Wild Lilly (13 page)

Lilly gingerly rubbed the side of her head. A huge knot stuck out from her skull, but her hands came away dry. “What happened to me? Why does my head hurt?”

Corina bit her lip. “My husband, Morning Hawk, and my son, Creeping Fox, were visiting the burial ground of their ancestors. Creeping Fox heard some men yelling and making a lot of noise. They found you just as a rock hit your head, and you passed out.”

She pressed again on the sore spot, wincing. “Hank...his name was Hank. I was riding my land when Hank and his men found me.”

Corina’s blue eyes grew wide and round. “Your land?” Her hands began to fiddle with the edge of the fur. “What is your name?”

Lilly thought about Corina’s question, and it came to her in a flash. “Lilly, Lilly Brooks. I teach school at Caldwell.” The emptiness that was her memory began to fill, the crushing talk with Eunice, the ride across her land...the attack.

She inspected her dress. The dark brown fabric was stained with dried blood over her right shoulder and bodice. A shiver ran down her spine and she hugged her arms around herself.

“The men who did this to you. Two of them are dead, but one escaped.” Corina watched her from the corner of her eye.

Lilly shuddered again, feeling weak and disoriented. “Good. If your husband and son hadn’t been there....”

Corina patted her shoulder. “The Great Spirit was watching over you today. He must have his reasons for bringing you to us like this.”

Gently touching the large bump over her temple, Lilly said, “Please pardon my rudeness, but you don’t look very Indian.”

Corina laughed softly and banked the small fire in the center of the teepee. Steam wafted into the air from the pot bubbling there, and drifted through the smoke hole in the ceiling. “Before I joined my husband’s tribe, I was the daughter of an east Oklahoma farmer. Morning Hawk’s tribe lived on a reservation not too far from our land. My mother forbid me from playing with the Indian children, but all that did was make them more attractive to me.”

Lilly slowly massaged her head as Corina spoke. The woman’s voice was melodious and lovely.

“My father would bring me with him when he went to visit the tribe. He was one of the area’s Indian agents, and my presence helped break the ice with the Comanche.” Seeing Lilly’s puzzled expression, Corina continued, “The Comanche view children as the most precious thing in the world. They hold loving parents in high regard. And my father loved me very much.”

Corina’s jaw tightened with remembered pain. “My parents were killed in an Apache attack.”

Lilly made a soft sound of sorrow and Corina closed her eyes. “One of the Apache was friends with my father. He came and tried to get us to flee to the fort.” Her voice broke. “My father believed he could reason with them. He didn’t understand they were on the warpath. Before they arrived, my mother hid me in the storm cellar underneath some old blankets.”

Corina kept her eyes closed, and a small tear slid down her cheek. “I heard them die.”

Lilly whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

Corina nodded and continued, “After the warriors burned our house and left, I went to the reservation. My only living relatives were back in Ireland, and I’d never met them. I did know the Comanche people, and I refused to live with any of the families at the fort.”

Corina dashed away a tear and smiled. “I ran away every chance I got. Finally, they just gave up and let me stay with the tribe. One of my Comanche friends’ parents adopted me. I grew up as a child of the tribe. And when my thoughts started to turn toward men, I found Morning Hawk had been in love with me for a long time.”

Now Corina’s eyes sparkled with joy instead of tears. “The Great Spirit made sure that I found my home among my true people, and he gave me a perfect husband that I never would have found back in Ireland.”

“I am glad you found your love.” Lilly’s heart insisted she had that love with Paul, while her mind argued against it with cold logic.

Corina’s sharp blue eyes studied Lilly and came to a decision. “If you are well enough to stand, I can take you to the creek to wash off. I have an extra dress you can wear, and some moccasins. You look close to my size.”

The stiff fabric of her ruined dress clung to her skin, and the smell of the dried blood alongside the cooking meat made her want to puke.

“Yes, please. I may need some help getting up.”

