Or… her blood ran cold at the thought. These were savages who had no morals. They raped and killed women. There were horrendous tales about this. What if they wanted to do the same to her? These huge monsters would defile and kill her! She struggled with a new strength. She would rather die, than have them lay their filthy hands on her. Never!
She squealed into the bind over her mouth as the barbarian grabbed her, holding her firmly down. His dark eyes frowned at her, and her heart raced in fear.
“You fell off the horse and hurt yourself. I will not let you do that again. If I have to tie you and pull you behind the horse I will do so,” the barbarian said slowly.
She could tell he would do as he said. She was already tired, had fallen unconscious when she hit her head. She was hungry and thirsty. The last thing she wanted was to be tied to a horse. She nodded. She would remain calm. For now.
She knew this was a great opportunity to escape. Before they got to their destination where they would hurt her, but where would she escape to? She did not know where they were. Out here, she had no food or shelter. Neither did she have a weapon. She knew nothing about the lands. These barbarians would track her down in no time. And the wild animals, they would devour her before night time. And what if another band of barbarians took her? So many thoughts flowed through her mind.
As much as she wanted to flee, she would remain calm. One way or another, she would escape. She refused to be hurt by these monsters. Her eyes closed and she made herself a promise. She would not let them hurt her. She would find her way back home, to her family.
She prayed they were well and safe. That no harm had been done to them by these barbarians. She could feel it, that they were. She would find them. She didn’t care how long it would take, but she would.
She pulled away from the barbarian, putting some space between them. She had always been strong-willed, and had taken care of herself since she was a little girl. She would survive, and would not cower like they wanted of her. She lifted her eyes to the barbarian, who was watching her.
One of the barbarians called to him, in a language she did not understand. He replied back, with a firm look. The other did not respond, but she felt his hard gaze on her. She didn’t know what had just transpired, but she knew the other one did not like her. She looked away as he sneered at her.
She wished she could just close her eyes, and when she opened them, she was back in Kentucky, in the little home they had all lived together. She had always wanted to explore, to travel and see new places, but not when it put her life at risk. This was all because of Samuel! Her fingers clenched in a fist. He had brought them out here in the middle of nowhere. Her mother had insisted on waiting till late summer when several wagons would be heading West; then they would have had company and protection, but Samuel had insisted that he wanted to come West and establish himself before those folks arrived. Look where that had gotten them.
Her mother must be so worried about her, she thought as tears pooled in her eyes. She pushed them back; she could not be weak in front of these barbarians. They did not deserve her tears. I will come home to you mother, she said quietly.
She tried to open her eyes, taking in the surrounding, but it just looked like the same. She could not help but wonder how these barbarians knew where they were going. Out here, Samuel had gotten them lost several times. She reminded herself that they knew the land so well. Her eyes flickered close, and she tried to keep them open. But she was drained. She held back a yawn, but it returned with force.
“Sleep,” the barbarian said, pulling her to his chest.
Unable to resist, her head rested on him, and she let sleep lure her. A part of her hoped that when she woke up, this experience would be a dream.
*
His men were curious about why he had taken the woman. He had never done such a thing. Take one of them captive, needless a woman. He had ignored Juh's questions, who had been brave enough to voice the thoughts of the others.
Today was a special day. The shock rolled over him as he stared at the woman in his arms, sleeping comfortably on his chest.
She was real! And not a figment of his imagination as he had feared. Since he turned sixteen, this woman had appeared in his dreams. He had thought it to be a fantasy but he never dreamed of any woman but her. And every time he had been with her, she appeared real. Too real.
Shock had spammed through his body when he saw her in the wagon. For a moment he had thought he was sleeping. Bless the spirits. They had brought her to him. She was a white devil. He had known this in his dreams but she had been a guilty pleasure. In reality, she was the enemy. Yet he had taken her. There was no way he could have left her there.
He had been given the opportunity, what he would do with her he didn’t know yet. How this would end, he had no idea. But he has followed his instinct.
She stirred in his arms, and he gazed at her face. She was plain. And fragile. She lacked none of the strength the women of his clan possessed. Her neck was gaunt and her body skinny. With how empty the wagon had been of food, he wondered when last she had a good meal. It had been foolish of them to be on the trail alone. If they hadn’t gotten to them, another tribe would have, highway robbers or wild animals.
She was not betrothed or married for she wore no ring. He had heard the exchange, she had been with her mama and papa. He felt no remorse for taking her away from her people. She belonged to him. Her family would eventually get to safety. Storm Cloud, whom he had left behind would make sure of that.
“The raid was in vain. We found nothing,” Juh said in annoyance.
Yes, there had been no money. Neither had there been jewelries. But he had found something way more precious, the woman in his arms.
“We will soon be home,” Bear Claw said, as they took on the familiar path that led home.
The woman stirred in his arms. She quickly pulled away from him at the realization that she had rested on him. She tugged on the binds and he gave her a warning look. He would not hesitate to punish her if she attempted to run away.
“Where are we?” She asked in a quiet voice.
He did not reply. Not that she would know where they were. She was a stranger in these parts.
She was quiet for the rest of the ride, tensing when she sighted the gates. She turned to him, fear in her eyes. He said nothing to comfort her.
The people looked onto him and the woman with surprise and questions. It was the first time some of them would see a white devil. There were tales of them, that they had long fingers, they didn’t bathe all week, and that they are children; a tale used to frighten the young ones.
