Never Surrender (26 page)

Though Taima ran after them, the Blackfoot rode a bit
faster. She had to think of something to slow him down before he reached the
end of the valley. Surely he couldn’t hold onto her in this manner for very
long as her body tugged against his grasp. Kate clenched her jaw each time it
bounced on the hard thigh beneath her.

An idea sparked her thoughts.

Suddenly and without warning, Kate sank her teeth into
the Blackfoot’s thigh and bit down as hard as she could. He bellowed like a
wounded grizzly and tossed his arm to the side, hurling Kate backwards and away
from the horse.

She had obtained the desired effect. Escape was her
only thought.

As she hung from his outstretched hand, she pressed
her wrists apart and broke his hold on her.

Pain shot through her hip when she hit the ground, but
she quickly rolled from the horse’s path. A bit stunned from the fall, Kate
glanced up to see Taima continue his pursuit of the Blackfoot, his knife held
tight in his hand. The savage had slowed his horse and turned around in time
for Taima to yank the other man from the animal’s back.

At the same instant, like a horrible nightmare, Kate
saw the Blackfoot drop his bow, pull his hunting knife, and sink it deep into
Taima’s mid-section. Not only once...but twice. Bile rose in Kate’s throat as
the blade sank a third time into Taima’s ribs, surely puncturing a lung.

The Blackfoot stepped away, holding his side and Taima
heaved forward onto the ground.

Kate rose and raced for Taima at the same time as
Ahanu appeared. He lifted his bow at Scar Face, took quick aim, and released
his arrow into their enemy’s chest. Grasping the arrow, he stared wide-eyed at
Kate before falling onto the rocky ground.

Taima groaned as Kate knelt beside him, her heart torn
with anguish. She quickly looked him over and felt for a pulse at his throat.
Warm tears wet her cheeks. Through blurry eyes, she saw his open to glance up
at her. He lovingly caressed her cheek, his thumb moved lightly over her lips,
then wiped away another of her tears.

“Do not cry for me, White Woman. Know I love you.
Though my body will no longer be here, know my spirit will reunite with
yours...I will find you.”

She couldn’t help it, she cried even harder, holding
the palm of his hand to her lips. His eyes closed. He lay so still she thought
for sure he’d died.

“Taima...nnoooooo!” Thinking she’d lost him forever,
Kate laid her head on his chest and held him, her hand covering the wound at
his side. She prayed she could stop the bleeding and bring him back to life,
but warm liquid continued to seep between her fingers.

When Taima caressed her hair and cupped the back of
her head to hold her tight, her heart soared, though she knew he had been
gravely wounded.

“I will miss you, but you must be strong, little one.”
He kissed her hair. “Look at me.”

She took a deep breath, but it caught in her throat. A
new tear made its way down her cheek as she bit her lower lip.

Kate glanced up when Kelee appeared and knelt on the
other side of his father. His blue eyes also pooled with tears.

Taima winced in pain, but reached for her ring at his
throat. “Cut this leather and tie it around my son’s neck. He shall carry this
for me now.”

He paused to struggle for air, then looked at Kelee,
who took his father’s hand. Kate did as Taima requested. She wiped her bloody
fingers on her dress, then cut the leather strip around his neck. She caressed
his throat and bent to kiss his cheek, then leaned toward Kelee. Reaching
around his neck and under his hair, Kate retied the leather strip. Her emerald
ring now hung at Kelee’s throat.

Father and son needed to be alone, she knew, but it
couldn’t be helped right now.

Taima touched the ring that Kelee now wore. “Nechan,
my spirit goes with this ring. I want you to pass this on to your sons, and
they, to their sons. In time, it will be claimed by its rightful owner.”

Kate wished she could somehow comfort Taima as he took
another slow, painful breath before he continued.

“You must be strong, my son. I hate to leave you
alone, but I fear I will not survive this.” Another slow breath. “You will
become a man too soon in my absence. May the Great Spirit watch over you.”

A tear slipped down Kelee’s cheek. Kate’s heart ached
for his loss as she watched him fight to be brave. She wanted to hold and
comfort him.

“But Noshi . . .”

Taima touched Kelee’s lips. “I love you, too, son.”

He closed his eyes again and drew in a ragged breath.
Kate feared it would be his last and she wasn’t ready to let him go yet. Blood
covered the ground around him. His wounds still bled severely. She kept a
watchful eye on him, wishing things would have been different. If the Blackfoot
would only have left them alone, she and Taima could easily have dealt with
Mai.

She would lose the one man she’d truly loved.

