She was being fanciful and pushed her hair back in the mob cap. With certainty, he’d said she was beautiful to keep her talking and to distract her from the dangerous badger.
With a rag in hand, she picked up a pewter tankard and buffed. No amount of rubbing removed a spot of tarnish. She swallowed feelings of unworthiness and forced herself not to yearn for what she could never have. Locked into indenture, no man of any value would want her.
Mary screamed. Juliet dropped the mug. Wasn’t Mary upstairs? Mary’s cries came from outside. Juliet tore out the front door and plunged through the snow, her heart rushing to her throat. If anything happened to Mary she’d by no means forgive herself.
Juliet burst through the dark mouth of the barn. On the hay-strewn floor, Mary lay motionless, her bucket overturned and milk pooled to the side. A large Indian stood with a razor-sharp knife in his hand, Mary’s silky hair in his palm.
Juliet picked up a pitchfork and rammed it at the Indian. He dodged, a cat’s whisker away from the spiky tines piercing his abdomen. He prowled, his muscled frame moving soundlessly, a dance of sorts around Mary’s unconscious body.
Juliet circled her friend, holding tight to her weapon, drew back and shoved. Again, and again she thrust the pointed tines. Still the Indian came at her, dodging each lunge, his eyes as hard as agates, and his arrogance, with a confidence bred on past victories, crushed the assumption of her defense.
The fork lay heavy and Juliet’s arms trembled. Horses in their stalls reared their heads, blowing loudly into the chill air. Sheep bleated their cries.
In one sudden move, the Indian leapt over Mary. Juliet backed away, thrusting the sharp tines at him again and again. He dodged the tines, then spun around, ripped her weapon from her hands and tossed it high into the loft. Juliet screamed.
He glared at her.
“Be damned to hell!” Joshua’s voice rang out.
Juliet glanced to the door where he stood. Her body trembling, she wanted to fall to her knees and shout to the Catholic saints her deliverance. Joshua would take care of the savage.
But he didn’t move. Instead he spoke in a guttural tongue she didn’t understand.
There was the flash of a blade as the savage bent over Mary.
Juliet screamed, took a step toward the savage. Joshua yanked her back, held her against his chest. She kicked and clawed to get free. Was he going to allow the Indian to kill Mary?
Juliet’s heart pummeled against her ribs as she watched the Indian cut a lock of Mary’s hair, then slip it in his deerskin pouch.
Laughter rumbled through Joshua’s chest, and he released her. “He would never hurt your friend.”
Juliet kept her eyes glued to the savage as she rushed to Mary’s side. What lunacy was Joshua speaking? She sank to the uneven plank floor, patted her friend’s hand She scowled at the Indian, then back to Joshua. “Would you mind telling me the meaning of this?”
“This is my friend, Two Eagles.”
“Friend?” She sent them both a withering glare.
“He meant no harm. He has never seen hair the color of corn tassel and wanted a good luck charm to protect him.”
Like the bitter wind, comprehension swept over Juliet. Savages held peculiar habits and traditions far from her realm of experience. “He could have asked.”
Joshua laughed and her esteem for him slipped a notch. “He probably did and she didn’t understand him. He does not like English nor speak it.”
Mary woke. Eyes wide, she stared at the Indian. He proudly wore a fine doeskin blouse, and breeches, and calf-high moccasins, and covering his wide shoulders was a broadcloth blanket distinctive with deep red borders. His black hair was shoulder length, not the adopted style of a Mohawk warrior Juliet had seen once who had shaved his head except for a brush-like tuft of hair from pate to nape.
Two Eagles gave an impatient grunt from their rude inspection.
“He scared the death out of me,” said Mary, rising to her feet and bringing Juliet up with her. “He is the biggest savage I’ve ever seen.”
Juliet forced her limbs to relax, saying a brief frantic prayer of thanks for her friend’s safety, and then elbowed Mary to quit gawking. “You’ve barely seen a handful of Indians.”
“Two Eagles has just arrived. He accompanies me on my trapping business and is harmless,” said Joshua.
Harmless? Juliet had seen a bear less fearsome.
The cook yelled from the back porch. “Mary, Juliet what is all the commotion?”
Joshua chuckled and waved to the cook from the door. “The girls have been introduced to Two Eagles.”
