Running Elk Read online

  Abigail was also convinced Running Elk wasn’t coming for her. Alexandria didn’t understand why the woman was so sure her rescue wasn’t a possibility and hoped with everything inside herself that her new friend was wrong.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Running Elk left the encampment and rode in the direction of the Kiowa. After traveling until sunset, he made camp for the night, lit his pipe, and tried to digest everything that had happened to him over the last few weeks. From the first time he’d laid eyes on Two Fires, his life had spiraled out of control. He had always been close to his brothers, and now, whenever he thought of White Wolf, his emotions turned to rage. He was glad to be free of Morning Star, but that didn’t stop him from being angry about the whole affair. If his brother wanted his wife, then why hadn’t he told Running Elk years earlier? In Running Elk’s opinion, it would have saved a lot of heartache on everyone’s end.

  Over the last few years, he had killed many Texans. They killed Comanche and almost completely destroyed their food source for sport. Yet he never felt hatred towards Two Fires. They had been together twice, but here he sat, after giving everything up for her. All Running Elk could do was say a prayer for her safety. He was well aware of how the Kiowa lived. He also knew if they had mistreated the woman he loved, he would kill them with his bare hands. If he was going to walk into any of their camps, he would have to get his emotions in check. After smoking his pipe, he closed his eyes and hoped for sleep.

  The Comanche had just nodded off when he heard a noise. As he was slowly opening his eyes, his right hand was reaching for the knife he wore tied to his leg. When he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of moccasins. He stood quickly and faced the intruder, silently hoping it was a lone Kiowa warrior.

  “Running Elk, it is good to see you again, my friend.”

  The intruder was his friend, and one of the Quahadi war chiefs, Quanah. The chief was tall and intimidating. But Running Elk knew him to be a fair man. Running his camp meant Quanah was always in high demand, so Running Elk was shocked the man had come in search of him.

  “Quanah, what are you doing here?” he questioned, allowing his tense muscles to relax.

  “I have come to see you. Your brothers have both sought my counsel. Sit, we will smoke to ensure only truth is spoken between us,” Quanah answered, sitting on the robes that had served as Running Elk’s bed only seconds earlier.

  “What did my brothers want? Did they tell you I was going to walk into a Kiowa camp and cause war?” Running Elk asked as he paced in front of his visitor while Quanah built up the dying fire. Running Elk attempted to not allow his emotions to break through but failed miserably.

  “Sit. Calm yourself. Running Elk, you forget, I understand what you are going through. My mother was very much in love with my father. When the whites came into our village and took her, he wanted nothing more than to go after her. It took many wise men to talk him out of it. Still, he never stopped loving her. I wanted her back more than anything, but the safety of our people must come first. That is the way it must be …”

  “No. I will find Two Fires, and nothing you or anyone else says will stop me,” Running Elk interrupted as he sat beside the chief and took the pipe he was offered.

  “The truth is, we need you Running Elk. The white men want us to touch the pen to yet another paper. Our band has made the decision not to go to the meeting. Of course, we will be classified as hostiles. I … we need you to help fight if that is the outcome. They may very well send soldiers when we do not show up.”

  “I will be no good to you if my heart isn’t in the fight. And my heart is with Two Fires.”

  “If you will give me until the first snow, I will send out a messenger to all the Kiowa camps to seek your white woman. They will bring us the information you desire. My way will get you results without causing friction,” Quanah explained, smiling.

  “Will your scout bring her back to me?” Running Elk asked, allowing himself to hope.

  “If she is willing, yes. I will make sure the scouts know the story, and they will do all that they can. Is that a satisfactory plan? Will you return to the camp?”

  Running Elk stood and walked a small distance from the burning fire. “I don’t know how well I will be able to fight beside White Wolf. I want us to be brothers again but am not sure we can after all that has passed between us.”

  “Your brother loves you, but he also loved the woman you took as a wife. She has joined him in his tipi. You must let go of your anger. Their union is better for you anyway. And we will have news of your white woman soon.”

  Running Elk had felt lost for a long time and was pleased Quanah had given him a small amount of hope. Quanah was a wise and generous man but also a warrior. He demanded respect even from the Kiowa. Although Running Elk wasn’t convinced of his importance to his people, he decided he would return home with his friend.

  He followed Quanah through the camp until the chief decided which men he would send to the Kiowa camps. People were carrying on with their lives and paid little attention to Running Elk. He was pleased to move amongst his people without causing a stir. He was sure the camp thought him crazy. He wasn’t; he was in love.

  ***

  The warriors Quanah handpicked met in the war chief’s tipi and shared a pipe.

  “There are four encampments for the Kiowa, and each one of you will ride into one,” Quanah began before passing the pipe to his right. “We are looking for a white woman who was taken from a wagon train. We don’t want to be too demanding, but let their leaders know I am serious in my search.”

  The chosen four nodded and took turns drawing from the pipe.

  “And if we find her?” the warrior across from Quanah asked.

  “Bring her here. Buy her, if you must,” Quanah answered, looking to Running Elk.

  “What if they don’t want to sell her?” the warrior seated to the left of the war chief asked before returning the pipe to him.