Corina put a strong arm under hers and hauled her to her feet with a grunt. When Lilly began to weave, Corina lowered her back again. “Sponge bath it is.”

Lilly groaned and griped her head in her hands. “My horse, Storm, is he all right?”

“Storm, is it? Morning Hawk called him a demon. Storm wouldn’t let anyone near you until Creeping Fox dragged the bodies far enough away so he couldn’t smell them. Then he wouldn’t let them put a lead on him, but he followed along next to you like a well-trained dog.”

Lilly smiled weakly. “My dog is anything but well trained. Will I be able to ride him home?”

“Lass, you’re not going to be doing any riding for at least another day. Morning Hawk is on his way to Caldwell to get you an escort home. There is a man there we trade horses with. He is honorable and will take care of you.”

The nausea in her stomach increased until she thought she was going to get sick all over the teepee. “Is his name Mr. McGregor?”

Corina beamed at her. “Yes, it is. Do you know him?”

“I thought I did,” Lilly said under her breath. Corina raised her eyebrows. “I mean, yes. I know Mr. McGregor.”

Lilly plucked at her dress, pulling it away from her body with her fingertips. “Do you think I could get that sponge bath before he gets here?”

***

Hooves slammed into the earth with the rhythm of a freight train. Paul leaned into the horse’s sweaty neck, urging it faster still.

Morning Hawk yelled over the pounding, “Paul, slow down! If you hurt your horse, we will be walking to the campsite.” His dark hair streamed out behind him like a flag as they raced across the prairie.

Paul eased up on his horse, lips twisting into a snarl. Morning Hawk had arrived at the ranch an hour ago and asked for his help. He told Paul about the attack, and how she had not regained consciousness before he left. When he heard about the golden hair his heart sank, and while Morning Hawk described Storm defending Lilly, his heart stopped all together.

“I have to get to her,” he yelled back over his shoulder and lowered his head against the wind. The men Morning Hawk had described perfectly fit Lee’s henchman and he feared for the worst. The thought of never kissing the freckles on Lilly’s nose again made him sick.

He would do anything to keep her safe. As long as she had that land, Lee would do everything he could to get it from her. He had to get her to sell it to him and go back East. It was the only way to keep her alive.

Please, God, let her be alive
.

***

Three sharp whistles pierced the air as Corina finished braiding Lilly’s thick hair. A soft buckskin dress decorated with yellow and green geometric bead designs fell to her shins and moccasins adorned with beadwork were tight on her feet.

Corina pulled aside the flap to the teepee and whistled back. “That was Creeping Fox. He was letting us know his father is home.”

“Thank you for taking care of me, Corina. The tea and your delicious stew helped clear my head.”

“You’re most welcome. I am sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. I admire the steel in your spirit that led you to make your own way in the world, Lilly.”

The bright light stung Lilly’s eyes, accustomed to the dim interior of the teepee. “You said your husband was visiting an ancestral graveyard. I didn’t know this used to be Indian land.”

Corina turned to look out over the grasslands, and spoke in a low voice. “The United States Government forced the Indians off this land, and onto a reservation in Oklahoma many years ago.”

Guilt traced a path through Lilly’s heart. “I am sorry, Corina. I had no idea. I guess I thought of this land belonging to no one before the settlers came here.”

“Most people do.”

The women were silent, locked in their own thoughts as Creeping Fox came running back toward them. He had his mother’s blue eyes, and his father’s dark skin and hair. Dressed in a buckskin loincloth, his long legs flashed in the sunlight.

“My son is an excellent tracker. He earned his name Creeping Fox because he can hide anywhere and spring undetected on his enemy.” Corina smoothed her hair back as a brisk wind whipped around them. “He does not approve of the white man. He considers me an Indian, but you are a part of the people who took away our land and freedom. Please forgive him if he is less than courteous to you. He understands, and can speak English, but chooses not to.”

