Dark Journey [Ariel's Desire 2] (20 page)

“The entire tribe discussed what to do.
 
We couldn’t see him caged again, so we made the decision to cut the tendons behind his knees.
 
He gets around well and isn’t in pain, but he can’t run so far that he can hurt himself.”

Clear Skies watched the bent figure.
 
The stooped man’s eyes wandered restlessly as he circled Rising Sun’s fire pit.
 
Grazing Fawn held some meat out for him.
 
“Here you go Lonnie.
 
Come sit by me so I can brush your hair.”

The man sat down and happily ate his meal while she worked at the knots. Yellow Hawk said, “The whole tribe takes care of him, but he’s favored Grazing Fawn since she was a child.
 
I think she reminds him of his woman.”

Lonnie continued to eat, occasionally glancing at Grazing Fawn and smiling. His head slowly swiveled toward Clear Skies and for a brief moment, the lunacy cleared.
 
“You have to save them out there, you know.”
 
He was staring at Clear Skies and pointing into the grasslands.
 
The cloud of confusion covered his face and he went back to eating.

Yellow Hawk and Clear Skies stood in the street, stunned.
 
“We need to see Wind Seeker.
 
Now.”
 
Yellow Hawk took Clear Skies’ arm and hurried towards the cabin.

“Wind Seeker, Lonnie had another vision,” Yellow Hawk said as he bounded up onto the porch.

Wind Seeker handed his son back to Shining Star.
 
Clear Skies thought she’d paled.
 
Wind Seeker’s face tightened.
 
“What did he say?”

“He said, Clear Skies had to save them.”

“Save who?”

“He didn’t say.
 
His exact words were, ‘You have to save them out there, you know.’
 
He was staring at Clear Skies and pointing into the grasses.”

Wind Seeker rose.
 
“Where is he?”

“We left him with Grazing Fawn.”

When Wind Seeker approached them, Lonnie’s blank gaze was on the grasses.
 
Grazing Fawn was still stroking his hair.
 
“I’ve tried to get him to tell me more, Wind Seeker.
 
He just stares out on the prairie.
 
He hasn’t said anything else.”

“Lonnie, you saw a warrior with blue eyes and said he had to save someone. Who does he have to save? Lonnie?”

“See, he’s gone away again.” Grazing Fawn said.
 
“Just like last time.”

“Let me know if he says anything else.”

“I will.
 
I’ll try to keep him here, if I can.”

“Thank you, Grazing Fawn.”

 
Lonnie’s mind never cleared again.
 
The cryptic message remained an ominous cloud never far from Wind Seeker’s mind.
 
On the few occasions Lonnie spoke, he’d always predicted correctly.
 
The Indians learned to take his visions seriously.

Gentle Wave and Clear Skies woke to find the ground blanketed in snow. Her father had been teaching him how to track and hunt.
 
He was getting pretty good at riding and occasionally hit the target with his arrows.
 
Raining Thunder and Straight Arrow worked with him daily.

By the end of December, his hair had grown in and Gentle Wave trimmed it to even it off.
 
Black Horse was right.
 
Washing by the stream was not pleasant in the winter.
 
Eventually, he began melting snow over the fire in the teepee like Gentle Wave did.
 
He didn’t care about the snickers of the other warriors that he bathed like a woman.
 
He said it wasn’t part of his journey to freeze his balls off.

CHAPTER 7

TURNING LEAVES

Even as she watched her possessions loaded into the wagon, Turning Leaves couldn’t believe she was actually leaving the village.
 
Robby had been grinning since he’d brought her over to join the Clan.

She’d effectively managed to elude his advances so far.
 
The more she studied him, the more she decided he wasn’t the handsome man she imagined. He was average height with a slender, gangly body of sharp angles.
 
Even his strong arms looked more like tendons surrounded by loose flesh.
 
He had none of the strong, straight stance of the warriors with their tight bodies.
 
When he walked, he stomped with none of the stealth and pride of the Indians. She also sensed something hidden behind his laughing gaze that made her uncomfortable.

She decided when her parents came to say goodbye, she’d make a huge scene and tell them they were right.
 
She’d apologize to Robby and the Protectors and say she was just too young to make a move like this right now and suggest they wait until the Spring Celebration.
 
Turning Leaves was sure her father would insist she be returned home rather than see her unhappy.

Constance had been watching the girl.
 
She could feel her despair as she realized the finality of the path she had manipulated.
 
