Chapter 3 – Buck's POV
About an hour after day break I found myself riding into the remains of Lou's and Ike's camp, after scouting around I figured I was only about thirty minutes behind them. And it didn't appear as though they had any trouble yet. I prayed to the spirits that it would stay that way. I quickly remounted Spirit and headed out after them.
After riding for about ten minutes I spotted a rider headed my way fast. It only took me a minute to know it was Ike and Lou wasn't with him. I was already too late, something has happened to her. Steeling myself I race towards Ike. We stopped when we were abreast each other. Ike was signing so fast I couldn't understand him.
"Whoa slow down Ike. Where's Lou? What happened?" I asked frantic. "Chased by Indians, horse threw her; she made me leave her behind." Ike signed quickly tears streaming down his face. "Which tribe?" I asked not sure I really wanted an answer. "Red Bear's" Ike signed with a visible shudder. "Damn." I muttered and started to move away but Ike's hand stopped me.
"What are you going to do Buck?" He asked. "Save her." I answered simply. "They'll kill you Buck." Ike signed the tears flowing harder. I swallowed hard, "Maybe, but I won't let them hurt Lou." "I'm coming with you." Ike signed with resolve. "No Ike. You got to go back to Sweetwater. If we aren't back in a couple of days then you can come look for us. Give me time to try to keep a fight from happening." I quickly said. Ike nodded, "Be careful Buck." "I'll try." I said and quickly sped away.
I had to reach them before they killed Lou or before they found out Lou is a girl. I know what would happen if they found out she was a girl. She would be given to one of the warriors or sold as a slave to another tribe. Both ways she would be 'hurt'; and I didn't want her to go through what my mother had gone through.
I just didn't have any idea what I was going to do to get her and myself out of this mess. Even if I couldn't get out, I'd make sure Lou got away. If it is the last thing I do, I will save the woman I love.
Lou's POV
As we rode into the village Indian women and children came out to see the 'captive'. Other warriors appeared to look at the prize. A skinny white boy wasn't much of a prize but a 'woman' was I thought. The warriors who had captured me stopped in front of an older Indian, who I guessed had to be in his late thirty's early forty's. From his headdress I figured he was the chief. Was this Red Bear, Buck's brother? Or was I with a different tribe altogether?
One of the warriors pulled me from the horse and shoved me before the chief. I fell to my knees, with a cry of pain. It was that cry of pain that made the chief look at me closer. Pulling me to my feet her knocked my hat off and took my glasses from my face. I tried to stare at him in defiance but I was trembling with fear. I saw his eyes widen with realization as to what I am.
He said something to his warriors, but I couldn't understand it. But I knew he was telling them I was a woman, because they all began to circle me looking me up and down like I was some piece of livestock. One warrior grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. Another ripped my shirt exposing my small breast. I tried to hold my shirt together but he hit me. I hit him back. This brought a round of laughter from those gathered around.
They all started shouting over one another. Again I couldn't understand the language but the tone said it all. They were fighting over who got to have me. I tried to keep the tears at bay as the visions of what they could do to me filled my head. Why had I not listened to Buck? "Buck where are you?" I whispered to myself.
The chief however heard me. He put his hand on my shoulder and made me face him. "Who is this Buck you speak of?" he asked in halting English. The others continued arguing with each other ignoring our conversation. "Buck is Running Buck half-brother of the war chief Red Bear." I said hoping the chief would at least know Red Bear's name. I saw the man's mouth twitch.
"You are his woman?" He asked. I thought about telling the truth and saying no, but some little voice inside my head screamed at me to lie. "Yes. We are promised to each other." I replied my voice cracking with emotion I wasn't sure I could explain. The Indian cocked his head to the side, "Why do you dress as a man?" I had to smirk at his question, "I'm a rider for the Express. I work with Buck, that's how we met. I pretended to be a boy to get the job. They would not hire me if they knew I was a girl."
The older Indian actually laughed before he turned serious again. "How long have you been promised to my brother?" he asked me, I gasped in shock. "Red Bear?" I asked, he nodded. I had to think quickly, he would know that Buck hadn't been promised to anyone a few months ago. "We've been promised for one month." I replied casually, my heart racing with the lie.
"Running Buck did not mention you when last I saw him." Red Bear asked, clearly not sure he believed me. I swallowed hard, "No, he wouldn't have. At the time he still thought I was a boy." Red Bear seemed to be considering my words when he was distracted by a horse galloping into the village.
I turned just in time to see Buck vault from his horse before it even came to a stop. I breathed a quick sigh of relief as he pushed through the warriors and wrapped me in his embrace. Placing me behind his back he turned to his brother. "Release her brother. You promised not to attack any of the riders why now?" Buck said to his brother. Red Bear glared at him, not liking being question in front of his warriors.
"I did not attack. She has not been harmed nor was the other rider. My warriors could easily have killed either of them. They did not." Red Bear stated clearly putting Buck in his place. Buck's shoulders sagged for a brief moment before he straighten again and said, "Please brother release her." Red Bear stared at Buck, "Why have you come here Running Buck. I told you not to look back when you chose your white family over your tribe."
Buck looked at me over his shoulder; I know he could see the fear in my eyes. "For her." He said simply. Red Bear smiled a teasing smile, "Why? Is she special to you?" he asked. I tensed knowing Red Bear was trying to see if I had lied to him. There was no way I could tell Buck what I had told him. I prayed Buck would say the right things. "Yes. She is very special to me. I love her." Buck said with conviction. I knew Buck was lying but the way he said it made me believe it was true. I felt those butterflies in my stomach at his words. I almost found myself wishing it was true.
Red Bear looked at us for a moment, "The woman claims she is your woman. That you are promised to each other. Is this true?" behind Buck's back I ran one finger down his back hoping he would figure out I had said for one month. "Yes, it's true. We have been promised to each other for one moon." Buck said. I released the breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.
Red Bear said something in Kiowa and I felt Buck stiffen. Then two women came forward and started dragging me away. I called out to Buck. He placed a hand on one of the women's shoulders and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Go with them. I'll be with you soon and I'll explain." I nodded. Buck kissed me lightly on the lips, my mouth parting in surprise and my heart racing at the sensation. Before I could even think I was being pulled away again, but my eyes never left Buck's face until I was pushed inside one of the tepees.