Lilly watched the handsome young man run to his mother. He spoke in a fluid language and ran back into the prairie. He didn’t even acknowledge Lilly’s presence.

Corina blew an exasperated breath out of her nose. “Creeping Fox will make his own camp for the night. He does not want to share a teepee with you.” A faint blush stained her fair cheeks. “I’m sorry about that. He has become friends with some braves that fill his foolish head with nonsense about going to war with the white man.”

All thoughts of Creeping Fox fled from her mind when she saw Paul charging toward them. His horse was covered with a thick lather, and his blue eyes fastened on her with a look of intense relief. He slid off the horse before it came to a complete stop and started running toward her.

“Sweetheart, are you all right?” He went to wrap her in a hug, but stopped when she put her arms out.

“I am all right, Paul. My head still hurts, so I need some space right now.” Her heart wanted nothing more than to have his arms wrapped around her. It practically ached for his embrace. Nevertheless, her mind kept whispering Eunice’s words, haunting her with the image of her back.

He pulled back with a hurt expression, but quickly recovered. “Whatever you need, Lilly. I would never do anything to hurt you.” He gently took her hand in his and held it to his face. “I was so worried.”

Ignoring her brain, she reached and stroked his rough cheek. “Really, I’m all right. Just a bump on the side of my head.”

His dark lashes lowered on his cheeks and he turned his face into her palm, gently kissing it. A flicker of heat brushed through her loins. Nice to know she could have a brush with death and still crave his touch. His faded blue eyes opened and took in her dress and hair. Masculine appreciation replaced his concern.

“Though I enjoy your choice in tight-fitting bodices, you look amazing in this dress.”

Heat burned through her cheeks, and she couldn’t help but smile at him. Corina’s low voice blended with another man’s, and she glanced over to see them holding each other close, gently kissing each other.

Her blush deepened as she looked away from the intimate scene, only to find herself trapped by Paul’s eyes.

He gave her a devilish grin and ran his lips over her knuckles, making her heart pound and her head start to ache again.

“Mr. McGregor, thank you for coming so quickly,” Corina interrupted in an amused voice from her husband’s arms. “It looks like you know Lilly?”

He didn’t even have the good grace to look chagrined. “Yes. Lilly is my neighbor.”

Corina arched a brow, the tattoo on her forehead wrinkling. “Neighbor is it? Then I suggest you keep your lips to yourself, Mr. McGregor.”

“Is holding hands permitted,” he asked with a cheeky grin.

“Yes, but you will be bunking outside of the teepee tonight. Without Lilly.”

Morning Hawk leaned and whispered something in Corina’s ear that made her blush and laugh. “My husband has interceded on your behalf. You may go for a walk with Lilly, but not too far. She’s still a little dizzy on her feet.”

Paul turned toward Lilly with a serious expression on his handsome face. “I’ll take her over to the river. We have some things to discuss.”

Her lips thinned into an angry line at his words. They had more to discuss than he knew.

They strolled together over to the flowing water and stopped to sit beneath the reaching branches of a hickory tree. He tossed his hat to the side pulled her into his lap with a low sigh. “I was so worried about you. The thought of anything harming you made me sick.”

He gently ran a finger over the bump on her head, wincing at the size of the knot. Strong arms held her as he sat down and leaned back against the trunk.

“It was Hank and his boys.” Her body stiffened as she relived the fear of those moments.

He held her close and said in a fierce whisper, “I’ll kill Lee Krisp for this.”

She pushed away from the solid comfort of his chest. “You can’t. We aren’t even sure if Lee is behind this. Maybe Hank acted on his own. Besides, you’ll go to jail.”

“Not if they don’t catch me.” The contained violence of his words brought her mind back around to what Eunice had told her earlier.

“Paul. I need you to tell me the truth about something.” She grew stiff in his lap and he leaned back, examining her face with a weary look.

“What is it?”

“Did you break Estrella’s arm last night?”