In a thunder of horses' hooves, the riders disbursed in different directions. Each had little hope they would find Breanna.
***
Dakota came down the gully at a dead gallop. Wheeling around, he reigned in his horse. Slowly dismounting, he saw in the distance three men spread-eagled with wooden stakes.
Cocking his rifle, he approached them cautiously, wary of a trap. Taking cover behind a bush, he crept slowly forward.
When he was near enough, he saw that it was Baxley, Luther, and Inman who had been staked out. It was obvious that Inman was dead, because his one blue and his one brown eye were blank, staring at nothing—seeing nothing.
Dakota quickly examined Baxley and Luther, finding to his relief that they still lived. Their faces, however, were blistered from the sun, their lips cracked, their clothes in tatters, their tongues parched and swollen from their piercing thirst.
Dakota cut the two men loose and reached for his canteen. As cool water washed the sand from Baxley's throat, he opened his eyes and smiled ever so slightly. "Begging your pardon, my lord, but we could not find her."
"Find who?" Dakota cried, fearing he already knew the answer.
"Her ladyship," Baxley gasped. "That devil, Black Otter, came right into the compound and took her, my lord."
Dakota tried to beat down his rising alarm. He had to keep a clear head if he was going to find Breanna. "How did this happen to you, Baxley?"
"Mr. Gunther had us all ride in different directions to search for her ladyship. We were put upon by three Indians, my lord. They didn't seem intent on killing us as much as they seemed to want to torture us."
Luther rubbed cool water from Dakota's canteen over his face before he spoke. "One of them gave me a message to give you," the American said weakly. "He said to tell you that you will find —let me see if I have this right—you will find whom you seek at the place where a bear almost ended your life. He said Black Otter wanted you to know that what happened to us here will happen to your woman there."
Dakota tensed. His eyes became narrow slits, cold and piercing. "When did Black Otter take Breanna?"
"Last night . . . or was it two nights ago. I can't be sure how long we have been here," Luther told him.
Dakota's face paled beneath his tan, and he couldn't bear to think of his Breanna being in Black Otter's hands. "If I leave you the water, can you bury Inman and make it back to the trading post on your own?"
"Yes, my lord. You don't worry about us. Just find her ladyship," Baxley said, dragging himself to an upright position to show that he was capable of standing alone.
Dakota's face was unreadable, his eyes cold, as he turned away to meet his destiny and save his woman.
Baxley and Luther watched Dakota ride away, each knowing he would not like to be in Black Otter's shoes once Dakota caught up with him.
Dakota spurred his horse on relentlessly, sparing neither himself nor the animal. He knew where Black Otter would be waiting for him. He only hoped he would be in time to save his beloved!
***
When Breanna regained consciousness, it was morning. She found herself on a galloping horse, being held in place by the Indian who had abducted her. She was still bound and gagged, and her head ached where Black Otter had struck her. She stared up into black eyes that were filled with hate.
Black Otter's dark hair was encircled with a rawhide band. He wore a yellow buckskin vest. He was haughty and insolent, and Breanna had the feeling that this man would end her life abruptly if she gave him the slightest provocation. She wondered why he had not already done so.
She remembered Levi saying that an Indian respects bravery, and she hoped she would not shame Dakota by acting the coward, but she was so very frightened.
The Indian halted his horse and tossed Breanna to the ground. For a moment she could not move because the pain was too great. When she did finally try to move, the Indian yanked on the leather rope and sent her tumbling to the ground once more. It was clear to her that the Indian meant to humble her, but he would never succeed, she vowed as she stood up, her golden eyes defying him.
Black Otter jerked at the rope to assert his power over her, and once more she tumbled to the ground. He dragged her over to a tree and bound her tightly to it.
Breanna wanted to cry because of the pain and humiliation this hateful man was putting her through, but she was determined not to give him the satisfaction.
