“I am sorry. You were only trying to defend me. I got angry because you put yourself in danger.”
“I had to. You couldn’t defend me very well if Ernie had tied you up.”
He kissed her again. “You always have an answer for everything. No wonder Walking Tall calls you Miss Sassy.”
She tried to pull away but he wouldn’t let her. Instead he kissed her eyes, her nose, from one ear to the other before returning to her lips. He tried to tell her how he felt without using words.
* * *
Sarah couldn’t believe she was in his arms and he was kissing her. She wanted more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her as he deepened the kiss. Kissing him was totally different from anything she had ever experienced. It was like coming home, but in an exciting way. She never wanted it to stop.
“We need to get moving,” he said, breaking their kiss. “We have to cover quite a bit of distance today.”
“Maybe I should have shot Ernie after all,” she joked. He smiled, making her heart soar. He knew she was only teasing. They were making progress.
She kissed him lightly on the lips once more before helping him to dismantle their small camp. She put the dirt over the fire to make sure it was out while he packed up their meager supplies.
“How far is it to Walking Tall’s camp?’
“Not far. It will take us three days if all goes well.”
Three days of walking. She would hate to know what he considered far. Yet it was only three days. After that they would be surrounded by people who knew them. Whatever chance they had of finding a way to be together would depend on how much progress they made over the next three days. Bear’s lack of trust in people, red and white, would make it difficult.
Chapter 39
Bear walked in the direction of the camp, his senses on high alert. He didn’t want another surprise like the last one. He couldn't remember ever letting someone creep up on him like that. It was Sarah. His feelings for this woman had his head melted more than if he had spent ten days out in the middle of the desert in the big sun. He knew he loved her. He guessed he had loved her from the start, despite not liking how she behaved. It was her bravery and guts, and now, also her kindness and the care she showed for Tala , that had him smitten. Even the fact she hadn’t put a bullet in Ernie had lifted her higher in his estimation. And the fire between them was fierce. It threatened to extinguish both of them. He had heard of great passion. He believed it was what his mother and father had before his father had given in to the pressure to marry a white woman. Would Sarah end up feeling that same pressure? If they did become one, would she end up leaving him? He never minded being alone before, but after being with Sarah, he didn’t think he could handle it. It was better that they stopped things between them before they reached the point where going back was not an option.
He stared at her walking slightly ahead of him. How would he live with himself when she went back to her own family? He believed she would. There was no reason not to. Morgan was dead, and with him, all knowledge of the baby she had once carried. She could return as a single woman, one day marry a white man and have children with him. If he really loved her, that is what he would wish for her.
She turned to look at him, her smile growing a little shaky as he took a couple of seconds to return it. She walked back toward him.
“What’s wrong? You’re frowning.”
“I was just thinking of the weather. It looks like it might rain.”
She looked up at the clear blue sky.
“I wish you wouldn’t lie to me. You’re not very good at it.”
He didn’t respond. What could he say? She would only argue and tell him he was wrong.
* * *
Sarah walked quicker, hoping that by doing so the day would be over sooner. She wanted to light a fire and lie in the firelight with Bear. She wished they would come to a river before they set up camp. She could do with a wash and she wasn’t the only one.
The butterflies in her stomach thrilled at the thought of seeing Bear in the river, the water clinging to the muscles on his chest. She wondered if he thought about her body. He had seen it when he nursed her but this would be different. She was so busy making plans she didn’t notice Bear had stopped and was staring ahead of them. Then she heard what had caught his ear: the sound of hooves.
The riders were approaching fast. She took out the gun, moving back toward Bear.
“Put the gun away, Sarah. It is Walking Tall and his men.”
“How do you know?”
“I saw his signal a little while back. I wasn’t sure what it meant until now. Put the gun away.”
She did what he said, hastily hiding it in the folds of her clothes. She wasn’t about to throw it away. She trusted Bear, but what if the visitors weren’t friendly? She stood and waited, wishing he would take her hand or put an arm around her. Instead he stood rigid, his face an unreadable mask. Tala ran toward the horses and then decided against it and ran back to Sarah. He stood by her. She ran her hands in his fur, grateful that at least one of her companions definitely loved her.
Chapter 40
“Miss Sassy. At last. You have caused us many nights without sleep,” Walking Tall said in greeting.
Sarah stared not at Walking tall but at Almanzo. She couldn’t believe he was there. She stiffened as he got off his horse, expecting him to start yelling at her. Instead, he ran over and whisked her off her feet.
“Thank God you’re safe, I was so worried about you. We all were. Sarah, I can’t believe it.”
Sarah hugged him back and then hugged Scott before Walking Tall also grabbed her into a big bear hug. Now the tears ran down her face. Her family looked more relieved than angry. They hadn’t given her a tongue lashing, but had shown how much they cared for her. Relief flowed through her. Then she noticed Bear was hanging back, outside of their little circle. She went to him and, taking his hand, dragged him back to where her family was standing.
“I owe this man my life. Thank you Walking Tall for sending Bear to look for me. I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t.”
Almanzo held his hand out to Bear as did Scott. “Thank you Bear. Walking Tall told us he had sent a man out to check on Sarah. We really appreciate everything you did.”
