Never Surrender (15 page)

She glanced at Taima one more time, unable to believe
she wasn’t in some beautiful dream. His black hair cascaded over his bare
shoulders. The vivid memory of her breasts pressed against him heated her
cheeks. She reached out and touched the warm, contoured muscles of his naked
chest, which moved slightly beneath her fingers.

“Someone comes again,” Ahanu whispered.

Kate spun around to see two dark silhouettes coming
toward the water.

The cold water rushed past Kate’s thighs as she stood
in the stream with Taima and Ahanu. “What if they see us?” Kate whispered,
glancing toward shore, then back to Taima. Shivers of fear rippled through her
at the thought of being taken by the trappers and warriors who had leered at
her this morning.

Taima gripped her shoulders. “They know the trapper
brought you out here in the water. You must scream and fight me to make them
think you’re still out here with him. Now scream once and slap the water.
Ahanu, get behind us.”

She did as Taima asked which drew the men’s attention.
“We came to see if you needed our help, but it sounds like you have things
under control out there. When you’re done, do we get a chance at her?”

Instantly, Taima’s fingers dug into her flesh. “Owww!”
she whispered.

Even in the dim gray of night, Kate could see Taima’s
jaw clench at what the men intended. “Scream and fight again,” he murmured to
her.

Before she could follow Taima’s orders, the men on
shore called out to them. “Tomorrow, we’ll pay you for her,” then without
another word, they turned back toward camp.

“Scream.”

Kate did as Taima instructed, hoping she convinced the
trappers while Taima splashed water as if they struggled. Her heart pounded in
her chest, worried someone would discover the three of them before they had a
chance to escape. She glanced toward shore, her eyes wide and hopeful. The
men’s laughter drifted across the water as they continued on their way.

Taima’s cool hand grasped hers. “This way.” He easily
pulled her through the cold, thigh-high water, and she followed without
hesitation, glad to be getting away. Moving with the swift current made walking
easy, though the stones were sharp against her bare feet.

Upstream, barely visible in the dark, the trapper’s
naked body floated ahead of them. Kate took a deep, steady breath, attempting
to alleviate her anger after what the vile man nearly accomplished. Serves him
right!

Her gaze held fast on Taima, and he turned to look at
her. His strength seemed to pass through his eyes and through his hand where it
held tight to hers; his fingers engulfed her hand and gave a comforting
squeeze. “He won’t bother you again.”

Kate wondered if the trapper reminded Taima of the men
who had killed his wife. The thought sickened her; it could only increase his
hatred of the white man. She prayed he wouldn’t turn his hatred on her when
this was all over.

Taima tugged on her hand. “We must hurry before they
figure out what’s happened.”

“But I’m barefoot and these stones feel like they’re
cutting my feet.”

Before she realized what action her words would
prompt, Taima picked her up into his powerful arms. “No! You’re hurt. You’ll
only rip open your wound again,” she said, squirming.

His hold on her body tightened. “Stop wiggling, woman.
You will do more damage than my enemy already has,” he stated.

Kate stilled, not wanting to injure him more.
Silently, she allowed him to follow Ahanu downstream, then onto shore near a
copse of pine trees.

The cold air against her wet legs made her shiver. “I
can walk.”

Taima continued on as though she hadn’t uttered a
word, and strode into the dark, dense woods. Kate spotted three horses tethered
to a nearby tree. The animals snorted as they approached. Ahanu quickly untied
them and handed Kate a pair of braided, leather reins after Taima set her on
her feet.

Taima touched his side.

“That wasn’t wise. I could have carried her,” Ahanu
scolded.

Kate detected the annoyance in Ahanu’s voice and wondered
what had passed between them. She’d have to ask Ahanu later when they were a
safe distance from Taima’s ear, but now wasn’t the time.

She searched the shadows around them for intruders,
listening for the snap of a twig, but hearing only the sound of her heartbeat
in her ears. Should they be discovered trying to escape, Taima and Ahanu would
be killed and she’d be easy prey for every man there.

