by Adair, Mary
The kiss deepened and he turned her toward him, settling her more comfortably and exposing the hollow of her back and the tempting roundness of her bottom to his caressing hands.
He ran his palm over the small of her back, over her hips and down along a shapely thigh. As he lowered his lips to a swelling breast he placed a hand to the back of her leg and pulled it up to hug his waist.
New Moon wound her fingers in his hair and strained to push herself closer. She basked in his ability to set her soul afire. It seemed such a long time ago that it actually angered her that he could have such control over her body.
Now she gloried in that ability of his, at times even begged for it, but now was not the time. She put her hands firmly to each of his cheeks and pulled him from her breast so she could look into his sheepishly grinning face.
"You are keeping me from water," she said with more calm than she felt. "We must go to meet Grandmother Sun."
Red Panther slapped her playfully on her backside bringing a startled yelp from her. "Then get your lazy backside up, squaw, and quit tempting me with all these ripe curves."
New Moon pushed up to her knees and rubbed both hands along her belly that was just now beginning to show her condition, as she pouted coquettishly. "You make fun of me because I am fat," she said with mock timidity and peeked at him from beneath lowered lashes.
He made himself more comfortable as he put both hands behind his head and let his eyes make a thorough inspection of her ripening body and heavy breasts. "Aye, you are fat," he answered in a strangely husky voice.
His hands shot out and took hold of her shoulders and pulled her toward him. With his lips close to hers he whispered, "Just don't ye be forgettin' it was me that put that small bairn in your belly." And then his lips found hers again, not in heated passion, but in sweet promise.
"Now you may go to water, but if you're not back before I am I'll come looking for you," he warned with a grin on his face.
New Moon looked over her shoulder toward the doorway and realized the sky was already beginning to lighten.
"Ohh...its late, let me go, Panther," she begged as she pulled against his hold.
James turned her loose and watched her hurriedly slip into a heavy buffalo robe, which just happened to be his since it lay closest to her snatching fingers, and run from the lodge.
Taking out just enough time to dump some oats and acorns into a bowl of water he too hurried from the lodge and then headed for the village gate. He didn't want to welcome the sun this morning with the other warriors. He had much to be thankful for, but felt a need to be alone in his thanksgiving.
His commission to the crown was ended. Now he wanted nothing more than to live in Chota Town with New Moon and their children. The occasional business trips required of him into Charles Town to meet with Galfin and then to the trading post were as much interaction with the whites as he cared for.
Here he was no longer, James Fitzgerald, distinguished gentleman, physician and wealthy merchant. Here he was Red Panther, Cherokee warrior, and that suited his temperament more favorably.
Coming to the large boulders that sheltered the place where he and New Moon had shared their wedding day he slipped through. As he ran toward the water he tossed his scant clothing aside and dove in. The sun broke above the surface just as he emerged, his arms held high in greeting.
Panther lowered his arms. "New Moon?" he called softly, aware she stood nearby in the water by the cane.
He turned and faced his wife. "Haven't I told you never to come here alone?"
"But I am not alone, husband. You are here."
"You did not tell me you were coming here, Wa-sa."
She unconsciously squared her shoulders, "You did not ask."
Panther made his way toward her and her shoulders dropped a fraction. When he reached her he took her shoulders in his powerful hands and jerked her roughly up to his chest.
"How did you know that I was here?" she asked as her warrior pride flared and her chin rose defiantly.
"I always know when you are near." His fingers tightened in his anger. "No one would fault me for beating you," he growled and his blue eyes bore threateningly into hers. He could feel the soft flesh of her shoulders beneath the cruel grip of his fingertips, but she did not flinch.
"You will not beat me."
He almost grinned at her arrogance and his fingers relaxed their grip. Would he ever be able to control this woman who refused to acknowledge that she belonged to him?
He allowed a devil-may-care grin touch his lips. "You're wrong," he answered with a sneer as he swung her up into his arms and started toward the bank.
New Moon wound her arms tightly around his neck as her tongue darted out to lick tiny beads of water from the point where his neck met his shoulder.
Panther's skin tingled from the touch of her warm tongue against his chilled skin. "You will not make me change my mind," he said, but knew she was not fooled. She was well aware of the power she had over him. She giggled and nipped his ear lobe as he walked from the water.
He carried her to where she had discarded his robe beneath the large willow.
"Oh you!" she said playfully as she pummeled his strong chest with her tiny fist. "You saw my robe."
"Correction, my dear. It's my robe." He spread it out with his foot and then lay her gently upon it. Stretching out beside her he propped himself on one elbow while he gently rubbed a wet strand of hair from her face. "Now, my little Wa-sa. I am going to extract from you a promise that you will obey me in the future."
New Moon studied his face. "What is wrong, my husband?" she asked, the first stirring of dread fluttered uncontrollable along her skin.
