Never Surrender Read online

  He fought against the memories that never disappeared from his thoughts. The vision of his slender wife, her dark eyes gazing from a delicate, oval face, never disappeared from his mind’s eye or the memory of her hair’s silkiness when he ran his fingers through its length, nor the softness of her warm, naked flesh against his own. His heart ached to be with her, something he wished for daily. Because of the white man, he would never again see or touch her...and he could not allow a white woman to replace those thoughts and memories.

  The white man had also robbed him of a mother with more tenderness and spirit than three women put together. Her loving blue eyes would forever haunt his dreams.

  The fire before him blurred as Taima blinked away the tears that threatened to fall.

  Kate was white...and beautiful, but that was not her fault, and he honestly couldn’t hate her for it. What he did not want was to fall in love with her, to have her memory invade his thoughts. Those tender thoughts were reserved only for his wife. He knew he couldn’t be around Kate but to release her into the wilderness after the raid would have been the same as murder.

  Ahanu’s wife, Aiyana, could see to her training. Kate would be a needed worker, one to help with the meat and hides of the coming hunt. She would be kept too busy to cause anyone problems, especially him.

  “Your anger and hatred are easily read in your eyes, Nechan. You must learn to control your emotions. I, too, am angry at the white man for taking my woman from me.” His father paused a moment before continuing. “How are you going to deal with this new woman?”

  Chapter Four

  Surprised by his father’s question, Taima quickly glanced up. “Why must I deal with her at all? I’ve given her to Ahanu. She is his to do with as he pleases. I care not what happens to her.”

  Ahanu looked up from the fire. “Then why did you bring her here?”

  Taima glanced at his friend. “I captured her from a Blackfoot warrior. I couldn’t release her after that. She never would have survived alone in the wilderness.”

  Ahanu raised a brow. “But you just said you didn’t care what happened to her.”

  Tossing his stick into the fire, Taima growled, “Must I take her out and kill her to prove she matters little to me?”

  Sakima only stared at him, then spoke in a calm voice. “The spirits have their reasons for allowing things to happen. Perhaps right now, none of us will understand why the white woman is among us, but when the time is right, the Great Spirits will reveal their purpose.”

  “Noshi, you have been right in many things, but I feel this incident is not one of them. Some things happen without reason.”

  Sakima pulled the buffalo hide tighter around his shoulder, and stared at Taima long moments before speaking. His eyes squinted and his mouth pursed in concentration. The lines of many summers etched their messages in the worn face. Though a stern look could stop one in mid-step, he knew of the gentleness his father bestowed on others.

  Then his father gazed into the fire. “All things happen for a reason, just as the white woman’s coming has a reason. In time, the spirits will reveal their answers. Now...Ahanu should join his family.”

  Without moving his gaze from the fire, Taima’s father had dismissed him. Knowing Sakima could hear the spirits better when he sat alone before the fire, Taima rose in one fluid motion and strode away with Ahanu. Ahanu walked toward his lean-to, but Taima walked up into the hills. He needed time to be alone and think about what his father had said.

  * * * * *

  Kate sighed in relief when Aiyana finally finished spreading the ointment into her hands. Early evening settled around them and the breeze began to cool. Aiyana stepped into the lean-to, then returned with a soft, doeskin dress that she thrust toward her and motioned Kate to change.

  Inside Aiyana’s lean-to, Kate slipped the new dress over her head, wincing in agony as it slid down her back. Pain shot through her body like an electrical storm from the mere raising of her arms. Hitting those trees today would surely leave her aching for days.

  God, why was she here! There had to be some logical explanation for all this. None of it made any sense. Then she remembered the petroglyphs, how her hands stuck to the boulder, then blackness. She nearly laughed out loud. Since time travel didn’t actually happen, there had to be another explanation and she would find out what.

  Stepping around the curtained enclosure, Kate saw Ahanu sitting before the fire talking with the woman as she prepared the evening meal. Taima was nowhere in sight, and a rush of air escaped her lungs as she sighed with relief, unaware till then that she’d held her breath. The woman scowled at her, so she quickly looked away. If Taima wasn’t here, then where was he? She glanced into the shadows surrounding the other lean-tos. His people milled about, but still she could glimpse no sign of Taima.

