Never Surrender (25 page)

* * * * *

Taima inhaled sharply when he saw the wings. Damn Mai,
she would pay dearly for this! He grabbed Kate and turned her away from the
wings, holding her close against him. She hugged his waist tight and hid her
face to his chest.

The hair stood out on the back of Taima’s neck and he
sensed a watchful eye. Glancing quickly around, his people darted into their
shelters, but he searched for Mai.

“When will all this end. I don’t understand what is
happening or why the raven is involved,” Kate sobbed. “What does all this have
to do with me?”

“Sssshhh...it will be okay. Sakima will know what to
do,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “I will let no harm come to you. Let’s go
to Ahanu’s and get you away from here.”

As Taima glanced into the fearful eyes his people who
passed, they averted their gazes and scurried into their shelters. He knew they
thought Kate to have special powers. At this point, good or bad, he knew they
wanted no part of her.

He sat her near the fire with Aiyana, taking a seat
beside her while Ahanu went in search of Sakima. Nervously, she searched the
surrounding tree line, her eyes wide with fear.

Kate glanced toward the raven’s wings.

Taima wished he could rid her of all fears, real and
otherwise. With fingers gently beneath her chin, he turned her worried face
toward him and held her gaze. “Don’t even look over there. Sakima will take
care of it soon enough. Look here...into my eyes if you’re searching for
answers. I have all the answers that concern you right now.”

Kate’s eyes pooled with tears but she didn’t look away
from him. Taima cupped her face and warm tears wet his thumbs. As he wiped them
away, he kissed her.

“I love you,” he whispered, gazing into the most
beautiful eyes he’d ever seen. He wanted the world to just leave them alone.

“I thought I would never hear you say that and truly
mean it.”

“Know that I mean it, woman. You hold my heart in the
palm of your hand. And that’s not a good thing for a warrior.”

She moved his hand to her mouth and kissed his palm.

Sakima and Ahanu returned and Taima rose to talk with
his father, but reached down to cup Kate’s chin first. “I’ll be right back.”

* * * * *

Pressing her palms together between her knees, Kate
turned to see what they would do with the bird’s wings, but Aiyana drew her into
conversation.

“Kelee mentioned wanting to take you to see the
ancient Indian pictures. I think we should all go.”

Hesitantly, Kate turned to Aiyana. “Yes, he did say
something about it.” Then, she looked toward Taima again.

“It would be a nice to get you away. You and Taima
could spend time together…and away from the eyes of our people. They are sure
you have strong powers and with this happening, they are afraid of you.”

Kate looked around at the seemingly empty camp. Only a
few braves roamed, tending to their bows and sharpening their knives. “I
shouldn’t be here. I’ve only brought more problems.”

“No, Kate, you have brought happiness.”

Going to see the Indian pictures would get her away
from here, away from the suspecting eyes of Taima’s people. Those gazes she did
meet glanced away after a few moments, fear evident deep in their dark eyes.

She looked back at Aiyana. “You don’t fear me. You
know I possess no special powers.”

Aiyana’s eyes softened. “That is where you’re wrong.
The power you possess has tamed a man who has run wild for too long. You have
captivated his heart without taking his strength. But I don’t fear you.”

“Yet your people do.”

“You are a strong woman and different from our people.
You speak your mind to Taima in front of them. They’ve watched you deal with so
much since you’ve been among us. Trespassing on sacred ground and living
through that night made you different, but they also know Taima is not an easy
man to deal with. They have accepted you because they know he has chosen you. They
are loyal to him as their chief.”

“I think I should like to get away as you suggested,”
Kate said, now watching Sakima lift the raven wings from over the entrance.

Sakima carried the feathers toward them, but walked
straight to the fire where he dropped them into the leaping flames. Quickly
engulfed by the eager fire, black smoke swirled overhead.

Kate covered her nose, the awful smell drifting her
way, mixing with the smell of roasting meat from the other fires. She watched
the wings burn and thought of the raven attack upon her and Aiyana yesterday.

