Wild Thunder

“He’s . . . in . . . jail . . . ?” Hannah responded, her insides turning to cold shivers of pain. “Why? What happened?”

“Now, just look at this,” Tiny said, laughing as he looked over his shoulder at the men who were gathering around, listening. “She’s got time for Tiny now. Just look at her. The mention of Strong Wolf being behind bars has tamed our little miss just a mite, wouldn’t you all say?”

No one said anything, or laughed along with Tiny. They looked guardedly up at Hannah.

“You little twerp,” she hissed. “I should’ve known better than to ask you anything.”

“Honey, what’s the matter?” Chuck asked as he felt his way into the room without his cane. “What’s all the commotion about? Who are you talking to?”

Hannah turned with a start. She stepped away from the window, the curtain fluttering down behind her. “Chuck,” she said, her heart pounding in her fear of what might have happened to Strong Wolf. “Tiny said that Strong Wolf has been taken to the guardhouse at Fort Leavenworth. Do you know anything about it? Have you heard anything at all?”

“No, nothing,” Chuck answered, glad to have the cane when she brought it to him. “I’ll get Tiny in here and get the answers out of him, since he seems to know so much about it.”

“No, I don’t want to talk to that terrible man,” Hannah rebutted, her voice trembling. “I’ll go to the fort.” She shook her head as she held her temples between her hands. “No. I’ll go to the Potawatomis village. I’ll find out from them what happened. Something has to be done. Perhaps it already has been. Surely Proud Heart wouldn’t allow his friend to stay in jail. What could Strong Wolf have done to cause such animosity on the part of Colonel Deshong? He’s Strong Wolf’s fri

end.”

She swung away from Chuck and walked determinedly toward the door.

“No, Hannah,” Chuck pleaded, turning as he saw her pass him, her movements only lights and shadows to him. “Don’t get involved. Stay home. I’ll send someone to the fort to get answers for you.”

Hannah was dressed in a riding skirt and blouse, the sleeves rolled up past her elbow. Her delicate cheekbones bloomed with color as she anxiously rolled the sleeves down and buttoned them at her wrists. “No, Chuck.” she said, now nervously combing her fingers through her hair. “I’ve got to get the answers for myself. I’ve got to do something about it!”

“Hannah, for Christ’s sake, you are only one woman against a whole fort of men,” Chuck scolded, going to the door with her as she swung it open. He listened to the sound of her boots as she took determined steps across the porch.

“I love him, Chuck,” Hannah said over her shoulder as she rushed down the steps. She eyed the horses tied to the hitching rail. Without further thought, she yanked the reins of one of the horses from the rail, then swung herself into the saddle.

“Hey!” Tiny shouted, coming from around the side of the house. “Get off my horse. Damn it, Hannah, get . . . off . . . my horse!”

“Just shut up,” Hannah railed, then wheeled the horse around and rode off.

“Hannah! Don’t go!” Chuck shouted after her. “You’re going to get in trouble! Come back here, Hannah.” His voice weakened. “Oh, Lord, Hannah, what am I going to do with you?”

“She’s got too much spunk for her own good,” Tiny growled, placing his fists on his hips. “Damn her all to hell. Why’d she have to take my horse, anyhow?”

“Tiny, if you’d have kept your mouth shut about Strong Wolf this morning, she’d not have taken off half-cocked,” Chuck grumbled. Then he took a shaky step closer to the edge of the porch. “Tiny, tell me what happened. Why is Strong Wolf incarcerated? He and Colonel Deshong are supposed to be the best of friends.”

“Seems Strong Wolf went on a burnin’ and killin’ spree last night, Chuck,” Tiny said, taking pleasure in saying it.

“God, who’d he kill?” Chuck stammered. “What did he burn?”

“First he set fire to Jeremiah Bryant’s bunkhouse,” Tiny replied, slipping his thin hands into the front pockets of his breeches. “Then Claude Odum’s place was burned. Claude died in the flames.”

“No,” Chuck said, paling. “Claude Odum was one of the finest men around.” He paused, then said slowly and softly. “And he was Strong Wolf’s friend.” He firmed his jaw.

“Anyone who knows Strong Wolf at all, knows he wouldn’t be responsible for Claude Odum’s death. Someone else must have set the fire that killed him.”

“Maybe so,” Tiny admitted, shrugging. “But as for Jeremiah’s place, it’s out and out vengeance. Some of Jeremiah’s cowhands killed one of Strong Wolf’s warriors yesterday. Strong Wolf is guilty as hell of having burned the bunkhouse.” He paused, then said, “And not only that. He also chased all of Jeremiah’s horses from the corral.”

“This doesn’t sound at all like Strong Wolf,” Chuck said, leaning his full weight on the cane. “He’s a peace-loving man.”

“And so he likes for everyone to believe,” Tiny mocked.

He went up the stairs and placed a gentle hand to Chuck’s arm. “Come inside, Chuck,” he said, his eyes gleaming as he stared over at him. “Let’s go over some of the figures in the ledger. I’m having some trouble balancing the pages.”

“Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that,” Chuck agreed, nodding.

Chuck followed Tiny into the house, then took one last look over his shoulder as he tried to see Hannah in the distance.