When he unsheathed his knife, she closed her eyes, expecting to feel it plunge into her heart. She was relieved when he merely cut the cloth that was bound around her mouth.
"I know who you are, Black Otter" she spat out. "You have killed Shadow Walker."
If he understood her words, he did not show it. He turned away from her, took his horse's reins, and bounded on its back. When he rode away, Breanna felt momentary relief, until she realized that if he didn't return, she would die anyway. She would never be able to loosen the leather thongs he had used to tie her to the tree. Her mouth was so dry, she would probably die from thirst before anyone could rescue her.
In total desperation, she leaned her head back against the tree trunk and cried bitter tears. What did it matter if she gave in to tears? No one would see her.
Time passed slowly, and Breanna finally fell asleep, thinking it was better to lose herself in sleep for a time than to be awake in a living nightmare.
***
Dakota's face was haggard as he removed his rifle from his dead horse's carcass. The poor animal was covered with lather, and flecks of bloody foam covered its mouth. He had never in his life ridden a horse to its death. Two Moons had taught him that an Arapaho warrior always took care of his horse before seeing to his own needs.
In desperation, Dakota looked around. How would he ever reach Breanna before Black Otter harmed her? On foot it would take two days to reach the valley where he had encountered the bear as a young boy.
Shouldering his rifle, he started off in a run. He had to try. Hatred burned in his heart for his brother. Now he would not hesitate to take Black Otter's life. He had made a fatal mistake; he had taken the one person that Dakota loved above all else.
In his tortured mind, he could see Breanna's smile. He remembered so clearly how her golden eyes would soften when he was making love to her. The sound of her laughter played on his ears, and he ached to hold her, to protect her from Black Otter's evil.
He had been running for about an hour—pushing himself beyond human endurance. He had to go —had to save Breanna. When he at last felt his strength drained, and his breath coming out in short gasps, he cursed the human body that had its limitations. When he finally stopped to lean against a tree to catch his breath, despair overwhelmed him. It was futile; he would never reach Breanna in time.
Suddenly Dakota heard the sound of a rider, and he ducked behind a bush. With his rifle cocked, he waited for whoever it was to ride into sight. Relief washed over him when he recognized Levi.
The hunter pulled up his mount and called out. "If I'd a been Black Otter, I'd have picked you off an hour ago. You left a trail any blundering fool could follow—killed your horse, did you?"
Dakota grabbed the reins from Levi's hand. "I will take your horse. I have to get to Breanna."
Levi obligingly slid to the ground. "Do you know where Black Otter's taken her?"
Dakota tossed his rifle to Levi, since there was already one in the saddle holster. "Yes. He waits for me at the place where I encountered the bear."
Levi glanced into Dakota's eyes. "Take heart, he may not have harmed her yet. He will probably keep her safe until you arrive. I wish I could go with you; I'd like to kill that bastard myself."
"You cannot come with me, Levi. This I must do alone. I can promise you this, if he has harmed Breanna, he will die a painful death."
"Be careful. He knows you are coming. He will have had time to prepare for you."
Dakota's eyes narrowed. "Nothing can stop me from slaying him now. Not even the promise I made
our father."
***
Breanna woke with a start when Black Otter untied her from the tree and jerked her to her feet. She fought against him, and he slapped her with his open palm. "It would take very little to make me kill you, white woman."
"You speak English?" she said, stating the obvious. Testing her cut lip, she found it was bleeding. "Dakota will find you, Black Otter. There is nowhere you can hide that he will not seek you out."
His dark eyes moved over her, and he found her pleasing. Her hair, which tumbled about her face, was a golden color he had never before seen. He was astonished to see that her eyes were also a golden color. "I have made sure Dakota can find me. I want him to suffer before I kill him."
Breanna felt her heart skip a beat. "That's why you took me. You are using me to draw him to you."
Black Otter gripped her chin and pushed her hair out of her face. "I think he will be in torment, wondering what I am doing to you. I think Dakota must love you very much."