Again, the memories of the loved ones in her past
reminded Kate of the curse she knew existed whenever she dared to love too
much.

Death haunted her again.

Taima would die because he tried to love and protect
her.

More tears slipped down her cheeks though she tried
hard not to cry. She caressed Taima’s cheek and he opened his blue eyes that
she would forever miss. “I knew I should not have loved you so much. You know I
tried not to,” she said, then again covered the wound in his side with her hand
as she settled next to him.

He touched her arm and struggled to keep his eyes
open. A slight smile curved his lips. “You don’t listen well, White Woman.”
Another pause; another breath. “I will always be with you...” he said and
slowly closed his eyes.

Kate waited.

The sound of her heart pounded in her ears.

Taima lay so still.

Then, as she feared, with one last breath, his head
fell to the side and his hand slowly slipped from her arm.

Her scream sounded foreign to her and for a moment,
she thought perhaps it was Aiyana. She threw herself onto Taima’s chest,
holding him tighter.

“Why couldn’t they all just leave us alone?” she
screamed, her chest heaving with each spasm. She’d loved him, yet he’d paid the
ultimate price in return. Rocking as she held him one last time, Kate prayed
silently to the Great Spirit for comfort and answers...though she found none.

Suddenly, she sat up and searched the ground around
Taima. Finally spotting her prize, she quickly crawled over to it, and with
bloodied fingers, grasped Taima’s hunting knife.

Determined to join him, she knelt and lifted the knife
high. Kate closed her eyes and screamed as loud as she could, at the same time
bringing the knife quickly toward her heart.

She would soon be with the man she loved.

Yet...something stopped her.

Hands with a vice-like grip wrapped around each of her
wrists and pulled them apart. She struggled furiously and screamed again, angry
at being cheated of her goal.

“Kate, this will not bring Taima back,” Ahanu shouted
at her.

He sounded miles away. “I’ll not stay in this world
without him. Leave me be!” she cried.

Ahanu shook her hand until the knife flew aside, then
he pulled her to her feet.

Why wouldn’t everyone just leave her alone?

Jerking from his grasp, she headed toward a huge
boulder next to a tree. Kate recognized the petroglyphs as those she’d seen in
Whiskey Basin in Dubois, but before she reached the rock, she tripped.

In her haste to escape Ahanu, her fall brought her
headfirst into the boulder where darkness once again surrounded her.

July, 1997  Dubois, Wyoming

Brandon Wakiza gripped his ax tight and gave one more
cut to the piece of log. It split, landing with the rest he’d just finished
cutting. Sweat beaded his forehead, and he wiped it away with the sleeve of his
blue denim shirt. Pausing from his work, he glanced out over the green,
rippling valley that surrounded his property just outside of Dubois. Beyond
that, snow still covered the peaks of the Ram’s Horn Mountain.

Brandon shaded his eyes from the sun and drew in a
refreshing breath of summer air, thick with the scent of sagebrush and a hint
of rain. He loved the smell. Distant gray clouds filling the blue sky would soon
cover the valley.

His horses, corralled near the stable, drew his
attention. Nearby sat the silver Trailblazer that belonged to Kate, the young
woman who’d lost consciousness in Whiskey Basin three days earlier when she hit
her head. She still lay unconscious in the house.

He’d called his close friend, a doctor in town, to
come and have a look at her. Brandon insisted she stay here with him and not be
transported to some hospital. His friend advised him otherwise, but said to
call with any changes to her condition.

So far there were none.

He turned and looked toward the house, thinking of the
woman who lay in his extra bedroom. Memories of visions he’d had over the years
came to mind...images of a white woman.

The same white woman who lay inside.

He’d spoken to his grandfather many times about the
visions. His grandfather advised him to listen to his heart and be ready, for
one day he would find her. Brandon wondered if this played a factor in his
reasoning for not yet taking a wife. He couldn’t say he’d fallen in love with
the white woman of his visions, but he continued to live alone in the
mountains. Maybe he’d secretly hoped she would one day appear in his life.

Perhaps that day had happened, he thought. But would
she want a man of tainted blood...a half-breed Shoshone?

Brandon touched the cherished emerald ring at his
throat. The ring had been passed down to the first born son of each family over
the years until the woman who it belonged to came back to reclaim it...so the
story went. He wondered what part he played in this age-old story. Legend said
Taima, his great, great grandfather, had vowed his spirit would one day return
to join with the woman he loved.

Could his grandfather’s spirit live through him? That
would at least explain the visions of this beautiful woman who now slept in his
room. And the frequency of the visions as of late.