Kate flinched when Ahanu touched her shoulder. He only
meant to direct her toward the horse, yet those who had accosted her this past
week had unnerved her senses. Ahanu assisted her up, and she turned toward
Taima. His dark figure leaned forward atop his horse.

Ahanu stepped next to him and the two began to argue,
but she couldn’t hear the words.

Taima touched his side again, then glanced at his
hand. Though the darkness hampered her view, she was sure fresh blood covered
his fingers.

Kate’s breath caught in her throat. His wound
obviously wasn’t healed enough to be chasing after her, let alone carry her
through the swift-moving water. Worried, she bit her lower lip between her
teeth. Kate feared for the amount of blood he must have lost as he lay on the
ground when she thought him dead. For them to arrive here so soon, neither he
nor Ahanu could have gotten much sleep.

Taima suddenly slumped against his horse.

Quick to react, Ahanu caught Taima’s shoulder before
he slipped to the ground.

Kate gasped, covering her mouth as she met Ahanu’s
glistening gaze. She hadn’t meant to make a noise, but now worried someone else
may have heard her. Her rapid breathing kept pace with her heartbeat as she
watched Ahanu climb up behind Taima to support him.

Ahanu’s horse still stood tethered to the tree.
Nudging her horse over, Kate untied it and looped the reins around her hand to
trail behind her. She would follow Ahanu to wherever he led them in the dark,
not giving a care, as long as it was away from the men at the rendezvous.

Low branches made her duck to avoid being hit, but she
kept her eyes on Taima and Ahanu. Squinting, she could make out Taima’s slumped
form in Ahanu’s arms. When she thought he had died the first time, she’d been
devastated. She prayed for his survival. If he hadn’t tried to carry her, he’d
be fine right now. But he’d been the stubborn one this time and it could cost
him his life. Damn him!

Kate gnawed at the inside of her cheek. Taima would
need to rest, perhaps two or three days, in order to regain his strength. Ahanu
must have found Taima the day he was attacked. She wondered how he even had the
energy to search for her. And for as often as she argued with him, why had he
even bothered? A wave of warmth washed over her, like that at the healing
waters, as she realized how overjoyed she was that he’d found her.

Shifting her weight atop the horse, she peered behind
them again. Her eyes scanned the shadowed meadow they now traveled, a misty fog
making it nearly impossible to see. The smell of sagebrush hung in the thick,
still air.

Ahanu had led the way for hours. Kate wished she would
have at least stolen a few blankets. The cold night chilled her to the bone and
made her shiver. She thought of Taima. If he came down with a fever, he’d need
to be kept warm, and Ahanu had used his shirt for binding. How would they
accomplish that without blankets?

She clenched her teeth against the chatter, knowing
the next few days could prove disastrous for them, but especially for Taima,
leaving her alone for good next time. She glanced ahead. Taima still rested
unconscious in Ahanu’s arms. The shadows began to fade and the light pink
horizon spoke of a new day. Soon, the sun would burn away the mist that had
settled in the valleys.

Kate rode on for another couple of hours before Ahanu
stopped, deep within a copse of pines. When he reined in his horse, Kate slid
from hers and ran to help with Taima. Light penetrated the treetops enough to
see fresh blood still seeping from his wound.

Kate touched her throat as her breath caught. “Oh my
God!”

Ahanu slipped Taima’s left arm behind his neck,
gripping Taima’s right side, and slid from the horse. Kate quickly scanned the
area for a clear spot to lay Taima. Tall grass grew, shaded by the tall pines,
beside a pile of old, fallen trees.

She pointed toward the area. “There, where we won’t be
easily seen,” Kate said, running to the secluded spot.

Ahanu lowered Taima’s unconscious body, while Kate
held Taima’s head, laying it down gently onto the grass. His solemn face and
loss of vitality that usually filled his eyes stabbed at her heart. She’d never
seen him taken this low.

A strand of silky, dark hair lay across his face. Kate
reached out, gently brushing it away. Burning heat from his dry skin met her
fingers. She tenderly cupped his cheek. A shiver traveled through his body.

The fever she’d dreaded had already begun.