  When she returned her attention to Ahanu, he already watched her. Another smile cut across his face, then he, too, looked about the camp. Returning his gaze to hers, still smiling, he shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows.

  Disgusted at being so obvious, Kate fisted her fingers. “Don’t you think, for one minute, that I care where that savage is! Because I don’t.”

  Ahanu shrugged his shoulders again as the woman giggled, then turned her attention to the noisy children running toward them. She crouched down and held out her arms to a little girl, who ran into the embrace and hugged her. Five young boys jumped onto Ahanu. He rolled about the ground as they attacked him like playful pups, laughing when they got the best of him. The little girls stood giggling, watching the boys tease Ahanu.

  Kate smiled as she watched the children play. They appeared to be delightful youngsters. When Ahanu put an end to the playful attack, the boys turned their attention on Kate--the stranger in their midst.

  Each one’s personality differed from the others; Kate could see that right away. Some lowered their gazes; some stared at her with open interest. The last little boy to leave Ahanu’s side glanced over toward the other lean-tos, and then looked at Kate.

  She gasped in surprise.

  The bright curiosity that glowed behind the little boy’s blue eyes shocked her--as much as when she looked into the eyes of his father. She knew he could only be one man’s son--the one man whose very presence created havoc within her body, making every muscle tighten in her stomach, her heart to beat out of control, and her lungs to nearly collapse.

  She had yet to figure out his connection to her dream of the Indian.

  The child glanced toward the lean-tos again, and this time, Kate’s gaze followed his. The fearful sight that drew her attention weakened her knees. Kate’s breath caught in her throat, yet she stood her ground.

  Taima strode toward her.

  He wore a look of defiance, as though he expected her to confront him. The blueness of his eyes stood out even more when his ire rose. Kate began to think he was always angry since that’s the only mood he’d exhibited these last few days.

  Because of her? If so, why had he bothered rescuing her during the raid?

  His gaze reverted to the boy beside her, and he approached with outstretched arms. The child ran to him and wrapped his little arms around his father’s neck. The tenderness he bestowed on his son surprised Kate as she watched in awe. Taima smiled, lighting his boyish features as he cradled the child upon his arm. The boy fondled a feather dangling from his father’s headband. A quiet conversation took place between father and child, then they both laughed.

  Taima joined Ahanu, his wife and their other children who climbed all over the men to play as they sat down. Kate hid herself within the lean-to, watching the exchange of friends and family. Sadness seeped into her heart to think she no longer had anyone to share even the smallest amount of joy.

  When one of the children squealed in delight, Taima joined in their laughter. Kate peered from the door of the lean-to to watch the playful bantering. Taima’s wide smile enhanced his features even more. Ruffling a child’s hair, his gaze lifted to meet hers
.

  The smile immediately shed from his face like the skin of a snake. Her heart ached to think she could be the cause of so much hatred and turned toward the lean-to’s interior, once again hiding herself within the shadows. Stepping to a vacant corner, she squatted on her heels, and toyed with the soft leather fringe on her dress. A sense of loneliness consumed her, and tears gathered in her eyes as she tried not to listen to their happy chatter.

  Frustrated that Taima had so easily made her cry with a single scathing look, Kate bit her lower lip to cease the quivering. She couldn’t think of anything she’d done to deserve this treatment.

  Tiny fingers touched the dampness on Kate’s cheek. She looked up to see a little girl’s sad face.

  “E himpa’aute yakkai?” The child glanced at her wet fingers, then slowly touched Kate’s cheek again. Such an act of innocence tugged a smile from Kate, causing the tiny fingers to touch her lips.

  “Kai saikka taipo wa’ippea masunaite!” Taima’s deep, stern voice sent the child scampering away. Kate leaned forward around the corner to meet Taima’s gaze; whatever he’d said made the child run to Aiyana’s side.