  Running Elk bit his lip but managed to stay silent.

  “Then return here, and we will decide what to do from there. You will depart with the rising sun,” Quanah said, emptying his pipe on his moccasin. The action was a clear sign he was finished talking to the group.

  Running Elk would have been happier if the scouts were leaving immediately but knew pushing the subject would do no good. He had been many things in his life, but impatience was new to him.

  After waiting for everyone else to leave, he thanked Quanah for his help. Holding onto a renewed hope, he walked towards Kicking Bird’s tipi.

  His brother looked both surprised and pleased to see him. “I am glad you have returned. What changed your mind?” he asked, welcoming Running Elk inside. “Gray Eagle, your uncle had returned.”

  “It’s good to see you again, Uncle,” Gray Eagle greeted from the robes he was resting on. “I can walk with the help of a strong branch now. I tried yesterday.”

  The young man looked much better than the last time Running Elk had seen him. His color was back, and he sounded determined to fully recover.

  “I am pleased to hear that. You will be healed in no time. Kicking Bird, thank you for seeking Quanah’s wisdom. He came and spoke to me.”

  Kicking Bird smiled and escorted his little brother outside.

  “I owe my son’s life to you. It was the least I could do.”

  “Quanah thinks we will be fighting soon. What do you think?”

  “I think I want our old way of life back. But I do not see any chance of that happening. The white man will not be satisfied until he has taken everything of ours. Even the land we walk on. Yes, Quanah is correct in his thoughts. We need you with us. You do understand we will be fighting side by side with the Kiowa. What if you aren’t reunited with your Two Fires by then? Will that hinder your fighting ability?” Kicking Bird asked.

  “No, I don’t believe so. I can use their company to my advantage. When we are camped, I will speak to them and ask them questions. I do feel much more at pe
ace than I have since I met Two Fires.”

  “Now, brother, I don’t want to bring this subject up, but I feel I must. You do know there is a distinct possibility she was killed, right?” Kicking Bird asked cautiously, not sure what kind of reaction he would receive.

  His big brother’s question felt more like a punch in the gut than words.

  “I would be a fool not to have considered her death. I try not to dwell on the thought, but I will know something soon. I feel in my soul that she still lives. She was their only captive, so I have to believe they kept her alive for a reason.”

  “Will you go after the warriors if you find out her spirit has moved on?”

  “With a vengeance, brother.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “How can it have been two months already?” Alexandria asked Abigail as she picked up the robes before taking them outside and shaking them.

  In eight weeks, Alexandria had mastered the Kiowas’ language. She and Abigail had become fast friends and because Standing Bear had been absent since the camp was relocated, Alexandria was beginning to calm down. The lightheadedness and queasy stomach were even lessening every day.

  Abigail had moved into Standing Bear’s tipi as soon as the camp moved and the two had spoken about Running Elk at length. Although Abigail said she understood Alexandria, she continued to remind Alexandria that Standing Bear was the most handsome man in camp, not forgetting to add how pleased Alexandria should be with her situation.

  As the days passed, the two fell into a schedule. Alexandria watched and shadowed Abigail while her friend completed the daily chores until she thought she could accomplish them without help.

  The first day Alexandria gathered the nerve to walk to the river to fetch water, she knew the other women in the camp resented her. The knowledge made her want to finish her task just to show the women she was not a fragile flower and that she was quite capable of doing some hard work. After filling the skins, she made it back to the shoreline before her eyesight began clouding until all she could see was nothingness.

  When she regained consciousness, she was lying on top of her fur bed.

  “It is good to see you are awake. The women wouldn’t have kept picking at you if they’d realized you were carrying a child. Why didn’t you tell me?” Abigail’s voice was a mixture of excitement and anxiousness.

  “A child?” Alexandria asked quickly. “No, that’s impossible …”

  Alexandria stopped speaking and allowed herself to consider the impossible was actually possible. If she was as the Kiowa women said, then there was only one possible father.

  She smiled and touched her stomach. She was shocked and scared when the words sank in. Fear quickly moved to joy. The universe might have been trying to keep her from the man she loved, but that would never happen now. “Abigail, I believe I am carrying Running Elk’s child.”

  Abigail was not pleased with her friend’s news. “What is Standing Bear going to say?” she asked, sounding concerned.

  “He can’t say anything. This is my child. He said many times that he would be kind to me so that I would be with him, right?”

  “He did say he was doing that,” Abigail agreed after giving it some thought.

  “Then he will have to accept this. I am overjoyed, Abigail. I will have Running Elk with me forever. But how did the women know?”

  “When you fainted, Willow, an elder, looked at you and said you were with child. I don’t know how she knew, but she was sure she was right. Even when I said that it was impossible.”

  “I’m glad to know. This is the first time since I was captured that I haven’t felt lost and alone. No offense, I am grateful for you, but I was always trying to find a way to leave here. It might have been crazy, but I couldn’t imagine living without Running Elk. Now I have him with me,” Alexandria gushed before standing and walking the perimeter of the tipi.

