Onontio drew his finger along the bright red scar she’d cut on his cheek and spat. “Like a dog, she needs to learn obedience.”
“Be careful she doesn’t take your balls,” Snapes said and they all hooted.
Red Jacket pounded a fist on his chest. “The light-haired woman will be my wife’s slave.”
Juliet inhaled with the Jesuit’s rapid translations.
“What will your wife say when you take the light-haired woman to bed?” Snapes snickered. The men laughed but Red Jacket did not find it amusing.
Snapes beat his chest. “General Carlton has late intelligence Fort Stanich is no real obstacle. There are poor picketed defense works with no more than sixty men. Maybe he is right. Maybe not. Scout it out and see what you think. Capture some of the garrison and bring them to me. They’ll tell us what we need to know.” Snapes looked at every one of them. “When the moon passes full many times, Colonel Butler from Fort Niagara will gather forces for raids south of the Mohawk Valley. Many scalps, prisoners and plunder are assured.”
Onontio stood and clasped hands with the British officer. “Captain Snapes, you be witness to my wedding.”
Snapes nodded at the War Chief’s hospitality. “It is an honor. But I must beg leave and do reconnaissance for our Great White Father.”
Onontio spoke loudly for the assembled braves, his furious speech climbing to a crescendo. Clenching his fists to the heavens, he said, “Next full moon we will strike out. Maybe capture the fort. We will sharpen our hatchets and bring back many scalps.”
When he finished, the Indians jumped from the ground and roared their approval.
Snapes nodded with the War Chief’s declaration. “Ten pounds per scalp. You will be a wealthy man before this war ends, Onontio.”
Snapes swaggered to where Juliet sat with the priest. “You are not so brave now.”
Juliet glared at him. “You ordered the massacre against the Hayes’ household.”
“Yes, I did. Horace had taken land from me and I paid my debt. Such are the spoils of war. Enjoy your life as Onontio’s wife.” With an Indian, he took to a canoe and disappeared down the river.
Chapter Nine
Joshua paddled hard, his first thoughts—to get to Juliet. Two Eagles matched his grueling pace across the mountains, and then stealing a canoe, they made their way to Onontio’s Mohawk home where, with certainty, the War Chief would return and declare his greatness, displaying his scalps and parading his captives.
Damnthe orders from Albany that took him from the Hayes’ farm. The charred ruins gone cold for a week. He shook his head, still unable to get the gruesome massacre out of his mind. He had braced himself for his worst fears, turning the scalped and mutilated corpses over, thankful Juliet and Mary were not among them.
Two Eagles had been adamant it was the work of Onontio, and then followed the tracks of warriors, leading to the capture of the women. It was his best hope the tracks were Mary and Juliet’s and they complied with the War Chief, their deaths fated if they dared to complain or slow the war party’s progress.
They pulled up the canoe against the sandy bank on the village of Tionnontigo. Children squealed a series of whoops to announce their arrival. Out from the lodges, men, women and children poured. The Indians fawned and eager women loitered with flirtatious smiles, none of which Joshua cared the least bit about.
Parting the crowd was Ojistah, the medicine woman and Two Eagles’ aunt. “Too long you have been gone, my sons.” There was censure in her tone.
Joshua scanned the village. Ojistah threaded her arm through Joshua’s, passing several longhouses, the council house and to the center of the village. His heart pounded.
His gaze fell on Juliet and a black crow Jesuit sitting beside her. She was beaten, bruised and her clothes were torn, and her hair spilled in wild abandon down to her hips. His heart pounded.
She was alive.
Their gazes locked. Her dreadful misery was mirrored in her face, but it was the entreaty in her tear-stained eyes that came as sure as if she’d shouted the words.
You’ve come to save me!
Despite the indignities he was sure she had endured, she held her head high. She carried herself like a queen and, for that, he was proud.
He clenched his hands into fists. The dark circles beneath her eyes, pale skin and loss of weight showed her ill-use where she’d likely been pushed beyond endurance on their travels through the forests. Bred in his nature was the protection of women. He cursed Onontio and his band. They would pay for their abuse of Juliet.
He strode to her. Ojistah jerked him back.
“I know who you have come for. Be patient, my son.”
But Joshua didn’t hear her. He ignored the fact he was a guest in the village, bound by custom not to intervene. He ignored everything except the fact that Juliet needed his help and he’d come for her.