  Furious that he’d frightened the little girl, Kate stormed toward him, tears still blurring her vision. He stood to confront her, but she didn’t allow his scathing glare and size to intimidate her.

  Not this time.

  Fury burned her eyes and gave her strength. “How dare you! You might frighten a child with your savage ways, but I don’t frighten so easily!”

  With a swiftness she hadn’t expected, Taima gripped her upper arms painfully, pulling her hard against his chest.

  “Perhaps...I need to change my treatment of you, White Woman. Maybe then, my savage ways just might be more to your liking.”

  Kate gasped.

  Shock weakened her knees and it’s a good thing he held onto her so tight.

  The clearly spoken English splashed over her like a bucket of cold water. Taima’s icy-blue eyes glared into hers.

  Utter stillness fell over the camp.

  “What? No more angry words?” His fingers dug into her arms as he shook her. “Does your silence mean you accept things my way? Although, I doubt very much I can put aside my hatred for your people long enough to bed you.”

  “You bastard!” She struggled within his grasp, but he held tight, his body heat penetrating her leather dress, reeling her senses.

  “Or does the fact that I’m a half-breed disgust you, as it does the rest of your race?”

  His warm breath fanned her cheek. His musky, male scent drifted to her nose. Memories of the stranger, who wore the long duster, staring at her in the streets of Dubois, again invaded her mind. Then those same feelings from her dream coursed through her, though she didn’t want to accept that this arrogant man had any connection to either event.

  “The fact that you’re Indian turns my stomach. You’re no different from the savages who scalped those people in that raid, who left me alone in this God-forsaken wilderness.”

  “I didn’t kill anyone. But the Blackfoot tribe takes pride in murder, unlike ours.”

  The muscles along his jaw line twitched. The searing hatred Kate saw in his eyes nearly burned her. Was his hate directed toward her or to the Blackfoot tribe who murdered the whites? She couldn’t figure out why he would be so angry with her.

  She clenched her teeth. “Let go of me.”

  Taima released her so quickly she stumbled backward. Catching her balance, she spun around to stare at Ahanu. “I suppose you could understand me all along, too?”

  Ahanu shrugged. “It was not my place to tell you otherwise.”

  Kate glanced at the frightened woman. “And I suppose you also speak English?”

  Aiyana nodded.

  Turning his back on Kate, Taima returned to sit beside his son at the fire. She stared at his back with contempt, then met Ahanu’s gaze over Taima’s shoulder. His dark eyebrow rose; a smirk crossed his face.

  Kate’s heart raced from the anger raging through her veins, her breathing labored. Furious, she clenched her fists and turned on her heel, running toward the horses beyond the copse of pine. She made her way in the near dark, passing others eating their evening meal, or enjoying a joke. No one paid her any attention. The rapid beat of her heart kept pace with her pounding feet.

  How dare Taima deceive her, making her look the fool? The wind whipped her hair behind her. The cool evening air helped soothe the burning anger that coiled within her body. He had dealt with her for the last time. She would save him the trouble of getting rid of her. Capturing her still made no sense if he hated the white man. Why even bother with her?

  Though dusk settled around her, she could still see the treacherous rocks and fallen timber in her path on the way to find a horse to escape with.

  A copse of pine trees grew just ahead. Soon she would be hidden safely within their cover, away from Taima forever. Warm tears ran down her cheek. Why had he bothered with her in the first place?

  Reaching the horses, she quickly untied one, and hiked up her leather dress to mount. She gripped the dark mane in her fingers as she pulled herself onto the animals back.

  * * * * *

  Taima wrapped an arm around his son to reassure him everything was fine after his confrontation with Kate, while Ahanu played noisily with his daughter. A few moments later, a silent Aiyana drew Taima’s attention. She sat beside him with downcast eyes, yet she glanced at Ahanu. Suspicious, Taima narrowed his eyes on Ahanu. His irritating, lopsided grin and slight chuckle nearly unseated Taima. Ahanu grasped his daughter, stifling her laughter with the palm of his hand.

