Part 9


Anthony was surprised to see his father on his knees facing Chief Running Wolf when he and Moonflower were close to the safe haven. It seemed Lady Katherine had run out of steam with her mob so she did the only thing she could to get Anthony back – she abducted Arthur and handed him to the tribe in return for Anthony.

"Where's Anthony?" She shrilled at Running Wolf.

Running wolf heard the rustle of leaves; he vaguely made out the silhouette of his sister and Anthony through the thorn bush.

"He will be on your front step at dawn. What reassurance do I have that you will not harm my people once you have received your man?"

A heavy silence hung in the air – there were no assurances.

"Arthur Wiggins" Running wolf addressed his father in law

"You have been charged with the attempted murder of one of our own – my sister Moonflower. Remember her?" Running Wolf said with authority saturating his voice.

"You will remain here as our prisoner for the remaining days of your life. Should Lady Katherine or her mob return to harm us you will be dead – your existence is dependent on the Lady's word" Running Wolf said inclining his head.

Moonflower had noted that Lillian was nowhere to be seen, she would need to find and speak to her, no telling what trauma she would be going through with her father kept as her husband's prisoner.

Anthony grabbed hold of Moonflower's hand and began tugging her back up the mountain.

"No" She said in a hushed shrill.

"You need to return with her"

"No, I need to be with you, I don't need anyone else" he responded cupping her cheek.

"I love you Anthony, but my people will die lest you go with her"

"Are you choosing your people over me?" He said – chagrin seeping through his voice.

"Anthony" She grasped his hand and led him the long way round to where her people were.

"Look at the women and children gathered, think of Lillian and your nephew; they will all die if you don't go back. I will not be able to live with myself should they suffer for my selfish needs" She said stroking his face; he knew she had a valid point.

"My love, will I see you?" he asked as he knelt beside the bush with her.

"We will meet again… Promise me this, on the night of the full moon you will return to me, to the lake by your cabin" She said clasping his hands almost as if they were in prayer.

"I swear it on my life"

And so, it came to pass, Anthony returned with the new dawn whilst Arthur remained chained in a hut in the heart of the village. Every month on the night of the full moon Anthony and Moonflower would meet, their love deepened with every interlude until Running Wolf thought it time for his sister to marry the chief of an enemy tribe to bring peace between their people. Chief Shathu already had one wife Iniabi, his wife had yet to produce a heir to the Chiefdom, sure they had several daughters but the Chief longed for a son, not just any son, but one from the wolf clan, he had seen Moonflower at one of the Pow Wow's conducted by the council of elders for all the remaining native tribe's since the takeover by the pale faces. He was enamoured by her beauty – he had to possess her.

Moonflower rejected her brother's request for the umpteenth time, she only had time for one man and even though their time was limited to the night of the full moon she would remain faithful. Anthony spent his time traveling and doing business when it wasn't close to the full moon, it kept him sane and prevented him from going to the village and throwing Moonflower over his shoulder; it also gave him the opportunity to escape Katherine. Katherine had told the Wiggins family that Arthur was attacked by a bear and his body swept away with the current. After 3 months; which Lady Katherine thought was a generous amount of time for grieving; she began pushing for her wedding to Anthony and he kept declining.

One night she followed him to his cabin on the full moon night. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming as she clenched her hands to keep from going over to Moonflower and strangling her to death. Moonflower wept on Anthony's pristine white shirt; she was in turmoil. Lillian had taken her to a doctor in another town who confirmed Moonflower was 6 weeks pregnant. Moonflower was beside herself with grief, she couldn't be with Anthony as Katherine would attack her people and she couldn't stay amongst her kin as it would bring dishonour to her family. Katherine listened as they spoke of their love and their families wanting them to be with people they didn't love. Katherine waited for Anthony to leave before grabbing Moonflower by the hair and throwing her to the ground. Moonflower's hands went instinctively to her womb to protect her unborn child.

Moonflower acted quickly and pulled her dagger to her attacker's throat.

"You will stay away from Anthony you hear! You will marry that other chief and go far away from me and my husband to be. Heed my warning or by the next full moon if I catch you meeting with him I won't just destroy your tribe – I'll murder Anthony… slowly… If I can't have him no one can" She hissed letting go of Moonflower and slinking back into the shadows.

Katherine threatened Anthony as well – he threatened to have Moonflower abducted and forced to abort then sell her to a whore house. With no other choice left Anthony decided to seek out Running Wolf.