Ben threw back his shoulders. “I shot your man. Do what you want with me. Let them go. Warriors don’t stoop to bullying women and children.” Arms bent at his elbows, he held his clenched hands close to his body, ready to defend or strike.
Wolf Heart’s eyes narrowed. “You protect Little Wolf?”
“Little Wolf?” Ben glanced at Charlie. Did this Indian know the boy? “If that’s what you call him, yes. I am his protector.”
Wolf Heart nodded to the Indian beside Ben.
The brute cast his knife away and slammed a fist into Ben’s jaw. Pain seared upward to his ear. Ben stumbled back but dodged a left hook. Would fighting back save their lives or endanger them? Red-face’s foot struck Ben’s side, and another fist followed.
A flash of memory. Andersonville. The robber gang trying to steal Jeb’s boots. Ben spun out and whammed his shoulder into the Indian’s chest. The man’s fists slammed into Ben’s gut. Ben drove his knuckles into the man’s throat. Red-face gasped. The blows ceased. Ben kneed the man’s gut and dodged a foot. They fell on the ground in a mess of fists and blows.
Not Red-face anymore, but Duggar, the leader of the robber gang. Grimy, scarred, a killer, willing to take man’s life for a thimble full of peas. Ben head-butted the man and rolled on top of him. Pinning him to the ground, he rammed his hand against the enemy’s throat and halted. The man’s eyes bugged, and his free hand slammed into Ben’s arm. Chest-heaving, blood dripping from his mouth, Ben held firm, blinking as blood or sweat marred his vision. Red-face. Not Dugger. Cora and Charlie would pay if he harmed this man further.
Ben’s grip loosened a fraction. Red-face jabbed deep into Ben’s armpit, throwing him off. Both men scrambled to their feet.
“Kee. No more.” Wolf Heart stepped forward. He waved his hand at the warrior, and Red-face limped off to the porch muttering under his breath.
Limbs shaking, Ben swiped his mouth. “Now you let the girl and the boy go?”
“Never planned to take. Wanted see you fight. See if you able protect Little Wolf. See if you good enough to show him how to be a man. ”
“A man? So you attacked us? What if the boy had been killed?” Ben scowled and wrapped an arm around his aching gut.
“My men might have shot you. Not him.”
An acid taste soured his mouth. “He’s like a son to me.”
“Hmmph.” Wolf Heart folded his arms. “And how long you stay? One moon, two moons, summer and a winter? Making man takes many seasons.”
Ben spit. What kind of a commitment was this man looking for?
“Boy needs to learn. Needs father. Or I take him to his people. I his uncle. I watch. You not do good enough, I take him.”
Cora sputtered behind them where a warrior held her fast. “You…can’t take him. His mother, your sister, brought him here for us to raise. For me to raise.”
“Woman not enough for boy. Need father.”
“He’ll have a father. Sooner or later. When I marry.”
Wolf Heart shrugged. “Marry this man.”
Ben’s stomach dropped.
“He…” Cora pulled free of the warrior holding her and stepped forward, hands clasped. “This man came here as a friend of my brother to help us. His home is far away toward the rising sun. He has?—”
“His home here with Little Wolf. Or I take the boy. Here and now.” The crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes deepened. A scar cut across his cheek. The man stood tall, feet planted firm, and rifle in hand. He meant what he said.
“I recognize you.” Cora pleaded. “You spared my life once. The day your men?—”
“I remember. If your heart were not good, I take the boy now. I give you chance keep him for a few more winters.”
Ben’s tongue scratched his mouth like sandpaper. He shuddered a glance at Cora and then Wolf Heart. “I will be the boy’s father.”
“You take woman as wife. Make family.”
Ben’s knees wobbled down to his toes. “In my own time. A man decides for himself when to take the woman. Wins her affection first.” They had to at least make a show of complying.
“You don’t have to do this.” Cora’s voice scraped his heart.