"You are wrong. Dakota does not love me. He . . . still loves Running Deer."
"Do not take me for a fool, white woman. Dakota never loved Running Deer. I loved her, but he did not. It is because of him that she is dead. It is only right that I take his woman's life in exchange."
Breanna felt her courage slipping. "It was not Dakota who killed Running Deer. It was you."
"It is because she wanted him and turned her face away from me that she is dead. You should look to your own safety, white woman. It does not bother me to kill a woman."
"I do not fear you," she said in an attempt of bravado. "Neither does my husband fear you."
Black Otter's dark eyes flinched, and she knew she had struck a nerve.
"My husband is a brave man, and he will never be defeated by a coward like you."
His face was murderous as he raised his fist to strike her.
Breanna willed herself not to flinch away, and stared at him with impudence. "Yes, a coward would hit a woman."
To Breanna's surprise, Black Otter did not strike her. She felt relieved until she discovered he had a far worse punishment in store for her.
He led her down a slope where he had driven four stakes in the ground. She tried to jerk away from him when he pushed her down to her knees, but she was helpless against his strength as he pushed her hands over her head and tied her wrists to the stakes. She tried to twist away from him when he grabbed her leg and secured her ankle to another stake. This was repeated with her other ankle, and soon Breanna could not move.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, fear rising in her throat like bile.
"I am using you as bait, white woman. You will not be so pretty once the sun has cooked your skin." He grabbed her gown and ripped it down the front, exposing her lacy chemise.
"No," he said, running brutal hands over her white shoulders and pushing her chemise down to expose her breasts. "I do not think Dakota will find you so desirable when your skin cracks and dries up like leather."
She cried out when he ripped her gown the rest of the way and threw it aside, leaving only her chemise to cover her body.
Now, in her near-naked state, Breanna could no longer hide her tears. She cried for herself, but most of all she cried for Dakota because he was being lured into a trap. She thought it very likely that she would be the instrument of his death, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it.
34
Dakota silently jumped from Levi's horse and slapped it on the rump, sending it galloping back the way he had come. He knew that on foot, he was still an hour from his destination, but it would be foolish to ride any farther since it would only alert Black Otter he was coming.
Dakota was on familiar ground now, for this was the land where he had walked in childhood, and he knew every hill and tree. He found an old familiar trail but avoided it, choosing instead to stay within the cover of the trees. Cautiously, he made his way forward, keeping the Wind River to his right and the mountains to his back.
Dakota's eyes were burning, and there was fear in his heart for the woman he loved. He blamed himself because she had fallen into Black Otter's hands.
He had been selfish, thinking more of himself than her by allowing her to come with him instead of insisting that she return to England. He had known the danger she would face, and still he had agreed to bring her along because he had wanted her with him. Even when he had been angry with her, he had found joy just in knowing she was nearby.
***
Breanna felt the heat of the sun on her face. Her throat was dry and she was so thirsty. She tried to remember the times when Dakota had taught her to swim, and to imagine that she was now immersed in cool sea water. But the burning heat from the sun made it impossible to imagine for very long because reality was the hot, scorching sun overhead.
Breanna could feel her strength waning. A groan escaped her lips, and she weakly jerked against the leather thongs that bound her to the stakes. With defeat reflecting in her eyes, she realized she could not free herself.
Red-hot heat was broiling her delicate skin, and she imagined this was the way it would feel to be cooked alive.
Breanna knew Dakota would come for her, but he might arrive too late to save her. She wished she had the means of warning Dakota that he would be falling into Black Otter's trap. A shuddering sob escaped her lips. Today might be the last day of life for her and her love, for Black Otter was cunning and devious, and he had planned well, leaving nothing to chance.
For some reason, Breanna's fevered mind remembered the words of Dakota's father when he had written in his journal that he wanted to be buried with his beloved Cillia so they might spend eternity together. If she and Dakota were both to die today, she wondered if some kind soul would place them in a common grave so they might spend eternity together.