He hesitated for a moment then seemed to determine he should tell her. "I dreamt last night that I could hear weeping." He gently rubbed the barely noticeable swell of her belly. "I tried to find the source of the crying and then I realized it was my own voice I heard. As my totem, the panther, I walked through the village. All around I saw empty lodges with the bows and spears of the warriors who had lived there, broken and scattered about on the ground before dark doorways."
The cry of a hawk broke into the stillness that settled about them and New Moon shivered. Panther lay down and tightly wrapped his arms around her. She felt the stirring of her baby...his baby.
"I heard the mourning songs sung by the old women," he finally continued just above a whisper. "I looked in every direction, but I could not find you," his voice cracked.
New Moon blinked back a tear. She had had a similar dream. Great sorrow was soon to visit not only her village but all the Principal People.
The Great Spirit had been kinder to her in her vision, and she knew that the time she and Red Panther were to share was not yet over, but only if they separated through the time of sorrow. Their spirits would struggle through this time of trial alone to reunite when each would need the other too much to continue on alone.
New Moon shook herself. What was to happen could not be changed, and the present should not be wasted. She smiled as she twisted around to pushed him down on to his back. "You worry too much, my husband."
New Moon laid her cheek to his chest and with the tip of her finger she pushed a trail in a round about route over bulging pectoral muscles to a flat male nipple. There the mischievous finger teased the hardening nub until she heard the rumble of laughter deep in her warrior's chest.
She turned her face to plant a kiss to the center of his chest and giggled. She covered his chest with several quick smacks before he plucked up her head and tilted her face so he could look into her eyes.
New Moon pulled both her knees up to each side of his waist and sat up on his hard, flat belly. "I was wrong to worry you, Panther," she said seriously. "You may beat me now if you like."
Panther hardly heard what she said, his attention being totally absorbed by the moist heat of her body pressed so tightly to his belly.
She bounced lightly. "Did you hear what I said?"
/> Panther pulled his gaze upward, "Beat you?" he mumbled in confusion. As what she just said sunk slowly into his consciousness his brows knotted in startled disbelief.
New Moon giggled as she sprang up. "Did you think I would offer to let you beat me if I did not know I could outrun you?"
Red Panther sprang to his feet and New Moon gave a squeak of delight as she turned and dashed away. Panther had her back in his arms before she had run two feet.
She saw the heat in his eyes, felt the heat of his body against her own and it took her breath away. Her eyes were drawn to his lips.
"You will never escape me, Wa-sa," he said as he slipped an arm beneath her knees and lifted her up.
"Only because I do not want to escape you." She answered as she drew his lips down to her own. She traced her tongue along his lips and then slipped between them. She wanted to taste his mouth, to draw in his breath and return it to him mixed with her own.
New Moon hardly noticed as he lowered her to the ground or that he was covering her body with his own, only that they shared their breath. She ran her hands down his back and pulled him tighter as she strained to push herself closer against him.
Red Panther chuckled, "We'll stay here all morning if you like." He gently pushed a stray strand of hair from her face and then let his fingers linger in the soft silkiness. "I have no demands on my time more important than making love to you."
New Moon ran her hands up and down along his back while she studied each feature of her beloved's face. Her eyes sought out the tiny scar on his cheek that could only be seen when she was so close.
She let her vision travel along the tiny creases at the comer of his eyes that deepened when he smiled. Her gaze then traveled to and lingered on the curve of his full, firm lips, and then finally rose again to look into the azure depths that made her heart flutter and her insides tighten.
Panther slide his lips across hers and whispered even while he kissed her, "I love you, my little Wa-sa. I'll love you forever, straight through this life and into the next. Igo hi dv!"
With his hands he worshipped her. His hold on her was firm, his growing desire unmistakable, his gentleness a gift of praise. Gently, tenderly, caressingly he pressed her to him as if he needed to feel every inch of her against every inch of him.
He rose slightly so he could look into her face. "Tell me what you want, Little Wa-sa. Let me hear the words."
New Moon did not smile. Her face held an almost desperate plea as she clung to him. "I want to feel you," she answered. "I want to feel you above me, below me and all around me. I want to feel you in me, in my heart and in my soul. I want to feel the heat of your love surrounding me even when we are apart."
"We will never be apart, my little Wa-sa," he said as his lips came crushing down on hers.
For a little while she was able to forget her dream vision of loneliness and separation and pain. Such pain.
Chapter Twenty-six
The day dawned bright and clear. A gentle breeze ruffled the leaves and slid along warm, still sensitive skin, causing a sudden chill to pass through New Moon to be repeated in an answering quiver deep within James.
For all her trying to hide it, he knew by the desperation in her lovemaking that she was as deeply troubled as he. Her dreams had also been as frightening. More than once he'd awakened to secretly watch her as she sat and stared into the dying embers of their fire, tears glistening on her cheeks. He gently placed his lips to her forehead.
"It is time to go back, Wa-sa."
"I know."
They both rose from the robe. Panther bent down to pick it up and wrapped it snugly around New Moon's shoulders. Her eyes came up to meet his and another episode of quaking dread exploded in the pit of his stomach.
