Usual disclaimers. and nearly time to get my little boy to school... eek!
***
Catherine fidgeted before him on his horse, unused to sitting without a saddle. She was nervous that nothing should go wrong and desperate to see Jack again. Little Feather held her around her waist securely. "Do not worry!" She could hear the smile in his voice. "We will free them soon... hold still!" He placed a gag in her mouth, tying it securely before looping some rope around her wrists. "Whatever I threaten, trust me - I will not hurt you," he whispered.
She nodded, trying to sit more calmly before him.
Little Feather nudged his horse forwards with his knees into the light of the torches on either side of the gate, drawing a long knife. He stopped, carefully judging the distance a shot could reach.
"Come out!" he shouted. "Come out if you want your woman!" Catherine could see movement at the gates and along the walls of the mine. Rifles were being readied. "Come out now or I will slit her throat!"
***
Isaac Blanche stared in horror at the Indian holding Catherine. He recognised him as the savage that had escaped from the deep shaft. He had been frantic with worry when Louis Lact had ridden to the fort to tell him that Olivier Besoe was dead and that her horse had been found a short distance from the mine with a broken leg. Louis Lact had men scouring the countryside, but had found nothing other than a single golden sleeve from her dress - and now he knew why.
Slowly, reluctantly he opened the gate. "What do you want?"
The Indian beckoned him closer. "My men for your woman - as well as the pirate Crazy Bird!"
"I cannot release Sparrow!" he shouted, watching in horror as a bead of blood appeared on her neck. "No!" he panicked. "Don't hurt her!" He sensed his men creeping forwards, trying to get close.
Startled by a noise behind him he turned, looking back through the gates to the mine. "Wha..." He saw more Indians within the mine complex, fighting with his men. Torn between rescuing Catherine and helping defend the mine, he stood frozen with doubt.
***
Seeing his men attack, Little Feather let out a loud whoop, heeling his horse into a gallop. The Frenchman dived out of the way to avoid being trampled, knocking his head on a rock, but Little Feather ignored him, continuing on into the mine.
Silent Wolf ran up to him. "We cannot operate the cage!"
Catherine wriggled in front of him, twisting round and trying to talk through the gag. "You know?" he demanded.
She nodded, finding herself thrown from the horse into Silent Wolf's waiting arms. Slicing the bonds from her hands she was shoved unceremoniously through the doorway. Pulling the gag from her mouth she threw two switches, watching anxiously as the cage slowly descended into the darkness.
***
"Sssshhh!" Red Cloud hushed them, listening carefully as he heard sounds of fighting above him, cries of the dying echoing down. He caught Crazy Bird smiling at him in the darkness.
The cage reached the bottom of the shaft and as many as possible crowded into it, Jack just managing to squeeze in. Gradually, groaning, it started to rise. He strained his eyes, trying to see upwards. A flash of golden fabric caught his eyes half-hidden between the dark bodies of the warriors.
"She's here," he grinned, holding the dagger in his hand.
Jack stumbled out of the cage, searching the darkness for his wife. The others pushed past him in their eagerness to join the fight. He, however, had little chance as he found himself enveloped in a hug from a small, auburn-haired shadow. "Kitty!" he smiled, holding her tightly and kissing her. "Send it down again, there's more to come up!"
Catherine threw the switches again, sending the cage back down the shaft before frantically kissing him.
"Crazy Bird!" Little Feather dashed through the doorway, pressing a sword and pistol into his hands. "We are leaving once all are up!" Jack nodded, tucking the sword into his belt as he continued to kiss her. "Crazy Bird!" he shouted. "Keep your mind where it matters!"
"I am," Jack mumbled, "an' this is all that matters t' me!"
"Crazy Bird!"
"Okay... okay!" Reluctantly he pulled away from her. "Later Missy!"
"Don't you..."
He smiled, knowing she would rise to the bait now that she did not have to pretend to be somebody else.
The cage reached the top of the shaft carrying the remaining Indians from the depths. Whooping with delight they charged out into the night to take their revenge on their captors - even a bare-handed Chickasaw warrior was deadly.
"Come on, we'd better go..." Jack leaned down to kiss her again as he cautiously led her out of the door. Holding her hand he dashed across the courtyard and through the gate, heading for the safety of the darkness. Eyes wide, and more than a little frightened, she ran with him.