Dark beady eyes appeared within the flames, staring at
her…the same eyes of the raven that stared down upon her from the
waterfall...unblinking. Kate stared back, not allowing the bird to win.

Pounding her fists on her knees, she screamed into the
fire, “Mai! I will not let you win. I will be stronger next time...beware!”

Kate stood and kicked dirt into the fire and the eyes
disappeared.

“Kate . . .” Taima quietly called to her.

She looked his way. “Did you not see the eyes in the
fire? They stared at me. She stared at me.” Kate stood straight, her shoulders
back. Calmly, she said, “I will not let her win. I will be ready for her when
she returns.”

Sakima spoke quietly. “Though Mai will not win, my
visions were not good when I saw her return. It will not be easy for either of
you.”

Solemnly, Sakima returned to his lean-to.

Taima stepped forward with outstretched arms and she
moved into his warm embrace. She rested her cheek against his chest and closed
her eyes, just wanting to forget everything that had happened. “We will take
one day at a time. Mai will not win.”

Kate looked at him, strong and proud. “I would like to
forget about her and go see these ancient Indian pictures I’ve been hearing
about. I think we need to get away for a few days. Your people do not need me
here right now.”

“Noshi, can we leave today?” Kelee asked, suddenly
running up to Taima in time to hear Kate’s announcement. “I told Kate about
them. I know she’d love it there.”

Kate knelt by Kelee. “Should we take Ahanu and his
family with us?” She loved watching his blue eyes light up with excitement. He
made her smile.

Kelee spun around toward Ahanu. “You would go with
us?”

“We could also hunt the big horn while we’re there.
Aiyana would enjoy the trip, too. When should we leave, Kelee? In the morning?”
Ahanu asked and laughed.

“No! Right now. It’s morning now.” Turning to Taima,
Kelee begged, “Please, Noshi, now?”

“Let us fill our bellies first, Nechan. Otherwise, you
will want to eat as soon as we arrive.”

Taima ruffled his son’s hair and took a seat. Kate
smiled to see them so happy together and helped Aiyana prepare the morning meal
for the men and children.

* * * * *

Kate tightened the last leather binding that secured
her bundle to the travois, the leather biting into her fingers as she pulled
it. Kelee handed her another parfleche that she pushed between the others.

Glancing up to watch Taima pack the horses, she found
he already watched her. A warm blush crept over her cheeks. His lips curved
into a smile as his eyes filled with tenderness, making her spirits lift high.
She wished life could always be this happy.

“Kate?” Kelee said, bumping her with another bundle.

Taima laughed.

“Kelee? Oh, I’m sorry,” Kate said, laughing. “Here,
I’ll put that with the others. Thank you.”

“That is the last of the parfleches. We’re ready to
go,” Kelee called to Taima before running to join Ahanu’s children who were
anxiously waiting to leave.

Taima grabbed the reins of the lead horse and held out
his hand to Kate. She happily joined him, taking his hand and walking beside
him as they started on their venture. Seeing the ancient drawings interested
her when Kelee mentioned them, and now she couldn’t wait to see them.

Ahanu and Aiyana joined her and Taima, the children
running on ahead, tossing stones and chasing the prairie dogs. Taima squeezed
her hand in a loving gesture that touched her heart. She gave him a sideways
glance and he grinned when he caught her gaze.

The descent of the land lent to the beauty of the view
spreading out before Kate. The gorgeous red-painted mountain Kelee had told her
about rose in front of her; more painted badlands lay further out. It looked
more like red sand stone...the erosion of time cutting into the sides, carving
water lines into the stone. The rippling land lay beyond that, more signs of
how the wind affected the landscape.

“How far are these carvings we’re going to see?” she
asked Taima. “And how old are they? Does anyone know?”

“We should ride after we break. We’ll get there
faster, though it’s another few hours. The pictures were drawn hundreds of
years ago by those living in these parts.”

* * * * *

An hour later, Kate rode with Taima and Aiyana with
Ahanu as the children sat upon the travois. Kate enjoyed the scenery, the
serene peacefulness called out her. Being held close to Taima didn’t hurt
either. He turned the horses off the path to the right and rode toward high
rocky hills. Beyond those, a lake came into view on the left.

