hapter 14

The chill of the morning made her shiver and she edged herself closer into the warm embrace of the man sleeping next to her. She could feel his warm breath on her neck and she become wide awake at once. She was suddenly aware of the fact that she was only clad in a buffalo hide and so was the man next to her, who's arm was embracing her. What have I done? The thought crossed her mind and she shuddered. The movement, how slight it must have been, was immediately noticed and a hand caressed her arm and shoulder.

"You're sorry." It was not so much of a question as a statement. Rachel shook her head and turned to face Red Bear.

"No, I'm not sorry." The last night seemed so unreal until she gazed into the dark eyes of Red Bear. She knew that it was a crazy, insane and completely stupid thing she had done. She knew nothing of Red Bear, except that he was Buck's brother. And that he created a sensation in the pit of her stomach, that was like falling in a dream, a sheer drop that left her floating inside, weak. With him there was no future, only the moment of now. And she realised that there would never be a future, ever. But instead of saying this, she just looked at him.

"The sun will be up soon," she whispered, searching his face for support. His dark hair had dropped onto his forehead, concealing his eyes for a moment, and Rachel felt an odd tug. She wanted to brush it back, but she fought the feeling. Red Bear watched the sky for a second and nodded.

"You want to get back."

Suddenly she wanted to say no, and just simply stay in his arms, leaving the rest of the world behind, but if she weren't back before the boys woke up, they would start looking for her. And she didn't want them to find her here.

"I have to see to the riders, and -- Wun-oan-te-mee," she replied as she gave in and gently brushed his hair from his face. Red Bear smiled at her and let his eyes boldly caress her body.

"Running Buck can see to my daughter," he said with a smile and brushed her shoulder with his lips. The thought of Buck gave Rachel a bad conscience and she gently pushed Red Bear away.

"No, he can't," she said, her voice faltering. Red Bear sat up and looked at her with a frown. Rachel swallowed and wrapped the hide closer around her.

"Tell me," he ordered harshly and reached for his loincloth. Rachel sat up covering herself with the buffalo hide as Red Bear placed himself before her, dressed in his loincloth. Rachel hesitated as she looked at him. His hair was still tumbling into his eyes, a beautiful riptide of dark waves, and she still wanted to brush it away. But the stern expression in his face kept her from it.

"The men that attacked me, attacked the station too. Buck was the only one there. He tried to defend it, but they shot him." Rachel didn't tell him that Teaspoon had wondered what the boy had done on the yard, when he could have done a better job fighting them off from the house.

"Shot him?"

"In the leg. Then we don't know what happened, but Cody - one of our riders - arrived and he said the leader tried to ride him down. He got trampled." Rachel looked at Red Bear's face, wondering what he was thinking. His face showed no emotions at her story.

"How is he?" he asked after a few seconds silence.

"He had trouble breathing, but Doc thinks he will live. He just need time to heal."

"I should have killed them." There were no emotions in his voice as he put the statement.

"Why didn't you?" She had wondered about this earlier. Still believing the stories she had heard, she had thought Indians always killed when they attacked.

"We only kill when we're forced to," he replied matter-of-factly and rose. "You should get back." He held out a hand to help her up. Rachel stared back at him, uncertain of what to do. Suddenly Red Bear saw her distress.

"I'll leave you alone." He picked up his clothes and turned around and walked over to his horse. He didn't understand her sudden modesty, but he didn't pondered over this unexpected shyness. He needed to think anyway. He was worried about his brother and his daughter.

Rachel quickly dressed. This was not how she wanted this to end. When Red Bear came back with the horses, she was putting on her jacket as he led her horse over to her.

"I'm sorry, Red Bear," she said, "I should have told you earlier."

Red Bear shook his head.

"It does not matter."

They stood in silence before each other.

"Maybe you should bring Wun-oan-te-mee ---"

Rachel looked in horror at him.