She watched Turning Leaves’ eyes blame Robby.
 
Constance knew she’d been denying him use of her body, but decided to let the man try to win her over.
 
Constance would step in before he got too discouraged.

Her parents made their way to the campsite to say goodbye.
 
Constance could sense their sadness with the decision to send their daughter away.
 
The Vampire sent a wave of desire at Turning Leaves.
 
Yellow Hawk and Whispering Wheat felt much better seeing how their daughter fawned over the flatlander.
 
They left the village assured they’d made the right choice.

Constance pulled back her influence and Turning Leaves brushed Robby’s arm off her shoulder in annoyance.
 
Her parents had already left the clearing and she hadn’t said a word to let them know how unhappy she was.
 
She felt no control over the compulsion to hold close to Robby while they said goodbye, and realized her parents thought she was content with her decision.

The cowboy shook his head laughing softly at the girl’s frustrated confusion. He looked over to Constance and smiled.
 
“I’ll let you know when I give up.”

“You do that Robby.
 
She’s a stubborn one.”
 
Constance contemplated a few games she would play with her new toy.

Walking along the edge of the tree line to her new home, Turning Leaves looked back at the village.
 
She’d never traveled far enough not to see the smoke from the fires.
 
She had no idea how far away the settlement was and frustrated, pained tears began to flow.

“You’ll like the settlement, Turning Leaves.
 
We have our own cabin beside the stables and we have all our meals together in the big hall.
 
Everybody talks and laughs.
 
You won’t be lonely and Spring Celebration will be here before you know it,” Robby assured her.

Turning Leaves silently trudged on.
 
When they stopped for lunch, Constance caught her standing alone in the grasses, gazing in the direction of the Indian village.
 
“That little push I gave you this morning was nothing more than a tap.”

Turning Leaves’ confusion at her statement began to sink in.
She made me act that way?
 
The young girl stared silently at the woman.

“I expect to see the smiling face of a very satisfied man at breakfast tomorrow.”

Turning Leaves tensed.
 
“I don’t even know how to satisfy a man.”

Constance put a finger under her chin and tilted her head up so she stared into her face.
 
“Oh, I think you do, little girl ... and if I don’t see the pleased face of your companion tomorrow, I will put suggestions in your head for things you will do to him that will make you most uncomfortable.”

Turning Leaves trembled as she watched a red haze glow around the woman’s blue irises.
 
The Indian thought about the uncontrollable desire to hang all over Robby when her parents came to see her off.
 
She knew what she was doing and still couldn’t help herself.

“Have I made myself clear, Turning Leaves?
 
I will not see Robby hurt by you.
 
You can have a good life with him, or not, but I will make sure he has a good life with you.”
 
Constance smiled and walked back to Patrick.

Turning Leaves had never been so scared as she stared at her retreating back. If Constance really could control her, she’d never get back to the tribe.

They reached the settlement just before dark.
 
Women hustled to the hall to cook a simple dinner for the weary travelers.
 
Three days of celebration was exhausting.
 
Turning Leaves sat next to Robby and Linda.
 
Linda kept talking about a bunch of stupid plants Ariel and Hannah had given her.
 
“Maybe you’d like to work in the gardens with me?” she offered.

“No, I don’t know anything about plants and I know I wouldn’t like digging in the dirt with worms and all,” Turning Leaves wrinkled her nose.

“Well, I’m sure they’ll find something for you.
 
I think Jackie needs help with the laundry, too,” Linda suggested.

“I’m not working in some stupid laundry.
 
I’m Robby’s companion. He takes care of me.
 
I’m not working,” she declared.

“Turning Leaves, everybody has a job in the settlement.
 
We share the work and the provisions,” he explained.

“I’m the daughter of an Indian Warrior,” she hissed.
 
“I could have my pick of any of the men in our tribe.”

“Yes, and you chose me,” Robby smiled.

Her eyes narrowed.
 
“Not to come here and be a slave.”

“Nor will you be.
 
You will, however, do your share of the work.
 
If you can’t find one of the women to work with, you can stay with me.”
 
Turning Leaves seemed somewhat placated by his words until he added, “I can always use help washing the horses and cleaning the stables.
 
You are young and strong.”

She slammed her fists on the table as she angrily stood. “You tricked me. You tricked me into coming here.”

A few settlers looked up from their meal.
 
No one was surprised by the petulant girl’s outburst.
 
A few had even placed bets on when it would happen.
 