Click!
Jack skidded to a halt just outside of the gates, eyes scanning the darkness. Isaac Blanche staggered slowly into the light, bleeding from a cut to his head, his pistol aimed at Jack. "Release Madame Duras, pirate!" he ordered. "Now!"
Jack pulled Catherine before him, trusting that the man had not yet realised who she was. "Yer don't want t' do that mate, do yer?" he smiled. "Couldn't have th' pretty little Missy hurt now?"
"Unhand her, pirate!"
"What if I don't want to?" Jack smiled, twirling her round so she faced him, his arm snug about her waist. He drew his own pistol, aiming it at her head. "It can be cold in th' hills at night... I was thinking of a little somethin' t' keep me warm!"
"Animal!" Isaac staggered closer. "I said release her!"
"No closer mate," Jack advised. "Wouldn't want me t' get nervous like, would yer?" His pistol clicked as he cocked it.
"Please Captain," Catherine begged. "Please, Isaac is a good man - do not kill him..."
"I'd be more worried about yourself Missy..."
"Please! I will go with you, willingly, if you will spare him... please Monsieur!"
Jack could see the Chickasaw disappearing through the trees as they fled the mine, certain that not a living soul remained within it's walls. Little Feather stopped, shocked at the scene before him - not believing what he was seeing, but unwilling to blunder into something he did not understand.
"Crazy Bird?"
"This man is to be spared Little Feather, an' Missy here is coming with us." He turned to Isaac. "Drop yer pistol mate an' you'll live..."
Isaac kept his pistol aimed at Jack, although it wavered alarmingly.
"Please Isaac, please..." Catherine begged.
"My finger's getting tired mate... yer wouldn't want it to slip now, would yer?"
Defeated, Isaac uncocked the pistol and dropped it to the ground. "Do not hurt her, please..."
Jack removed his pistol from her head, aiming it at Isaac as he pushed Catherine roughly towards Little Feather. Startled he caught her, holding her tight. Only when she winked at him was he sure of the game, tightening his grip further as she struggled. Jack walked forwards cautiously, picking up the pistol that had been dropped and throwing it into the bushes. "Lact's house is a good hour's walk - I suggest yer start now!"
Isaac knew he could do nothing and slowly backed away. Speaking in French he called out to Catherine as Little Feather dragged her to his horse. "I will find you Catherine!" he shouted. "I will come!" But she was already out of sight.
Little Feather led Jack and Catherine through the trees to where a number of horses waited. "Quickly! The French will be here soon!"
"Err..." Jack stood looking at the horse.
"Jack! Come on!" Catherine used a fallen tree to help her mount.
"Err... I can't ride..."
"What?"
"I've never been on land long enough t' learn - alright!" he admitted.
She smiled. "Climb up behind me then and hold on..." He scrambled up, clinging tightly to her waist as she followed Little Feather, cantering as fast as she could. Although she could ride she was unused to riding without a saddle and found it hard to keep her balance, she managed to keep up with Little Feather.
***
Running Elk slipped quietly back through the trees. She had built a small, concealed hide where the green eyed man, Oran, was now hidden. The French were everywhere, armed troops searching for something or someone - she hoped it was not the man she was caring for. Creeping carefully, making no noise, she found he was awake. She placed her fingers to her lips, warning him that others were nearby. He was clever this man - he understood the need for quiet and concealment.
Only when she was sure that the French had passed did she speak. "We must head back to my village... they had a Kickapoo with them. Whatever or whoever they search for... we must not be caught in their net." Carefully she examined his wound. "It is healing - if we travel at night and keep off the tracks we should be safe."
She turned, disappearing into the darkness without a word, returning nearly half an hour later with a sturdy horse. She mounted quickly but conscious of his wound offered her hand to help him. He sat close behind her, his hands gently resting on her waist as they headed eastwards back towards her village.
Although Oran was anxious for Catherine, he knew that there was nothing he could do at present. He guessed that the order for his death had come from Olivier Besoe which meant it was too dangerous to return to the Lact household - but that did not mean that he could not try to help Catherine without their knowledge.