"No," she interrupted, "Doc said he wanted to make sure she's all right before she goes back. If she leaves now, she might end up sick again." She touched his arm.

"Please trust me," she whispered eagerly.

"But somebody have to see to her."

"I'll take care of her."

"That is not what I mean. If there's danger --"

"The riders will se to it that she isn't harmed."

Red Bear looked at her with surprise.

"Why would they do that? She must mean nothing to them."

"She's Buck's niece. That's all they need to know."

A memory returned to Red Bear and he smiled and took her hand.

"They are as one," he said and pressed her hand.

"What?"

"Running Buck told me that once. 'We eat, sleep and fight together, we're as one.' he said. I didn't understand then, perhaps I do now."

"Don't worry, she will be all right."

"I will trust you on that." Red Bear took her face between his hands and kissed her. Rachel kissed him back, relieved that his anger seemed to have subsided. Then he helped her up in the saddle. He held on to her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"There is fire in you, Rachel Dunne" he said with a mischievous smile, which clearly indicating what he was thinking of and Rachel felt herself blush. She gathered the reins and turned her horse.

"I'll be back when I know more," she said, uncertain of he wanted to see her again and then she urged her horse forward, not daring to look back.

Red Bear saw after her with a faint smile. It was time he returned to the village. He had been gone longer than he had planned. In fact much had happened that he hadn't planned. He had not expected to find the woman there, although he had to admit that he might have been wishing for it. This beautiful woman, that had invaded his thoughts more than once during the day. Why had the spirits sent this woman along his path? he wondered. It made no sense. He sighed. Sometimes the spirits wasn't so clear in their actions, he thought.

Black Hawk met him when he returned.

"Where have you been?" The older man looked at Red Bear with a frown in his face.

"I needed to think."

"You have no time for thinking, unless you've been asking the spirits for help." The older man scolded. "You should concentrate on being chief. You should get a wife to give you comfort."

"We've been through this before, Black Hawk. Besides it's too early in the morning for this. I'm tired."

"Yellow Fox wants to call a council," Black Hawk said in earnest. Red Bear stopped.

"About what?"

"He's worried about the Pony soldiers." Black Hawk hesitated. "And he says that you're not the best chief for the tribe right now."

"He put forward a challenge?"

"Not yet. But he might. Red Bear, we need you. Your daughter is safe with your brother, you said so yourself, and we need you to act as a chief again."
"Is Yellow Fox holding my actions against me?" Black Hawk could see the tension in Red Bear.

"He claims that your bonds to the white world are too strong."

Red Bear spun around.

"He know that it is not so. I care about the tribe more than anybody else does. He knows I've sacrificed much for the tribe's welfare." I lost a brother because of it, he added in his mind.

"He might be asking for a test."

"A test or a challenge." Red Bear sighed. "Maybe he is right, Black Hawk. Maybe I should let somebody else be chief."

"You can't do that, my chief. We need you."

"No, you don't need me. You need a chief. I've got worries of my own, which makes me a bad chief. So I should stop being chief."

"Do you know why we need you and not Yellow Fox? The tribe would follow Yellow Fox because he will ask them to, but they follow you because they want to. You favour your father in strength and size, Red Bear, but you favour your mother in wisdom and spirit. That is what we need."

"Tell me, Black Hawk, what would my father have done?" Red Bear suddenly asked.

"He would have urged for war, you know that. But you are not your father."

"What do you think about the Pony soldiers?"

"We know they look for Indians that haven't accepted the treaty. I fear they are getting closer. We should consider moving, my chief."

Red Bear nodded.

"I thank you for your advice, Black Hawk. I shall think about it."

"Do that, my chief." Black Hawk said, slowly returning as Red Bear stumbled into his tent. He would be forced to deal with Yellow Fox soon. The tribe needed to stay together and a conflict could break them apart. His worries for Running Buck and Wun-oan-te-mee had to wait.

Chapter 15

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