Thinking back on the drive to Whiskey Basin with Kate,
Brandon could only assume fate had somehow brought her to him for their chance
meeting in town that day.

* * * * *

Tossing his ax aside, he headed for the house to get a
drink. Around the corner of his expansive log home, Smoke bounded toward him,
the stray gray wolf he’d adopted years ago who decided to stay on. Brandon was
glad he’d stayed. The wolf kept him company up here where there was nothing but
nature to converse with.

The cell phone attached to Brandon’s hip rang. He
answered it as he took the porch steps two at a time into the house, followed
by Smoke. The wolf sat at his water dish and waited while Brandon refilled it.

“Dave, there hasn’t been any change. I’ve checked on
her throughout the day. She doesn’t have a fever, but she seems to toss about
in her dreams,” Brandon said, opening the refrigerator to grab a diet cola. “I
promise I’ll call you as soon as there’s any change. Thanks.”

He closed his phone, laid it on the counter, then
stepped to his open patio door. Unbuttoning his damp shirt, Brandon pulled it
from his jeans and left it hanging loose. The warm, sage-scented air gently
blew through the house. Raking his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, he
brushed it away from his face and took a long pull from his cola. Brandon heard
Smoke’s nails on the hardwood floor as he ventured down the hall where he kept
vigil outside the door of the extra bedroom since finding the mysterious woman.

Just who was she? The resemblance to the woman he’d
seen in his visions was uncanny. Besides the visions, he’d dreamed of her often
and found himself curiously attracted. Brandon turned and headed for the living
room, his boot heels sounding across the stone flooring, then onto the hard
wood floor of the other room. Smoke growled and joined Brandon, only to turn
toward the hall and growl again.

He knelt next to the wolf and scratched behind the
animal’s ear. “What is it, boy? Is she finally awake? Let’s go check.”

* * * * *

Drowsily, Kate covered her eyes and moaned as she
turned away from the morning sun shining across her face. Her temples throbbed
with yet another headache. The fresh scent of sagebrush drifted in on the warm
breeze and made her smile.

A nearby radio softly played country music.

Cuddling deeper into the soft down of the comforter,
pillow feathers poked her cheek. The pain in her head persisted as she fluffed
the pillow. Kate raked her fingers through her hair to try and release the
pressure that felt like a steel band wrapped around her head. A bump with a
healing cut on her head made Kate wince when she touched it, instantly
awakening her.

How had she hit her head?

Realization struck hard.

Snapping her eyes open, Kate sat up and glanced
around. A clock-radio sat on the dresser playing the country music she had
heard earlier. A white feather comforter covered the bed. She wondered what had
happened to the lean-to and buffalo hides.

And what of Taima?

Where the hell was she at now?

The massive lodge pole bed was an exact replica of the
one she’d admired at The Grizzly Moon Gallery. A lodge pole chair, bedside
table, and five-drawer dresser matched the bed. Deep blue curtains accented the
plush carpeting. The walls of the expansive room were constructed of huge pine
logs. Kate wondered at the home beyond.

Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, Kate
noticed the over-sized green denim shirt she wore. The sleeves nearly covered
her hands, the tails would reach her knees. She didn’t remember putting it on,
so someone else must have.

Kate sniffed the air. A familiar scent of men’s
cologne hung in the room. Where was she and how did she get here? She couldn’t
remember a thing. Taima had last taken her to see the ancient petroglyphs and
now she sat in a beautiful home.

Her breath lodged in her throat as memories flooded
her mind.

She must have somehow returned to the future,
but...how? Thinking sharpened the pain in her head. Then she glanced at her hand,
turning it over, checking her nails.

No blood...yet she knew Taima’s blood had completely
covered her hand...as he lay dying...when she’d cut her tethered ring from
around his neck and gave it to his son. She’d been unable to help him at all
and now her heart ached again with the pain of her loss.

This couldn’t be happening.
Closing her eyes, she massaged her temples and
wondered how much more confusion she could handle.

An animal growled behind her and she nearly bolted off
the bed. Distant boot steps sounded beyond the door of her room as she glanced
up.

A man’s deep, velvety voice filled the quiet air and
recognition gave way to hope. Her heart soared as too many explanations mingled
in her mind. How could Taima be here with her in the future?

Taima’s clear voice conversed with someone. Of this,
Kate was certain. She padded toward the door and quickly turned into the hall.

Kate gasped as she bumped into a broad, unfamiliar,
naked chest.

His musky, yet familiar, scent assailed her senses.