  Quickly glancing around for Kate, Taima saw only her blanket lying in a heap where she’d sat earlier.

  His eyes widened in rage as he stared at Ahanu. “Tell me you didn’t allow her to escape while we sat right here? And don’t shrug your shoulders like you don’t know, damn you, Ahanu.”

  “Since you ignored her, so did I. It wasn’t my place to tell you how to treat your prisoner.”

  Taima rose and pointed at his son. “Keep him with you until I return.”

  He raced toward the horses, seeing a shadow slip into the pines. Why couldn’t white women be as obedient as the Shoshone women? At least they listened when a man warned them of impending danger. But like his mother, Kate was head-strong, and that thought stirred memories of the deaths that still haunted his dreams, stirred his hatred for the white man, and stirred his growing feelings for the white woman he pursued. Try as he may, he knew she was becoming a part of him.

  This aggravating white woman had no idea how cold the nights got out here in the wilderness, nor how many dangerous animals preyed after dark. The cats especially enjoyed hunting then, sometimes dropping from the trees onto their unsuspecting prey. Taima knew he had to find her before they did.

  The wind whispered a warning as Taima entered the pines, annoyed that he’d had to leave the warmth of his fire to find the strong-willed white woman. Ahanu could have prevented this when he watched Kate leave. He would pay dearly for making Taima leave his son to chase after some wild woman.

  She would pay for making him relive his past. As if he didn’t do that enough on his own. He did not want to replace thoughts of his wife with another woman and destroy her memory.

  Taima clenched his jaw, thinking of his revenge, of her bound secure enough not to escape. Women! He should have tied her hands and feet in the first place. Then he would be able to relax and not worry about her getting into trouble. He’d threatened her with rape earlier only in hopes she would be frightened enough not to try escaping. She had no idea of the dangers in these mountains.

  No, he should have left her with the Blackfoot at the raid. Obviously, the woman thought she had the tenacity to survive alone. So why did he think it necessary to pursue her? He prayed to the Great Spirit for patience in dealing with the woman once he found her.

  Entering the trees, a movement to Taima’s right caught his attention. Like a cougar
in the night, he moved fast and quiet to wrap his arms around Kate and drag her from atop the horse. Quickly, he drew her back against his chest, her slender body squirming for freedom.

  “Your struggle will only bring you closer to me...but then, perhaps that’s your intention, White Woman. I’m not accustomed to fighting females, but with you, I might make an exception.”

  Kate thrashed her head back and forth. Her hands escaped his to claw at his arms as he struggled to confine her. She screamed, but he finally secured her wrists within his grasp.

  Taima pulled her wrists and twisted her around to face him, bringing her against his chest, their noses mere inches apart as he looked down at her. Her eyes glistened with rage even in the dark. Her breasts rose against the back of his hand as she still tried to pull away.

  He tugged her against his chest again. “I will tame you, White Woman.”

  Kate’s lips parted slightly as he held her tight. Such tender looking lips. Quick, warm breaths caressed his cheek; inter-twining with his own ragged breathing. She would be easy to love had she not felt such a hatred toward the Indian, but he knew those thoughts were as dangerous as her escape.

  She continued to pull against his hold. “I will never surrender to your savage touch!”

  “You will have little choice in the end.”

  “I will always have a choice.”

  “Not with me!” Taima kept his tone slow and precise, the warm glow of her skin reminding him of another woman. He pressed his fingers into her soft upper arms, still holding her against him. “Not another word. Since you detest my touch, consider that your punishment should you decide to disobey me again…I will touch you whenever I please. And should you attempt another escape, you will regret it when I bare your white flesh for my pleasure, having only yourself to blame.”

  Her eyes rounded, her lips parted, but she said nothing.

  “I’m beginning to think you enjoy being humiliated. Next, I’ll gag you, should you continue to anger me.” He scrutinized the defiance in her delicate features. “I should strip you naked and march you before my people to show them I have truly mastered you.” Taima knew he could never do such a thing to her, but she need never know that.