“It was nothing,” Bear mumbled.
“Come, let us make camp. We have much to talk about,” Walking Tall said giving Almanzo and Scott a look Sarah couldn’t interpret. She decided not to question it. The men would have questions for her and she couldn’t wait to find out how Carrie, Rick and Jo were keeping.
They made camp very quickly. Walking Tall cooked while Sarah collected water. She hoped Bear would come to the river with her, but he stayed with Walking Tall and talked. Scott and Almanzo seemed very busy with their horses but as she didn’t want them to give her a talking to about running off, she left them to it. The meal was eaten in uncomfortable silence until Sarah decided she had enough.
“Well, you might as well get it off your chest. I admit I was selfish and foolish to run off. Edwin Morgan wasn’t as bad as you made him out to be.” Sarah looked at Almanzo who opened his mouth to respond but she beat him to it. “He was worse, much worse. But he is gone now and I have learned my lesson. So, lecture over.”
“Is that what you think we were going to do? Give you a talking to? You haven’t changed that much then Sarah.”
Scott’s words stung. Sarah looked from one to the other but they wouldn’t meet her eyes. She looked at Walking Tall who stared back at her with pity. Suddenly she knew they had bad news for her and nobody knew how to tell her. She bit back her fear. “What happened?”
Almanzo looked shocked as did Scott, but Walking Tall just kept staring, this time the pity in his eyes was accompanied by admiration.
“Sarah, after you left, we had some trouble and…” Almanzo started.
“Spit it out,” she pushed.
“Rick died. There was an attack and he was trying to save
his family. Everyone else survived, but he was killed.”
Sarah stared at Almanzo. She could see his mouth opening and closing but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Rick was dead. She was too late. She couldn’t tell him how sorry she was. How much he’d meant to her. How she didn’t mean to hurt him.
“No, it can’t be,” she cried. “Not Rick, he was too young. What about Jo? Carrie, the girls.” She rocked back and forth as she berated herself loudly for being so selfish and self-serving. Bear moved quickly to her side and pulled her against his chest, holding her tightly as she sobbed. She cried not just for Rick but for Jo, Carrie, the twins and herself. Her baby. Everything. Once she started crying the tears wouldn’t stop. The other men said nothing. Silence prevailed, broken only by the sounds of her sobs. When they had subsided, Bear released her slightly, but she still sat with her head against him. She didn’t care what anyone thought. She needed him, his strength and his protection.
“Sarah, Rick loved you just like his own child. He considered you, me and Carrie as much a part of his family as he did his own girls. Jo too. She worries about you daily. She can’t wait for you to meet Richie”
“Who is Richie?” Jo couldn’t have a new husband already. She loved Rick. But then she supposed she had found Bear with Edwin gone only a few days previously. But that was different. She had never truly loved Edwin. Now she knew what love was, she recognized her feelings for Edwin had been a mix of attraction and a way to hurt Rick. She wanted her uncle to feel how she had felt upon hearing he was going to send her away. But he hadn’t. He had given her a home, his love and support and she had thrown it in his face.
“Jo was pregnant when Rick died. She didn’t know. Her baby was born about three weeks ago. They are both doing very well. And they’re looking forward to meeting you.” Almanzo smiled at her, she could see he was being genuine. He did care about her, just like a real brother.
“Sarah, we have other problems.”
She turned to stare at Scott. Surely nobody else could be dead?
“It seems you and Edwin are wanted for questioning over the murder of someone called Faulkner.”
Before Sarah could answer, Bear spoke.
“It was me. It had nothing to do with Sarah. I killed him.”
Shocked, she looked at Bear in disbelief. He was going to give himself up for the crime she had committed. Over her dead body.
“That’s a lie. He’s trying to protect me, but it was me, not Bear, who killed Faulkner. And I only did it because he was going to shoot Bear. I will swear to that in court.”
“You might not get to court. They seem to prefer meting out their own justice in that part of the country. Did you steal his gold too?”
“Gold? What gold? I didn’t want anything of his.” Sarah quickly explained the situation with Edwin owing money to Faulkner and offering her services to work it off.
“Where on earth was Morgan?” Almanzo asked.
“He had run off with all of my savings the night before.” Sarah didn’t mention the baby. She glanced at Bear but he didn’t say anything. Maybe it was better kept a secret.
“Then who stole his gold?”
Bear coughed. “That may have happened after he died.” Bear explained how they had heard Morgan outside the cave and how he had mentioned a girl, a soiled dove, who would not be able to turn them in.
“A whore was murdered too. The sheriff blamed her death on a disgruntled customer.”
“So where is Morgan now? We need to bring him in to give evidence,” Scott said.
“That may be a problem,” Sarah said, her eyes on Bear.
Chapter 41
“He is dead. Not by my hand. He was killed by a mountain lion. I buried him and his friend.”
Almanzo ran his hands through his hair, a gesture he had always done when he was upset. Sarah put her arm on his shoulder. “I’m sorry I brought all this trouble to your door.”
Walking Tall broke his silence. “It seems the death of Mr. Morgan is a good thing. He stole the gold, he murdered the woman and the death of Faulkner is on his hands. He should be the one to pay for the crime.”