The man grasped her upper arms as she quickly tried to
back away. When she persisted in her struggle, he gently released her and she
stepped back to hold onto the foot of the bed. A snarling gray wolf appeared in
the doorway, but stayed behind the legs of the stranger. He spoke to the wolf,
his voice obviously calming the animal.

Holding tight to the bed for support, her breath
lodged deep in her lungs and she felt the blood drain from her face as her
world careened precariously. She stared at the handsome half-breed who stood
before her wearing an unbuttoned blue denim shirt.

God, but he was beautiful.

Taima?

A new sense of foreboding surrounded her, like
whenever she awoke from dreaming of the warrior. The familiar blue eyes that
met hers immediately weakened her knees. Shoulder length dark hair framed his
bronze features…the same eyes, the same cheek bones...the jaw line. Even the
same tiny scar high on his cheek like Taima’s.

Kate blinked, unable to believe the resemblance. The
sensations from her dream enveloped her. Her heart raced. Her breath caught in
her lungs. Struggling to breathe, she touched her chest. If she didn’t sit down
soon, it would be too late. She continued to stare at the man, so much like the
warrior from her dream.

Then she saw it...the emeralds sparkling back at her
as the sun hit the stones in the ring that hung at his throat.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, feeling her knees begin to
buckle.

The man quickly stepped forward to catch her before
she hit the floor. Kate gratefully accepted his help, but when he lifted her in
his arms, she tried to object.

“Please . . .” His arms were strong and his hand warm
against her bare thigh.

Ignoring her plea, he said, “You aren’t in any shape
to be out of bed just yet. Smoke heard you moving, so I thought I should come
to check.” He looked at her and smiled. “I’m Brandon Wakiza. Do you remember?”

Recognition set in. The same man she’d seen in the
Mercantile Store in Dubois! The same man who’d shown her the petroglyphs in
Whiskey Basin! Mesmerized by the voice that sounded too much like Taima’s, Kate
placed her arm around his shoulder for support and stared at the stranger. No
words came from her throat though many questions went through her mind. She
could only listen to his soothing words as he carried her to the other side of
the bed where he placed her near the center.

After pulling the feather comforter over her, he sat
on the bed, leaned over her, and placed a hand on the mattress.

Nearly lost in the blue of his eyes, she missed the
question he had asked. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

He smiled warmly. “You’ve been here for three days.
I’ve had a doctor look you over, but didn’t know who else to call for you
regarding friends or relatives.”

Tucking the comforter beneath her arms, she avoided
his gaze and looked at the white shadow stripped pattern covering the
comforter. “I’m out here alone on vacation from Pennsylvania. My name is Kate
Bradach.”

“Do you remember going to the petroglyphs in Whiskey
Basin?”

Surprised, she met his gaze. “Yes, I do, but . . .”

“Somehow you hit your head on a huge boulder. It must
have been quite a bump to keep you out for so long.”

She touched the bump on her head, but the ring at his
throat held her attention. As she stared at it, she remembered Taima’s dying
words to Kelee, echoing in her mind--
Pass this to your sons, and they, to
their sons, until Kate reclaims it.

Kate shook her head. “It just can’t be.”

Brandon continued to watch her closely. “Is something
wrong? What do you mean it can’t be?”

Kate could hardly get the words out, but she had to
know. “Where did you get that ring?”

Brandon touched the ring at his throat and searched
her eyes for a long time. For a moment, it seemed he might recognize her,
though it was impossible. They had never met before the time he’d shown her the
petroglyphs.

Then suddenly his eyes widened and he whispered, “It
can’t be.”

Kate drew her eyebrows together. “What can’t be?” she
asked, becoming more confused.

He looked at her hair, her face, her mouth. “This ring
has been passed through my family for several generations.” Brandon paused
before continuing. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze holding fast to hers. “Why do
you ask about this ring?”

A sense of loss tugged at Kate’s heart. She
contemplated an answer. Not wanting to sound foolish, she changed her mind and
glanced out the window at the snow-peaked mountains. “Never mind. It can’t
possibly be.”

Warm fingers beneath her chin slowly turned her face
back to his, but she kept her lashes lowered. His touch affected her more than
she wanted him to know, and if she met his gaze, he would surely see.

“Kate, look at me.”

How many times had Taima said those exact words to
her? Desperately missing him, a tear spilled down her cheek, like a silky
caress. She reluctantly met Brandon’s gaze as more tears pooled in her eyes.

“What can’t possibly be?” he asked. “You must tell
me,” he insisted, desperation edging his voice.