“He’s going to have his hands full with that little witch,” Harrison chuckled.

“I don’t know.” Ryan pointed to the front table with his fork.
 
“Look at Constance.
 
I heard Patrick gave her the girl to help get settled in.”

The Vampire in question was looking at the Indian, a red haze beginning to shine in her eyes.
 
“Turning Leaves, sit down.”
 
The girl glared at her. “Now,” she ordered.

Turning Leaves felt a hundred pound unseen weight push down on her shoulders as her knees slowly buckled and she found herself once again sitting. She wanted to scream, but no sound would come out.
 
“The village has had a good time, with good stories to share and memories to relive.
 
You are not going to disrupt our first evening home,” Constance replied evenly.
 
“Finish your meal.”

Turning Leaves’ hand picked up her fork and she finished her meal in an angry, controlled silence.
 
“I think we better have her come visit us after she’s had a few days to settle in with Robby,” Constance suggested to Patrick.

The Vampire’s blue eyes studied the pretty young girl.
 
His enhanced vision narrowed in on the panicked, fluttering vein in her neck and a slight ring of desire began to flicker.
 
“If she’s going to balk at working with the settlers, let’s see how she likes working for us,” he agreed.
 
He felt his cock stir as he thought about the sweet young blood he hadn’t expected to taste for another ten years on the next harvest.

Constance sensed his arousal and it triggered hers.
 
They finished the meal sending each other mental pictures of her toy spread naked between them.
 
By the time they’d finished eating, they hurriedly said good night to their people and made their way to their house at the end of the street, already stripping off their clothes.

When the Vampires left the hall, Turning Leaves felt Constance’s push drift away from her.
 
“Is that what it’s going to be like?
 
If I don’t like something, she’s going to force me to do it anyway?”

Linda shrugged, “I suppose so.
 
That’s the way it was for us when we came here.
 
It’s much easier to get along.
 
Once you do, you’ll find you like it here.” She looked beside the girl to Robby.
 
“I think they’re going to call for her.
 
Did you see Patrick’s eyes?”

“Yes, I expected that, though.
 
No way were they going to pass up a fresher source,” he confirmed.

The settlers were used to providing for the Vampires and it didn’t seem awkward.
 
The rewards were worth it.
 
Turning Leaves missed the strange conversation as she began to think about Constance’s threat about Robby.
 
She was trying to think of a way to convince him to act pleased in the morning without compromising herself.
 
An irrational thought of somehow making it back to the tribe was forming.
 
It wouldn’t work if her path was already joined with the flatlander.

Turning Leaves was distracted from her thoughts when she felt Linda’s hand under the table.
 
She turned to the woman with annoyance.
 
“I used to be with Robby, before I became Steve’s companion.
 
He has interesting games with his ropes, and the way he handles a whip.”
 
She shook her head in wonder.
 
“Sometimes I really miss him,” Linda smiled.
 
Think about that, you little twit, while you’re scheming to hurt him.

Turning Leaves could care less about how Robby trained the horses.
 
If that woman thought she could be impressed with his skills, she was nuts.
 
No one here had skills anything near those of the warriors she’d left behind.
How did I get myself into this stupid mess?

Finally, the meal and gossiping were over.
 
Turning Leaves was tired from the long walk home.
 
She followed Robby to collect her things from the wagon, still trying to figure out a way to placate Constance’s threat.
 
Although Robby didn’t seem affected by the long day, Turning Leaves decided the flatlander had to be at least as tired as she was.
 
Careful little strokes and massages would probably put him to sleep.
 
Then, it wouldn’t be her fault if nothing happened between them.

Satisfied with her plan, she walked into the little cabin by the stables.
 
Other than two chairs in front of a small fireplace with a low table set between them, the only other furnishings were a large dresser and a four poster bed.

“There’s an outhouse out back we share with Linda and Steve,” Robby announced as he tossed his hat onto a shelf by the door.

Turning Leaves made her way there, delaying things as much as she could. Robby could see her scheming mind working and smiled to himself.
Oh, my little Indian girl, there hasn’t been a mare yet I haven’t been able to tame.

When she came back, Robby had stripped down to his buckskin pants.
 
The look in his eyes made her nervous.
 
He didn’t look the least bit tired as he walked over to her.
 
“Welcome home, Turning Leaves.
 
And this is your home, here with me forever.
 
I see your mind working, but you’re not going back.
 
Ten years.
 
Ten years I’ve watched everyone else with companions while I was shut out.”