Taming the Wind

*** SEVENTEEN

"Goodness, you put a scare into us for sure," Hannah said, moving past Carissa. "Night Bear! Come in. You are very welcome here."

She embraced the warrior and cocked her head to one side.

"You must have known I'd baked sweet rolls this morning."

He smiled. "You make me glad with such talk. I am hungry."

"Come on in, and I'll get you some." Hannah looked to Carissa. "This is my friend Night Bear."

Carissa felt like her feet were nailed to the floor. She looked at the man and gave a brief nod. "Sorry I screamed."

He smiled. "Hannah never screams."

Hannah laughed. "Oh, I do if the occasion calls for it." She led the way back to the kitchen, and Carissa reluctantly followed after the warrior.

Juanita came back about that time, as well. "I heard someone scream." She dropped a box of beets beside the table and noticed Night Bear. "I see why now."

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"He startled Carissa."

"Nearly scared me to death," Carissa admitted and settled back down to snap beans. Her back ached and she was more than ready to go to bed, but they'd already agreed a nap could be had during the warmer parts of the day so that work could be done in the cool of the night.

"Would you like to stay with us tonight?" Hannah asked Night Bear as casually as if he were her long-lost brother. She put two large rolls on a plate.

His expression grew serious. "I cannot. I came here at great risk. My people have joined with other tribes to attack and burn out the settlers in this area. I feared for you and wanted to warn you."

"But why should they attack us? We've done them no harm," Hannah said, putting the plate and glass of milk in front of the man.

"Times are hard for my people. They hate the whites for what they are doing--killing the buffalo and killing the people. We have nowhere to go but those places the whites tell us to go. The people are angry. Why should the white man tell the Numunuu where to live?"

Hannah didn't even attempt to answer his question. "But the Numunuu have always shown us kindness. You have told them of my helping your people.

You have made peace between us."

"I cannot make it any longer," he replied. "There will be war."

"What should we do?" Carissa asked, putting aside her fears.

He looked at her for a moment. "You should go." He got to his feet after wolfing down one roll and most of another. "I go, too. I shouldn't be here."

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"Wait, I'll send some more rolls with you," Hannah told him. Night Bear seemed as though he might refuse, but then he beamed her a smile and nodded.

"I can tell the warriors that I took them." He laughed and looked at Carissa. "I can tell them that I gave much fear to a white woman. It will all be truth."

Hannah went quickly to work stuffing an old flour sack with several rolls and some cookies. While she did this, Night Bear tossed down the rest of his roll and drank the milk Hannah had brought.

"I'll let William know as soon as he gets back," she told Night Bear.

He frowned. "Your man, he is not here?"

"They drove cattle to the North," Hannah explained. "We have a few men here, but not many."

"Then you should go to the town. It is not safe here for you and the little ones." His eyes narrowed. "I cannot save you, Hannah, even though you saved me."

"I understand." She handed him the sack. "Please be careful. I hate to think of harm coming to you." She reached out to hug him, and Carissa could see it made the young man quite uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he allowed her affection. "I will do what I must," he said, finally pulling away. With a nod, he took the flour sack and left by way of the back door. For several moments no one said or did anything. Carissa held a string bean in her hand but couldn't quite bring herself to snap it.

"Are we being foolish by staying?" Hannah asked to no one in particular.

"How can we possibly leave?" Carissa asked. "Laura and 202

the baby can't travel." She thought of her meager skills with a rifle. "I suppose I could stay here with them. I can shoot if need be."

"No," Hannah said. "We either all go, or we all stay. There's no compromise on this. It would be foolishness to leave you here alone without at least some semblance of protection." She looked around the room. "We can continue to make arrangements for our safety." She was silent then, deep in thought for several minutes.

Carissa couldn't suppress a yawn, yet the thought of trying to sleep with the threat of Indian attack at any given moment kept her from seeking the comfort of her bed.

They gradually went back to their work, and when the clock struck midnight, Hannah called a halt to it. "We should get some sleep. Marietta said she would get up with Pepita in the morning and see to everything. Marty said she'd check on the children and see to them so we don't need to get up until seven."

"The men will see to the chores," Juanita offered. "I will speak to Berto and make sure. It will be better if we do not have to go far from the house."

Hannah nodded her approval. "Then I'll see you in the morning."

Carissa made her way to her room, lamp in hand. She turned the flame low before entering. Gloria slept soundly, thumb in her mouth. Carissa put the lamp on the nightstand and sat down beside her daughter. She thought of the savages who waited to attack. Would they kill them outright or sell them into slavery? She shook her head in horror at the thoughts running through her head.

"What have I done in bringing you here?"

***

203

"It looks to be about fifty or so braves," Osage said.

Tyler and William were flat on their stomachs looking over the ridge.

Mounted soldiers had surprised a renegade band of warriors and now had them in custody. The screams had been the war cries of the Indians as they attempted to fight, but now they were silent.

"Glad to see the army out here," one of Will's men said, crawling over to where William observed the affair.

"They must be bringing Indians to Fort Arbuckle," Osage declared. "We ain't that far off. Maybe they caught 'em causin' trouble."

"Could be," William said, easing back from the ridge.

"I don't suppose any of us will sleep all that well tonight." But they did sleep.

It was restless and troubled as Tyler recalled the next morning, but when he went to the ridge to once again observe the army camp, he felt a sense of relief to find them gone.

"They must have moved out before first light," he told William.

Pouring himself a cup of coffee, William nodded. "They did. I was on watch.

They bound 'em and tied 'em together in a line." He paused a moment. "I reckon it won't hurt us time-wise to make a stop at the fort. You have a problem with that?"

Tyler knew he was mainly speaking to him. William would be concerned about Tyler having to deal with the captive warriors or even the friendlies who hung around the fort.

"I say we go and figure out what the ruckus was all about," Tyler said with a shrug. "Better to know what we're up against, and it isn't that far out of the way."

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William met his gaze and nodded. "That's my way of thinking."

"I say we go to the fort," Osage agreed. The other men murmured their approval. Only Brandon seemed reluctant.

"We won't stay long," William told him. "We've pushed hard and fast to get home, and we will continue to do so. Believe me, I know how you feel about wanting to get back to your family."

Brandon's jaw tightened, but he gave the slightest nod. Tyler could see he wasn't at all satisfied with such a comment.

"Good. Let's break camp then and head on down. Shouldn't take us too long." The men dispersed to gather their things, but William reached out to stop Tyler. "You sure you're gonna be all right with this?"

"I reckon I'll survive," Tyler said, forcing a smile. "We're just a few days from ..." He fell silent. He'd started to say home, but the truth was, he didn't have a home.

"You'll always have a place with us," William said, seeming to understand.

"You're like a brother to me."

Tyler drew a deep breath. "I know, and I appreciate that more than you'll know. I just wish I knew what it was I'm supposed to do now I have money from the sale, but no land to buy. I have a ring in my pocket, but no woman to wed."

"You have Carissa waiting at the ranch. I doubt she's gone anywhere."

"I can't take a wife without a home to keep her in." Tyler shook his head and walked away. "Even if you're giving me a place to stay--it isn't the same."