The rocky hills surrounded them, and Kate had to tip
her head to see the top. The breathtaking site astounded her. This part of the
country was beautiful! Several pine trees grew into the sides of the hills,
huge rocks and boulders lay scattered as if they had just fallen from above.

One huge boulder in particular caught her attention. A
tree grew beside it, though no branches grew next to the rock. How odd. The
closer she got, the faster her heart beat.

Scenes from her dream shot through her mind.

The lone Indian who sat atop his horse again beckoned
to her.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw the Indian
picture carved into the stone.

“Kate, what is it?” Taima asked, trying to turn her to
face him.

Shivers of familiarity crawled up Kate’s back as her
gaze scanned over the drawing of an upright, oblong body with bird-like feet.
She peered lower to another drawing much the same in appearance, but this body
had stick arms, holding a tall spear. Patches of what looked like old, white
mold grew sporadically over the stone among several areas of rust. Kate wasn’t
sure if these were chemical reactions to the environment, but certainly added
to the age of the boulder.

Something had involved her at one time near this
granite rock which sat among the scattered sagebrush
. But what?
The
visions running through her mind involved the warrior of her dream, which now
seemed in the distant past. Yet these rocky hills were different from those at
the lake where she recognized that Taima was somehow connected.

The tree’s branches grew away from the boulder, as
though through some special power within the rock, it refused to allow the
branches to grow toward the granite.

Thinking back on those who roamed here so many years
ago and what her relationship to them might be, Kate shivered again atop the
moving horse where she sat before Taima.

He touched his fingers beneath her chin, turning her
face away from the painted Indian picture on the stone. Searching her eyes, he
asked, “Do you want me to stop here?”

“No. I don’t understand what connection this could
have. Let’s keep going. I want to see more.”

Kate turned to see what the children squealed about,
only to see them racing uphill toward Kelee as he beckoned them.

“Kate, come up and see these,” Kelee called to her,
pointing at several rocks.

She couldn’t wait to see what type of other drawings
she might spot high on the rocky cliffs. Taima reined his horse next to Ahanu’s
and helped Kate down. In her excitement, she barely missed the small thorny
cactus that grew among the stones on her way toward Kelee. Carefully choosing
her steps along the winding path she followed, Kate looked at all the rocks she
passed for more drawings among the boulders and stones.

Reaching a huge boulder that easily dwarfed the
children, Kate stared in awe as she took in the ancient paintings. One was of a
very large shield with small lines, dots, and squiggly lines decorating the
interior. To the left of that appeared a type of ceremonial mask, drawn very
large. To the right of the shield was a smaller head with short wiry, curly
hair, large eyes, and a round body decorated with a solid square, then had
short stick arms and legs. Still further to the right were two more paintings
of what Kate guessed to be spirit imagery with several lines encircling the
outside of the body. Green and aged-white moss grew in patches over the stone
here also.

Kelee grabbed Kate’s hand and she walked with him as
he pulled her along in his excitement to show her everything. Many stones
sported the petroglyphs of years ago; some so obliterated by weather and time
one could barely make out the drawings. Kate could hardly believe her eyes.
There were just so many paintings scattered throughout the area.

She followed Kelee along the side of the stony hill,
away from the other adults. Dodging pine trees and more cacti, Kate breathed in
the fresh air, the scent of sagebrush being her favorite out here in the open
country. She stopped to look around her, the valley between the surrounding
rocky hills rich with meadows and three large lakes in the long, narrow area
they’d entered. Deserted lean-tos stood to one side close to a sheltering
cliff.

“Our people have camped here many times and fed on the
fish from the lakes. We come here to avoid the winds during the winter months,”
Taima said, startling Kate as he stood at her side.

The man moved as silent as the stealthy mountain lion
he’d told her so much about. Shading his eyes from the sun, he looked
reverently over the meadow, then into the tall hills.