Breanna rolled her head back and forth, knowing she wasn't thinking clearly, and that she must fight against the delirium that clouded her mind, distorting everything with a feeling of unreality.
The sun was a red-hot ball of fire in the sky, and it was drawing every ounce of strength from her body.
"Dakota," she whispered, "if only I could look upon your face once more before I die. I want to tell you that I love you." Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears.
Breanna heard movement to the right of her, and she painfully turned to see Black Otter crouch down as if he was listening to something. By the excited gleam in his dark eyes, she realized Dakota must be nearby!
She considered calling out to warn Dakota about the trap, but then she quickly thought better of it. If Black Otter had not bound her mouth to keep her silent, he must want her to call out to Dakota. She bit her trembling lip, vowing to remain silent. She would not help Black Otter capture Dakota.
At that moment Black Otter confirmed her suspicions. He slunk over to Breanna and whispered up to her in a sharp voice, "Call to your man to help you, white woman. He is near and will rush to save you," he taunted.
"No," she moaned, "never."
***
Dakota flattened his body on the ground and parted the thick bush so he could get a better view of what lay ahead.
With a shuddered intake of breath, he saw Breanna, her half-naked body blistering beneath the scorching sun, her arms and legs stretched tightly between four stakes. Anger such as he had never known shook his body, and hatred for his brother coiled like a snake inside him. Black Otter would pay for doing this to his woman!
Dakota had to fight against the urge to run to Breanna and cut her loose and hold her protectively in his arms, for he knew that was exactly what Black Otter expected of him. He watched Breanna lick her dry lips, knowing he had to act quickly. Already her body was burned from the sun, and he couldn't be sure how much longer she could endure the heat.
Dakota allowed his eyes to move over each bush and tree, his ears alert to any sound that would give away Black Otter's hiding place. At last his eyes settled on the slope just beyond Breanna. He remembered leaping
down that very slope as a boy, to face the bear that was charging his mother and Running Deer. Suddenly he knew that was where Black Otter waited for him.
Dakota glanced up at the sun, knowing he would have a better chance to free Breanna under the cover of night. He gauged that there were still three hours until- sunset—too long to wait—Breanna would never last that long—he had to act now.
Slowly rising to a kneeling position, Dakota gripped his rifle in one hand. In complete silence, he stood up, unsheathing his knife with the other. It flashed through his mind that much of his life had been played out on this spot. Perhaps this was even where his life would end.
Black Otter could feel Dakota's presence, and his dark eyes narrowed with hatred. Soon he would have Dakota's blood on his knife, but first he would torture him, make him cry out for mercy, humble him into the dust.
The renegade warrior hugged the sides of the incline, knowing the time to act was now. The same man had trained them both, so he knew how Dakota was thinking. He would never give his presence away, so Black Otter would just have to draw him out into the open.
Black Otter slowly moved up the incline. When he raised his head, he knew he would already be in Dakota's view, so he rolled forward to keep low. Coming to his knees beside Dakota's woman, he drew his knife.
Breanna's eyes were closed, but they opened slowly as she felt the Indian beside her once more. "No," she murmured weakly, as he pressed the knife at her throat. He yelled out something, and the only word she understood was "Dakota." Was Dakota here? she wondered, feeling as if the hot sun had muddled her mind.
"I know you are here, Dakota," Black Otter called out in the tongue of the Arapaho. "Come forward so you can watch your woman die."
Dakota watched helplessly as Black Otter ran his knife blade down Breanna's neck. His mind would not accept the thought of Black Otter touching his wife. But he could not allow himself to think about that. If his mind was not clear, he would never defeat Black Otter. He needed his concentration if he was going to free Breanna.
"Come out of hiding, Dakota. If you don't, I will plunge this knife into your woman's heart."
Dakota Dreams (Historical Romance) Page 32