Concerned, Kate looked at Ahanu as he knelt on the
other side of Taima. “He needs to be kept warm. We have no blankets,” she said,
again touching his cheeks and forehead with the backs of her fingers, the heat
radiating from his fevered body. “His wound was too severe to be chasing after
me the way he did. And picking me up started his wound bleeding again, yet he
kept going.”

She refused to cry, although tears burned her eyes and
blurred her vision. Taima needed her to be strong if she were to help him. How
else would he survive?

Ahanu removed the bloodied binding from Taima’s side.
Kate watched how carefully he handled it so as not to pull on the wound and
cause further agitation. “The poultice I placed here this morning is gone. I
told him to stay at camp to rest and I would find you, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Is that why you were frustrated with him earlier?”

“Yes.” Ahanu touched the red, swollen area around the
stab wound then continued. “He will be fine in a few days. I’ll need to make
another dressing.”

Ahanu rose, saying, “The only way to keep him warm is
with your body heat while I search for the items I need to make a new poultice.
Lay next to him so he stays warm.”

Relieved at not hearing bad news, Kate answered,
“Whatever needs to be done, I’ll do it.” She glanced at Taima’s pale face.
Something was very wrong.

Ahanu went in search of the ingredients for a dressing
and Kate lay at Taima’s right side, draping her arm over his naked chest,
careful not to touch the wound on his left. She rested her cheek on his
shoulder, spreading her fingers over his heart. Taima’s dry, hot skin alarmed
her. The slow rhythm of his heart beat against her hand. She touched the pulse
at his throat, but the lax muscles surprised her--she’d expected them to be
firm. Taima’s wound had rendered him totally helpless.

Kate glanced to his face where dark lashes rested atop
golden cheeks. He was a handsome man.

Her heart ached.

Dear God, he had to survive!
Her love for him had to see him through. She didn’t
want to think about never again looking into the blue depths of his eyes--where
she remembered seeing a tender look from time to time.

A shiver ran through Taima’s body and Kate stiffened.
She wondered what she could possibly do to keep him warmer. Leggings covered
his lower body, but Ahanu had used Taima’s shirt to make the leather binding
for his wound, leaving his upper torso bare.

She began massaging his chest to warm the skin and get
his blood circulating, then gently rubbed his stomach and arms. She moved one
of her legs atop his to keep the warmth inside the leggings.

Resting her head on Taima’s shoulder, Kate held him
close, to keep him warm and will away his fever. A ray of sunshine cut through
the trees and across their bodies. She glanced into the branches, grateful the
day would at least warm up the chilled air. Perhaps, before nightfall, they
could find something to cover Taima with, when the night again cloaked them in
cold and darkness. Kate moved her hand to Taima’s throat. His pulse still beat
slowly, his breathing still came shallow.

Again she whispered a silent prayer for his health to
return before succumbing to her dreams.

The snapping of twigs awoke Kate. Every muscle in her
body was stiff from the hard ground. She searched the woods around her, laying
perfectly still, scanning the area, then spotted an intruder closing in.

Blood raced through her system. She feared the
worst--the trappers had found them.

Kate waited.

Her pulse raced.

When Ahanu stepped into view, she released the breath
lodged in her throat, relieved the intruder was only Ahanu. He knelt at Taima’s
side with something wrapped within the leather binding he’d taken with him.

Kate attempted to rise, wanting to get out of Ahanu’s
way. “Stay. You need to keep him warm,” he ordered.

She lay back down, again resting her head on Taima’s
shoulder and watched Ahanu.

He placed Taima’s arm across his chest, and Kate
grasped his wrist to keep it out of Ahanu’s way.

“He needs penicillin to kill the infection,” Kate
stated as Ahanu crushed the weeds together that he’d gathered.

“What is this penicillin?” Ahanu asked, drawing his
eyebrows together.

She’d spoken her thoughts aloud without realizing it.
Now she would have to come up with an explanation without telling Ahanu she
came from the future. “It doesn’t grow around here, though I wish it did.”
Desperate to change the subject, she asked, “How do those dirty, crusty
puffballs help?”