  “I am glad you are happy, but please don’t tell Standing Bear the minute he returns. Why not show him how you have learned his language?” Abigail suggested, watching her friend instead of resuming grinding corn.

  “The man killed my husband and friends, took me from the man I love, and tied me up for days. And you want me to consider his feelings? I don’t know why you cannot understand this; I do not love Standing Bear.”

  “I understand your feelings, but Alexandria, he loves you. Everyone can see it in his eyes when he looks at you or has even just been in your company. I’m sure his absence hasn’t changed that fact. And now I feel I must tell you … he is back.”

  Alexandria stopped her mindless walking and looked at Abigail as she felt the color drain from her face. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”

  “Because we were discussing important things. Now I am leaving but will return in the morning. Try to be kind to him,” Abigail said as she gathered her few belongings and left the tipi.

  Alexandria watched her friend leave without speaking because her mind was reeling. She was overjoyed at the news she was pregnant, but as soon as she knew Standing Bear was back, she began to worry about what his reaction to the news might be. She sat by the fire for a few hours, deep in thought. After deciding fresh air might help her thinking process, she stepped outside.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Standing Bear watched as the woman walked out of his tipi before stretching and sitting cross-legged by the opening. When he looked at her, he realized how much he had missed being in her company. He hoped that in his absence she had learned some of the ways of his people. It was obvious she was more at peace than she had been when he’d left. As much as he wanted to go to her now, he knew before visiting with Alax, he needed to speak to Abigail. The woman would have all the information he desired, so he went in search of her. After listening to Abigail, he was pleased with everything she told him. Yet he could sense the girl wasn’t telling him everything.

  “What are you keeping from me? Does she still speak of the Comanche?” Standing Bear pressed.

  “She does,” Abigail answered, lowering her head. “But not as much, and that is surely a good sign. As time passes, she will understand just how lucky she is.”

  Standing Bear smiled at Abigail when she looked up at him. The woman had been adopted by his uncle’s family when she was captured. Standing Bear had always accepted her as one of the family, but it was obvious the young woman had deeper feelings for him, whether she knew it or not.

  “I will take any good news. I am not sure myself why I am so drawn to Alax. But if she will have me, then I am the lucky one. Thank you for helping. I will seek her company now.”

  ***

  Alexandria watched as Standing Bear walked towards her. For the first time, she allowed herself to look at the man without allowing blinding hatred to cloud her judgement.

  He was a handsome man. His hair fell loose around his shoulders. She noticed it was a habit for him to place it behind his ears. He had a confident walk and carried himself like a warrior. His face was long. He had high cheekbones and a nose that rounded at the end. His eyes were deep chocolate brown. His body was hard and muscular, though he was not as imposing as Running Elk. The Kiowa warrior wore only a breechcloth, moccasins, and a feather that hung from his hair.

  As he neared, she stood up. “Standing Bear, how have you been?” she asked, attempting to be civil.

  He stopped and smiled when he realized he could understand the words she was saying.

  “Alax, I am pleased we can finally talk without help. Let’s go inside,” Standing Bear said, smiling, as he ushered her back inside his home.

  “Abigail is a good teacher, and you have been away for quite some time.”

  “Please, sit. My absence is something you are glad of?” he asked, sitting beside her.

  Alexandria didn’t look away from the fire. “You killed my husband and my friends and took me from the man I love. While it is obvious that your feelings have changed towards me, I still see death when I look at you. I know you’ve been kind to me sin
ce I got here and that my treatment could have been a lot worse. I also realize that you are not going to take me back to Running Elk. So, to answer you, your absence has given me time to learn of your people.”

  “That was not an answer. If your Running Elk wanted you, he’s had time to come. But he has not. You must accept that and move on. That is the reason I gave you this time. Now, you and I will get to know one another. I am not so bad,” Standing Bear said gently, touching her leg and smiling.

  Alexandria pulled away from his touch and his smile disappeared.

  “If Running Elk had come for me, would you have told me?”

  “Yes, you would have been informed. The tribal elders would have given you to him. But again, he has not come,” he repeated as he stood. “You cannot hold onto memories forever. And yes, I have killed white men, but they drew first blood. This is war and sadly, people die.” His voice was getting angrier with every word he spoke.

  “Oh? I can and will carry my memories with me forever. You see, I am carrying Running Elk’s child,” Alexandria spoke with defiance thick in her voice. She stood when he spoke; it was more of a symbolic gesture than a threat.

  Alexandria watched as Standing Bear’s features grew dark. The change in his appearance frightened her. Since she had caused his anger, she knew there was nothing she could say to quell it.

  The warrior slowly stood and walked out of his home without a backwards glance. As soon as she was alone once again, she realized she had been holding her breath.

  Alexandria hadn’t planned on telling him the news in such a blunt, hurtful manner, but the man had a way of infuriating her. Once he left, she began to worry that he might give her to someone else. Maybe she had crossed a line that she couldn’t return from. For the first time since she had been a captive, she realized her situation could have been worse. Although the fear she was experiencing was close to paralyzing, she knew she couldn’t just let the man walk away. She had no idea how she was going to fix her situation, but after gathering herself, she went in search of Standing Bear.