Wild Embrace

Elizabeth drew her rawhide reins tightly and waited. She was soon surrounded by the men, with their firearms drawn and aimed at her. Her gaze stayed on the man in the lead, his sheriff’s badge reflecting the moon’s glow back into her eyes.

Sheriff Ethan Dobbs tipped his wide-brimmed Stetson hat at her. “Sheriff Dobbs at your service, ma’am,” he said in a Texan drawl. “Will you pleasure us men with your company into Seattle? Of course, you know we cain’t take no for an answer.”

Deputy Franks, a youngish man with a spray of golden hair escaping the brim of his hat, edged his horse closer to the sheriff’s. “Sheriff, where’s the Injun?” he said, his dark eyes raking over Elizabeth, grinning at her from ear to ear.

“Ask the woman,” Sheriff Dobbs said, nodding toward Elizabeth, who had not yet spoken a word for she was terrorized by the number of men and their weapons.

“Ma’am,” Deputy Franks asked, now moving his horse closer to her. “There was an Injun with you. Where is he now?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Elizabeth finally said, hating it when her voice broke from fear. “And may I ask why you have stopped me? I am on my way to Seattle. My father is waiting for me. Please allow me to pass.”

She knew that she had never been good at lying, but she was giving it her best. Yet she feared that no matter what she said, she was going to be arrested. Hopefully, she could talk them out of searching further for Strong Heart. If not, she had failed him miserably.

“It’s too bad such a looker as you has to also be a cheat and a liar,” Sheriff Dobbs said, nodding for Deputy Franks to rejoin the others. “Come along peaceful-like, miss. Don’t force me to put handcuffs on those pretty wrists of yours.”

Her hopes rising that they were more interested in her than Strong Heart at least for now, Elizabeth nodded. “All right,” she agreed. “I’ll cooperate. Just please don’t handcuff me.”

“I said I wouldn’t if you came along peacefully,” Sheriff Dobbs growled, nodding an order for the men to holster their firearms.

But before they had a chance to, Strong Heart could be seen riding across the meadow in a fast gallop toward them.

Elizabeth turned with a start and felt faint when she saw that it was him, but understood why he had come. For the same reason as hers, he was ready to face the white authorities—to protect his love.

“It’s the Injun!” Deputy Franks shouted, then rode on and met Strong Heart’s approach. He soon returned with Strong Heart’s weapons laid across his lap, and Strong Heart at his side. “By damn, Sheriff, he’s come to give hisself up. Ain’t that a hoot?”

Sheriff Dobbs rode up beside Strong Heart, slowly looking him up and down. “Do you have a name?” he asked, spitting over his shoulder.

“Ah-hah,” Strong Heart said stiffly, as he gazed lovingly at Elizabeth.

“And what the hell does that mumbo jumbo mean?” Sheriff Dobbs said in a feral snarl. “Speak English when you’re speaking to me. Do you hear me, damn it? I ain’t no heathen with a heathen’s education.”

Elizabeth paled as she saw the fire leap into Strong Heart’s eyes as he turned them on the sheriff. And she blamed herself. If she had awakened Strong Heart and fled with him into the hills, instead of trying to take everything into her own hands, perhaps her beloved could have been spared this humiliation.

But, in time, they would have been found, and then how much worse would it have been for him? No matter what she would have done, it would have been wrong.

“Strong Heart,” Strong Heart finally said, then turned his gaze back to Elizabeth. “The woman. Release her. She is innocent. I shall take her place in the jail cell.”

“Hah, ain’t that a laugh?” Sheriff Dobbs taunted. “Injun, you are both under arrest.” He leaned his face into Strong Heart’s. “But don’t get any crazy ideas that you two’ll share the same cell. We won’t have no Injun fraternizing with any white woman, even if she is the criminal kind, herself.”

Tears flooded Elizabeth’s eyes and she had to look away from Strong Heart. Her heart was heavy from having failed the man she loved. She flinched when she heard the snap of handcuffs and knew that Strong Heart was not being treated as gently as she. In the heart of white men who did not understand the honor of an Indian, the Indian always posed a threat to them.

Hanging her head, Elizabeth rode off with the posse, Strong Heart somewhere behind her. She did not have to see him to know that he was even now a noble presence as he rode with his shoulders squared, and his head lifted high.

Chapter 33

Thy love is such I can no way repay.

—ANNE BRADSTREET

The next day was gray, a light drizzl

e misting the air. Maysie drew back a sheer curtain and peered up the long avenue, disheartened. Four Winds had not come for her as promised. She nervously wrung her hands, fearing that the reason for his absence might be that he had been gunned down by the outlaws that he had abandoned.

Or perhaps the new sheriff had caught up with him and had thrown him back in jail.

She would not allow herself to believe that he had had second thoughts about taking her away to be his wife. He had spoken with such sincerity when he had talked about taking her to his village, so that they could both begin a new life there.

He had talked about how one day he would be chief, if his father had not yet chosen someone else to take his place.