***
Okay - that is all I have typed apart from a few paragraphs from an incomplete chapter... perhaps the mountain of ironing I have to do today will help the old grey matter work! ;)
***
Catherine fidgeted before him on his horse, unused to sitting without a saddle. She was nervous that nothing should go wrong and desperate to see Jack again. Little Feather held her around her waist securely. "Do not worry!" She could hear the smile in his voice. "We will free them soon... hold still!" He placed a gag in her mouth, tying it securely before looping some rope around her wrists. "Whatever I threaten, trust me - I will not hurt you," he whispered.
She nodded, trying to sit more calmly before him.
Little Feather nudged his horse forwards with his knees into the light of the torches on either side of the gate, drawing a long knife. He stopped, carefully judging the distance a shot could reach.
"Come out!" he shouted. "Come out if you want your woman!" Catherine could see movement at the gates and along the walls of the mine. Rifles were being readied. "Come out now or I will slit her throat!"
***
Isaac Blanche stared in horror at the Indian holding Catherine. He recognised him as the savage that had escaped from the deep shaft. He had been frantic with worry when Louis Lact had ridden to the fort to tell him that Olivier Besoe was dead and that her horse had been found a short distance from the mine with a broken leg. Louis Lact had men scouring the countryside, but had found nothing other than a single golden sleeve from her dress - and now he knew why.
Slowly, reluctantly he opened the gate. "What do you want?"
The Indian beckoned him closer. "My men for your woman - as well as the pirate Crazy Bird!"
"I cannot release Sparrow!" he shouted, watching in horror as a bead of blood appeared on her neck. "No!" he panicked. "Don't hurt her!" He sensed his men creeping forwards, trying to get close.
Startled by a noise behind him he turned, looking back through the gates to the mine. "Wha..." He saw more Indians within the mine complex, fighting with his men. Torn between rescuing Catherine and helping defend the mine, he stood frozen with doubt.
***
Seeing his men attack, Little Feather let out a loud whoop, heeling his horse into a gallop. The Frenchman dived out of the way to avoid being trampled, knocking his head on a rock, but Little Feather ignored him, continuing on into the mine.
Silent Wolf ran up to him. "We cannot operate the cage!"
Catherine wriggled in front of him, twisting round and trying to talk through the gag. "You know?" he demanded.
She nodded, finding herself thrown from the horse into Silent Wolf's waiting arms. Slicing the bonds from her hands she was shoved unceremoniously through the doorway. Pulling the gag from her mouth she threw two switches, watching anxiously as the cage slowly descended into the darkness.
***
"Sssshhh!" Red Cloud hushed them, listening carefully as he heard sounds of fighting above him, cries of the dying echoing down. He caught Crazy Bird smiling at him in the darkness.
The cage reached the bottom of the shaft and as many as possible crowded into it, Jack just managing to squeeze in. Gradually, groaning, it started to rise. He strained his eyes, trying to see upwards. A flash of golden fabric caught his eyes half-hidden between the dark bodies of the warriors.
"She's here," he grinned, holding the dagger in his hand.
Jack stumbled out of the cage, searching the darkness for his wife. The others pushed past him in their eagerness to join the fight. He, however, had little chance as he found himself enveloped in a hug from a small, auburn-haired shadow. "Kitty!" he smiled, holding her tightly and kissing her. "Send it down again, there's more to come up!"
Catherine threw the switches again, sending the cage back down the shaft before frantically kissing him.
"Crazy Bird!" Little Feather dashed through the doorway, pressing a sword and pistol into his hands. "We are leaving once all are up!" Jack nodded, tucking the sword into his belt as he continued to kiss her. "Crazy Bird!" he shouted. "Keep your mind where it matters!"
"I am," Jack mumbled, "an' this is all that matters t' me!"
"Crazy Bird!"
"Okay... okay!" Reluctantly he pulled away from her. "Later Missy!"
"Don't you..."
He smiled, knowing she would rise to the bait now that she did not have to pretend to be somebody else.
The cage reached the top of the shaft carrying the remaining Indians from the depths. Whooping with delight they charged out into the night to take their revenge on their captors - even a bare-handed Chickasaw warrior was deadly.
"Come on, we'd better go..." Jack leaned down to kiss her again as he cautiously led her out of the door. Holding her hand he dashed across the courtyard and through the gate, heading for the safety of the darkness. Eyes wide, and more than a little frightened, she ran with him.
