Savage Abandon

Wolf Hawk reached out and gently took one of Dancing Fire’s hands in his. “Dancing Fire, how would you like to see justice served on these two men?” he asked softly. “What should be done to them?”

Dancing Fire said nothing, only sobbed.

He understood why she would not commit to saying how the men should pay for their crimes. Nothing could compensate her for the loss of her sons.

Wolf Hawk grabbed each man by an arm and again walked them toward Mia.

“Mia, how would you like to see these men pay for their crimes?” he asked thickly.

Mia’s eyes wavered. She swallowed hard, then looked into Wolf Hawk’s eyes. “It is not for me to say,” she murmured. “Please do not leave it up to me. I’m just so glad that you found them. It ate away at my heart to know that those men who stole so much from me and your people were still out there, perhaps bringing more grief to someone else.”

“I did not believe you would name a punishment, but I wanted to give you a chance,” Wolf Hawk said quietly.

He turned to the men and looked from one to the other as they cowered beneath his angry stare.

“You came to this land to steal pelts?” he said. “You want pelts? I will take you now to where there will be many, but only from one type of animal. Wolves. You hid the pelts you claimed were yours at the old fort. We will go there again.”

“Why…?” Jeb managed to say, his voice thick with fear.

“You will soon see,” Wolf Hawk said tightly. “As you will soon know your final fate.”

Wolf Hawk turned to Mia and embraced her. “I will not be long,” he said.

Mia nodded, then trembled as she watched Wolf Hawk shove both men in the direction of the river. She continued watching as he forced them into the longboat, then boarded it himself. Soon they were headed again toward the fort.

A chill rode her spine as she wondered what truly lay ahead for those two men.

Surely whatever Wolf Hawk had in mind would be merciful, for he was a man of peace, of love. Yet these men had wronged him and his people, as they had wronged Mia and her father.

Swallowing hard, Mia returned to Wolf Hawk’s tepee. The people of the village resumed their daily activities, as though nothing had happened. Even Dancing Fire had returned to her own lodge, the amulet still clutched in one hand.

“Wolf Hawk, please, oh, please hurry back,” Mia whispered as she settled again on the pelts beside the fire. She sighed and drew a blanket around her shoulders.

She looked occasionally toward the entrance flap as the wind rustled it. Then she turned her eyes again toward the fire, and watched the dancing flames, seeing in them all sorts of ghostly images.

Even Georgina sat quietly on her perch, her eyes watching Mia.

Chapter Thirty

Under the arch of life…I saw

Beauty enthroned; and though her gaze struck

awe,

I drew it in as simply as my breath…

—Rossetti

Mia looked toward the entrance flap, her heart skipping a beat when Wolf Hawk stepped inside. She got quickly to her feet and met him as he walked to her.

“You could not have gotten to the fort and still had time enough to come back to the village,” Mia said, searching his eyes. “Why…have…you returned?”

Wolf Hawk took her hands in his. “Because of you,” he said thickly. “I realized that you should go to the fort with me and the two trappers. I want you to witness what will happen.”

“Truly?” Mia said, her eyes widening uncertainly. She looked past him, then into his eyes again. “Where are the trappers?”

“They are in the boat being guarded by one of my trusted warriors,” Wolf Hawk said, now reaching a gentle hand out and taking one of hers. “Come with me now.” He stopped and turned toward her. “But you must know that you will witness things that might frighten you. I ask that you do not let the things you see change your feelings toward me. Always remember that I am who I am, no matter what you might see.”