“The big horned sheep are scarce here this time of
year. They are more plentiful when the snow disappears and it begins to warm.
Our braves bring in many sheep, providing not only meat, but the hides and
horns as well,” Taima explained.

When their gazes met, butterflies fluttered within her
stomach. He overwhelmed her with just a simple glance. She watched the
excitement of the hunt dance in his eyes.

“We heat the rounded horns and straighten them to make
strong bows.”

“That is fascinating. I hadn’t realized the horns
could be heated and straightened, but there is much I have to learn if I’m to
live among your people,” Kate said, then wrapped her arms around his waist.
“I’m anxious to learn more so I can be a good wife to you and mother to Kelee.”

Taima embraced her and kissed the top of her head.
“You have already succeeded in doing that.”

Aiyana and Ahanu joined them, the stones scattering
beneath their feet as they climbed.

“It is good to see you both so happy. I’m glad we came
here,” Aiyana said.

Kate released Taima and stepped away. “This is a
beautiful spot. The drawings only give me a small insight to what I want to
know. How can they have stayed on the rock for so many years?”

Aiyana smiled. “We use finely crushed red stone boiled
with animal fat to make the paint used for our drawings. Sometimes the stone we
paint on is chipped into using our small black stones, which are very hard and
work well for chipping. We’ll have to come back here with paint someday so you
can make a drawing of your own.”

“This is amazing that the paintings have lasted through
hundreds of years.”

Suddenly a raven dove from the sky.

Kate crouched at the same time as Taima. Aiyana moved
to avoid being hit, losing her balance and tumbling down the rocky hillside,
hitting several protrusions on her way to the bottom.

Ahanu wasted little time in reaching her. She lay
lifeless among the rocks below. Fear tensed every muscle in Kate’s body and she
knew the black raven could only mean one thing.

Mai had returned.

Kate scanned the area for the bird, then quickly
averted her attention back to the motionless body of her friend. She kept her
eyes on Aiyana as she quickly made her way among the rocks and cactus to be at
her side. Bloody cuts covered Aiyana’s battered body, which lay in such an
awkward position Kate feared she’d broken something.

Kneeling at Aiyana’s side, she watched Ahanu as he
carefully checked for broken bones. Taima knelt in the sand beside Kate, placed
his arm around her shoulder and she met his concerned gaze. Only his presence
could give her such comfort without saying a word. She worried for Aiyana, who
didn’t deserve to be a part of whatever this evil was that involved the raven.

Kate wanted to do something to help. “I’ll get the
water.”

She ran to the horses, retrieved the water skin and
returned, handing it to Ahanu. He wet his hand and gently wet Aiyana’s face,
rinsing away the blood on her cheek. Aiyana didn’t move. Kate said a silent
prayer for her safety. Aiyana didn’t deserve this fate.

A painted horse suddenly raced up from behind them out
of nowhere, its savage rider swinging his war club.

“Oh my God!” she gasped.

The warrior’s gaze landed on Taima. Kate’s stomach
knotted as soon as she saw the white scar that slashed down the warrior’s face.
Fearful recognition froze her to the spot. An arrow from Taima’s bow barely
cleared the warrior’s shoulder, but the warrior’s club caught Ahanu in the
chest, also hitting his chin as the Indian rode past.

Kate covered her mouth, her attempt to silence her
horror unsuccessful.

Ahanu lay unconscious on the ground beside his wife.
The screaming children surrounded the lifeless couple, tears streaming down
their faces as they tried in vain to revive their parents.

Kate quickly spied the warrior some distance away
sitting atop his horse waiting for the right time for his next attack.
Astonished, she could only stare, unable to believe Scar Face had actually
returned for her. There was no way she would go with him willingly. She tensed
her jaw. He would have to kill her to take her away from Taima. The two of them
had finally come together and she’d be damned if this savage thought to tear
them apart again!

Yet weaponless, how could she possibly defend her
stand?

Taima drew back the arrow in his bow and slowly walked
toward the intruder.

Kate glanced down and spied the knife sheathed at
Aiyana’s side. She motioned for the children to move back behind the nearby
boulder for protection.