Click!
Jack skidded to a halt just outside of the gates, eyes scanning the darkness. Isaac Blanche staggered slowly into the light, bleeding from a cut to his head, his pistol aimed at Jack. "Release Madame Duras, pirate!" he ordered. "Now!"
Jack pulled Catherine before him, trusting that the man had not yet realised who she was. "Yer don't want t' do that mate, do yer?" he smiled. "Couldn't have th' pretty little Missy hurt now?"
"Unhand her, pirate!"
"What if I don't want to?" Jack smiled, twirling her round so she faced him, his arm snug about her waist. He drew his own pistol, aiming it at her head. "It can be cold in th' hills at night... I was thinking of a little somethin' t' keep me warm!"
"Animal!" Isaac staggered closer. "I said release her!"
"No closer mate," Jack advised. "Wouldn't want me t' get nervous like, would yer?" His pistol clicked as he cocked it.
"Please Captain," Catherine begged. "Please, Isaac is a good man - do not kill him..."
"I'd be more worried about yourself Missy..."
"Please! I will go with you, willingly, if you will spare him... please Monsieur!"
Jack could see the Chickasaw disappearing through the trees as they fled the mine, certain that not a living soul remained within it's walls. Little Feather stopped, shocked at the scene before him - not believing what he was seeing, but unwilling to blunder into something he did not understand.
"Crazy Bird?"
"This man is to be spared Little Feather, an' Missy here is coming with us." He turned to Isaac. "Drop yer pistol mate an' you'll live..."
Isaac kept his pistol aimed at Jack, although it wavered alarmingly.
"Please Isaac, please..." Catherine begged.
"My finger's getting tired mate... yer wouldn't want it to slip now, would yer?"
Defeated, Isaac uncocked the pistol and dropped it to the ground. "Do not hurt her, please..."
Jack removed his pistol from her head, aiming it at Isaac as he pushed Catherine roughly towards Little Feather. Startled he caught her, holding her tight. Only when she winked at him was he sure of the game, tightening his grip further as she struggled. Jack walked forwards cautiously, picking up the pistol that had been dropped and throwing it into the bushes. "Lact's house is a good hour's walk - I suggest yer start now!"
Isaac knew he could do nothing and slowly backed away. Speaking in French he called out to Catherine as Little Feather dragged her to his horse. "I will find you Catherine!" he shouted. "I will come!" But she was already out of sight.
Little Feather led Jack and Catherine through the trees to where a number of horses waited. "Quickly! The French will be here soon!"
"Err..." Jack stood looking at the horse.
"Jack! Come on!" Catherine used a fallen tree to help her mount.
"Err... I can't ride..."
"What?"
"I've never been on land long enough t' learn - alright!" he admitted.
She smiled. "Climb up behind me then and hold on..." He scrambled up, clinging tightly to her waist as she followed Little Feather, cantering as fast as she could. Although she could ride she was unused to riding without a saddle and found it hard to keep her balance, she managed to keep up with Little Feather.
***
Running Elk slipped quietly back through the trees. She had built a small, concealed hide where the green eyed man, Oran, was now hidden. The French were everywhere, armed troops searching for something or someone - she hoped it was not the man she was caring for. Creeping carefully, making no noise, she found he was awake. She placed her fingers to her lips, warning him that others were nearby. He was clever this man - he understood the need for quiet and concealment.
Only when she was sure that the French had passed did she speak. "We must head back to my village... they had a Kickapoo with them. Whatever or whoever they search for... we must not be caught in their net." Carefully she examined his wound. "It is healing - if we travel at night and keep off the tracks we should be safe."
She turned, disappearing into the darkness without a word, returning nearly half an hour later with a sturdy horse. She mounted quickly but conscious of his wound offered her hand to help him. He sat close behind her, his hands gently resting on her waist as they headed eastwards back towards her village.
Although Oran was anxious for Catherine, he knew that there was nothing he could do at present. He guessed that the order for his death had come from Olivier Besoe which meant it was too dangerous to return to the Lact household - but that did not mean that he could not try to help Catherine without their knowledge.
***
Okay - that is all I have typed apart from a few paragraphs from an incomplete chapter... perhaps the mountain of ironing I have to do today will help the old grey matter work! ;)