When the sounds of panicked shouts reached their ears neither flinched or broke their hold on one another. Each wanted to hold onto this moment as long as they could, knowing that once they left this, their special place, their lives would be forever changed.
New Moon was first to take her eyes from the face of her beloved as she turned her head and looked back over her shoulder. "Must you go back?" she asked softly. Then she turned back to look into his face. James felt outside himself. They were about to walk a path neither could control.
He let his hands drop from her shoulders and stepped around her. New Moon watched him go. He knew she would soon follow.
***
As New Moon stepped around the boulder she heard Panther's voice raised in anger and desperation.
"Why didn't you catch him?" Panther turned to look at her and her heart pained with the knowledge that it was starting.
"A runner has just entered the village." The fear and anger she saw in his eyes pierced her heart. "He comes to warn of illness."
Smythe tried unsuccessfully to control his mount's prancing as he pleaded, "He didn't understand, Colonel. None of these people understand about such things."
"Of course he didn't. Don't you think I know that?" Panther bellowed, causing Smythe's horse to shy nervously. "These people have no idea what they are about to face."
Panther grabbed the horse's reins with one hand and a fist full of buckskin in the other as he gripped Smythe's leg. "Couldn't you have stopped one small boy? It would have been better if you had shot him!"
At the sound of New Moon's startled gasp, Panther turned toward her and she took a small step back before she caught herself. Only when her warrior had fought another for her life had she seen such rage on his face.
New Moon squared her shoulders and walked toward him. His features softened only enough for her to see and to know that his rage was not at her for her show of weakness, but at this strange illness that caused such fear in his heart.
"You must go with Smythe, away from the villages. He will take you to the home he shares with Gentle Rain. You will be safe there."
New Moon stopped. She stiffened her back but she was unable to hold back the one silent tear that slide over her brown cheek to cascade down her face.
"For the baby, New Moon, you must do as I say." Panther's voice was firm and the look on his face told her he would not accept disobedience from her. "A terrible sickness has come and only your departure now with Smythe can protect you and our baby."
For long moments she stood and silently listened to her inner self, felt the stirring of her child and knew that Red Panther was right.
He no longer needed to be taught the ways of the Principal People. He knew them as well as she, but now she knew a new enemy had entered their village, one that the ways of the Principal People would be useless against. It was time for the Principal People to learn from a white man. With a heavy heart she nodded.
Panther turned and headed toward the village. He hurried through the gate in desperate need to stop the boy before too many of the villagers came in contact with him, but he was too late.
The villagers crowed so tightly around the young runner to hear of the strange illness that James had to push his way toward its center.
James' voice boomed into the tightening crowd, "There must be no runners sent from Chota Town."
A low rumbling erupted from the crowd as they parted to let him pass.
Silent Deer, who had become his blood brother only a few days before, wedged his powerful body through the press of bronzed bodies, each one quickly stepping aside to let him pass. He stopped directly in front of James.
"A runner will be sent to the next village. I will not have members of my family die while I sit and hide in fear of a white man's illness."
Deer's eyes fixed on a point somewhere above James' left shoulder. He had spoken, he would say no more. He was a warrior and would fight to the death, if need be his own brother, to save even one life of the Principal People.
James in turn stared over Deer's shoulder. Silently he cursed the custom that told a warrior not to look into the eyes of his opponent. It was not his brother's weakness or his fears that James wanted to see in Deer's eyes, but rather he wa
nted his brother to see the fear in his own eyes, and the love.
James forced his arms to hang relaxed yet ready at his sides. His fingers curled tightly into his hands as if he held the weapons he'd so foolishly left within his lodge. But no matter, if a fight became eminent a weapon would be hastily shoved into his hand.
Silent Deer stepped closer. His resolve no less than his brother's. He placed a hand to the knife at his side and as James had thought it would be, a knife was placed in his.
The warriors faced each other. Each tall, each heavily muscled and each equally respected as a beloved warrior.
James let his gaze travel insolently over the body of the warrior who faced him and then looked again over his shoulder. The challenge had been made.
Deer's own coal black eyes traveled over the bronzed chest of his brother before settling on a point above James' shoulder. Neither warrior would give in to anything short of death.
Dancing Cloud stepped between them. "It makes my heart sad to see two brothers preparing to make war on one another. It is foolish for brothers to fight when the enemy is within our walls."
Dancing Cloud turned to Red Panther and looked into his eyes but for a second before turning and looking into Deer's. "I will hear what each of you have to say. I will hear Panther first."
James' stance did not relax. "The illness that the runner has come to warn against is a white man's disease. It is called small pox and it is like none the Principal People have seen before."
The crowd shuffled nervously.
"The illness brings with it high fevers and a sickness of the skin. It carries with it pain and death. Any who do battle with the illness and survives will be marked for all to see throughout his days. And now this disease has been brought into our village. If any runner leaves and goes to another village they will also carry it with them."
Silent Deer gritted his teeth. "If this illness is as you say then we must warn others of The People. The medicine men must take out their rattles and their magic things and chant their prayers to keep the people well."