“He also beat Sarah. The woman at the store in town and at the laundry can tell the lawman that is true,” Bear added.
Sarah wanted to hit Bear as she turned crimson under the combined glares of Scott and Almanzo.
“Morgan beat you?” Almanzo’s cold tone told her he was struggling to keep his temper.
She nodded, not wanting to say more. She didn’t want her brother, or any member of her family, knowing how badly he had treated her. She had some pride. She hoped Bear wouldn’t give out any more information.
“He Who Runs, do you agree with me?” Walking Tall asked Scott using his Indian name. Scott gave Sarah a long look before nodding his head. “When we go home, I will tell David. He will send a telegram to his contacts. I’m sure we can get the sheriff to back us up. We should head back to Portland early tomorrow.”
Sarah glanced at Bear but his face was once more an unreadable mask.
“I’m not going home,” she said, causing all four of the men to stare at her.
“What do you mean you’re not coming home? You’re coming if I have to drag you there myself.”
“I am a grown woman, Almanzo. I don’t have to do what you say.”
“But you have to come home. Jo won’t rest until she sees you are alright,” Almanzo insisted.
“You can tell her I’m safe and that I’m not leaving.”
“But you can’t stay here, in the middle of nowhere. Do you have any idea how dangerous these woods can be?” Almanzo continued, his tone annoying her.
Putting her hands on her hips, Sarah stared straight at her brother. “You taught me how to defend myself. I threw a rock at Faulkner and at a mountain lion. I shot one man in the head and another in the leg. I think I know how to look after myself just fine.”
Walking Tall laughed causing everyone to glare at him. It didn’t deter him.
“I don’t see what is so funny,” Sarah snarled at the chief.
“You are so like Becky it makes me laugh. I should apologize, but I will not. You are Miss Sassy.”
Sarah pulled herself onto her tippy toes but before she could answer, Bear spoke.
“Sarah will return with you tomorrow. She knows she needs to go back and apologize to her adopted mother. She also must say sorry to her sisters and those she caused to worry. She is no longer the selfish, self-centered brat who ran away. She has grown much in these past weeks. You will see that by her actions tomorrow.”
With that, he walked away leaving Sarah staring after him. She couldn’t go after him, not in front of her brother, uncle and Walking Tall. She would have to speak to him in the morning. She nearly screamed with frustration as Almanzo bedded down on one side of her and Scott the other. Were they protecting her honor, or making sure she didn’t run away again? She punched her furs repeatedly as she tried, but failed, to sleep. She sat up and looked to the other side of the fire where Bear had lain his rug. He seemed to have no issue sleeping.
Chapter 42
Bear heard her rustling, twisting and turning, but he lay as still as a dead mouse. He wished she would fall asleep. It took a long time, but finally he heard her gentle snores. He rolled silently to his side, packed up his fur and was about to walk out when he caught Walking Tall staring at him. His Chief indicated with his eyes, he wished to speak to him. Bear walked, knowing Walking Tall would follow. He had to get his thoughts together.
“Why do you fly like a thief in the night?”
Bear stared at Walking Tall trying to work out what he was being accused of but the man’s face gave nothing away.
“I didn’t see the gold and I only killed a mountain cat.”
“I know this. So why run away now?”
“I am not running.” At the look on his Chief’s face, he shrugged his shoulders. “It is difficult.”
“You share her feelings?”
Bear nodded. He couldn’t say it out loud. He loved her, but it was impossible.
“You have chosen a difficult path,” Walking Tall said, looking at him closely.
Bear met his Chief’s eyes. “I didn’t choose it on purpose.”
Walking Tall smiled in response. “The Thompson women, and I include Sarah in that group as she has learned a lot from Jo, are strong minded women. They do not seem to know fear. At least they do not let being afraid stop them from following their hearts.”
“I am not a coward. If it were only me, I would do anything to stay with Sarah. But what if we have children? They will suffer like I did.”
“Not with my people. My people will accept you, her and them.”
Bear stared at his Chief.
“You do not believe this to be true?” Walking Tall asked.
“I think you like to believe it would be this way, but we both know your people do not accept me. Why—”
“Why do you feel this way? What proof have you that what you are saying is true?” Walking Tall interrupted, his voice harsh.
“Because none of them would let me marry their maidens. They made that obvious.”
Walking Tall looked at him, a fierce expression on his face. “My people accepted He Who Runs and he is 100% white. My people have no problem with someone who holds himself upright with pride. You behave like a wounded Tala , snarling at those who try to be friendly. It is not only Miss Sassy who needs to grow up. You do, too. Not everyone is like John Redskin or your grandparents. You must put your past behind you or you will never find happiness.”
Bear stared at Walking Tall in shock. The Chief was blaming him for the fact he felt like an outsider. He opened his mouth to argue, but he had nothing to say. When he had met Sarah, his heart had been full of hatred toward all those people who had hurt his mother, his sister and ruined his childhood. But maybe Walking Tall was right? His tribe had not been responsible for anything that had happened to Bear, yet he judged those people with the same view as he had other Indian tribes.
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