Wild Embrace

Elizabeth snuggled against him. “I had such a good time tonight,” she said drowsily.

“That is good,” Strong Heart said, smiling into the darkness as the fire had now burned down to low embers. “It is good, also, to know that our people will not lack for nourishment this long winter ahead.”

He leaned up on an elbow, smiling down at Elizabeth. “But one must never forget that the wind, rain, and sun also nourishes the bodies of the Suquamish braves,” he murmured. “There are many things that help sustain the body—food, pure air, water, and sun are our medicine.”

A sound outside the longhouse, where the village now lay in a long past midnight slumber, made Strong Heart bolt to a sitting position. By instinct, he reached for the rifle that he kept on the floor beside the sleeping platform, then crept from his bed and moved stealthily toward the door.

“Strong Heart?”

The voice of Four Winds broke the silence, drawing Strong Heart’s eyebrows up. “It is you, Four Winds?” Strong Heart said, jerking the door open. “I would have thought you would be many miles away by now. Why are you here?”

Elizabeth drew a blanket around her as she rose from the sleeping platform to stand beside Strong Heart as Four Winds entered. Something about his attitude and the worried expression on his face made her grow cold inside, and her pulse begin to race.

Chapter 31

My lips are always touching thine,

At morning, noon and night.

—JOHN CLARE

“Tell me, my friend, what brings you back to Strong Heart’s dwelling?” Strong Heart asked, frowning as he gazed into Four Winds’s troubled eyes. “What keeps you from traveling on to Seattle, where your woman awaits your return?” “What I have seen and heard delayed my journey,” Four Winds said, his jaw tight.

“What did you see?” Strong Heart asked.

“I have uncovered a plan that includes some of your village’s most devoted braves,” Four Winds said, glancing over at Elizabeth. “These braves were in a secret council at the edge of the village, beside the corral. They have left to burn down the old house that sits on Suquamish hallowed ground and the fishery that has been built close to it. It is their plan to once and for all rid the Suquamish ancestral burial grounds of the evil white man who they feel is responsible for the raid on your village, along with the business that threatens to ruin the Suquamish’s future salmon harvests.”

Elizabeth gasped and paled. Four Winds had just described her father, his house, and fishery. Although she no longer loved her father as a daughter should, she did not want to see him murdered.

And what of Frannie? Sweet Frannie! She could be burned alive in the fire, or shot as she was trying to flee.

No!

It couldn’t be allowed to happen!

She turned to Strong Heart and grabbed him by the arm. “Strong Heart, you’ve got to stop them,” she said, her voice quavering. “Please go and stop the braves.”

“It is probably too late,” Four Winds said solemnly. “I came as soon as they left on their horses, but they have got such a head start, I doubt anyone could catch up with them.”

Elizabeth lifted her chin stubbornly. “Strong Heart, I will go alone if y

ou will not accompany me,” she said firmly.

When Strong Heart did not answer her, Elizabeth leaned up into his face. “I shall, Strong Heart,” she cried. “Although my father may be guilty of many evil things, I can’t allow him to be murdered. At least I shall try my damnedest to stop it from happening.”

Having never heard Elizabeth speak a curse word before, Strong Heart realized just how determined she was to go to her father’s rescue. And he was glad to see such a dedication to her parent, even though Earl did not deserve such loyalty. It was proof that her heart was not easily swayed. And that was good.

He gazed down at his woman for a moment longer, then turned to Four Winds. “I shall go and do what I can,” he said grimly. “You will ride with me again, Four Winds? It will be like many moons ago, when you and I rode side by side on all sorts of adventures.”

Elizabeth heaved a sigh of relief, and even before Four Winds had agreed to accompany Strong Heart on the journey, she had rushed to the curtain at the far end of the longhouse and lowered it. Standing behind it, she began dressing. She was going. No one could keep her from it. Not unless Strong Heart tied her to the sleeping platform.

“Ah-hah, my friend,” Four Winds said, nodding. “Four Winds will ride with you. While you are getting dressed, do you wish that I go and awaken other braves to accompany us? Do you wish to travel by canoe or by horse? I shall ready whichever mode of travel you prefer.”

“It is best to go by horseback,” Strong Heart said, walking briskly away from Four Winds. He flung the blanket from around his shoulders. He yanked on his breeches, and slipped his shirt over his head. “If we traveled by canoe, and the authorities began hunting for us, we would be too easily spied on the river. On horseback, we can be more elusive.”

He sat down and pulled on his moccasins. “And no other braves,” he said flatly. “The journey will go more quickly with less.”

He rose to his feet, grabbing a headband, and placing it around his head. “Ready two horses,” he said flatly. “Yours and mine. I will be at the corral soon, Four Winds. We will ride hard, hopefully to soon overtake those braves who have decided to do that which should have been debated in council.”