As she knelt at Aiyana’s side to retrieve the blade, a
foot shoved against her shoulder and knocked her to the ground flat onto her
back. Quickly rolling toward Aiyana to try for the blade once again, a foot
kicked Kate in the chest. She lay in the sand struggling painfully to catch her
breath and glanced up at the sky.

Mai’s body blocked her view of the sun.

Her black eyes held Kate’s unwilling gaze as she stood
over her with a blade of her own.

“I told you, squaw, you would
NOT
win, yet you
insisted on staying with his people. He is mine and since he craves your body
that will also be mine.”

Kate tried to look away, but Mai’s evil power held
strong. Aiyana’s words echoed in Kate’s mind . . . “Your soul is stronger than
Mai thought. Don’t let her win.”

Determined to win, Kate stared back at Mai and
repeated those words to herself. She would win; she’d gone through too much
with Taima to give him up now.

“Try if you will, but you will not possess my soul
again!” Kate sneered.

Mai opened a pouch and dumped the powdery contents
over Kate’s face and body, which Kate quickly tried to brush away. The ashes
drifted into her lungs as she breathed, realizing too late that she should hold
her breath to avoid choking.

Wicked laughter echoed in the valley. Mai continued to
stare at her. “It is too late, for part of me is already inside you, squaw. You
played right into my hands.”

A horse thundered toward Kate, but Mai refused to turn
away from her.

“I think your time may be up, Mai. Taima will not
allow you to do this,” Kate said, grinning at the woman.

The children screamed when the horse stopped close
enough to stand in front of Mai. Kate wished the children would have hidden
above on the hill for safety.

“The woman is mine, shape shifter,” Scar Faced
growled.

Kate kept thinking about winning, about Taima, and
their future together, all the while staring into Mai’s eyes and smiling at
her.

Mai’s eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips, her grip
tightening on her knife, ready to kill if need be. “You are wrong. I will not
give up the white woman.”

“She does not belong to you. I have come to reclaim
what is mine.”

Amid the commotion, Kate noticed the bruise containing
a small cut on the inside of Mai’s forearm just above her wrist. She wondered
why Mai would want to slit her wrist if not to bleed herself to death.

Heated words brought her attention back to Scar Face
and Mai, but Kate remained still, wishing they would leave her be.

“She will never belong to you.” While Mai’s fingers
whitened on the handle of her knife, she pulled out a small pouch containing
liquid and for the first time, glanced at the Blackfoot. “This will help
deliver her soul to me. She is mine!”

Before Kate realized what Mai would do, a dark liquid
spilled from the pouch and covered Kate’s face. She quickly rolled over, wiping
her eyes and spitting.

This woman is mad! What black magic did she think to
use now?

“There. My blood will move with yours and we will soon
be one.”

Kate glanced up in time to see an arrow pierce Mai’s
heart. The woman’s eyes widened as she stared, open-mouthed, at the Blackfoot.
She staggered back a step. Then two, before crumpling to the ground.

When Kate turned, the Blackfoot’s bow contained
another arrow pointed directly past her. She quickly looked over her shoulder
as she lay on the ground to see Taima in a dead run.

Her heart sank to think the Blackfoot would kill Taima
this time for sure. Thinking only of her husband, she stood and darted toward
Scar Face, hatred pumping through her veins. The bastard would not succeed.
She’d see to it. If she could knock him off the horse to the other side, Taima
could attack. As she closed in with her arms stretched up ready to shove him over,
the Blackfoot quickly moved his bow, and with his free hand, grasped her
wrists.

In one swift move, he lifted her and turned his horse
away. Kate could no longer reach the ground with her feet as she dangled from
the side of the horse. Her body slammed against the Blackfoot’s thigh and the
animal’s ribs as it galloped away from Taima. The bones in her wrists crushed
together within his hand though she tried to budge them apart.

Turning her head to see Taima, Kate thought for sure
her neck would snap like a twig with each riveting stride the horse took. Her
arms ached as the savage held them above her head; numbness crept into her
fingers.