose, my Wild Rose.”
Jessie grinned. “I love my Indian name,” she told him.
“It is indeed a name that brings honor to this tribe.”
Jessie turned when Golden Eagle, her father-in-law, placed his hands on Jessie’s shoulders. He’d performed a simple marriage ceremony of his own last night. “You are my daughter now. My family is yours, as your family is ours. Remember this, daughter.”
Jessie nodded and, throwing caution to the wind, hugged him. Then it was Striking Thunder’s turn. He grinned down at her and tweaked a curl.
“You look much better cleaned up, my little sister.”
She rolled her eyes at him when he walked away, then hugged Dove, delighted to have her for a sister. They had much in common. Finally only Star Dreamer remained. She took Jessie’s hands in hers and stared deep into her eyes. When her eyes clouded over, Jessie grew worried, not sure how her sister’s visions worked or what to do, but Star Dreamer’s gaze cleared.
Star nodded in satisfaction, then leaned forward to kiss Jessie first on one cheek and then on the other. “The answer lies within you.” She moved to Wolf and hugged him tight. “Look to your wife for your answers.” Then she walked away.
Jessie and Wolf glanced at one another, but before either could comment on the strange advice, the sounds of bickering reached them. As one, they groaned and turned to see White Dove and Jeremy arguing over who was the better shot. Rickard tagged after them, a wide grin on his face, Jessie
’s Sharps rifle slung over his shoulder.
“I hit four tins to your three,” Jeremy stated smugly.
“No, the fourth one fell before you fired,” White Dove corrected, her nose in the air.
“Even Rickard hit more than you.” She sent Rickard a dazzling smile, which made the boy turn red. Jeremy’s scowl deepened as the trio joined them.
Shaking her head, Jessie and Wolf exchanged amused grins. All the way back from the Laramie Range, Dove and Jeremy had argued, accusing each other of nearly ruining the rescue. And when Wolf put an end to it, they started competing with each other in other areas, each determined to prove they were better than the other.
Wolf stopped his sister and gave her a hug. “You’re growing up, my little Dove. By the time I see you next, you’ll be wed.”
Dove tossed her head. “When I marry, it will be to a great warrior.”
Wolf lifted a brow when she stalked away, her head held high in challenge. “I pity the warrior who tries to claim her heart.”
Jessie frowned as she watched Jeremy. For someone who’d done nothing but bicker with Dove, he was looking downright miserable as Dove mounted her horse and joined her family. She feared another Jones had lost his heart. Too bad nothing could come of it. She put him from her mind and joined the others in their final farewells. Who knew what the future might hold?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Nearly two weeks later, the emigrants stopped to camp near a huge natural bridge of stone in a red-rock canyon to celebrate Independence Day. In her tent, Jessie turned to face Coralie. “Are you sure?” she asked, running her hands down the front of the blue calico dress. Wolf had never seen her in a dress.
“Yes, yes and yes! I’ve never worn it. It’s yours. It even has a matching bonnet—but you don’t need that today. Now hold still and let me finish your hair.”
“But it’s too short to do anything with.” Jessie bit her lip nervously and ran her fingers over her hair to feel what Coralie was doing.
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